{"id":27046,"date":"2026-07-17T00:01:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T00:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/?p=27046"},"modified":"2026-07-10T01:05:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T01:05:03","slug":"carys-best-games-of-2026-so-far-awards-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/17\/carys-best-games-of-2026-so-far-awards-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Cary’s Best Games of 2026 SO FAR Awards Show!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Around this time of year, I like to make a list of my best games SO FAR, because usually the AAA titles are released later in the year during the holiday season, and the titles that came out earlier tend to be forgotten.\u00a0 So here\u2019s when those games get their due.\u00a0 Keep in mind that this is my list only and no other outside opinions contributed.\u00a0 And if a game isn\u2019t on this list, it either just didn\u2019t appeal to me as much or I haven\u2019t had a chance to play it yet.\u00a0 Ok with that out of the way, let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n

WEIRDEST GAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pok\u00e9mon Pokopia (Switch 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This game ALMOST won my GOTY SO FAR award.\u00a0 Another game just barely beat it.\u00a0 Some have described this game as a mix of Pok\u00e9mon meets Animal Crossing and Minecraft.\u00a0 But really, it\u2019s basically Dragon Quest Builders 3, as it was made by the same folks who did the previous one in that franchise.\u00a0 You move around a post-apocalyptic Kanto region as a shape shifting Ditto, making friends with other Pok\u00e9mon as you make their life happy and possibly bring back the humans that left you there.\u00a0 There\u2019s always something to do and while I probably won\u2019t get any of the DLC, I\u2019ve already spent 45 hours on this game which is the longest I\u2019ve spent on a new game this year so far!<\/p>\n

Runners Up:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tomodatchi Life: Living the Dream (Switch)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a sequel to the 3DS title which lets you make Mii characters and have them interact with each other on an island.\u00a0 They can even get married and have kids!\u00a0 I think I like the 3DS game better as it had more gameplay options (like a mini RPG), but the Switch one does have more customization features, so it\u2019s a trade off.\u00a0 At any rate, this game let me marry Reiko Nagase from Ridge Racer, so it can\u2019t be all bad, right?<\/p>\n

Pictonico (Mobile)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The weirdest thing about this game is not that it\u2019s a WarioWare styled title where they take your photos and make mini-games out of them.\u00a0 No the weird thing is that this is a new mobile game developed and published by Nintendo!\u00a0 I thought they were done with mobile, but I guess not!<\/p>\n

BEST ARCADE COLLECTION\/REMAKE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Disney Afternoon Collection (Switch 2)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Back in the late 80\u2019s and early to mid 90\u2019s, Disney had a block of weekday after school cartoons on TV called The Disney Afternoon.\u00a0 They featured such memorable and high-quality shows like DuckTales, Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, and many more.\u00a0 Tons of people, including myself, have very fond memories watching these cartoons as kids.\u00a0 Game maker Capcom even made some bonafide classic games based on those Disney Afternoon cartoons.\u00a0 About a decade ago, they released a collection of those games.\u00a0 I loved that collection, but two things always baffled me.\u00a0 Why wasn\u2019t it released on Switch, and why was it missing two other SNES Disney Afternoon games?\u00a0 Well now those questions are answered with The Disney Afternoon Collection on Switch 1 and 2!<\/p>\n

Runners Up:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Star Fox (Switch 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a super big Star Fox fan, but I don\u2019t hate it.\u00a0 There\u2019s just a lot of Nintendo franchises I like much more.\u00a0 But this remake is still pretty darn good.\u00a0 I just wish I was better at Star Fox games!\u00a0 Peppy is awesome, he\u2019s my favorite.\u00a0 At the very least, this one is way better than Star Fox Zero, which I think was one of the worst games Nintendo ever made!<\/p>\n

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection (Switch)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I never got into the Star Force games as by then I was getting a bit tired of the Battle Network formula.\u00a0 But this is still a nice collection and I\u2019m glad to have it.\u00a0 If only Capcom would release a collection of the Mega Man Legends games.\u00a0 It\u2019s the only series they haven\u2019t done that with!<\/p>\n

CyberBlocker: Complete Edition (PS4)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

It may sound like an Internet security program, but CyberBlocker: Complete Edition is actually a game that combines paddle and ball block breaking action like BreakOut or Arkanoid, mixed with 2D shooters with a power-up system similar to Gradius.\u00a0 And it\u2019s also really fun and one of the best Arkanoid clones I\u2019ve played in decades!<\/p>\n

R-Type Dimensions III (Switch 2)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Even though they\u2019re no longer around, game maker Irem made some of the most popular games in the arcades back in the 80s.\u00a0 Some of these include Moon Patrol and Kung Fu Master, but probably their most famous was the shooter series R-Type.\u00a0 Consoles back then would often times show off their version of R-Type for its graphical prowess, and it was one of the most challenging shooters back then.\u00a0 It\u2019s so popular they still make R-Type games today, and I even reviewed one a few years ago (R-Type Final 2).\u00a0 And here\u2019s another one with R-Type Dimensions III.\u00a0 I reviewed the first R-Type Dimensions, which was a remake of R-Type 1 and 2. And this one has R-Type 3, which was originally on the SNES and later on the GBA.<\/p>\n

BEST PUZZLE GAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Namco Legendary Mountains (Switch 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s basically a 3D version of Suika Game, but features themes and characters from classic Namco games like Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Mappy, Xevious, and more!\u00a0 Yeah they know how to push my buttons!<\/p>\n

