Best RPG 2026: the 24 best open world RPGs and the end-of-year releases

Open world RPGs are the holy grail of gaming: hundreds of hours of content, huge worlds and NPCs with more charisma than some of your coworkers. The kind of game where you start a session “for 30 minutes” and look up six hours later.

Our list has 24 games, all playable right now. The ranking is subjective, and that’s fine. Just below, we also cover the latest news: open world RPGs released since June 2026, those expected by December and those that were delayed.

Dates and platforms checked with publishers and the specialist press as of October 15, 2026. Switch 2 ports are labeled as such.

The vampire RPG from Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by The Witcher 3’s director. You have 30 days to save your family, as a human by day and a vampire by night. Very well received by critics (83 on Metacritic at launch).

Release date: September 3, 2026 — PC, PS5, Xbox Series

A free upgrade for existing owners, with reworked visuals, improved combat and traversal, and a native Switch 2 version. The Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions are included.

Release date: September 29, 2026 — PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2

The remake of the 2001 cult RPG: faithful, demanding and immersive, but still buggy according to reviews. The PC version is the most polished.

Release date: June 5, 2026 — PC, PS5, Xbox Series

Jagex’s open world survival RPG leaves early access with its 1.0 release, playable solo or with up to 4 players in co-op (see also our best co-op games list).

Release date: September 15, 2026 — PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2

The Switch 2 version of the huge open world JRPG, with better performance, a new hero and a new game mode.

Release date: December 3, 2026 — Switch 2

The latest Monster Hunter, with its vast open zones, comes to Switch 2.

Release date: December 4, 2026 — Switch 2

If you’re looking for the right monitor for these open worlds, our guide to the best gaming monitors for Crimson Desert applies to these games too.

• Fable: planned for fall 2026, it will now launch on February 23, 2027 on Xbox Series, PC and PS5.
• Outward 2: the early access planned for July 7, 2026 was pushed back to February 8, 2027 on PC.

Click to enlarge

Oblivion is back, and this time he has stopped eating mud for breakfast. The remaster brings a revised lighting, clean textures, and faces that no longer look like melted wax statues. It's 2026 and Oblivion's NPCs finally look... human?

The combat remains a bit rigid, the dialogues keep that typical Bethesda weird rhythm, but strangely everything works together. You swing your sword, you shout at cultists, you steal from nobles — the same chaos as before, just with a fresh coat of paint.

Nostalgia hits differently when the trees move correctly and the water reflects something other than your existential regrets. It's Oblivion, but it no longer crashes at every save load. For those who experienced the original in 2006, it's a journey back in time. For newcomers, it's an excellent entry point into the Elder Scrolls series.

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5

Click to enlarge

Most RPGs tell you a story. Bannerlord lets you write yours. You don't start as a chosen hero or legendary character. You start as a total nobody, with a handful of mercenaries trying to survive in a brutal medieval world.

But over time, you become someone. Maybe you climb the ranks of an existing kingdom by proving your worth on the battlefields. Or perhaps you forge your own empire by conquering the fragmented lands of Calradia. The depth of the systems is insane: army management, political influence, economic control... or you charge headlong into massive battles with your troops.

Honestly, you can spend thousands of hours on it. Especially with mods. Every decision - who you marry, what wars you lead, which nobles you court - shapes your destiny. You can end up as a feared warlord, a cunning diplomat, or a wealthy merchant who has never drawn a sword. This level of freedom, no other RPG offers it.

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5

Click to enlarge

It is impossible to make a list of open world RPGs without The Witcher 3. Often considered the pinnacle of the genre — and rightfully so. Breathtaking visuals, an almost perfect story, a deep combat system, all wrapped up in hundreds of hours of content.

You embody Geralt de Riv, a monster hunter in search of his adopted daughter Ciri, pursued by mysterious forces known as the Wild Hunt. The main quest is emotionally charged with tons of difficult moral decisions to make. It's one of the games that really showed that player choices could have consequences that ripple throughout the world.

The animations are starting to show their age a bit in 2026, that's true. But you forget about that within 15 minutes of playing. It's the storytelling that shines. The rich dialogues, the unforgettable acting, the gripping plots — The Witcher 3 remains one of the greatest RPGs ever created. And with the Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone DLCs, you easily get 200 hours of gameplay.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

2026 update: since September 29, 2026, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered is available as a free upgrade for owners on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series, with a native version on Switch 2. Both expansions are included.

