The games industry is holding its breath for , slated to arrive Nov. 19.
That long-delayed titan has disrupted the 2026 release schedule, but the first half of the year was still crowded with new spins on old franchises, from to to . Early-access sequels like and also found enormous audiences, alongside indies like and .
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The broader industry, however, continued to struggle, with Xbox laying off thousands of employees. French giant Ubisoft closed two studios, canceled six games and delayed others. Small but promising development teams, like those behind and , shuttered after disappointing sales.
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But many bright spots pierced the year’s gloom. NPR staff members have highlighted popular favorites and underrecognized gems, which you can discover through this interactive list.
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