Welcome to the new year, and 2026 will feature plenty of open-world games. Each month will provide the opportunity to visit fantastical realms never seen before, or drop us into contemporary settings that twist the familiar. New properties should not be too hard to come by, but 2026 will see the release of quite a few major open-world sequel games.
Welcome The 5 Biggest Open-World Games Of January 2026
January 2026 brings the biggest open-world games yet, with massive maps, next-gen visuals, and must-play releases on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is, by far, the most highly anticipated title set to launch within the calendar year, presuming Rockstar meets its November 2026 target; however, it is hardly the only big open-world successor on the horizon. Forza Horizon 6 and Crimson Desert are also expected to launch relatively soon, as are Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight and Subnautica 2. Not a single one of those games needs further advertisement, but there are a handful of 2026 open-world sequels that could use the spotlight. Let's shine that light on them.
For the most part, I have focused on fairly obscure open-world games. That said, I have included one huge sequel in a franchise that is not known for these types of worlds, although it is technically not an open-world game. I will clearly mark this entry as the exception.
Exception: Nioh 3
Team Ninja Is Introducing Open-Field Design For Its New Action RPG
Nioh 3
- Released
- February 6, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
Let's get the outlier out of the way immediately – Nioh 3 is one of the biggest releases of 2026's first quarter, particularly if you are into hard-as-nails action RPGs with a billion weapons and mechanics. Nioh 2 is, personally, one of my favorite games of all time, so I really cannot wait to get my hands on its successor.
Although not using the phrase "open-world," Team Ninja has confirmed that Nioh 3 will be far more open than its predecessors, with the term "open-field" being employed. Going by the developer's comments concerning this design choice, Nioh 3 will grant players multiple routes in most areas and a sense of freedom that was not part of the previous entries. However, you will not be able to go just anywhere, although the game will try to make it obvious which areas are inaccessible. Besides more open areas, Nioh 3 introduces a jump button, introducing an element of verticality to player-driven exploration. Although featuring side content and optional quests that emphasize other elements, Nioh 3 will still be a combat-first RPG set in an unwelcoming environment filled with enemies who exist solely to kill you.
Although this shift might inspire trepidation, Nioh has always prioritized flexibility and player freedom, albeit solely in its built variety of combat tools. Consequently, open-field design might just expand these elements to exploration.
Streets of Rogue 2
2026's Most Exciting Upcoming 2D Open-World Game
Streets of Rogue 2
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Matt Dabrowski
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Indie Games, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC
Open-world games are synonymous with 3D landscapes, but the concept is no stranger to 2D masterpieces either. Although not fully open-world, Streets of Rogue features sandbox-style levels that are procedurally generated, which effectively act as mini-hubs. For the sequel, the developer has confirmed that they will take things a step further and go full open-world, albeit while still retaining random generation. Like its predecessor, Streets of Rogue 2 will hearken back to GTA 1 and 2, dropping players into isometric landscapes that facilitate and encourage chaos and mayhem.
"Anything is possible," claims the game's Steam description, which would sound hyperbolic if it were connected to any other sequel. However, Streets of Rogue is one of the most accommodating games of the last decade, and its successor could achieve total freedom if it successfully builds on the first entry's ideas. Blending roguelike design with immersive RPG elements like classes, Streets of Rogue 2 should let you "pave your own path to power."
Outward 2
Become An Adventurer And Try To Survive A Beautiful Fantasy World
Outward 2
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nine Dots Studio
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC
Outward is not necessarily one of the greatest open-world games ever, but its unique identity has attracted a passionate fanbase that wholeheartedly believes that a polished sequel could be something truly special. I share that sentiment, despite my history with the first game being defined by frustration and, frankly, a lack of patience on my part. Survival open-world games are a dime a dozen, but Outward 2 stands out for being, first and foremost, a fantasy RPG designed primarily around adventuring rather than survival. Perhaps unwisely, you decide to venture out of the safety of your hometown, opting to explore a world that is simultaneously gorgeous and deadly.
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.
You need to be well-prepared for the challenges that await, and that involves taking things like hunger, exhaustion, and weather into account. So, yeah, you don't only have to consider what equipment you wear and fight with, but also things like food, shelter, and backpacks. Although far from helpless, you are not a walking deity, but rather a normal person who has the will and guts to face this world's dangers.
For the most part, Outward 2 seems to retain its predecessor's structure and philosophy, which is great news. It also seems to improve the base combat, which is one of the more divisive aspects of the first game.
Mortal Shell 2
A Soulslike Sequel Goes Full Open-World In 2026
Mortal Shell II
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Cold Symmetry
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike, Action RPG, Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Mortal Shell was (and still is) a respectable indie take on the Soulslike subgenre. Although rough in places, it looked decent, played well enough, and featured a novel alternative to traditional class and armor systems. That said, I would primarily recommend it to die-hard Soulslike fans who want to experience nearly everything the genre has to offer. In comparison, Mortal Shell 2 seems set to expand greatly on its ancestor, including a compact but interconnected open-world.
The original game had a somewhat Metroidvania structure, but the campaign was short and fairly linear, which was not to its detriment. Not every project needs to adopt open-world design, but it can seem to be the logical progression for a sequel to a game like Mortal Shell. As the Harbinger, you will travel across a desolate region filled with dungeons, graves, forests, and angry gods. You will wear the shells of fallen warriors as your skin, tapping into their combat history in the process. You will explore, discover, die, and repeat. The good-old Soulslike formula.
Breathedge 2
Survive Among The Stars And On Alien Planets
Breathedge 2
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- RedRuins Softworks
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
Breathedge was an ambitious sci-fi survival game, and its sequel looks primed and ready to be bigger, better, and more ironic. Step into a spaceship and fly among the stars, heading towards planets that have their own ecosystems. A first-person survival game, Breathedge 2 has all the things you would expect from that descriptor, including mining resources, crafting, and crew management, with the latter being particularly important.
Breathedge 2 is pretty intriguing on paper, especially since its predecessor laid a solid foundation that could be expanded upon to craft something a touch more satisfying. The humorous tone might not be for everyone, but it is nice to play through the occasional story that does not take itself too seriously.
Upcoming Games All About Exploration
Prepare for an exciting journey filled with discovery in these upcoming games.