Click to enlarge

Here, we're dealing with something heavy. Elden Ring may be the best game of the decade. A masterpiece of game design by the creators of Dark Souls and Bloodborne, with lore co-written by George R.R. Martin. The ultimate challenging open world RPG.

The Underworld is a world of dark and captivating beauty, and nothing really compares to the feeling of discovery that this game provides. No hand-holding, no arrow telling you where to go. The game encourages you to go out and find your own way, whether it's facing formidable bosses or discovering hidden dungeons.

The combat is demanding, like in Dark Souls. But it is fair, rewarding, and full of options. You can customize your character's abilities, magic, combat style according to your preferences. The difficulty is part of what makes this game so satisfying. And if you haven't played the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC yet, go for it — it's possibly the best DLC in the history of video games.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One

Click to enlarge

Skyrim. The most legendary open-world RPG of all time — and also one of the most modded games in history. Todd Howard has released it on so many platforms that it's probably running on connected fridges now.

As a Dragonborn, your mission is to prevent the return of an ancient god. But your adventure is anything but linear. A massive world filled with quests, dungeons, factions, and side stories awaits you, and you are free to explore it all at your own pace. Want to join the Thieves Guild? Become a powerful mage? Or maybe just become the best blacksmith in the country? Everything is possible.

Oblivion was great, but Skyrim offers so much more variety. The infinite customization - character, equipment, skills - ensures that each playthrough brings something different. And in 2026, with the thousands of mods available, it's literally a different game with each installation. Skyrim remains essential.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and just about anything with a screen

Click to enlarge

Starfield is Bethesda's space RPG, with all that implies good and bad. More than a thousand planets, customizable ships, a base construction system... on paper, it's impressive. In practice, it's mixed.

The story does not reach the heights of previous Bethesda games, let's be honest. But the interactions with companions offer real depth, even if they do not revolutionize anything. Where the game shines is in customization and freedom. Building your ship, upgrading your base, creating your character - the systems are well thought out and quite engaging.

Starfield does not revolutionize the genre. But it offers over a hundred hours of gameplay, making it a good value for money. If you are looking for a space game with a lot of content and a satisfying progression loop, it does the job. It's not perfect, but it's solid.

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X|S

Click to enlarge

A game that divides the community, and that's exactly what Kojima wants. Death Stranding 2 takes the basics of the first one and pushes everything further: bigger, bolder, weirder than ever.

Sam Porter Bridges ventures into post-apocalyptic Mexico and Australia, reconnecting a shattered world through the chiral network. Kojima's team has cranked everything up: faster movement, tighter combat, and the signature blend of action, stealth, and strand systems is more refined than ever.

The visuals are stunning on PS5, but it's the storytelling that stands out the most. Strange, emotional, unforgettable — pure Kojima at his best. You lay down roads, you face new terrifying EVs, you traverse some of the most atmospheric landscapes in video games. It's one of those games where you don't fast travel — not because it's complicated, but because the journey is part of the experience.

Available on: PS5 (PC coming soon)

Click to enlarge

To cross the world of Horizon on horseback, it's the kind of moment where you understand why fast travel is sometimes the enemy of fun. From misty mountains to desert ruins, Forbidden West may be one of the most beautiful open worlds ever built. But it's not just a postcard.

You play as Aloy again, navigating a post-post-apocalyptic world where nature has taken over and where robot dinosaurs roam as if it were normal. The combat remains super strategic and fun, especially when you're figuring out how to take down a giant Deathbringer with nothing but rigged arrows and your gray matter.

The real pleasure is world-building. You come across abandoned tech labs that tell their own stories, factions with their shady agendas, and side quests that are not always boring — which is already an achievement in an open world. It's a place you want to explore.

Available on: PS5, PC

Click to enlarge

Say what you want about the Harry Potter lore, but Hogwarts Legacy succeeds in exploring a world of wizards. As soon as you set foot in the castle, it's clear that the developers were obsessed with authenticity. Every corridor of Hogwarts overflows with details: moving stairs, hidden rooms, talking portraits...

