We’ve listened to your complaints and removed Destiny from this list because it’s simply not much of an RPG despite all of its touted features prior to the game’s release. In addition, we’ve updated this list to include two genuine RPGs, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and Wasteland 2.
The RPG is one of the most prominent video game genres around, surpassed only by the likes of the first-person shooter and the MOBA.
Thankfully, even first-person shooters can be RPGs these days as games skirt the boundaries of genres without so much as giving a fuck about what these genres are supposed to entail.
With that in mind, the year of 2014 is filled with RPGs that we are sorely looking forward to playing, some of which happen to be along the action-y side of things, which cause us to outright question the very definition of what an RPG means.
We'll leave these debates to those who care and take a look instead at the role-playing games and games with strong RPG elements worth playing this coming year.
Without further ado, here are our most wanted role-playing games of 2014.
Come for the vikings, stay for the art. The Banner Saga is a fun and just simply beautiful tactical RPG that has you take command of a horde of vikings out to slay other vikings. Between the slaying of dudes wearing funny furry outfits, the player goes around and buys stuff for their viking horde (people can starve) and also make (or lose) new allies. It’s a game that offers a surprising amount of breadth for a title that seemed this focused.
Platform: PC and Mac
The newest installment of Diablo has brought conflicting feelings in the hearts of players. The upcoming expansions seems to be there to completely overhaul the end-game systems, while also coming as some sort of apocalypse to the game, the harbinger of which being the death of the Real Money Auction house.
Platform: PC, OS X and PS4
The PlayStation 4 will have a new exclusive in the shape of Capcom Online’s Deep Down, a new free to play fantasy online RPG.
The reveal trailer shows a warrior fighting a fire-breathing dragon. Standard, eh?
Platform: PS4
What happens when the core of the Far Cry 3 dev team gets working on a new game? Child of Light, apparently, an upcoming platforming RPG from Ubisoft Montreal.
Apparently it’s been inspired by popular old-school RPGs like FF6 and Chrono Trigger, making me kinda giddy.
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, Wii U and Xbox 360
The Kickstarter success story gets its Berlin campaign DLC delayed in order to get a full expansion set.
They have decided to do so in order to increase the size of the experience to the one of the current campaign set in Seattle.
Plaatform: PC
From Software’s hit cult status with it’s Souls series of games, but Dark Souls II is the first proper sequel, despite having a different director.
The game promises to be more accessible to newcomers while maintaining it’s tough but fair difficulty curve.
Platform: PC, PS3 and Xbox 360
Unlike FFXIII and FFXIII-2 (which I still think is a horrible naming convention), Lightning Returns is actually an action role-playing game, with the eponymous Lightning being the sole playable character.
Apparently the game actually takes place in 13 real-time days, which is a novel idea to play with time mechanics.
Platform: PS3 and Xbox 360
A role-playing game developed by Square Enix for the Nintendo 3DS, and spiritual successor to the 2100 video game Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, Bravely Default features a job and battle system similar to Final Fantasy V, and revolves around four young heroes of Luxendarc. In typical JRPG fashion, the game involves crystals, saving the world, and epic adventures throughout the game’s extensive environment.
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Wasteland 2 is the post-apocalyptic role-playing sequel to the first Wasteland, developed several decades ago. Made by the same developers (now at InXile), Wasteland 2 was successfully crowdfunded through Kickstarter as part of a trend of high-profile developers launching projects on the site. Featuring party-based and turn-based combat, Wasteland 2’s places strong emphasis on player-driven narrative, much like its predecessor, Fallout.
Platform: PC, OS X and Linux
The third major title in the Dragon Age franchise, Inquisition comes as a direct sequel to both Origins and Dragon Age 2, planning to fuse elements from both titles in its creation.
Apparently both combat and customization will be improved upon, focusing more on preparation and team chemistry, as well as modifying equipment to fit the party member’s shape and size.
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PS4
The newest installment of the Phantasy Star game series will grace the PlayStation Vita next year. Apparently this title will be multiplayer compatible, allowing players to fight giant monsters.
There isn’t much known about the game yet, but it’s being made by 200 people, so you know there will be the usual amount of JRPG content for you to enjoy, especially on the Vita.
Platform: PS Vita
This came to a surprise to those who still know what the Might and Magic series is all about - the last title came out 11 years ago, but Ubisoft is bringing it back in full swing.
They aren’t doing away with the classic gameplay, instead bringing back the tile-based system of the first 5 titles, but including several nods to all the titles in the series.
Platform: PC
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