While there are a ton of articles like this, most of which are low-effort, click-bait garbage, this at least makes a more compelling case by limitting it to RPGs. Maybe I’m just uninformed since I don’t generally like RPGs, but it seems like there have been a lot more quality RPGs released this year (esspecially in the “double A” budget class), and the two triple A releases both actually felt like a notable step forward (BG3 in design and content, Starfield in tech).
Starfield did nothing to advance tech
It begs the question, did anyone at Bethesda see No Man’s Sky?
It really doesn’t feel like it. It’s just been really good for Baldur’s Gate 3. But the article is really focusing on the retro-style RPGs and PC re-releases that have been making the rounds. Here’s the whole list.
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Phantom Liberty
- Octopath Traveller 2
- Star Ocean Second Story R
- Live A Live
- Lunacid
- Loop8
- Persona 5 Tactica
- Disgaea 7
- Sea of Stars
- Etrian Odyssey
- Trails to Azure
- Rhapsody 2 and 3
- Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
- Wizardry: The Five Ordeals
.
Damn, so yeah, not really that click-baity.
I liked the year a lot. Quite satiated on that RPG scratch except for one item on the list. KOTOR is strangely absent from this time of great RPGs.
Of the games I played that came out this year, I would only classify BG3 and Rogue Trader as RPGs. I have a LOT of issues with the roleplay in BG3 (though I love it). I don’t feel like JRPGs that have little to no roleplaying aspect whatsoever should count within Role-Playing-Games, since I think some facilitation of roleplay should be provided. BG3’s class/race reactivity or Rogue Trader’s Dogmatic/Iconoclast/Heretic convictions fit this very well.
Well, that’s certainly one of the takes of all time.
Clearly this person didn’t actually play Sea of Stars. What’s next, Secret of Mana isn’t an RPG? A take of sorts!
Sorry for the bad take! I didn’t play many JRPGs or JRPG inspired games this year, as I usually find those more story led and have less room for roleplay. Does sea of stars actually have much roleplay? Or is it mostly combat/ability focused choice-making?
It’s ok, rereading your comment I see what you mean more about the roleplay aspect not being there. You aren’t wrong… I’d say the roleplaying in these style of games is mostly in which characters you use the most.
“Role playing games” is a pretty broad reaching term with many aspects. Some are just lighter on the choices or character customization is all. These games are more about the story and level/skill progression.
Sea of Stars definitely fits that mold you are talking about, not a ton of roleplaying in the making choices sense. It is a great game though, I’d say it’s my favorite of the year.
Makes sense! Yeah I have kind of slowed my roll on things that are JRPG or JRPG adjacent, probably from less time to play stuff mostly. I keep hearing how awesome Sea of Stars is though!
