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January Game Drops 2026: What’s Worth Your Time + What We’re Calling Out

January is one of those months where the calendar quietly fills up with real surprises. Once the hangover from holiday launches subsides, we start seeing the first real contenders for “games you’ll play long after the month ends.” This year is no different — with a mix of indie gems, long-anticipated cross-platform arrivals, and bigger releases that are already turning heads.

Below you’ll find the biggest drops, what makes them notable, and which ones you shouldn’t sleep on — because going into 2026 without a plan is like showing up to a snowstorm with only flip-flops (trust me, I’ve been there).


 What’s Worth Your Time 

MIO: Memories in Orbit (January 20)

If you’ve already caught our deep dive, you know MIO isn’t just another indie platformer — it’s a love letter to classic Metroidvanias wrapped in gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and clever traversal mechanics. You play as MIO, a nimble robot with aerial mobility and combat that rewards creativity and timing. Remember: hitting enemies regenerates jumps, so combat becomes traversal and traversal becomes adventure.

⭐ Why it’s worth your time:

  • Beautiful world design

  • Tight platforming that feels satisfying

  • A genuine sense of discovery

If there’s one indie title that will stick in your mind weeks after playing, MIO is right up there.

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Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (January 22)

For fans who waited a long time, this is the release you’ve been hoping for. FF7 Remake Intergrade finally lands on more platforms, including Nintendo’s new hardware and Xbox, bringing the enhanced story of Cloud, Tifa, and Avalanche to players who never got to experience it before.

🌟 What to expect:

  • Beautiful visuals and familiar score

  • Expanded Yuffie Intermission content

  • A great gateway for new fans

Even if you’ve played this before, returning for story and performance improvements is a chill way to kick off 2026.

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Arknights: Endfield (January 22)

Taking the Arknights franchise in a bold direction, Endfield mixes action-RPG mechanics with exploration on a mysterious moon called Talos-II. This one balances combat and world discovery in a way that’ll fit both mobile sessions and longer play times.

🎯 Strengths:

  • Accessible free-to-play setup

  • Combines tactical depth with platform action

  • Strong art direction and lore

Whether you’re coming from the original Arknights or not, this month’s action RPG feels like a solid “worth a download” title.


Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2 Edition) (January 15)

This doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it polishes it. The Switch 2 edition brings performance enhancements and new quality-of-life features to one of the most comforting franchises on the planet — perfect for winding down or hanging out with friends online.

🌿 What’s new:

  • Enhanced visuals

  • Better loading

  • Added social features

If cozy gaming is your vibe, this one scratches that itch like no other.


Cairn (January 29)

Brought to you by the creators behind Furi and Haven, Cairn is a climbing sim that turns each ascent into a boss-like challenge. It’s Zen, tactical, and surprisingly gripping once you dip past the visuals and really start moving up those walls.

🏔️ Why try it:

  • Unique climbing mechanics

  • Gorgeous art style

  • High-reward pacing

This one’s for the explorers and the “I just need one more try” crowd.

 Other Notables & What They Bring 


 What’s Worth Calling Out (With Caveats) 

Code Violet (Jan 10)

This horror shooter came out with a ton of noise, but not all of it was praise. Critics were rough on it, yet it still topped some storefront sales lists — an odd combination that suggests strong curiosity but not universal love.


 What's Worth Your Time — Quick Hit List 

Here’s a snapshot of January’s notable drops worth checking out:


January 2026 wasn’t quiet. In fact, it was surprisingly diverse, with big cross-platform arrivals, comforting staples for chill gaming sessions, and smaller indie experiences that deserve attention.

Whether you’re here for story and exploration, something cozy to play after a long day, or hardcore action to kick off the year with a bang, January had something for everyone.



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Top Audiences Last Week + Get Botany Manor... Free!

Every week, we like to take a moment to step back from everything else to recognize something just as important... you. Props to all the gamers around the world chipping in to it a better place, regardless of all the craziness going... our efforts will continue to shine in the dark.


 🏆This Week’s Top 6 Articles 

FTS: Blood Strike x EVANGELION Collaboration Now Available

FTS: MIMARU Expands Its Pokemon Rooms, Bringing Families Closer to the World of Pokemon

PIONER: Early Access Experience - Descending Into the Depths of Tartarus

Affordable Solar & Battery Kits: Power Without the Lien, Peace Without the Panic

MIO: Memories in Orbit - A Quietly Power Metroidvania Journey

Top Audiences Last Week + A Free Game!


 🌍 Top 10... Let's Go! 



1. US USA

2. GB United Kingdom

3. SG Singapore

4. DE Germany

5. CH China

6. JP Japan

7. HK Hong Kong

8. FR France

9. CA Canada

10. TH Thailand

Australia, Switzerland, and Philippines... came close!




+ A Free Game!


Illustration of RkRk with a large Afro hairstyle, wearing a red headband, and sticking out his tongue.            

