Steampunk’s Grand Comeback in Gaming: Must-Play Titles of 2026
From SAND: Raiders of Sophie to Clockwork Revolution and 2XKO, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for steampunk gaming. Whether it’s tactical RPGs, extraction shooters, or fighting games, the genre proves it can evolve and surprise. Here’s a look at the most anticipated releases and must-play titles to catch up on.
Golden gears, majestic airships, oversized steam engines, and Victorian aristocracy: the steampunk aesthetic remains as captivating as ever. Even better, developers are now exploring fresh angles by blending the genre with diverse mythologies and innovative gameplay mechanics. Here’s what 2026 holds for steam-powered adventures and clockwork wonders.
Image credit: Steampunk Avenue
2XKO: Piltover’s steampunk world finally arrives on consoles
The free 2v2 fighting game from Riot Games just launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S this January 2026. Already available in early access on PC since last October, 2XKO also kicks off its Season 1 with the arrival of a new iconic character.
Who better than Caitlyn, Piltover’s Sheriff, to embody the game’s steampunk vibe? With her imposing steam-powered rifle and oversized top hat, she perfectly represents Piltover’s Victorian-industrial universe. Indeed, the worlds of League of Legends and Arcane are deeply rooted in steampunk, especially through the twin cities of Piltover and Zaun, where hextech technology and steam inventions shape every corner.
The game promises cross-play and shared progression across all platforms, plus a local multiplayer mode for 2 to 4 players. It’s an excellent gateway to dive into this vibrant steampunk universe full of colorful characters.
SAND: Raiders of Sophie – space pirates and steam mechs arrive in March
March 2026 will bring one of the year’s most original titles: SAND: Raiders of Sophie. Developed by Ukrainian studios Hologryph and TowerHaus and published by tinyBuild, this PvPvE extraction shooter FPS (in the vein of Arc Raiders) plunges players into an alternate 1910 where the Austro-Hungarian Empire dominates space exploration.
The premise is fascinating: after an ecological disaster on planet Sophie, survivors roam a post-apocalyptic desert aboard Tramplers—massive customizable walking mechanical bases. These steampunk behemoths serve as transport, base, storage, and war machines. Their legs can even fold up to transform them into metal ships capable of crossing water.
The gameplay blends open-world exploration, urban ruin looting, PvP combat, and battles against undead creatures haunting Sophie. Each Trampler can be built and customized from the ground up, offering impressive design freedom in this space-western steampunk setting.
The game will launch first on PC and PlayStation 5 in March, followed by Xbox Series X|S later in the year. A unique offering that’s sure to make waves.
Shadow of the Road: when feudal Japan meets the industrial revolution
Also slated for 2026, Shadow of the Road from Owlcat Games (Pathfinder, Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader) and Another Angle Games offers a turn-based RPG set in a captivating world: Japan in 1868 during the Boshin War, reimagined with a heavy steampunk twist.
The story plunges players into a brutal conflict between the traditionalist forces of Shogun Tokugawa and the technologically superior army of Emperor Mutsuhito, backed by the British East Nippon Company. The result? A world where ancient temples stand alongside massive steam machines, and magic violently intertwines with machinery.
The gameplay promises Baldur’s Gate-style tactical combat where each team member has unique abilities, supported by a relationship and personal objective system that shapes every encounter. Players will face both mythological yōkai and formidable steampunk constructs.
Good news: a demo is already available on Steam for those curious to sample this fusion of Japanese culture and Victorian industrial aesthetics! The developers bring solid experience (The Witcher, Outriders, Ghostrunner), evident in the quality of the presentation.
Clockwork Revolution: 2026’s AAA steampunk hope
The year’s premier pure steampunk event remains Clockwork Revolution, a first-person RPG developed by inXile Entertainment (Wasteland, Torment) for Xbox Game Studios. Announced in June 2023, this ambitious title aims for a 2026 release.
The action unfolds in Avalon, a Victorian steampunk metropolis ruled with an iron fist by Lady Ironwood. The core concept revolves around time travel via the Chronometer, a device that lets players alter past events to witness dramatic ripple effects in the present. This narrative device promises deep, consequential choices in true inXile RPG fashion.
Recent trailers have showcased a deep character creation system, complex multi-character dialogues, and an arsenal blending steampunk weaponry with late 19th-century arms. The aesthetic strongly recalls BioShock, with its grand airships, omnipresent robots, and exploration of class struggle in a dystopian industrial society. This is the true steampunk blockbuster of 2026, and expectations are sky-high.
While waiting for new releases, don’t miss the 2025 GOTY
As we patiently await these new titles, now’s the perfect time to catch up. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which snagged the Game of the Year (GOTY) 2025 at last December’s Game Awards, marks a historic moment for the French gaming industry and steampunk fans alike.
This RPG by Sandfall Interactive is primarily inspired by the French Belle Époque but draws heavily on steampunk fantasy aesthetics. The fictional city of Lumière masterfully blends Haussmannian architecture, gravitational anomalies, and impressive steam machinery. It’s this unique mix that creates the game’s distinctive atmosphere—part dream, part nightmare.
A fascinating tidbit: Clair Obscur’s steampunk roots were a happy accident. As Guillaume Broche, the game director, revealed, early prototypes heavily used steampunk assets simply because they were freely available and abundant. Working solo at the time, Broche made a pragmatic choice that ended up shaping the project’s DNA. Only after the full studio formed was the game reimagined with its current French identity—while retaining the steampunk influences that now define its charm.
The success has been phenomenal: over 4.4 million copies sold, an average Metacritic score of 9.7/10 (the highest ever), and nine trophies at the 2025 Game Awards. A free “Thank You” update recently added new boss fights and environments to extend the adventure.
Bonus deal: Steam currently offers tempting discounts on Sovereign Syndicate ($5.99), a turn-based narrative RPG set in Victorian London, and SteamWorld Dig 2 ($1.19), an excellent Metroidvania acclaimed by players.
Steam, Steampunk games, Xbox Series X|S
