The industry and the players are eagerly awaiting the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 from Rockstar Games, but it seems the wait until May 26, 2026, just got a little longer. Grand Theft Auto 6 has once again been delayed to November 19, 2026, over 6 months since its first delay, and as such, frustrated players who have been waiting over 13 years at that point might be looking for some of the best upcoming games in 2026 to pass the time. Luckily, 2026 is pretty stacked for game releases, and we've compiled some that have a lot of charm, potential, and fun to immerse you in open worlds and gameplay loops that'll keep you entertained until you can finally get your hands on GTA 6 on November 19, 2026. While these games might not hit the same spot as GTA 6, they still offer great worlds to explore and addictive gameplay that'll make time go faster.
2026 Video Game Release Date Calendar
Video game release dates for 2026 are still mostly a mystery, but we'll keep this page up to date with new information on the biggest titles.
Crimson Desert
A Beautifully Brutal Fantasy Open-World to Contrast the Modern Day
- Released
- March 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Pearl Abyss
- Publisher(s)
- Pearl Abyss
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World, Exploration
Crimson Desert is set to be an open-world action-adventure game where players are free to explore the realm that they once lost to embark on brutal battles across strange lands, explore uncharted areas, and experience something otherworldly. Crimson Desert looks to be a thrill ride of epic proportions, providing a breathtaking fantasy world filled with magic, monsters, and violence. While the fantasy setting is extremely different from Grand Theft Auto 6, the inclusion of an open world, creative freedom of a character's narrative, and the sheer contrast of fantasy vs modern-day realism make Crimson Desert an interesting addition to the roster that could definitely be worth picking up.
While players aren't going to be driving around neon streets with a gun in hand, it might be nice for them to try something new, where a unique open-world void of skyscrapers becomes the forefront of their attention. Why not immerse yourself in a fantasy world with a deeply rich story where you can ride animals into villages, venture across seamless skies on a dragon, and engage in such a relentless and deep combat system that looks like a blast to experience? Crimson Desert might be extremely different from Grand Theft Auto 6, but that's where the joy of it comes in, as it'll be such a clash of identities by the time November hits, and you'll feel enriched from playing a living-breathing fantasy, that it'll make GTA 6 that much harder, or, dare say, make you miss the feeling of Crimson Desert even more.
007 First Light
An Action-Packed Espionage Adventure with a License to Kill
- Released
- May 27, 2026
- ESRB
- Teen / Blood, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- IO Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- IO Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
James Bond is a cultural icon, as famous as the wait for GTA 6. IO Interactive put their own spin on James Bond with their origin story for 007, in which a young James Bond joins a mission to stop a rogue agent who's always one step ahead. It's modern, thrilling, and looks like a thrill from start to finish as Bond chases down his adversaries in cars, explores vast areas in stealth or with his license to kill, and looks pretty cool while doing it. 007 First Light is set to have a gorgeous amount of locations, vehicles, action, stealth, and set-pieces, which are all hallmarks of an entertaining and memorable game, and all hallmarks of something players should expect from Grand Theft Auto 6.
While 007 First Light is not open-world, it doesn't detract from the fun that it can provide players with. Each mission will have its own unique way for players to experience, with an abundance of creative gadgets, different avenues to explore, areas to infiltrate, and people to kill or fight. Whether you decide to go silent or loud for these missions is entirely up to you, but the element of danger and thrill is all there, ready for you to immerse yourself in as the life of MI6's greatest spy. Sure, you're not cruising the streets of Vice City and committing crimes, but you've got a legal license to kill, a rogue agent to stop, and a martini to drink. All in all, 007 First Light looks like a promising spy thriller that is well worth playing before GTA 6 takes over in late 2026.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
A Brick-by-Brick Open-World with Fluid Combat, Vehicles, and Comic-Booky Action
- Released
- May 29, 2026
- Developer(s)
- TT Games
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Franchise
- LEGO Batman
- PC Release Date
- May 29, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Superhero, Open-World
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is the first LEGO Batman game in 12 years, and it's set to be a real doozy. Combining the open-world elements of previous games and essentially placing the DNA of the famed Batman: Arkham series into familiar LEGO plastic, this game is set to be a joy to play through, even for the hardened players who enjoy guns, running people over, and the mature stories that Rockstar Games provide. While to some, this might seem like an absurd recommendation, you have to remember the basics of what games are about: being fun. With LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, players are in for a great time indeed, and while it might not have the same thrills of realism that await you in GTA 6, it can still offer you so much.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight unlocks an expansive open-world in Gotham City, filled with stellar plastic visuals and crime at every corner to make you feel like the hero that the city needs. There's an abundance of Batman-related vehicles for players to drive around the city, or they can glide around in search of delivering justice. As all LEGO games provide, players can expect a bundle of collectibles, replayable missions, and a great roster of Batman characters to play as, ensuring that your time is well spent as you wait for GTA 6 to take over. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has the potential to scratch the itch of fun, while still providing gameplay for fans of GTA 6 with its focus on vehicles, exploration, and crime, but the added bonus is that this one involves Batman and the robust Arkham-style combat system.
