Shacknews Staff Picks Pragmata as Game of the Mid-Year for 2026

Halfway through 2026, the editorial team at Shacknews has published its annual “Game of the Mid-Year” roundup, and the results show just how stacked the first six months of this year have been. According to Shacknews, Capcom’s sci-fi shooter Pragmata claimed the top spot from two separate staff members, edging out heavyweights like Bungie’s Marathon, Nintendo’s Star Fox remake and IO Interactive’s 007: First Light.

The feature, credited to Donovan Erskine and compiled from personal picks across the outlet’s writers, is a useful snapshot of where the gaming conversation actually sits right now rather than where marketing hype says it should. For a year that’s already delivered Marathon, 007: First Light, Star Fox, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Pokémon Pokopia, Resident Evil Requiem, Mina the Hollower and Mixtape, the fact that a genre-bending shooter with a divisive combat gimmick came out on top says a lot about how 2026 has rewarded games willing to take risks.

Pragmata wins over skeptics twice

Senior editor Ozzie Mejia admitted he went in doubting Pragmata’s core hook, the puzzle-and-shooting combat system built around its android companion, would hold up. According to Mejia, writing for Shacknews, “I was so certain that the gimmick of the game’s combat was going to wear thin. Not only is it still entertaining to me after many hours, but the story is hitting me in ways that I didn’t expect.” He singled out the game’s narrative thread, The Space Adventures of Hugh Mann, as a standout he wasn’t prepared to be moved by.

Podcast host Steve Tyminski also nominated Pragmata among his top mid-year contenders, noting in the same Shacknews feature that he was surprised by how much he enjoyed the game despite stiff competition from titles like Resident Evil Requiem. Two separate picks for the same Capcom release, in a field this crowded, is a strong signal for anyone still on the fence about picking it up.

Marathon’s 300 hours despite Bungie’s turmoil

Sam Chandler’s pick went to Bungie’s extraction shooter Marathon, which he described as delivering “impeccable gunplay only Bungie can deliver, brutal endgame content in the form of Vaults, ruthless PVP, and enigmatic lore.” According to Chandler, he has already logged more than 300 hours in the game.

Chandler also used the pick to acknowledge the rocky circumstances surrounding Marathon’s launch, arguing that the game’s reception was unfairly coloured by wider turmoil at Bungie rather than judged purely on its own merits. It’s a reminder that even strong extraction shooters can get caught in the crossfire of studio headlines, something Marathon and Destiny 2 players alike have had to navigate this year.

Star Fox, Tomodachi Life and 007: First Light round out the field

Asif Khan named Nintendo’s Star Fox remake his current game of the year, citing its soundtrack, steady 60 FPS performance and faithful visual overhaul, along with dozens of replays chasing Challenge Mode medals on Expert difficulty. Meanwhile, TJ Denzer’s pick, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, beat out even Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0.0 as his daily go-to, thanks to the ongoing soap-opera antics of his custom Mii island.

Bill Lavoy went with IO Interactive’s 007: First Light, praising its Hitman-flavoured stealth gameplay and stylish presentation, and noting it sent him back to replay the Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy. Donovan Erskine’s own pick landed on Mewgenics, the cat-breeding tactics game from Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, which he called “chef’s kiss” for blending turn-based combat with deep management systems.

Why the mid-year snapshot matters for Game of the Year season

Mid-year lists like this one function as an early temperature check ahead of the inevitable Game of the Year debates that will dominate gaming discourse come December. With Pragmata, Marathon, Star Fox, Tomodachi Life, 007: First Light and Mewgenics all pulling votes from a single outlet’s small staff, 2026 is shaping up as one of the more genuinely competitive years in recent memory, spanning AAA blockbusters, Nintendo remakes and scrappy indie darlings alike.

For players in New Zealand and Australia, most of these titles are already available through regional storefronts on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC, meaning the back half of 2026 offers plenty of time to catch up before year-end lists lock in. Whether Pragmata holds its lead or gets overtaken by a late-year surprise, Shacknews’ mid-year tally is a solid checklist for anyone building their own personal shortlist.

Read also: PS5 Community Picks: 007 First Light, Clair Obscur Lead This Weekend’s Playlist