The turn of the new year typically symbolises renewal, reflection, and letting go of the past. That is, if you don’t have an outstanding backlog of media from 2025 that is collecting dust in your digital libraries. We see you, Steam Winter sale purchases.
But while many of us will be bringing our backlog into the new year, that doesn’t mean we can’t add even more to the list. From video games and films, to music and animation, here is THE MAGIC RAIN’s most anticipated media of the coming year.
1. Resident Evil Requiem
CAPCOM’s next entry in the Resident Evil franchise feels like a homecoming in more ways than one. As the ninth mainline title, Resident Evil Requiem brings players back to the missile-torn ruins of Raccoon City to discover the truth behind the original zombie outbreak. It will be led by a new protagonist, FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, while supported by the return of the legendary federal agent Leon Kennedy.
Resident Evil Requiem is also set to refine certain elements of the franchise that have been heavily debated in past installments, including the return of the dual protagonist system, the option to play in either first-person or third-person perspective, and a promised return to the franchise’s horror-survival themes. Whether or not they manage to fulfill all their promises, only February 27th can tell. — Nathalie
2. Subnautica 2
Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero were terrifyingly beautiful entries to the Subnautica franchise, which started a whole new genre of videos of people screaming when a Leviathan comes to close for comfort. Dive deep into the oceans of an alien planet: document the marine life, survive, and understand the story of how things came to be. Subnautica 2 is set to release sometime in 2026, and we’re eager to see what adventures await our protagonist this time. Also, hopefully there aren’t any more Leviathans lurking in dead zones #IKYKYK. — Drake Cos
3. 007 First Light
IO Interactive, the developer and publisher behind the HITMAN franchise, has been working on an official James Bond game for awhile now. Drawing inspiration from the original stories by Ian Fleming and the long-running film franchise, 007 First Light will focus on Bond’s origin story as he embarks on the mission he must complete to earn his licence to kill. Besides being an exciting premise for an original action-adventure game, it also feels like a spiritual successor to Uncharted and Nathan Drake for me personally. — Nathalie
4. Phantom Blade Zero
Quickly emerging as one of the most talked about games since its reveal, Phantom Blade 0 brings a breath of fresh air to the gaming world thanks to its unique “kungfupunk” fusion of traditional wuxia martial arts, steampunk and cyberpunk aesthetics and dark fantasy storytelling coupled with smooth as butter, intense combat.
Its success in quickly reaching over one million wishlists on major storefronts highlights strong global interest ahead of its anticipated launch, carrying the legacy of other Asian blockbuster hits like Black Myth Wukong, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Where the Winds Meet. What sets it apart from the rest is its blend of Chinese folklore with its promise of cinematic swordplay visuals, tight combat gameplay, and most important of all, an intriguing narrative premise where the protagonist has only 66 days to live. Long live Wuxia! — CM Char
5. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
In conjunction with the franchise’s 30th anniversary, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis reimagines Lara Croft’s 1996 debut game for both veteran raiders and those jumping into their first adventure with the iconic adventurer. While not technically a new mainline title, it is undoubtedly Lara Croft’s biggest title since Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018, plus serving as a great build up to the next mainline title Tomb Raider: Catalyst in 2027. — Nathalie
6. Marvel’s Wolverine
With Marvel’s recent success in the video gaming world (think Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel Rivals, Cosmic Invasion, Midnight Suns), Marvel’s Wolverine is set to be a barn burner for sure. Look at the sheer pedigree behind it: developed by Insomniac Games, the studio that redefined superhero games with its Spider-Man series, and backed by Sony Interactive Entertainment and Marvel Games.
Building on the rich lore of one of Marvel’s most iconic characters, this action-adventure promises an original narrative that explores Wolverine’s darker, more brutal side with visceral, close-quarters combat that reflects Logan’s ferocity and complexity. As a huge Insomniac and X-Men fan myself, I wait with bated breath to see Wolverine’s world brought to life with cinematic storytelling, deep character arcs, and high-impact gameplay, solidifying why he is the best at what he does. Your move, bub. — CM Char
7. PRAGMATA
Introducing a long-awaited new original IP from Capcom (which is extremely rare), Pragmata has finally secured a concrete release date after years of delay, as it was first revealed during 2020. Set in a near-future lunar research station, the game pairs third-person action with strategic mechanics as players control both astronaut Hugh and his android companion Diana to survive and uncover secrets against a hostile AI.
