Skyrim meets Rust in huge new open-world RPG

Love the vast fantasy sandbox of Skyrim? Enjoy the chaos of Rust? This new survival game might just be exactly what you're looking for.

2025 is already looking absolutely stacked, but there's one release you should definitely keep your eye on - especially if you love games like Skyrim, Rust, and Valheim.

"Renown is a fast paced multiplayer survival experience set in a vast and ever changing medieval world," reads the new game's Steam description. "Players begin with nothing, gather resources, build a kingdom and fight to survive in the hopes of becoming renowned across the land."

Renown promises all the features you'd expect from a game like this: brutal combat, base building, survival, and all kinds of social politics as you work with friends and strangers to carve out a virtual life.

Developer and publisher RDBK Studios is planning to release Renown in Early Access via Steam this year, and actually held a playtest just last month.

Over on the game's subreddit, those who have been able to access the various playtests say Renown has a lot of potential — but that there are definitely some issues to be ironed out. Still, that's exactly what playtests and Early Access are for.

If this looks like it might be up your alley, it's definitely worth keeping an eye on. The game has been in development for a few years now and really does look like a labour of the love for the developers. It also has all the makings of the next big thing, if it manages to stick the landing. Watch this space.