When Rockstar Games delayed Grand Theft Auto 6 into 2026, it likely came as a big relief to publishers with anything on their slate for the back half of 2025. But 2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting and crowded year of big game releases, even without GTA 6, which is now slated for a November launch.

Thousands of games release on Steam alone each year, beckoning to you from algorithmic recommendation engines, the bottom halves of TikTok videos, and the review sections of websites like PC Gamer. So how the heck do you decide which are the best PC games to play right now?

Mark Gronowski threw for two touchdowns and ran for one as Iowa built a 21-3 second-half lead and knocked off 14th-ranked Vanderbilt in Friday's ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Fla. It's Iowa's first win over a ranked opponent since 2021.

So with that said, here are some of the games Polygon's writers and editors played the most this year. — Julia Lee

A recent survey of 2,000 American gamers revealed how video games are more than just pastimes — 72% of respondents attested to the positive impact of video games on various aspects of their daily lives. Many credit games for enhancing relaxation (68% ...