Every year people predict that certain gaming franchises will fade out. And every year those same games end up at the top of sales charts again. 2026 has already delivered big releases across every genre. Horror games are thriving, sports titles are everywhere, shooters still have big fan bases, and older franchises continue to attract new players.
These are the franchises players can’t seem to stop playing this year.
Grand Theft Auto V
You’d think people would finally slow down with GTA V after all this time. But even with GTA 6 coming soon, Grand Theft Auto V is still one of the best-selling games around. GTA Online especially keeps the whole thing alive. Players are still running heists, buying apartments, racing cars, and causing complete chaos across Los Santos with friends.
Battlefield 6
Battlefield had something to prove after mixed reactions to earlier games, and Battlefield 6 feels like a comeback. The warfare, destructible environments, and vehicle combat are all back in focus. Fans really just wanted the series to return to what originally made it special. And they seem to have gotten that.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Call of Duty is impossible to avoid every year. Black Ops 7 keeps the franchise’s multiplayer action while also adding cinematic campaigns and co-op content. The franchise got so big that it expanded beyond console gaming too. There’s now even a military-themed slot inspired by Call of Duty that some players describe as their all-time favorite slots games, mostly because of its COD visuals, explosions, warfare sound effects, and bonus features based on Modern Warfare.
NBA 2K26
Basketball games are still big worldwide, and NBA 2K26 is another success for the franchise. The graphics are almost too realistic now. Sometimes clips online look closer to live NBA broadcasts for a second. Multiplayer and MyCareer mode continue pulling in people as well. NBA 2K is still the biggest basketball gaming franchise around.
EA Sports FC 26
Even after the name change from FIFA, EA Sports FC is still dominating football gaming. Ultimate Team is always popular, while career mode gives players the chance to manage clubs or build custom football stories over multiple seasons. Football games always start online debates about mechanics, but millions still buy them every year anyway.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Superhero games can be hit or miss, but Spider-Man 2 shows why this franchise works so well. Swinging through New York feels satisfying, and the story balances action with emotional moments surprisingly well. Fans also seem to enjoy switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales during gameplay.
Pokemon Legends Z-A
Pokemon never stays away from gaming for long. Pokemon Legends Z-A pushed the franchise further into exploration while still keeping the familiar collecting and battling mechanics fans expect. That balance is probably why Pokemon stays so popular. Younger players find it easy to jump in. Older fans stick around because they grew up with the series. It’s a combination that’s hard to beat.
Minecraft
Minecraft is still everywhere. Players use it for survival gameplay, creative builds, mini-games, roleplay communities, and even educational projects. The simple graphics somehow never became a problem either. New games constantly try copying what Minecraft did over the years, but nothing can really replace it.