And it doesn't stop at the castle walls. You can go out, get on a broomstick, and fly over the Scottish Highlands as if it were nothing. And there you find yourself saving hippogriffs, brewing potions in a forest cabin, and discovering a network of dark magic caves. The combat is surprisingly punchy too. The spells snap with weight, and chaining them in duels feels more like an action game than one would expect.

There's crafting, looting, even creature collecting. It's packed with layers. Hogwarts Legacy works because it's immersive, stylish, and just fun to inhabit. For many people, that's more than enough.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

Click to enlarge

Ghost of Tsushima doesn't waste your time. It's one of those rare open worlds where every moment seems to exist for a reason. You embody Jin Sakai, a samurai torn between honor and survival during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima.

The world around him is beautiful, melancholic, and strangely peaceful, even when it collapses. You have your katanas, your combat stances, your gadgets. There is a real rhythm in the fights. Of course, you can rush headlong, but the game rewards precision — the kind of thing where a perfect parry is worth more than ten wild blows.

But it's not just about fighting and haikus. There's a real story here, about tradition versus change, about how far you're willing to go to save your homeland — even if it means becoming something your ancestors wouldn't recognize. It hits harder than you'd expect, especially when Jin gradually lets go of who he was.

Available on: PS5, PC

Click to enlarge

This one, a lot of people sleep on it. Pandora's colorful and vibrant world is as visually impressive as one could hope for a game based on the Avatar movies. Titanic trees, bioluminescent flora, those signature shades of green and blue...

On the gameplay side, it's first-person action-adventure that focuses on exploration and survival. You must adapt to the environment, use stealth and strategy to demolish RDA forces. The story revolves around reclaiming your heritage and protecting Pandora from exploitation.

It doesn't reinvent the open world genre, that's true. But visually, it's stunning. And the first-person immersive gameplay in this alien jungle is truly unique. If you liked the movies, it's a must. If you haven't seen the movies... well, it's still pretty.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Click to enlarge

Breath of the Wild is simply one of the best-designed games in history. It mixes exploration, puzzles, and action in a way that feels completely organic. The world of Hyrule is vast, and you as Link are free to explore it at your own pace, discovering secrets and challenges at every turn.

No linear path. No hand holding. Instead, you are given a vast open world and trusted to find your way. The game gives you the tools to solve problems as you wish — climbing mountains, environmental puzzles, or creative combat. It's reminiscent of Elden Ring in the way it drops you into its world.

From the smallest sanctuaries to the most epic bosses, everything in Hyrule seems interconnected. The experience is one of pure pleasure. It's a game that changes the way you think about freedom in RPGs. And the debate Breath of the Wild vs Tears of the Kingdom continues to rage — personally, both are masterpieces.

Available on: Nintendo Switch

Click to enlarge

We've covered miles with Cyberpunk 2077. A catastrophic launch in 2020, years of patches, and today? It's become a classic. One of the most immersive games you can play. The RPG elements have several layers: appearance, skills, implants, everything is customizable.

Night City is a breathing open world. The small side missions scratch that completionist itch, but it's mostly a game where every choice can have massive consequences. The writing, the voice acting, the animations — it's top-notch. Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand, Idris Elba in the Phantom Liberty DLC... we're talking Hollywood casting.

Despite its chaotic start, Cyberpunk 2077 has become a must-have for those who love cyberpunk worlds, freedom of choice, and deep storytelling. And if you liked CD Projekt Red's The Witcher, you're definitely going to get hooked here.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Click to enlarge

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, that's everything the fans of the first one wanted. If you like RPGs rooted in realism, this one hits hard. No magic, no fantasy — just survival, politics, and simulation in medieval Europe.

You are a guy who is trying to make it in a tough and ruthless world. You have to eat, sleep, train to progress. Your character doesn't become magically competent after a few fights - you have to practice. It may sound annoying put like that, but it makes every achievement deserved.

What's cool is how natural everything seems. The characters live their lives. They react to your behavior. Be a jerk, they'll treat you like one. Stay cool, you might make a friend. The game weighs your decisions without throwing it in your face. It's one of the most immersive RPGs on the market, period.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Click to enlarge

Fallout 4 has never received as much love as New Vegas for its dialogue system. But it compensated with one thing: a wasteland where it's fun to exist. The Commonwealth is not just a charred desert — it's a weird, colorful, and broken sandbox, filled with stories waiting to be discovered.

