2026 looks like a pretty stacked year for RPG lovers, featuring plenty of seemingly awesome titles in the pipeline. What's even greater is that players can choose from a wide selection of games that cater to their personal preferences: there is no shortage of action-focused RPGs, including soulslike titles, tactical JRPGs, or traditional open-world Western fantasy-style titles.
The Biggest Upcoming Western RPGs
The RPG scene is about to be enriched by these promising games, each of which is looking to shake up the genre in exciting ways.
With so many upcoming RPGs to keep an eye on, it's worth remembering that many anticipated titles haven't been announced for a 2026 release yet, such as Clockwork Revolution. Moreover, some titles have been specifically stated not to launch this year, like The Witcher 4. With that in mind, below are some of the most promising and anticipated RPGs that are officially confirmed for launch in 2026 — although delays are always possible.
This list excludes upcoming action-RPGs or soulslike games like Valor Mortis and Beast of Reincarnation.
6 Gothic 1 Remake
Release Date: June 5
Despite its iconic status for Eastern European fantasy RPG fans, the Gothic series is still considered niche when compared to the genre's leaders. Nevertheless, Gothic 1 Remake might just become an old-school breath of fresh air in the modern RPG landscape, drawing new players to its harsh, unforgiving world where reputation is everything.
In contrast to many open-world RPGs from recent years, Gothic 1 Remake promises a relatively compact, dense map with layered locations. There are no nameless NPCs, as each character has their place in this world. Combat is grounded, where each mistake can be fatal. And, of course, it's a faithful treatment of the iconic original. It's worth noting that Gothic 1 Remake is being developed by an entirely new team, Alkimia Interactive, which has yet to prove that it can handle projects like this, so fans are cautiously optimistic. Gothic 1 Remake arrives on June 5.
5 Outward 2
Release Window: Q3 2026
The original Outward was quite a discovery for countless RPG lovers, blending challenging survival elements with a free-flow role-playing co-op experience for a grounded and harsh journey with plenty of freedom. The upcoming Outward 2 seemingly doubles down on everything that made the original so unique, and it's poised to ramp up the challenge even higher and deliver the ultimate adventurer's simulator.
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In Outward 2, players are free to go anywhere and do what they want, with little to no hand-holding, enemy scaling, or locked regions. That said, it's not just curiosity that will drive players forward. Hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and harsh weather all have to be considered for a safe journey. Everything in Outward 2 matters, and the right choice of weapon, armor, or skill to use could be life-saving. Outward 2 is currently scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2026, meaning that players will most likely get to play the game this summer.
4 Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Release Window: 2026
No less than the eighteenth installment in the Fire Emblem series, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is probably somewhere near the top of every tactical strategy JRPG fan's list out there. Fortune's Weave returns to the world of Three Houses (which isn't surprising, given how popular Fire Emblem: Three Houses was), and centers its story around the Heroic Games — a special arena tournament, where the most skilled warriors gather to test both their abilities and beliefs.
Despite its combat-related setting, though, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave promises a deep story and character focus, where relationships matter as much as political intrigue. Fortune's Weave also marks the first Fire Emblem title developed for next-gen hardware, promising some serious technical updates. The game is officially confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2026; however, the devs have been very quiet since the announcement last year, so fingers crossed that no delays are incoming.
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3 Zero Parades: For Dead Spies
Release Date: May 21
Easily one of the most intriguing upcoming RPGs, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is about to prove whether Disco Elysium was just a fluke, or if ZA/UM is capable of creating RPGs of its caliber moving forward — even after losing some key developers from the previous game. Judging from the first previews, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is shaping up nicely, and some even say it's more resembling a true game rather than a unique prototype.
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Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is all about an ambitious, branching espionage narrative with a deep psychological flavor, where players are expected to fail more than they succeed. With such constant pressure, everything is affected by the player's choices, including quest progression, factions' reputation, ally loyalty, and even the state of the protagonist's mind. Zero Parades is launching May 21.
2 The Blood Of Dawnwalker
Release Date: September 3
Ever since its announcement, The Blood of Dawnwalker has drawn the attention of hardcore RPG fans with its several standout elements: from a unique time-based narrative with no mandatory quests to a protagonist with vampiric combat and traversal abilities. On top of that, thanks to its separate day and night gameplay loop, players are allowed to tackle missions in various ways depending on their preferred playstyle or character build.
The Blood of Dawnwalker emphasises a realistic, grounded medieval world, complex characters and moral themes, plenty of dialogue and mystery-solving, and choices with long-lasting consequences — what else could a true RPG lover want? Despite being a debut project for Rebel Wolves, several Witcher veterans are on board, which is apparent from a quick glance at the project. This game only becomes better with each new showcase. The Blood of Dawnwalker arrives September 3.
1 Fable
Release Window: Autumn 2026
Potentially the biggest RPG coming in 2026, Fable seemingly has few competitors in the genre. It's shaping up as a definitive triple-A role-playing experience where players can not only explore and fight but literally grow and live in this charming fantasy world, building their home, family, and heroic legacy. Playground Games has been working on this project for a decade now, so even if it's the studio's first endeavor in a new genre, such dedication already sounds promising.
Capturing the legacy of the iconic Fable games is no easy task, yet from what we've seen so far, Playground nailed the unmistakable vibe and overall tone of the franchise. With spectacular visuals and combat, a cozy world, reactive NPCs, and plenty of non-traditional activities, hopefully Fable will deliver on an Xbox promise of reviving the series with a bang. Fable is currently expected to arrive this fall, with the exact date still unannounced.
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