All Open-World Games Revealed At Gamescom 2025

Summary

Gamescom 2025 showed several ambitious open-world games across genres and scopes.
Highlights: Of Peaks & Tides’ physics world; CrisisX’s 1,200 km map.
ZA/UM teased spy CRPG Zero Parades and LEGO Batman returns with Arkham-style open-world gameplay.

This past summer saw another round of gaming events come to a close, marking the end of Gamescom 2025. With that behind us, we eagerly anticipate the upcoming autumn gaming season and beyond to the Game Awards in December 2025. Throughout these events, particularly Opening Night Live and the Future Games Show, several exciting announcements were made, including a number of fresh open-world games.

Many of these video games are scheduled for release in the future, while some will become available within the next year (though no specific dates have been set yet). However, what excites us most about such events is anticipating all the upcoming games. With that said, let’s delve into all the open-world games unveiled at Gamescom 2025.

Of Peaks And Tides

Stunning Visuals And A Reactive World

Developers	CyancookGames
Platforms	PC
Planned Release	TBA

The eye-catching trend of Chinese video game development persists with “Of Peaks and Tides”. At first glance, this open-world survival action RPG captivates with its stunning visuals. However, these aesthetics are merely the beginning. “Of Peaks and Tides” promises a unique selling point: a highly responsive and physics-driven open world.

Players need to keep an eye on the skies for weather changes and be mindful when starting fires to prevent them from spreading and potentially damaging the wilderness. Mounts play a significant role in this game, with various options available. Some mounts resemble horses, which players may find familiar, while others are smaller, capable of flight. However, what truly sets this game apart are the large mounts, some of which are so vast that players can construct entire settlements upon them.

Cinder City

Like The Division 3, But Bigger

NCSoft has officially revealed the title for their upcoming third-person shooter MMO at Gamescom: “Cinder City.” This game is heavily influenced by “The Division 2” and features a vast open-world setting where multiple players can interact, with the action shifting to more linear dungeons that are scattered across the map when exploring.

In the gameplay trailer for Cinder City, two elements stand out that distinguish it from other games. Firstly, the map will allow players to traverse using a variety of vehicles, such as motorcycles, which one player is shown casually driving through the bustling city streets. Lastly, and most notably, the trailer concludes with an epic battle sequence taking place in the open world, featuring numerous players battling against a towering mech. Additionally, there are horror elements, like a soldier being attacked by a grotesque creature with a hand for a head, indicating that Cinder City will offer an immersive and action-packed gaming experience. The game is slated for release in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S platforms.

CrisisX

Open-World Survival In The 90s

Developers	Hero Games
Platforms	PC, iOS, Android
Planned Release	2026

In simpler terms, CrisisX is another open-world survival action game similar to DayZ, but with a few distinctive features. Firstly, it’s going to be free-to-play on both PC and mobile devices at launch. Secondly, the game offers an extraordinarily large map and can support a significant number of players.

In the heart of the mid-1990s, characters are transported to a stricken area in the Midwest United States, following a disastrous infection caused by an unsuccessful experiment. The game’s map spans a massive 1,200 square kilometers, and it is asserted that the servers can accommodate up to 5,000 players simultaneously. This means that the survival and battle aspects become significantly more engaging, as there will be plenty to monitor in the player-versus-player (PvP) environment.

Gods, Death & Reapers

Diablo, Meet Extraction Shooters

Developers	WOLCEN Studio
Platforms	PC
Planned Release	2026

Previously known as “Project Pantheon,” this game was officially unveiled at Gamescom 2025 under its new title – “Gods, Death & Reapers.” The developers have christened it an “ExtrAction RPG,” hinting at its blend of elements from action role-playing games like Diablo and Path of Exile. However, there’s a unique twist to the gameplay that sets it apart from its predecessors.

Characters begin within their stronghold, where they can enhance equipment and stockpile supplies, before setting out into a randomly generated landscape to gather loot and take on dynamic missions. However, if they perish, all progress will be forfeited. Constantly, players must balance the advantages of proceeding deeper versus withdrawing with the treasures amassed thus far. This innovative twist on the genre promises an engaging experience, and given the successful playtest held last week, Gods, Death & Reapers seems to be shaping up for its projected 2026 release date.

Zero Parades

Not So Disco

One of the most surprising revelations from Gamescom Opening Night Live was a sneak peek at the next project by developers ZA/UM, creators of Disco Elysium. This upcoming title is called Zero Parades and seems to be striving to evoke comparisons with ZA/UM’s successful predecessor, despite the ongoing upheaval surrounding the departures of several key creative members from that game.

At present, there isn’t much information available about the game titled Zero Parades. The trailer suggests it’s a role-playing game (CRPG) with espionage themes, where players assume the role of an “operant” trying to rebuild a shattered network. While it shares some similarities with Disco Elysium, such as its narrative style and character development, Zero Parades seems to incorporate a spy-story element that sets it apart. Although Disco Elysysium was an open-world game, we can’t be completely sure if Zero Parades will follow suit based on the brief glimpse of gameplay provided in the trailer. However, given the genre and themes presented, it appears likely that Zero Parades might have an expansive world for players to explore.

LEGO Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight

The Sum Of Its Bricks

Given the abundance of LEGO games recently released, it’s understandable if some enthusiasts weren’t immediately excited about the unveiling of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live. However, following various playtests and previews, this game appears to be a heartfelt homage to all aspects of Batman rather than just another LEGO adaptation of a popular Batman film.

The game draws inspiration from various Batman series, such as Michael Keaton’s 1990s films, like the Axis Chemicals building scene featuring Jack Nicholson’s Joker, and more recent productions like The Batman. The character Jim Gordon in this game pays tribute to Jeffrey Wright. The combat and exploration style seem influenced by the Batman Arkham series, with features like stealth takedowns, free-flow melee attacks, and an expansive world to explore during missions. Although it may present a more straightforward version of these elements, given the lackluster state of Batman video games in recent years, this LEGO-style iteration could offer a refreshing change.

2025-08-26 10:37