Easily one of the most popular genres in modern gaming, RPGs have long played an important role in the industry – and, of course, in the lives of gamers from all walks of life. With a huge reach and countless sub-genres, role-playing games truly have something to offer everyone, be it a traditional fantasy adventure with treasure to track and beasts to best, a gritty and grounded world full of crooks and corruption, or a spectacular sci-fi affair with futuristic fights and awe-inspiring alien creatures.
No matter what type of RPG you’re into, it’s undeniable that 2026 has been a massive year for the genre, with countless anniversaries, announcements, and additional content keeping us truly well-fed. We’ve seen fantastic remakes like Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, long-awaited sequels like Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection and Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, and even fantastic ports of modern classics like the Nintendo Switch 2’s Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. We’re also anticipating a bunch of exciting sequels or remakes for some of the greatest RPGs of all time over the coming months, meaning now’s the perfect time to jump in and get yourself up-to-date before the new arrivals drop.
Arguably, one of the most influential RPGs of all time is none other than 1997’s Final Fantasy VII. The first in the iconic series to use full motion video and 3D graphics, FFVII follows our favorite spiky-haired, giant-sword-wielding mercenary Cloud Strife, who joins an eco-terrorist organization to save the planet’s life essence and energy source from a world-dominating megacorporation. It’s easy to see why the story still resonates with so many all these years later, right?
Now, while many RPG fans will argue that nothing will ever replace the original, it’s also hard to deny the hype around the fantastic remakes. Rather than one game, Square Enix has split the story across three individual instalments, expanding on the beloved story, characters, and world and adding a heap of new features. During the PlayStation State of Play on September 3, we finally got a release date for the third and final chapter, meaning now’s the perfect time to pick up both Final Fantasy VII: Remake and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and get stuck in. You might just manage to finish them before Final Fantasy VII: Revelation releases on April 8, 2027.
Of course, catching up with all the top RPGs and their many spin-offs and sequels can be pretty pricey. Luckily, you can pick up all the games in this piece on G2A.COM, including the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth & Remake Twin Pack and its excellent spin-off, Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion, often for much cheaper than RRP. Trusted by 35 million users worldwide, G2A.COM is a safe and secure place to buy games, gift cards, subscriptions, and more from a wide selection of verified sellers, giving you plenty of room to shop around for the best deals.
If you fancy an RPG that’s a little lighter than Final Fantasy, Square Enix’s offerings don’t stop there. Kingdom Hearts is easily one of my favorite game series of all time – in fact, without it, I may never have ended up working in the games industry. In case you’ve been living under a rock, this endlessly popular RPG series seamlessly blends iconic characters and worlds of Disney and Final Fantasy, all tied together by a group of lovable original characters and a mystifying story that’s as confusing as it is wonderful.
Now, as we approach the series 25th anniversary in 2027, we have some very exciting news. During this year’s D23 event, we got a deeper look at the highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts 4, including our first glimpse at a world based on Disney’s Coco, and the devs have since confirmed that it “won’t be delayed past late 2027”.
So, if you want to get yourself up to speed (or relive all those glorious memories) before the new entry drops, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMix, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind are all available on PC through G2A.COM and run like a dream on the Steam Deck. You can also look forward to the Kingdom Hearts I~III Collection arriving on the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 2, 2026 – no more cloud version for us!
Final Fantasy VII and Kingdom Hearts aren’t the only iconic RPGs celebrating a birthday, though. It turns out that 2026 marks the Legend of Zelda series’ 40th anniversary, too, and Nintendo recently held an Anniversary Direct to celebrate it. During the show, we got a closer look at the upcoming Ocarina of Time Remake, along with a release date confirming that it will arrive on November 5, 2026.
Of course, Ocarina of Time is another RPG that’s considered to be one of the greatest of all time, and, whether you’ve played the original or not, the remake certainly looks to be a wonderful adventure. However, don’t worry if you don’t want to wait (or aren’t a fan of young Link and Zelda’s… interesting designs), as it’s not your only way to return to Hyrule to celebrate this monumental milestone.
Whether you’re new to the series but love open-world RPGs like The Witcher or even Genshin Impact, or you’re an old hat when it comes to the Zelda series but haven’t joined Link on his latest adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its follow-up, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, are both fantastic games, and their Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades only enhance that.
Alternatively, if you want something with a darker, grittier vibe, I highly recommend The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Initially released in 2015, this enthralling action RPG is based on the book series of the same name, and follows stoney-faced monster-slayer Geralt. While it’s the third in the series, you really don’t need to have played the previous games to enjoy this one, as both its story and its wonderfully deep and intricate gameplay allow it to stand on its own.
While the game still holds up well all these years later, we were all shocked when, during the Gamescom Opening Night Live show, CD Projekt Red announced a free remaster for all players, while also making the first two DLC free. This arrived in the lead-up to 2027’s upcoming Songs of the Past DLC, which is due to get us ready for 2028’s long-awaited The Witcher 4. So, whether you’ve played it before or have always meant to, there’s never been a better time to pick up a copy and dive right in.
Now that we’ve gotten all the big hitters out of the way, I’d also like to draw your attention to a much smaller hidden gem that’s a personal favorite of mine – Graveyard Keeper. This fantastic pixel RPG simulation game shares a lot of similarities with Stardew Valley, but instead of taking care of your dead grandpa’s farm, you’re taking care of everyone else’s dead grandpas.
Describing itself as the “most inaccurate medieval cemetery sim” (as if there’s any competition in that field), Graveyard Keeper tasks you with building and managing your own graveyard, all while facing ethical dilemmas and making some truly questionable decisions. It’s the perfect mix of dark and creepy, silly, and engaging, making it the perfect little gem to get you in the mood for spooky season. And, if you find yourself enjoying the first game, you’ll be glad to know that a sequel is arriving on September 22, 2026, and it looks just as wacky as the first.
Whether you’re a long-time player who’s waiting for sequels and remakes of all of your faves, or a relatively new adventurer out in search of your first big story, it’s easy to say that 2026 has been a huge year for RPGs, and there’s even more to look forward to in 2027. All of these games are available on G2A.COM, so be sure to pick them up there.
