Say Hello To The Biggest Upcoming First-Person Open-World Games

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2026 promises to be an excellent year for gaming, especially for fans of open-world titles. While many large-scale games are on the horizon, a lot of players prefer experiencing these worlds from a first-person perspective. Luckily, there are several exciting upcoming games that offer immersive, first-person gameplay in vast environments with innovative features, sure to please even the most demanding gamers.

Over the next few months, gamers can expect a variety of exciting new titles, including survival crafting games set in diverse environments and grand adventures through beautiful worlds. There are also some truly innovative open-world games on the horizon that promise to be unlike anything we’ve seen before. Whether you prefer a relaxing game to play with friends or a fast-paced, action-packed experience, there’s sure to be something for everyone coming soon.

Subnautica 2

Diving Underwater Once Again

  • Larger-scale areas and entirely new creatures.
  • Co-op mode to make the world feel even more engaging.

Subnautica 2 builds upon the success of the original game, offering a larger and more detailed underwater world to explore. Players will discover new and unusual environments and creatures on this alien ocean planet. While retaining the gameplay that fans loved in the first game, Subnautica 2 introduces cooperative play for up to four players, transforming the experience from a solitary one into a team-based adventure.

This time, the story feels more central to the experience. Players will explore the depths of the ocean, discovering ancient alien secrets and piecing them together to understand the world. Whether you’re new to the Subnautica series or a veteran, the sequel offers a thrilling combination of fear and discovery, all experienced through a first-person view that keeps you constantly engaged and on edge.

Outbound

The Beauty Of Nature

  • Cozy exploration with up to four players.
  • Light survival mechanics, but a big focus on comfort and freedom.

Outbound focuses on a relaxed survival experience with a strong emphasis on cooperation, offering both solo and co-op gameplay. Instead of throwing you into a dangerous wild, you start with an empty camper van in a scenic environment, and upgrading the van is key to your progress.

In Outbound, players gather resources, build tools, and customize their base into a comfortable home for their adventures. The game features diverse environments, each with unique resources and hidden secrets. Players will need to carefully manage their supplies as the world changes to ensure their survival. If you enjoy relaxing survival games, Outbound, launching in 2026, is one to watch!

SAND: Raiders Of Sophie

Piloting Giant Mechs Across The Desert

  • PvP looter shooter gameplay in a procedurally generated world
  • Highly customizable mechs, both for combat and aesthetics.

SAND: Raiders of Sophie is a game set in a desolate, sandy world where players battle using massive, walking machines called Tramplers. Gameplay centers around vehicular combat with these giant walkers, and survival depends on scavenging resources and building up your defenses. The Tramplers aren’t just vehicles; they function as mobile bases and turn standard first-person shooter fights into huge, explosive battles.

Because the sand dunes are constantly changing, every playthrough of SAND feels unique. Players will need to modify their vehicles with new parts – engines, armor, and weapons – to handle the shifting environment. Whether they’re searching for loot during dangerous sandstorms or defending against enemy attacks, SAND offers a thrilling experience that challenges players’ engineering skills and ability to react quickly in intense, movie-like battles.

The CUBE

FPS Action Meets MMO Depth

  • Huge rotating landscapes that mix up the gameplay.
  • Massive enemy variety across a range of biomes.

The CUBE is a new open-world game that combines the action of first-person shooters with the persistent online world of MMORPGs, all set in a unique sci-fi environment. The game centers around a massive, floating cube that constantly moves and transforms, reshaping the landscape and changing the resources and enemies within it.

Players can experience the game either alone or with friends, journeying through a constantly changing world filled with rich stories and unique environments unlike anything else in the first-person shooter genre. While the developers previously worked on Atomic Heart, The CUBE appears to be even more ambitious and promises to be a groundbreaking release when it launches soon.

Sea Of Remnants

More Than Just Another Sea Of Thieves

  • Fleet customization and a long list of companions to find.
  • Evolving world through choices made.

Sea of Remnants puts you in the role of a sailor lost at sea, exploring a huge, magical world where the ocean is always changing. It’s different from most open-world games because it’s not focused on land – you’ll sail across a vast ocean filled with islands, secret bays, and the bustling pirate city of Orbtopia, where you’ll meet a diverse cast of characters.

By Luke Gould

Upcoming Open-World RPGs Releasing in 2026

Upcoming Open-World RPGs Releasing in 2026

In this game, you’ll build and personalize your own fleet, gathering a crew of over 300 diverse characters, each with unique backgrounds and abilities, making every game a truly memorable experience. Your choices matter significantly, as key decisions can dramatically alter the game world – not just for you, but for the entire city and its inhabitants.

Breathedge 2

Surviving In The Harshest Environments

  • Survival adventure centered on exploring an alien world.
  • Stylized visuals for a unique feel.

Breathedge 2 builds on the first game’s quirky, dark humor and over-the-top sci-fi setting, throwing players into a dangerous and puzzling new world where survival is a constant challenge. You’ll spend more time carefully managing your limited resources and battling the environment than fighting creatures, as you venture further into the unknown.

The game features a captivating story that unfolds with a lot of mystery, encouraging players to form their own theories early on. As a survival game in an open world, it’s shaping up to be one of the most promising titles out there, and a definite recommendation for genre fans.

Frostrail

There’s Nothing Worse Than A Cold, Dark Night

  • A blend of horror and survival.
  • Cooperative scavenging across an ice world.

Developed by the team behind Barotrauma, Frostrail isn’t a sequel – it’s a completely new game. Players find themselves in a frozen world, where heavy snow and frost severely limit visibility. The core of the game revolves around operating a steam-powered train to travel through this icy wasteland. You’ll need to reinforce the train and carefully manage fuel to protect it from the dangers lurking in the darkness.

Beyond the safety of the main tracks lies a dangerous, ruined landscape. These abandoned buildings and structures are now overrun with enemies and valuable loot, but straying from the rails is risky. Players must venture out to find weapons and supplies, but even a small error can attract a large group of monsters capable of overwhelming even experienced survivors. The creatures are terrifying, blending physical and otherworldly horror. Some are relatively harmless, while others are massive and best avoided – direct confrontation is usually a bad idea.

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2026-01-12 01:08