Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader lands on Switch 2 with an update. Eight desktop isometric CRPGs, from Baldur's Gate 3 to Pillars of Eternity II, with real party depth and turn-based tactics.
Elder Scrolls VI is at least two more years away. These seven desktop open-world fantasy RPGs cover the ground Skyrim used to on PC, from Kingdom Come to Enderal to Elden Ring.
Pokemon Winds and Waves rumors put 300 new species on the table, and mobile fans want the same catch-and-battle loop today. These seven Android pokemon-like games cover free, gacha, and offline picks.
Fallout season 3 starts filming this month. Eight desktop post-apocalyptic picks, from Fallout 4 to Metro Exodus and Frostpunk, ranked for setting, systems, and replay value.
Elder Scrolls 6 is at least two years away. Seven open-world RPGs on Windows, macOS, and Linux that fill the wait, from Skyrim mods to Kingdom Come 2.
Square Enix confirmed Ever Crisis shuts down October 6, 2026. These seven Android RPGs cover the party turn-based combat, gacha character rotation, and Final Fantasy pacing fans built around it.
Sly Flourish's Rise of the Lazy Gamemaster hit Kickstarter this week. Eight desktop apps for solo TTRPG play with GM emulators, oracles, and journaling.
Frosthaven's digital adaptation is years off. Seven Gloomhaven alternatives on Steam that scratch the same tactical, party-based, deckbuilding itch on Windows and macOS.
A new Suikoden anime trailer sent players back to the JRPG classics. Seven Suikoden alternatives for Windows PC and macOS we tested, from Eiyuden Chronicle to Persona.
Hollow Knight has not shipped on Android and Silksong is not there yet either. Seven metroidvanias on Android with the same map-first, tight-combat DNA.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a hard game to follow. Here are 7 alternatives on PC that hit different pieces of what made Night City special.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 is officially in development, but the wait is long. Here are 7 magic-heavy open-world RPGs to fill the gap on PC.
Solo Leveling: KARMA's new combat trailer looks great, but the wait is long. Here are 7 anime action RPGs on PC that scratch the same power-fantasy itch right now.
The pixel-remastered classic JRPGs worth installing on Windows, macOS, and Linux, from Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster to Live A Live and Star Ocean Second Story R.
The soulslike western niche keeps growing. Seven desktop picks that pair frontier and weird-west settings with the punishing combat we tested for months.
Mobile players want Attack on Titan action on Android. We tested 7 anime action mobile alternatives with aerial mobility, boss fights, and free entry.
Eight years on, Red Dead Redemption 2 still splits players. If you bounced off it, or finished and want more, here are seven strong PC alternatives worth playing.
ARC Raiders now requires Denuvo Anti-Cheat for every match. Eight PC games worth playing that never install a kernel-level driver in the first place.
OD survives Xbox's studio reset but is still years out. Eight atmospheric horror games for desktop to fill the queue while Kojima's project develops.
Great alternatives to The Blood of Dawnwalker on PC: The Witcher 3, Elden Ring, Vampire Bloodlines, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Baldur's Gate 3, and more.
The best Persona 5: The Phantom X alternatives for Android in 2026: Honkai Star Rail, Nikke, Wuthering Waves, Reverse: 1999, Snowbreak, Another Eden, and Zenless Zone Zero.
Great Prince of Persia alternatives on PC in 2026: Hollow Knight, Blasphemous 2, Ori, Dead Cells, Sekiro, and more. Tested for combat, parkour, and story.
Great detective RPG alternatives to Silver Palace on PC: Disco Elysium, Pentiment, Return of the Obra Dinn, Paradise Killer, L.A. Noire, Wolf Among Us, and more.
Love and Deepspace's Valko cancellation frustrated fans. Seven Love and Deepspace alternatives on Android for otome and romance-game players who want more options.
Metroidvanias live and die by tight controls. These seven Android metroidvanias support Bluetooth gamepads properly — button mapping, analog aim, no touch overlay — so you can play the way the genre was designed.
