Don't Sleep On These New Upcoming RPGs With Real-Time Combat

Fans of action RPGs have no doubt a lot to look forward to in 2026 on all consoles. Switch 2 fans are getting what looks like a great port of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon will conclude a trilogy, and even Control Resonant looks sick, if it indeed does come out in 2026. Those are all examples of upcoming sequels, though.

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Good or bad, these upcoming open-world RPGs will be heavily discussed.

Are there any new action RPGs on the horizon not tied to any previous works? The answer is yes, and while not every system is known about these games, the combat looks fun enough already, and hopefully, they will surprise and delight all in 2026. Players can get excited for epics with kung fu action, old-school retreats, a brawler, and more. Could these games be the next big thing in the genre, or will they at least be fun?

Phantom Blade Zero

Kung Fu Swords

Release Date: 9/9/26
Planned Systems: PC and PS5

Phantom Blade Zero is easily one of the most anticipated games of the year, and not just because it is an action RPG with fast and fluid combat. The game was announced in 2023, and at long last, there is a date. It has also been confirmed that the game will launch on both PS5 and PC systems, rather than being a PS5 exclusive, come September. The game stars a warrior named Soul, who has only a few months left to live, which may or may not impact the gameplay. While not fully open-world, it seems that players will be able to explore open environments similar to many Soulslike games.

What sets Phantom Blade Zero apart from most games is its Chinese influence in its combat, sort of like a video game version of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Players can quickly attack enemies with a rapid sword strike, dodge incoming attacks, and counterattack for an intense counter. There even seems to be a system wherein players can run up beams and walls to dodge attacks and get around. There are other weapons as well, including twin daggers, twin swords, and spears, plus magical attacks like a devastating lightning strike. The set pieces also look exciting, from driving a boat in infested waters to fighting enemies aboard a stagecoach. Hopefully, Phantom Blade Zero will meet expectations as a combination of Ninja Gaiden and Nioh.

Ananta

GTA Anime Edition

Planned Release Date: TBA
Planned Systems: Mobile, PC, and PS5

Ananta was originally announced as Project Mugen in 2023, but it has kept its gameplay identity this whole time. It will be an action RPG set in an open-world, or at least an open-city, with a free-to-play model. Beyond the action, this game is crammed full of content and gameplay mechanics that make it exciting to discuss. First, the Captain, who players will control to the main, has Spider-Man-like powers. With a black-tar substance, he can swing around the city and entangle enemies as he engages. There will be other playable characters as well, and players can switch between them in real-time.

Facing a boss in Chronoscript The Endless End

Upcoming RPGs With Mindblowing Mechanics

From turn-based combat to real-time action, these upcoming RPGs look to shake up the genre with their innovative in-game mechanics.

One example shown in one of the most recent trailers includes a character fighting enemies in a building, and once the swap is performed, players inhabit a sniper who is in a nearby building. This means players could potentially stage their characters before a big mission to bring villains to justice, as they are part of an elite police unit. Beyond melee combat, players can get guns and gadgets to use. There are stealth elements, players can drive cars, mini-games like slap fighting and basketball, and so much more. It really looks like Grand Theft Auto with an anime filter and action combat, similar to other free-to-play titans like Genshin Impact. If Ananta comes out before Grand Theft Auto 6, it could eat a lot of its lunch, so there is a way for the game to be huge.

Abyss X Zero

Mega Man Legends As An RPG

Planned Release Date: TBA
Planned Systems: PC
Developer: Studio Pixel Punk
Publisher: Studio Pixel Punk

Abyss X Zero is an upcoming action RPG with a distinct look. Studio Pixel Punk is making it, which also worked on Unsighted in 2021, a top-down action game that was received well at the time. This game was announced in 2024, so it has been in development for a few years now. Right away, PS1 fans will notice the chunky and colorful polygons of the characters and enemies, almost like a distinct copy of the style found in Mega Man Legends.

While it’s a different type of game altogether, Mega Man Legends fans may want to keep an eye on Abyss X Zero. Beyond the fast action, players also get to control two characters in a 3D Metroidvania structure. From driving motorcycles to block puzzles to smashing enemies with a big hammer, this game has style. There aren’t many indie games that are trying to harken back to the good old days of PS1 polygonal models, or at least not ones that look this good, with clearly a lot of time spent on animations.

Alabaster Dawn

Indie Mana

Planned Release Date: TBA
Planned Systems: PC

Perhaps the idea of a 3D action game is too daunting, as most modern games tend to have some sort of action in 3D. That’s where indie games like Alabaster Dawn come along, as it will be a top-down action RPG that name-drops some all-time greats like Kingdom Hearts and Devil May Cry in the inspiration notes on Steam. Players can travel around an expanding map, Zelda-style, gaining gear and skill points to boost their character, Juno. The main goal is a bit like Okami, as players have to revitalize the environment, and thankfully, Juno will not be alone.

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This is another game that has been in the background for quite some time. The developer, Radical Fish Games, also made CrossCode in 2018, which was a very highly acclaimed game. Alabaster Dawn was announced as Project Terra in 2021 through a series of developer diaries that gave insight into the creation of the world. Of the many games on here, Alabaster Dawn actually has a demo on Steam that players can try. It should remind old-school RPG fans of an updated adventure in the Mana series like Secret of Mana or Trials of Mana, two SNES favorites.

Detained: Too Good For School

An All-Girl Brawler

Planned Release Date: 2026
Planned Systems: PC
Developer: O.T.K Games
Publisher: Thermite Games

Detained: Too Good for School is an upcoming homage to what seems to be the River City Ransom series of brawlers. It’s being developed by O.T.K Games, who also made Sword of the Vagrant in 2017, known on Steam as just The Vagrant. Fans of Vanillaware games, like Odin Sphere and Muramasa: The Demon Blade, should look into Detained: Too Good For School and Sword of the Vagrant, as they share similar art and combat styles. Instead of a fantasy setting, players will go around their city as an angry teen girl with her fists at the ready.

Players can pummel enemies with ease, go to cafes to get boosts from food, and perform in mini-games like a dating sim. While the date is vague, Detained: Too Good For School will apparently hit Early Access first before it goes anywhere else. On the Kickstarter page, it does express interest in some form of PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo port as well, but one never knows how long Early Access campaigns can last. Overall, it’s good to see the brawler genre alive and well in 2026.