Two New D&D Games at Gamescom Offer Wildly Different Visions of the Franchise

Gamescom 2026 gave Dungeons & Dragons fans two very different looks at the franchise's video game future. The first is Warlock, an open-world action-RPG from Invoke Studios that leans into spell-collecting and large-scale exploration, drawing comparisons to Far Cry for its approach to open-world design. GameSpot and Rock Paper Shotgun both went hands-on with the title, noting that while it is not afraid to stray from classic D&D traditions, it still carries the unmistakable flavor of the tabletop universe. The game has you roaming a sweeping fantasy world, gathering spells and building your arcane arsenal as you go.

The bigger surprise of the show, however, may have been Dungeons & Dragons: Long Rest Tavern, a cozy shop simulator that flips the usual adventurer fantasy entirely on its head. Rather than suiting up for epic quests, players run a tavern in the Forgotten Realms, serving the adventurers who stop in between their own heroic deeds. Previews from Game Informer, Polygon, and GameSpot all highlighted the game's charming premise and warm tone, with more than one outlet suggesting it made an even stronger first impression than the higher-profile Warlock. Long Rest Tavern is currently targeting a PC release in 2027.

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