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

<p>Seven months down, five to go, and 2026 has delivered absolute masterpieces alongside total disasters! </p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p>What’s your personal Game of the Year so far? Drop your top picks and spicy hot takes in the comments!</p><p><br></p><p><strong>App: Gaming Views: Game Tracker</strong></p><p>Check out our game tracking app available on IOS/Android.</p><p>✅ Track upcoming game releases</p><p>✅ Build a watchlist</p><p>✅ Get release day reminders</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamingviews.app" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Android⁠⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gaming-views-game-tracker/id6801985905" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Apple⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>SUPPORT THE POD</strong></p><p>If you like what we do, you can support us over here. It truly means a lot to the both of us - <a href="https://ko-fi.com/gamingviews">⁠https://ko-fi.com/gamingviews</a></p><p><strong>VISIT OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE</strong></p><p>Gaming Views has a new home! Explore our episodes, blogs, latest news from across the industry and what we’re playing:<a href="https://gamingviewspod.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠gamingviewspod.com⁠⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>See us on YouTube!</strong></p><p>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 - ⁠<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@GamingViewsPod" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gaming Views YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Contact</strong></p><p>If you like what you hear - please do like, subscribe and consider leaving a review where possible. If you&#39;d like to be on the show, or would like to say hi or suggest a topic, you can find us at the following:</p><ul><li>gamingviewspodcast@gmail.com</li><li><a href="https://x.com/GamingViewsPod" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/gamingviewspod/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>⁠<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gamingviewspod.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://discord.gg/6CcV2aDEpp" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Discord</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>#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 </p>