2025 was a big year for mobile gamers; we saw the release of Destiny Rising, Delta Force, and Persona 5: The Phantom X, but what are our most anticipated new mobile games coming soon? There are a lot of hype-inducing games on the way, but we've managed to narrow it down to the most exciting ones.
Whether you're after a GTA-inspired gacha game, a fresh portable FPS, or something a little cozy that you can play while snuggled up as the winter months roll by, our list has a little something for everything to get excited for.
Here are the biggest upcoming mobile games coming in 2026:
Digimon Up
I love Pokémon. That's a weird way to sell you on this game, but I needed you to know that, despite my love for Game Freak's franchise, I think the Digimon games generally surpass the recent outings into the world of Pokémon.
Digimon Up obviously isn't a direct competitor to Pokémon Go, but I can see it hitting a similar audience and attracting people with some unique gameplay. In this upcoming mobile game, you hatch a DigiEgg and must love and train your new baby so it Digivolves into a strong new creature to partake in battles with your friends.
I was a big advocate for a Digimon Go-style app, but I think this may be even better. I can't wait to see more gameplay in the coming months. This game is due to launch in 2026, but we don't have an exact date just yet.
Ananta
Ananta, formerly known as Project Mugen, looks like a really interesting new gacha game with vehicles to drive, intense action combat, and some cute characters to roll for. We've seen a few games try to take Genshin Impact's crown in recent years, and I think Ananta has a very good chance of converting Hoyoverse lovers into NetEase lovers.
The game currently has a very impressive 16 million + pre-registrations, which shows just how eager we all are for this mobile GTA-, Spider-Man 2-, Yakuza-like title. Though Honkai Star Rail and Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis currently take up most of my time, I'm always eager to try out a new gacha
As NetEase has very slowly dripped information, it looks like it might be a ways off, but until then, make sure you check out our Ananta guide and list of all the Ananta characters we've seen so far.
Honkai Nexus Anima
There's no denying that Hoyoverse is one of the biggest names on the mobile gaming scene these days. From the open-world wonder of Genshin Impact to Honkai Star Rail's exciting twist on turn-based tactics, these games span a wide range of genres and styles, appealing to audiences from all walks of life. So why not throw a Pokémon-like into the mix?
Honkai Nexus Anima is primed to be the next entry in the Honkai series, and takes the form of an intriguing creature-collector adventure game with strategy elements. Combat revolves around an autochess system, where you deploy your team of Honkai Nexus Anima animas (the cute critters at the heart of the game) to duke it out. Between these matches, you can also explore a beautiful open world with your fantastical companions, taking photos, playing at the beach, and more.
So far, the animas we've seen range from pudding-like puppies to balloon unicorns, each with their own unique exploration and battle abilities, and I genuinely can't wait to catch 'em all. I'm also excited to see if any other familiar faces show up on the Honkai Nexus Anima character list alongside Honkai Star Rail's Blade. Unfortunately, we don't have a confirmed Honkai Nexus Anima release date just yet, but we'll be keeping a close eye out for any news.
Petit Planet
Hoyoverse has some incredible games under its belt, each of which has a huge fan base that grows year on year. While the combat-based games are great, I'm looking forward to its Animal Crossing-inspired cozy title, Petit Planet.
This adorable life-sim has humanoid and animal-shaped characters to meet that look after different areas of business on the planet, from catching bugs to astrology, to haberdashery, who can help as you fish, farm, frolic, and generally have fun on your own intergalactic isle.
I'm very excited to jump in and get cozy when it does release - hopefully in 2026. I trust Hoyoverse's schedule and ability to release gams on time, unlike certain other cozy game makers that haven't delivered the goods after years and years.
Valorant Mobile
Another year of speculation is upon us: will this year finally be the year that Valorant Mobile hits our phones? Riot Games' 5v5 FPS shooter has been promised for mobile since 2021, but guys, I think it might really be coming this year, after its release in China in 2025 and some upcoming changes to the esports systems that hint at platform expansion.
At least, I hope so. Valorant is my all-time favorite PC game, having given me an entry into online FPS games with its vast array of charming characters, each with their own cool abilities and intense backstories, as well as its colorful and smooth gunplay experience. I spend hours chilling in the warm-up areas, admiring the graphics and testing the range of agents on offer. The game is ultimately just a lot of fun, especially with friends.
It's often referred to as knock-off Counter-Strike, but I think it's more accessible than its peers in the category due to its vibrant worldbuilding - this will be especially true when it arrives on mobile. It has the potential to be massively impactful for the growth of the game, enveloping new fans in a new world.
Assassin's Creed Jade
I've been quietly looking forward to Assassin's Creed Jade for a while now, with the prospect of stealth gameplay in ancient China quite an exciting one. While I've enjoyed recent AC titles set in Egypt, Greece, and beyond, I've seen those locations in countless games, whereas China is a bit more unknown.
One thing I do know for sure is that I'll be pulling out some serious parkour moves across the Great Wall the first opportunity I get. I have some doubts, mainly in terms of how invasive in-game microtransactions might be and how easy it is to maneuver a deadly assassin with touchscreen controls, but considering how long this game has spent in the pipeline, I'm hopeful it comes out polished and without too many paywalls.
Either way, I'm still looking forward to causing some chaos in the shadows as soon as the time comes. Watch out, Chinese warlords, I'm coming for you.
Aniimo
Do you love adorable fluffy creatures, a massive world to explore, and intense battles? Well, Aniimo appears to be the game for you. This upcoming mobile ARPG is described as "a free-to-play, next-gen creature-catching" game, and after a few betas, we can't wait to see what the full release holds.
Not only does this game have Pokémon vibes, but it also seems to implement a few of the quirkier parts of Palworld. You catch Aniimo using Aniipods, but you can also set traps to try and aid your catch. Once you have a few creatures, they evolve from little cuties into tough, muscle-bound monsters.
The game is set to release this year, and you can check out our Aniimo guide to stay up to date with all of the latest news.
Varsapura
Yes, this is another upcoming Hoyoverse game, but this time it's an open-world RPG set in a city full of "supernatural phenomena". In the 30-minute gameplay trailer, you get to see the protagonist join SEAL, the Supernatural Enforcement and Administration League, as she drives through the city and fights massive creatures.
Apparently, you'll be able to customize the main character, but we haven't seen what attributes you'll be able to tweak just yet. So far, it looks very different from Hoyo's other offerings, and we're excited to see more about it.
Our Varsapura guide has a little additional information on this RPG, and we'll update it as soon as we receive even more details from the developer.
Animula Nook
I'm a firm believer that you can never have enough cozy games, and Animula Nook is shaping up to fit that genre nicely. In this upcoming mobile game, you're shrunk down so small that you can fit in a teacup, using clutter from your desk to build up your surroundings, and planting seeds that will eventually flower and tower above you.
There are loads of character customization options and side quests to take part in. You can even recruit NPCs into a band and play a rhythm game that includes eight different instruments.
While the game isn't 100% confirmed for mobile just yet, it did get a beta test on TapTap, which indicates to us that the game should at least arrive on Android in the future.
There you have it: all of the biggest new mobile games you can play soon. To keep the portable good times rolling, head over to our list of the best Nintendo Switch games and the biggest new Switch games coming soon.