We've all felt that exciting tingle in our bellies at least once with a new game, stepping into a brand-new world that you know nothing about, entirely open for you to explore. The possibilities, the dangers, the secrets, the surprises... Nothing beats that thrill, and it's hard to find games that deliver that feeling so completely. 2026 is looking quite juicy so far in terms of new releases, but on the exploration side in particular, there's a ton of variety to look forward to.
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If you're an aspiring adventurer looking for a new world to step into, we've gathered a few interesting 2026 releases that promise a ton of fun exploration. There are cozy life sims and crafting games to play with friends, grueling survival titles that will push you to your limits, and even a little bit of horror thrown into the mix. While exploration is not their only selling point, it plays a major role. Put on your backpack, and let's get going.
The Ranchers
If You Get Tired Of Farming, There's A Whole World To Explore
The Ranchers is among the next exciting games to come out this year for fans of the farming sim genre. Loved Stardew Valley, but you want to break out of the 2D formula? This could be something to watch out for, and not just because you can build your own massive farm with automation and all that, but because it reportedly comes with a large open-world environment to explore.
If you ever get tired of managing your crops and your animals and want to break away from a routine, you can set out to go mining. However, be warned, because the world also comes with its own dangers lurking in the darkness of those tunnels. You'd better walk in prepared. On top of the exploration and farming features, you can also customize your house and get to know some of the local NPCs that can even be romanced. Q2 of 2026 can't come soon enough.
Solarpunk
Explore The Sky And Its Many Islands
Solarpunk promises to deliver something a little different in the way of exploration, ideal for anyone who's tired of generic on-the-ground adventuring. The game's world is a collection of floating sky islands, and you can hop between them using your airship. The main goal of the game is to start a base on one of these islands, to grow crops, tend to animals, and create elaborate automated systems using solar power to your advantage.
However, in order to get all the stuff you need, you'll have to visit islands with unique resources and fly further and further to find them. That means plenty of exploration in this vibrant world. Personally, I can't wait to get my hands on this cozy-looking game, and I really like how unique the systems and aesthetics are for an open-world survival craft. There's no exact release date just yet, but it's set to come out sometime in 2026.
Outbound
Travel The World In A Van
Vibe-wise, Outbound gives off the same energy as Solarpunk, but on the ground. You get yourself a cute, retro travel van that you can drive around the game world, exploring different locations to gather resources and find the perfect spot for a mobile home. Like with Solarpunk, you're going to have to tinker around to power your new base, and upgrade your tech as you progress through the game—all classic open-world survival craft goodness in a visually colorful package.
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We still don't know too much about the world of Outbound, but we do know that it comes with several different biomes and reportedly a few cool secrets for you to discover, too. I can totally see myself jumping into this one with a bunch of friends thanks to the 4-player co-op it plans to ship with, and if you do, too, keep your eyes peeled for Q2 of 2026.
Permafrost
A Cold, Harsh Apocalyptic Snow Wasteland
If the last three games looked way too colorful and happy for you, don't worry, I have the perfect upcoming exploration-heavy game to suggest. Permafrost is another major upcoming open-world survival craft game, but instead of sky islands and cozy wilderness, you're dropped into a harsh post-apocalyptic perma-winter following the shattering of the moon. You'll have to grapple with the harsh sub-zero temperatures, hunt for wildlife in order to keep your belly full, and venture out into abandoned cities to pick them apart for loot and supplies to level up your game.
The world looks intriguing, like straight out of a Metro game or STALKER, and anyone who likes their survival games with a drop of challenge and a hefty serving of risk-and-reward exploration will probably fall in love with this game. It also appears there's a bit of a story, too, with a search for a lost friend as one of your quests, along with survival and building a safehouse. The game is supposed to release on Early Access sometime in 2026, so keep an eye out.
Subliminal
Explore These All Too Real Liminal Spaces To Remember
If Permafrost still wasn't dark enough for you, how about a horror game that takes you into highly realistic liminal spaces straight out of the Backrooms? From what we've seen so far from Subliminal, it's delightfully realistic and awfully surreal, with absolutely terrifying moments that will get your heart pumping. While this isn't an open-world game, each level can be played in a non-linear way as you solve puzzles and use light to your advantage to progress forward from one twisted memory to another.
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Slowly, a sense of dread and unease creeps up on you, and you feel hunted. Something is coming after you in the colorful, retro play place you're moving through, and it's up to you to find a way to escape. It looks to be a mind-bending horror game with tons of exploration, and if you've ever been fascinated by the concept of the Backrooms and creepy liminal spaces, give this one a shot when it releases sometime around March 2026. I won't be responsible for any nightmares.
Subnautica 2
Return Of The Greatest Underwater Exploration Game
Subnautica fans are understandably a little nervous about the future of their beloved franchise, but let's try to stay hopeful here and cross our fingers and toes that KRAFTON delivers something worthy of the first game. The premise doesn't quite appear to be the same this time around, with the protagonist arriving in this new ocean world on a specific mission. Once again, you'll dive into the colorful depths to gather resources in order to build up your arsenal of gear and tools and perform upgrades that allow you to dive ever deeper.
We can probably expect to see the return of some of the game's iconic, terrifying creatures, and that sense of dread you first felt when you dropped into deeper waters and heard a distant roar. Few games have nailed underwater exploration as hard as the Subnautica games, so if you're up for an adventure, this time with friends in co-op, this is one to watch out for. There's a lot of expectations and pressure riding on Subnautica 2's shoulders, given how well the previous games performed and how much fun exploring the alien ocean was, and it's likely we'll have to wait for some time before we see it drop into Early Access sometime in 2026.
Outward 2
Return To Aurai's Punishing Survival RPG World
One of the most exciting games that promises a ton of exploration for this coming year is Outward 2. Those familiar with the first game will know what to expect: a highly challenging and punishing fantasy RPG set in an open world known as Aurai. You'll start as no one, and will have to plan everything carefully if you want to avoid dying. It's not just the monsters stalking the wilds and the dungeons of Outward 2 you'll have to worry about, but your fatigue as well, your hunger, and your hydration.
The first game masterfully blended a fantasy RPG together with open-world survival gameplay and has managed to gather a dedicated fanbase. It remains to be seen whether Outward 2 can surpass the first game and deliver yet another unforgettable exploration experience, all without the use of a fast travel mechanic or a mount. That's right, get ready to walk a lot, dive into demanding dungeons, and slowly build up your character from a complete pushover to someone hardened by experience. Outward 2 has an estimated release in Q3 of 2026.
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