Dan Houser is associated with two upcoming Absurd Ventures game projects: A Better Paradise, a sci-fi open-world action-adventure with Smilegate announced as its global publisher, and an untitled story-driven open-world game set in the Absurdaverse. Neither has a confirmed release date or window, platforms, price, or publicly detailed gameplay in the available announcements and reporting.
What games is Dan Houser making now?
The two projects are distinct, and the amount of confirmed information differs. A Better Paradise has a named publishing partner and a stated genre. The Absurdaverse project has been reported as an original open-world game alongside an animated series, but its details are more limited.
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| Project | What is established | What remains unknown |
|---|---|---|
| A Better Paradise | AAA open-world sci-fi action-adventure set in the A Better Paradise universe; Smilegate announced as global publisher. | Release date or window, platforms, price, and detailed gameplay. |
| Untitled Absurdaverse game | Reported as an original AAA, story-driven open-world game project, alongside an untitled animated series. | Release date or window, platforms, price, publisher, and detailed gameplay. |
What is confirmed about the A Better Paradise game?
In an August 6, 2025 announcement, Smilegate described the project as an AAA open-world sci-fi action-adventure set in the world of A Better Paradise. Smilegate was named global publisher, with development funding planned from the company. The announcement said Dan Houser would write and creative-direct alongside Absurd Ventures’ worldbuilding and creative team. It also named longtime collaborators Lazlow and Michael Unsworth and said development at the studio was led by Greg Borrud.
The announcement described the game as being in early development at that time. That is an announcement-time status, not a verified description of its progress in October 2026. Smilegate said further schedule and platform details would follow later; the cited material does not provide them.
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Is the game based on the novel?
It is set in the same fictional world, but it is not described as a direct retelling. In a 2025 Sunday Brunch interview, Houser said, “We are making a game set in the same world, but not exactly the same story,” as quoted by GamesRadar. He also said development had begun about 18 months earlier and would take “another few years.” Those relative estimates from 2025 do not establish a launch year or guarantee a schedule.
What is known about the Absurdaverse game?
GamesRadar reported in April 2026 that Absurd Ventures had an untitled original AAA, story-driven open-world video game in development, alongside an untitled animated series. The report also listed initial performers associated with the project, but the accessible information does not establish the game’s platforms or release date.
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- YOUR CREW IS YOUR FAMILY - Share your love of The Crew with up to 5 family members, or learn to play it together with this new family-friendly version, ages 8 & up
- AWARD-WINNING - A family-friendly addition to the Kennerspiel des Jahres winning series, The Crew. In these trick-taking games, the winner of each round is the one who puts down the highest card of the original suit.
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The Absurdaverse is associated with comedy and satire, but concrete story details and gameplay systems for the game have not been disclosed in the cited material. A later Absurd V Mag summary of an October 2026 Variety podcast appearance said more Absurdaverse information could arrive in the coming months. That is secondary reporting, not a confirmed announcement schedule.
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When will Dan Houser’s new games come out, and what platforms will they be on?
No confirmed release date or release window for either game appears in the cited material. Platforms and prices are also unannounced. There is no cited gameplay trailer, detailed account of gameplay systems, or complete plot synopsis for either project. For future dates, platform announcements, or trailers, look for updates from Absurd Ventures and, for A Better Paradise, Smilegate.
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- MIRACLES OF THE FOREST: Immerse yourself in the wonders of the forest with Forest Shuffle, a clever card game for 2-5 players.
- BALANCE THE ECOSYSTEM: Compete to gather valuable trees and attract diverse species to create an ecologically balanced habitat for flora and fauna.
- SIMPLE YET ENGAGING: Easy-to-learn gameplay - draw cards, place trees, and combine plants and animals for extra points or bonus actions.
- CREATURE PREFERENCES: Consider the preferences of wildlife; some animals thrive with their own kind, while others favor specific tree types.
- CLEVER STRATEGY: Master hand management and inventive set collection to build the ideal forest ecosystem while learning about real forest wildlife.
Optional reading while you wait
Absurd Ventures says American Caper Volume 1: Red-Pilled Blues is available through Amazon. The 2026 studio feed describes it as a trade paperback collecting the comic’s first four issues. It is a comic collection—not one of the upcoming games or a confirmed game tie-in—and availability may vary.
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- Bigfoot Playing Cards: Step into the hairy realm of fun with this delightful 52-card deck, where Bigfoot and his quirky relatives are ready to play alongside you!
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- Visceral Action Combat: Real-time combat keeps action at the forefront; Switch between jobs with a push of a button, use the powerful Lightbringer ability to push back monstrous hordes, and finish them off with a crystal crushing finishing move
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