An open world game you can start playing right now

2026 is an exciting year for gaming. Many new and exciting things await you. Whether you're an indie fan or a Triple-A die-hard, you'll be in for some delicious food this year and beyond. On the indie side para live In May 2026, we will have the opportunity to fundamentally shake up the life simulation genre. grand theft auto 6If all goes according to plan, it could release in late November, and strangely enough, could send a lot of working gamers on sick leave.

But if you're looking for a new and fun game to play right now and you're a fan of open world games, there are a few games that are perfect to jump into right now, mainly due to upcoming updates, content, remakes, or sequels. There are also a few older titles in the mix, so you may have missed some of them. While we wait for the new big releases and updates, here's what to add to the backlog:

Forest and Sons of the Forest

Prepare for whatever horrors Forest 3 has in store for you.

forest 3 was unexpectedly announced at the 2026 Game Awards ceremony, featuring a very different setting that blended the franchise's trademark survival horror vibe with futuristic sci-fi themes. With laser guns in hand, we'll tangle with even fiercer enemies in a new, harsh wilderness. It's a leap forward no one could have expected in the franchise, but it's exciting and should make you dive into the previous two games. forest and sons of the forest. Both games start with a crash landing situation. The first game focuses on finding your son, Timmy, who is taken in by a strange resident covered in paint.

sons of the forest You are sent to search for a missing person on a remote island, which turns out to be full of rather strange and hostile locals. Survival is key as you gather resources, build a base, and eventually follow clues to complete the main storyline (which is harder than you might think, considering how good the base-building mechanics are). Few games perfectly capture the best of both worlds when it comes to survival horror, with a decent story and immersive survival craft gameplay. forest and sons of the forest This is a must-play game for everyone.

Kingdom Come: Salvation

Worth a visit for the next-gen update and sequel

In 2025 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 It wowed open-world RPG fans with its attention to detail, immersive gameplay, and gorgeous visuals. It pushed the boundaries of what was expected from an RPG while also featuring its trademark fierce sword fighting. Many people think of the game as a borderline medieval Bohemia simulator that requires Henry to bathe regularly, and with how realistic and dynamic the world feels, it's inspired many to revisit or dive into the first game for the first time.

There is some good news about this too. Kingdom Come: Salvation It recently received a next-gen update that lets you enjoy the best of the original game at 60FPS on consoles. If you're at all curious about the game or are still on the fence about buying the sequel, now would be the ideal moment to pick up the original and experience Henry's story from the beginning.

Gothic 1 & 2

There's good news for fans of this retro RPG series.

If you've been an RPG enthusiast for many years, you've probably experienced something like this: Gothic game at some point. Both the first and second made a name for themselves by introducing harsher-than-usual worlds where players didn't take on the role they chose or were treated like special heroes from the start. Instead, you must prove your worth to faction leaders or face ridicule from NPCs. In true retro gaming fashion, today's games can feel janky and punishing, with simple enemy battles leading to near-instant death and no fast travel or quest markers.

If this sounds like an interesting challenge and you've never tried these games, now is the perfect time to play the original and its sequel. On June 5, 2026, Alkimia Interactive gothic remake. A free demo is already available on Steam for the curious, and while fans have expressed some concerns about how close the remake will get to the original experience, there's still plenty of hope and time to deliver something truly special. If you're tired of the hand-holding in modern games, give these challenging RPGs a try until then.

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A sequel is coming and it looks interesting.

In the still challenging realm of RPGs, we externalDefinitive edition. The game has received a lot of love in the open-world RPG world, especially among players looking for a slightly more challenging experience and mixing in elements of survival gameplay. external Credit: A wild and harsh fantasy world where you start with nothing and are nothing until you prove it. There's no fast travel either, so you can wander around unhindered by enemies if you don't plan your route properly.

But now is the best time to start your trip in Aurai. Because around the third quarter of 2026 outside 2 It is expected to be released. Visually and gameplay-wise, the game is a massive overhaul, with brand-new challenges and a story you can jump into alone or with friends (just like the first game). The sequel promises a tough survival adventure experience. So, if you want to practice with your besties before jumping into Q3, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following: out system now.

Subnautica

Even though the sequel has been delayed, there's still time to explore the first game.

KRAFTON has been in a bit of hot water in late 2025. Subnautica 2 Early Access has been delayed until 2026. That's understandable, considering what the sequel should turn out to be. Subnautica It's an underwater twist on the open-world survival craft genre that made it a huge phenomenon upon release. Players are placed on an ocean planet after their ship crashes, and their goal is to survive, thrive, and eventually get off the planet.

The underwater world is beautiful and full of resources and wildlife to help you on your journey to craft increasingly better technologies and tools, and even create your own underwater base, but danger lurks beneath the waves, too. Don't be fooled by the game's vivid colors. At its core, the game is still a survival horror experience, requiring you to go very, very deep to uncover the planet's secrets. Considering how easy it is to sink a few hours into this game, if the sequel comes out this year, now is an ideal moment to start if you want to try it out in Early Access.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Mystery DLC will be released before Witcher 4

CD Projekt RED's masterpiece open-world RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt It's a game that's stunningly beautiful even years after its release. with so much love the witcher The franchise has been growing in popularity in recent years (regardless of the failure of the Netflix series, you have to admit that the attention is welcome). It's the perfect moment to dive into both the books and games of Andrzej Sapkowski, the creator of the original universe. But the most important thing is the third game.

A lot is happening for the witcher Game Series: Rumor has it that the mysterious DLC will be released this spring, possibly around May 2026. It's very rare for a game this old to get DLC after so many years, but speculation is high and hype is soaring as people believe this will help bridge the gap between them. wild hunt and The Witcher 4. For the latter, we've seen a bit of gameplay and a trailer showing Ciri as the protagonist. This is an interesting twist on a game that has so far featured Geralt as the protagonist, so you'll want to catch up on her story, or even Geralt and Ciri's, well before jumping into this rumored DLC. The sooner you start the better wild hunt It's a large game full of side quests and activities. And honestly, you will do Take a side road in Gwent.