The Games I'm Buzzing For

There's certainly no shortage of games on the horizon at the moment, and looking through what's coming over the next couple of years, there are quite a few that have caught my attention.

I thought it would be fun to put together a little article about the games I'm most looking forward to. Not necessarily the biggest releases, the ones expected to sell millions or the games that will end up with the highest review scores. Just the ones that have me genuinely excited and looking forward to getting my hands on them.

Some of these have been on my radar for years, others are from franchises I've loved for as long as I can remember, and a few are completely new projects that have managed to grab my attention.

Everyone has their own tastes when it comes to gaming, and that's what makes these lists interesting. What I'm absolutely buzzing for might not be anywhere near your list, and that's perfectly fine!

I've decided to give each game (or group of games) a little rating based on just how excited I am for it. Nothing scientific here, just my completely subjective Buzz Rating.

Release dates are correct as of 10 November 2026 and, as ever with games, are subject to change.

And there is one game sitting comfortably at the top of my list...

Squadron 42 – The one I've been waiting for

Buzz Rating: 10/10 🔥

Yeah, this was always going to be number one.

I've had a Star Citizen account since 2014, so I've been on this particular rollercoaster for quite a while now. And what a rollercoaster it's been!

For anyone unfamiliar with it, Star Citizen is an enormous space simulation being developed by Cloud Imperium Games. The ambition is almost ridiculous in scale – a persistent universe where players can fly spacecraft, trade, fight, explore, mine, work together and essentially create their own stories.

I'd go as far as saying it's arguably the single most ambitious gaming project ever attempted.

What makes Star Citizen particularly special is the graphical fidelity and sheer level of detail. The ambition of moving around this enormous universe without traditional loading screens, travelling seamlessly from space, into your ship, down to planets, cities and stations, is something that could make the game feel genuinely different from anything else out there.

And then there are the ships. Honestly, they're bloody incredible. They're not just vehicles you jump into and fly around; they're true marvels of design, with incredibly detailed interiors, rooms, cockpits and systems. Some of them are practically dream homes in space!

I've also really enjoyed seeing the development process over the years. Cloud Imperium has been incredibly open at times, giving backers a look behind the scenes through development videos, presentations and updates. The community has also had a huge influence on the direction of the project, which is something I think is genuinely great.

That openness has definitely been a double-edged sword, though. When you've been following a project for more than a decade, every delay becomes noticeable. The way Squadron 42 has been handled at times has been frustrating, particularly when previous release windows have come and gone.

But despite all of that? I'm still massively excited.

And then there's the cast. They've somehow managed to assemble a ridiculous collection of acting talent, including Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Liam Cunningham, Mark Strong, Ben Mendelsohn and Henry Cavill, among others.

That's a serious Hollywood cast for a video game!

The current target is Q2 2027, and after everything that's happened during development, I genuinely want them to take the time to finish it properly.

I've been waiting since 2014. At this point, I'm invested in the journey almost as much as the game itself.

Just please don't make me wait until 2030! 😂

Arma 4 – Let the modding madness begin

Buzz Rating: 9.5/10 🔥

My interest in Arma really started with something I'm sure will be familiar to plenty of people: DayZ.

Not the standalone game. I'm talking about the original DayZ mod for Arma 2.

The idea of taking this huge military sandbox and turning it into a survival game with zombies, food, water, PvP and the constant possibility of getting absolutely ruined by another player was brilliant.

Then came the mods. Epoch, Overwatch and countless other variations kept things fresh, and that whole modding culture continued with Arma 3.

That's what I love about Arma. It's not just about the game Bohemia makes; it's about what the community turns it into.

Obviously, I'm looking forward to the improved graphics, technology, performance and everything else that comes with a new generation of Arma. But if I'm being honest, what I'm really excited about is seeing what the modding community comes up with.

I want the next generation of DayZ-style survival mods. I want crazy survival servers, massive military operations, custom maps and completely ridiculous scenarios.

That's the beauty of Arma. You buy the game, and then the community goes completely mental with it.

The current target is 2027, and I genuinely cannot wait to see what people build with it.

Fable – A return to Albion

Buzz Rating: 9/10 🔥

I've always loved what Fable represents. It's not just another fantasy RPG; it's got this brilliant mix of fairy tale, humour, weirdness and British charm that makes Albion feel completely different from most fantasy worlds.

One of the things that makes Fable so appealing to me is the idea of choices actually meaning something.

Your character can change, your reputation can change and the world can react to the sort of person you've chosen to become. You could end up looking like a complete saint or an absolute villain, and that's part of the fun!

That's the sort of RPG experience I really enjoy. Give me a world where my decisions matter and where I can see the consequences of the choices I've made.

I'm really hoping Playground Games has captured that feeling with the new Fable. Taking on such a beloved franchise is no small task, but from what we've seen so far, Albion looks fantastic, the humour seems to be there and, thankfully, it still looks like Fable rather than another generic fantasy RPG.

With a current release date of 23 February 2027, this is definitely one I'm looking forward to.

A bit of sci-fi, a bit of horror and a lot of atmosphere

Metro 2039 & The Expanse: Osiris Reborn – Buzz Rating: 8.5/10 🔥

I'm a sucker for a good sci-fi setting, particularly when there's a bit of atmosphere, danger and exploration thrown into the mix.

First up is Metro 2039. There's just something about the Metro universe that really appeals to me. Dark underground tunnels, limited supplies, dodgy weapons and the constant feeling that something horrible is waiting around the next corner. It's miserable, terrifying and brilliant!

