What to play in May 2026: the main game releases of the month

Wax Heads
Release Date: May 5
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch

Wax Heads is a cozy narrative simulator about keeping a small music shop afloat. Players will interact with colorful customers and curate the perfect soundtrack to lift their spirits.

The game is positioned as a story about community, musical secrets, and the outsider spirit. It features dozens of original tracks and is designed for those who grew up on films like Empire Records and High Fidelity.

Dead As Disco
Release Date: May 5
Platforms: PC — Early Access

Dead As Disco is a stylish beat-'em-up with a combat system inspired by the Batman: Arkham series, where strikes are synchronized with the music. Players take on the role of Charlie Disco, a fallen star fighting her way back to the top by battling her former bandmates.

The early access version includes the game's first arc. Developers promise rhythmic action and an atmosphere where music and fighting are inseparable.

Mixtape
Release Date: May 7
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2

Mixtape tells the story of three friends embarking on their last shared adventure. The game explores vibrant memories of youth through a mix of hits from an entire generation.

The soundtrack here is not just background noise but a full participant in the story, around which the entire narrative is built.

Alabaster Dawn
Release Date: May 7
Platforms: PC

Alabaster Dawn is a new game from Radical Fish Games, the creators of CrossCode. The protagonist, Yuno, embarks on a journey to restore a shattered world. The game combines dynamic combat with challenging puzzles.

The visual style is a blend of 2.5D, pixel art, and subtle 3D perspective. The result looks as if the game could sit on a shelf next to the best JRPGs of the SNES era, but with modern details.

Directive 8020
Release Date: May 12
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Directive 8020 is the latest chapter in Supermassive Games' Dark Pictures anthology. The series heads to space: the plot is inspired by John Carpenter's The Thing and focuses on cinematic horror with branching stories and consequential choices.

The game features a trust system between characters, as well as a new fast-travel system—a convenient feature for those who want to explore everything to the end.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Release Date: May 12
Platforms: Switch 2

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to Nintendo Switch 2. The game offers exploration of ancient mysteries, the search for archaeological treasures, and clashes with Nazis—all the elements that made the series beloved.

Forza Horizon 6
Release Date: May 19
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S

This time, the Forza Horizon festival takes place in Japan—the largest map in the series' history. Players must climb the ranking system to earn the golden bracelet and unlock the exclusive Legend Island zone with new events and challenges.

Beyond racing and online car meetups, players can customize their own estate. Developer Playground Games sticks to the familiar formula of fast cars and spectacular events, but adds new progression mechanics.

Thick as Thieves
Release Date: May 20
Platforms: PC — Steam Early Access

Thick as Thieves is a heist game that can be played solo or in co-op. The early access version offers two playable thieves, two maps, equipment, and over a dozen contracts.

This is the spiritual successor to the legendary Thief series, focusing on short, intense missions.

SpaceCraft
Release Date: May 20
Platforms: PC — Steam Early Access

SpaceCraft is a massive space simulator from Shiro Games featuring a seamless universe and multiple star systems. Players can become a major corporate power among the stars and build their own empire in open space.

Coffee Talk Tokyo
Release Date: May 21
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch

Coffee Talk Tokyo brings its cozy café to Japan. The doors are open to both humans and mythical creatures—players must brew drinks, make dialogue choices that affect the characters' fates, and create a warm atmosphere for their guests.

This is a narrative visual novel centered on human stories and leisurely conversations over a cup of coffee.

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies
Release Date: May 21
Platforms: PC

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is the spiritual successor to Disco Elysium from the same studio, ZA/UM. Players take on the role of a spy returning for a final mission after a failure. You must rebuild a network of allies and unravel a web of lies, balancing between factions fighting for cultural and ideological power.

Dice rolls influence the outcome of actions, and failures are a full part of the gameplay experience that players will encounter frequently.

Bubsy 4D
Release Date: May 22
Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch 2, Switch Steam

Bubsy 4D is a solid platformer with interesting mechanics, extensive customization options, and striking art design. The game includes modes specifically for speedrunners—an unexpectedly pleasant surprise from a character long written off.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Release Date: May 22
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a game dedicated to screen portrayals of Batman. Developer TT Games blends inspiration from the Arkham Rocksteady series with images of the Dark Knight from cinema and the studio's signature humor.

The Deluxe Edition will be released on May 26, and the Standard Edition on May 29.

Paralives
Release Date: May 25
Platforms: PC — Early Access More details on Steam

Paralives is a social simulator with a cozy atmosphere and attention to small details, positioning itself as an alternative to The Sims. The early access launch offers careers, romance, and the opportunity to become the wealthiest resident in town.

Unlike its competitors, the game focuses on a smaller scale and a more intimate approach to virtual life.

007 First Light
Release Date: May 27
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

007 First Light is the long-awaited return of James Bond to video games.

Studio IO Interactive, known for the Hitman series, tells the origin story of the MI6 agent.

The game focuses on action, stealth, and the ability to resolve situations through dialogue. If negotiations reach an impasse, fists, gadgets, and the agent's signature one-liners come into play.

Shift at Midnight
Release Date: May 28
Platforms: PC — Early Access More details on Steam

Shift at Midnight is an online co-op game for three players where players work behind the counter of a night store and must figure out if all customers are human. One mistake, and you'll have to barricade the store, set traps, and fend off a murderous monster.