5 Near-Perfect Open World Games You Should Play in 2026

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More than ten years after The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim popularized it, the open-world genre is still incredibly popular with gamers. Players love the freedom to explore a game world at their own pace, discovering quests, battling enemies, and finding great gear along the way.

By 2026, the number of fantastic open-world games has exploded, offering everything from traditional fantasy adventures to immersive trips to historical periods – all with endless hours of gameplay. While popular titles often get all the attention, many amazing games are hidden gems. Both long-time fans and newcomers to the genre will find something to love if they explore what’s new in open-world gaming.

Enshrouded Combines Fun Combat With A Strong Survival Experience

In Enshrouded, you’ll explore a world overtaken by a mysterious, destructive fog. As a Flameborn, your mission is to push back the fog and restore the land. This means fighting off dangerous enemies – from bandits and wild animals to creatures twisted by the fog’s corruption.

Enshrouded has quickly become a standout game in recent years. It launched in Early Access in 2024, and the developers at Keen Games have been consistently making it better ever since, adding new features and content. Although two years is a lengthy Early Access period, it’s difficult to criticize considering how excellent Enshrouded has become.

Beyond just adding new areas to discover and building options, the developers have also improved the combat system to make it more fun. Good combat is rare in survival games, and that’s what makes Enshrouded stand out for players who want a real challenge, not just a creative outlet. If the developers continue to refine the game, Enshrouded could become one of the most beloved fantasy games of the next few years.

Like A Dragon: Ishin Lets Players Experience Edo-Era Japan As The Shinsengumi

Okay, so when I think of the Like A Dragon games – or Yakuza as we used to call them – I usually picture Kamurocho, that crazy modern city. But did you know the team at RGG Studios and SEGA have made some games that aren’t set in the present day? The latest one is Like A Dragon: Ishin, and it’s seriously awesome. It’s basically an open-world samurai game made by the same people who brought us the Yakuza series – and trust me, it’s as cool as it sounds!

Like A Dragon: Ishin reimagines historical figures from the Bakumatsu period by casting familiar faces from the Yakuza series in those roles. For example, Ryoma Sakamoto bears a striking resemblance to Kazuma Kiryu, and the Shinsengumi are modeled after other characters from the Yakuza games. While this concept is a bit silly, the developers at RGG Studio handle it with enough care to create an immersive experience that feels like a twisted version of real history.

Ultimately, the biggest strength of the game is how fun it is to play. The sword and gun combat in Ishin feels fantastic, matching the quality of the hand-to-hand fighting in other games by the studio. Plus, the consistently well-written side quests and engaging mini-games make it incredibly addictive.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Is The Best Batman Game In A Decade

It’s surprising to think that TT Games has been making LEGO video games for over ten years, and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a great example of their work. The game keeps the funny, lighthearted style LEGO games are known for, and it’s also a fun tribute to Batman and everything related to the character.

Legacy of the Dark Knight is packed with memorable scenes from Batman’s movies and other appearances. Players don’t just control Batman, though – they can also play as several other heroes like Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl while navigating Gotham City. It’s a dream come true for Batman fans!

What’s most surprising about this game isn’t the characters or the many references it includes—it’s the combat. It plays almost exactly like the Arkham series. Add in the option to play with a friend in co-op, and you can truly feel like Batman and his partner taking on Gotham, making this the definitive Batman game.

Runescape: DragonWilds Is A Great RPG That Retains The Runescape Vibes

Jagex’s Runescape was incredibly popular in the early 2000s, but the game had faded from the spotlight in recent years. That all changed in 2025 when they unexpectedly released RuneScape: Dragonwilds. Despite being a surprise launch with no prior announcement, fans quickly returned and proved that Jagex could still deliver a fantastic gaming experience.

I’m really excited about Runescape: Dragonwilds! It takes place on this new continent called Ashenfall, and it’s basically overrun with dragons. The whole point is to survive, level up your skills, and get strong enough to figure out how to actually defeat these dragons and save the land. It sounds like a tough but awesome challenge!

Thankfully, players can also join forces with friends, making the game’s challenges a bit easier. RuneScape: DragonWilds offers everything open-world fantasy fans enjoy, including a large and stunning world, plus plenty of cool armor to find and collect.

Jagex has also enhanced the game with survival features, allowing players to construct homes and even castles as safe havens while they gear up for upcoming challenges. Despite being in Early Access, the game has already received significant updates, including new areas to explore and quests to complete.

Crimson Desert Will Demand All Of A Player’s Time

Ever since its initial reveal, Crimson Desert has been a hot topic of conversation. Before the game launched, many fans doubted Pearl Abyss’ promises, thinking the features they described were unrealistic. However, the developers proved them wrong, delivering a game that not only included everything they’d shown, but exceeded expectations.

Crimson Desert has sparked a lot of different opinions among gamers. While some consider it a top game of the year, or even of the current generation, others aren’t as impressed. It’s not hard to see why the game has gained a dedicated following, though. Pearl Abyss built a huge world with tons of side quests and dozens of bosses, offering players hundreds of hours of gameplay.

The game did have some problems when it first came out, but the developers have already fixed most of them. In just the past two months, they’ve resolved the biggest issues and even added extra content – like new pets and mounts – that players are really enjoying.

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2026-05-23 03:48