RPG Site’s Most Anticipated RPGs of 2026

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It’s always exciting to start a new year of gaming, even though we can never fully predict what’s coming. Each year brings both disappointments and fantastic surprises, with great games often appearing from studios we don’t expect. Still, we’re looking forward to the future and eager to share some of the RPGs we’re most excited about playing in the coming months. Here are RPG Site’s picks for the Most Anticipated RPGs of 2026.

The RPG Site team has compiled a list of 10 upcoming RPGs we’re excited about. We chose these games because they either show a lot of promise, come from developers with a strong track record, or have interesting stories behind their creation and release.

Note that the list is unranked, with the exception of our overall winner.

Want to know about upcoming RPGs scheduled for 2026? You can find a complete list here.

RPG Site Staff Picks – Most Anticipated 2026 RPGs

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

The art style known as “HD-2D” first appeared in the 2018 RPG Octopath Traveler, and fans immediately began suggesting which older games would look great with it, like classic Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy VI. We’ve since seen HD-2D remakes of Dragon Quest, Live a Live, and the strategy RPG Triangle Strategy. However, all of those games still used turn-based combat. Fans have been hoping for an HD-2D action RPG, something more like Zelda or Ys than traditional Final Fantasy. Next year, Square Enix’s new game, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales – even the title sounds like a Zelda game – aims to fill that niche.

It’s worth noting that The Adventures of Elliot is being developed by Claytechworks, the team behind the solid, though safe, Bravely Default II. This game marks the start of a brand new series for Square Enix, and they seem to have high expectations for it. A demo released last summer showed a promising blend of classic adventure game elements with unique weapon choices and interesting interactions between the main character, Elliot, and his fairy companion, Faie. We’re looking forward to seeing how The Millennium Tales manages to feel both familiar and nostalgic, drawing inspiration from beloved games, while also forging its own distinct identity.

Phantom Blade Zero

Most ‘most anticipated’ game lists feature titles we already know – either new installments in popular series or fresh takes on familiar franchises. Occasionally, a list will highlight a promising new game from a developer with a good track record. But sometimes, a game truly stands out as something completely original, making you wonder what it’s all about. That’s exactly how we feel about Phantom Blade Zero, an action RPG developed by S-Game in Beijing.

Phantom Blade Zero was first shown to the public at a PlayStation event in 2023. It aims to combine the challenging gameplay of Soulslike games with the fast action and stylish combat of games like Devil May Cry. Inspired by Wuxia and kung-fu movies, the game has already impressed us with its quick battles and unique environments. We’ll find out just how good it is when it launches in September.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection

The original Monster Hunter Stories was a visually impressive 3DS game that successfully combined elements from the core Monster Hunter series with classic turn-based battles and monster collecting. While it showed a lot of promise, the sequel improved upon its weaknesses, feeling like Capcom fully realized the game’s potential.

In Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Capcom is trying something new, aiming for a more immersive experience than previous games in the series. It appears to be more complex and expansive, and we’re particularly excited about its shift towards a strategic RPG style, made possible by more powerful gaming technology.

Clockwork Revolution

InXile Entertainment, known for games like the well-received Wasteland 3 and led by industry veteran Brian Fargo, is working on Clockwork Revolution, which looks to be their most ambitious project yet. While InXile often funded their RPGs through crowdfunding, this is their first game being developed as part of the Microsoft family. A recent trailer showed off a promising world and a lot of potential, and it will be exciting to see what the team can accomplish with Microsoft’s full backing.

Clockwork Revolution aims to offer a unique experience with a story and visuals that respond to your choices, innovative combat mechanics, and robust RPG elements. While we’d love to see it released in 2026, that date isn’t confirmed, so its inclusion here is based on our hopes. Announced back in 2023, we’re eager to learn more and expect a release as soon as possible.

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

When the remake of Trails in the Sky FC was unexpectedly revealed during a Nintendo Direct in 2024, fans had a lot of questions. A remake had been discussed for years, but many wondered what it would actually be like. Would the new English voice acting be good? How closely would it follow the original story? And could a move to full 3D graphics capture the same atmosphere? After its worldwide release last September – a first for the series – most of those concerns were quickly answered. The remake proved to be a fantastic experience for both newcomers and longtime fans.

The first Trails game ended on a major cliffhanger, so fans have been eagerly awaiting Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. Now that concerns about changes to the remake have been addressed, we can confidently look forward to a faithful remake of a beloved game in 2026.