While there's no confirmed release date for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (as of November 7, 2025), so much gameplay of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has been shown that it's expected to be well before November 2026.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
An Open-World Fantasy Where Your Choices and Time Shape Your Evolving Story
- Developer(s)
- Rebel Wolves
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
WHERE TO PLAY
The Blood of Dawnwalker comes from the director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which is regarded as one of the greatest games ever made. With a talented team of developers following at Rebel Wolves, and with publishers Bandai Namco Entertainment (the same publishers of Dark Souls and Elden Ring), The Blood of Dawnwalker seems to have assembled a very creative and talented team. The game itself is an open-world dark fantasy action RPG, providing players with amazing elements that are the blueprints to any incredible gaming experience. Within this title, players will immerse themselves in 14th-century Europe as Coen, a human by day and vampire by night, on a quest to save his family in a story in which the clock never stops turning, and the future is shaped by your actions. This means that if you take too long, you could directly impact the ending of the game, but that also means that every playthrough will be unique, as you won't be able to do every mission and uncover every secret without failing your main quest.
The Blood of Dawnwalker looks very unique in how you can make the story your own, while also engaging in bloodied action with supernatural skills that harness claws, blades, and an abundance of blood. The RPG elements and the importance of action with consequence seem riveting to play, and a breath of fresh air to tide you over before GTA 6. While the fantasy world might be extremely different from Vice City, the important factor here is the innovation and story that comes with The Blood of Dawnwalker. Players will love a unique experience tailored to their own choices, and the freedom of exploration and the stories intertwined will surely make for a memorable ride, and a replayable one due to the differences you can make in each playthrough, so that you have plenty to do before GTA 6.
The Blood of Dawnwalker does not have an official release date, but it's expected to be released before GTA 6's November window.
Fortnite
An Ever-Evolving Live-Service Battle Royale With Replayability and Open-World Elements
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- September 26, 2017
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Epic Games
- Publisher(s)
- Epic Games
WHERE TO PLAY
While Fortnite has been released since 2017, there's a reason it's still around 8 years later, and will continue to be "upcoming" for years to come. Fortnite is a live-service game, meaning that free major content updates are released every few months to provide players with new seasons and entirely new chapters filled with new maps. Most gamers should be familiar with Fortnite by now, but if they're not, then it's never too late to try, especially as the wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 seems so lengthy, clocking in at over a year away (as of publication). There are a few reasons we decided to pick Fortnite as a game to play during the wait, and part of that reason is its expert blend of casual players and hardcore players, providing a fun experience mixed with addictive gameplay. Also, the abundance of skins and cosmetics means you can run into battle with a squad full of Homer Simpson, Optimus Prime, and Doja Cat as you fight against Peter Griffin, Batman, and Scooby-Doo. Doesn't that sound fun?
Fortnite makes the best use of the Unreal Engine to provide players with a very smooth and a very fun gameplay loop, in which players drop from the Battle Bus in a Battle Royale match against 99 other players, where only one can claim victory. Each match is unique and thrilling due to the millions of players worldwide, and the new seasons always provide new characters, weapons, mechanics, and map locations to keep the game constantly fresh. By the time GTA 6 rolls around, Fortnite should be within Chapter 8, which is an entirely new map with an entirely new set of changes. If the Battle Royale style isn't to your taste, then there are plenty of LEGO modes and Creative modes that have an open-world feel to them, much like GTA 6 promises with its own world. The main reason we chose Fortnite to help tide players over for GTA 6 is thanks to the fact that both games will have a very fresh and satisfying game feel, and how their worlds are expansive and creative, and of course, how GTA 6's Online should grow into something more, just as Fortnite's does thanks to its own Creative Mode.
- Released
- November 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