BEST KIDS GAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bluey\u2019s Quest for the Gold Pen (Switch 2)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Bluey is one of the most popular shows streaming right now, and it\u2019s no wonder why.\u00a0 It may be a preschool show on the surface, but it deals with subject matter that any age can enjoy.\u00a0 The show is about Blue Heeler dog Bluey, her sister Bingo, and their parents, family, and friends as they learn life lessons through imagination and play.\u00a0 I\u2019m a huge fan of the show, and we\u2019ve already seen plenty of Bluey on GamerDad.com with another video game review, a board game, and podcast.\u00a0 And now there is a second video game with a story written by Joe Brumm, the show\u2019s creator!\u00a0 In the game, Bluey and Bingo and their parents are amusing themselves inside on a rainy day by drawing and coloring pictures and making up stories.\u00a0 Bluey tells a story about a poor girl who can\u2019t afford to repair her cottage.\u00a0 So she calls upon Bingoose (her sister Bingo) to lay a golden egg for her.\u00a0 But their dad has the gold pen for the egg and won\u2019t give it back!\u00a0 Now Bluey and Bingoose must go on a quest in their imagination to get the gold pen.\u00a0 The game is presented with crayon styled drawings, similar to Bluey episodes like \u201cEscape\u201d and \u201cDragon.\u201d\u00a0 Gameplay is viewed in a top down perspective and you\u2019ll solve Zelda dungeon styled puzzles to progress.<\/p>\n

BEST MUSIC\/RHYTHM GAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rhythm Heaven Groove (Switch)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This one kind of wins by default, but it\u2019s still very good.\u00a0 Has that Wario Ware style quirkiness and charm, but then it\u2019s made by the same folks so that\u2019s why.\u00a0 Just more of what you liked from Rhythm Heaven Fever on the Wii.\u00a0 I just wish it wasn\u2019t so darn hard!<\/p>\n

BEST 2D ADVENTURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (Switch 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It plays like a typical 2D Yoshi game on the surface, but it\u2019s one of the most creative 2D platformers I\u2019ve played in a long time.\u00a0 Instead of making it from point A to B, your job is to play and experiment with the creatures you\u2019ll find in a mysterious research sketchbook you come across and can adventure inside.\u00a0 It\u2019s nothing like I\u2019ve ever played and it\u2019s a lot of fun!<\/p>\n

And now it\u2019s time for my best game of 2026 SO FAR!\u00a0 Taiko drum roll, please\u2026<\/p>\n

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (Switch 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

What do you get when you combine a time travelling story like in Chrono Trigger, weapon variety like in Secret of Mana, combat and exploration like Ys, and dungeon puzzles like Zelda?\u00a0 Well you get a game that\u2019s right up my alley!\u00a0 This game really took me by surprise.\u00a0 The HD-2D graphics really shine and it\u2019s just so much fun.\u00a0 Yeah sure the game isn\u2019t perfect, as it bottlenecks when you\u2019re trying to get the true ending.\u00a0 But it\u2019s still engaging and worth it.<\/p>\n

You know what\u2019s interesting is that thanks to that last underwhelming Nintendo Direct in June, there\u2019s not a whole lot I\u2019m looking forward to for the rest of the year.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got Splatoon Raiders, Switch 2 Sports, and that Zelda Ocarina of Time remake but that\u2019s it for me.\u00a0 There might be some third party stuff like the Switch 2 version of Digimon Story: Time Stranger and a Hello Kitty party game (don\u2019t judge me), but I don\u2019t know what else. Oh yeah there is that new Final Fantasy game with the HD 2D graphics like Elliot.\u00a0 \u00a0I wanted to get Bubsy 4D and see if it would go on this list, but the demo didn\u2019t impress me enough and I read it only has 15 levels, so I may wait for a sale or something.\u00a0 But that\u2019s about it.\u00a0 At any rate, in the comments section, let me know what YOU think of my list, and tell me your favorite games this year SO FAR.<\/p>\n

Because of all the recent news going on lately, I wanted to end this blog with some of my thoughts.\u00a0 While my top two favorite games this year: Pok\u00e9mon Pokopia and Adventures of Elliot were fun and I liked them a lot, both of these games have something in common that I HATE!\u00a0 The only ways to get these games physically on Switch 2 is a game key card.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if you can get Elliot on disc on PS5 or Xbox, but I don\u2019t have those consoles so I\u2019m not worried about that.\u00a0 I just think game key cards are worse than digital download only.\u00a0 At the end of the day they\u2019re just a hunk of plastic.\u00a0 I try to buy physical when I can, even as far as importing some things when I really want them.\u00a0 I only do digital if I can\u2019t get it any other way, or if it\u2019s too hard.\u00a0 I tried to get the game key card for Pokopia, but I have yet to see it in a store (I think Nintendo did that on purpose), and the Elliot game key card is an Amazon exclusive.\u00a0 With that and also knowing that eventually all consoles will be digital only (I don\u2019t think Nintendo is going to be the \u2018savior\u2019 of physical games or anything), I\u2019m not a happy gamer right now.\u00a0 But I think I\u2019ll TRY and end this blog on a positive note with a quote they always say in my GOTY SO FAR winner game The Adventures of Elliot:<\/p>\n

\u201cHope is Always There.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading folks.\u00a0 –Cary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Around this time of year, I like to make a list of my best games SO FAR, because usually the AAA titles are released later in the year during the holiday season, and the titles that came out earlier tend to be forgotten.\u00a0 So here\u2019s when those games get their due.\u00a0 Keep in mind that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":27038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27046"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27048,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27046\/revisions\/27048"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gamerdad.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}