2026 could be a big year for JRPGs, as many surprises could come out. Fans are itching to play Kingdom Hearts 4 or the next Final Fantasy 7 remake project, and both of those sequels would indeed be cool. There are a number of known projects in the works, like The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, Ballad of Antara, and Decapolice.
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Some game sequels that take so long to release that fans give up hope. That's exactly the case with these games, except they're set to launch soon.
All of those games are set to release in 2026, but what about sequels? There are plenty of those coming out, too, from remakes to remasters to just straight-up new sequels. Let’s go over some of the bigger ones with and without set dates. One thing is for sure: JRPG fans will be eating well next year.
The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Beyond The Horizon
Combining Turn-Based And Action
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon
- Released
- January 15, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nihon Falcom, PH3 GmbH
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- Planned Release Date: 1/15/26
- Planned Systems: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, and Switch 2
The Legend of Heroes series is a hard one to get into simply because it’s been going on for so long, some games haven’t been released in North America, and the names can be hard to follow. That said, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is the latest edition to the mainline series, which appeared first in Japan in 2024 on a plethora of consoles.
Its North American debut will hit an equally large number of consoles in early January, so the wait will not be long. What’s great about this series is that players can engage in action-based and turn-based combat, which not many huge JRPGs allow. It's more inviting to a larger group of players.
Code Vein 2
Time Traveling Vampires
Code Vein II
- Released
- January 29, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Soulslike, Dating Sim, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Planned Release Date: 1/30/26
- Planned Systems: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
Code Vein was released in 2019, just before the new consoles launched, and it was a more anime take on the Soulslike genre, featuring vampire-like humans going after transformed humans in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Besides the vampire-infused story and powers, what set it apart was the AI companion who could join players on missions.
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Code Vein 2 is not entirely connected, or at least how the two games could be connected is a mystery. What seems to be clear is that some sort of time travel or time manipulation will be involved in the story, and perhaps gameplay, alongside the classic challenging Soulslike combat. It’s another early release for 2026 in January.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Soar With Dragons
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
- Released
- March 13, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- Planned Release Date: 3/13/26
- Planned Systems: PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S
It’s kind of hard to believe that this Monster Hunter spinoff is still ongoing. It began on the 3DS in 2016 in Japan with Monster Hunter Stories, which was followed up by a sequel on the Switch and PC. Now, both are available on multiple consoles, and the sequel, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, will debut at launch for multiple consoles too.
Unlike the mainline games, these JRPGs are turn-based adventures, and it seems like the sequel will fall in line with previous entries. Players can go out in a semi-open world to fight monsters with their monster and human parties. They can ride monsters, invade nests to steal eggs, and go on quests. It’s a full-fledged adventure that can perhaps finally gain more notoriety with this latest addition.
Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement
A Metroidvania Reboot Returns
Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- ArtPlay
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was a Kickstarter campaign that aimed to bring back Metroidvania action in a Castlevania style, which was eventually released in 2019. Tonally and gameplay-wise, it mirrored Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia the most since characters in both games could absorb powers.
The sequel, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, seems to be unconnected to most of the characters from the original, and the gameplay will be switched up a bit, too. Like Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, players will be able to swap between two characters who travel and fight together, named Leonard and Alexander. While there is no set date, fans can cross their fingers that it makes it out of 2026 as promised.
Ys 10: Proud Nordics
An Expanded Classic
Ys X: Nordics
- Released
- October 25, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nihon Falcom, PH3 GmbH
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Planned Release Date: 2/20/26
- Planned Systems: PC, PS5, and Switch 2
Ys 10: Nordics is the latest entry in the series, which has been going strong since 1987. Unlike most big JRPGs, each Ys game is a continuation of one character, Adol Christin, but the numbered titles aren’t sequential, as the stories take place out of order. Regardless, the action and music in these games keep players coming back for more, as they are simple and yet endlessly engaging because players can feel like they are going on a fun journey with an adventurer instead of someone who has to save the world from the brink of destruction time and time again.
Ys 10: Nordics is the biggest game to date with an expansive world players can sail in, and it was originally released in 2024 in North America, which was a year after Japan. Ys 10: Proud Nordics is an expanded version with more content. The PC and Switch 2 versions of it were launched in Japan and Asian territories in 2025. In 2026, North America will get the PC, PS5, and Switch 2 versions, so next year will be a good time to check out the Ys series, perhaps for the first time.
Mega Man Star Force: Legacy Collection
Seven Games In One
- Developer: Capcom
- Publisher: Capcom
- Planned Release Date: 2/20/26
- Planned Systems: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Mega Man Star Force was released in 2006 for the DS in Japan as a successor to the Mega Man Battle Network games. There were three versions, Pegasus, Leo, and Dragon, which had slight differences, like how the Pokemon franchise releases at least two games per generation. North American fans had to wait until 2007 to check it out. Regardless of history, now all seven main games will become available to play on a wide array of consoles in 2026 via a new collection.
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Mega Man Star Force: Legacy Collection will feature seven JRPGs, which are hybrids between action and turn-based battles, to play from start to finish. The Mega Man-based collections are typically well-produced with lots of extras like artwork, so this could satiate fans until 2027 when Mega Man: Dual Override is supposed to come out.
Inazuma Eleven RE
Remaking A Classic
- Developer: Level-5
- Publisher: Level-5
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch
Inazuma Eleven is a series produced by Level-5, which features soccer-based gameplay infused with wild JRPG elements, like special moves, and anime-inspired storylines. The first game debuted on the DS in Japan in 2008, and North America wouldn’t get to play it until the enhanced 3DS version was released in 2014.
Now, the game is going to get fully remade in 2026 via Inazuma Eleven RE. The art style looks more simplistic than the latest entry, which just launched in 2025, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road 2025, but anyone who enjoyed that game may also enjoy returning to the franchise’s origins in 2026.
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