Games Happy

We by no means know what to anticipate coming into into a brand new 12 months of video games. Yearly, there are disappointments, surprises, and high-quality video games that emerge from sudden locations. That does not cease us from looking forward to see a few of the RPGs we’ll be getting our fingers on within the coming months. On this article, we wished to spotlight a few of the RPGs developing this 12 months, so listed here are RPG Web site’s Most Anticipated RPGs of 2026.

In our inner tally, the RPG Web site employees picked upcoming RPGs that both us as a result of sheer potential, an excellent pedigree, or titles that discover themselves with intriguing launch conditions relating to their growth. This 12 months, we now have chosen a complete of 10 RPGs that we’re trying ahead to.

Notice that the checklist is unranked, except our general winner.

Want a refresher on what RPGs are set to launch in 2026? We now have an inventory you possibly can take a look at proper right here.

RPG Web site Workers Picks – Most Anticipated 2026 RPGs

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

With the arrival of the “HD-2D” artstyle again in 2018’s Octopath Traveler, we RPG followers instantly began to rattle off video games we would wish to see in that fashion, comparable to traditional Dragon Quest or Ultimate Fantasy VI. Since then, we have certainly seen Dragon Quest, Reside a Reside, and even an unique tactical RPG in Triangle Technique. Nevertheless, we have by no means gotten an HD-2D sport that is not turn-based, evoking emotions of one thing extra akin to Zelda or Ys as an alternative of traditional Ultimate Fantasy. Subsequent 12 months, we see the beginning of a brand new motion RPG sequence from Sq. Enix occupying the identical form of house with The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales — even the title conference appears fairly Zelda-coded.

Being developed by Claytechworks is fascinating to notice, identified primarily for the essentially sound however protected Bravely Default II. Whereas The Adventures of Elliot has some clear inspirations, it is a debut entry for a brand new IP that Sq. presumably has excessive hopes for. A playable demo from final summer season confirmed promise with some traditional journey sport fundamentals but in addition some enjoyable weapon choices and gameplay intricacies between the protagonist Elliot and the fairy Faie. We’re excited to see The Millennium Tales be each one thing nostalgic and acquainted with inspirations from a few of our favourite sequence, in addition to being a very new factor by itself deserves.

Phantom Blade Zero

Often, in Most Anticipated lists like this one, the video games represented are one thing we’re acquainted with, in some type. Most are from well-known fan-favorite franchises, whether or not they’re new entries or new iterations. Some are new concepts, however from established builders with a tangible pedigree. Generally, although, there’s one thing really new; one thing that makes us say ‘what’s that?’, piquing our curiosity. That is the case of Phantom Blade Zero, an motion RPG from the Beijing-based S-Sport.

Initially making its broad public look in a PlayStation Showcase occasion in 2023, Phantom Blade Zero seeks to merge the well-worn conventions of Soulslike video games alongside the tempo and fight stylings of motion video games like Satan Could Cry. Influenced by Wuxia movies and kung-fu, what we have seen (and performed) to this point has impressed us with its fast-paced fight and fascinating set design. We’ll be capable of see how a lot of a splash the sport could make when it releases in September.

Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection

When Monster Hunter Tales debuted on 3DS, it was one of many best-looking video games on the system and was an incredible method to mix in components of the primary video games with extra conventional turn-based and monster-collecting mechanics. After a promising begin to what would turn into a sub-series, most of Monster Hunter Tales’ shortcomings have been tackle within the bigger and higher sequel, which felt like Capcom permitting it to go to the subsequent stage.

With Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection, Capcom seems to be taking issues a step additional, although, going for a special vibe. There’s extra depth right here to this point, and a bigger scope than the Monster Hunter Tales sequence has seen, however what excites us probably the most is the transition to a extra methodical RPG and one which goals for greater highs with extra highly effective {hardware}.

Clockwork Revolution

The crew at InXile Leisure is probably not probably the most well-known Western RPG developer, however following the likes of the surprisingly strong Wasteland 3, helmed by long-time style veterans like Brian Fargo, Clockwork Revolution is shaping as much as be the most important and most fascinating sport from the studio but. InXile has traditionally relied on crowdfunding efforts for RPG growth, however this would be the studio’s first title as a first-party Microsoft entity. Primarily based on final 12 months’s 5-minute trailer, the world and prospects definitely seem spectacular. On the very least, this presents a major alternative to see what InXile can obtain with full writer assist.

Promising unprecedented narrative & visible reactivity, time-bending fight, and deep RPG techniques, Clockwork Revolution hasn’t explicitly locked in a 2026 launch, so contemplate its placement on this checklist to be wishful pondering on our half. Having been initially introduced in 2023, we hope we see this sooner slightly than later.

Trails within the Sky 2nd Chapter

When Trails within the Sky 1st Chapter unceremoniously first confirmed up in a Nintendo Direct Accomplice Showcase again in 2024, we had little thought what to anticipate from the long-awaited remake. A retelling of the story from the unique The Legend of Heroes: Trails In The Sky FC had been the topic of each rumor and wishful pondering for some time by that time, however the many unknowns left long-time followers with small potential seeds of doubt. Would the addition of recent English voice appearing maintain up? How devoted would the remake be? Would the transition to full 3D convey the identical emotions as the unique sport? After releasing worldwide (a sequence first) this final September, most of these issues can be put apart because the remade 1st entry was a superb addition for each new and previous followers alike.

