There are few upcoming open-world games that fans will devour as whole as they destroyed the classics. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. For example, Crimson Desert and Blood of the Dawnwalker The possibilities for player expression and creativity seem vast and full.
The Witcher 4 Still in the early stages of development, but that too looks amazing. Then there are Upcoming Games That can be open world, or just sandboxes, and they are Based on sprawling cities. Some of these games can only happen in these cities, and that's even better. Let's see what makes these games different and how their cities are unique.
Grand Theft Auto 6
The biggest game of 2026
- Planned release date: 5/26/26
- Planned systems: PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
Grand Theft Auto 6 The biggest city landscape is set to navigate in 2026. Players will return to Vice City for the first time since the spin-off PSP game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Storieswas released in 2006. The city seems full of shops to hop in, pool halls to hang out with friends, nightclubs to dance to, and more.
Outside Vice City, players can enjoy the swamps with small motor boating. There is also a national park where hiking and kayaking are available. Although the tone is perhaps dark, like most Rockstar games, the activities look very inviting. Vice City almost seems like a nice place to visit, minus all the crime that's probably going on behind the scenes.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
I was born in darkness
- Planned release date: 2026
- Planned systems: PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight The first is reasonable Lego Batman The game has been around for over a decade, and Traveler's Tales seems to be going all out with it. It's not just a celebration Lego Batman games, it will be filled with references to all the movies, cartoons, games, and more that have featured the Caped Crusader over the years. In other words, it looks like the ultimate fan letter to Batman fanatics.
The fight seems more intense than most Lego games, and Batman won't be the only playable character. Players can explore the wide streets of Gotham on foot, by gliding over, driving the signature Batmobile, and more. It's unclear if there will be any chill side quests in Gotham, but either way, Lego and Batman fans should be pumped to play it in 2026.
Decapolis
A spy RPG
- Planned release date: 2026
- Planned systems: PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch
Decapolis Another crime-based game, but this time with an anime influence, and being developed by Level-5. Players will be able to investigate locations using VR to overlay crime scenes, similar to Detective Vision Batman: Arkham Games. The detective aspect of the game looks intense, like a cross between Phoenix Wright and LA Noire.
The city doesn't seem full of activities to do, but the futuristic landscape is enticing, as any good cyberpunk setting should be. Aside from solving cases, players can engage in turn-based combat with their small party. Hopefully, this RPG will come out in 2026 and offer more to do than previously shown.
infinite
Grand Theft Anime
- Planned release date: TBA
- Planned systems: Mobile, PC, and PS5
infinite It looks like it will have a diverse set of mechanics, and it could even launch in 2026, though there's no set timeline at this time. It's going to be a free-to-play game in style Grand Theft Auto With a heavy anime influence in its design. Players can roam around the city as part of an elite task force, so there won't be a criminal angle to the story.
Players can drive different cars and bikes, but the more interesting part is the Spider-Man-like tether that the team captain uses to move around. It's not known how many characters players can have active at once, but being able to switch between them would also be a feature. Aside from the crime-fighting main story, there will also be side activities around town, from racing to playing basketball to slapping opponents in arenas.
Stranger than heaven
A century in the making
- Planned release date: TBA
- Planned systems: TBA
Stranger than heaven is another big project from Yakuza team, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, at Sega. The big gimmick with the game is that players will play a drifter who goes through different time periods in the same city, which changes over time. This town, Sotenbori, has been shown so far in 1915, 1929, and 1943. It looks like another crime-influenced game with a lot of brawling action, which RGG is known for.
Yakuza Fans can always count on the many unique side stories and mini-games to occupy their time, so hopefully those features will return. Stranger than heaven Also. Even if there aren't many, few games can boast of taking place over multiple time periods, and if anyone can make it work, it's the Ryu Ga Gotoku studio team. No platform or release date has been announced yet, which could mean something Stranger than heaven One way is closed, or Sega could be waiting to reveal a big showcase soon.
DokeV
Kingdom Hearts Meets Pokemon
- Planned release date: TBA
- Planned systems: TBA
DokeV Might be a long way off, but it's still worth discussing here. This is one of the few monster-catching games that takes place in a big city, another great example of this. Pokemon Legends: ZA. DokeV There may be environments to explore outside of its metropolis, but so far, it looks like most of the action will be urban.
The footage shown so far indicates that players will be able to carry bicycles and monsters together, rollerblades, skateboards, and a magical umbrella that lets them glide. Humans and their monsters can fight each other in action combat, which is what it looks like Kingdom Hearts In terms of its design. From giant boxing gloves and bouncing sacks that turn into giant hammers, the combat looks more intense than most monster-catching games.
