2026 is already shaping up to be another great year in gaming, and one of the most stacked and impressive genres this year has to be open-world games. There are countless giant games just waiting to be released, but as compelling as some of these adventures look, many players much prefer a more immersive first-person experience to a third-person one. Thankfully, there are plenty of interesting games just around the corner for players to sink their teeth into, delivering large-scale environments and unique mechanics that should satisfy even the pickiest gamers.
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In the coming months, players can look forward to survival crafting games in a range of settings, epic adventures that will take them across lush landscapes, and a few completely new ideas looking to shake up the open-world genre in ways no one could have ever imagined. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if players are looking for a cozy game to relax in with some friends or a more intense, action-heavy experience; there is bound to be something that suits their tastes down the line.
Subnautica 2
Diving Underwater Once Again
- Larger-scale areas and entirely new creatures.
- Co-op mode to make the world feel even more engaging.
Subnautica 2 takes everything that made the original a landmark in open-world exploration and expands it into an even more expansive and immersive underwater experience. Set on a brand-new ocean world filled with strange biomes and mysterious lifeforms, the sequel builds on a lot of the core gameplay elements of the first game, with a familiar feel that a lot of long-time fans will enjoy, while also introducing brand-new elements like co-op for up to four players, turning the otherwise isolating waters into an exercise in teamwork.
The narrative also seems to be taking a bigger focus this time around, as players delve deeper into the sea, uncovering alien mysteries from ages past, and tying them together to paint a picture of the world around them. Even for those who have never tried Subnautica, the sequel has plenty to offer, providing a unique blend of horror and exploration that comes from the first-person perspective, ensuring that even experienced players will always be on their toes.
Outbound
The Beauty Of Nature
- Cozy exploration with up to four players.
- Light survival mechanics, but a big focus on comfort and freedom.
Outbound trades large-scale battles and epic narratives for a more cozy survival and collaborative experience that players can enjoy either alone or together in co-op. Rather than drop players into a hostile wilderness, the game situates them behind the wheel of an empty camper van in a beautiful landscape, with the vehicle itself serving as the main point of progression throughout the game.
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Players scavenge materials, craft tools and modules, and expand their home into a fully customized living space fit for the colorful journey that awaits them. The world itself is full of different biomes, each with its own distinct resources and secrets. As environmental conditions change, players need to creatively manage their resources to keep the fun going for longer. Fans of more cozy survival games should definitely keep Outbound on their radar, as it just might be their next favorite title of 2026.
SAND: Raiders Of Sophie
Piloting Giant Mechs Across The Desert
- PvP looter shooter gameplay in a procedurally generated world
- Highly customizable mechs, both for combat and aesthetics.
SAND: Raiders of Sophie sends players to a barren wasteland covered in sand, with the main gameplay focus being on vehicular combat atop giant mechanized walkers. The world is harsh and full of decay, forcing players to scavenge and build their way to survival. The Tramplers are the big draw, acting as both a walking base and a method of combat, turning otherwise generic FPS battles into large-scale conflicts full to the brim with action and explosions.
The procedural nature of the sand dunes ensures that no two adventures feel the same, challenging crews to adapt their bases with new engines, armor, and weapons to combat the evolving conditions. Whether they're braving sandstorms to claim treasure or bolstering defenses against rival raiders, players are in for a real treat, as SAND promises to test both their mechanical prowess and their ability to adapt in the midst of some borderline cinematic firefights.
The CUBE
FPS Action Meets MMO Depth
- Huge rotating landscapes that mix up the gameplay.
- Massive enemy variety across a range of biomes.
The CUBE is positioning itself as a bold new entry in the open-world genre by blending first-person shooter mechanics with MMORPG elements and an ever-shifting world structure that comes straight out of the farthest reaches of science fiction. At its core is a colossal, levitating cube that shifts and changes, rotating unpredictably and altering the terrain. Most importantly, the resources and enemies that are contained within it change accordingly.
Players can team up or go solo through the evolving landscape, engaging in deep lore-driven quests and exploring a distinctive world that is truly unlike anything else in the FPS space. The developers may have already been experimenting heavily with Atomic Heart, but The CUBE looks to be taking things to completely new heights that will likely blow plenty of minds when it launches very soon.
Sea Of Remnants
More Than Just Another Sea Of Thieves
- Fleet customization and a long list of companions to find.
- Evolving world through choices made.
Sea of Remnants thrusts players into the shoes of a lost sailor in a vast, magical open world defined by shifting seas and the intrigue of a past long forgotten. Unlike traditional landlocked open worlds, the game’s landscape extends far beyond a single island, letting players explore an expansive ocean filled with islands, hidden coves, and the pirate city of Orbtopia, a living hub full of companions of all shapes and sizes.
Players can build and customize their fleet, recruiting over 300 unique companions, each with their own stories and skills, and turning a single playthrough into an epic adventure full of life. There is also a lot of weight placed on choice, as players can impact large aspects of the world around them by making crucial decisions, often leading to sweeping changes that don't just affect a single individual but the entire city.
Breathedge 2
Surviving In The Harshest Environments
- Survival adventure centered on exploring an alien world.
- Stylized visuals for a unique feel.
Breathedge 2 expands upon its predecessor’s unique dark humor and sci-fi absurdity by dropping players into an increasingly mysterious and hostile world with very little room for error. Resource management is at the forefront, and players will constantly find themselves wrestling more with the environment than the creatures within it, juggling dwindling supplies as they press on into the unknown.
Tied directly into the gameplay is a compelling narrative that is far more mysterious than it initially appears, letting players speculate and theorize long before any revelations come their way. In terms of open-world survival, it is easily one of the more exciting and interesting games on the horizon and a must-play for any fans of the genre.
Frostrail
There's Nothing Worse Than A Cold, Dark Night
- A blend of horror and survival.
- Cooperative scavenging across an ice world.
Frostrail comes from the devious developers of Barotrauma, and rather than making a similar or even related sequel, the creators are looking to bring something entirely new to the gaming world. The world is a frozen wasteland covered with thick frost and snow, making visibility a major issue from the moment the game begins. Central to the experience is a steam-powered train that players must use to progress further into the icy landscape, which means bolstering its walls and managing fuel to avoid becoming sitting ducks for the horrors hiding in the darkness.
Outside the main tracks is a deadly and quiet environment covered in ruins and structures that are no longer homes to people, but instead serve as major hubs for enemies and loot. Each step away from the rails is a gamble. While players need to venture out to search for supplies, both for weaponry and survival, a single mistake can easily lead to a whole swarm of foes approaching and quickly dispatching even well-prepared survivors. The monsters themselves look to combine elements of body and cosmic horror, with some being smaller walkers that don't pose much of a threat, while others are towering behemoths that are probably better left alone than attacked head-on.
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