As a hobby, gaming serves as an escape from reality for a lot of people, and nowhere is that more apparent than in open-world games with fantasy settings. Titles that offer players a chance to explore vast worlds of monsters and magic that are as different from reality as it is possible to be, letting them live out a life of whimsical adventure that’s impossible to experience otherwise.
Upcoming Role-Playing Games People Are Excited For
While plenty of RPGs have been announced for 2026 and beyond, these upcoming role-playing games are especially exciting.
Players interested in this genre of gaming will want to know what’s there to look forward to in the coming months and years, giving them the opportunity to mark their calendars and set their alerts for when these highly anticipated open-world fantasy games are coming out.
Only games that are confirmed to be open-world games have qualified for this list, which is why titles like The Duskbloods are absent from the article.
The Elder Scrolls 6
The Long Awaited Sequel to Skyrim
- Release Date: TBA
No conversation about upcoming open-world fantasy games would be complete without mentioning perhaps one of the most anticipated games of all time, The Elder Scrolls 6. First revealed on June 10, 2018 in a now-iconic minute-long teaser, fans have been waiting for Bethesda’s next entry into the mainline Elder Scrolls series for years at this point.
No confirmation about the actual setting for the game has been officially announced so far, but Bethesda has dropped some hints over the years which have led the community to believe that The Elder Scrolls 6 will take place in Hammerfell and High Rock, previously unexplored regions of Tamriel. This would make perfect sense in the context of the previous games of the franchise, as a new region gives the developers the opportunity to tell new stories and offer players new adventures to get lost in.
Crimson Desert
The Next Giant Leap for Open-World Adventure Games
- Release Date: March 19, 2026
A brand new IP developed by Pearl Abyss, Crimson Desert was originally envisioned as a sequel to Black Desert Online, but at some point during development, it evolved into an open-world single-player action adventure title in the same vein as The Witcher 3 and Skyrim. Crimson Desert is set in the same high fantasy world as Black Desert, in a continent called Pywel that is filled with mythical beasts like dragons and monsters.
From the early sneak peeks and official gameplay reveals that have surfaced online in the lead-up to the game’s release, Crimson Desert feels like it might just have what it takes to be the next big thing in the open-world fantasy genre. From incredible visuals and excellent combat to a massive open world filled with an insane amount of things to do, it seems like the game checks all the boxes. The only thing left to see is if it delivers on those promises as well.
The Witcher 4
A New Era of Witcher Legends Begins With Ciri as the Protagonist
- Release Date: 2027/2028
The highly anticipated sequel to CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher series, The Witcher 4 is an upcoming open-world adventure game whose development is well underway. For the very first time in the franchise, The Witcher 4 will not have Geralt of Rivia as the protagonist but will feature Ciri as the main character instead, opening the door for new stories and adventures and a departure from the books that the games are based on.
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Originally announced at The Game Awards 2024, the developers revealed an Unreal Engine 5 tech demo set for The Witcher 4 in June 2025, leading fans to believe that the game might be just around the corner. CDPR has since clarified, however, that fans cannot expect The Witcher 4 to release in 2026, as it is not in the final stages of production just yet, and needs more time before it is ready for the general public.
Fable
A Full Franchise Reboot for the Iconic Fantasy Series
- Release Date: 2026
The Fable franchise has been an icon of the fantasy genre for a long time, and the upcoming game in the series, simply called Fable, promises to bring back the wacky, over-the-top absurdity these games were known for in the early 2000s in all of its glory. The new Fable is set to be a complete reboot for the franchise, telling a brand new story in Albion unattached from the baggage of the previous entries.
The upcoming Fable will take players back to the low-medieval era of Albion, similar to the first game, and according to the developers, will aim to recapture the feeling of Fable (2004) while offering a more grounded experience and vastly improved graphics and combat. Fable was originally slated to release in 2025, but has since been pushed back to 2026.
The Blood Of Dawnwalker
A Dark Fantasy Open-World Adventure Game Driven by Choice
- Release Date: 2026
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an upcoming Witcher-inspired open-world action game made by ex-CDPR developers. In it, players assume the role of Coen, a half-human, half-vampire man trying to save his family from a den of powerful vampires in a gothic 14th-century Europe-based setting. Coen’s vampiric powers come alive at night, whereas during the day, he has the freedom to move around as a human. Some problems can easily be solved as a vampire, while others benefit from a human touch.
Freedom of player choice is at the heart of The Blood of Dawnwalker, and how much or how little players lean into either side of Coen’s identity is completely up to them, opening up the door for different playstyles and replayability. Similar to Atlus games like Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio, The Blood of Dawnwalker will feature a day/night cycle, and players will only have 30 nights and 30 days to complete their objectives, adding a sense of urgency to the mix.
