2027 arrives in a couple of months, and plenty of games have already confirmed their plans. With its 30th anniversary coming up, Fallout should have a big year, and Bethesda has gotten the ball rolling by revealing one major release for the post-apocalyptic series. That might not be the end of things, but any other Fallout project needs to compete with a plethora of big open-world RPGs that have already staked their claim for 2027.
With the impending arrival of huge names like GTA 6, I completely understand that some folks might see no point in looking ahead to next year. Still, it is fun to see what the future might have in store for us, especially as the 2027 calendar takes shape. What game will we be playing in 6 months? 9 months? A year?
I will only mention games/releases confirmed for 2027, even if they haven’t announced specific release dates. No upcoming open-world RPGs that have yet to commit to a year.
Fallout 76’s Raven Rock Acts As A Prequel To Fallout 3
A Free Expansion To Celebrate Fallout’s Legacy
Bethesda plans to make the most of Fallout‘s 30th anniversary. Remasters of Fallout 3 and New Vegas are in the works, although 2027 releases haven’t been confirmed yet. Fallout 5 is also in pre-production, but that’s still a long way off from release. Bethesda will also stage a live Fallout Day Celebration in October 2027 in Washington, D.C., although we don’t know much more than that for now.
So far, we do know one major 2027 release: Fallout 76‘s “Raven Rock” free content expansion. The MMORPG releases significant content updates every few months for free, although they vary in scale and significance. “Raven Rock” should add a brand-new map territory, along with telling a prequel story that ties into Fallout 3. Bethesda hasn’t revealed what that might look like, but the expansion should serve as a nostalgia bridge to one of the series’ most beloved entries.
Fable Starts The Year Off With The Ultimate RPG Playground
The Most Highly Anticipated Western Open-World RPG Of 2027 (So Far)
Playground Games steps away from Forza Horizon to revive a beloved but mistreated RPG franchise. Xbox gamers (and, honestly, everyone) have been waiting for a new Fable for more than a decade, and it started to seem like a pipe dream; fortunately, sometimes dreams turn into reality, and a new entry is scheduled for early 2027.
Drenched in British humor and set in the most beautiful and expansive version of Albion to date, Playground’s Fable looks absurdly good, although some skepticism exists due to the developer’s lack of familiarity with non-racing games. Still, Playground knows how to put together an awesome sandbox, and Albion could be its masterpiece. Based on what we know, the game will prioritize reactivity over stuff like checklists and bandit camps, while still incorporating classic Fable elements like reputation, real estate, and physical changes for the protagonist.
Sagas of Lumin Lets You Fly Dragons In February 2027
Ready To Meet Your New Best Friend?
- Coming to PC
- Official release date: February 5, 2027
- Semi-open world.
Fable casts a shadow over February’s entire lineup, but Playground’s epic isn’t the month’s only open-world RPG overflowing with potential. While not its only selling point, Sagas of Lumin‘s dragons are its best attention-grabber, as it gives players direct control over these majestic beasts. These interactions aren’t on-rail set pieces or cinematic means to fast-travel; no, you can climb, dive, hover, barrel roll, and claw your way throughout the world… also, dragons breathe fire.
When you aren’t flying through the air on a sentient bringer of death, you engage in deliberately paced combat that blends weighty melee action, elemental magic, and firearms. Although only semi-open, Lumin should make for one heck of a setting, with the world being split into floating landmasses rather than just one endless terrain. That might explain why dragon riding is such a big part of the experience.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Outward 2 Is 2027’s Definitive Hardcore Open-World RPG
Sometimes, An Open World Shouldn’t Feel Safe… Still Magical, Though
- No confirmed release date yet.
- Planned for PC.
- You aren’t a hero, and that’s good.
Open-world RPGs come in many shapes and sizes, and Outward 2 looks to scratch an itch untouched by most other games. While survival open-world releases are relatively common, we don’t really get projects that approach those concepts in the same way as Nine Dots’ original Outward and its upcoming sequel.
Rather than cast you as an almighty hero destined to change the world for the better (or worse), Outward 2 sees you as an ordinary traveler just trying to survive within Aurai, a fantasy world that doesn’t care if you live or die. With no hand-holding or features like a minimap, you head out on expeditions at your own risk, facing unexpected threats as they might appear. The series is known for its defeat scenarios that force you to adapt after an encounter leaves you on the verge of death, and that is merely one unique element of these games.
Initially, Outward 2 was expected to debut in 2026, but Nine Dots pushed the release back in response to player feedback on the beta.
Final Fantasy 7: Revelation Is The Biggest Open-World RPG Of 2027 (So Far)
Finally, It Ends
- Coming to Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series
- Official release date: April 8, 2027
There’s a reason I described Fable as2027’s biggest western open-world RPG, and that reason is Final Fantasy 7: Revelation. Square Enix’s trilogy finally comes to an end in April, and Cloud’s revamped story comes to a close with another massive open-world romp that seems set to exceed even Rebirth‘s scale. The previous game didn’t let you traverse the world freely until the final hours, but that shouldn’t be the case with Revelation, which is aiming for “planetary scale.”
Instead of relying on rigid fast-travel waypoints, players can freely pilot the vessel across the globe and skydive directly into distinct biomes, ruins, and cities below. Combat-wise, Cid Highwind and Vincent Valentine will be fully playable characters, joining a battle system expanded by a new mechanic designed around custom character builds that hearken back to FF‘s old-school classes/jobs.
Look, you don’t need me to sell you on FF7 Revelation; at this point, everyone has likely decided whether they will play the final chapter or not.
Xenoblade Genesis Could Be The Best Open-World JRPG Of 2027
- No confirmed release date yet.
- Planned for Nintendo Switch 2.
A new console, a new era. As the franchise’s first proper entry since 2022’s XC3, Xenoblade Genesis moves away from the trilogy’s foundation to the point of even dropping the numbered naming convention. Anshar, the game’s world, embraces high fantasy even more than its predecessors, and the Switch 2’s improved power should allow for a notable jump in visual quality.
XC tends to prioritize size over fidelity, but Genesis might not need to sacrifice quite as much. Nintendo hasn’t said much about Xenoblade Genesis‘ story, though we know we play a character who wants to become a Vesselai, a warrior who taps into Anima, the world’s power (seemingly).
