Older Gems To Replay Or Revisit Before The November Rush
Want something to play that still holds up before games like GTA VI, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, Wolverine, etc. come out? Check this list...
We've had one hell of a decade so far in the 2020s. That said, 2026 is shaping up to be diabolically good...
2020 had The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima. 2021 had stalwart entries in Returnal and Final Fantasy VII Remake. 2022 had Elden Ring and God of War: Ragnarok. 2023 had The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3. 2024 had Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. 2025 had Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hades II.
2026 though? We are going to see both Grand Theft Auto VI and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake. In the same month (November). And that's not even including other incredible-looking games that have come out already or are still to come out. Examples of both include Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Marvel's Wolverine, Mewgenics, Pokemon Pokopia, and Control: Resonant. The list goes on and on.
It is financially difficult in 2026 to play all of the big titles at the time of release
There is value in saving money. The good news is: there are a ton of amazing games out there. Sometimes the issue is where do I start?
Here are some of my gems that I have recently dove back into, as part of my Road to 40 series on my Twitch channel.
Titanfall 2
Electronic Arts
Respawn Entertainment gives you the most advanced titan technology in its new, single player campaign & multiplayer experience. Combine & conquer with new titans & pilots, deadlier weapons, & customization and progression systems that help you and your titan flow as one unstoppable killing force.
Titanfall 2 is arguably the greatest FPS single-player campaign ever. Yes, I'm including classics like Half-Life 2 and Bioshock in that statement. I recently replayed this in late Spring 2026 and it holds up incredibly well.
The pacing, the emotional weight, the gameplay - it all just feels so good. It's also quick - the campaign itself runs about 6 hours at a leisurely pace. An easy one or two sitting experience that provides immense value. This title is becoming one of the ones I may go back to every year or so.
The best part? Titanfall 2 is usually pretty cheap on storefronts like Steam.
Spiritfarer
Thunder Lotus
Spiritfarer® is a cozy management game about dying. As ferrymaster to the deceased, build a boat to explore the world, care for your spirit friends, and release them into the afterlife. The Spiritfarer Farewell Edition includes the heartwarming base game and three major content updates.
Spiritfarer is a game that will emotionally destroy you... in a worthwhile way. It's a game that, on the surface, is a somewhat simple cozy management sim meets side-scrolling adventure game. Do not let the apparent simplicity disillusion you on the merits of this game.
You take control of a protagonist that leads characters into the afterlife, and along the way, learn about their incredibly relatable tales of their lives. I found myself both crying and laughing at times - especially now that I am in my early fatherhood. This is a special game.
Portal 2
Valve
The "Perpetual Testing Initiative" has been expanded to allow you to design co-op puzzles for you and your friends!
With 'friend slop' games being all the rage... why not dive into one of the best co-op campaigns ever in Portal 2? You're already obsessed with playing games with friends - but where the aforementioned 'slop' is often tied to a more shallow gameplay experience - this campaign lends itself to absolutely terrific cooperative puzzle solving.
I recently played the cooperative campaign with a friend this summer, after only having tried the single player version beforehand, and what a tight and amazing experience it is. The play time is approximately 6 hours and is paced incredibly well - the game is broken into multiple sections of puzzles with specific puzzle-solving themes (example: light bridges, speed goop, etc.) so you can take on the game in great bite-sized chunks.
There's a reason why this game is lauded so highly - I'd argue that it took until 2026 to have a worthy rival to take the cooperative puzzle-solving throne.
Darksiders
THQ Nordic
Deceived by the forces of evil into prematurely bringing about the end of the world, War – the first Horseman of the Apocalypse – stands accused of breaking the sacred law by inciting a war between Heaven and Hell. In the slaughter that ensued, the demonic forces defeated the heavenly hosts and laid claim to the Earth.
If you need a traditional 3D Zelda experience ahead of the Ocarina of Time Remake, Darksiders is worth a look. While having an extremely familiar gameplay loop/formula, the setting alone is different and visceral enough such that you won't feel burnt out by the time that Hyrule Field beckons you to return.
The Warmastered Edition specifically handles like a dream (edit: can we bring back dumb remastered/remake titles like this?) on Steam, and is a great Steam Deck game to play in bed. Take on War and hack-n-slash your way through various demons while upgrading your powers along the way.
GRIDDLYBEAR is an Indigenous and neurodivergent Canadian, father, husband, brother, and goof. He streams on Twitch twice a week, and can be seen hanging around numerous internet dwellings including Kinda Funny and Hang Time. Don't ask him what the latest meme is though - he likely won't know. For a Canadian he's also weirdly obsessed with Philadelphia sports teams - GO BIRDS.