Ready for all the biggest January 2026 video game releases? The new year does not ease you in. January is already lining up a mix of cozy comfort games, massive RPG commitments, and high-intensity action that will eat your weekends. If you are hunting for the next timesink on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, mobile, or PC, the January 2026 video game releases slate has something to claim your hard drive early.
January 2026 Game Releases
| Game Title | Release Date | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | January 15 | Switch 2 |
| The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon | January 15 | PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, PC |
| MIO: Memories in Orbit | January 20 | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch, Switch 2 |
| FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE | January 22 | Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC |
| Arknights: Endfield | January 22 | PS5, PC, iOS, Android |
| Core Keeper – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | January 28 | Switch 2 |
| The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin | January 28 | PS5, PC (Steam), iOS, Android |
| Cairn | January 29 | PS5, PC |
| CODE VEIN II | January 30 | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| 2XKO (Console Launch) | January (TBA) | PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
Top 5 Most-Anticipated January 2026 Video Game Releases
With the month clustering multiple heavy hitters into the back half of January, picking favorites is brutal. These are our Top 5 Most-Anticipated January 2026 video game releases based on hype, series legacy, and how hard each one could dominate the conversation once it lands.
5. Cairn
Cairn is the kind of game that looks calm until you realize it is basically a survival story told through grip strength, route planning, and nerves. You play as pro climber Aava, picking lines up a brutal mountain face while managing risk and momentum. Every decision feels physical: where you place a hand, how you shift weight, when you commit to the next move, and when you back off before one mistake turns into a fall.
Why Nux Game Guides is excited: January is packed with big names, so a sharp, focused concept stands out. Cairn feels like a fresh kind of challenge game, the sort you end up streaming to friends just to prove you can make the next hold.
4. Arknights: Endfield
Endfield is coming in hot with a mix that is tailor-made for “one more run” energy: real-time squad combat plus base and factory-building systems that keep your brain busy even when you are not fighting. It is also landing across PS5, PC, and mobile, which usually means the community forms fast and the meta evolves even faster.
Why Nux Game Guides is excited: If you like games where progression is not just levels, but also smarter setups and cleaner planning, Endfield looks like it will reward the grind. Also, a January launch is perfect timing for a new daily-driver game.
3. CODE VEIN II
CODE VEIN II is aiming to be a full-on event sequel: stylish action RPG combat, a heavier narrative push, and a partner system that is central to how fights flow. Bandai Namco is also leaning into “time as a weapon” as a hook, which opens the door for both story twists and some wild gameplay setups if they commit to it.
Why Nux Game Guides is excited: The first CODE VEIN built a loyal crowd that loves buildcraft and big boss energy. A sequel launching at the end of January is the kind of thing that can instantly take over Discords and turn “quick session” plans into three-hour detours.
2. 2XKO (Console Launch)
2XKO hitting consoles is a massive deal for the FGC because accessibility is everything. Tag fighters live and die by player count, and Riot pushing the game to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in January is the kind of move that can turn a “looks cool” fighter into a real mainstay. Expect a wave of new players, new duos, and a whole lot of “how do I deal with this setup?” content on day one.
Why Nux Game Guides is excited: Console launch months are peak chaos in the best way. Everyone is learning, everyone is experimenting, and you can feel the meta forming in real time. If you like competitive games at their most alive, January is your moment.
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch 2 is the ultimate “new year reset” game. It is cozy, social, endlessly customizable, and built around that satisfying routine of small goals that somehow turns into a whole night disappearing. A Switch 2 edition also has huge potential to smooth out friction, speed up island management, and make the whole experience feel better moment to moment.
Why Nux Game Guides is excited: This is the kind of release that does not just launch, it takes over. If you missed the original wave or you are ready to fall back into island life with upgraded hardware, January 15 is going to be dangerous for your free time.
New Year, New Backlog
That wraps up the biggest January 2026 game releases and the Top 5 we cannot stop thinking about. If you want deeper dives, early builds, and guides the second these games go live, hit our Originals hub and Releases calendar so you can plan your month before your backlog plans get steamrolled.