With the Trails sequence’ first entry famously ending in a doozy of a cliffhanger, the explanations to look forward for Trails within the Sky 2nd Chapter are slightly clear. Now that almost all issues across the remake venture overhaul are put apart, we discover ourselves free to enter 2026 anticipating a devoted remake of some of the well-regarded entries in your entire sequence.

Destiny/Further Document

Destiny/Further Document was initially introduced five-and-a-half years in the past, again in July 2020. Whereas that is, on paper, merely a remake of a PSP RPG, the potential of this venture has solely grown in that time frame. Because the announcement, Kind-Moon followers within the west have seen official English releases of Witch on the Holy Night time, Tsukihime -a piece of blue glass moon-, Destiny/keep evening, and even an Omega Drive spinoff in Destiny/Samurai Remnant. This 12 months, the Kind-Moon prepare has continued, as followers have seen the once-seemingly-impossible English launch of Destiny/hole ataraxia and even a Destiny/keep evening Limitless Blade Works collaboration occasion for Honkai: Star Rail.

For the higher a part of a decade now, Destiny/Further Document’s growth has been helmed by Kazuya Niinou, who has the eclectic pedigree of being the director of the unique Etrian Odyssey, Dragon Quest Builders 2, and the Japanese-only seventh Dragon 2020, amongst others. With the franchise solely increasing its worldwide attain because the sport’s preliminary announcement, the potential affect RPG might depart onlys grows stonger as we eagerly proceed to attend.

Onimusha: Method of the Sword

It has been fairly the experience for veteran Capcom followers, however the years-percolating expectations of recent developments within the long-dormant Onimusha sequence will lastly see some reduction. Onimusha: Method of the Sword is a completely new title, the primary one since Onimusha: Daybreak of Desires launched almost 20 years in the past on the PS2.

As in different entries, this new Onimusha as soon as once more options samurai demon-slaying, blended with a love of cinematic reference. The brand new protagonist is known swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, and like earlier Onimusha heroes, he is modeled after a real-life actor (this time the equally legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune).

Reassuringly, Onimusha: Method of the Sword seems to be hewing nearer to the older entries slightly than attempting to vary issues up for the sake of latching onto newer tendencies, retaining to the tried-and-true marriage of swordplay and soul-absorbing, as Musashi chops up demons and makes use of his enchanted gauntlet to soak up their floating souls. We’ll see how the sport manages to revive an previous traditional from an earlier period of motion RPG design when it launches subsequent 12 months.

Nioh 3

Again in 2020, Nioh 2 stunned all of us as a major enchancment over the 2017 unique, making our website’s prime 5 for the 12 months and topping the private lists for a lot of RPG Web site contributors on the time. The Soulslike style has solely gotten extra crowded since then, with stellar experiences from across the globe starting from Lies of P to, after all, Elden Ring. With solely muted success with style follow-ups comparable to Rise of the Ronin and Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty, we’re hoping that Nioh 3 can return Workforce Ninja to the place they’ve had their biggest accomplishment on this all of a sudden crowded area of video video games.

That is to not say that Nioh 3 is enjoying it protected. Whereas the transition from Nioh to Nioh 2 may very well be described as iterative refinement, Nioh 3 is seeking to be far more experimental. By altering up the core gameplay between the totally different Samurai and Ninja fight kinds and embracing a extra “open-field” strategy, Workforce Ninja remains to be seeking to place Nioh 3 as one thing far more than a retread of previous successes. We can’t have to attend lengthy to see if this daring strategy pays off for the sequence’ third entry.

Hearth Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

Imagine it or not, it is already been three years since Hearth Emblem Have interaction and 6 years since Hearth Emblem: Three Homes. We have been due for one more full-fledged Hearth Emblem, however we do not have to attend for much longer, as Hearth Emblem: Fortune’s Weave seems to be the primary Swap 2 unique RPG, set to launch subsequent 12 months.

We have solely seen a small glimpse of the world and characters in Fortune’s Weave, centering on a younger combatant named Cai collaborating in The Heroic Video games. We additionally see key characters of Theodora, Dietrich, and Leda, who could even act as potential story routes. A lot hypothesis has been made on the three minutes of footage we now have, and naturally, the teased connection to Three Homes brings about an entire different host of questions concerning the state of the world and what else may be in retailer. Fortune’s Weave has the potential to be one of many stronger RPGs of the 12 months.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (Winner)

Dragon Quest is a beloved sequence for Japanese RPG followers around the globe, and we at RPG Web site are not any exception. Dragon Quest VII, specifically, is without doubt one of the most original entries within the sequence, with an extended, time-jumping journey comprised of quite a few vignette-style situations. Coming quickly off the heels of the superb Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, we now have one more sequence remake to stay up for in just some months with Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. It seems to be making a couple of important modifications to the unique sport’s construction, with each streamlined narrative pacing and new character episodes. Sporting a doll-and-diorama visible fashion, this remade model seems exceptionally charming.

Each time a beloved sport is remade, it is easy to be apprehensive about how this might be performed. Will adjusting the pacing adversely have an effect on the texture of the sport? What occurs if sure situations are required and others are made non-obligatory, and even eliminated outright? Will the brand new character episodes really feel congruent with the unique narrative? How will fight evolve from the unique? Regardless, Reimagined is a really intriguing venture, and we will not assist however need to get our fingers on it. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is RPG Web site’s Most Anticipated RPG of 2026.