Red Dead Redemption 2 Meets Valheim In Huge New Open-World Survival RPG

Published Aug 24, 2026, 12:00 AM EDT

Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there.

Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers.

Combining the setting and visuals which look as though they were taken right out of Red Dead Redemption 2 with the open-world exploration and survival mechanics of Valheim, this upcoming action-survival shooter is guaranteed to offer hours of fun in both solo and co-op play.

Developed by Kintsugiyama, The Legend of California takes place on a mythical island during the gold rush era with players tasked with exploring an untamed frontier and forging their own legacy alone or with friends.

Despite not yet having a release window, The Legend of California is already no stranger to a wishlist, with potential players now able to mark their interest over on Steam. In the meantime, however, let us take a deeper look at why this survival shooter is catching our eye.

In typical survival genre mechanics, players will need to explore, gather, craft, build, hunt, and fight, but this time, it will be across a frontier where it is not just your mission to survive, but to thrive.

Stay strong, stake your claim, and become the true Legend of California.

Set across an ever-changing open-world, The Legend of California features distinct biomes, challenging PvE encounters, and iconic Californian landmarks as players master FPS combat with precision and skill, whether that is taking down the local wildlife or storming bandit camps in order to make some quick coin. Not only that, but you will also have the option to partake in PvP gameplay, which could see you have to defend your territory against enemy players.

When you are not fighting, you will need to focus on survival, whether that means building your base or collecting resources to help you survive the day. In your base, you will be able to build stables for your mounts, unlock powerful upgrades on the crafting table, and even dig your very own mine and get collecting that precious gold.

If you do not want to go it alone, The Legend of California supports multiplayer gameplay, allowing you and up to three players to create your own company, sharing resources, buildings, progress, and more.

It is clear that The Legend of California is the perfect game for fans of the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 and Valheim, combining the two hit titles into one stunning open-world survival FPS. As mentioned, it does not yet have a release date, but its developers will be hosting its fourth alpha weekend on 17 September through to the 21. If you are interested in partaking, you can sign up to The Legend of California playtest over on its official Steam page.