Biggest Upcoming Open-World Games Of January 2026
Open-world games are inescapable, and January 2026 will get things going quickly in the new year. While the biggest projects are scheduled for February and March, January’s upcoming open-world game releases are exciting on paper, and they could prove to be among 2026’s earliest success stories. The genre’s underappreciated variety will also be on full display, as the month’s standout games are all widely different from each other. We have new open-world RPGs, co-op survival, anime, and even a Soulslike; basically, if you are looking to jump into a fresh world as soon as possible in the coming year, you should have options.
As oversaturated as the concept has become, the open-world genre is still arguably the most popular in gaming, and a new arrival seems to always be met with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism. While its representatives tend to be among the biggest drops of any given month, the sheer volume of releases makes it near-impossible to keep track of everything, and you could easily miss out on something that suits your needs perfectly. Therefore, in celebration of the new year, let’s highlight January 2026’s biggest new open-world games.
“Open-world” is a bit flexible as a term, but we are going to try and be strict with the definition. For example, Nova Roma could be seen as open-world, but city-builders are their own genre. Also, from what I can confirm, Pathologic 3 will not be open-world.
StarRupture
January 2026’s Big Co-Op Survival Open-World Game (Early Access)
Personally, I tend to approach early access games with trepidation, as their quality fluctuates so much that predicting which ones will be worthwhile can be very difficult. That said, I’m going to allow myself to give in to optimism and just accept that StarRupture looks phenomenal. Although relatively common nowadays, survival open-world games tend to attract a lot of attention, discourse, love, and criticism, so Creepy Jar’s upcoming release will almost certainly be the talk of the internet for a period.
2026 Video Game Release Date Calendar
Video game release dates for 2026 are still mostly a mystery, but we’ll keep this page up to date with new information on the biggest titles.
Like most entries in the genre, StarRupture tasks you with surviving and thriving in an unwelcoming world, challenging you to explore the unknown, collect resources, build industrial complexes, and withstand the threat of wildlife. More importantly, you will be able to do all this with a few friends, making StarRupture the first big co-op game of 2026.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin
January 2026’s Big Anime Open-World Action RPG
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin should launch on January 28, 2026; however, the game’s Steam and PS5 pages do not list release dates. The game is also reportedly free-to-play, but the PS5 version costs $9.99. That price might be for the pre-order bonus.
Games based on anime are a dime-a-dozen and each month seems to produce a couple of examples; however, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is unique for a couple of reasons. Firstly, The Seven Deadly Sins has not received a new major game since 2020, and none of its previous efforts were as ambitious as Origin seems to be. Secondly, anime games are common, but open-world anime games are rare, particularly ones that look as gorgeous as this.
Lastly, The Seven Deadly Sins‘ Britannia might just be the perfect fit for this type of RPG, as the world has a traditional fantasy storybook element that could attract people who are not particularly familiar with the source material. The game will also tell a new story revolving around a Prince, although he will get to team up with the eponymous heroes. Besides completing the main quest, which is single-player, Origin will also have a co-op mode.
Cairn
January 2026’s Biggest Solo Open-World Adventure
From the team behind Furi and Haven, Cairn seems set to be the ultimate mountain-climbing game. Mount Kami’s summit calls your name, so you set out on a perilous quest to overcome an obstacle that has stumped all contenders so far. Along the journey, you will get to see some gorgeous vistas of the surrounding landscape; however, Cairn is not for the faint of heart. Like Furi, the upcoming game will offer a substantial challenge, and climbers need to be prepared for a battle of survival rather than just one of endurance or entertainment.
Open‑World Games That Reward Solo Survival
Teaming up might make these open-world games easier, but playing alone can be even more satisfying.
Identified as a sim, Cairn should prioritize realism above everything, at least when it comes to the actual climbing. While you have a specific target, you will likely be free to explore the area, and you will have to plan your routes carefully to give yourself the best chance of making it out in one piece.
Code Vein II
January 2026’s Big Soulslike Open-World Game
Due to coming out roughly a week before Nioh 3, Code Vein 2 has been somewhat overshadowed so far, especially since its predecessor has a decidedly mixed reputation. I have to say, I enjoyed Bandai Namco’s first game quite a bit, and it was nice to have a proper “anime” Soulslike. That said, Code Vein definitely had room for improvement, and the sequel seems primed and ready to actualize that potential. Although not clear how massive the setting will be, Code Vein 2 will apparently incorporate an open-world rather than zones, a development perhaps inspired by Elden Ring.
As a Revenant Hunter, you and your partners embark on a time-traveling mission that involves taking down intimidating bosses of all shapes and sizes. The combat appears to be fast-paced and intense, all the while offering more customization than the first game. While I would recommend waiting for early impressions before dropping cash, I suggest keeping Code Vein 2 on your radar, at least if you enjoy Soulslikes.
Vampires: Bloodlord Rising
January 2026’s Vampire Open-World Game (Early Access)
Another game set to enter early access in January 2026, Vampires: Bloodlord Rising casts you as a recently turned vamp who is trying to make his way in the world. Therefore, time to build a castle, collect followers, explore and expand your kingdom, and maybe take out a few monsters along the way.
Vampires: Bloodlord Rising sounds incredibly ambitious on paper, and the promise of co-op, base-building, diverse biomes, and unique skills should draw a few eyes when it eventually enters early access. That said, it is best to wait until it launches, just to know the state of the early access version. I’m not saying it will be bad, but it will naturally be a work in progress.
All Big Upcoming PS5 Games
From JRPGs to platform, racing, and open-world titles, here are all the big new PS5 games releasing in 2026 and later.