Exciting RPGs Comin In 2026 & Beyond

New RPG games are always on the horizon, and that covers turn-based, tactical, action, open-world, and soulslikes. 2026 is no exception.

Role-playing games have been a staple of the gaming industry for more than three decades. Each month, the genre tends to welcome a couple of noteworthy titles, be it high-profile releases such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Silksong, Lies of P, Hogwarts Legacy, Octopath Traveler 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3, or more niche projects like Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society and 8-Bit Adventures 2. There are always new RPGs on the horizon.

Due to the ambitious nature of the genre’s AAA projects, they are often announced years in advance, a practice that can result in extremely high expectations. Once the hype train gets moving, stopping it can be impossible, which has resulted in some disappointments in the past. However, when a game lives up to its potential, it is a thing of beauty. Which upcoming 2026 RPGs are you looking forward to the most?

Updated May 6, 2026 by Mark Sammut: Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and NTE have been removed since they are now available to play. In their places, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter and Persona 4 Revival have been added.

Gothic 1 Remake

The Return Of An All-Time Great RPG

Piranha Bytes’ Gothic might be rough around the edges in most areas, but its world and NPCs hold up incredibly well, and they combine to create one of the most immersive RPGs of all time. While the sequels had their charm (and Gothic 2 is pretty great), the series has effectively been dormant for the best part of 15 years, and Piranha Bytes’ closure might have suggested that it would remain part of the past. Fortunately, that is not going to be the case, as Alkimia Interactive and THQ Nordic are working on a remake of the first game, one that promises to remain faithful to its ancestor’s ideas and organic design.

Once again, you will find yourself in a prison colony defined by conflicting factions, and you will have to work your way up from the very bottom. Although the original game has a tiny world by modern standards, it was incredibly deep and reactive, two things that the remake really needs to nail if it wants to be a success.

Beast of Reincarnation

Game Freak’s First AAA Action RPG That Isn’t Pokemon

Weird times we live in. Game Freak is releasing a new RPG that isn’t Pokemon AND will not be available on a Nintendo console. Beast of Reincarnation is a dark fantasy action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic Japan, a descriptor that is already exciting enough on its own. However, the icing on the cake is that the protagonist, Emma, is accompanied throughout this adventure by a dog, Koo. The combat system combines the two, with the human not only being a capable fighter in her own right, but she can also give orders to her pet.

Beast of Reincarnation is not only getting attention due to Game Freak’s involvement, even though that is a factor, but it also just looks great, at least from the snippets that have been revealed so far. The creature designs are creative, the gameplay seems fast-paced and fluid, and the world will hopefully have enough personality to set it apart from the crowd.

The Blood of Dawnwalker

An Upcoming Action RPG That Lets You Be A Vampire

There will never come a time when portraying a vampire will not be at least somewhat cool, and The Blood of Dawnwalker throws nightwalkers into a medieval dark fantasy setting that really embraces the “dark” part of that equation. Blending 14th-century European history with supernatural fiction, the open-world RPG will drop players into a world ravaged by the Black Death. To make matters infinitely worse, the weakened populace also has to worry about vampires, who are striving to use this moment to gain their freedom.

Coen, the protagonist, is half-human, half-vampire, which means he can walk during the day and become a bloodsucker at night. Driven by desperation as he tries to save his family, Coen will have to decide whether he is willing to rely on his monster side or if he will try to preserve his humanity. Along with a plot influenced by player choice, The Blood of Dawnwalker will also feature two combat systems for the day and night sections.

Phantom Blade Zero

A Wuxia RPG

One of the most highly anticipated action RPGs of the last few years, Phantom Blade Zero has looked ridiculously awesome in every one of its showcases. Developed and published by S-GAME, the game is inspired by Wuxia, a genre that focuses on Chinese martial arts and has been gaining traction on an international stage, courtesy of donghua and a slow influx of games.

Specifically, Phantom Blade Zero is set in an alternate reality known as the Phantom World, a setting that should blend a range of genres like steampunk and horror. Players will get to control an assassin who is framed for the murder of his organization’s head, forcing him to try and clear his name before he dies in roughly two months. The story seems interesting, but Phantom Blade Zero has been primarily attracting attention due to its fast-paced combat, which has looked incredible in footage. Going by the available information, the game will not have Soulslike combat, which is kind of refreshing.

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

The Best 2026 JRPG Most People Won’t Notice

Trails is one of the most decorated JRPG franchises of all time, but it seems destined to always exist a step away from the mainstream. Nearly every entry is great, and they come out frequently enough to keep players perpetually busy; however, the games don’t typically explode and garner a lot of attention outside the franchise’s fanbase. Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter will probably be the same, meaning it could be the best RPGs of 2026 that most people won’t play.

A remake of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC, 2nd Chapter gives the original a substantial makeover, beyond just the new graphics. The combat system has been tweaked to present more options, and new side content has been added to provide more ways to spend time beyond the main story. The latter continues directly from 1st Chapter, and newcomers should really start with that before jumping into the upcoming game.

Valor Mortis

A First-Person Soulslike RPG

Revealed during Gamescom 2025, Valor Mortis looks set to shift the Soulslike RPG genre into first-person territory, a concept that has arguably yet to produce a really great game. One More Level is primarily known for the Ghostrunner games, both of which have satisfying combat that prioritizes quick thinking and one-hit kills. Valor Mortis will likely have longer battles than that, but the developer has already more than proven that they are capable of crafting intense and smooth first-person combat.

Valor Mortis has a pretty fascinating setting, with the story taking place during Napoleon’s reign. As a soldier who dies in battle, you awaken in hell on Earth, as corruption has spread and left the world filled with all sorts of entities that should not exist. Sounds like a brilliant concept for a dark fantasy RPG.