Finished Oblivion Remastered and want more first-person open-world RPG? Seven Oblivion Remastered alternatives on Steam for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Finished SMT V: Vengeance and want more demon-fusing turn-based JRPGs on PC? Seven Vengeance alternatives across Steam for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
House of the Dragon season 3 dropped a long-awaited revenge episode this week. Seven medieval fantasy games on desktop that scratch the same Westerosi itch.
Strange New Worlds keeps reshaping Captain Kirk on screen. Seven Star Trek games for Windows, macOS, and Linux that let us captain our own ship, from the modern MMO to the cult classics.
Polygon broke down Deltarune Chapter 5's weird-route nightmare scenes this week. Seven Deltarune alternatives on Steam for the wait between chapters.
After six years of teasing, Genshin Impact finally revealed its big bad and the wiki is on fire. Seven Android Genshin companion apps that level up your endgame.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection got its first post-launch update, but if the cozy monster-collection RPG is not your fit these 7 desktop alternatives bring the same shape with different flavors.
A Studio Ghibli-styled Sekiro anime trailer reignited interest in the parry-heavy Soulslike. Seven Sekiro alternatives on Windows that scratch the same itch.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II passed 6 million sales and the 60% Steam discount is the easy on-ramp. Seven Kingdom Come alternatives for desktop in 2026 if you're done with Henry.
Skyrim turns 15 next year and we still recommend it weekly. If a Polygon Dragon's Dogma 2 binge nudged you off the mod list, these seven Skyrim alternatives for desktop step up.
Adventure Time: Side Quests is coming, but the existing Adventure Time game catalogue is thin. We tested 7 PC alternatives that match its vibe.
Pokémon TCG Pocket's new Everyday Wonders expansion landed this week. Here are 8 Android card battlers that scratch the same itch on mobile.
Lara Croft turns 30 this year. We tested 7 PC alternatives to the Tomb Raider series that hold up — action-adventure for fans of the franchise.
Star Wars Galactic Racer has the original-trilogy spirit. Eight Star Wars games for Windows, macOS, and Linux that already deliver, from the Jedi saga to the KOTOR catalogue.
Lords of the Fallen 2 slipped to 2027, leaving Hexworks fans without a sequel for another year. Seven Lords of the Fallen alternatives for Windows that fill the gap.
Polygon's Pokemon Pokopia underwater piece reignited the monster-collection itch on PC. Eight Pokemon-like monster collection games for desktop ranked and reviewed.
The Witcher 4 conversation is about consequences. We tested 8 of the best narrative-driven RPGs on PC where your choices actually rewrite the back half of the game.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is shaping the season cycle in 2026. Seven ARPGs worth installing on Windows or macOS desktop while you wait for the next ladder.
WoW: Midnight reset the conversation around subscription MMOs. Eight World of Warcraft alternatives on PC, covering subscription, free-to-play, and buy-to-play models.
No Law's 2026 reveal pulled cyberpunk shooters back to the top of PC wishlists. Seven games ranked on combat depth, world design, and value.
Polygon's coverage of Bethesda's early-access pipeline for Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 highlighted the wait. Seven Fallout 4 alternatives for PC, tested.
FFXIV's June patch gave players another reason to log in. For the days you want a different MMO on PC, here are seven Final Fantasy XIV alternatives.
Genshin Impact's Luna VIII patch lands July 1, but the gacha grind and storage footprint push players to look elsewhere. Here are seven Genshin Impact alternatives worth installing in 2026.
Ubisoft announced a Black Flag remake while Shadows shipped its final DLC. Seven pirate and naval games on PC for players who do not want to wait.
Xenoverse 3 was just teased. Until it ships, these are the seven best Dragon Ball games on Steam for Windows and Linux fans to play right now.
Just Press the Button lands on Switch June 18 with a dystopian narrative hook. Seven PC games already deliver the bleak futures, hard choices, and oppressive worlds.
