10 Most Anticipated RPGs Of 2026

2026 is slated to be a remarkably special year for video games in general, much less for individual genres like RPGs. There are a ton of games scheduled to launch this year that continue decades-old franchises or renew classic IPs, including Resident Evil Requiem or Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. RPGs in particular are arguably entering into another golden age with upcoming titles, so long as they actually do release in 2026.

Incorporating a compelling blend of remakes, expansions, sequels, and brand-new IPs, 2026 could be a memorable year for RPGs. This is merely considering which RPGs have already been confirmed to be released in 2026, were delayed to 2026, or are most likely to be released in 2026.

There is a chance that more RPGs could land in 2026 to bolster the year further; likewise, there is a non-zero chance that some RPGs with a 2026 release window may be delayed, whether it’s the game’s first delay or not. Nonetheless, 2026 will not be without a handful of highly anticipated RPGs.

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined

Releasing On February 5, 2026

Billed as a remake, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined was announced during September 2025’s Nintendo Direct. Since the original Dragon Quest 7 was controversial, the remake will give it an opportunity to reinvent itself in some fairly drastic ways this year.

Systems

Released

February 5, 2026

ESRB

Everyone 10+ / Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol

Developer(s)

Square Enix, HexaDrive

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

Number of Players

Single-player

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred

Expansion Releasing On April 28, 2026

Diablo 4’s upcoming expansion, Lord of Hatred, is now hotly approaching its release date this spring. Meanwhile, players already have access to Diablo 4’s newest class, the Paladin, if they pre-order the expansion. It will be fascinating to see just how Lord of Hatred facilitates the dungeon-crawling, isometric action-RPG’s evolution three years after the base game was originally released.

Diablo 4 has already been enjoying a popular new season with a brand-new class in tow, which is a terrific sign of how things may evolve and what the future of Diablo 4 could look like by the time that Lord of Hatred arrives. With fishing being added as a feature, it may already be a hugely beloved DLC to look forward to this year.

Systems

Released

April 28, 2026

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op

Phantom Blade Zero

Releasing on September 9, 2026

Boasting some of the most stylish-looking action in a while, Phantom Blade Zero is defined by its wuxia characteristics and stunning character/enemy design. Like Black Myth: Wukong, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, or Where Winds Meet, Phantom Blade Zero is yet another entry in the wuxia action-RPG genre that is shattering a mold that Soulslikes have dominated for quite some time.

Phantom Blade Zero doesn’t even seem like it’s in the same realm as any other wuxia action-RPG, though, with stylish trailers emphasizing a uniquely fast-paced brand of punishing action. If wuxia action-RPGs are to be the genre that finally dethrones Soulslikes, the onus may be on Phantom Blade Zero this year to put the last nail in its coffin, especially while FromSoftware is in the middle of polarizing multiplayer-centric experiences.

Systems

ESRB

Unreal Engine 5

Developer(s)

S-Game

Publisher(s)

S-Game

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

Franchise

Phantom Blade

Trails In The Sky 2nd Chapter

Releasing Fall 2026

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter has enormous shoes to fill as a highly anticipated sequel to an acclaimed remake, and it’s releasing only a year after the first installment. Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a remake itself, and anyone looking forward to its fall release window has roughly a little less than a year to check out Trails’ 1st Chapter in the meantime.

Systems

Released

2026

Developer(s)

Nihon Falcom

Publisher(s)

Nihon Falcom, GungHo Online Entertainment, Clouded Leopard Entertainment

Franchise

Trails

Fable

Releasing in 2026

Following its delay to 2026, it’s unclear when fans of the action-RPG series Fable will hear about the upcoming installment next, or if another delay should be expected. Fable is one of the most highly anticipated Xbox games of this year, and its release in 2026 would place it alongside some other Xbox titans, such as Halo: Campaign Evolved (a remake of the original Halo) and Gears of War: E-Day (a prequel chapter set before the original Gears of War).