Fable

A Return Of A Beloved Action RPG Franchise

Fable has been dormant for roughly a decade by this point, and the last mainline, numbered entry was the divisive Fable 3. Lionhead Studios’ sad closure did not suggest that the franchise’s future was bright (or that it even had a future), but the series is set to return with a brand-new developer. Playground Games is handling the upcoming Fable, a reboot that will hopefully mark the start of a new era for an IP that once seemed full of promise.

Known for Forza Horizon, Playground is certainly a peculiar choice for a large-scale action RPG, but the studio definitely knows a thing or two about crafting gorgeous open-worlds. Obviously, Fable‘s Albion will share little in common with the team’s previous outings, but everything we have seen so far suggests that Playground might be crafting something special. Player choice and exploration seem to be the main focus.

What’s That Weapon?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)


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What’s That Weapon?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)Start

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Results

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High Score: 0
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Outward 2

A Sequel That Could Build On A Strong Foundation

Outward might not be brilliant, but it has a unique identity and scratches an itch that few action RPGs reach. Known for being hard-as-nails and anti-hand-holding, Nine Dots’ original game dropped players in a city and told them to head out and act as adventurers. There is no big looming threat that you must overcome or map beacons that you need to reach; no, it is up to you to craft your own story. As exciting as the concept was, Outward‘s rough combat and punishing early hours made it an acquired taste that can only be recommended to a relatively small audience.

Outward 2 seems set to maintain its predecessor’s approach to difficulty and blend of genres, with survival elements still being part of the equation. Like before, you will leave your hometown in search of adventure, and you decide where to go, what to risk, and how to prepare. The latter is extremely important too, as a lack of planning is a death sentence.

Persona 4 Revival

The Next Persona Masterpiece (Is A Remake Of An Old Persona Masterpiece)

A new Persona game is always a cause for celebration, even when it is a remake. As shown by Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Revival has every chance to become the definitive version of one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. The remake will keep the story intact, since there’s no point in messing with perfection, while bringing everything else up to current-day standards so it can sit alongside its predecessor’s remake and its successor.

So far, we don’t actually know all that much about P4R, as Atlus has kept things relatively close to the chest. For instance, will the remake change the TV World dungeon? P3R mostly added quality-of-life improvements to Tartarus, so the safe bet would be to expect something similar from the upcoming remake. Still, it would be nice if the dungeon got a bit of a makeover to make it feel less samey. Nevertheless, P4R should be incredible.

Pokemon Winds and Waves

Pokemon’s 10th Generation Starts In 2027

Like clockwork, every 3 or 4 years, a new Pokemon generation debuts. Scarlet and Violet launched in 2022 and produced DLC throughout the next 18 months. In 2025, Legends: Z-A hit store shelves, effectively bringing the 9th generation to a close. Consequently, it was only a matter of time before the next era was revealed, and Pokemon Winds and Waves were finally announced in March 2026.

For now, we only know a few things about the upcoming game. We know Winds and Waves‘ starter Pokemon, and we know that the region will be divided into islands and will come with a Southeast Asian flavor. We also know that The Pokemon Company is targeting a 2027 release, which we can assume will happen towards the end of the year. Not a lot to go off, but a new Pokemon is always a big deal.

Light No Fire

An Ambitious Fantasy Open-World RPG From The Makers Of No Man’s Sky

The rehabilitation of Hello Games’ reputation has been so extraordinary that, in 2026, “from the creators of No Man’s Sky” inspires unbridled excitement. Light No Fire is the developer’s next effort, although its release is likely still a few years away. While seemingly incorporating elements from their previous (and current) masterpiece, the upcoming release will 100% fall within the RPG genre, all the while offering a vast open-world that demands exploration and experimentation. Rather than give you the universe, Hello Games is focusing on just one planet, which happens to be the size of Earth (but isn’t Earth).

In its marketing, Light No Fire is specifically cited to be about “adventure, building, survival, and exploration together,” the latter of which emphasizes online co-op as a central feature. “Survival” suggests a specific type of experience, although it remains to be seen whether the game goes down the hardcore route or opts for a more accessible approach.

The Witcher 4

Action & Open-World (Presumably)

CD Projekt Red has been working on a new The Witcher project for a few years, but the developer did not confirm that it would be the next mainline entry in the saga until The Game Awards 2024. The Witcher 4 is on the horizon, and it is an exciting time to be a fan of open-world RPGs or just games in general. While Cyberpunk 2077‘s debut state reduced CD Projekt Red’s public goodwill, the developer’s post-launch commitment helped right a few of those initial wrongs, and the game is nowadays in good shape. More importantly, The Witcher 3 is still largely regarded as one of the greatest Western RPGs of all time, and time has done very little to dull its shine.

As the previous entry’s DLC nicely completed Geralt’s story, it had long been speculated that The Witcher 4 would feature a new protagonist, and Ciri has always been the most obvious pick. Well, The Game Awards’ trailer largely confirmed that rumor, with the powerful character being front and center. At this point, almost nothing is known about the sequel’s direction, except for Ciri seeming to be a few years older than in Wild Hunt. Also, Geralt will likely make an appearance in The Witcher 4.

Open-World (Presumably)

Image via Bethesda

It was only a matter of time before The Elder Scrolls 6 was revealed, although that is essentially all that Bethesda has done. Except for some minor details that can be surmised from the few seconds of footage that have been released so far, the game is still largely a mystery; however, TES 6 is one of those upcoming RPGs that only needs to exist to generate hype.

Realistically, Bethesda’s sequel is still a few years away from a debut, and the publisher’s recent track record has been a touch hit and miss. Nevertheless, it would be shocking if TES 6 does not wind up as one of the best-selling games of all time.