Last updated on January 7, 2026
January 2026 drops the holiday lag with a steady stream of intriguing releases that balance cozy exploration and high-stakes action. No blockbuster frenzy, just quality picks to rebuild your backlog. This roundup hits the highlights from Early Access openers to polished sequels.
January’s Appeal Post-Holidays
After festive breaks, gamers crave fresh starts without overwhelm – January delivers. Standouts like Hytale’s long-awaited return and souls-like depth in Code Vein 2 mix nostalgia with innovation. Platforms span PC, consoles, mobile; updated January 2, 2026. Expect community buzz building fast.
1. Hytale (Jan 13, PC/macOS/Linux Early Access)
Hypixel crew’s sandbox dream finally lands after years of hype, a 2025 acquisition flop, and founder-led revival. Procedural worlds burst with life – craft, quest, mod in solo or massive servers. Combat feels snappy, magic systems deep; think Minecraft meets RuneScape adventure. Early Access lets you shape it. Pure creativity fuel.
2. Code Vein 2 (Jan 29/30, PC/PS5/Xbox Series X/S)
Bandai Namco ups the ante on anime souls-likes: post-apoc vampires clash in tactical blood-drenched battles. Customize “codes” for builds, unravel companion backstories in a bleaker world. Smoother than original, with co-op revenge arcs. Fans, brace for addiction.
3. MIO: Memories in Orbit (Jan 20, Switch/Switch 2/PS5/PC/XSX)
Introspective Metroidvania in melancholic space ruins – map sprawling hubs, uncover lore via puzzles and light combat. Art pops with neon glows, soundtrack haunts. Pace rewards patience over speedruns. Cross-buy heaven for handheld fans.
4. Code Violet (Jan 10, PS5 Exclusive)
Violet Sinclair navigates a time-warped colony: failed experiments unleash prehistoric horrors amid corporate plots. Third-person survival leans stealth, resource hunts, pulse-pounding chases. Atmosphere nails dread without jumpscares overload. Sony timed this perfectly.
5. Highguard (Jan 26, PC/PS5/XSX)
Respawn alumni craft PvP raids as arcane wardens storming mythic lands. Fluid movement, power-shot combos, team flanks – Titanfall DNA shines. Raids twist dynamically; climb leaderboards or grind cosmetics. Multiplayer junkies, lock it in.
6. Cairn (Jan 29, PC/PS5)
No checkpoints, just you vs. Everest-like peak as climber Aava. Scout routes, place gear, manage stamina/frostbite – falls mean restarts. Narrative emerges through triumphs/fails, touching ambition’s edge. Simulator purity for thrill-seekers.
7. Arknights: Endfield (Jan 22, PS5/PC/Mobile F2P)
Hypergryph expands tower defense roots to full action RPG: real-time squad brawls, base automation in dystopian sci-fi. Gacha pulls for operators, but progression feels fair. Deeper strategy than Arknights mobile.
8. The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (Jan 28, PC/PS5/Switch/XSX)
Netmarble’s anime RPG drops you as Tristan in fractured Britannia – temporal rifts spawn chaos. Open zones for mounts, dynamic fights, canon nods. Story-driven freedom without grind walls. Shonen fans rejoice.
9. The Midnight Walkers (Jan 29, PC Early Access)
Zombie-infested megastructure PvPvE shooter: scavenge, fortify, clash with players for scraps. Weapon mods evolve mid-run; paranoia rules alliances. Extraction tension like Tarkov lite.
10. StarRupture (Jan 6, PC Early Access)
Hostile planet base-builder: harvest volatiles amid quakes, alien swarms. Automate factories, fortify against raids – solo grind or squad chaos. Satisfactory meets survival crafting. Early drops hook builders.
Platform and Genre Spread
PC dominates Early Access (Hytale, StarRupture), PS5 grabs exclusives/horrors, Switch portability shines. Genres? Souls action (2-3), survival (Cairn, Walkers), sandboxes (1,10), PvP (5). Budgets vary – F2P to $60 premiums. Trailers hype visuals; demos dropping soon.
Play Smart Advice
Prioritize wishlists for alerts. Early Access risks bugs but shapes games; full launches safer bets. Hunt bundles on Steam sales. Multiplayer? Squad up Discord-fast. Solos? Pause-friendly picks like MIO. Track patches – January evolves quick.
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