CD Projekt's free-to-play Witcher co-op RPG is still years out. These 7 free-to-play co-op RPGs for PC, from Path of Exile to Throne and Liberty, are playable today.
Pokémon Champions just launched on Android with 1v1 PvP battles. If you want AR exploration, MOBA-style 5v5, or a card-game spin, we picked 7 strong alternatives.
Assassin's Creed Shadows just went free. Here are 7 stealth-action games for PC worth playing next, from Hitman to Dishonored to Death Stranding.
Jade Shadow's constellations gave Warframe a heat spike again. We tested 7 Warframe alternatives on Windows that scratch the same free-to-play looter shooter itch.
Wuthering Waves 3.4 just dropped Lucilla's banner. If the gacha grind or PC stutters wear you down, these seven action-RPG alternatives run great on Windows.
Lovecraftian horror is having another moment, from cult favorites to Steam Next Fest oddities. Seven cosmic horror games for Windows, macOS, and Linux, ranked after long nights with the lights off.
Mortal Shell 2 is in closed beta and most of us can't get in. These seven soulslike alternatives on PC scratch the same brittle-combat itch right now.
Persona 4 Remake is making the right calls, but it's a wait. Seven Persona 4 Remake alternatives for Windows that deliver the same JRPG plus social-sim mix today.
Wuthering Waves 3.4 dropped Lucilla and a Cyberpunk crossover, but the gacha is heavy and the optimization keeps slipping. These seven Wuthering Waves alternatives on Android scratch the same anime-action itch.
Patrice Désilets is back with a 1666: Amsterdam prologue, and the wait for the full game is long. Here are seven 1666: Amsterdam alternatives for stealth-action fans on PC.
Dave the Diver was the breakout cozy hybrid of 2023, and MINTROCKET is busy with Godzilla now. Here are seven Dave the Diver alternatives on PC that scratch the same itch.
FromSoftware's future is wrapped up in a Kadokawa investor vote. Seven Elden Ring alternatives for Windows that scratch the open-world Soulslike itch while you wait.
Wild Terra 2 is free to keep on Steam right now. These 8 free MMORPGs for PC, including Albion Online and FFXIV's free trial, are still worth your time in 2026.
Crimson Desert added a major pet patch in 2026. These 8 MMORPGs for PC put taming, training, and battling creatures at the heart of the loop.
33 Immortals fits 33 players into a co-op roguelike raid. These 8 multiplayer roguelike games for desktop deliver the run-die-restart loop with friends.
Palworld blew up at launch, then the meta hardened. We tested 7 Palworld alternatives for desktop that scratch the same survival, taming and crafting itch in 2026.
Finished Expedition 33 and still humming the score? These 8 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alternatives on Steam carry the turn-based JRPG flame in 2026.
Crimson Desert's pet-paradise patch keeps the community busy, but you might want a new world. We tested 7 desktop open-world action games that match its scope.
Polygon called Erosion the best thing to happen to roguelikes since Hades. While you wait for the playtest and 2027 launch, here are 7 Erosion alternatives for PC.
The RPG Maker forum shutdown threatens 14 years of community knowledge. We tested 7 desktop game-creation tools for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Sea of Remnants is a free-to-play pirate RPG arriving in 2026. While you wait, here are 7 desktop alternatives for ship building, naval combat, and pirate adventure.
The FromSoftware investor fight has fans rethinking what's next. We tested 8 desktop soulslike games for Windows, macOS, and Linux that match Elden Ring's depth.
Eight time loop games for PC, ranked. From Outer Wilds to Deathloop to 12 Minutes, with notes on loop length, story payoff, and how each handles repetition.
Stranger Than Heaven won't ship for ages. We rounded up 7 Yakuza-flavoured action games on PC that scratch the same noir, brawler, and side-story itch right now.
Square Enix's HD-2D shelf keeps growing. Seven of the best HD-2D RPG games on Windows in 2026, from Octopath to Dragon Quest III Remake and the new Final Fantasy.
Polygon called FF16 one of the best Final Fantasy games in years now on PlayStation Plus. We ranked 7 Final Fantasy XVI alternatives for PC if you cannot wait.
