It's an exciting time to be a big sci-fi nerd, because there are absolutely loads of upcoming space and sci-fi games to be excited for. That's why we've put together a list of all the upcoming space & sci-fi games for 2026 & beyond that you should keep an eye on.
From big Star Wars games to brand new IPs, there are tons of space-set video games coming our way across a variety of genres, and sometimes it's quite hard to navigate such a crowded market and to pick the perfect game if we're short on free time. We hope that this list will make some future purchases easier, and maybe even reveal some overlooked gems to you.
If you're looking for games tied to the stars that are already available, then check out our lists of the best space exploration games and the best space games on Xbox Game Pass you can play right now. Plus, we've got an entirely different list for the upcoming Star Wars games that will be coming out of hyperspace in the future.
Orbitals – September 3, 2026
Release date: September 3, 2026 | Developer: Shapefarm | Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
Orbitals kind of came out of nowhere, but it looks absolutely amazing. Envisioned as a two-player co-op adventure "set in a wholly new retro anime world," it sends Maki and Omura – two explorers "with a whole lot more determination than experience" – into a space odyssey that largely takes place inside a cosmic storm.
Of course, the retro anime visuals (actually 3D in-game) pop out instantly, and that alone will get plenty of eyes on it. However, its puzzle-oriented adventure full of platforming, selection of advanced tools, and ship-piloting sections will determine if it becomes one of the best Switch 2 games or not. It'll support both local split-screen and online co-op, which is always a big win. Sadly, at least for now, publisher Kepler Interactive is only bringing it to Nintendo's latest console.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer – October 6, 2026
Release date: October 6, 2026 | Developer: Fuse Games | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
Now this is pod racing… kinda. 2026 promises to be a busy year for Star Wars fans, but no one had a surprise racing video game on their bingo cards. But here it is, a spiritual successor to Star Wars: Pod Racer slated to hit current-gen consoles and PC later this year.
It feels awesome to finally be able to look forward to a spiritual successor of the Racer titles. Even our boys, Sebulba and Ben Quadinaros, are back decades after that fateful Boonta Eve Classic race.
With Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Fuse Games (a studio founded by Criterion veterans) aims to inject some of that sweet, old-fashioned Burnout sensibility into the lawless vehicular competitions that thrive in the Outer Rim after the fall of the Empire.
The setting is new, and speeders and bikes are now allowed, but the engines roar the same way, and the difference between winning and losing is how ruthless you can be and how fast you dare go. With both a “high-stakes” solo campaign and PvP multiplayer in the menu, Galactic Racer may be the Star Wars game you didn’t know you wanted.
Gears of War: E-Day – October 6, 2026
Release date: October 6, 2026 | Developer: The Coalition | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S
While the Gears of War games aren't strictly linked to outer space, Sera ain't Earth, and the series's whole storyline and universe-building is very much full of sci-fi elements.
After a long break since 2019's Gears 5, the flagship Xbox franchise comes back with Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel focusing on Emergence Day. This is a return to the bloody beginning when all hell broke loose on the surface of the (up to that point) human-controlled planet.
Following several gameplay demos and new trailers, it sure looks like Gears' is returning to top form. Yes, it looks fanservice-y as hell, but we can't deny we're extremely excited for it. Gears of War's traditional single-player, co-op, and competitive multiplayer packages never disappoint, and this one could be the hottest by far since the original trilogy.
Full campaign co-op is included, the Horde PvE mode has been expanded, and competitive multiplayer has new tricks that make every encounter faster and more brutal. We're already scared about jumping into ranked matches...
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 – December 3, 2026
Release date: December 3, 2026 | Developer: KING Art | Platforms: PC
Praise the Emperor, because in 2026, we’re getting the long-awaited return of the Dawn of War series with Dawn of War IV, a sequel that promises a bigger focus on the base-building and traditional RTS focus of the original. Relic Entertainment won’t be returning to Kronus, though; it’s Iron Harvest developer KING Art behind the wheel this time.
