The first full week of 2026 isn’t overflowing with blockbuster game launches, but it still offers a diverse mix of indie experiments, early-access MMORPGs, and long-awaited console arrivals. From deck-building roguelites to psychological horror and cozy sims, there’s enough variety here to kick off the year on a thoughtful note rather than an overwhelming one. Here are the notable releases to keep an eye on this week.
DuneCrawl
Release date: January 5, 2026
Platforms: PC
The week begins with an online co-op action-adventure that leans heavily into spectacle. Players become desert pirates roaming vast dunes aboard a massive crustacean bristling with cannons. Designed around teamwork and exploration, DuneCrawl mixes colorful visuals with chaotic combat, offering a playful twist on open-world co-op gameplay.
StarRupture
Release date: January 6, 2026
Platforms: PC (Early Access)
StarRupture blends first-person survival, base building, and large-scale automation. Set on a visually striking alien planet, the game challenges players to extract resources, build industrial systems, and survive recurring planetary cataclysms. It can be played solo or cooperatively, making it an appealing option for fans of systemic, long-term progression.
Havenhold
Release date: January 6, 2026
Platforms: PC (Early Access)
Havenhold enters early access as a free-to-play MMORPG inspired by Far Eastern mythology. Players take on the role of warrior monks wielding primordial powers, focusing on combat, crafting, trading, and territory expansion. It aims to blend traditional MMO systems with a strong thematic identity and action-driven gameplay.
Fairy Tail: Dungeons
Release date: January 7, 2026
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Already available on PC, Fairy Tail: Dungeons arrives on Switch this week. The roguelite deck-builder draws from the popular anime, tasking players with collecting magical cards and battling monsters in procedurally generated dungeons. It’s a solid pick for fans of both the franchise and card-based strategy games.
ODDCORE
Release date: January 7, 2026
Platforms: PC (Early Access)
ODDCORE is an ultra-fast, retro-styled FPS built around short, intense runs. Players have just five minutes per session to fight through hordes of enemies using a wide arsenal of weapons. With dozens of arenas, enemy types, and frequent boss encounters, it’s designed for adrenaline-fueled repetition.
Past Fate
Release date: January 7, 2026
Platforms: PC (Early Access)
Past Fate is another MMORPG launching into early access, this time set in a medieval fantasy universe. Emphasizing freedom and exploration, the game allows players to roam vast continents, uncover secrets, and shape their own path. It’s an ambitious project aimed at players who enjoy open-ended progression.
Cozy Caravan
Release date: January 8, 2026
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
After a lengthy early-access period, Cozy Caravan reaches version 1.0. The game focuses on relaxed exploration, cooking meals, running market stalls, and helping local NPCs. It’s designed as a low-pressure, feel-good experience, perfect for players looking to unwind.
Ancient Farm
Release date: January 8, 2026
Platforms: PC
Ancient Farm offers a farming simulation set in ancient Egypt. Players cultivate crops, unlock workshops, and construct temples as they grow their agricultural empire. The historical setting gives a familiar genre a refreshing thematic spin.
Pathologic 3
Release date: January 9, 2026
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
One of the most anticipated releases of the week, Pathologic 3 continues the series’ tradition of bleak, decision-driven storytelling. Players take on the role of a doctor racing against time to save a plague-stricken city. Moral choices, limited resources, and psychological tension define the experience.
Code Violet
Release date: January 10, 2026
Platforms: PS5
Code Violet blends sci-fi and horror in a third-person action format. Set in a post-cataclysmic future, players control Violet Sinclair as she navigates a bioengineering facility filled with dinosaurs. It’s an unusual premise that leans into both survival and spectacle.
Gamblers Table
Release date: January 11, 2026
Platforms: PC
Closing out the week is Gamblers Table, an incremental automation game centered on coin tossing and system optimization. As earnings grow, players unlock upgrades and assistants to automate the process, creating a deceptively addictive loop for fans of idle and management games.
The Week Ahead
While January 5–11 doesn’t deliver headline-grabbing blockbusters, it sets a steady tone for 2026 with experimental ideas, early-access ambitions, and genre variety. Whether you’re in the mood for psychological horror, cozy farming, or fast-paced action, this week offers something worth sampling as the new gaming year gets underway.
