Bond Returns, Forza Heads to Japan: Game Releases of May 2026

Main Releases of May

Forza Horizon 6 (PC, Xbox Series S|X) — May 19

The sixth installment of the racing series brings the auto festival to Japan. The developers have reworked most of the mechanics, focusing on social features. Acquired properties will feature customizable garages, and the EventLab editor will allow building entire residential areas and custom venues. The Horizon CoLab mode adds full online co-op directly to the map editor.

The car park includes over five hundred vehicles — from modern sports cars to classics, with expanded customization options. Graphics and sound are significantly improved, and picturesque Japanese landscapes set a new festival atmosphere. At the same time, the physical driving model has become slightly more arcade-like.

The project is fundamentally built on the successful foundation of the fifth installment. At launch, the game will be available on PC and Xbox Series X|S, and owners of the premium edition will be able to start racing as early as May 15. The release of the PlayStation 5 version is scheduled for the second half of 2026.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — May 22

The new action game in the LEGO universe will cover the entire history of Bruce Wayne: from the death of his parents and training in the League of Shadows to his return to Gotham. The creators drew inspiration from comics, classic TV shows, and modern adaptations, and the project's promotional campaign was supported by DC cinematic universe curator James Gunn.

Gameplay-wise, it's a classic representative of the LEGO action genre: with puzzles, careful adherence to the source material, and signature self-irony. However, the game is built on a new engine, which should provide high environmental detail and interactivity.

Players will be able to freely explore the open world of Gotham. For city traversal, the Dark Knight's arsenal will offer a grappling hook, as well as famous vehicles — the Batmobile and Batcycle. And the combat system was heavily inspired by the Batman: Arkham quadrilogy.

007 First Light (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — May 27

IO Interactive, known for the Hitman series, is releasing an action game about James Bond. The creators drew inspiration from Ian Fleming's original books, not the film adaptations, so the hero's appearance differs from cinematic portrayals, and he has the canonical book scar on his face.

Bond in First Light is a young MI6 recruit who has yet to earn his 007 status. Gameplay shifts the focus from open gunfights to spy stealth. The hero will have to quietly infiltrate guarded areas, distract enemies, and use gadgets from Q, resorting to weapons only as a last resort.

The combination of British humor, respect for the literary source, and stealth mechanics from genre masters should give the franchise a second wind after years of failures in the gaming industry.

Worth Paying Attention To

Motorslice (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) — May 5

In the post-apocalyptic world of Motorslice, a gigantic machinery seeks to destroy the remnants of humanity. The main character, named "P", challenges electronic bosses, armed only with a chainsaw and parkour skills. Ending up under an excavator's bucket or a dump truck's wheels here is equivalent to death — nothing will be left.

Gameplay is built on fluid acrobatics: wall-running, sliding, and tricks in the style of Mirror's Edge. The combat system is fast-paced and brutal — it's easy to die, but also quite possible to quickly eliminate an opponent. To advance through industrial megastructures, you'll have to solve spatial puzzles.

Visually, the game is made in a minimalistic low-poly style with an energetic soundtrack. The setting contains philosophical subtext and references to NieR: Automata, which has already attracted audience attention to this small indie project.

Mixtape (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — May 7

An interactive adventure about three teenagers reminiscing at their last party before parting ways. It's a casual story that plays on nostalgia for youth. The focus is on atmosphere, emotions, and important conversations.

Gameplay is intentionally simple and serves as an accompaniment to the narrative. Players will skateboard and ride supermarket carts, play basketball, and simply wander around the neighborhood. The developers describe the essence of the project in three words: "Wander. Hang out. Flirt."

Special attention is paid to the soundtrack. Pivotal moments in the heroes' lives are accompanied by music from DEVO, Roxy Music, The Smashing Pumpkins, Joy Division, The Cure, and other artists. The release was postponed for polish, so it is expected to be in its best form.

Directive 8020 (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) — May 12

The sci-fi horror Directive 8020 opens the second season of The Dark Pictures Anthology. Supermassive Games has long worked in the interactive cinema genre, although not all of its projects achieve the success of Until Dawn. In the new title, the role of astronaut Yang is played by actress Lashana Lynch ("No Time to Die").

The plot takes viewers into space: the colony ship "Cassiopeia" crashes in the Tau Ceti system. It turns out that an alien has taken up residence on board, capable of perfectly imitating crew members. The developers emphasize that the monster does not shy away from brutal methods, and no one can be trusted.

Gameplay focuses on decision-making. As in the studio's previous games, the story's ending and the characters' survival directly depend on the player's choices, and plot twists regularly make you doubt what's happening.

Call of the Elder Gods (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) — May 12

A direct sequel to the adventure puzzle game Call of the Sea. The original was loved by audiences for its pleasant graphics and Lovecraftian atmosphere. In the sequel, inspired by the novella "The Shadow Out of Time," the developers retained successful elements but made the puzzles more difficult.

