The Legend of Khiimori is one of the most exciting open world debuts of 2026 Steamslated for March 2026, it features a horse-centric action-adventure that doesn't feel like just another sandbox. Instead, it forges its own path across the 13th-century Mongolian steppes, allowing players to live the life of a courier rider who must traverse brutal terrain, bond with steeds, and endure the wilderness on a journey that is as spiritual as it is strategic. This makes it one of Steam's most promising and unique games, even if you may recognize some of its systems from elsewhere.
At first glance, parallels to Red Dead Redemption 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2and Death Stranding may feel strange. But where these titles rule their majesty across western frontiers, medieval kingdoms or post-apocalyptic delivery lines, Khiimori distills these influences into an experience rooted in one fundamental truth: life on the open plains is less about combat or spectacle and more about connecting with the world, the weather, and the creatures that carry you through it. For these reasons, this might be one of the best Steam games to get this year, and you can add it to your wishlist now.
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A world that breathes like RDR2 borders, but in 13th century Mongolia
If Red Dead Redemption 2 has some lessons for players and developers, is that an open world is not just a map or a conglomeration of things, but rather a living ecosystem. Rockstar's 2018 masterpiece remains unsurpassed in how vivid its edge is, and is part of what made the game so popular.
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Storms and weather changes are approached on purpose, making the world more alive and authentic.
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RDR2Wildlife is represented and is all about realism:
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Animals have a daily routine.
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Each animal species behaves differently (ie wolves hunt in packs, alligators stay in the water, etc.).
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They have reactions to their surroundings.
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Horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 may react to the presence of specific animals such as snakes.
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The world is divided into different biomes and ecosystems, where persistence is key (for example, dead animals don't spawn immediately, and hunting can reduce the population of a given species).
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Dusting off Arthur Morgan's boots and tending to the horses feels more like part of the beat than another aspect to me RDR2game loop.
How The Legend of Khiimori pays homage to RDR2
IN The Legend of Khiimorithe vast Mongolian landscapes seem carved from a similar design philosophy. Snow-covered passes, burning deserts, and vast grasslands encourage players to plan their routes ahead and purposefully breed and train horses. Emphasizing survival over spectacle can seemingly turn every journey into a gamble, a far cry from fast travel icons or waypoint markers. There is tension in every decision and in this restlessness you can feel echoes of how the world Red Dead Redemption 2 it is so masterfully designed.
Where Arthur Morgan bonds with his horse, taking care of grooming, feeding and stamina, Khiimori it requires deeper interdependence. You're not just riding, you're creating a partnership with your horse that can make every part of the journey as narrative as any story mission. This turns the traversal into a basic mechanical rhythm rather than a chore, and with the way the horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 were curated, a similar level of detail and/or connection with them could elevate Khiimori to great heights.
The Legend of Khiimori's Medieval Immersion Borrowed From Kingdom Come 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2Medieval immersion has set a new bar for video games. Its sprawling bohemian world, dense NPC systems, and sometimes clunky yet deeply satisfying mechanics make every milestone feel earned. Knights, mercenaries, and peasants live their lives in painstaking detail, and the player's decisions carry weight in both gameplay and story.
Sometimes also from the point of view of world stability. Khiimori it's not a first-person RPG, nor is it an imitation KCD2narrative depth, but his sense of realism is probably inspired by the same philosophy.
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Open world v The Legend of Khiimori it is not simply expansive, but challenges players to respect it.
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The weather is not a background decoration and it changes your attitude.
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Horses are not tools, they are lifelines that you must train, feed and breed, and success depends on them.
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A survival loop in the game consisting of foraging, crafting and planning mirrors Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's harsh environment, which is an opponent as much as any enemy.
Where Liberation 2Historical authenticity is its main star, Khiimori he channels it through cultural and ecological fidelity. The result is an immersion that feels earned, not by bombastic set pieces, but by persistent systems that shape your every choice. Like Warhorse Studios' medieval sandbox, Khiimori seemingly rewarding patience, awareness and tactical thinking.
Silent echoes of Death Stranding in every delivery of the legend of Khiimori
Maybe it will surprise someone The Legend of Khiimori compared to Death Strandingbut strip away Hideo Kojima's sci-fi flair and you'll find a thought experiment about working in an unforgiving world. Sam Bridges' Odyssey is not about action, but rather about connection: connecting Death Stranding's terminals, people and places through a difficult passage. In turn, your cargo becomes a story and your backpack a character to protect.
IN Khiimoria courier's life is literally about delivery. Each mission is not just a quest marker and you have to earn both survival and legacy. Unlike most action titles, the tension doesn't come from gunfights or blade clashes; it comes from route planning, weather forecasting and anticipating how the terrain will drain your horse's stamina The Legend of Khiimoriif not directly endanger the precious cargo. This is not padding, but a purpose. And to that end, you'll be more reminded of Sam Bridges' list of waypoints than any shootout in a triple shooter.
The game's developers leaned into this ethos, the location Khiimori as a simulation of courier life rather than a glorified hack-and-slash adventure. And while critics have already pointed out the graphical rough edges and control guesswork in early previews, the underlying system depth evokes the same contemplative pace as Death Stranding more than just a walking sim.
Why these comparisons matter and where Khiimori stands on its own
Comparing a niche Early Access title to giants like RDR2, KCD2and Death Stranding it is inherently reductive. These are the benchmarks while Khiimori is a promise for now – one that synthesizes their best qualities without simply copying them. FROM Red Dead 2, Khiimori adapts this feeling of a living world where the coexistence of environment and creatures is as integral as NPC quests and plans. FROM Kingdom Comeit requires systemic survival and realism that turns every moment into a mechanic that matters. And from Death Strandingit borrows the meditative rhythm of purposeful browsing, the joy of the journey as its own reward.
Where Red Dead 2 tells a dying frontier through story and character, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 explores medieval life through role-playing and consequences, Khiimori he finds his voice in the silent grind. It's not the biggest shootout or the most dramatic cutscene. It's about the wind across the steppe, the weight of gear on tired shoulders, and the trust between rider and horse as you chase the horizon.
In a market saturated with spectacle, this focus feels refreshingly humble and deeply promising. The Legend of Khiimori it's not just that kind of game Red Dead Redemption 2, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2and Death Stranding. Instead, it distills their philosophy into a unique vision of open-world survival rooted in horse-riding and careful exploration. It's a game that asks you not only to play, but to live the life of a courier, with all its solitude, strategy and subtle triumphs.
- Released
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October 26, 2018
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, drug and alcohol use
