2026’s Best Shooters: A Year of Legendary Returns and Bold New Ideas

This year’s lineup includes a Halo remake, a new IP from Bungie, a first-person soulslike set in Napoleonic France, and a shooter about a detective mouse in 1930s-inspired style. Eight games that definitely won’t let you get bored.

📅 Updated: February 2026 · 🎮 Games: 8 + bonus · 🖥️ Platforms: PC · PS5 · Xbox · Switch 2

Every year has its own personality. One is quiet, like a sniper. Another is loud, like a grenade in an empty hallway. 2026? It walks in, slams the door, and immediately starts laying down the rules.

You’ve got nostalgia (hello, Halo), risky experiments (Marathon, Valor Mortis), and the “what is this, and why do I already want it?” factor (Mouse: P.I. For Hire).

Best Shooters 2026

1. Halo: Campaign Evolved
2. Marathon
3. Mouse: P.I. For Hire
4. High On Life 2
5. Valor Mortis
6. Warhammer 40K: Boltgun 2
7. Witchfire
8. Highguard

Shooter Rankings for 2026

01) Halo: Campaign Evolved

Genre: FPS · remake · Platforms: PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S · Release: 2026

Some games “came out a long time ago.” Others came out and left a footprint on the whole genre. The first Halo is the second kind. And now we’re not getting a cosmetic touch-up, but a campaign remake built from scratch: new visuals, co-op, and—most importantly—that same combat rhythm.

Verdict: if they do it right, this is a legendary comeback. You can’t skip it.

Hype: 9.5/10

02) Marathon

Genre: FPS · extraction shooter · Platforms: PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S · Release: March 2026

Bungie isn’t quietly entering the genre—they’re walking in with a megaphone and a blueprint for “how it should be done.” The extraction loop is simple: drop in, take the risk, grab the loot, get out. Or don’t—and then it hurts.

Verdict: the riskiest bet on the list. But these are the games that sometimes become genre-defining.

Potential: 8.0/10

03) Mouse: P.I. For Hire

Genre: FPS · indie · Platforms: PC / PS5 / Xbox / Switch 2 · Release: March 2026

Black-and-white 1930s cartoons, jazz, “rubber-hose” animation—and a detective mouse. And it’s also a shooter where gunplay isn’t just set dressing. This isn’t “we were inspired by everything,” it’s “we made our own thing, and now you get to deal with it.”

Verdict: the tastiest indie audacity of the year. Style at full blast.

Originality: 9.2/10

04) High On Life 2

Genre: FPS · comedy · Platforms: PC / PS5 / Xbox / Switch 2 · Release: February 13, 2026

This is a shooter that doesn’t pretend it’s serious. The weapons talk, the world is absurd, and you’re the person laughing while simultaneously trying not to miss.

Verdict: if you want explosions plus laughs, this is your pick.

Fun factor: 8.2/10

05) Valor Mortis

Genre: FPS · soulslike · Platforms: PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S · Release: 2026

A first-person soulslike in an alternate Napoleonic setting—muskets and monsters in the same frame—sounds like a risk. But sometimes risk is exactly what creates the games people talk about for years.

Verdict: you’ll either fall in love or hate it. That’s precisely why it’s interesting.

Ambition: 8.5/10

06) Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2

Genre: FPS · boomer shooter · Platforms: PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S · Release: 2026

This game doesn’t ask, “Could we make it gentler?” It asks, “How many enemies do you want?” and answers, “Yes.” If the sequel truly adds variety without losing tempo, it’ll be perfect.

Verdict: honest retro shoot-’em-up action, no extra ceremony.

Satisfaction: 7.8/10

07) Witchfire

Genre: FPS · roguelite · Platforms: PC / PS5 / Xbox · Release: 2026 (full release)

It took a long time to mature—and now it has a chance to hit hard. Dark fantasy, risk, progression you have to earn. “One more run” here sounds like a trap. A pleasant one.

Verdict: for players who love depth and replayability.

Depth: 8.6/10

08) Highguard

Genre: FPS · PvP · Platforms: PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S · Release: January 2026

A fantasy PvP shooter where combat happens… on horseback. Yes, it sounds like a joke. But it’s the kind of joke that either becomes a hit, or at least refuses to let you get bored. And boredom is multiplayer’s worst enemy.

Verdict: the dark horse of the list. And yes, that’s intentional.

Freshness: 8.3/10

🎯 Also worth watching of best shooters 2026

• Crisol: Theater of Idols — a horror FPS with a very distinct vibe.
• Call of Duty 2026 — rumors always arrive before the trailer.
• Resident Evil Requiem (TPS) — if it’s truly third-person with a survival focus, it’ll be hot.
• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam — tactics and tension for the patient.

FAQ

Which 2026 shooter releases first?

The earliest from this list is Highguard (January 2026). Next is High On Life 2 (February 13, 2026). Which games on the list are coming to PS5?

Most entries are announced for PS5, including Halo: Campaign Evolved, Marathon, Mouse, and others. What should I pick for single-player?

For a story-focused experience: Halo: Campaign Evolved and High On Life 2. For challenge: Valor Mortis and Witchfire.

Conclusion

2026 isn’t the year of one single shooter. It’s the year the genre let loose: legends, experiments, and indie audacity are all here. If I had to follow one project especially closely, it would be Mouse: P.I. For Hire. Style is the reason you come back.

Keep your aim steady. The best surprises often arrive quietly. And then they go boom.