10 Best RPGs to Look Forward to in 2026

As 2025 comes to a close, players are already looking ahead to what the next year has in store. With several major RPGs still in development and others expected to make their long-awaited debut, 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for role-playing fans. From expansive open worlds to narrative-driven adventures, these upcoming titles showcase the variety and ambition the genre is known for. Here are the 10 best RPGs players can look forward to in 2026.

10. Arknights: Endfield

The Arknights universe is expanded in Arknights: Endfield, a fully realized 3D action role-playing game that combines long-term progression systems, base-building, and real-time combat. In order to survive increasingly difficult encounters, players must, however, manage resources, build facilities, and form teams while exploring a hostile world.
The way Endfield strikes a balance between conventional RPG progression and strategic planning is what makes it particularly captivating. It appears to be a slower-paced role-playing game that rewards planning as much as fighting prowess.

9. Witchbrook

Witchbrook is shaping up to be one of the coziest and most charming life-sim RPGs on the horizon, inviting players into a magical academy teeming with personality and wonder. At its heart, the game is all about magic, friendships, and the little everyday moments that make life in a school setting feel alive. Unlike traditional RPGs that push you toward combat and high-stakes battles, Witchbrook instead focuses on atmosphere and immersion. You’ll spend your days forming meaningful connections with classmates and professors, customizing your character’s routines, and slowly uncovering the hidden secrets scattered throughout this enchanting world.

What makes Witchbrook truly stand out is its pacing. It doesn’t rush you through objectives or force constant action; instead, it encourages you to savor each experience, whether that’s brewing potions, exploring quiet corners of the academy, or participating in magical lessons. Over time, these small interactions build a rich, engaging story that feels personal and rewarding. For players who thrive on creativity, exploration, and relationship-building, Witchbrook promises to be a gentle yet captivating adventure. If you’re someone who enjoys RPGs that prioritize choice, charm, and a sense of discovery over combat-heavy gameplay, this is undoubtedly a title you’ll want to keep a close eye on next year.

8. Deliverance II: Kingdom Come

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II maintains Warhorse Studios’ realistic approach to role-playing, emphasizing player consequence and realism. Moreover, instead of using fantasy shortcuts, combat, dialogue, and advancement are all based on historical authenticity. The goal of the sequel is to broaden the world and story while improving the systems of its predecessor. If you’re looking for an immersive role-playing experience driven by meaningful choices, this is a title worth keeping on your radar.

7. Monster Hunter Stories 3

Despite not being formally revealed, a third Monster Hunter Stories game is widely anticipated, largely due to the success of Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. Unlike the mainline Monster Hunter titles, the Stories spin-offs focus on turn-based combat, monster companionship, and story-driven progression. If it does arrive, Monster Hunter Stories 3 would likely expand on those foundations with more strategic party-building, broader regions to explore, and deeper customization options. As a result, it could be a great fit if you’re a fan of classic JRPG design. For now, this is one title you should definitely keep an eye on.

6. Crimson Desert

One of the most ambitious open-world role-playing games currently in development is Crimson Desert. Set on a war-torn medieval continent, the game promises to immerse players in a vast and dynamic world where large-scale battles, fast-paced action combat, and cinematic storytelling come together seamlessly. Beyond its intense combat, Crimson Desert encourages exploration and engagement with its richly detailed environment. Players can hunt, craft, explore hidden corners of the world, and participate in dynamic events that make the game feel alive at every turn. Furthermore, the game appears to strike a balance between spectacle and depth, offering not just adrenaline-pumping action but also meaningful choices and moments that enhance the story. If it manages to deliver on these promises, Crimson Desert could redefine what we expect from open-world RPGs, standing out as a truly unique experience that blends epic adventure with intricate gameplay systems.

5. Avowed

The first-person fantasy role-playing game Avowed by Obsidian Entertainment takes place in the Pillars of Eternity universe. Avowed prioritizes dense environments, significant player choice, and narrative-driven progression over a strictly open-world sandbox. Avowed is anticipated to provide an RPG experience that puts character development and decision-making ahead of sheer size, given Obsidian’s reputation for excellent writing and reactive storytelling.

4. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf

The next installment in BioWare’s enduring fantasy role-playing game series is Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. The game seeks to return the series to its origins with a darker tone and a renewed emphasis on narrative depth. Impactful decisions, branching storylines, and companion relationships are anticipated to be crucial. Dreadwolf continues to be one of the most eagerly awaited role-playing games in development for fans who value rich lore and character-driven narrative.

3. Witcher Remake

The Witcher Remake takes the original game and rebuilds it with modern technology, while still holding on to the morally messy choices and storytelling that made it stand out in the first place. Instead of a simple visual upgrade, this is a full ground-up remake, with combat, exploration, and progression being reworked to better fit how RPGs play today.

At the same time, it’s shaping up to be a much easier entry point for newcomers who may have missed Geralt’s first adventure. Whether you’re returning for nostalgia or discovering the series for the first time, this remake has a real chance to make The Witcher’s opening chapter feel fresh, relevant, and worth experiencing all over again.

1. Persona 6

While Atlus hasn’t officially announced Persona 6 yet, the series’ continued momentum makes a new entry feel almost inevitable. Following the massive success of Persona 5, expectations are understandably high, with fans eager to see a brand-new cast, a fresh setting, and meaningful refinements to the series’ signature social systems and daily-life mechanics.

At the same time, there’s plenty of curiosity around how Atlus might evolve the formula without losing what makes Persona special. If Persona 6 does arrive in 2026, then it could once again set the standard for turn-based JRPGs by blending stylish combat, character-driven relationships, and strategic time management into a deeply engaging experience. Ultimately, this next entry has the potential not just to follow in Persona 5’s footsteps but to carve out its own identity within the series.