Fate/Extra Record

Fate/Extra Record was first announced over five years ago, in July 2020. Though it began as a remake of a game originally for the PSP, excitement around the project has steadily increased. In the time since, Western fans of Type-Moon have enjoyed official English versions of several popular titles, including Witch on the Holy Night, Tsukihime -a piece of blue glass moon, Fate/stay night, and the action game Fate/Samurai Remnant. This year has been particularly exciting, with the long-awaited English release of Fate/hollow ataraxia and even a collaboration between Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works* and the game Honkai: Star Rail.

Kazuya Niinou has led the development of Fate/Extra Record for nearly ten years. He’s a versatile director with experience on games like the original Etrian Odyssey, Dragon Quest Builders 2, and the Japanese title 7th Dragon 2020. As the Fate/Extra franchise gains more fans worldwide, the potential for this new RPG to make a significant impact continues to grow, and anticipation builds as we await its release.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Longtime fans of Capcom have been waiting a long time for this! After almost 20 years since the last installment on the PlayStation 2, a new Onimusha game, titled Onimusha: Way of the Sword, is finally on its way. It’s a completely new title and will hopefully satisfy those who’ve been eagerly anticipating a return to the series.

Like other games in the series, this new Onimusha focuses on samurai battling demons, and draws inspiration from famous films. The main character is Miyamoto Musashi, a renowned swordsman, and as with past Onimusha heroes, he’s designed to resemble a real actor – this time, the iconic Japanese star Toshiro Mifune.

Thankfully, Onimusha: Way of the Sword seems to be staying true to its roots, focusing on the classic blend of sword fighting and soul-collecting that fans remember. Musashi will battle demons and use his special gauntlet to absorb their souls, just like in previous games. It will be interesting to see if this approach successfully revives the old-school action RPG style when the game releases next year.

Nioh 3

Nioh 2 was a big hit when it launched in 2020, a clear step up from the first game and earning a spot among our top five games that year. Since then, the challenging ‘Souls-like’ genre has become much more popular, with fantastic games like Lies of P and Elden Ring. While recent similar games like Rise of the Ronin and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty haven’t quite reached the same heights, we’re hoping Nioh 3 will bring Team Ninja back to the level of success they achieved with Nioh 2, especially now that there are so many great options in this genre.

Nioh 3 isn’t simply a cautious continuation of previous games. While Nioh 2 built upon the original with improvements, Nioh 3 is aiming for something truly new. Team Ninja is shaking things up by altering how each Samurai and Ninja combat style plays, and by allowing for more freedom of movement in battles. They want Nioh 3 to be a fresh experience, not just a repeat of what’s worked before. It won’t be long before we find out if these changes are successful.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

Can you believe it’s been three years since Fire Emblem Engage and six since Three Houses? As a huge fan, I’ve been really hoping for a new, full-scale Fire Emblem game, and it sounds like we won’t have to wait much longer! From what I’ve heard, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is going to be the first RPG made specifically for the Switch 2, and it’s coming out next year – I’m so excited!

We’ve gotten a brief look at Fortune’s Weave, which follows a young fighter named Cai as they compete in The Heroic Games. We’ve also met important characters like Theodora, Dietrich, and Leda, who could be romantic interests or play major roles in the story. Fans have been analyzing the short gameplay footage, and the hinted connection to Three Houses has everyone wondering about the game’s world and what secrets it holds. Fortune’s Weave looks promising and could be one of the best RPGs released this year.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (Winner)

The Dragon Quest series is a favorite among RPG fans worldwide, and here at RPG Site, we’re big fans too. Dragon Quest VII stands out as a particularly special game, offering a lengthy adventure that unfolds through many smaller, self-contained stories. Following the recent success of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, we’re excited for another remake coming soon: Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. This version is changing things up from the original, with a faster-paced story and additional episodes focusing on individual characters. Its unique doll-like visual style makes it look incredibly appealing.

It’s natural to feel uncertain when a favorite game gets remade. Players often worry about changes to the gameplay speed, whether key story parts will be cut or made optional, how new content will fit with the original story, and how the combat system will be updated. Despite these concerns, ‘Reimagined’ looks incredibly promising, and we’re eager to play it. RPG Site has named ‘Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’ the most anticipated RPG of 2026.

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2025-12-20 21:28