The game throws you into a post-apocalyptic Boston as a parent looking for their missing child. But as in every Fallout, the main quest is a bit of a suggestion. What really stands out are the side quests. Stumbling upon a vault where people have been subjected to paranoia experiments, following the trail of a vigilante robot called the Silver Shroud... that's the juice.

There's something magical about entering a run-down diner, finding an audio log, and getting caught up in a whole subplot. That's the Fallout magic: the stories you uncover while chasing something else. And the base-building system... I probably spent more time on that than on the game itself.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One

Click to enlarge

Dragon's Dogma 2 is an outsider in the open world scene, but it's definitely worth checking out. This game blends classic fantasy elements with exciting combat and pure exploration. You play as the Arisen, tasked with eliminating a dragon that is causing chaos in the world.

The open world is filled with dark forests, imposing castles, and dangerous creatures. One of the coolest features is the pawn system: you recruit AI companions that you can fully customize, and they fight by your side. The combat is fast and dynamic, with lots of magic and swordplay.

If you are a fan of fantasy RPGs that offer a lot of freedom, Dragon's Dogma 2 delivers the goods. The pawn system shared between players adds a unique social dimension. It's not the most polished RPG on the market, but the ambition and depth of the combat more than make up for it.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Click to enlarge

Assassin's Creed Odyssey takes you to ancient Greece, where you embody Alexios or Kassandra, two mercenaries embarked on a journey of battles and political dramas. The open world is absolutely massive: islands, cities, ancient ruins as far as the eye can see.

The best? You have so many ways to approach missions. Do you want to go in swords first? Go for it. Do you prefer stealth? You have options. The story is rich and allows you to make choices that truly impact the outcome. RPG elements allow you to customize your character and abilities in depth.

Naval combat is also a standout. If you love ancient history, massive landscapes, and unrestrained action, Odyssey is a must. Kassandra remains one of the best playable characters in the Assassin's Creed franchise, by the way.

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (cloud)

Click to enlarge

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 drops you into the Zone, a deadly and mysterious region around the ruins of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. You play as a lone stalker who scavenges for valuable artifacts, dodges deadly mutants, and survives anomalies that defy physics.

The Zone is alive: dynamic weather, creepy sounds, encounters that make every step a risk. You must manage your resources carefully — ammunition, food, everything relies on preparation and reactivity. What truly sets STALKER 2 apart is its oppressive atmosphere. Whether you're sneaking through abandoned facilities or caught in a terrifying emission storm, the tension is constant.

Add to that a compelling narrative, moral choices, and alternative endings, and you get an open world like no other. If you're looking for a game that merges survival horror and deep exploration, STALKER 2 is a suspense masterpiece.

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X|S

Click to enlarge

On paper, Nier: Automata's open world is nothing revolutionary. In practice, it's one of the most emotionally rich and mind-bending spaces you'll ever explore. You embody androids — 2B and 9S — who fight on a post-human Earth full of haunted ruins and creeping anxiety.

The world is not immense, but it is dense in atmosphere. Deserts with buried secrets, cities invaded by vegetation, abandoned amusement parks that are both creepy and strangely beautiful. The fight is fast, stylish, and strangely elegant — PlatinumGames nailed the game.

But what really makes the open world stick is how it serves the story. Hidden messages, secret endings, bizarre NPCs dropping philosophical bombs in the middle of a quest. Sometimes the world changes subtly as the story progresses, and you start questioning everything you thought you knew. Denial is not freedom for freedom — it's a journey that is felt more than it is understood.

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Click to enlarge

You can almost feel the dust and whiskey in that one. Red Dead Redemption 2 is probably the most realistic open world ever created. Not in the sense of "look at how many polygons," but in the way it behaves. Everything is responsive. Each NPC has their schedule. Each animal is part of the food chain.

You could spend hours just fishing, hunting, or riding through misty swamps, and it would seem like time well spent. You embody Arthur Morgan, an outlaw with a soul, torn between loyalty and survival. This tension permeates everything — from robbing trains to the time spent around the campfire with your gang.

