Summary
Other genres may come and go, butRole-Playing Gameshave remained popular for decades. JRPGs, Western RPGs, CRPGS, gatcha games; RPGs have become a huge part of gaming, to the point where 2024 has become the year of RPGs.
From games like Black Myth Wukong, which is a brutal Souls-like RPG, to the lighthearted Paper Mario And The Thousand-Year-Door, which takes a beloved classic and remakes it for this year, there is something for everyone here. The year of 2024 has RPGs that have easily become some of the best in the genre, even remaking some of the most beloved in the genre of their time, and they will only continue to grow as each year passes.
10Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge Of The Seven
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Sevenwas a classic JRPG that was released on the Super Famicom in 1993. The remake took what was great about the original and made it accessible for the modern era.
The game is unique in that it features a vast story while also allowing the main character to change based on your preferences. You want your main character to be a healer? Sure! What about a massive tank? That can be done too! With the game’s many options, alongside its new 3D graphics and incredible voice acting, this is an amazing game for 2024.
9Zenless Zone Zero
From the creators of Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail,Zenless Zone Zerois a great addition to the Hoyoverse. This time around, ZZZ goes back to its roots by following in Honkai Impact’s footsteps. Like Honkai Star Rail, there are main hubs that you may traverse around while following the stages and combat closely to Impact 3rd.
This game features a killer soundtrack with a world not too overwhelmingly big for a free-to-play gacha game. With its vast array of characters and satisfying gameplay loops, this RPG is a must-play, especially because it is free to play.
8Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Granblue Fantasy has always been a brilliant mobile RPG series. Over the years, it has gained such a following that it decided to move up into the console scene. The latest console entry,Granblue Fantasy: Relinktook the world by storm, creating an endless number of characters with varying playstyles to choose from, all while not requiring microtransactions.
The vast number of characters to choose from means that combat and moving across the world will seldom get boring. There are plenty of things to do in Relink, whether going through the various side quests, or tackling the challenges that the main story brings.
7Paper Mario And The Thousand-Year-Door
Paper Mario And The Thousand-Year-Dooris considered one of the best RPGs of all time, and with good reason. It features a vast number of interesting new characters, incredible stories, and a familiar set of characters that people of all ages will recognize.
It’s no wonder this game was remade, and with minimal updates too. With updated graphics and music to keep the game up to date, the story and its characters have remained untouched due to the nature of this game being a masterpiece.
6Stellar Blade
Stellar Bladewas one shock of a game. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, this game takes heavy inspiration from the Nier series. This action RPG follows a somewhat simple story but has a soundtrack and gameplay that more than make up for it.
This game may take a lot of inspiration from the Nier series, but it is also very much its own, quite well-made, game. With great gameplay, a great soundtrack and a good story to follow, this game really surprised many this year, and it was a pleasant one.
5Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
The Like a Dragon series has always been full of surprises andLike A Dragon: Infinite Wealthis also packed with many surprises. This hilarious beat-em-up proves to be just as remarkable as its predecessors. Although the series has undergone some combat changes over the years, the game is still chalked full of quality of life side quests and fun shenanigans.
With hilarious encounters around every corner, this game is an exceptional entry into the Like a Dragon series. Although it handles dark themes at times, its light-hearted nature always shines through.
4Persona 3 Reload
Persona has become a household name in recent years due to the popularity of Persona 5. The game that is the epitome of the Persona name, however, is Persona 3. Released on the Playstation 2, Persona 3 is one of the darkest games in the series, andPersona 3 Reloaddoes not hold back in its dark themes.
Reload takes the beloved game and gives Persona 3 a Persona 5 makeover. Due to this, it has almost become an entirely new game, instead of a remake. With 3D models, music, and gameplay akin to Persona 5, this is a great modern take on a brilliant classic.
3Metaphor: ReFantazio
From the creators of Persona comesMetaphor: ReFantazio. It’s quite a departure from Atlus’s other games, being set in a medieval fantasy world where you play as an oppressed race. There are some similarities in this game to Persona, like an equivalent to social links, for starters.
Unlike Persona, however, there are no persona in this game. Why would there be? So instead, to keep things interesting, player characters can change their archetype, so they may change their gameplay style. With a killer story, and a classically good Atlus soundtrack, this RPG is a must-play.
2Black Myth: Wukong
Souls-like RPGs have taken the world by storm over recent years, and this year’s souls-like isBlack Myth: Wukong. Black Myth: Wukong is such a grand representation of the Chinese story Journey to the West, playing as a monkey that has quite the journey to traverse.
This game, while souls-like, is actually more like a cross between the typical souls-like and an action RPG. This creates a more forgiving experience than a typical souls-like would. Instead of starting all the way at the start, if you die, you are able to make it to check points that you can spawn at. Alongside its brilliant gameplay, there is also the scenery, which makes for an absolutely beautiful game.
1Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7 was a renowned game of its time, and this remake is no different.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthtakes what the first part of three did, and amplifies it on a grand scale. In addition to the full overhaul remake, Rebirth adds to the game a humongous open world. It’s a vast open world with beautiful scenery and plenty to do.
This remake took the classic PS1 game and, just like the first part, created it into a modern RPG masterpiece. you may sink hours and hours into this game from the various side quests, to mini-games, and a main story that will keep you guessing even if you have played the original.