These upcoming open-world games are packed with a ton of activities and gameplay features for players to enjoy.
One day, a company will release a game that will let players go anywhere and do anything they want, and perhaps that will happen in VR, too. Imagine putting on a set of goggles, logging in, and being able to travel around the entirety of Paris in a day while doing something wild like riding a unicorn.
It is possible at some point, but for now, players need to keep expectations in check. These are some upcoming games set in open-world environments that give players a lot of choices in what they can do. They may not include everything, but they seem promising at the moment, and well worth wishlisting in the near future.
Crimson Desert
Planned Release Date: 3/19/26
Planned Systems: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
Crimson Desert has been advertised for what feels like forever, but it’s finally coming out next March on most major platforms. It’s an action RPG set within the same universe as the previous MMO, Crimson Desert Online. Based on footage so far, it seems that traversal is a significant feature, as players can ride horses and dragons, steal horse-drawn carriages like in a Grand Theft Auto game, and climb various surfaces, such as castle walls and trees.
Besides the action combat, players can also fish, play their flute, arm wrestle, pet various animals, and who knows what else by the time the game launches. Players can even pick up objects like full pillars and use them like weapons, Yakuza-style, which looks truly wild.
Grand Theft Auto 6
Planned Release Date: 5/26/26
Planned Systems: PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
Grand Theft Auto 6 is easily the most anticipated game right now, especially since Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched. It looks like it will be Rockstar’s finest achievement yet, with an already filled roster of activities beyond shooting and stealing cars.
