Free Tactical RPG Is Getting a Sequel in 2026

Once upon a time, mobile and free-to-play games were largely puzzle games like Candy Crush or simple clicker games like Flappy Bird. But these days, the capabilities of mobile gaming have led to impressive tactical RPGs, in-depth management sims, and more in the palm of our hands. 2019’s Arknights is among the most popular mobile games around to this day, offering an engaging combination of strategy, in-depth lore, and a beautiful art style. Now, Arknights is gearing up to get a new spin-off in the form of Arknights: Endfield, releasing in early 2026.

The original Arknights is still available only on mobile devices, though a PC client is reportedly in the works. However, the spin-off follow-up to the hit tactical RPG is eyeing a multi-platform release at launch. Arknights: Endfield will release on January 22nd, 2026 for PC via Steam, PS5, and mobile devices. It marks a highly anticipated return to the universe from the original mobile anime game. Here’s why this just might be one to watch in early 2026.

What Makes Arknights So Popular

When it comes to free-to-play gacha games, Arknights isn’t always the first one to come up. Many people think first of HoYoverse titles like Genshin Impact. And yet, when it comes to recommending the best gacha games that are actually friendly for free-to-play players? Most seasoned gacha fans recommend Arknights.

Though it does use a gacha mechanic, Arknights is otherwise pretty unique compared to other offerings in the free-to-play RPG space. It is a combination of tactical RPG and tower defense, making it compelling to players who may not be interested in a more straightforward open-world RPG on mobile.

While Arknights might be a more niche genre than more maintstream free-to-play games, that’s an advantage as far as many fans are concerned. The mobile game boasts a 4.7/5 star rating in the Apple App Store and a 4.4 on Google Play. Fans consistently claim its one of the best mobile games in recent years, with good options for free players and overall engaging mechanics that keep players c oming back for more. The game introduces new characters and mechanics with regular updates to keep things interesting, adding to its longevity.

After being available for 5 years, Arknights continues to be a regular part of many gacha and tower defense players’ mobile gaming routine. And now, fans are about to get a brand-new entry in the franchise. Better still, the next game will be available on more platforms, giving it hte potential to expand the Arknights fanbase even further.

What Sets Arknights: Endfield Apart From Its Predecessor

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So, if Arknights is still going strong, why are we getting a new spin-off? Though it is made by the same developers and set in the same universe, Arknights: Endfield will be quite different from Arknights. For starters, it’s not a tower defense game, but rather a real-time 3D strategy RPG. It will use team-based battle mechanics, where players will need to consider party composition and skills to tackle new challenges.

While Arknights uses a semi-idle tower defense structure, Endfield will bring in real-time combat for its action RPG gameplay. There will also be base-buliding and factory management elements, similar to popular games like Satisfactory. That means fans will get to enjoy resource collection and mnagement as well as the semi-real-time combat.

The story will also be different from that in Arknights. Whereas the tower defense game takaes place in the post-apocalyptic Terra, Endfield takes players to one of its moons. On Talos-2, players will encounter a civilization that was cut off from Terra thanks to an apocalyptic event leaving the former pioneers to fend for themelves. This means that, while some aspects of the story and world will feel familiar, Hypergryph can also take things in a different direction in interesting ways.

Arknights: Endfield will release on January 22nd, 2026 for PC, PS5, and mobile. By launching on PC and console right out of the gate, this title has the potential to reach a broader and less niche audience that its predecessor. It will be free-to-play with optional in-game purchase and will use a gacha system.

Are you looking forward to Arknights: Endfield? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!