Take control with the VSD-Inside Studio Controller
(Yes you can use... Gif Animations!)
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Millennium Runners Is an Arcade Speed Fest — Just Don’t Wipe Out

Millennium Runners is a futuristic arcade-style racing game built around anti-gravity speedsters, sci-fi environments, and fast decision-making at extreme speeds. Developed by Italian studio Commodore Industries, the game pulls inspiration from classic arcade racers while aiming to modernize that formula with sleek visuals, multiple race teams, and a suite of offensive and defensive powerups designed to keep races unpredictable.

At its core, Millennium Runners is about momentum management, positioning, and learning how to navigate aggressive tracks without overcorrecting. While it delivers a sense of speed and spectacle, hands-on play reveals areas where refinement is still needed for the experience to fully align with its arcade aspirations.



 Core Gameplay Overview 

Players race across nine initial tracks set on futuristic planets, piloting anti-gravity vehicles that prioritize lateral movement and precision steering. Acceleration is constant, and instead of traditional braking systems found in simulation racers, Millennium Runners relies heavily on player discipline and control adjustments.

There is a brake mechanic, but in practice it stops the vehicle almost instantly — often too abruptly to be useful in high-speed turns. Based on gameplay experience, it’s far more effective to release acceleration and rely on the left and right flaps to guide your ship through sharp corners. This approach feels more consistent, though it does require an adjustment period, especially on tighter tracks.


 Positioning and Race Feedback Issues 

One of the more noticeable frustrations during races involves position tracking. In multiple instances — particularly on the Cautics Docks track — race placement would shift unexpectedly. Situations occurred where the player moved from first to third without any visible overtakes, only for post-race results to indicate a second-place finish.

This inconsistency wasn’t isolated to final laps and appeared repeatedly throughout races once pacing stabilized. It creates confusion during competitive play, especially when positioning directly impacts strategy and powerup usage. The development team has been contacted regarding all issues we've come across.

Another issue worth calling out appears on the Toxic Turn track, where it’s possible to be launched completely off the course. When this happens, the speedster and camera enter an awkward limbo state, forcing you to wait until the game corrects itself before you can rejoin the race. If free-flight were an intentional mechanic, this might make sense — but the fact that control and camera behavior eventually snap back suggests this is an unintended bug rather than a designed feature. These moments broke race flow entirely and, candidly, had me yelling at the screen. A tighter bounding box around the track or anchoring the speedsters more securely to the racing surface would go a long way in preventing this from happening.




 Collision and Track Interaction 

Another recurring issue is wall collision behavior. While racing for optimal lines, it’s possible to end up abruptly facing a wall even when steering input didn’t seem excessive. At high speeds, these sudden collisions feel less like player error and more like an overly sensitive collision response, which can be frustrating when trying to maintain momentum.

Given the game’s emphasis on speed and flow, smoother wall interactions or clearer forgiveness zones could help maintain race rhythm without undermining challenge.

 Powerups and Combat Mechanics 

Millennium Runners includes nine powerups, each designed to disrupt opponents or create openings:

  • Turbo – A straight speed boost

  • Kamikaze – A risky explosive option that backfires if no opponent is within range. I usually drop this item because it backfires most of the time.

  • Tsunami – Fires a frontal EMP wave, temporarily disabling opponents’ controls

  • Hellstorm – Calls in a missile strike targeting the area ahead of the leading racer

These tools add tactical variety, though timing is critical — especially with items like Kamikaze, where misjudgment can punish the user instead of the competition.



 Visual Highlights and World Design 

Visually, the game’s strongest moments come through specific tracks rather than the entire package. NEO EARTH’s “METRO3000” track stands out in particular, featuring a bustling futuristic city filled with trains, flying vehicles, and layered environmental detail. It’s here where the game’s world-building feels the most alive and cohesive.

Other environments vary in impact, but enemy presence and environmental threats ensure that no track feels completely safe. The SALTRISE BASIN is pretty, but it should've been called CRASHOUT WAY!


 Arcade Feel vs. Long-Term Identity 

While Millennium Runners does channel arcade racing sensibilities, it currently feels like a simpler framework that hasn’t fully established its own identity yet. The inclusion of multiple race teams is a promising start, but expanding on that concept — such as introducing distinct characters, rival personalities, or narrative flavor within single-player modes — could significantly increase player engagement.

Right now, you’re racing ships. Giving players a sense that they’re racing characters could elevate the experience and make victories feel more personal.



 What You’re Getting at the Current Price Point 

At its current offering, Millennium Runners provides:

  • 9 tracks

  • 6 racers

  • Multiple sci-fi teams

  • 9 powerups

  • A fast-paced arcade structure focused on momentum and precision

It’s a racer with clear potential, strong visual moments, and a solid foundation — but also one that would benefit from refinements in positioning logic, collision behavior, and personality-driven presentation.

For players looking for a fast, futuristic arcade racer, Millennium Runners delivers speed and spectacle — just be prepared to adapt to its quirks while the team continues to fine-tune the experience.



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