While we wrap up another year, it’s time to look forward to the next with our Most Anticipated Games of 2026!
As has been the case for a while now, 2025 was a banner year for RPGs. It might not have had as many traditional “JRPGs” as normal, but there was at least a little something for everyone. There’s a reason RPGs dominated The Game Awards. Next year might not look quite as stacked yet, but there’s still plenty to look forward to, and so we present the 30 we are most excited about here! Don’t miss the rest of the list on part 2 and part 3.
What are you most excited to get your hands on this year? Are there any big titles that we missed? Be sure to let us know on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Discord, or however you most enjoy interacting with us!
Intro by Zach Wilkerson
The Adventures of Elliot: Millennium Tales
Writeup by Zach Wilkerson
Team Asano has already recaptured the magic of SNES turn-based goodness with their signature HD-2D style, so this time they’re harkening back to 16-bit action RPGs with The Adventures of Elliot: Millennium Tales. While exploring a vast open space, you can dive into heavy top-down combat, mow your lawn, or bomb your way to hidden areas. Yes, there’s more than a little Zelda here, but the variety of weapons you can use, the way accessories work with that combat to force some interesting choices, and the look all seem like they might distinguish The Adventures of Elliot from being more than just a copy of what came before. If Team Asano’s previous work is any measure, I can’t wait.
Alabaster Dawn
Writeup by Mark Roddison
Alabaster Dawn, the latest 2.5D offering from CrossCode developer Radical Fish Games, looks set to build on the gorgeous artwork and tight gameplay the studio wowed with in 2018 (really, that long ago?!). This time round, the focus feels firmly on the fantasy end of storytelling, whilst retaining the colorful setting elements, precise animation, and demanding boss fights and puzzles. Wider systems look just as deep and customizable, with Combat Arts and Divine Arts abilities for both weapon and spell trees, respectively, not to mention cooking and gem enchantments. With a promised 30–60-hour runtime, Alabaster Dawn looks ready to position itself as a seriously meaty indie RPG from a developer who’s earned plenty of credit for world-building and combat.
Beast of Reincarnation
Writeup by Tina Olah
Pokémon developer Game Freak is surely brewing up another cute and cozy adventure, but in 2026, they’re also bringing you something completely different and slightly terrifying. Revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, Beast of Reincarnation marks a surprising departure from Game Freak’s past efforts, yet one that thankfully still features a plethora of strange creatures. Featuring exquisite AAA graphics, this new title is a post-apocalyptic action RPG following an outcast warrior and her beloved dog through a vast and beautiful world reminiscent of Horizon Zero Dawn and Princess Mononoke. We don’t know much about the game yet, but players can expect a dangerous environment filled with frightening foliage and difficult (possibly Souls-like) combat against giant beasts and robots. Thankfully, you’ll have a trusty canine companion by your side, and as many of our favorite media can attest, wandering a post-apocalyptic landscape is always better with a furry friend. Prepare to explore the wilds in 2026!
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Writeup by Adem Yilmaz
I am a huge fan of The Witcher 3, so when I heard that veteran developers from that game had formed a new studio called Rebel Wolves and were creating The Blood of Dawnwalker, I almost fell to my knees. The game takes place in 14th-century Europe near the Carpathian Mountains during a time of plague, famine, conflict, and rising vampirism. Vampires choose this moment to rise and turn humans into cattle. You are Coen, a young man who flees his village, nearly dies at the hands of soldiers, and survives only because someone transforms him into a vampire. The game uses a unique structure with no traditional main quest. You choose what to do as the entire story unfolds on a strict thirty-day timeline. Time moves forward no matter what, so you must plan carefully while balancing your vampire side with your human one. Will you lose your humanity to vampirism, or try to use your newfound power for good? That choice is yours.
Code Vein II
Writeup by Zek Lu
As a fan of Souls-likes, I’ve been keeping my eye on Code Vein II. You play as a Revenant Hunter and jump between the present and 100 years in the past to try to rewrite fate and stop a looming disaster. Bandai Namco seems to be leaning into character-driven combat more than before, and the time-shift mechanic is a feature I’m looking forward to. Areas that flip between past and present change how you move through them and add strategy to the gameplay loop. I’m especially interested to see how this affects builds. Your weapon choices, skills and magic Gifts, and partner abilities can create completely different playstyles depending on which time state you trigger. The game is also promising bigger, bolder level design and a story about fractured memories and changing identities. That’s a lot to live up to, but I’m excited to see if Bandai Namco can pull it off.
