The largest upcoming open world survival RPG

2026 is expected to be a great year for gaming, despite all the failures of AI, rising game prices, and hardware price inflation for PC gamers. With the same big players gta 6, fable, and Resident Evil: Requiem It's hard not to overhype everything along the way and that's just the triple-A side. The AA and Indie sides look equally delicious. ParaLive, Subnautica 2and Slay the Spire 2 It's causing a stir. There are also some good remasters: gothic 1 and Deus Ex Thanks to each refresh, there's a good chance we'll gain new players this year.

There's some exciting stuff coming out on the open world survival RPG side of things too, and we've rounded up a few promising games scheduled for release this year. It's very difficult to find a game that matches all three categories. Therefore, the definition of an RPG is the most difficult to meet, so I'll be a bit flexible here. Beyond that, you can expect to find a great open world setting to explore, along with classic survival gameplay elements from crafting to base building. On the RPG side, we're talking about things like specialization, skill progression or leveling, quests, story, and NPCs to potentially interact with.

we survive as one

A quest to save her sick daughter in a world ravaged by a pandemic.

we survive as one Due to the fact that it doesn't have an RPG tag on the Steam store page, it might be considered a more honorable mention here. It's too early to tell if there will be any actual RPG gameplay elements, but the information we have so far looks promising. Story mode, NPCs to interact with, skill progression… enough to at least call it a light RPG, and the open world survival elements are strong enough to make this list.

Your goal is to survive, find help for your sick daughter, and manage a small community of survivors. Build your defenses, gather and collect resources and supplies, and make sure you're set up for long-term success. The fact that it actually has a story premise is what makes this game so interesting, and in fact the game is split into two different modes depending on whether you want to test your skills at surviving in an apocalyptic world or just experience the narrative. If you're too scared to venture out on your own, there are companions you can take with you. I think it's really similar project zomboid There are some colony management features, but only time will tell what exactly you'll get. With any luck, you'll be able to get the Early Access version sometime around the second quarter of 2026.

Delverium

A mix of Terraria and Stardew Valley in one attractive package.

If you've ever thought about it stardew valley I needed a more fantasy RPG, terraria It would have been better if it was 2D Delverium It might be exactly what you're looking for. The game features extremely adorable pixel art graphics that will appeal to all cozy gamers and retro gaming enthusiasts, and promises a freely exploreable open world environment. It's also procedurally generated, so no two games will look the same, and there are plenty of colorful biomes to explore for resources, funky enemies, and more.

It features the relaxed farming gameplay, base building, and NPC management found in other similar games, but there are also dungeons and caves to explore for more adventurous players. The RPG mechanics may not seem that deep, but they are. terrariaWhile exploring dungeons, you can upgrade your gear and find rare loot. The initial information we have also tells us about some sort of world mystery that we may discover during our adventure. We can expect it to be released around the second quarter of 2026.

High reach

Procedurally generated fantasy survival RPG

Definitely one of the most unique rookies this year High reach. It seems to combine a variety of elements, including magical RPG-style combat and progression while building your character, and survival-style gameplay that has you building an entire settlement of working people. It features a world of floating islands after a major magical event left. high jay It is currently damaged. This is where you, as an adventurer, come in to discover what lies beyond the horizon in your own airship.

It looks very similar to games like: covered and externalThe former also includes base-building mechanics, while the latter introduces tons of survival gameplay. But the most interesting part is that the characters you recruit to your settlement actually have their own stories, and you can progress through them in the form of quests. It's really rare to see a game this packed with a variety of gameplay features from a variety of genres, but Highreach seems to do it all. We won't have to wait too long to see what the game has to offer, as it's expected to launch in Early Access in the first quarter of 2026.

Endal

Dark fantasy with brutal survival gameplay

as it were coveredwe are EndalloThis already looks like it could offer something appealing to fans of the previous game. However, the setting seems much darker and crueler, with scary enemies and an unforgiving world. If you're a fan of Soulslike or Souls games, this game might tickle your fancy a bit, as the combat looks very similar to the classic Souls game experience and uses stamina. There are scary bosses, progression through XP, and tons of builds to play with.

The world looks very interesting and vibrant, with a variety of biomes, dungeons, and caves where you can get lost or die tragically. That said, the world is also said to be extremely dangerous, which makes us think we might be looking at something like this: external Planning and preparation are everything here. What's unique is that you have to build your own tiny house or safe haven. Keep your resources and loot safe and rest between battles. If this all sounds more exciting to you, keep your eyes peeled and look for opportunities to jump into Early Access. Endallo Around the first quarter of 2026. Oh, and the good news? You can play with 4 friends who like challenges.

outside 2

Challenging survival RPG gets second installment

Well, the most anticipated open world survival RPG of 2026 so far is here! outside 2 will continue to deliver bigger, better, and more polished experiences from the first game. If you're unfamiliar with the first installment, I highly recommend playing it now before the sequel comes out to get a taste of its brutal yet beautiful world.

The game proudly announces that there will be no hand holding as players return to the magical world of Aurai. Players can learn how to survive and eventually grow on their own. maybe. Staying hydrated will help you rest when you're tired and improve your performance. Whenever you embark on your next trip around the world, you will be doing so on foot. This isn't a classic open world RPG where things are just passed around. Oh no. There are no rides and fast travel is no big deal. Even the act of equipping a backpack makes you move more slowly in combat, which shows just how much the game doubles down on delivering realism on a platter. For now, you'll have to wait until the third quarter of 2026 to get your hands on it.