15 Games Like Horizon Forbidden West: Action RPGs That Deliver Stunning Worlds in 2026

Horizon Forbidden West set the bar impossibly high when it dropped in 2022, a sprawling action RPG that nailed everything from machine combat mechanics to world-building that actually made players care. But here’s the thing: even after 100+ hours, you’re hungry for something new. You want that same blend of tactical combat, breathtaking vistas, and a protagonist who doesn’t just exist in the world but shapes it. The good news? 2026 is packed with games that scratch that exact itch. Whether you’re craving post-apocalyptic sci-fi, dark fantasy, or mythology-driven adventures, there’s something waiting for you. We’ve rounded up the best action RPGs that capture that Forbidden West magic, some you’ve probably missed, others that just released, and a few coming soon that deserve your attention.

Why Action RPGs Like Horizon Forbidden West Captivate Gamers

Horizon Forbidden West isn’t just another open-world action game, it’s a masterclass in making players feel powerful while still respecting the threat level of enemies. The combat rewards preparation, exploration, and skill in equal measure. You can’t brute-force your way through a machine herd: you need to understand their mechanics, exploit weaknesses, and adapt your loadout.

That’s what makes games in this genre so addictive. They combine tight combat mechanics with genuine player agency. Your build matters. Your positioning matters. Your ammo management matters. Unlike looser action games where button-mashing gets you through, action RPGs like Horizon demand engagement.

Then there’s the world-building. Forbidden West created a post-apocalyptic setting that feels alive, not just visually stunning, but narratively compelling. The environmental storytelling, the NPC dialogue that actually enriches lore, the way ruins hint at what came before. That sense of discovery keeps you exploring for 80+ hours without it feeling like a chore.

Finally, there’s the protagonist factor. Aloy is a character you grow attached to because the game earns it. Strong writing, solid voice acting, and meaningful character arcs make you care about her journey. Games that replicate this formula, where combat is skill-based, worlds are detailed, and characters are written well, create an experience that sticks with you long after credits roll.

Top Story-Driven Action RPGs to Play Next

Open-World Exploration With Cinematic Storytelling

Elden Ring remains the gold standard for action RPG combat. While it’s not open in the traditional “map markers” sense, the Lands Between offer unprecedented freedom in how you approach encounters. The DLC expansion pushed difficulty higher and added some of the most creative boss designs from FromSoftware. If you skipped it, the base game alone offers 60-80 hours of rewarding exploration. Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Xbox Series X

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Ghost of Tsushima delivers the closest narrative experience to Forbidden West’s cinematic approach. Set in 1274 Japan, you play as Jin Sakai, a samurai learning to become a ghost. The combat feels responsive and weighty, every sword clash has impact. The story unfolds across a lush open world, with environmental storytelling that rivals Guerrilla Games’ work. The Iki Island expansion added 10+ hours of content that deepens Jin’s character. Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC (PlayStation exclusivity until recently).

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is still one of the best-written open-world games ever made. Geralt’s monster-hunting adventures across the Northern Kingdoms feature quest design that actually respects your intelligence. Side quests have weight, moral complexity, and genuine surprises. The combat is less demanding than Horizon but more forgiving, perfect if you want story to take the wheel. Next-gen updates in 2024 made this 8-year-old game feel fresh again. Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

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God of War Ragnarök (2023) refined the formula Kratos established in 2018. The narrative pays off years of emotional setup. Combat is methodical and satisfying, with equipment and ability trees offering meaningful customization. What sets it apart is how the story integrates into gameplay, this isn’t a game that stops playing cutscenes to talk. Platforms: PS4, PS5.

Post-Apocalyptic and Sci-Fi Adventures

Fallout 4 still holds up as a post-apocalyptic RPG that rewards exploration. The Commonwealth is packed with environmental storytelling. Granted, the dialogue system and some quest design haven’t aged perfectly, but the foundation is solid. If you want that post-apocalyptic vibe with more RPG depth than Horizon’s level-up system, Fallout scratches a different itch. Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

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Cyberpunk 2077 had a rough launch in 2020, but 2.1+ patches transformed it into a genuinely excellent action RPG. The Phantom Liberty expansion added 15+ hours of content with some of the game’s best storytelling. Night City is a marvel of environmental design, and the character-driven narrative actually justifies all those dialogue trees. The combat rewards build-crafting, whether you’re a netrunner, corpo assassin, or street brawler. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023) stepped up from its prequel in every way. The combat is punishing but fair, with a variety of lightsaber stances that change how encounters play out. The story follows Cal Kestis as he grapples with being hunted. Each planet feels distinct, with exploration that rewards curiosity. It’s not as open as Horizon, but the action-adventure formula is rock solid. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

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The Outer Worlds is smaller and scrappier than Fallout 4 or Forbidden West, but it doesn’t pretend otherwise. It’s a focused action RPG where your choices tangibly reshape the world. If you want something that respects your time while still offering depth, this 20-30 hour campaign is excellent. Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac.

