Player choice is at the core of every great RPG. Although truly choice-driven RPGs with non-linear stories are less common, demand for them remains high, as shown by the huge success of the games. Baldur's Gate 3. Replaying such games and uncovering new possibilities is a joy in itself, sometimes leading to truly mind-blowing discoveries.
Fortunately, the future looks bright for fans of choice-based RPGs. Next year and beyond already looks stacked with ambitious AAA titles that honor the defining pillars of the genre. Below are upcoming RPGs focused on player choice, each promising meaningful decisions that lead to long-term consequences and multiple endings.
Gothic 1 Remake
Reviving the iconic old-school RPG
Closest to launch in 2026, Gothic 1 Remake Scheduled for release in the first quarter, it means there is a good chance that its final release date will be revealed later this year. Its demo received positive feedback from both old-school RPG fans and newcomers. The remake appears to be in capable hands, honoring the original creation by Piranha Bites, a studio long associated with choice-driven RPGs that went on to inspire other legendary games. Witcher.
Gothic Compact World is known for its depth and the freedom it offers players, who can shape their own destiny by choosing who to side with in the mining valley. There aren't many NPCs GothicBut each has a different personality and a realistic daily routine independent of the player. This approach helps create a believable, responsive world that responds to each player's choices and decisions. Hopefully, the remake will preserve these iconic strengths in its modern reincarnation.
GreedFall 2: The Dying World
A major step into the upper league for the French RPG studio
Currently available in Early Access, GreedFall 2: The Dying World Full release is scheduled for sometime in 2026. The developers plan to incorporate player feedback from the Early Access phase and build on the lessons learned from the first game to deliver a more fleshed-out, choice-driven RPG. While it may not have the flavor of recent big-budget releases, A dying world Still can offer a lot of depth for fans who value role playing over flash visuals.
GreedFall 2: The Dying World Players are encouraged to take their time talking to each NPC, as many quests have more depth than they initially appear. Diplomacy, manipulation, infiltration, and combat all serve as viable ways to reach quest goals. Choices lead to a wide range of outcomes that can affect the story, factions, alliances, and companion relationships. Although the current version is somewhat rough and light on content, the team still has time to refine it and surprise fans with the final release.
fable
Hopefully that will provide as much freedom as the series is known for
We have seen as little as we can fable So far (the game was announced back in 2020), this is one of the most promising upcoming RPGs. Distinctly British in tone, with its fairy-tale charm and constant humour, fable Wit and whimsy have always been combined with meaningful depth, player agency, and impactful choices.
It remains to be seen how the upcoming entry will play its cards, but there's no doubt that player choice will be as central as ever. fable has long granted players considerable freedom, allowing them to interact with almost any NPC, choose between virtue and beneficence, and simply inhabit its world. It will be interesting to see how the next chapter upholds that legacy and how it measures up to other great RPGs in terms of freedom and choice-driven storytelling.
Blood of the Dawnwalker
Set up in advance for great replay value
Blood of the Dawnwalker has been described as a choice-driven RPG in the vein of Witcher series, featuring an equally interesting protagonist. Playing as Coen, who is human by day and vampire by night, players explore a dark, fantasy version of 14th century Europe. Every action and inaction shapes the world and the story.
One of the game's most distinctive features, albeit potentially divisive, is its real-time mechanic. Time will progress with each completed quest, bringing players closer to the end and limiting how much can be completed in a single playthrough. If implemented well, this system can force players to make meaningful choices about who to help and what to prioritize, as they won't be able to complete every side quest. This design can make the world feel more dynamic and alive, as well as increase the replay value.
Expansion: Osiris Reborn
A big swing by the creators of Pathfinder
A long-awaited breakout from its CRPG niche for Owlcat Games (creators of Pathfinder series), Expansion: Osiris Reborn It's shaping up to be a major new chapter for the studio, echoing the leap BioWare once made with the original. Mass Effect. Set on a girlfriend expansion universe, Osiris Reborn May not be as original Mass EffectBut it aims to equally respect player choice while presenting a fantastic sci-fi story.
What is most interesting Expansion: Osiris Reborn How the strengths of Owlcat's past work will translate into a more mainstream format, complete with dynamic action and a much larger scope. So far, the studio has promised to live up to the expectations set by its previous RPGs. It teases out complex companionship, a sprawling high-stakes narrative driven by escalating threats and political tensions, and alliances defined by tough, sustainable choices. This is a world where trust is earned, not freely given.
Revolution of the clock
Explore the butterfly effect in an RPG with a unique setting
Revolution of the clock Avalon stands out from the usual crowd of fantasy and sci-fi RPGs with its charming steampunk metropolis to explore. Developed by inXile Entertainment (known for the best barren land series), it is among the most promising upcoming titles, aiming for a 2026 release and featuring a unique time-bending mechanic that prioritizes player choice.
in Revolution of the clockPlayers can travel back in time and influence key events, reshaping history itself. This premise seems like the perfect foundation for a choice-driven RPG, allowing players to explore the actual butterfly effect themselves. Combined with inXile's strong storytelling pedigree, it has the potential to become something truly special. The developers promise that interactions in the past will significantly affect the present, changing the world of Avalon and its inhabitants in dramatic ways. It can make Revolution of the clock A must-play for fans of complex story-driven RPGs.
departure
It's a great time to be a Sci-Fi RPG fan
Mass Effect Fans are eating well, because 2026 brings not only one (being the first Expansion: Osiris Reborn), but two major sci-fi RPGs. departure, The upcoming game from Archetype, doesn't have a confirmed release window yet. However, recent updates suggest that it could be relaunched later this year, possibly with an intensive gameplay showcase and final release date announcement.
The team teased departure As an ambitious, lore-rich sci-fi RPG for years, and it's about time fans saw something important. What they have shared so far, player choices and their far-reaching consequences will define the journey. There is a particular focus on time perception on a galactic scale, where revisiting certain locations years later reveals how much the world has changed. Beyond that, players can expect to captain a spaceship, recruit companions, explore new worlds, engage in dynamic combat, and make tough decisions that affect entire planets or species. No doubt departure Big ambitions, but it manages to capture just as much magic as the original Mass Effect The trilogy remains to be seen.
The Witcher 4
Potentially becoming the new king of open-world RPGs
The Witcher 4 Needs little introduction, though fans shouldn't expect it to arrive in 2026. While the next chapter in the acclaimed universe is still a long way off, it's almost certain that it will be worth the wait. Stepping into Geralt's shoes as Ciri won't be an easy task, but there's no doubt that CD Projekt Red will deliver another standout RPG for its legendary predecessors.
every the witcher The game has so far offered a broad narrative shaped by player choices, with key decisions to be made between entries as well. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings It remains particularly notable for its branch structure, where a single decision can change nearly a third of the game. The Witcher 3: Wild HuntWhile more linear in its main plot, it is filled with quests full of meaningful choices that ripple across the world. Now, it's up The Witcher 4 To carry a torch. Hopefully, it can surprise fans of Andrzej Sapkowski's universe once again with tough moral dilemmas and deeply layered characters.
