Upcoming Games That Take Place In Sprawling Cities

Several exciting open-world games are on the horizon and are expected to be hugely popular, much like beloved titles such as The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Games like Crimson Desert and The Blood of Dawnwalker appear vast and offer a lot of freedom for players to express themselves and be creative.

I’m really excited about The Witcher 4, even though it’s still early in development. But what’s really grabbing my attention are these upcoming games that seem to be focusing on huge, open cities. Some of them might be full-on open-world experiences, while others are more like sandboxes where you can just explore. And honestly, I’m even more hyped about the games that are only set in these cities! I want to dive in and see what makes each city special and how these games are building something unique within them.

Grand Theft Auto 6

2026’s Biggest Game

Planned Release Date: 5/26/26
Planned Systems: PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Scheduled for release in 2026, Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature a massive city to explore. The game returns players to Vice City, a location not seen since the 2006 PSP title, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The city promises a lively and detailed world, with plenty of activities like shopping, playing pool, and hitting the nightclubs.

Beyond the city limits of Vice City, players can explore the surrounding swamps by boat. A nearby national park offers opportunities for hiking and kayaking. While the game likely has a gritty, dark atmosphere – typical of Rockstar titles – these outdoor activities appear surprisingly appealing. Aside from the obvious criminal underworld, Vice City almost seems like a pleasant vacation spot.

LEGO Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight

I Was Born In Darkness

Planned Release Date: 2026
Planned Systems: PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is the first new LEGO Batman game in over ten years, and the developers, Traveler’s Tales, are pulling out all the stops. It’s not only a tribute to past LEGO Batman games, but also packed with references to everything Batman – from movies and cartoons to video games and beyond. Essentially, it appears to be a dream game for dedicated Batman fans.

The action in this new LEGO game feels more exciting than previous titles, and you won’t just be playing as Batman. You’ll be able to travel around a large version of Gotham City on foot, using a glider, and driving the Batmobile. We don’t know yet if there will be optional, relaxing missions, but LEGO and Batman fans have a lot to look forward to when it releases in 2026.

Decapolice

A Detective RPG

Planned Release Date: 2026
Planned Systems: PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch

Decapolice is a new detective game with a distinctive anime style, created by Level-5. Players will solve crimes by virtually revisiting locations and examining evidence – similar to the Detective Vision feature in the Batman: Arkham series. The gameplay focuses heavily on investigation, blending elements of the Phoenix Wright and L.A. Noire games to create a challenging and immersive experience.

While the city doesn’t seem packed with things to do at first glance, its futuristic design is really appealing, just like you’d expect from a cyberpunk world. Players will investigate cases and also battle enemies using a turn-based combat system with their team. We’re hoping this RPG launches in 2026 and offers a wider range of activities than what’s been revealed so far.

Ananta

Grand Theft Anime

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

Ananta appears to be a game with a lot of different gameplay features, and it’s currently aiming for a 2026 release, though that date isn’t confirmed. It will be free-to-play, similar to Grand Theft Auto, but with a strong anime art style. Instead of playing as a criminal, players will explore the city as members of a special task force.

Players will be able to drive different cars and motorcycles, but a really cool feature is the grappling hook-like tether used by the team’s captain to swing around like Spider-Man. While it’s unclear how many characters you can control simultaneously, you’ll definitely be able to switch between them. Beyond the main story about fighting crime, the city will be filled with side activities like races, arena battles, and even basketball games.

Stranger Than Heaven

A Century In The Making

Planned Release Date: TBA
Planned Systems: TBA

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the team behind the popular Yakuza series, is working on a new game called Stranger Than Heaven. The game features a wandering protagonist who travels through different eras of the same city, Sotenbori, including 1915, 1929, and 1943. Expect a lot of intense fighting and criminal activity – hallmarks of RGG Studio’s games.

Fans of the Yakuza series always enjoy the quirky side quests and mini-games, and hopefully Stranger Than Heaven will deliver those too. What really sets this game apart is its multiple time periods – a feature few games attempt, but the team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is known for pulling off ambitious ideas. Sega hasn’t announced which platforms the game will be on or when it will be released, so it may be a while before we hear more, or they might be planning a big reveal soon.

DokeV

Kingdom Hearts Meets Pokemon

Planned Release Date: TBA
Planned Systems: TBA

Okay, so DokeV is still a ways off, but I’m already hyped about it. What really stands out to me is that it’s one of the few monster-catching games that’s set in a huge city. The only other big one that comes to mind is the new Pokemon Legends game, Z-A. From what I’ve seen, DokeV might have some areas outside the city to explore, but it looks like most of the gameplay will be happening right in the urban environment, which is pretty cool.

Okay, I’m already so hyped after seeing the gameplay! It looks like you can get around in so many fun ways – riding bikes, even monsters! And they’ve got rollerblades and skateboards too, which is awesome. But the coolest part might be this magical umbrella that lets you glide around! What really grabbed me, though, is the combat. You team up with your monsters and fight with them, and it looks a lot like Kingdom Hearts – super stylish and action-packed. Forget just basic attacks, the monsters actually transform into crazy weapons like giant boxing gloves and hammers! Honestly, it looks way more intense than anything I’ve seen in other monster-catching games.

2025-11-04 08:35