For those interested in games like Horizon Forbidden, checking community recommendations on gaming forums often surfaces cult classics alongside mainstream hits.

Console-Exclusive Alternatives You Shouldn’t Miss

PlayStation Standouts

Spider-Man 2 (2023) proved that superhero action games could be more than spectacle. The combat builds on the Arkham formula but adds verticality and mobility that feels earned. Swinging through New York is cathartic, and the story balances two protagonists, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, with genuine emotional weight. Combat encounters scale difficulty intelligently, so you’re challenged but rarely frustrated. Platforms: PS4, PS5.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure sounds lighthearted until you hit the harder content. It’s a 3D platformer-action hybrid that demands precision. While tonal departure from Horizon’s grounded sci-fi, the combat responsiveness and world design share DNA with quality action games. Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC.

If you’re exploring Horizon Forbidden West Steam availability, you might notice that PlayStation exclusives often drive players toward specific console choices. Understanding what each platform offers helps you make informed decisions about your library.

Xbox and Multi-Platform Gems

Starfield (2023) is Bethesda’s ambitious space-faring RPG. Unlike Fallout, it leans harder into sci-fi storytelling. The procedural planet generation means endless exploration, though quality varies. What makes it click is the faction-based questline structure, each faction offers a full story arc with meaningful choices. Combat feels solid, if not Horizon-level refined. Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X

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Forspoken (2023) was divisive, but mechanically it’s excellent. Protagonist Frey’s parkour-based movement and spell-crafted combat create a flow state that rivals Horizon’s best moments. The world of Athia is stunningly detailed. The story and dialogue have issues, but moment-to-moment gameplay is addictive. Platforms: PS5, PC.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024) pivots the franchise toward action RPG territory. Combat is chaotic, character-driven, and surprisingly deep. If you want something tonally different from Horizon’s serious post-apocalyptic tone but mechanically similar in its action-RPG foundations, Ryu Ga Gotoku’s work deserves exploration. Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X

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Palworld exploded in 2024 as a “Pokémon for adults” action RPG. You’re running a farm, catching creatures, and engaging in base-building with combat that’s more dynamic than you’d expect. It’s early access, so systems continue evolving, but the foundation is genuinely fun. Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X

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PC Gaming Options With Similar Gameplay and Visuals

PC has become the go-to platform for visually demanding action RPGs, especially with DLSS 3 and FSR 3 pushing performance boundaries. Here’s what you should prioritize.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 (2024) is an underrated gem. The Pawn system, AI companions you design and level alongside your character, creates dynamic party-based combat unseen elsewhere. Climbing massive monsters, exploiting weaknesses, adapting strategy on the fly, it’s Horizon-adjacent but with its own identity. Visually, it’s stunning on high-end rigs, and the world encourages exploration. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

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Black Myth: Wukong (2024) started as a passion project and became a phenomenon. It’s a soulslike action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology. Combat is punishing but fair, with boss encounters that demand pattern recognition and reflexes. The story adapts based on your choices between combat and exploration. Performance optimization is excellent, runs well even on mid-tier hardware. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

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Alan Wake 2 (2023) blurs action-adventure with psychological horror. Combat is less about “winning” and more about managing resources and psychological states. The story unfolds nonlinearly across two protagonist perspectives. While less of an RPG stat-wise, the choice architecture and environmental storytelling echo Horizon’s depth. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

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Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023) is a different beast, turn-based, D&D 5e ruleset, but the world-building, character depth, and choice architecture rival anything Forbidden West attempted. The story respects intelligence and rewards exploration. If you’re willing to shift from real-time combat, BG3 is the gold standard for narrative-driven RPGs. Platforms: PC, PS5, Mac.

According to recent gaming news outlets, PC gaming in 2026 continues pushing visual fidelity while maintaining performance stability, something Guerrilla’s optimization proved essential for action RPGs.

Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga (2024) is a cinematic action-adventure masterpiece. The production quality rivals AAA blockbusters. Combat is visceral and bloody, but the narrative focus, Senua’s psychological journey, takes precedence. It’s shorter than Horizon (12-15 hours) but dense with meaning. The audio design is extraordinary. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

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Upcoming Releases That Match Horizon’s Scale and Ambition

2026 is bringing heavy-hitters that should scratch your action RPG itch.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024, with post-launch content rolling through 2026) reinvented the franchise. Real-time combat with tactical pause options offers flexibility Forbidden West doesn’t. The story focuses on character relationships and choices that reshape the world. The Thedas setting is rich with lore spanning 200+ years. If you want a narrative-heavy RPG with proper character progression systems, this is essential. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