Rockstar didn't rush the pace. The game trusts you to slow down, absorb, live in it. RDR2 is less about ticking off missions than existing in its world. It's one of the few games that truly makes that rewarding. An absolute must-have.

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Click to enlarge

A name as long as your arm for a game over 20 years old. But Arcanum deserves its place here. You literally crash - your airship crashes in a wild and unpredictable land, stuck between magic and technology. You're not a chosen hero walking towards your destiny. You're lost, broken, and the world couldn't care less about you.

Playing Arcanum is like entering a dusty and bizarre crossroads where the ancient power of magic rubs hard against the cold clang of machines. It's messy and uneven, for sure. But that's the charm. You choose your path, you tinker with steam gadgets or you cast spells that tear the sky.

What remains is not the perfect fight or the flawless story. It's the feeling that each choice pulls you deeper into a world that doesn't care about you, but still reacts. A raw, stubborn game, but different in a way that most modern games don't even try. An absolute cult classic.

Available on: PC (GOG, Steam)

Click to enlarge

Heading into the year 40,000, where Rogue Trader perfectly captures the tone of the Warhammer 40K universe. Grim. Dark. And completely crazy. It's a sci-fi adventure like few others, with a variety of interesting characters and gameplay systems to delve into for hundreds of hours.

This game lets go of the leash and lets you become a psychopathic space capitalist if you want. You are the owner of the ship, you make deals, you burn planets, you distribute death or salvation according to your mood of the day. It's heavy.

The gameplay is old-school cRPG. Turn-based tactical, devilishly crunchy. You have a full crew, deep builds, a million ways to break the system if you're careful. One minute you're discussing philosophy with a demon, the next you're demolishing heretics with a chainsaw. It's chaos. Structured chaos, but chaos nonetheless.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Click to enlarge

Final Fantasy XV is one of those RPGs that stay with you. Not just for its massive world or its intense combat — for its heart. At its core, it's a road trip among friends, a coming-of-age story wrapped in an epic fantasy adventure.

You're not just leveling up your characters — you grow with them, you live through their struggles, you feel their bond strengthen against impossible odds. It's a game made for long sessions: a massive open world to explore, high-level hunts to undertake, and an endless stream of side quests ranging from fishing to photography to the quest for the perfect cup noodles recipe.

With the Royal Edition and its expansions, there's even more content. If you're in the mood for a long emotional RPG that gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, FF XV is it. The bromance at the top of JRPG.

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Click to enlarge

The open world of Dying Light 2 resembles a playground built on broken glass. It's dangerous, vertical, and full of zombies constantly trying to kill you — which paradoxically makes it awesome. You parkour through an infested city, leaping from roof to roof as if it were your daily commute.

The movements are the star here: fluid, fast, fun. But when the sun sets, the game changes. Night in Dying Light is not just a visual change — it becomes a real horror game. Stronger infected come out, your tools become limited, the tension explodes.

What makes this open world special is its focus on movement. You start off clumsy, scared to leave safe zones. But in the end, you chain wall runs, vaults, and grapples like a parkour god. Some stories are surprisingly strong, with characters who don't just exist to give you chores. A bit short, perhaps — but that's not always a flaw.

Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (cloud)

Elden Ring and The Witcher 3 (now Remastered) are still on top. Among 2026’s new releases, The Blood of Dawnwalker is the best-received open world RPG of the fall, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 remains a safe bet for realism.

It depends on the game. Titles like Skyrim or Arcanum run on just about anything. However, STALKER 2, Cyberpunk 2077, or Starfield require a strong setup — at least an RTX 3060 or RX 6700 XT to play comfortably in 1080p. For 4K, aim for an RTX 4070 or better.

The Witcher 3 is unbeatable for hours of content, especially now that both expansions are included for free for existing owners. Skyrim, with its free mods, is another excellent choice.

Red Dead Redemption 2 for drama, Cyberpunk 2077 for sci-fi, Nier: Automata for mind-bending philosophical, and The Witcher 3 for mature fantasy. Each excels in its genre.

Yes. Zelda: Breath of the Wild (and Tears of the Kingdom) are Switch exclusives and are among the best RPGs ever created. Skyrim is also available on Switch, as well as The Witcher 3 in portable version.

No. Fable has been delayed to February 23, 2027 on Xbox Series, PC and PS5.