2026 Mid-Year Gaming Report Card: Best Games, Biggest Flops & Hot Takes!

Seven months down, five to go, and 2026 has delivered absolute masterpieces alongside total disasters! On this episode of Gaming Views, we break down our mid-year report card, debating whether Pragmata lived up to the hype, how Resident Evil 9: Requiem reinvigorated the survival horror franchise, and why Crimson Desert became an obsessive hundred-hour time sink. Plus, we get spicy with hot takes on why GTA 6 might be getting a free pass from critics without showing actual gameplay, mourn the let downs of High on Life 2, and place a wild wildcard bet on Barbie Rewind taking the holiday charts by storm. What’s your personal Game of the Year so far? Drop your top picks and spicy hot takes in the comments!App: Gaming Views: Game TrackerCheck out our game tracking app available on IOS/Android.✅ Track upcoming game releases✅ Build a watchlist✅ Get release day reminders⁠⁠Android⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠SUPPORT THE PODIf you like what we do, you can support us over here. It truly means a lot to the both of us - ⁠https://ko-fi.com/gamingviewsVISIT OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITEGaming Views has a new home! Explore our episodes, blogs, latest news from across the industry and what we’re playing:⁠⁠gamingviewspod.com⁠⁠See us on YouTube!Why not catch us (kinda) in person over on YouTube. See us discuss the games and also some bonus clips from some of the games - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gaming Views YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ContactIf you like what you hear - please do like, subscribe and consider leaving a review where possible. If you'd like to be on the show, or would like to say hi or suggest a topic, you can find us at the following:[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord#GamingViews #GamingPodcast #VideoGames #GamingNews #resident evil requiem #pragmata #crimsondesert #Nintendo #Switch #PlayStation #Sony #PS5 #Xbox #Microsoft #GamePass #Valve #SteamMachine #GamingTrends #IndustryAnalysis #HandheldGaming #Gaming2026 #PCGaming #GamingCommunity #videogamenews #Gaming #VideoGames #gamingnews