Guild Wars 3 was revealed but release is years away. We tested 7 MMORPG alternatives on PC right now that scratch the same horizontal-progression itch.
JRPG fans had a stacked Summer Game Fest. Eight of the best JRPG games on Windows in 2026, ranked from new to classic, with notes on length and combat style.
Persona 5 Royal is a 110-hour commitment. We tested 7 alternatives on PC that hit the same JRPG plus social-sim sweet spot.
Nintendo just announced the Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2. PC players who want top-down adventure now have these seven Zelda-like games on Windows.
Dressmaker is the cozy dress-up sleeper hit of the season. Seven cozy dress-up games on PC, Mac, and Linux that pair fashion with low-stakes storytelling.
Into the Wind is Kiki's Delivery Service meets Porco Rosso, and the wait is long. Seven cozy flying adventure games on PC, Mac, and Linux you can play now.
Square Enix's Final Fantasy Resonance launches as the first mobile HD-2D RPG. Seven HD-2D RPG apps for Android that scratch the same retro-modern itch.
Destiny 2's Monument of Triumph closes the live-service era. Seven Destiny 2 alternatives for PC that respect your loot, your time, and your wallet.
Capcom is pushing Dragon's Dogma 2 toward Switch 2, but PC players want more action-RPG depth right now. Seven Dragon's Dogma 2 alternatives for desktop.
Kingdom Hearts 4 fans are still waiting. While Square Enix takes its time, here are 7 Kingdom Hearts alternatives on PC that scratch the action-RPG itch.
Capcom is bringing Onimusha back on Switch 2, but PC players want demon-slaying samurai combat now. Seven Onimusha alternatives for desktop in 2026.
Nintendo just revealed Xenoblade Genesis for Switch 2. PC players want open-world JRPG depth now. Seven Xenoblade Chronicles alternatives on desktop.
Polygon's preview of Into the Wind put Studio Ghibli back on the gaming agenda. We tested 8 Ghibli-inspired desktop games on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Jump Over The Age's next game Signet City is years away. Seven Citizen Sleeper alternatives for Windows, Mac, and Linux that fit between runs.
Polygon's Vampire: The Masquerade Eternal Whispers reveal pitched it as a Disco Elysium clone. Seven Disco Elysium alternatives for PC while we wait.
ESO's June 2026 update is a real return reason, but it isn't the only fantasy MMO worth the time. Seven Elder Scrolls Online alternatives for Windows.
The Fable reboot now has a firm Xbox release date. Seven Fable alternatives for Windows to play through while we wait for Albion's return.
Bethesda's 2026 update gave Fallout 76 a real reason to log back in. Seven Fallout 76 alternatives for Windows for the days you're between visits.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 lands in September. Seven Minecraft Dungeons alternatives for Windows that fill the loot-and-loop gap with co-op friendly runs.
Persona 6 finally appeared at the Xbox Games Showcase, but the wait is long. Seven Persona alternatives for Windows that deliver the social-sim plus turn-based JRPG combo.
Polygon called Vivarium the cozy life-sim that stole the Xbox Showcase. We tested 7 desktop games that scratch the Stardew Valley itch in 2026.
Polygon's Vampire: The Masquerade Eternal Whispers reveal pulled the cult RPG back into the conversation. Seven Bloodlines alternatives that hold up.
Eurogamer's Aexodus preview pulled fans back to BioWare-style morality choices. Seven Mass Effect alternatives that actually fill the void in 2026.
Persona 4 Revival was just announced for spring. Until it lands, we ranked 7 PC JRPGs that capture the same social-sim plus dungeon-crawl rhythm.
Softonic's Spider-Noir reveal pulled Spider-Man fans back to PC. Seven Spider-Man and swing-action games that hold up on desktop in 2026.
Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember is coming sooner than expected. While we wait, we ranked 7 PC soulslikes that hit the same parry-and-counter brutality.