Coffee Talk Tokyo
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Coffee Talk Tokyo is the third installment of the lovely and heartwarming life-sim visual novel series. It is set in an urban fantasy where the fantastical and supernatural exist side-by-side with regular humans. Naturally, everyone in its universe has a hankering for a warm drink to soothe them, alongside someone to confide in. This time around, the rainy Seattle locale is replaced by the bustling city of Tokyo, promising new but just as memorable characters and unique scenarios to uncover. Get the right caffeinated (or even decaf!) beverage in someone’s hand, and you could very well change the outcome of their story in surprisingly heartfelt ways. Coffee Talk is a warm and comforting series, and I’m glad we’ll be able to make a third trip into its altogether cozy world. This is one coffee shop that’s always worth visiting!
Deltarune: Chapter 5
Writeup by Jimmy Turner
It’s hard to believe that Undertale is over 10 years old at this point. The quirky, sometimes dark, often hilarious adventure became a major phenomenon in the RPG space almost immediately at launch in 2015. Since then, creator Toby Fox has expanded the universe and lore of the original game through an episodic spinoff, Deltarune. Thus far, four Deltarune chapters have released, including Chapters 3 & 4 this year. Each chapter has been different with its own unique gameplay mechanics and tone. Toby Fox has remained tight-lipped on what exactly to expect from Deltarune: Chapter 5. In his Fall 2025 newsletter, he provided a roadmap for Chapter 5, and it looks like fans can expect a late 2026 release. With his track record, there is little to suggest it will be anything short of another memorable entry in the franchise.
Directive 8020
Writeup by Paul Skevington
Fans of The Dark Pictures Anthology series are in for a treat next year as the sixth entry, Directive 8020, arrives, delayed from its 2025 release. This time, the action takes place on a hostile planet where the crew of the Cassiopeia, with star actress Lashana Lynch leading the drama, crash-lands. 8020 showcases developer Supermassive Games’ trademark choice-based narrative gameplay, with influences from the isolated horror of Alien. The clearest inspiration is the all-time classic movie The Thing, as the survivors face off against an alien threat that can take on their shapes, driving the fear of the enemy within. Most exciting is the addition of stealth sections, unseen in the series before, and a rewind feature that allows players to replay key events, should things go horribly wrong. This scary tale will drive sales of new underwear worldwide very soon.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
Writeup by Paul Skevington
Having recently played Dragon Quest VII on the 3DS, my initial reaction to this being the next on Squenix’s list for the remake treatment was muted. Did we really need VII when we could have VIII? Then I saw the trailer and instantly changed my mind. Akira Toriyama’s original designs are brought to vivid life in a jaw-dropping “hand-crafted” style that is beautiful to behold. The addition of voice acting will hopefully bring us closer to the characters, who could feel a little shallow in the original. The notoriously plodding narrative has been reworked for a modern audience, with some core areas now being optional, giving more control over progression. This should be more than enough to tide us over until Dragon Quest XII finally arrives, and could catapult DQVII up to the heights enjoyed by its more beloved brethren. Please check out Scott Clay’s excellent video preview and interview on the site for more details.
Edge of Memories
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Edge of Memories is an action RPG follow-up to Edge of Eternity, returning players to a land threatened by a nefarious blight known as the Corrosion. You take on the role of Eline, a nomad battling against the infection who may hold the one key to actually to stop it. Together with the shaman prince Kanta and the delightful return of Edge of Eternity’s Ysoris, will Eline ultimately triumph? In many respects, Edge of Eternity was a pleasant indie surprise, and Edge of Memories is shaping up to potentially be an even stronger outing in terms of visual presentation and gameplay mechanics, while also boasting a fantastic musical score. The developer has already promised we get to interact with the feline nekaroo again, so I’m more than ready to see how Edge of Eternity’s story continues here!
