The biggest upcoming open-world games with sci-fi settings

For those who love open-world sci-fi games, 2026 and the years ahead promise to be exciting. Developers are working hard to build vast worlds among the stars, in futuristic cities and under alien waves. The variety in this lineup is unmatched. A player can explore a retro-futuristic version of the Soviet Union and beyond. Another adventure involves piloting a custom starship through a galaxy with thousands of unique planets.

Some games feature time manipulation mechanics that let users rewind battles or see how their choices affect people decades later. And then there are those who focus on pure survival against the terrifying creatures beneath the waters of a new planet.

Nuclear heart 2

The same retrofuturistic Soviet-era aesthetic as the first game, but now with a global focus

• The story continues after the first game as the Mechanical Rebellion spreads far beyond the original Soviet borders.

• This sequel shows how advanced technology has destroyed society on a global scale.

While the first nuclear heart Centered on a secret Soviet base called Facility 3826, the developers have confirmed Nuclear heart 2 will be on a global scale. In fact, Moonfish CEO Robert Bagratuni said the game is “bigger and bolder” than its predecessor. A sequel is being built using Unreal Engine 5 to handle these much larger, more detailed open spaces.

The story continues to explore the dark side of technology and the mess left behind after the end of the first game. Players can expect the same mix of fast-paced shooting and more threats, but the encounters will take place in more diverse, outdoor locations. The game doesn't have a set release date yet, but the idea of ​​exploring an open-world retrofuturistic game that expands beyond the Soviet Union is very exciting.

The last policeman

Cyberpunk Tokyo Story

• Set in a futuristic version of Tokyo that looks incredibly real and fascinating.

• A team consists of people who work together Grand Theft AutoSo the city is built to feel dangerous and rich with culture instead of being a big blank map.

There's a new company making big-budget open-world games, and they're off to a strong start. Lightspeed LA, Steve C. Studio headed by Martin, who worked on the games Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead RedemptionCalled an open world cyberpunk game The last policeman. It is set in a rebuilt, futuristic version of Tokyo. the goal of The last policeman Mixing the gritty feel of a futuristic dystopia with a deep story.

The team hasn't shared many details about the gameplay, but the history of the people making it suggests the game will be very polished and carefully crafted. The main character is Hiromi Shoda, who lives in a world that feels culturally rich and dangerously high-tech. Unlike many open-world games that only focus on how big the map is, The last policeman Focuses on a unique environment that gets its style from graphic novels and serious sci-fi movies. The developers want to make the player feel fully involved in the game, creating a version of Tokyo that seems truly alive rather than just a place to travel.

Cinder City

Searching for a loved one in high-tech ruined Seoul

• Follows a father's search for his daughter within a futuristic version of the South Korean capital.

• Fast-paced, large-scale tactical shooting in two open worlds.

Formerly known as Project LLLCinder City is an MMO tactical shooter developed by Bigfire Games. The environment of Cinder City is modeled after a futuristic version of Seoul, where highly advanced 23rd century technology mixes with the ruins of today's world. Although the game features some giant robot enemies, it is mostly a third-person shooter where players play as a human soldier known as a knight.

Cinder City Basically about a father who is wandering the world in search of his daughter. According to the CEO of Bigfire Games, the game uses two large open-world maps that add up to about 14 km. While players can hijack large mechs or ride motorcycles, those are only part of the fun. Players can take part in massive battles, as the CEO of Bigfire Games has also hinted that up to 200 people have participated in playtests. According to NCSOFT, this MMO tactical shooter should hit consoles and PC around the second half of 2026.

Subnautica 2

Co-op existence under the sea

• Players can eventually bring up to three friends along to help them build bases and survive in the terrifyingly deep waters.

• The developers are creating a whole new planet with fresh monsters and dark underwater areas to explore.

Subnautica 2 is the follow-up to the hit game from 2018, and it's changing some key things. The biggest news is that players can now play together with up to four people. For the first time, players don't have to face the dark depths alone. They and their friends can build bases, drive submarines, and scream together when a giant creature appears.

The game is set on an entirely new planet, with brand-new plants and animals to find (and eat). Early videos show new Leviathan creatures and vast underwater realms that go from peaceful plains to terrifying, deep realms. Unfortunately the game has been delayed until 2026 by KRAFTON. If players like the sense of discovery and dread in the first game, Subnautica 2 That feeling is so big and ready to share.

Chrono Odyssey

Bend time and space to save the world in a fantasy MMORPG

• Fight to stop the dark forces from erasing the history of their world.

• Players can freeze the hands of time while exploring Cetera and deep dungeons.

The developers at Chrono Studios are building a massive online adventure where the environment itself reacts as time passes. in Chrono OdysseyPlayers are soldiers who fight against a dark corruption called the Void, which is slowly erasing the world's history. Players cannot fully enjoy what Cetera has to offer without getting a Chronotactor machine. This device gives the player the power to manipulate the flow of time during active gameplay. So, for example, during a difficult fight, a player can freeze an enemy in mid-air or rewind their own character's movements to dodge an attack.

There are different classes available, including the heavy-hitting Berserker and the fast-moving Assassin. The game allows players to instantly switch between multiple weapon types while in the middle of a fight.

Free Stars: Children of Infinity

Explore a galaxy full of alien threats

• Play as a captain exploring a galaxy full of hundreds of star systems and funny alien species.

• The game combines ship battles with resource gathering, and aliens will notice if you're good or mean to them.

For those who love classic sci-fi games The Ur-Quan Masters, Free Stars: Children of Infinity There will be a fun sequel to look forward to. in Free Stars: Children of InfinityPlayers take on the role of a starship captain on a journey to a little-known part of space.

The “open world” here is actually a galaxy full of hundreds of star systems and thousands of planets. Players can land on planets to find resources, talk to strange alien races to make deals, and fight in fast-paced, top-down ship battles. A ship battle system called Super Melee is back, with more than 30 different starships, each with their own special powers. The game's Steam page has an expected launch for 2025, but whether that will happen remains to be seen. This is a game for anyone who wants a space adventure that looks like the 1992 classic Star control 2.

StarRupture

Galactic Factory-Builder

• The core gameplay mixes survival and factory building, requiring players to set up massive, automated production lines on enemy planets.

• The star causes massive waves of fire and heat that regularly destroy the surface, so players must build strong shelters to survive quickly.

StarRupture is a survival and base building game that will drop on January 6, 2026. It's an open-world sci-fi experience designed for single-player or groups of up to four players in co-op mode. Players are thrown onto the dangerous planet Arcadia-7 as convicts are tasked with extracting resources for powerful corporations.

The main idea of ​​the game is for players to quickly build and defend their base. Players have to do a lot just to survive. They need to find materials and build long lines of machines and belts to make new tools. As the player's factories grow larger, new threats emerge. First, angry aliens attack bases in large groups. Players must use automatic guns and shields to fight them. Second, the star, Ruptura, emits excessive heat. This happens often and forces players to run to safer locations, or all their hard work will be lost.