Open-world games are an escape from the real world. These games can make you feel like a stranger in a new world and become someone else. It is a perfect way to spend the weekend, or if you have all the time in the world.
Most modern games will have you running around a large world full of secrets to uncover and NPCs to assist. Freedom and creativity can keep you entertained, and you will likely find even more excuses to dive back into fictional worlds as an escape.
This year has a good lineup of games, and there are some titles that I am looking forward to trying. Without further ado, here are some open-world games that you should look into in 2026.
6
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
I Am LEGO Batman
LEGO Batman: The Dark Knight Legacy is shaping up to be a worthy return to the Arkham-style gameplay, but on a much grander scale. I grew up admiring everything about the Dark Knight, and this is one open-world game I can already see myself spending hours on even after launch day.
The whole mythos of Batman is about solving crime and beating up bad guys to safeguard Gotham City, and this game has that and then some. As a fan of the character, I cannot wait to see the different outfits and cosmetic items inspired by various eras, comic books, and adaptations, like Matt Reeves’ The Batman and the Nolan trilogy.
The fact that this is a LEGO game makes it all the more exciting. It can easily appeal to players of all ages and is a good way to introduce younger fans to more obscure and less popular eras of the character. One of the things I like in open-world games is the freedom and creativity, and that is everything a LEGO game has in spades.
In a world this large in scale, early gameplay previews already showcased a few ways for Batman to get around the map. Hop in the Batmobile and drive around the streets, and grapple and glide through the air. Fans have been itching for a successor to the Arkham games, and it seems like TT Games is ready to scratch that itch.
Batman and LEGO may not jive in most things, but an open-world sandbox where you can be the Dark Knight and do whatever you want is something you shouldn’t miss.
5
Crimson Desert
Arguably the Biggest Open World Game of the Year
This is the one game that everyone has been hyped about, especially with the promise of a massive open-world sandbox. Pearl Abyss is ready to show the world what it has been working on, and the developers did not come to play. From fire-breathing dragons to a heroic tale of a young hero, Crimson Desert has the makings of a great game.
The developers made the world of Pywel feel so realistic that even the dynamic weather effects can affect gameplay. Other immersive mechanics include a wanted system, which is something Rockstar Games has experimented with in GTA and Red Dead Redemption. Your actions as Kliff will be remembered and serve as a reminder that committing crimes has just consequences.
The way you play will be the only driving factor in how your version of Kliff will be perceived by the townsfolk and could potentially affect how the townsfolk view the Greymanes.
From the recent gameplay trailers, there will be an extensive combat system, and playing this on a PlayStation 5 Pro is likely the way to go. Other than the fact that it looks like a masterpiece, there are no microtransactions in the game, which is a massive win in itself.
4
Subnautica 2
Into the Unknown Depths
If modern jungles like a metropolitan city or a medieval setting aren’t your cup of tea, you can try exploring a world covered in water. Subnautica 2 will be a much bigger and more expansive sandbox than the first game ever was. Unknown Worlds Entertainment will feature a much larger and mysterious world, new lore, customization features, and more.
The first game was a success because it gave players the feeling of being stranded on a new world. Think of how Mark Watney felt when he was stranded on Mars in The Martian. Being left alone to survive with your own devices and having your life in your hands will not be scary. However, in the sequel, you will get more resources but have much more water to cover.
Being an alien and exploring a world beyond your own has its fair share of challenges and excitement. Navigating an endless abyss with new tools that were unavailable in the first game will certainly make a difference, but doing so with friends is a nice twist. The option to play with friends could make surviving and exploring in Subnautica 2 much more bearable.
3
Forza Horizon 6
Get Ready To Tokyo Drift in Style
Fast cars in a big open playground in a new area are a potent mix offered in Forza Horizon 6. This franchise features many iconic racing games, but this upcoming entry is something to look forward to because it takes us to Japan. The fans have been begging Playground Games to go bold and be ambitious with the world map, and the developers have dialed it up to an eleven.
Nothing is more therapeutic than driving on the open road without any real destinations. I could spend hours driving in other racing games, particularly the previous entries in the franchise, without getting bored. Like most modern open-world games, expect Forza Horizon 6 to be far more realistic about detail and how the world works.
There will be a dynamic weather system, about 550 different cars, and the ability to continue your progress across Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation. You heard that right; you can play a tentpole Xbox game on a PlayStation 5 later this year. Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios have faith in this open-world adventure, and driving enthusiasts should buckle up.
2
The Blood of Dawnwalker
A Game Made by Open World Experts
While Crimson Desert has checked all the boxes for an exciting open-world adventure by featuring dragons, magic, and whatnot, Rebel Wolves has vampires in The Blood of Dawnwalker instead. You fill the shoes of Coen, a Dawnwalker, and his story will be yours in the most literal sense. Rebel Wolves aims to deliver an experience that players can tell is theirs and theirs alone.
The playstyle choices are endless, especially if you tap into the darkness and succumb to your nocturnal tendencies. There are different weapon choices, such as traditional swords that can be imbued with magical powers, or you can haunt your enemies by lurking around as a vampire.
Vale Sangora will be your playground in Blood of the Dawnwalker, and time is of the essence. Coen is a man on a mission to rescue his family, and whatever you do or don’t do will forever take hold. Fight as an honorable man and take the time to plan, or go all in as a blood-sucking vampire and be a rash fighter in this open-world experience.
1
GTA 6
The World Is Ready for this Open World Game
It wouldn’t be a list of highly anticipated open-world games of 2026 without GTA 6. The game may revolutionize the genre, and everyone and their grandmother is eager to see what Rockstar Games has been cooking up in the past few years.
Whenever people ask or mention open-world games, the GTA franchise has always been a shining example of what it should be. The cities often feel lively, and you can do pretty much anything you want. While we have no clue what we can do in this reimagined version of Vice City, previous entries have always gone above and beyond the standard.
There is no telling how big the state of Leonida will be, but I can already see various side quests in the sprawling map. Spending hours completing main quests and miscellaneous activities and helping out Strangers and Freaks in GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 could be a glimpse of what this open-world will be like.
The Grand Theft Auto franchise never misses, and Rockstar Games has no plans to start now. The only real drawback is the long wait and constant delays, but it is all for the best. Rockstar Games would rather sell a finished and polished product than risk compromising it to reach fan demand. Nevertheless, the previews have set the bar high for all of us.
Fans are counting the days to hop in a car and drive through the state of Lenora and participate in various side activities. Based on the trailer, there are more things to do than in the previous entry. With that said, it is high time for the developers to release a gameplay teaser to fan the flames of hype.
