The year 2025 was notable for adventure game enthusiasts, but 2026 seems even more promising with an exciting line-up of titles. With a focus on variety and innovation, independent developers, particularly from France, are leading the charge in this genre. Here, we present the most eagerly awaited adventure games set to release in 2026.
Cairn: A Climber’s Dream
The Game Bakers, known for their unique indie games, are back with “Cairn” launching on January 29, 2026, for PC and PlayStation 5. Following the success of “Peak,” “Cairn” aims to captivate gamers with a realistic climbing simulation. Players will accompany Aava, a professional climber, as she embarks on a journey up Mount Kami. The game promises genuine survival challenges with features like piton placement and rope management. Climbing enthusiasts can also test their skills in Free Solo mode, devoid of safety nets. With strong early feedback and over 700K wishlists, “Cairn” is positioned to be a standout title this year.
Tides of Tomorrow: An Asynchronous Adventure
Set to release on February 24, 2026, for PC, PS5, XSS, and XSX, “Tides of Tomorrow” brings an innovative multiplayer narrative experience from DigixArt, based in Montpellier, France. This game takes the idea of asynchronous gameplay to new heights. Players’ choices affect other players’ experiences, with NPCs remembering interactions and the environment reflecting past decisions. The concept of Plastemia, turning life into plastic, adds a unique narrative twist. Players will navigate a world reshaping with every decision, potentially reinventing the genre.
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss – A Lovecraftian Journey
Coming on April 16, 2026, to PC, PS5, XSS, and XSX, “Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss” by Big Bad Wolf takes players to a future where Earth’s resources are nearly exhausted. Set in a Lovecraftian world, players will explore R’lyeh, a city with architecture that defies logic. The game’s sanity mechanic offers an unrelenting descent into madness, where witnessing cosmic horrors deteriorates the player’s mental state. With an engaging storyline and multiple endings, this game promises an immersive horror experience.
Order of the Sinking Star and Into the Fire: Unique Adventures Await
“Order of the Sinking Star,” announced by Jonathan Blow, offers over a thousand puzzles and an estimated 250-500 hours of gameplay. Players will explore diverse worlds with characters like a queen, a thief, and a wizard, each bringing unique skills to solve complex challenges.
“Into the Fire,” a project by Starward Industries, challenges players to survive a volcanic apocalypse. With roots in the game “Dante’s Ring,” it presents a single-player extraction adventure where players must balance saving others with their survival. Expect a retro-aesthetic design blending 1950s ambition with apocalyptic challenges.
Honorable Mentions
Not to be missed, these additional adventure titles are also generating excitement:
– Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror—Reforged
– Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf
– Mixtape
– Hela
– D-Topia