This Week's Video Game Releases - January 2026 (Week 3)

NEW GAME RELEASES Fyra Frost - 4 hours ago

The mid-January release schedule for 2026 reflects a slower, more measured start to the year for the video game industry. Rather than blockbuster launches, the week ahead highlights a range of indie and mid-sized productions spanning management simulations, narrative adventures, role-playing games, and psychological horror. For players willing to look beyond traditional AAA offerings, the coming days provide several noteworthy releases.

January 12 - 18 releases

Arriving on January 13, Magic Forge Tycoon opens the week with a focus on strategy and management. Players are tasked with building and optimizing a magical crafting business, balancing production chains, upgrades, and economic growth. The game targets fans of tycoon-style simulations who favor depth and long-term planning over fast-paced action.

The following day, January 14, sees two distinct indie titles enter the market. CASSETTE BOY blends action-adventure gameplay with a strong musical identity, emphasizing style, rhythm, and exploration. Its retro-inspired presentation and soundtrack-driven mechanics aim to set it apart in a crowded indie space. Releasing alongside it after a last-minute delay it's Kejora, a narrative-driven puzzle-platformer that leans heavily on hand-drawn visuals and atmospheric storytelling. The game prioritizes mood, character, and environmental puzzles, continuing the trend of smaller studios using artistic direction as a key differentiator.

One of the most prominent releases of the week is The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon, launching shortly after midweek. As the latest entry in Nihon Falcom's long-running JRPG franchise, the game expands the series' interconnected narrative while introducing refinements to its combat systems. Although not a traditional AAA release, its established fanbase and scope make it the largest title on this week’s schedule, particularly for role-playing game enthusiasts.

Closing out the week on January 16 is BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW, a psychological horror game that explores themes of online identity and digital obsession. Through unsettling environments and narrative-driven gameplay, the title aims to deliver a tense, immersive experience rooted in contemporary anxieties surrounding social media and virtual spaces.

Industry Context: A Quiet Early 2026

Beyond the individual releases, this week underscores a broader industry trend. The early months of 2026 are notably light on major AAA launches, a contrast to the densely packed release calendars typically seen later in the year. While this may leave some players waiting for high-profile titles, it creates a valuable opening for smaller studios to gain attention. With fewer blockbuster marketing campaigns dominating headlines, indie and mid-tier games are more likely to be discovered, discussed, and evaluated on their own merits.

This quieter release window benefits both developers and players. Studios can achieve greater visibility and longer engagement cycles, while audiences are encouraged to experiment with genres and concepts they might otherwise overlook. As larger releases loom later in 2026, the early months may ultimately be remembered as a period where creative, smaller-scale projects had room to stand out and build momentum. Of course, you can visit our comparator to find the best deals for all those games and many more.