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TL;DR — Our top pick: Star Wars Zero Company — the most anticipated new release of 2026, a squad-based tactics game set in the Star Wars universe from Respawn Entertainment.
| Game | Best For | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Zero Company | Strategy / Star Wars fans | Xbox Series X |
| Death Stranding 2: On The Beach | Narrative / art-house gaming | PS5 |
| Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe | Co-op looter shooter fans | PS5 |
| DOOM: The Dark Ages Collector’s Bundle | Action / hardcore shooter fans | PS5 |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | Open-world action RPG fans | PS5 |
The last two years have been unusually strong for major releases across every genre. Star Wars returns to the strategy genre for the first time in years, Hideo Kojima followed up his cult hit with a full sequel, and Gearbox brought back one of gaming’s most beloved co-op franchises. Whether you missed one on launch or are looking for your next purchase, here’s what’s worth your money across the biggest releases of 2025 and 2026.
1. Star Wars Zero Company
Buy Star Wars Zero Company on Amazon →
Star Wars Zero Company is a squad-based tactical RPG developed by Respawn Entertainment — the team behind Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor — and published by EA. Set during the Clone Wars era, it follows a morally complex mercenary unit navigating missions across the Star Wars galaxy. The gameplay draws clear inspiration from XCOM, putting you in command of a small squad through turn-based tactical missions with permanent consequence and deep character customization.
For Star Wars fans burned out on shooter-first entries, Zero Company represents a genuine return to the strategy roots of games like Star Wars: Empire at War and Knights of the Old Republic. The Clone Wars setting gives the writers access to a sprawling conflict with room for moral ambiguity that the mainline films often avoid. Respawn’s narrative track record suggests this will be more than a licensed product.
The Xbox Series X disc edition listed here is the standard version. A PS5 edition also exists on Amazon. If you’re on PC, check EA App/Origin or Steam for digital pricing. This is the highest-profile Star Wars game release in several years and the one most worth pre-ordering if the genre fits your taste.
Pair it with a solid gaming headset for the Star Wars score — our best gaming headsets under $100 guide covers the top wired and wireless options at every budget.
2. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Buy Death Stranding 2: On The Beach on Amazon →
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is Hideo Kojima’s follow-up to his 2019 PS4 epic. The sequel continues the story of Sam Porter Bridges in a world still scarred by the titular catastrophe, expanding the gameplay systems that made the original divisive — traversal-focused missions across open terrain, cooperative infrastructure building with other online players’ ghost-trails, and a deeply cinematic presentation with a celebrity cast. If the original was “walking simulator” for critics and a meditation on connection for fans, the sequel leans further into both.
This is a PS5 exclusive. The standard physical edition listed here gives you the full game. A Digital Deluxe edition with in-game extras and a soundtrack is also available on Amazon if you want the additional content. The gameplay loop centers on delivering packages across hostile terrain while managing your load, stamina, and environmental hazards — it remains unlike anything else in mainstream gaming.
Death Stranding 2 is worth buying if you finished and enjoyed the first game. If you bounced off the pacing of the original, this won’t convert you. For everyone else, it’s one of the more unique narrative experiences of 2025.
3. Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Edition
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Borderlands 4 is Gearbox Software’s return to the cel-shaded looter shooter that defined a generation of co-op gaming. The Super Deluxe Edition for PS5 includes the base game plus the Season Pass, giving you access to all post-launch story DLC as it releases. For players who plan to spend serious time in the game and want the full experience without buying DLC piecemeal, the Super Deluxe edition is the better value per dollar over the standard edition.
The gameplay formula is well-established: procedurally generated guns in the billions, four-player co-op with dedicated loot drops, a level-scaling system that keeps content relevant across the campaign, and a tone that mixes irreverent humor with surprising emotional beats. Borderlands 4 updates this with new mobility options, an evolved skill tree system, and a fresh cast of Vault Hunters alongside some returning fan favorites.
If you have three friends who will actually play through it with you, Borderlands 4 is one of the best pure co-op gaming purchases available right now. Solo players can complete it but miss out on the dynamic that makes the series shine. The Super Deluxe edition makes the most sense if you commit to the game long-term.
4. DOOM: The Dark Ages Collector’s Bundle
Buy DOOM: The Dark Ages Collector’s Bundle on Amazon →
DOOM: The Dark Ages is id Software’s prequel to their critically acclaimed 2016 reboot and 2020 Eternal follow-up. Set in a dark fantasy medieval world, it reimagines the Doom Slayer as a siege weapon against demonic forces, with heavier, more grounded combat compared to the aerial acrobatics of Eternal. The Collector’s Bundle on PS5 includes the game disc, a limited-edition statue, and premium campaign content — it’s a collector’s piece as much as a game purchase.