Its innovative dual gameplay, atmospheric sci-fi setting, and the return of Capcom to something wholly new and ambitious has sparked sustained curiosity and excitement within me, especially after demos and trailers showcased its unique blend of combat, exploration, and narrative-driven gameplay. — CM Char
8. Lost and Found Co
Thailand indie studio Bit Egg Inc are set to breathe new life into the hidden object genre with their upcoming release, Lost and Found Co. Arriving on February 11th, you play as Ducky, a duck-turned-human intern, who holds the important job of finding lost items for quirky townsfolk. We fell in the love with the game from its demo, and we can’t wait to dive into its detailed hidden object levels and room customisation mode in the full game! — Nathalie
9. Coffee Talk Tokyo
If you never got into the Coffee Talk series, here’s a good place to start. Coffee Talk Tokyo is the next standalone chapter in the beloved Coffee Talk series, developed by Toge Productions and Chorus Worldwide, expanding the series’ cozy universe with a new city, a new cast, new gameplay options, and fresh stories to share. Having played the first two games, I’m excited to see how the stories and characters will localise to the busy streets of Tokyo. Not to mention, will we be getting a whole new drinks menu?! — Nathalie
10. Neverway
If you like your farming sims with a tinge of horror, Neverway should be on your list. You play as Fiona, a young woman who quits her dead-end job to start over on a farm and become the immortal herald of a dead god. Keep your life from falling apart while searching for Neverway, a nightmare reality that is slowly leaking into yours. Plus, there’s 10 possible characters to date along the way. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good time. — Nathalie
11. OPUS: Prism Peak
SIGONO’s OPUS: Echo of Starsong is one of the most notable narrative-driven indie games of the past decade, and in 2026, the Taiwanese-based studio is finally returning with a brand new story. OPUS: Prism Peak is a narrative adventure where you play as a weary photojournalist, beaten by a life of failures, as he stumbles into an ethereal realm. Starring Kana Ichinose (Fern from Frieren, Suletta from Gundam: The Witch from Mercury) and Shinichiro Miki (Roy Mustang from Fullmetal Alchemist) in the Japanese dub, we can’t wait to immerse ourselves in this photo-taking cinematic experience. — Nathalie
12. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is going to make a come back! After a three year hiatus, most fans thought it would end at Part 6: Stone Ocean, so it certainly was a surprise when the official teaser dropped out ofthe blue. Part 7: Steel Ball Run is one of the most beloved and well received parts of the JoJo franchise, and who better to animate it than David Production, who has been delivering on JoJo ever since Part 1: Phantom Blood.
Steel Ball Run, which is set in the alternate universe, stars Johnny Joestar (JoJo), a paraplegic jockey who hopes to win the titular Steel Ball Run and regain use of his legs. Stands return in this universe and also features a new power “Spin”, this universe’s Hamon. Amongst his opponents are Diego Brando (alternate universe Dio Brando), and President of the U.S.A, Funny Valentine (truly bizarre). This adaptation is sure to be a banger! — TJ
13. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Season 2)
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a beautiful palate cleanser in a sea of isekai and power fantasy anime. It knows how to take its time to allow the viewer to fully absorb everything. Many has steered clear away from this anime after the first few episodes due to its pacing or style of story-telling, but that is precisely what makes this series goated and absolutely snubbed for best anime of the year 2025.
However, that is in the past, and I will be looking forward to Season 2 to see more of what Frieren and their gang gets up to! I do wish they would give us more serene moments compared to the second half of Season 1. It felt too similar to a typical shounen anime which I didn’t particularly mind if not for the amount of episodes the arc occupied. — Amos
14. Tamon’s B-Side
What if your favourite idol wasn’t anything like their public image? Tamon’s B-Side (Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!?) explores that question in the most entertaining way. It centers around a normal high school girl, Utage who secretly supports Tamon, a popular idol, only to discover that he is actually a low-energy, self-doubting mess in real life.