We know four factions will be available at launch — Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, and the Adeptus Mechanicus as newcomers — alongside a campaign that’s over 70 missions long. Expect the usual offline skirmishes and competitive online matches too.
The original Dawn of War is, in our humble opinion, the best Warhammer 40K game of all time, and it's among the best strategy games ever made, period. If the raw gameplay is as hard-hitting as Dawn of War 4’s visuals and narrative ambition, we may be looking at the follow-up to the 2004 all-timer that’s finally worthy of that crown.
Falling Frontier – TBA 2026
Release date: TBA 2026 | Developer: Stutter Fox Studios | Platform: PC
Falling Frontier is an independent title that caught our attention, and it's shaping up to be a profoundly refreshing sci-fi RTS and a promising candidate for our best space settlement games list.
Defined as a single-player strategy game where players "explore a vast procedurally generated star system," the goal is to survive and expand after completing the construction of a space port in orbit of a new world.
The problem? Other human factions with deep-rooted rivalries that come from the "old colonial wars" have also arrived at the same system. Getting the right pieces of intel and using the most effective tactics will be the only thing separating victory from defeat in this new system.
To get that extra edge, your ships can be fully customized along with their crews. And, on top of all that, the developers are promising mod support and level editors that can power the game for years to come.
Lunar Strike – TBA 2026
Release date: TBA 2026 | Developer: Cognition | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
We’ve been keeping tabs on Lunar Strike since it was announced, and it’s always great to see more narrative adventure games with a big emphasis on science breaking through the sci-fi pew-pew noise.
It’s set on the Moon’s South Pole in the distant year of 2119 and follows a “junior archivist sent to document humanity’s final lunar colony.” What starts as one more trip becomes a fight for survival — both yourself and the colony — when sabotage occurs.
This ‘fight for survival’ doesn’t involve combat, though. Instead, Lunar Strike’s gameplay loop focuses on exploration, survival mechanics like managing oxygen and energy, and preserving ‘the archive’ as everything crumbles. On top of everything, there are “branching narrative outcomes,” and players will have to analyze crime scenes. If you’re looking for a realistic space adventure, keep this one on your radar.
Starfinder: Afterlight – TBA 2026
Release date: TBA 2026 | Developer: Epictellers Entertainment | Platforms: PC
Starfinder: Afterlight has been flying under most gamers' radars, but we're firmly placing bets on it becoming a sleeper hit. It's an original story set in Paizo's Starfinder RPG universe which is promising players true freedom; branching narratives, chosen factions, and classes totally shape your journey. Epictellers is also teasing a flexible and deep experience which supports both experienced cRPG veterans and newcomers to the turn-based tactics built on top of the tabletop Starfinder 2e ruleset.
Depending on the type of captain you become, your six companions act differently during battles and even evolve into subclasses. Yes, we're getting plenty of mingling and romance in this one, like in other modern RPG hits, but the narrative has a big effect on the actual gameplay. We're being told it's possible to even fly solo into adventure if you want, which could have a huge impact on how story threads unravel. If a mix of Guardians of the Galaxy and Baldur's Gate 3 sounds enticing to you, don't lose sight of this one when it launches into early access later this year.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn – Q2 2027
Release date: Q2 2027 | Developer: Owlcat Games | Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S
We’re big on The Expanse here at SPACE, so we obviously were super happy to see a snazzy new game based on the renowned sci-fi franchise announced during the Summer Game Fest 2025.
It’s coming from Owlcat Games, developers of the excellent Warhammer 40K game Rogue Trader. Despite having also announced an all-new 40K game recently, they’ve also been cooking up The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, an ambitious third-person-shooter RPG based on the immensely popular books and TV show.
Though it won't arrive until the first half of 2027, the first-ever gameplay footage looked stunning. Set in the 24th century, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn follows a crew of mercenaries and specialists facing “escalating threats, political pressure, and a relentless enemy that will stop at nothing to see you dead.” In this single-player space odyssey, players will be able to visit well-known planets and moons in our solar system, including Ganymede, Ceres, Mars, Luna, and more.
