3 Upcoming Fantasy Games That Could Change Open-World Games

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Open-world games are incredibly popular, but many developers seem to be adding them simply because they’re trendy, even when it doesn’t improve the game – a good example is the campaign in Halo Infinite. While open-world games were once innovative, they’ve fallen into a pattern over the last ten years. We often see the same things: towers to unlock areas on the map, lots of markers telling you where to go, repetitive crafting systems, and predictable ways to improve your character. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild occasionally break this mold, but truly original open-world experiences are becoming uncommon. However, there are a few upcoming games that could potentially change things as we head into 2025.

The anticipation for these new games is high because they’re not just adding to the open-world genre – they’re reinventing it with innovative gameplay and fresh ideas. They’re designed to build vast, immersive worlds that feel truly alive and respond to player actions, moving beyond the typical static environments. Expected to launch in 2026, these three titles have the potential to redefine what players expect from open-world fantasy games.

3) Fable

The return of the Fable series has everyone wondering if it can redefine open-world fantasy games for today’s players. The original Fable games were groundbreaking, and this new version could be just as impactful. While Microsoft hasn’t revealed much about the game yet, what we’ve seen so far looks stunning. Until we learn more about how it plays and its story, fans are left to speculate and revisit the classic Fable games from the Xbox 360 era.

While many fantasy role-playing games focus on dark and serious themes, Fable has always stood out with its fun, funny, and charming style. It builds its world with quirky stories and over-the-top characters, giving it a unique feel compared to games like Skyrim or Dragon Age: Origins. If the new version can recapture that special quality and improve it with today’s technology, it could be a truly refreshing open-world experience.

The new Fable game is exciting because it could combine the series’ beloved storytelling with a truly interactive world. Previous Fable games let your choices change the story, towns, and even your character. Now, imagine that taken much further with more realistic simulations and environments that react to everything you do. With today’s technology and new ideas about game development, this Fable could be more than just a remake – it could set a new standard for open-world RPGs by offering a unique blend of humor, meaningful consequences, and freedom for players to express themselves.

2) Crimson Desert

Pearl Abyss’s Crimson Desert is creating a lot of excitement in the gaming world. It’s set to be a massive, visually stunning open-world fantasy game. Like many recent titles inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Crimson Desert offers a huge, explorable world but is designed to appeal to a wider range of players.

Crimson Desert is aiming to be a truly ambitious, next-generation open-world game. It’s packed with features, including flying, grappling, huge cities, large battles, and a world that reacts to the player and the weather. The game offers incredible freedom – you can even ride horses, dragons, and mechs! – and the developers want that freedom to feel natural and unscripted.

Crimson Desert has the potential to significantly impact how open-world games are made. Rather than filling maps with icons or repetitive tasks, it seems to prioritize organic discovery, similar to what we’ve seen in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The game’s environments look carefully crafted, its systems work together seamlessly, and it offers a wide range of exciting combat and exploration opportunities. This focus on immersive exploration could set a new standard for large, fantasy-based games.

1) The Blood of Dawnwalker

Among the many fantasy RPGs on the horizon, The Blood of Dawnwalker stands out as particularly ambitious and potentially groundbreaking. Developed by a team of veterans from The Witcher 3, the game features a unique mechanic: time genuinely matters. The protagonist, Coen, has a limited timeframe to rescue his family, and the game’s clock keeps ticking as you play. Right from the start, The Blood of Dawnwalker emphasizes that saving everyone isn’t possible, forcing players to carefully manage their time and make difficult decisions – a level of choice rarely seen in games.

The time of day significantly impacts how you play. During the day, Coen acts like a normal human, allowing you to explore, interact with others, and enjoy various activities. But when night falls, everything changes. The world becomes more dangerous, environments shift, and some actions are no longer possible. However, night also unlocks Coen’s full vampiric powers, making him stronger. Every choice you make, including which quests to take and complete, feels important, adding tension and making each moment matter.

This single game mechanic could really change the way open-world games are made. Many games offer huge worlds to explore, but that often distracts from the main story. It feels strange to be saving the world one minute and then spending hours fishing or running errands. However, in The Blood of Dawnwalker, time isn’t just a backdrop – it actively drives the story forward. While there are still side quests and things to do, you’re always aware of your limited time, making every decision more meaningful. This concept – a world that changes due to the passage of time, not just your choices – could lead to more engaging, reactive, and replayable fantasy RPGs.

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2025-11-15 22:13