The fun lies in watching Tamon switch between his glittering idol mode and his painfully relatable real self, with some cute and comedic moments of him and Utage interacting with one another. That contrast is where the comedy really shines, and J.C.STAFF’s animation should make those moments pop even more. Romance fans who enjoy laughs alongside heartfelt moments should definitely mark this down as a must-watch for 2026! — Dionne
15. Witch Hat Atelier
After a delayed release from 2025 to 2026, we’re practically bouncing in our seats to finally watch the anime adaptation for Witch Hat Atelier. Based on the manga by Kamome Shirahama, the story of Witch Hat Atelier centers around Coco, a young village girl who has always dreamed of becoming a wizard despite being born without magical aptitude. One day, a traveling wizard named Kiefley came to her village, and she happened to see him performing magic. The series will be one of the first projects from animation studio Bug Films, which makes us both nervous and excited. — Nathalie
16. Avatar: The Legend of Aang
For many millenials, myself included, The Legend of Aang is a sequel we’ve been looking forward to for over a decade. Set after the events of the original series, the film will follow young adult versions of the Gaang as they set out on a never-before-seen adventure, facing off against a brand-new villain played by none other than Dave Bautista.
Though I have mixed feelings about spinoff shows like Avatar: The Legend of Korra and the upcoming Avatar: Seven Havens, I’m still looking forward to returning to the original Eastern fantasy-inspired setting that captured so many childrens’ imaginations in the early 2000’s. There’s also a petition currently underway to have the film screened in cinemas instead of releasing digitally via Paramount+, which I hope goes through as Studio Mir’s excellent animation deserves to be seen on the big screen. – Coles
17. Street Fighter
I could probably count the number of successful video game to movie adaptations on one hand, but the new live-action Street Fighter movie holds a lot of promise. The movie is set in 1993, when estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. The movie premiered its first teaser trailer during The Game Awards 2025, and it looks like a helluva good time. — Nathalie
18. Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity
I’m going to assume that most people reading this aren’t familiar with what the Super Sentai franchise has been going through over the past couple of months. To cut a very long story short, Super Sentai (best known as the source material for Power Rangers) abruptly came to an end after fifty non-stop years of being on air, to be replaced by Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, a reboot of a slightly lesser-known property in Toei’s stable of franchises.
Toei has attempted to bring back Gavan in a multitude of ways over the years, mainly through cameos and spin-off films with other Toei properties, but this will be their first new full-length Gavan series in over twenty years. I’m not quite sure what to expect, but I am interested in finding out. – Coles
19. The Sheep Detectives
Amidst the sea of sequels, reboots and spin-offs that will be releasing in 2026, it’s refreshing to see an original family film join the list of upcoming releases. As one X user astutely put it, sometimes it’s just nice to see “a movie that isn’t trying to be anything big, but just a fun and wholesome time”.
Hugh Jackman stars as a shepherd who spends his evenings reading murder mysteries to his sheep, only to end up as a murder victim himself, forcing his sheep to use what they’ve learned to solve his case. As someone who’s friends with many animal lovers, it looks like the perfect flick for us to catch on a night out – funny, sweet, and just a little bit morbid. – Coles
20. The Mountain – Gorillaz
Gorillaz is back! Their next album, The Mountain, is set to release next 27 February, marking their ninth major studio release overall. Admittedly, the first few songs teased from The Mountain took a while to grow on me, but the recently released track Damascus immediately made me sit up and want more.
It’s remarkable to think that Gorillaz – who, alongside Hatsune Miku, are arguably the progenitors of virtual musicians – is still going strong after twenty years in the business, and I’d chalk up much of that success to creators Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn’s willingness to experiment and expand the band’s sound. The Mountain is shaping up to be one of their most out-there albums yet, incorporating elements of Indian and Arabic music, and I’m excited to see what they have in store. – Coles
Do you have anything you’re excited to watch or play in 2026? Let us know in the comments!