We had the chance to get hands-on with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn at Gamescom 2025 and in early 2026, and it's shaping up to be the Mass Effect successor that we've all been waiting for.
Exodus – TBA 2027
Release date: TBA 2027 | Developer: Archetype Entertainment | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
While the next Mass Effect is a ways off, we should be getting something similar with Exodus, another ambitious action-RPG from Archetype Entertainment, a studio that includes BioWare, 343 Industries, and Naughty Dog talent. It’s meant to be the start of a bold new sci-fi universe that puts players at the center of humanity’s fight for survival thousands of years into the future. The twist that gives it spice? Our worst enemies are our future selves. Also, there are armored space bears.
It remains to be seen if Exodus will be able to escape the shadows of its more obvious influences, but everything we’ve heard and read about it so far makes it sound like one of the most enticing high-concept AAA games in quite a while.
Using time dilation as a key mechanic that can reshape the narrative is an incredibly ambitious idea by itself, but the worldbuilding that’s been shown so far is worth keeping tabs on, too. Moreover, the real-time combat appears to pack a punch while looking consistently dazzling. The bad news is that we don’t have a specific release window yet.
SOL Shogunate – TBA 2027
Release date: TBA 2027 | Developer: Chaos Manufacturing | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
SOL Shogunate is an action-RPG that dares to ask the question, "What if feudal Japan, but on the moon?" Cue a story of space samurai, warring clans, and vengeance set against the backdrop of a lunar city inspired by Japanese architecture. You can even explore the moon on horseback (it's a robot horse, but still).
One of the big hooks here, besides this unique "Astro-feudal Japan" setting, is the low-gravity combat mechanics that allow for some awe-inspiring battles. With the promise of brutal melee combat mixed with futuristic gadgets and elemental systems, the action should be non-stop.
Developer Chaos Manufacturing is swinging for the fences with this one, and we can only admire the ambition. We're optimistic they can pull it off, too, as the first in-game trailer looks genuinely stunning. Meanwhile, you can also read our extensive interview with studio CEO Guy Costantini and aerospace engineer Taylore McClurg.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy – TBA 2027
Release date: TBA 2027 | Developer: Owlcat Games | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
After the success of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, Owlcat has once again teamed up with Games Workshop to mix classic RPG game design with the grim darkness of the 41st millennium.
The roster of characters is far weirder (and more alien) this time around, and so is the basic pitch, which invites players to investigate dark cults, root out heresy, and cleanse those who threaten the Imperium of Man. Dark Heresy will blend turn-based combat, a deep party system, and open-ended storytelling as you purge the heretics and eradicate the xenos scum in the name of the Emperor.
Owlcat's pedigree in the CRPG space is proven, so this should be a banger. Newcomers be warned, though; you'll lose tens (or even hundreds) of hours to this one.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 – TBA 2027
Release date: TBA 2027 | Developer: Creative Assembly | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
Warhammer 40K is the franchise that never sleeps these days, especially on the video games front, and after the huge success of the Total War: Warhammer trilogy, it's no surprise that Games Workshop and Creative Assembly decided to keep the big collaboration going with Total War: Warhammer 40,000.
In the grim darkness of the far future, you'll be spending tens of hours in the same turn-based, large-scale campaign and controlling massive armies in real-time strategy battlefields.
The Game Awards 2025 reveal was stunning, and with a reworked engine enabling Total War to finally make the jump to consoles, we could be looking at one of the biggest and most successful big-budget strategy games ever.
It all hinges on whether Creative Assembly has figured out how to make the Total War formula work in a sci-fi setting, as this is the franchise's first venture outside fantasy and historical settings.
We'll have Space Marines, Orks, Aeldari, and the Astra Militarum available at launch, but if history has told us anything, it's that things will get busier once DLC packs start pouring in. Our Editor Ian is already writing a petition to get his beloved Necrons on the roster.
ONTOS – TBA 2027
Release date: TBA 2027 | Developer: Frictional Games | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
We're always on the lookout for space horror games, so ONTOS grabbed us immediately when it was announced at the 2025 Game Awards.
