Best Upcoming Open-World Games With Historical Settings

Open-world games are consistently popular because they let players freely explore and make their own choices. While many of these games take place in fantasy or sci-fi worlds, others are set in the past. Historical settings can make games feel more realistic and impactful, and sometimes they even offer a chance to learn about history while you play.

These upcoming open-world games are all set in the past – from Ancient China and the medieval era to different periods in 20th-century Japan. Many of these time periods and locations aren’t often featured in video games, making these titles particularly exciting.

Chronicles: Medieval

A Medieval Sandbox Game With Large Battles

Historical Setting: Medieval Europe

Chronicles: Medieval is a large-scale, open-world medieval game aiming for an Early Access release in 2026. Players will create unique characters and then shape their own destinies within a detailed and lively game world. A key feature is its combat system, allowing players to command armies in massive battles.

Like the highly acclaimed medieval game Kingdom Come: Deliverance, this new game appears to prioritize historical detail, as evidenced by the realistic clothing colors and building designs shown in recent screenshots and videos.

Stranger Than Heaven

A Historical Game From The Creators Of The Yakuza Series

Historical Setting: 20th Century Japan

I’m so hyped for this new game! It’s coming from the team behind the Yakuza series, and it’s called Stranger Than Heaven – you might remember it as Project Century. What’s really cool is that it’s set in 20th-century Japan and they’re letting us explore different eras. We’ll be playing through 1915, 1929, and 1943, all times when things were really changing and a bit chaotic, which sounds amazing!

Okay, so the trailer really grabbed me! It looks like the game has an amazing world – seriously, everything from really cool, fancy jazz clubs to these gritty, chaotic marketplaces where fights are just breaking out everywhere. The main character seems to be this intriguing guy named Mako Daito, and it looks like his story is all about figuring out who he is, but it’s also hinted that you might play as different characters depending on when you are in the game’s timeline. It’s super cool and I can’t wait to learn more!

The Bustling World

A Beautiful Top-Down Open World RPG Set In Ancient China

Historical Setting: Ancient China

With its stunning hand-painted art style, The Bustling World is already shaping up to be a visually gorgeous game. If the gameplay matches its potential, it could become a major hit. It’s a top-down, open-world RPG set in Ancient China, letting players forge their own path and live the life they choose.

Players have lots of options – they can focus on peaceful activities like farming, building, and trading, or choose a more exciting life filled with crime, war, and adventure. The game world feels incredibly realistic, where everything you do has consequences and affects the environment around you. It’s definitely a game worth watching.

The Vernyhorn

A Moody & Atmospheric Early Medieval RPG

Historical Setting: Early Medieval Europe

For players who love immersive historical games with beautiful visuals, The Vernyhorn is a promising new third-person RPG. Set in a convincingly realistic early medieval Europe – thanks to scans of locations across Poland – the game looks stunning, fully utilizing the power of Unreal Engine 5.

The game will feature traditional RPG gameplay similar to The Witcher, combined with survival elements that emphasize the importance of the game’s countryside setting. The story follows a man searching for peace within a challenging and unforgiving world, though details are currently limited.

The Legend Of Khiimori

Explore Medieval Mongolia On Horseback As A Courier

Historical Setting: 13th Century Mongolia

Although medieval Mongols appear in games like Ghost of Tsushima, the country of Mongolia itself isn’t often featured. That’s about to change with The Legend of Khiimori, a game where players explore the expansive Mongolian steppes on horseback, playing as a courier. Horses are central to the gameplay; players can tame, bond with, and raise them, even breeding them to develop unique characteristics.

Players will explore a vast wilderness where they must find food, build supplies, and navigate challenging terrain to stay alive. A key activity will be hunting from horseback using a Mongolian bow. As a courier, the player will also transport valuable goods, requiring careful route planning to ensure safe deliveries and complete contracts.

Special Mention – Agefield High: Rock The School

A Nostalgia-Packed Trip Back To Early 2000s High School

Historical Setting: Early 2000s America

It feels strange to think of games from the early 2000s as “historical,” but two decades have passed, and a lot has changed since then. In Agefield High: Rock the School, you play as Sam, a new student determined to make a splash and become popular.

Explore a classic American neighborhood on your bike, hanging out with friends, dodging trouble, and sometimes getting into it. If you mess up, you might face consequences from your parents or even the police. School involves attending classes and dealing with teachers, much like the game Bully by Rockstar Games.

2025-12-15 06:06