The Witcher 3 is 2026’s highest rated video game thanks to remaster

| Games News Reporter Published September 29, 2026 6:08pm Updated September 29, 2026 6:08pm 2026’s highest-rated game has been changing every couple of months or so (CD Projekt) It was already one of the top-rated video games of 2015 and now The Witcher 3 has poached the number one spot for 2026 from Big Walk. There has been stiff competition for 2026’s highest rated video game all year. Just when you think one game will comfortably hold the number one spot, something new drops just a few months later to overtake it. In August, Big Walk took the top spot on Metacritic from fellow indie darling Mina The Hollower and Xbox exclusive Forza Horizon 6, but it has since dropped to second place. Taking its place is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered, which launched today as a free upgrade for anyone who owns the original 2015 game, no matter what platform they own. At the time of writing, the remaster boasts an average Metacritic score of 94 (out of 100) although this is based only on eight reviews; all of which are overwhelmingly positive. As such, that score could drop if/when Metacritic adds further published reviews, although it wouldn’t be affected that much if the reviews are consistently positive. Expert, exclusive gaming analysis Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Even so, developer CD Projekt is bound to be pleased with this achievement considering The Witcher 3 was also one of the highest rated games of 2015, where it only came second to Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Big Walk’s previous score of 94 has also dwindled a bit thanks to additional reviews, but only to 91. As of now, this means it shares second place with Trails In The Sky 2nd Chapter (a remake of a 2006 role-playing game) and DLC expansion Doom: The Dark Ages | Revelations. You could argue it’s not fair for The Witcher 3 Remastered to be considered the highest rated game of the year since while it is more refined and features some improvements (especially for the combat), it’s not a wholly original game. In fact, because of how Metacritic works, 2025 twin stick shooter Sektori is joint first with The Witcher 3 Remastered, thanks to its Switch 2 port launching this year. Something similar happened last year, where the Switch 2 port of 2023’s The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom became the top-rated game of 2025 alongside Hades 2. This may not even matter as GTA 6 is still to come and is all but guaranteed to review well. Not to mention Nintendo’s remake of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time, although that may come under stronger scrutiny by fans of the original. If you were to discount ports, re-releases, or DLC expansions, 2026’s top rated video games on Metacritic looks like this: 1. Big Walk 2. Trails In The Sky 2nd Chapter 3. Forza Horizon 6 4. Well Dweller 5. Valheim 6. Mina The Hollower 7. Schrodinger’s Call 8. Pokémon Pokopia 9. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave 10. Resident Evil Requiem Have you already started playing The Witcher 3’s remaster? (CD Projekt Red) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. Arrow MORE: 58 other games are out the same day as GTA 6 and we’ve not heard of any of them Arrow MORE: GTA 5 is finally on Nintendo Switch but Rockstar has already blocked it Arrow MORE: God Of War Laufey PS5 pre-orders are live and include exclusive armour GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.