It comes to us from Amnesia developer Frictional Games, and that pedigree alone is enough to guarantee the spooks. We play as Aditi Amani, a young woman who has been invited to the repurposed moon hotel Samsara by her estranged father. Once a brilliant man, he's now become a cult-leading prophet who puts you through "a gauntlet of chilling experiments and disturbing encounters that push the boundaries of both science and morality.”
It won't be for the faint of heart, but if you're an absolute sicko like us, we bet something compelling lurks beneath the game's gorgeous surface. Frictional is promising a stronger focus on puzzles, exploration, and tough moral dilemmas, which should help it separate from the studio’s previous efforts.
If you needed another reason to check out this nightmarish sci-fi game, Stellan Skarsgård (Andor) has voiced the lead role of the troubled prophet. That gravely voice is almost worth the price of admission alone.
Among Us Story: On Guard – TBA
Release date: TBA | Developer: Innersloth | Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch 2
A single-player, narrative-oriented Among Us spinoff wasn't on our wishlist, but it's a solid pitch. The trailer is charming, and the IP is perfect for a traditional murder mystery video game. We're just hoping for enough sci-fi elements to make it stand out. For those curious about the whole Among Us phenomenon but not interested in an online 'social deduction' game, this seems like the perfect opportunity to sus it all out – there's even a surprisingly good Among Us animated TV show to watch!
Players will step into the role of the Guard, maintaining security on the ship and keeping all Crewmates safe. But then, of course, murder happens. A colorful cast of original characters will help (or mislead) the Guard, and tasks and smaller missions aim to keep things varied and unpredictable. Innersloth is even teasing multiple endings, so replays are on the table.
Gundam Rogue Orbit – TBA 2027
Release date: TBA 2027 | Developer: Bandai Namco Studios | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
By giving it some love on the gaming front, Bandai Namco is making sure that Gundam isn't going out of fashion anytime soon. Gamers, get ready to be excited by Gundam Rogue Orbit, a game which aims to deliver fast-paced, hard-hitting action alongside a cinematic story – this feels inspired by the fantastic sixth Armored Core, and we are here for it.
While we don't know much yet despite its first explosive trailer, we know it's a single-player game – hopefully we'll get multiplayer modes too – in which we pilot a Gundam named Helix to fight "a powerful unknown threat" alongside a crew of soldiers who have seen better days. While there's plenty to love here for Gundam veterans, more casual mech fans can also use it as an entry point into the larger, decades-long franchise. That's the promise, at least.
gen ATLAS – TBA
Release date: TBA | Developer: genDESIGN | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
Crafted in the shadows for years, gen ATLAS was finally unveiled in late 2024. Now, we've received a good proper look at the upcoming sci-fi open-world game, and it's mixing a lot of elements that are separately enticing. There's a vast and silent world, colossal ruined structures, giant mechs, and a mysterious protagonist. And that only seems to be the beginning...
Honestly, it might be a while before this one is ready to go, but we always have to pay attention to whatever Fumito Ueda (ICO, Shadow of the Colossus) puts together. The ambition on display is staggering, and even if gen ATLAS doesn't fully come together, chances are the legendary creative will give us something that feels unique in the big-budget space. We need more bold swings like this right now.
Alien: Isolation 2 – TBA
Release date: TBA | Developer: Creative Assembly | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2
After a number of teases since late 2024, we've already seen Alien: Isolation 2 in action. With hands-on demos happening at gaming events already, chances are Creative Assembly's follow-up to one of the best Alien games ever is closer than we initially believed, even if there's no concrete release window yet.