Fable may have the most riding on it out of any iconic franchise sequel that could be released this year, and only time will tell if it lives up to not only the hype, but also the success and charm of its predecessors. So little has been shown so far, and that has made anticipation for it both nerve-wracking and exciting. With any luck, what is eventually shown will hopefully be capable of meeting or exceeding expectations.

Systems

Released

2026

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Playground Games

Publisher(s)

Xbox Game Studios

Engine

unreal engine 4, forza tech

Control Resonant

Releasing in 2026

Control Resonant is distancing itself considerably from its predecessor, let alone Remedy’s previous work altogether. As an RPG, Control Resonant is diversifying the series’ gameplay tenfold and taking Dylan Faden beyond the Oldest House and the Federal Bureau of Control to Manhattan. While it looks neat, part of the anticipation will be to see how it affects the IP on a broader scale, much less other Remedy games thereafter.

With Control being as beloved as it is as an SCP-esque game, Control Resonant is sure to follow Alan Wake 2 as another bizarre, surrealist adventure, and it will be intriguing to see how Control Resonant will explore the Remedy Connected Universe’s tethers. If successful, it would not be out of the realm of possibility to see a hypothetical third Alan Wake game turn to the RPG genre as well.

Systems

Released

2026

Developer(s)

Remedy Entertainment

Publisher(s)

Remedy Entertainment

Number of Players

Single-player

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

The Blood of Dawnwalker

Releasing in 2026

The Blood of Dawnwalker is one of the more novel RPG games releasing in 2026. Packed with The Witcher DNA, Rebel Wolves’ vampire fantasy epic has no traditional main quest or golden path, instead tasking players to experience the story’s “narrative sandbox” in the allotted 30-day duration.

Therefore, The Blood of Dawnwalker seems to balance a tailored gameplay experience and a dynamic narrative on a knife-edge. It will be fascinating to see how well The Blood of Dawnwalker melds its mechanics and storytelling, which make for a unique RPG that could strip away any Witcher comparisons to make a mark on its own.

Systems

Released

TBA

ESRB

M for Mature

Developer(s)

Rebel Wolves

Publisher(s)

Bandai Namco Studios

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

Number of Players

Single-player

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

Fatekeeper

Releasing In Steam Early Access In 2026

Though not a full release out of the gate, Fatekeeper, an upcoming first-person RPG, will be released in early access at some point this year. Fatekeeper’s gameplay reveal demonstrated how superb the game’s graphical fidelity will be, but there’s obviously more to a great RPG than looks.

Depending on how rich its RPG mechanics are and how gratifying its exploration is, Fatekeeper could join the likes of Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon as an Elder Scrolls-like RPG while fans patiently wait for whenever The Elder Scrolls 6 may appear again. While it doesn’t appear to feature an open world, the beauty of its environments may allow it to stand out regardless.

Witchbrook

Releasing In 2026

To be fair, Chucklefish’s cozy witch-themed life sim was already pushed back, and thus, it isn’t clear if 2026 will be a concrete release window. That said, Witchbrook looks like it’ll scratch every itch imaginable for Harry Potter and Stardew Valley fans alike, and a launch in 2026 would allow it to stand out from its influences and game comparisons as a unique title.

Systems

Released

2025

ESRB

Teen // Suggestive Themes

Developer(s)

Chucklefish, Robotality

Publisher(s)

Chucklefish

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

Number of Players

1-4 (online)

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

​​​​​​​Pokemon Gen 10

Most likely releasing in 2026 alongside Pokemon’s 30th anniversary

Pokemon Gen 10 hasn’t had a release date or window revealed yet. However, with Pokemon’s 30th anniversary in 2026, it seems all but guaranteed that Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, and Game Freak will do everything possible to ensure that Gen 10 coincides with this milestone.

Created by

Satoshi Taijiri, Ken Sugimori, Junichi Masuda

Latest Film

Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle

First Episode Air Date

April 1, 1997

Current Series

Pokémon