The standard edition is also available on Amazon at a lower price if you want the game without the physical extras. The Dark Ages runs at 60fps on PS5 with ray tracing options and continues id Software’s streak of technically impressive and mechanically refined shooters. The combat philosophy shift — trading speed for raw power — has divided fans of Eternal but pleased players who found that game too demanding.
For shooter fans, this is one of the tightest single-player action games released in 2025. The Collector’s Bundle is worth the premium specifically if you want the physical statue for display — if you just want to play the game, the standard edition is the smarter buy. Make sure your gaming setup is up to the task with a quality gaming chair for the longer sessions this kind of game demands.
5. Monster Hunter Wilds
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Monster Hunter Wilds is Capcom’s latest entry in their flagship hunting action RPG series. It represents the biggest generational leap the franchise has made since Monster Hunter World in 2018 — dynamic weather ecosystems that change monster behavior, seamless open-zone transitions without loading screens, and a living world where monsters roam, interact, and respond to environmental shifts in real time.
The core loop is unchanged: study a monster, prepare the right gear, hunt it, carve its materials, craft better equipment, hunt bigger monsters. Wilds adds a companion Seikret mount that opens traversal options and a wounds system that changes combat positioning in meaningful ways. The PC and PS5 versions are the best ways to play, with the PS5 standard edition listed here being the most accessible physical purchase.
Monster Hunter Wilds is one of the best starting points in the franchise if you’ve never played before. The pacing is more forgiving than older entries, the onboarding is improved, and the world is genuinely stunning to explore. Returning hunters will find the late-game progression deeply satisfying. Pair it with a solid monitor for the full visual experience — our best monitors under $300 guide covers options that do justice to games like this.
Who Should Buy What
- For Star Wars fans and strategy game enthusiasts: Star Wars Zero Company is the most anticipated 2026 release and a rare return to the tactical strategy genre in the Star Wars universe.
- For players who want something unlike anything else: Death Stranding 2 is a PS5 exclusive that rewards patience with one of the most distinctive narratives in mainstream gaming.
- For co-op players who want the full package: Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe includes all DLC and is best when played with friends.
- For single-player shooter fans: DOOM: The Dark Ages is a polished, focused campaign that requires no live service commitment.
- For long-term value and the best game-per-hour ratio: Monster Hunter Wilds offers hundreds of hours of content and the best entry point into the series to date.
FAQ
Is Star Wars Zero Company available on PlayStation 5?
Yes — a PS5 disc edition of Star Wars Zero Company exists on Amazon separately from the Xbox Series X edition listed here. The Xbox version linked in this guide is the standard disc edition; search Amazon for the PS5 variant if that’s your preferred platform. PC players can access it via EA App or Steam as a digital purchase. No current plans have been announced for a Nintendo version.
Is Death Stranding 2 coming to Xbox or PC?
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach launched as a PS5 timed exclusive. Based on the pattern of the original game, a PC release via Steam is likely 12–18 months after the PS5 launch, though no official date has been confirmed. There is no Xbox version planned. If you don’t own a PS5 and want to play on PC, waiting for the Steam release is the most reasonable path.
Are any of these games cross-platform multiplayer?
Borderlands 4 supports cross-play between PlayStation and Xbox for its four-player co-op. Monster Hunter Wilds has cross-play between PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Death Stranding 2’s online component (the asynchronous infrastructure-sharing system) is PS5 only. DOOM: The Dark Ages and Star Wars Zero Company are single-player only with no multiplayer component.
Is the DOOM: The Dark Ages Collector’s Bundle worth the extra cost?
Only if you want the physical statue for display. The gameplay content in the Collector’s Bundle is the same as the standard edition. The bundle includes a limited-edition statue, premium packaging, and some in-game cosmetics, but no additional story content. If you’re buying purely to play the game, the standard edition at a lower price is the better value.
Do I need to play the original Death Stranding before the sequel?
Playing the original is recommended for the narrative context — Death Stranding 2 continues Sam’s story and references events and characters from the first game. That said, the sequel includes a story recap system and the gameplay systems are reintroduced progressively, so newcomers can follow along. The original is available on PS5 and PC at a discounted price if you want the full experience before starting the sequel.
Bottom Line
2025 and 2026 have delivered some of the most distinct major releases in recent memory across every genre. For the single best upcoming purchase, Star Wars Zero Company is the one to watch — a squad tactics game with genuine creative ambition set in one of gaming’s most beloved universes. For immediate purchases, Monster Hunter Wilds is the best value-per-hour on this list, and Borderlands 4 is the best co-op game if you have a regular group. Buy what fits your genre and your platform, and check back as Zero Company gets closer to its full release window.