There are several sequels set to release in the next few months, and even more coming in 2026, that fans knew were coming eventually. For example, even though Grand Theft Auto 5 was released in 2013 and there was over a decade of no news about the series, fans knew Grand Theft Auto 6 would eventually arrive. Based on the previous game’s success, it would be wild if Rockstar sat on the IP.
Other upcoming sequels were more surprising when they were announced, let alone the few that already have solid release dates. These games, for many fans, seemed like they might never happen. Will the wait for these long-sought after sequels be worth it? Let’s go through some history alongside the preview and find out.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
Shopping For Rogues
- Planned Release Date: 11/19/25 (Early Access PC)
- Planned Systems: PC and Xbox Series X/S
Moonlighter was an innovative roguelike from 2018 that combined dungeon-based runs with a shopkeeper simulator. Players would dive into dungeons, get loot, and then either sell their findings in their shop or use them as materials to craft or upgrade their gear. It would have been fine as a standalone experience, especially since the developer, Digital Sun, has made other games since.
That’s why the announcement of Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault was a big deal, as it seemed like the developer had moved on. The original gameplay loop seems to be intact, but the sequel has the added bonus of now being presented in 3D instead of 2D from a top-down perspective. Moonlighter 2 will launch in Early Access soon, which is exciting.
Kirby Air Riders
A Smash Style Racer
- Planned Release Date: 11/20/25
- Planned Systems: Switch 2
Kirby Air Riderswas announced this year, in 2025, and ii's going to launch just months after that announcement. That’s an incredible turnaround considering the one and only other game in the series, Kirby Air Ride, was a 2003 GameCube game.
Both games share the same gimmick of being Kirby-based racing games, but the sequel looks so much more complex. There are new characters, vehicles, combat opportunities during races, and so much more. It almost looks like a Super Smash Bros. spinoff, and it could give Mario Kart World a run for its money as another Switch 2 racing exclusive.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Samus Returns
- Planned Release Date: 12/4/25
- Planned Systems: Switch and Switch 2
Metroid Prime 4: Beyondwas originally announced as a Switch game in 2017, the same year the console launched. After numerous delays, including studio changes, the game is finally coming out on both Switch and Switch 2 in December 2025. While there have been spinoffs in the Prime series, and other Metroid games starring Samus, the main series seemed dead for over a decade.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was released on the Wii in 2007, making the wait extra long for fans who enjoy playing as Samus from a first-person perspective. Beyond shooting space pirates, this sequel also boasts a semi-open world to explore on a motorcycle, along with Samus getting psychic powers.
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword
Cut Demons Down
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
Except for the first and third games, most entries in the Onimusha series are standalone, similar to Final Fantasy. Onimusha: Way of the Swordis the next game in the series, one that fans have been waiting for since the PS2 days. Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams was a late-era PS2 game released in 2006, which was well-reviewed, but Capcom ultimately didn’t continue the franchise onto new hardware.
There were some mobile spinoffs and remasters within this two-decade-long waiting period, but nothing to the degree of what fans wanted to see: a proper new entry. Onimusha: Way of the Sword looks darker in tone than the PS2-era games, and the combat seems more intense, so perhaps this is the reboot treatment the series needs in 2026.
LEGO Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight
Brick By Brick
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S
Technically, the last focused experience starring a LEGO version of Batman was LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham in 2014. There were Batman segments in the toys-to-life game LEGO Dimensions from 2015, along with a villain-centered spinoff, LEGO DC Super-Villains, in 2018. This gap in proper LEGO Batman content is exactly why LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knightis such a big deal.
It’s basically a reboot of the franchise, or more like a celebration of everything that came before it, including the live-action movies, from Tim Burton to Christopher Nolan. Legacy of the Dark Knight will be bigger in scope too, with an open-world city to explore, multiple characters to play, and reactive combat similar to the Batman: Arkham games.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
