When executed well, nothing beats a fantasy RPG. Be it open-world projects set in dark medieval hellscape or turn-based JRPGs with vibrant environments and quirky characters, these games are the ultimate escape from reality, and they tend to provide enough content to keep players engaged for a very long time. 2026 should be great for this genre, and the release calendar is expected to continue picking up steam as the year progresses.
From March to June, every month has at least one massive fantasy RPG, and that doesn't even take into account those games targeting a 2026 debut but have yet to commit to a release date. Let's look ahead at the immediate future to get excited about a few fantastical realms we will be visiting very, very soon. I really cannot wait.
Crimson Desert has been left out since Pearl Abyss specifically describes it as an "open-world action-adventure game." Don't get me wrong, the game looks incredible and might be the biggest game of March 2026, but I'm not 100% sure it will be an RPG.
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Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
The Biggest 2026 Turn-Based JRPG Coming Out Soon
Monster Hunter Stories has been on the precipice of mainstream popularity for a while, but Capcom's spin-off series tends to just bubble under that level by mostly reaching die-hard fans of the franchise. The first two games are fantastic turn-based monster collectors, and the third entry seems set to be the most ambitious so far. Firstly, Monster Hunter Stories 3 might be one of the prettiest 2026 RPGs, with a clean anime art style and elite character/monster designs. Unlike its predecessors, the upcoming game is current-gen only, and Capcom seems to have made full use of this newfound freedom.
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Besides stunning visuals, Twisted Reflection should have much more expansive areas, lending itself to exploration and discovery, and fully animated cooking scenes, which are important. The protagonist also marks a shift for the series, as they will be voiced and seem to have an actual personality rather than just serving as stand-ins for players. However, you will still be able to put your stamp on Prince Ecks by customizing them, and you can go wild. Finally, and most importantly, MHS3's story appears to be a significant step-up, focusing on two kingdoms that are on the verge of war and an impending threat that could spell the end of everything.
Solasta 2
A Highly-Anticipated Strategy RPG Enters Early Access
Strategy RPGs have forever been a staple part of the PC gaming scene, but Baldur's Gate 3 pushed the genre into the public consciousness, attracting attention from subsets who might not typically gravitate toward these types of releases. Naturally, Solasta is a completely different beast, but the upcoming sequel could serve as a suitable alternative to Larian's masterpiece. The first game, Solasta: Crown of the Magister, was pretty darn good and set the foundation for a superior follow-up that, hopefully, fine-tunes a few of the mechanics and balance issues.
Solasta 2 will enter Steam early access on March 12, 2026, setting it on a path to eventually reach its full potential. This version will launch with quite a few classes and subclasses, although everything is subject to change since the game is still a work in progress. Sticking close to its tabletop roots, Solasta 2 lets you put together a party of four as you travel across Neokos, and players can expect challenging and deep combat that gives them quite a bit of freedom.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin
A Gorgeous Fantasy Action RPG That Is Free Of Charge
Thanks to releases like Genshin Impact and Where Winds Meet, the term "free RPG" nowadays holds a bit of weight and is no longer instantly met with derision. While it remains to be seen whether it comes close to reaching those heights, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin certainly looks the part, with Netmarble's game bringing to life the manga's world in style. From impressive cities to beautiful forests, endless seas, and dark dungeons, Britannia could very well be the perfect setting for an open-world fantasy RPG, at least going by the footage we have seen so far.
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Rather than just adapting the source material, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin has an original story, casting players as Prince Tristan and telling a tale that involves time manipulation. That said, you will get to build a team featuring popular characters from the anime, so you should be able to play as a wide spectrum of heroes.
Honestly, the previews of the game that I have seen suggest we might be in store for a mixed bag. An RPG that shines in its combat flexibility and diverse world, but somewhat struggles in its storytelling and environmental detail. We will have to play Origin ourselves to know if the positives outweigh the negatives.
The Relic: First Guardian
A Dark Fantasy Action RPG With More Than 70 Bosses
- Developer(s)
- Project Cloud Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Fantasy, Soulslike
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Who doesn't love a dark fantasy epic that takes some inspiration from Dark Souls? OK, quite a few people seem to be tired of these types of releases, and the word "Soulslike" has become overused. Still, many of these projects manage to deliver on most of their promise, even if they might have issues that stop them from being all-time greats. The Relic: First Guardian has been building momentum for a while, and everything we have seen so far paints a picture of an ambitious action RPG that takes its share of chances rather than just sticking to the status quo.
Although it seems to have some Soulslike influence, the combat brings its own twist to the formula, particularly the decision to tie stamina solely to defensive actions. In fact, the game seems to really emphasize aggressive play, as attacks consume no stamina and skills are on a cooldown rather than requiring resources. Progression takes the form of Relics that provide passive effects, so players need to decide which items to equip when customizing their Guardian. Another cool feature is that each weapon and armor piece is unique, meaning only one of them exists in the world. Honestly, that sounds like a refreshing change of pace from something like Nioh 3 (which I love, mind you).
Gothic 1 Remake
Finally, It Is Coming! The Gothic Remake Has A Release Date
THQ Nordic's remake of Piranha Bytes' seminal 2001 RPG has been in development for quite a long time, with rumors of its existence dating back to 2019 and 2020. As years passed without a release date, fears started to arise that maybe the project is not going well; however, we now know that Gothic 1 Remake will launch on June 5, 2026, and it will hopefully live up to its ancestor's legacy.
The original game was heralded for its realism and immersion, with NPCs having proper schedules that made them seem like actual people rather than just quest givers. Gothic's faction system also gave weight to choices, helping to make the world feel truly reactive. Progression was also handled fantastically and made players work for their growth, all the while avoiding hand-holding.
The remake has a lot to live up to, but Alkimia Interactive seems to be prioritizing the right areas, such as character routines and AI quality, while also sticking true to many of the original's mechanics.
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