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Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (2023, ongoing support) doesn’t get enough credit. The open world of Pandora is staggeringly beautiful, pushing PS5 to its limits visually. Combat is less demanding than Horizon but still engaging. The story focuses on reclaiming land from occupiers, with environmental themes baked into gameplay. It’s sprawling, gorgeous, and mechanically solid. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X

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Avowed (2025, releasing Q1) is Obsidian’s fantasy RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity world. Real-time tactical combat, branching narrative, and a magic system that rewards experimentation. Early footage shows ambition, large-scale encounters, destructible environments, and actual NPC routines. Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X

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Mafia: Vito’s Empire (rumored 2025) could reshape open-world crime RPGs. While details are sparse, Hangar 13’s previous work shows genuine world-building potential. If confirmed, this would offer organized crime storytelling with action-RPG mechanics. Platforms: Expected multi-platform.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2025) is the next chapter in Square Enix’s remake trilogy. Real-time combat blending character abilities, materia customization, and summon systems creates layered combat depth. The Gaia world is being rebuilt with genuine exploration rewards. This is less post-apocalyptic realism and more anime-influenced fantasy, but the mechanical depth rivals Forbidden West. Platforms: PS5.

As platforms evolve, coverage from gaming sites like GamesRadar+ tracks upcoming releases and their technical performance across hardware.

How to Choose Your Next Game: Key Comparison Factors

You’ve got a list now, but which one should you actually play? Here’s how to narrow it down based on what matters to you.

Combat Style Matters Most. Horizon’s combat rewards careful preparation and mechanical skill. If you want that exact feel, games like Elden Ring, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Black Myth: Wukong deliver. If you prefer less demanding combat with story taking center stage, Witcher 3, Ghost of Tsushima, and God of War Ragnarök are stronger. Soulslike fans absolutely need to try Elden Ring or Black Myth: Wukong. If turn-based interests you, Baldur’s Gate 3 obliterates all competition.

World Size vs. Density Trade-Off. Forbidden West is enormous but doesn’t feel bloated. Cyberpunk 2077 is similarly packed, every street corner has environmental storytelling. Starfield goes bigger but sacrifices density: planets are procedural, which means less hand-crafted detail. Dragon’s Dogma 2 balances size and detail excellently. If you want quality over quantity in exploration, Ghost of Tsushima and Hellblade II are tighter packages that respect your time.

Story Priority. Want narrative on Forbidden West’s level? Baldur’s Gate 3, God of War Ragnarök, and Ghost of Tsushima deliver. Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth focus heavily on character arcs. Cyberpunk 2077 (post-2.1 patches) has excellent side quests. If story is secondary, Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong prioritize moment-to-moment gameplay over narrative.

Platform Constraints. PlayStation exclusive? Ghost of Tsushima, Spider-Man 2, and God of War Ragnarök are non-negotiable. Xbox Game Pass member? Starfield and Palworld are incredible value. PC gamer with RTX? Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Hellblade II showcase what high-end hardware achieves. Nintendo Switch player? Witcher 3 and The Outer Worlds are solid ports.

Time Commitment. Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 can stretch 100+ hours easily. If you want something 30-40 hours, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Hellblade II are excellent. Starfield is infinitely replayable but has a defined endgame. God of War Ragnarök takes 40-50 hours if you’re thorough.

Difficulty Tolerance. Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong will humble you. Forbidden West scales beautifully with difficulty sliders, if you want that, Ghost of Tsushima and Dragon’s Dogma 2 offer similar accessibility. Baldur’s Gate 3 is turn-based, so difficulty becomes a matter of preparation rather than reaction time. Cyberpunk 2077 has extensive difficulty settings that genuinely alter how you approach encounters.

When you’re ready to dive deep into a new world, checking detailed guides and reviews from major gaming outlets helps you avoid buyer’s remorse. The gaming community across Reddit, Discord, and YouTube also provides real-world experiences that inform smart decisions.

Conclusion

Horizon Forbidden West set a high bar, but it didn’t create a vacuum, it proved there’s massive audience appetite for action RPGs that respect player intelligence. The 15+ games we’ve outlined aren’t just Horizon clones: they’re experiences that understand what makes that game special and interpret it through their own lens.

Each brings something distinct to the table. Elden Ring’s combat framework is fundamentally different but equally rewarding. Ghost of Tsushima nails cinematic storytelling without open-world bloat. Baldur’s Gate 3 proves narrative depth doesn’t require real-time combat. Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption arc shows that patches and passion can salvage ambitious projects. Dragon’s Dogma 2 creates dynamic encounters you won’t find elsewhere.

Your next 100-hour adventure is waiting. Whether you prioritize combat feel, narrative depth, visual fidelity, or character progression, one of these games will grab you the same way Forbidden West did. Start with what matches your platform and tolerance for difficulty, then branch out. In 2026, action RPGs have never been more diverse or mechanically sophisticated. Pick one, immerse, and get ready to lose track of time.