I'm particularly interested in seeing the series return to those claustrophobic underground environments. Metro Exodus expanded the formula with much larger environments, but there's something special about the original underground atmosphere, and I'm hoping the new game delivers plenty of that.

It's currently scheduled for 4 February 2027, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.

Then there's The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, which is another one that's caught my attention.

I've always liked the idea of a proper game set within The Expanse universe, and this looks like it could be a really interesting take on it. Third-person combat, companions, dialogue choices, zero-gravity movement and an original story within an established sci-fi universe sounds like a pretty good combination to me.

It's currently expected in Spring 2027, and I'm hoping Owlcat can pull this one off. They've got a good reputation for RPG storytelling, so if they can combine that with genuinely good third-person action, this could be a belter.

Three very different games that have caught my attention

Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, Star Trek: Shadow Frontier & Rooted – Buzz Rating: 8/10 🔥

Now, this is probably the most varied group on my list, but each of these appeals to a different side of my gaming interests.

Let's start with Game of Thrones: War for Westeros.

I absolutely love the Game of Thrones TV series, so when I heard about an RTS set in Westeros, I was immediately interested.

I've always been a big RTS fan too. Command & Conquer, Age of Empires II and Age of Empires III are all games that really appeal to my tastes. Give me a map, some resources and an army and I'm happy!

Now give me that same formula but throw in Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, castles, politics and dragons?

Yes please!

The world is practically made for a strategy game. You've got armies, sieges, alliances, betrayals and plenty of opportunities for some seriously interesting battles. I'm really hoping the developers get the strategy systems right because the potential here is enormous. The current target is early 2027.

And speaking of franchises I'm particularly passionate about, let's talk about Star Trek: Shadow Frontier.

If you know me, you'll know this one was always going to make the list.

I'm a complete Trekkie. Star Trek is one of, if not my favourite franchise of all time. I'm actually watching through The Next Generation again, revisiting one of the greatest crews in television history.

I've also played loads of the older Star Trek games over the years, including Starfleet Academy, Klingon Academy, Star Trek Online and especially Star Trek: Bridge Commander. I absolutely loved that game.

So when I hear about a new Star Trek game, you've probably already got my attention.

What's particularly interesting about Shadow Frontier is that it's being developed by Bloober Team, best known for its psychological horror work. The game follows Ro Laren, with Michelle Forbes returning to voice the character, and appears to be taking Star Trek in a much darker direction.

It's being described as a psychological thriller, involving an unexplored planet, wrecked spacecraft, hostile creatures and some rather unpleasant things happening to Ro's mind.

A psychological thriller... Star Trek. I'm intrigued!

I'm hoping they can do something genuinely interesting with the universe rather than just making another generic sci-fi game and sticking a Starfleet logo on it.

And while we're talking about Star Trek, I'm going to avoid getting started on the new Starfleet Academy series. Let's just say it was the one Star Trek series I couldn't bring myself to watch. I'll leave that there before this turns into an entirely different blog post! 😂

Finally, there's Rooted.

I've always had a thing for post-apocalyptic survival games. Give me DayZ, Rust, SCUM or anything involving abandoned buildings, scavenging and trying not to die, and you've probably got my attention.

Rooted is basically ticking all those boxes.

It's set in a world where civilisation has collapsed and nature has started reclaiming everything. You've got survival, exploration, crafting, base building and co-op.

Sounds good to me!

The developers are currently targeting late 2027 Early Access, so we've got a bit of a wait. But this is exactly the sort of game where I'd tell myself I'd just jump on for an hour, only to discover it's somehow 2am and I'm desperately trying to find some bloody food.

And finally... a bit of mini golf!

Golf With Your Friends 2 – Buzz Rating: 7/10 🔥

Okay, we're going from massive space simulations, military sandboxes and post-apocalyptic survival to... mini golf.

But hear me out!

Golf With Your Friends was a world of fun, especially when getting together with friends and nobody was taking it seriously.

It's the sort of game where half the enjoyment comes from watching your mate line up what looks like the perfect shot, only for the ball to bounce off three walls and end up somewhere completely ridiculous.

And then everyone absolutely loses it.

That's what I'm hoping for with Golf With Your Friends 2. More ridiculous courses, more stupid physics, more competition and, hopefully, plenty more excuses to get everyone together for a proper laugh.

The sequel is now expected in 2027, having been pushed back from its previous 2026 window.

It isn't going to change the gaming industry, and it doesn't need to. If it gives us more of the same chaotic fun with friends, I'll be happy.

So, what's top of my list?

Looking back over everything, I think there's a pretty obvious theme to the games I'm most excited about.

I like games that let me disappear into another world for far too many hours!

Space? Absolutely. Massive military sandbox? Definitely. A fantasy world where my choices matter? Sign me up. Post-apocalyptic wasteland? Even better. Star Trek? Obviously!

And apparently I'll happily spend hours hitting a tiny golf ball around a ridiculous obstacle course with my mates.

Here's how my current Buzz Ratings stack up:

Some of these games will probably be brilliant, some might disappoint, and knowing the gaming industry, at least one of them will probably get delayed. 😂

But that's part of the fun. For now, I'm just looking forward to seeing what these games eventually become.

What games are you buzzing for? Have I missed something that should be on my list?

I'd love to hear what everyone else is looking forward to! Drop us an email at james@cloangames.com.