One day, a company will release a game that will let players go anywhere and do anything they want, and perhaps that will happen in VR, too. Imagine putting on a set of goggles, logging in, and being able to travel around the entirety of Paris in a day while doing something wild like riding a unicorn.
It is possible at some point, but for now, players need to keep expectations in check. These are some upcoming games set in open-world environments that give players a lot of choices in what they can do. They may not include everything, but they seem promising at the moment, and well worth wishlisting in the near future.
Crimson Desert
Pillars Of Eternity
- Planned Release Date: 3/19/26
- Planned Systems: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
Crimson Desert has been advertised for what feels like forever, but it’s finally coming out next March on most major platforms. It’s an action RPG set within the same universe as the previous MMO, Crimson Desert Online. Based on footage so far, it seems that traversal is a significant feature, as players can ride horses and dragons, steal horse-drawn carriages like in a Grand Theft Auto game, and climb various surfaces, such as castle walls and trees.
Besides the action combat, players can also fish, play their flute, arm wrestle, pet various animals, and who knows what else by the time the game launches. Players can even pick up objects like full pillars and use them like weapons, Yakuza-style, which looks truly wild.
Grand Theft Auto 6
The Biggest Game Of 2026, Probably
- Planned Release Date: 5/26/26
- Planned Systems: PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
Grand Theft Auto 6 is easily the most anticipated game right now, especially since Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched. It looks like it will be Rockstar’s finest achievement yet, with an already filled roster of activities beyond shooting and stealing cars.
Footage shown so far showcases dirt bike rallies, kayaking, mini-golf, scuba diving, pool, and so much more. Rockstar has barely begun to advertise this game yet, but fans know they can expect a mighty one come next May.
Ananta
GTA With Spider-Man
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: Mobile, PC, and PS5
Ananta is another GTA-style game that fans may want to keep a close eye on. Unlike Grand Theft Auto 6, Ananta will be free to play and offers anime fans something to get into based on the overall design. Players can unlock multiplayer characters and swap between them, doing their thing in the world, like Grand Theft Auto 5.
There are Spider-Man-like traversal abilities, including swinging around town, along with standard drivable vehicles from cars to motorcycles. Players can shoot enemies or engage in melee combat, sneak around using stealth and gadgets, and play various mini-games from slapping opponents to basketball.
Aniimo
The Wildest Pokemon Clone Yet
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: Mobile, PC, and Xbox Series X
Aniimo looks like it might be the next Palworld in terms of Pokemon clones, with a lot to do beyond monster catching. It will be another free-to-play game, which will offer players a more dynamic combat system.
Players can fight monsters with their character, use the monsters as weapons, or transform into monsters to perform various combos. The monsters showcased look like they will offer players many ways to get around, from gliding to rolling on a clam to surfing around the water. There seems to be some destructibility too, like burning grass and breaking boulders, and more ways to play will surely be showcased soon.
ArchAge Chronicles
Into The MMO Blue Yonder
- Developer: XLGames
- Publisher: Kakao Games
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X
ArchAge Chronicles looks like an upcoming action RPG in the style of an MMO with melee, ranged, and magical abilities. It will be open-world, as the best MMOs tend to be, and the one form of traversal shown so far will be on horseback.
Otherwise, there has been a lot teased in terms of other activities. Players can gather materials and craft through blacksmithing, farm, customize a house, and more. The basic premise finds players sailing to a new world wherein they are explorers for a trading company, which is a good enough setting for an open-world game brimming with activities.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
