{"id":1568008,"date":"2026-05-02T05:19:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T05:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/5DrMo3cdhUkAjzk5pq59Ed"},"modified":"2026-05-02T05:19:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T05:19:58","slug":"the-new-pc-games-of-may-2026-forza-subnautica-2-and-early-access-games-galore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/the-new-pc-games-of-may-2026-forza-subnautica-2-and-early-access-games-galore\/","title":{"rendered":"The new PC games of May 2026: Forza, Subnautica 2, and early access games galore"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The first few months of 2026 were a little slow for new game releases<\/a>, but I find myself saddled with a bit of indecision anxiety as I look at the schedule for May. While I’m not much of a Forza or Hitman player myself, those are the two big releases that have my colleagues really talking<\/a>. <\/p>\n

But there are still plenty of new games that’ve caught my eye (and hopefully yours too), like the weird musical adventures in Dead as Disco and the next proper Sims 4 competitor, Paralives. I’m also quite excited for Shift at Midnight, which will finally allow me to live out my lifelong dream of owning and operating a gas station from hell with two of my closest friends. <\/p>\n

It’s also a month of nonstop early access releases, including Steam’s most wishlisted game right now, Subnautica 2. Sure, it seems like we see more and more of these spring up every month, but I swear this May has an inordinary abundance of them. And if none of those manage to get their hooks in you, maybe return to some old haunts like Phasmophobia or Path of Exile 2\u2014both of which have big updates planned for the month.<\/p>\n

The new PC releases we’re watching in May<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
\n

\"DeadMay 5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\n
\n
Dead as Disco<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n

Dead as Disco<\/strong> (Steam<\/a>) is one of two early access games we’re highlighting in May (told you they’re bountiful this month), but the funky, rhythmic beat ’em up has me absolutely jazzed. As Charlie Disco, you’ll lay the smackdown on other musical legends through combat that syncs with the soundtrack. Sounds groovy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

\"AMay 11<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\n
\n
Outbound<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n

Outbound<\/strong> (Steam<\/a>) missed its April release date, so the adorable camping-life adventure found its way back into our games-to-watch list for May. The mobile base building game is one I’ve had my eye on for almost two years now, so I reckon waiting a few extra weeks for May 11 to roll around won’t kill me. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

\"AnMay 14<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\n
\n
Subnautica 2<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n

Subnautica 2<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>(Steam<\/a>) has certainly been through the wringer, and that’s putting it lightly<\/a>. The subsurface survival sequel is an early access surprise that I didn’t think I’d get to play so soon, but gladly welcome whatever new underwater phobias<\/a> this one saddles me with. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

\"ForzaMay 19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\n
\n
Forza Horizon 6<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n

Forza Horizon 6 <\/strong>(Steam<\/a>) races through Tokyo later this month, and while I may not be a Forza girlie, I understand the appeal. I once sat in the driver’s seat of a friend’s fancy racing setup for a test drive in Horizon 4 and didn’t want to get up. If I ever get hold of a setup like that for myself, y’all will never hear from me again. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

\"TwoMay 25<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\n
\n
Paralives<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n

Paralives <\/strong>(Steam<\/a>) is the third early access game on our radar this month, and one I’ve been watching for what feels like a million years now. After bouncing off Inzoi last year, I’ve got high hopes for Paralives as a proper Sims 4 competitor. The sandbox life sim easily claims the title for ‘most distinct art style’ of the three. Now I just hope the build mode is as fun as it looks.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

\"JamesMay 27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\n
\n
007 First Light<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n

007 First Light<\/strong><\/a> (Steam<\/a>) goes back in time for baby Bond’s first big adventure, and who better to helm that project than the Hitman devs? IO Interactive’s next stealth game puts Agent 47 on a brief hiatus and instead follows James Bond when he was just starting his career with MI6. That’s cool and all, but someone call me if they get to the Daniel Craig or Sean Connery era. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

\"AMay 28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\n
\n
Shift at Midnight<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n

Shift at Midnight <\/strong>(Steam<\/a>) is a co-op horror gas station sim where you’ll have to sus out the monsters hiding among your real customers. It first caught my eye last year when I played the demo with friends and couldn’t stop repeating its same few sample rounds. Running a convenience store with the world’s most hellish patrons was the perfect recipe for nervous fits of laughter and screaming. Lots<\/em> of screaming.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n