Light No Fire
A Massive Fantasy Playground from the Makers of No Man’s Sky
- Release Date: TBA
Developed by Hello Games, Light No Fire is an upcoming open-world survival game set in a fantastical planet of monsters and magic. In addition to traditional elements of survival games like base building, resource collection, and multiple biomes, the game will also feature a rich RPG system to add an extra layer of progression to the mix.
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What makes Light No Fire one of the most anticipated upcoming survival games is the promise of scale. The official tagline openly states that the game is “set on a fantasy planet the size of Earth,” a frankly absurd claim that would seem like baseless boasting if it were coming from anyone other than Hello Games, the makers of No Man’s Sky. The number of planets in No Man’s Sky has proven beyond a doubt that these developers can make games at a scale that other game makers don’t even dare attempt, giving credence to Light No Fire’s scope.
The Wayward Realms
A Grand Fantasy Epic Based On Procedural Generation
- Release Date: TBA
The Wayward Realms is an upcoming open-world fantasy RPG made by ex-Bethesda developers who previously led development for The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Daggerfall, with the aim of recapturing the same feeling of adventure and discovery evoked by those titles. From Orcs and Elves to Skeletons and Warlocks, the world of The Wayward Realms is set to contain all the traditional fantasy tropes games in this genre have come to be known for, and more.
To ensure that no two playthroughs are the same, The Wayward Realms will make use of a virtual GM to change how in-game NPCs react to the player’s decisions and character choices. This also means that quests in this game will not be pre-defined, but will arise as a result of player action, leading to some interesting outcomes. This, in combination with the fact that the game will use procedural generation to expand its world, means that The Wayward Realms makes liberal use of AI in its development, a fact potential buyers should be aware of.
Soulframe
A Fresh MMO Experience From the Warframe Team
- Release Date: TBA
Developed by the makers of Warframe, the critically acclaimed free-to-play online action game, Soulframe is an upcoming open-world MMORPG that offers players a “fantasy version of Warframe” with magic, swords, and monsters. The game takes place in the world of Midrath, where magical monsters roam free. The setting is not entirely fantasy, however, as there is a mix of sci-fi elements introduced as well, resulting in a curious mish-mash of genres that makes the world feel unique.
Although Soulframe will not be a hardcore Soulslike, combat is shown to be slower-paced and more deliberate compared to Warframe. Better yet, Soulframe already enjoys a dedicated audience and an active player base thanks to the introduction of the Preludes, alpha versions of the game that invited players can join in and play to experience what the game has to offer. Early playtesters already have glowing reviews for what Soulframe offers in its current state, which spells encouraging things for the full release.
Chrono Odyssey
A Lovecraftian Horror MMORPG Adventure in a Dark Fantasy Realm
- Release Date: TBA
Originally announced in 2021, Chrono Odyssey is a Korean MMORPG being developed by Chrono Studio, a subsidiary of NPIXEL. When first revealed, Chrono Odyssey was marketed as a mobile MMO, but its scope has since evolved into a larger, more traditional open-world title with tons of planned content and mass appeal. The game’s setting is a combination of fantasy and horror elements, and looks to be inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft.
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Exploration is one of the core focuses of Chrono Odyssey, with the developers promising players that exploring the open world will be incredibly rewarding for progression. Combat revolves around dodging, parrying, and executing combos similar to what’s seen in action games, and uses a device called a “Chronotector” to allow players to rewind or stop time whenever they want.
Six classes have been announced so far, each using different weapons and a unique playstyle exclusive to each of them. In order to ensure that the solo experience does not punish picking the wrong class, the developers have ensured that every class is equally adept at clearing content, albeit in different ways.
ArcheAge Chronicles
The Stunning Rebirth of an MMORPG Legend
- Release Date: Q3 2026
Formerly known as ArcheAge 2, ArcheAge Chronicles is an upcoming open-world MMORPG set to revive the iconic and highly acclaimed title, ArcheAge, which originally came out in 2013. Set in the fantasy world of Auroria, ArcheAge Chronicles promises players a “vast and vibrant world” to explore.
From the early looks revealed so far, the level of graphics and visual fidelity being offered in ArcheAge Chronicles is exceptional, on par with the biggest AAA titles, if not more impressive. The developers have stated that making sure that the combat looks and feels good is the focus of the team. Combat looks to be fast-paced and action-packed, closer in likeness to a traditional action game like Devil May Cry than what MMORPGs are typically known for.
The store page states that life skills like hunting, fishing, farming, crafting, and blacksmithing are making a return, but are being reworked to be more rewarding. It also mentions that the trade between settlements will be carried out using trade caravans that players will have to protect, suggesting a fully player-driven economy.
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Prepare for an exciting journey filled with discovery in these upcoming games.