5 Best RPGs Of 2026 (So Far)

We've known from the start that 2026 is going to go down in history as an extremely important year for gaming. Some of the most anticipated games of the year have gamers vibrating with excitement, and that's not even touching on the upcoming, potentially industry-shaking release of "Grand Theft Auto 6."

There are still some major releases on this year's horizon, but now that we're more than halfway through 2026, we can safely say the year has delivered on its promise. Some of the best survival games of the year have had gamers staying up for days on end like actual wildlife survivalists. Our favorite sci-fi games this year have transcended time, space, and video game genres. The trend holds true for role-playing games as well. Countless studios are doing phenomenal work, and gamers are being inundated with more high-quality games than they can keep up with. The best RPGs of 2026 will probably eat up more time than you have to offer, but that's a sacrifice you'll have to make when the games are this good.

The "Dragon Quest" games loom large in the minds of JRPG fans all around the world, and "Dragon Quest VII" is particularly beloved. The game first came out and delighted fans back in 2000, and a remake previously came to the 3DS in 2016. Now it's back for a third time, and this outing is arguably the most impressive version.

"Dragon Quest VII" is as enthralling in 2026 as it was more than a quarter century ago. The story follows an episodic structure that breaks up the game's monstrously long plot into more manageable pieces. Square Enix has also included a slew of quality-of-life updates and modernizing touches that prevent the game from ever feeling like a slog, meaning you don't have to be a '90s JRPG veteran to enjoy "Dragon Quest VII."

The graphics in this new version of the game are really where the "Reimagined" aspect comes into play. Environments in "Dragon Quest VII" are rendered in a 3D, not-quite-isometric perspective that makes every scene feel like a living diorama. Square Enix even crafted dolls of the characters and scanned them to get the look and feel of the remake just right. Whether you're an old fan of "Dragon Quest VII" or a newcomer who's interested in an ideal JRPG experience, this reimagined RPG is a perfect choice for you.

One of the best things about playing an RPG is losing yourself in a world that feels real and a story that feels endless. "Crimson Desert" delivers on that aspect of the genre in a big way, offering players an absolutely massive open world to explore that's filled with enough content to eat up hundreds of hours of gameplay. Released in March by South Korean developer Pearl Abyss, "Crimson Desert" is an ambitious RPG that's likely going to be brought up in video game discussions for years.

"Crimson Desert" is set on the wartorn continent of Pywel, and players step into the shoes of a Greymane fighter named Kliff. When the Greymanes are attacked, and many of them are killed, Kliff finds himself seeking revenge and a way to reunite and strengthen the faction. Of course, Kliff's quest comes with plenty of diversions, and before long players will find themselves fighting, hunting, crafting, and exploring their way across every inch of Pywel.

 "Crimson Desert" takes a true kitchen sink approach and throws almost every mechanic you've ever loved from an RPG into its mix, for better or for worse. The game is an absolute blackhole of content that can easily eat up days of your life, but if you want to get utterly lost in an RPG in 2026, then it's a great choice.

The "Nioh" series has given us some of the best soulslike games of all time. "Nioh" and "Nioh 2" were gripping action games that inspired a dedicated fanbase, but "Nioh 3" sets a new, extremely high, bar for the franchise. The game takes place after the events of the original "Nioh" and follows Tokugawa Takechiyo fighting dangerous enemies and supernatural entities in order to become the new Shogun.

"Nioh 3" takes the core concept of the previous two games and blows it up to even more epic proportions. The game features a semi-open world for players to explore, rather than the relatively linear levels of its predecessors. It also massively expands on the series's signature combat mechanics. "Nioh" veterans can choose the Samurai class that uses the weapon stances, Ki, and stamina systems they'll be familiar with from previous games. The samurai combat in "Nioh 3" is as satisfying as anything the series has offered before, but the game also introduces a new Ninja class. Ninja characters specialize in aerial attacks and evasive maneuvers. In place of Ki, they have a Mist mechanic that allows them to manipulate the battlefield by creating enemy distractions, player-character clones, and windows for devastating dash attacks. 

"Nioh 3" has an exciting world to explore, even deeper gameplay than its predecessors, and a multiplayer system to keep players engaged well after their initial playthrough. It's easily one of the best RPGs of 2026 so far.

Fans of "The Witcher 3" might have found their new favorite game in 2026. "The Blood of the Dawnwalker" is an ambitious RPG from Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by "Wild Hunt" director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz. The game proudly wears its influences on its sleeve, but "Dawnwalker" is a very different beast than "The Witcher."

The game is set in the 14th century and follows a man named Coen. When evil vampires take over Coen's kingdom, they unsuccessfully try to turn him into one of their own. Coen instead becomes a hybrid Dawnwalker, able to live as a human by day and hunt as a vampire by night. Unfortunately, the vampires take Coen's family captive, and he only has 30 days to save them.

That strict timetable is the crux of the game's most interesting mechanic. Instead of following a linear narrative, "Dawnwalker" drops players into Coen's shoes and then presents them with a wildly open-ended experience. Completing quests and engaging with other activities passes time in-game, meaning that players can't necessarily see every part of "Dawnwalker" in a single playthrough. 

All of the fantastic combat, great writing, and enthralling exploration that fills up "Dawnwalker" is undergirded by a time-gated sense of desperation. The game forces players to really inhabit their narrative role and to feel the pressure that Coen is feeling. Because of that "Dawnwalker" isn't just one of the best RPGs of 2026 but also one of the most refreshing RPG experiences gamers have been offered in years.

"Esoteric Ebb" is a brand new RPG from indie developer Christoffer Bodegård, but the game shares some commonalities with two of the most popular RPGs in recent memory: "Baldur's Gate 3" and "Disco Elysium." The game is a single-player experience with an extreme emphasis on classic, tabletop-style role-playing mechanics. Players control a cleric whose capabilities are determined by six different attributes. By having inward conversations with Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Constitution, and Charisma, players can develop their abilities. Throughout the game, various skill checks will call for an on-screen roll of a 20-sided die, and those checks usually come with dramatic consequences.

Like in "Disco Elysium," players aren't alone on their quest. Their plucky cleric is accompanied by a goblin named Snell, and together, the two characters begin to explore a pocket dimension called the Esoteric Coast. Players meet an astounding cast of characters over the course of their journey, and they get to explore some of the fascinating environs of the Coast. The game makes excellent use of an isometric perspective to show off the game's gorgeous settings and character models. "Esoteric Ebb" is a meaty RPG for fans of games with deep stories and for anyone who has a soft spot for TTRPGs and well-worn fantasy tropes.