That said, there's still a lot we don't know about the sequel and how it differs from the original beyond fancier graphics. We know we'll be controlling Blake, a new character, as she's sent to investigate a crashed vessel on a colony-planet. Stealth and smart use of non-lethal tools is key to survival, but how has the gameplay loop evolved since 2014? It's too early to tell, yet considering all the twists and turns of the first one, we're fairly sure Alien: Isolation 2 won't be a predictable survival horror ride.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet – TBA
Release date: TBA | Developer: Naughty Dog | Platform: PS5
First announced in late 2024 with a mysterious but exciting teaser trailer, Intergalactic marks Naughty Dog's return to science fiction after two decades entirely dedicated to Uncharted and The Last of Us. It retains the studio's signature realism of recent times, but it seems to be going for something completely different when it comes to tone and the overall worldbuilding. Just look at those colors and listen to that music!
The single-player adventure follows Jordan, "a dangerous bounty hunter," on a slightly personal mission that goes sideways. She ends up stranded on a distant and enigmatic planet "whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago," and it looks like she's not alone.
Expect punchy combat and hard-hitting drama, but also a lighter affair than Naughty Dog's recent home runs.
Judas – TBA
Release date: TBA | Developer: Ghost Story Games | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
If you're a fan of space horror games and you loved the System Shock and BioShock games, then you're in luck with Judas. Ken Levine – the creative director behind System Shock 2, BioShock, and BioShock Infinite – is back with a veteran team of devs and creating another narrative-heavy first-person shooter. However, this game feels like an evolution of the formula he and his people are known for.
According to the official Judas press release, the story takes place inside a disintegrating ship and follows the "desperate escape plan" of a troubled main character. It also sounds like alliances and choices may be part of the game's systems, as Levine has teased in the past that he wanted to push the possibilities of an open-ended narrative further.
It's ambitious sci-fi and, from what we've seen in the Judas reveal trailer, it looks pretty fantastic so far. We're prepared to have our minds blown again.
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic – TBA
Release date: TBA | Developer: Arcanaut Studios | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
Fate of the Old Republic (Are we calling this one FOTOR?) promises to bring back the magic of the now-ancient Knights of the Old Republic RPGs into the modern era. That's exciting on its own, but then we look at the creative team, which is led by BioWare alumni Casey Hudson, who was the director on KOTOR and the Mass Effect trilogy, and it's easy to see why people are hyped about this one.
Sure, there are plenty of Star Wars games in development right now, and history has taught us that many don't reach the finish line. Still, we have hope, and Arcanaut Studios is already ramping up its recruitment efforts.
For now, we can only theorize if Fate of the Old Republic will continue the olden (now Legends) story threads from the KOTOR games, or if it's going to be a part of Lucasfilm's current canon.
Mass Effect 4 – TBA
Release date: TBA | Developer: BioWare | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
Only named "The Next Mass Effect" at this point, a follow-up to the classic Mass Effect trilogy is coming from BioWare veterans and new talent added in recent years. Its mission is to course-correct the action-RPG franchise after Mass Effect: Andromeda failed to meet expectations in 2017.
As far as we know, that game's storyline is being dropped for now... although some rumors and theories suggest it could be woven into the fourth mainline Mass Effect. This will have the huge task of reigniting a galaxy that was shaken and forever changed by the events of Mass Effect 3. Details are light right now, but we did put together a list of 10 things we want from the next Mass Effect game.
We're obviously excited for this one, but Mass Effect 4 is sadly still quite far away. For now, we recommend revisiting – or discovering for the first time – the outstanding Mass Effect trilogy with 2021's Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. We just know that this will be your favorite game on the Citadel.
Star Wars Eclipse – TBA
Release date: TBA | Developer: Quantic Dream | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5
Star Wars Eclipse promises to be large, action-heavy, and narratively flexible. Set in the High Republic era of the Star Wars timeline, Lucasfilm Games and Quantic Dream's extremely ambitious title is years away, if it ends up happening at all… but we're still hopeful! In the meantime, at least we have the best Star Wars games to play.
The "branching narrative" game features several characters and takes place across several Star Wars planets, old and new. The Jedi Knights are part of the story, but the Trade Federation and the mysterious Nihil (introduced in the High Republic novels) are part of the larger conflict, too.
Moreover, a previously unseen alien species appears to be preparing for the return of a big villain, and it doesn't look like they're a Sith.
