Open-world action role-playing games are incredibly popular right now, with many major releases each year. 2025 alone saw the launch of titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ghost of Yotei, Where Winds Meet, Borderlands 4, and a remastered version of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, among others. These games are known for their huge, explorable worlds, deep RPG elements, thrilling combat, and the ability to keep players entertained for hundreds of hours – offering weeks of gameplay no matter which one you choose.
2026 is shaping up to be a great year for open-world role-playing games, with many exciting titles in development. However, game development takes a long time, so publishers are now careful about announcing release dates until they’re confident a game is truly finished. Because of this, many of the most hyped games planned for 2026 don’t have specific release dates yet. But don’t worry – even the beginning of 2026 will offer several open-world RPGs to play. Here’s a list of the biggest upcoming open-world RPGs launching before April 2026, ordered by their expected release date.
Hytale
Release Date: January 13, 2026 (Early Access)
For years, fans of Minecraft have eagerly anticipated Hytale, a new sandbox game with a similar blocky look. While it almost didn’t happen, Hytale is now set to launch in Early Access next month, and it’s expected to be a major release. The Early Access version won’t include all the features the developers have shown off yet; it will focus on the game’s core elements like free exploration, engaging combat, and creative building. The developers aim to create a game that combines the best parts of Minecraft and Roblox with the depth of open-world RPGs like Skyrim.
Hytale is a fantasy adventure game set in a constantly changing world filled with dungeons, hidden secrets, and diverse creatures. Unlike Minecraft, which offers complete freedom, Hytale features a structured story mode for players who prefer a more guided experience. It focuses on deeper survival elements, a detailed backstory with different groups, and a robust combat and magic system comparable to traditional role-playing games. Players can still build and customize the world as they please, create their own games, and manage community servers with custom rules.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin
Release Date: January 28, 2026
If you enjoy open-world action RPGs, especially those with a vibrant, anime-inspired style like Where Winds Meet, then The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is worth checking out. It’s a free-to-play game available on PC, PlayStation 5, and mobile, and offers both a traditional single-player story and four-player co-op. Set in the world of the popular Seven Deadly Sins manga and Netflix anime, players can explore a beautifully recreated version of Britannia. With nothing to lose, fans of the genre should definitely give it a try.
Inspired by popular free-to-play open-world games like Genshin Impact, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin offers a visually stunning experience with beautiful scenery and engaging characters. The game balances fast-paced, real-time combat – where players lead a team of heroes with special skills – with relaxing activities like treasure hunting, fishing, cooking, and interacting with other characters. It provides both exciting action and peaceful moments of leisure.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
Release Date: February 11, 2026
The Yakuza (also known as Like a Dragon) series is a huge and consistently engaging open-world franchise. Despite frequent new releases, each game feels unique and exciting. These games blend action-adventure gameplay with RPG elements, all within detailed, though not overly large, open worlds. Every new Yakuza title is a great pick for players seeking a long, enjoyable campaign packed with lots of fun side activities.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties looks to be a great addition to the series. Interestingly, it’s actually two games in one package. The first part is a complete remake of the original Yakuza 3, bringing back Kazuma Kiryu. The second, Dark Ties, is a brand-new Yakuza story starring Yoshitaka Mine, a character you may remember from Yakuza 3. Players will experience both characters’ journeys through the vibrant cities of Okinawa and Tokyo, complete with the stunning graphics, intense combat, and emotional storytelling that Yakuza fans have come to expect.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Release Date: March 13, 2026
Hot on the heels of Monster Hunter Wilds, the popular series isn’t slowing down. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, a monster-taming spin-off, will arrive just a year after the main Wilds game. Twisted Reflection features large, open-world areas designed for exploration and offers deep RPG gameplay. Players can capture and ride familiar monsters, called Monsties – even impressive flying creatures – and then guide them in strategic turn-based battles that use a classic elemental strengths-and-weaknesses system.
One of the first things you’ll notice about the game is its bright, cartoon-like art style, which is quite different from the more realistic look of other Monster Hunter games. But despite the new visuals and turn-based battles, Twisted Reflection still delivers the classic Monster Hunter experience – hunting monsters, gathering materials, crafting equipment, exploring the world, and tackling optional quests. Like Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (which offered 60-100+ hours of gameplay), this new installment is expected to provide a similarly lengthy adventure.
Crimson Desert
Release Date: March 20, 2026
I’ve been following Crimson Desert for ages, and honestly, it feels like everyone is just as hyped as I am! It’s shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of early 2026. After so much development, it’s clear they’re aiming for something huge – a really open, free-form action RPG where your choices actually matter and you feel like you’re on a massive adventure. Plus, the action looks incredible! It’s been a long wait, but thankfully, we’re finally just a few months away from getting our hands on it, and I really think it’s going to be amazing.
Currently, there aren’t many games like it, so Crimson Desert has the potential to become incredibly popular. The developers have spent the last year showcasing a huge variety of gameplay features and systems, which has kept players excited. The game offers everything from large-scale monster battles reminiscent of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, to massive castle sieges, complex movement options, and realistic medieval life. With a world that reacts to your actions, interesting characters, and a compelling story following Greymane Kliff and his companions across the continent of Pywel, Crimson Desert promises a wealth of content that open-world fans could enjoy for weeks or even months.
Read More
- All Exploration Challenges & Rewards in Battlefield 6 Redsec
- Upload Labs: Beginner Tips & Tricks
- Byler Confirmed? Mike and Will’s Relationship in Stranger Things Season 5
- Top 8 UFC 5 Perks Every Fighter Should Use
- Best Where Winds Meet Character Customization Codes
- Grounded 2 Gets New Update for December 2025
- 8 Anime Like The Brilliant Healer’s New Life In The Shadows You Can’t Miss
- Where to Find Prescription in Where Winds Meet (Raw Leaf Porridge Quest)
- 2026’s Anime Of The Year Is Set To Take Solo Leveling’s Crown
- Discover the Top Isekai Anime Where Heroes Become Adventurers in Thrilling New Worlds!
2025-12-13 22:06