Project 1666 from Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Désilets just got a release window. Here are 7 Assassin's Creed alternatives worth playing on desktop right now.
Guild Wars 3 was officially confirmed at Summer Game Fest 2026. While ArenaNet builds it, here are 7 Guild Wars alternatives worth playing on PC right now.
Sega revealed Stranger Than Heaven with Tupac and Snoop Dogg attached. While we wait, here are 7 Yakuza alternatives worth playing on desktop right now.
Aion 2's global Steam launch is set for late 2026 but PC MMO fans want options now. Seven Aion 2 alternatives for Windows worth running through this year.
FF7 Remake Part 3 is coming but the wait stretches into next year. Seven Final Fantasy VII Remake alternatives for Windows that bridge the gap.
Mafia: The Old Country's Man of Honor DLC brings back a fan-favorite villain. Seven Mafia: The Old Country alternatives for Windows for crime-game fans.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Ascendance expansion brings back elder dragons but the wait between hunts is real. Seven Monster Hunter Wilds alternatives for Windows.
Stellar Blade nailed its PC debut but a single playthrough runs short. Seven Stellar Blade alternatives for Windows that scratch the same character-action itch.
Epic just gave away two tactical RPGs and Polygon is talking about it again. We ranked 7 of the best tactical RPG games on PC across Steam and Game Pass.
Amazon canceled the LotR MMO but said the franchise still has games coming. Until then, we ranked 7 PC MMORPGs that scratch the same Middle-earth itch.
Ultima Online's designer is back with a new sandbox MMO. We tested 7 Ultima Online alternatives on PC for players ready to move on.
Square Enix's Adventures of Elliot is six months away. We ranked 7 action JRPGs on Steam that bridge the wait, with Ys Origin as the benchmark.
Sony just teased a new God of War with a new lead. While we wait, we ranked 7 PC games that scratch the same cinematic action-adventure itch.
Lost in Random: Eternal Die is leaving Game Pass and Hades players are looking for the next great roguelike. Seven Hades alternatives for Windows, macOS, and Linux, ranked.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A's new season pushes the Switch entry further, but PC players want a monster-catching loop that runs on their hardware. Seven Legends: Z-A alternatives for desktop.
GGG keeps PoE1 alive, but which ARPG should fill your next 200 hours? We ranked 7 Path of Exile alternatives for PC, from Last Epoch to Titan Quest II.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is back and the genre is having a moment. These 7 samurai action games for Android cover hack-and-slash, RPG, and pixel-art duels.
Gothic 1 Remake just dropped -- and it's the freshest Witcher 3 alternative on PC right now. We ranked 7 open-world RPGs worth playing in 2026.
Telltale stories, Injustice slugfests, LEGO romps, and brawlers. The seven Batman games worth installing on Android in 2026, ranked after testing.
Final Fantasy VI hitting Game Pass renewed interest in classic JRPGs. We picked six classics that already play well on Android phones today.
Nintendo's mobile catalogue is small but specific. We tested the 6 still-live Nintendo and Pokémon games on Android, ranked by what they do well.
Where to play Rockstar's catalog on a phone after the Netflix Trilogy launch and the Google Play delistings. Seven titles worth installing on Android in 2026.
From Vampire Survivors to Castlevania to long-form RPGs. Seven vampire games worth installing on Android in 2026, ranked after testing.
Seven dungeon crawlers tested on Android, ranked on procedural depth, combat feel, item systems, and how respectful each one is of a free player's time.
Seven Westeros-themed and medieval-fantasy strategy games on Android, tested for combat depth, faction systems, multiplayer politics, and how much they actually feel like Thrones.
Open-world combat, monster hunting and a real story. These seven Android RPGs come closest to the Witcher feel on a phone, with notes on offline play, downloads and grind.
After Nintendo's 2024 lawsuits buried Citra, the 3DS emulator scene split into a handful of community forks. Here are the 7 best 3DS emulator apps for Android.
Stray finally landed on Switch 2 in May. Until it crosses to mobile, these 7 cat adventure games for Android scratch the same itch on your phone.
