These days, the line between classic single-player titles and live-service models is as thin as ever. With triple-A budgets and development times continuing to grow, companies increasingly support their games for years to keep them selling. In many cases, the full launch is just the start of a game’s journey. Several years later, a game might be almost unrecognizable, as post-launch support often introduces fresh content while tweaking and revamping existing mechanics.
CD Projekt Red’s latest games are among the best examples: both Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 (following its Remastered treatment) have changed considerably since launch. As such, experiencing a game for the first time years later, or returning after a long break, can be fun and rewarding. This list is dedicated to open-world RPGs returning in 2027, be it through a new expansion or massive update, a reboot of an iconic franchise, or a direct follow-up wrapping up a single story. Let’s see which games still have plenty in store for returning fans.
The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past
Coming TBA 2027
The Witcher 3’s grand comeback is a textbook example of a single-player game that just refuses to fade into history. More than ten years on, CDPR has revived Wild Hunt with the unexpected (and free!) Remastered update, and that’s just the beginning. To push things further, The Witcher 3 is getting a third major expansion, Songs of the Past, sometime next year, putting Geralt’s old friend Dandelion at the center of a new adventure that will presumably serve as a bridge between the Geralt trilogy and the upcoming Ciri saga.
Balance the critic averages
Co-developed by CD Projekt Red and Fool’s Theory (the studio responsible for The Witcher 1 Remake), Songs of the Past is described as closer in scope to Blood and Wine: a massive new region, Letten, branching storylines, new enemies and bosses, and even a new chain weapon for Geralt. Building on the improvements in the Remastered version, Songs of the Past could be its most interesting expansion in terms of gameplay, and there’s little doubt it will be a worthy addition to the legendary open-world RPG.
Fable
Coming February 23
Fable offers a different kind of return, but it’s nevertheless a perfect fit for the topic. A full-fledged franchise reboot from a new developer under the same name, arriving 17 years after Fable 3, is about as long-awaited a comeback as it gets. The game will probably be vastly different from its predecessors, but based on the showcases, Playground Games has managed to capture Fable’s unmistakable spirit, which is what matters most.
The return to Albion with a customizable hero and British humor has one unbeatable ace up its sleeve beyond the new combat system and fully open world. So far, Fable looks like a true fantasy life simulator, with over 1,000 handcrafted NPCs, dynamic relationships, jobs, property ownership, and reputation all contributing to a world that feels alive and reactive. Iconic characters like Jack of Blades are also returning, promising unexpected twists and fresh takes on familiar lore. The only thing that’s slightly alarming is the developer’s estimate of around 20 hours for the main story, which seems particularly light for a massive open-world RPG.
Starfield: Starborn
Coming TBA 2027
-
-
-
Image via Bethesda
In many ways, Starfield unfortunately failed to live up to expectations as the next major chapter for Bethesda’s open-world RPGs, but it could still be too early to write it off. Post-launch support has been pretty uneven, with both the Shattered Space and Terran Armada expansions doing too little to shake things up. Yet updates like Free Lanes have definitely been steps in the right direction for expanding and improving the experience.
That’s where Starborn (title unconfirmed) comes in. This is easily the least detailed return announcement on the list, so we don’t yet know whether “Starborn content” means a massive expansion, smaller DLC, or a major update like Free Lanes to further improve the base game for all owners. Still, Bethesda has promised Starborn for 2027, meaning Starfield will stay relevant into next year, potentially reaching its best form and offering an ideal entry point after more than three years of improvements.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation
Coming April 8
Wait, what’s this doing here? Final Fantasy 7 Revelation isn’t a return, it’s a brand-new game! Sure, but it’s also a direct continuation of the new FF7 saga, meaning the return of Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Yuffie, and the rest of the party in perhaps the grandest conclusion the genre has seen in quite some time. An essential finale that targets existing fans more than newcomers, FF7 Revelation promises to go out with a bang, cementing the remake trilogy’s status among the most definitive in gaming. And one of the longest, if not the longest.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation seems like yet another exercise in expanding the scope, as Square Enix shows no signs of stopping when it comes to the size of its world, explorable aboard the Highwind airship. That ambition also extends to layered combat built around powerful synergies, exploration with instant character switching, quests that change depending on who undertakes them, and completely new storylines, activities, and twists. It’s no secret that the FF7 trilogy is far more than a simple remake, so it’s hard not to wonder just how grandiose this final chapter will be.
Fallout 76: Raven Rock
Coming Summer 2027
Fallout fans got some pretty exciting news this year, with numerous projects to look forward to, from remasters of Fallout 3 and New Vegas to confirmation that Fallout 5 is in development. There are no firm release dates for these yet, so Fallout 76 takes the spotlight in 2027 with a major free update, Raven Rock, described as a prequel to Fallout 3.
Despite being a free update, Raven Rock is shaping up to be really big: the third map expansion for Fallout 76, extending the world seamlessly toward the Capital Wasteland. An Enclave storyline takes center stage, potentially enriching the entire series’ lore in the process. More F76 additions are on the menu as well, including new territory for C.A.M.P. building and environmental hazards that affect how you explore.
Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance
Coming TBA 2027
Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance could quite possibly be the biggest expansion of 2027, surpassing even Songs of the Past. That’s at least judging by the scope of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, the team’s repeated descriptions of the DLC as “massive,” and how much Capcom has to gain from winning over players disappointed by the base game’s launch. While MH Wilds’ post-launch updates have already addressed many of the release version’s issues, Ascendance might be the perfect time to jump in if you’ve been on the fence.
Ascendance directly continues the Expedition Team’s story, moving several years beyond the base game and introducing the massive floating region of Skybound Eyrie. New and returning monsters, including Elder Dragons, join substantial gameplay additions like Master Rank and Boost Action. As Monster Hunter games have always been all about the endgame, Ascendance aims to push that appeal even further, giving players more incentive to keep hunting.
