5 Best Sci-Fi Games Of 2026 (So Far)

There really hasn't been a bad year for gamers in a long time, but many of them were hoping that 2026 would be the industry's best one yet. Gamers were excited about a handful of different new releases scheduled during an otherwise shady time, including the long awaited arrival of "Grand Theft Auto 6." We're well over halfway through the year now, and the best games of 2026 so far definitely haven't disappointed.

There's still plenty of days left to go. Some of the most anticipated games of 2026 have yet to be released, but some of our favorites are already installed on our go-to gaming devices. It's been a good year for so many different gaming genres, but it's been particularly great for sci-fi games. Gamers have gotten to play through epic space operas, small-scale sci-fi adventures, and everything in between. Developers seem to be leaning on sci-fi stories for everything from FPS action to cerebral puzzle-solving, and gamers couldn't be happier. The best sci-fi games of 2026 prove that a "sci-fi game" can really be a million different things — and we want to play them all.

A full quarter-century after the game's debut, "Halo: Combat Evolved" is once again wowing gamers and being talked about as one of the best games of the year. 343 Industries released a remaster of the original "Halo: Combat Evolved" back in 2011, but now the devs have given the beloved game the full remake treatment. "Halo: Campaign Evolved" brings Master Chief's first story to a new generation of gamers and gives PlayStation fans the opportunity to explore one of the greatest tales in gaming for the very first time.

"Campaign Evolved" is an eyeball-popping update to the original game built entirely in the Unreal 5 game engine. Aside from updated visuals, the remake also includes some modern quality-of-life updates and a handful of entirely new levels that even longtime franchise fans have never seen before.

There is one key "Halo" feature that established fans in particular will be missing in the remake, however: competitive multiplayer. "Campaign Evolved" only features a PvE campaign mode, but up to 4 online players can work their way through the story together. Despite that notable missing feature, "Campaign Evolved" is still a fantastic experience that will likely mint some new "Halo" fans while reminding old ones of why they fell in love with the series in the first place.

"Star Wars Zero Company" is the debut game from developer Bit Reactor (which houses multiple "XCOM" veterans), and it made a big splash when it was released on August 27. "Zero Company" is a turn-based tactics game where players guide a squad of Clone Troopers through a single-player campaign set near the end of the Clone Wars. There's plenty of lore here for mega Star Wars fans to dig into, but "Zero Company" has a strong enough story to hook franchise newcomers, too. The game also goes out of its way to get players emotionally attached to even minor squad members with a bond system that forces players to invest in characters that would otherwise easily become soulless cannon fodder.

The storytelling and writing in "Zero Company" deserves plenty of praise, but it's the gameplay that really makes this one of the best sci-fi games of 2026 — and a no-brainer for "XCOM" fans. Deciding how to use limited Action Points each turn makes battle a fraught series of high-risk choices. Players need to balance their resources against their goals, the various injuries of their party members, and the tools and abilities they've unlocked over the course of the game.

Between battles, players can explore the Den, relax, and work on designing astromechs. They can even invest in new resources for the next skirmish. In battle or out of it, every decision that players make is impactful, and "Zero Company" makes you feel like the outcome of every fight is truly in your hands.

Created by the three-person developer Team Cognition, "Cognition Method" is an exciting debut and one of the most interesting sci-fi games that we've seen in years. The story is set in the year 2085, and players take on the role of astronaut William Mortwood. When the space station where his son works goes silent, William starts an investigation and discovers that the crew's sudden disappearance may be linked to an alien artifact they brought on board the station. "Cognition Method" is eerie and fascinating, and the game's visual style harkens back to sci-fi greats like "2001: A Space Odyssey," which Team Cognition member Timur Ozdoev has cited as a direct influence on the game.

In terms of gameplay, "Cognition Method" throws players into a series of unique puzzles that heavily rely on gravity and physics mechanics. When William enters the mysterious alien artifact, he discovers a whole world of non-euclidean spaces and surreal architecture. Players need to solve puzzles to successfully navigate the alien space, and in the process they'll also unlock different areas of the station to explore. Solving the mystery of the artifact and the missing astronauts means successfully navigating both spaces and becoming thoroughly engrossed in this dazzling sci-fi puzzle box of a game.

"Saros" is a sci-fi roguelike game from the same developer that created "Returnal," one of the few games that justify the cost of a PlayStation 5. "Saros" is a PS5 exclusive that debuted in April and immediately impressed fans of sci-fi action. The game takes place on a distant world called Carcosa where the Soltari Corporation set up a mining operation. The company sends player-character Arjun Devraj and a team of trained soldiers to investigate Carcosa after the mining colony there seemingly vanishes. Arjun discovers that the repeated eclipses that linger over Carcosa are causing worse problems on the planet than anyone could have imagined. Before long, Arjun is struggling with eclipse-induced psychological issues while fighting for his life against ancient alien inhabitants that had been hidden on the planet.

The story in "Saros" has a tendency to get cerebral, but the gameplay is pure, visceral action. Players control Arjun from a third-person perspective and guide him through a series of bullet hell battles against Carcosa's dangerous inhabitants. Arjun has access to an array of weapons, but one of his most powerful tools is the Soltari Shield, which can transfer energy from blocked attacks into incredibly destructive Power Weapons. Each time Arjun dies, he wakes back up at base camp and has to retrace his steps, but some persistent resources allow him to upgrade his weapons and skills. "Saros" is an even more refined experience than "Returnal," and sci-fi fans absolutely have to give it a shot.

Before "Halo" made the developer into one of the most famous studios in gaming, Bungie released a completely different sci-fi shooter trilogy that some gamers still remember fondly. The "Marathon" games were at the cutting edge of the FPS genre in the '90s, and in 2026 Bungie revitalized the IP and paired it with a newer genre in gaming. Today's "Marathon" is a gorgeously designed extraction shooter that's among the best games Bungie has ever created.

"Marathon" has some of the most satisfying FPS action on the market today, and its world design is second-to-none. While looting the desolate landscape of Tau Ceti, players are also piecing together clues and figuring out what happened to the human colonists on the planet. The visuals are a feast for the eyes, but the sound design in "Marathon" really stands out with memorable sound cues and directional audio that plays a key role in combat.

A typical game of "Marathon" lasts just under half an hour. Players control one of several different Runner "shells" that come with unique support and tactical abilities, and they have to work alone, in duos, or in trios to complete missions, collect great loot, and get out alive. On release, the game featured four intricately designed levels that could each keep a player busy for dozens of hours. Bungie is taking the live service approach with "Marathon," and the game's third season introduces some brand new gameplay options including a true PvE mode. "Marathon" is already the best sci-fi game of 2026, and with any luck, it'll stick around for many years to come.