Open-World game to start playing right now

2026 is an exciting year for gaming. There's plenty of new, exciting stuff on the horizon, and whether you're an indie fanatic or a triple-A loyalist, you're in for a treat this year and beyond. On the indie side, Paralives will have a chance to shake the life simulation genre to its core in May 2026. Grand Theft Auto 6if all goes according to plan, could come out later in November and mysteriously sicken many working players.

If you're looking for something new and fun to play right now, and you're a fan of open world games, there are several games that are perfect to jump into right now, mainly because of upcoming updates, content, remakes, or even sequels. There's a chance you might have missed some of these, as there are some older titles in the mix as well. Here's what to add to your backlog while you wait for the big new releases and updates.

The Forest & Sons of the Forest

Brace yourself for what horrors The Forest 3 is about to serve us

The forest 3 was unexpectedly announced at the 2026 Game Awards ceremony, showcasing a very, very different setting that mixes the franchise's trademark survival horror vibes with futuristic sci-fi themes. We acquire a laser gun and tangle with even wilder enemies in a new, harsh wilderness. It's a leap no one could have expected from the franchise, but an exciting one, which is why you should jump into the previous two games: The forest and Sons of the Forest. Both games begin with a crash landing situation, with the first game focused on finding your son, Timmy, who is being dragged away by a local, alien resident covered in paint.

Sons of the Forest is a bit different, as you are sent to search for a missing person on a remote island, which turns out to be full of rather strange, hostile locals. Survival is key as you collect resources and build your base, and maybe eventually follow the clues to finish the main story (it's harder than you think, given how brilliant the base-building mechanics are). There are very few games that manage to capture the best of both worlds when it comes to survival horror with a decent story and immersive survival crafting gameplay, making The forest and Sons of the Forest absolute must for everyone.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

The next-gen update and sequel make it a worthy visit

Year 2025, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 wowed open-world RPG fans with its attention to detail, immersive gameplay, and gorgeous visuals. It pushed the boundaries of what could be expected from an RPG, while also introducing its brand of tough sword fighting. Many consider it to be a borderline medieval Bohemia simulator, where Henry has to bathe regularly, and how realistic and dynamic the world feels, and it has inspired many to revisit or jump into the first game for the first time.

There is good news on that front as well: Kingdom Come: Deliverance recently received a next-gen update, allowing you to enjoy the original game's goodness at 60 FPS on consoles. If you've ever been even slightly curious about the game, or maybe you're still on the fence about getting the sequel, now would be the perfect time to pick up the original to experience Henry's story all over again.

Gothic 1 & 2

There is some good news for fans of this Retro RPG series

If you've been an RPG enthusiast for years, chances are you've come across Gothic game sometime. The first and second both made their name by introducing harsher-than-usual worlds, where players weren't handed the role of the chosen one or treated as special heroes from the start. Instead, you must prove your worth to faction leaders or face the ridicule of NPCs. In true retro style, the games can feel nasty and punishing today, with fights against simple enemies leading to near-instant death and no fast travel or quest markers to speak of.

If this sounds like an exciting challenge and you've never tried these games, now is the perfect time to play the original and the sequel, because on June 5, 2026, Alkimia Interactive will release a Gothic remake. There's already a free demo available on Steam for those curious, and while fans have shown some concern about how close the remake will be to the original experience, there's plenty of hope and time left for it to deliver something truly special. Until then, give these challenging RPGs a try if you're tired of holding your hand in modern games.

Outwards

The sequel is coming and it looks juicy

Still in the realm of challenging RPGs we have Outwardsthe definitive edition. This game has gotten a lot of love in open world RPG circles, especially among players who are looking for a slightly tougher experience and want some survival game elements mixed in. That's exactly what Outwards delivers: a tough, gritty fantasy world where you start with nothing, and you're nothing until you prove otherwise. There's also no fast travel, so good luck getting around without getting murdered by enemies if you don't plan your route properly.

However, now is the best time to start your journey in Aurai, because around the third quarter of 2026, Outward 2 expected to release. Visually and gameplay wise, the game gets a big refresh with brand new challenges and a story to jump into alone or with friends (just like in the first game). The sequel promises a tough survival experience, so if you want to practice a little with your besties before jumping into it, Q3 I highly recommend you familiarize yourself with Outwards system now.

Subnautica

With the sequel delayed, you still have time to explore the first game

KRAFTON was in some hot water late in 2025 with Subnautica 2's Early Access delayed to sometime in 2026. Considering what the sequel has to live up to, that's understandable. Subnautica became a huge phenomenon upon its release, due to its underwater twist on the open-world survival craft genre. It places players on an ocean planet after they crash-land on a ship, and the goal is then to survive, thrive, and eventually get off the planet.

The underwater world is beautiful and full of resources and wildlife to help you on your journey of creating ever better technology and tools, even your own underwater base, but danger also lurks beneath the waves. Don't be fooled by the game's vibrant colors; it's still a survival horror experience at its core, and you have to dive very, very deep to get to the bottom of the planet's secrets. Given how easy it is to sink hours into this game, now is the perfect time to start if you're eager to try out the sequel in Early Access, if and when it releases this year.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Mystery DLC is on the way before The Witcher 4

CD Projekt RED's open world RPG masterpiece The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a game that looks stunningly beautiful even years after its release. With so much love The Witcher franchise has received in recent years (regardless of the fiasco the Netflix series was, you have to admit that the attention was welcome), it is a perfect moment to both enter Andrzej Sapkowski's books that originally created the universe, and then the games. However, the most important thing is the third game.

There's a lot going on too The Witcher game series: a mysterious DLC is rumored to be released sometime later this spring, possibly around May 2026. It's very rare for a game this old to get DLC so many years later, but speculation is high and hype is through the roof as people believe this could be something that will help bridge the gap between Wild Hunt and The Witcher 4. As for the latter, we've seen some gameplay and a trailer showcasing Ciri as the protagonist. This is an exciting twist for the games that have so far featured Geralt as the main character, so you'll definitely want to catch up on his and Ciri's story well in advance of diving into her or even this rumored DLC. The earlier you start, the better, because Wild Hunt is a huge game, packed with side quests and activities. And let's be honest, you will get rid of Gwent.