Open-world games and playing with friends (co-op) can both provide incredible amounts of entertainment. When these two elements are combined into shared, open worlds, the resulting experiences can be truly unforgettable. The first few months of 2026 will see several major game releases, and some of the most promising aim to blend cooperative gameplay with the freedom of open-world design, potentially creating something extraordinary.
Open-world games you can play with friends might seem uncommon, but new ones are released fairly often. Truly great ones, though, are special and deserve attention. We’re hoping 2026 will bring some excellent new titles, so let’s take a look at a few upcoming open-world co-op games that look promising.
A few criteria and general notes:
- The intro makes this obvious, but only PC and console games that are coming out in 2026 will be listed.
- We are prioritizing games with confirmed release dates, even if they will be entering early access.
- At the end of the article, an honorable mentions section listing other games currently in development that are targeting 2026 will be included.
- Only open-world and sandbox games, so no open-area titles like Nioh 3.
- All the upcoming games can be played solo, but they support drop-in, drop-out co-op.
StarRupture
The First Big Open-World Co-Op Games Of 2026, And One For Friends Who Want To Survive And Build Together
Launching into early access in early 2026, StarRupture is shaping up to be a stunning game. It takes place in a huge, ever-changing world where you and your friends will need to explore, survive, collect resources, make discoveries, build structures, and ultimately thrive. Though it’s unclear if there’s a main storyline, the game seems to focus on building and expanding a large industrial base – similar to Satisfactory. Expect to spend a lot of time mining the planet for materials and working with your team to create massive factory systems that help you gather even more!
Okay, so from what I’ve seen, StarRupture looks like it’s going to be a pretty chill game. Most base-building survival games aren’t super fast-paced, and that seems to be the direction it’s heading. But here’s the cool part – it’s also a first-person shooter, so you’ll actually have to defend your base from the creatures out there. It’s still early access, so you always gotta be a little careful, but they’ve already done playtests – even a co-op one! That’s a good sign, it’s actually being made. I’d say it’s worth waiting to see what other people think before jumping in with your friends, just to make sure it’s worth the investment.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin
Best Upcoming Game For People Craving A Free Open-World RPG With 4-Player Co-Op
If you haven’t heard of The Seven Deadly Sins, it’s a popular manga and anime series that’s had its ups and downs. Despite some weaknesses in the story, the world of Britannia is a major highlight, thanks to its beautiful buildings, stunning landscapes, and rich history. Even with its flaws, this world is a great setting for a fun, action-packed adventure with elements of everyday life, like fishing. The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin aims to capture that potential by telling a brand new story that also features characters from the original series.
The game focuses mainly on a single-player campaign with a defined main character named Tristan, though other characters will likely be playable. In addition to the story mode, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin will feature a co-op mode where up to four players can team up for dungeon raids, choosing from a wide variety of characters, each with unique abilities and styles.
Vampires: Bloodlord Rising
The Best Upcoming Co-Op Games Vamps Looking For A Castle To Lay Their Coffin In
Originally planned to launch around the same time as Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, Vampires: Bloodlord Rising is now scheduled to enter early access at the end of January 2026. The development team, Mehuman Games, is relatively new to the industry, but the game is being published by Toplitz Productions, a company with a good reputation, which gives fans a reason to be optimistic. Bloodlord Rising allows players to embark on a quest to become a powerful vampire, expanding their influence across the land of Sangavia. Players begin as a newly turned vampire and can eventually construct a grand castle that rivals even Dracula’s famous home.
Explore a huge world filled with forests, dangerous dungeons, murky swamps, and towering mountains alongside your friends! You’ll uncover secrets, solve mysteries, and battle powerful enemies. As a vampire lord, you’ll build your own army – choosing who joins your ranks is up to you. In Bloodlord Rising, the cooperative gameplay lets you and your friends share the responsibilities of ruling your castle together.
Starsand Island
Best Upcoming Sandbox Co-Op Game For Players Who Want To Live The Quiet Life
Each year, several life simulation games become incredibly popular, and 2026 is shaping up to be the same. While we’ll discuss the biggest title later, Starsand Island stands out as a potentially perfect getaway, offering players a beautiful island setting to experience a relaxing and peaceful lifestyle.
From what I understand, Starsand Island focuses on a single-player story experience, meaning you’ll progress through the main narrative on your own. However, up to four players can share the same island and enjoy activities like exploring, relaxing, farming, or simply hanging out together. While the game’s graphics aren’t aiming for cutting-edge realism, Starsand Island is visually appealing, with vibrant colors and detailed environments. Combat is present in the form of dungeons, but it appears to be a smaller part of the overall game.
Pokemon Pokopia
Upcoming Co-Op Farming Sim For People Who, Well, Love Pokemon
Pokemon Pokopia feels surprisingly different. It’s odd to see a farming game with Pokemon, even though the idea actually fits well. Plus, it’s being made by Omega Force, the team behind the Dynasty Warriors series – which is a bit of a departure for them, even though I generally enjoy their games. Still, Pokopia looks good so far and could be the biggest launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2026. If they pull it off, it has the potential to be the most innovative Pokemon game in a long time, even though farming sims are a pretty common genre.
The exact size of Pokopia is still unknown, but it will be an open-world game where you can explore pretty much how you want. You’ll make progress by expanding your farm, which starts small and grows as you attract more Pokémon. It looks like you’ll be able to invite friends to visit your farm, similar to how it works in Animal Crossing. It’s a proven formula, so that’s great!
Honorable Mentions
Upcoming Open-World Co-Op Games That Might Come Out In 2026
Several games are currently planned for release in early 2026, though official release dates haven’t been announced yet.
- Everwind
- Kingmakers
- Kyora
- Outbound
- Solarpunk
- Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
- Streets of Rogue 2
- Subnautica 2
- Witchbrook
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2025-12-20 22:05