Mina the Hollower reignited the genre on PC and console. These 8 metroidvania games for Android keep the maps, the secrets, and the upgrade loops on a phone.
Seven Android action RPGs that put monster combat at the centre, tested for combat depth, build variety, story, and how well they handle phone-friendly session length.
With The Odyssey heading to cinemas, demand for Greek myth games is back. These seven Greek mythology games on Android span action RPG, real-time strategy, tower defence, and idle play.
Destiny 2 is winding down and there is no true Borderlands on phones, but these 8 loot-driven shooter games for Android come the closest.
PS Plus added a Warhammer 40K hit for June 2026. These seven Warhammer 40K games on Android cover tactics, on-rails action, card battles, dungeon crawls, and free-to-play strategy.
AC Identity's servers are gone and Rebellion is stuck in 2020. Here are 7 action-stealth and open-world games that actually scratch that parkour-and-blades itch on Android.
Running D&D on Android? We tested 7 apps for character sheets, dice rolling, initiative tracking, and spell lookup. Here's what actually works at the table.
Seven gothic dark fantasy RPGs on Android worth installing in 2026, ranked by atmosphere, combat depth, and how much they actually look like the genre promises.
Stardew Valley has no Android port. Here are 7 farming and life-sim games that scratch the same itch -- crops, relationships, exploration, and all.
The best Android games outside the Play Store in 2026, with official download sources, comparison tables, safety checks, and examples from Epic and F-Droid.
ZA/UM is back with Zero Parades. Seven Android role-playing games carry the same dialog-heavy, choice-driven DNA, from The Banner Saga to Choice of Games.
God of War's next entry has fans hunting Norse lore again. Seven Android games scratch the same itch, from Viking war MMOs and Thor action RPGs to Cultures: Northland.
The new Mass Effect news from Hasbro and the Mandalorian timeline beat both pulled space adventure back into the spotlight. Seven Android picks for trading, fighting, and surveying the void.
Xbox Game Pass is losing two must-play RPGs in May, and the tactics shelf at home is the obvious place to refill. Seven turn-based tactics games for Android, from Fire Emblem to Into the Breach and Disgaea.
We tested seven DC games for Android in 2026, ranking on roster depth, offline play, gacha pressure, and how it feels to play as Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman.
Most of the mainline Final Fantasy series runs on Android, plus a handful of mobile-first spinoffs. These nine picks span the Pixel Remasters, FF7, FF15 Pocket, and the strongest gacha entries.
Square Enix is calling its next RPG 'somewhat gacha-like' and the genre keeps getting bigger. These eight Android gacha games range from action-RPG showcase to tactical and turn-based picks worth the time investment.
The best open-world crime games for Android in 2026, tested across paid Netflix Rockstar ports and free Gangstar-style sandboxes. Picks for the GTA 6 wait.
From Marvel Snap to Strike Force, these seven Marvel mobile games on Android cover collectible card battles, RPG team building, and live-service action with the biggest roster.
Star Wars Outlaws on PlayStation Plus has revived interest in the franchise. These seven Star Wars games on Android cover hero collection, classic RPG, real-time shooter, pinball, and free-to-play picks.
Nintendo's Zelda movie delay sent fans hunting for adventure RPGs on the phone. Seven Zelda-like games on Android cover open-world exploration, dungeon-puzzle pacing, and item-based progression.
Stellar Blade 2 might go multiplatform and the stylish-action crowd is paying attention. Eight character action games for Android with combos, parries, and dodge windows.
Pearl Abyss just shipped a Crimson Desert update, and the MMORPG itch is back. These eight Android MMORPGs cover open-world action, classic grinds, and story-led ARPGs.
Manage characters, roll dice, run virtual tabletop sessions, and look up rules without leaving the table. We picked the best TTRPG companion apps for Android players and dungeon masters.
The Android games that push phone GPUs hardest in 2026. Open-world RPGs, console-quality racers, and shooters with visuals that rival dedicated handhelds.