There are now two main characters: Professor Harry Everhart and student Evangeline Drayton. In search of their missing loved ones, they will visit a New England mansion, the Australian outback, frozen wastes, and cities lost in time.

The game retains its first-person perspective and emphasis on exploring locations. Players will have to find objects and interact with the environment. For those who prefer to follow the story without interruptions, a mode with built-in hints has been added.

Thick As Thieves (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X) — May 20

A stealth-action game created with the participation of Warren Spector and Paul Neurath — key authors of the cult Thief series. The action takes place in an alternative Scottish metropolis of the 1910s, where magic is closely intertwined with technological progress.

The hero uses technical gadgets and spells to rob the city's most guarded treasuries. Originally conceived as a PvPvE project, by release, Thick As Thieves focused on a story campaign available for single-player or co-op.

The authors promise dozens of hours of gameplay and high replayability of missions: security systems and guard behavior adapt to the players' skill level. Russian text localization is not announced for the game.

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies (PC) — May 21

A new role-playing game from ZA/UM, the creators of the acclaimed Disco Elysium. This is a psychological spy thriller where the hero finds himself at the center of a three-way struggle for ideological power in the setting of a new city.

The project relies on deep character development, internal monologues, and narrative. Dialogues and choice of replies become the main tool for interacting with the world. The main game mechanic announced is failures: mistakes happen more often than successes here and serve as an alternative way to solve tasks.

Despite the departure of some key ZA/UM employees, the game has retained the studio's recognizable style — the need to delve into the human mind and unravel a complex detective mystery.

The PlayStation 5 version will be released later in 2026.

Coffee Talk Tokyo (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, Switch) — May 21

A sequel to the cozy visual novel from 2020. The action moves to nocturnal Tokyo, where the player once again takes on the role of a barista. Gameplay hasn't changed: we chat with visitors, listen to their problems, and brew coffee that influences the course of the dialogue.

Among the guests are various creatures, but their worries — family difficulties or a crisis at work — are understandable to everyone. The sequel features new characters and expanded tools for creating latte art.

An in-game social network, Tomodachill, has also been added, allowing for a deeper dive into visitors' stories. There will be no Russian localization at launch, but the project traditionally attracts with its cozy atmosphere.

Yerba Buena (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X) — May 26

A first-person puzzle platformer with an unusual setting. The game world is an abandoned virtual version of San Francisco in 1976. The main character, an NPC named Barb, challenges reality to stop a mysterious glitch distorting the universe.

The core gameplay revolves around an oscillator device. With it, Barb uses a "copy-paste" function, transferring the properties of some objects to others. The player can make a building weightless or give a table the properties of a trampoline, combining these effects to solve spatial puzzles.

The story reveals a government conspiracy, while maintaining an ironic tone and retro aesthetic. A demo version is already available on Steam, and progress from it will carry over to the final game.

Early Access

Dead as Disco (PC) — May 5 (Early Access)

This rhythm-action game with fighting elements tells the story of Charlie Disco — the deceased drummer of a once-cult band. Ten years later, he returns from oblivion for one night to settle scores with his former bandmates at a memorial concert.

The plot sets the tone, but the main focus here is hand-to-hand combat tied to rhythm. The player attacks and dodges blows in time with the music. Accurate hits increase damage, while misses break combos. Battles take place to drum and bass, disco, and indie rock.

The project allows uploading your own tracks: the combat automatically synchronizes with the user's playlist. Tools for creating clips, mods, and challenges are also provided.

Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core (PC) — May 20

A cooperative roguelite spin-off of the popular shooter about space dwarves. Players take on the role of an elite squad hired by a corporation to retrieve equipment on the planet Hoxxes. The events take place in the same universe, but mechanically it's a completely different project.

The game offers a new progression system: each mission, the squad starts with only basic equipment, and upgrades and abilities are acquired during the run. The tone has become noticeably darker than the original, and the emphasis has shifted from mining resources to constant battles.

In response to fan questions about the format, the developers explained that the limitations of a regular DLC would have severely restricted the scope of the idea. The game will remain in early access for one and a half to two years to gather feedback and polish the balance.

Postponements

Outbound (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2) — May 14

The cozy ecological adventure in an electric microbus, Outbound, which we wrote about last month, was originally scheduled for April 23. But the game was postponed to May 14 to iron out the last rough edges. We hope the developers succeeded.

Outbound offers a relaxing journey with an emphasis on ecological development: resources are extracted without harming nature (for example, from fallen trees), and energy for the van comes from the sun, wind, or water. The modular construction system allows you to turn an empty electric car into a full-fledged home on wheels: add workstations, greenhouses, decor. Cooperative play is also supported.