Biggest Upcoming Open-World Games Of January 2026

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As a huge fan of open-world games, I’m already getting hyped for 2026! January is shaping up to be a great start to the year, even though the biggest releases are coming later in February and March. Honestly, the open-world games coming out in January look really promising, and could end up being some of the year’s first big hits. What’s especially cool is how different they all are – we’re getting everything from classic RPGs to co-op survival games, anime-inspired adventures, and even a tough-as-nails Soulslike. If you’re like me and can’t wait to lose yourself in a new world in the new year, it looks like January will have something for everyone!

Open-world games remain incredibly popular, even though there are a lot of them. New releases always generate excitement, but it’s easy to overlook hidden gems with so many games coming out each month. To kick off the new year, here’s a look at the biggest open-world games launching in January 2026.

The term “open-world” can be interpreted in different ways, so we’re aiming for a clear definition here. While a game like Nova Roma might seem open-world, we consider city-builders to be a separate genre. And, to confirm, Pathologic 3 won’t be an open-world game.

StarRupture

January 2026’s Big Co-Op Survival Open-World Game (Early Access)

I’m usually cautious about playing games that are released as “early access” because their quality can vary wildly, making it hard to know if they’ll be good. However, I’m making an exception for StarRupture – it looks amazing. While survival open-world games are popular and often generate a lot of discussion, both positive and negative, I expect Creepy Jar’s new game will quickly become a major topic online.

Like many games of its kind, StarRupture challenges you to survive and flourish in a harsh environment. You’ll explore, gather resources, build factories, and defend yourself from dangerous creatures. What sets StarRupture apart is that it’s designed for cooperative play, and it’s expected to be one of the biggest co-op games released in 2026.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin

January 2026’s Big Anime Open-World Action RPG

Although currently planned for release on January 28, 2026, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin doesn’t have confirmed release dates listed on its Steam and PlayStation 5 pages. The game is expected to be free-to-play, but the PS5 version is currently priced at $9.99, which may be a special price for pre-ordering with bonus content.

Lots of games are based on anime, with several new ones released every month. However, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin stands out. It’s been a while since a major new Seven Deadly Sins game came out – the last one was in 2020 – and this one appears to be much more expansive than previous titles. Plus, while anime games are plentiful, open-world anime games are uncommon, and Origin looks particularly stunning.

Finally, the world of The Seven Deadly Sins‘ Britannia seems ideally suited for this RPG. Its classic fantasy feel could draw in players who aren’t already fans of the series. The game will feature a new story centered around a Prince who joins forces with the well-known heroes. In addition to a single-player main story, Origin will also include a co-op mode for playing with friends.

Cairn

January 2026’s Biggest Solo Open-World Adventure

The creators of Furi and Haven are back with Cairn, a challenging new game focused on scaling a treacherous mountain. You’ll attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kami, a feat no one has accomplished before. While the scenery is beautiful, Cairn isn’t for the easily discouraged. Like Furi, it’s designed to be a tough, demanding experience – a true test of survival, not just a simple climb.

The climbing simulator, Cairn, focuses on making the experience as realistic as possible. Although you’ll have a goal to reach, you’ll be able to explore the environment and need to carefully plan your climbing routes to stay safe.

Code Vein II

January 2026’s Big Soulslike Open-World Game

With Nioh 3 releasing so close to its launch, Code Vein 2 hasn’t gotten much attention, especially since the first Code Vein received mixed reviews. I personally enjoyed the original – it was a fun, anime-style take on the Souls-like genre. However, it definitely had flaws, and the sequel looks like it’s addressing them. Code Vein 2 will reportedly feature a fully open world instead of separate zones, potentially taking inspiration from Elden Ring, though the size of the world is still unknown.

Okay, so I’m playing this Revenant Hunter, and basically, we’re jumping through time to take down some seriously tough bosses. The combat feels super fast and frantic, and it looks like they’ve given us a lot more ways to customize our characters than the first Code Vein. Honestly, I’d say hold off on buying it right away until we see what other players think, but if you’re into those challenging Soulslike games, definitely keep an eye on Code Vein 2.

Vampires: Bloodlord Rising

January 2026’s Vampire Open-World Game (Early Access)

Launching into early access in January 2026, Vampires: Bloodlord Rising puts you in the role of a newly turned vampire navigating a new life. That means building a castle, gathering loyal followers, expanding your territory, and dealing with any monsters that get in your way.

Okay, so Vampires: Bloodlord Rising sounds really cool – like, seriously ambitious. The idea of playing with friends, building up your own base, exploring different environments, and having a bunch of unique vampire powers? That definitely grabbed my attention. But honestly, I’m going to hold off until it hits early access and then wait a bit after that. I don’t want to jump in right away with a ton of bugs or unfinished stuff. It’s not that I think it’ll be terrible, it’s just that early access games are always a work in progress, you know?

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2025-12-26 00:05