Which is the best upcoming RPG?
This year 2022 has been a strong year for RPGs with the release of Elden Ring, Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and so much more! However, we are not yet finished, and we actually still have several RPGs that are going to be released before the year ends.
Of course, we are also going to mention several 2023 games to keep you hype about the upcoming games until next year, and since some of the games that are supposed to release this year are delayed to 2023.
25. For The King II (PC)
Expected Release: 2023
For The King II is a sequel of an underrated indie RPG of the same name. It is a tabletop RPG with turn-based combat system and roguelike loot drops, which adds to its high replayability.
You can play online or local multiplayer with up to four players and create your party from a variety of choices of classes with unique stats and skills. If you are familiar with Dungeon and Dragons, then I think this game will be worth every penny for you.
24. Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness (PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch)
Expected Release: September 2, 2022
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness is a video game adaptation of the Made in Abyss anime/manga by Akihito Tsukushi.
It offers two game modes. One is called Hello Abyss, which is basically a recreation of the story in the anime adaptation. The other is Deep in Abyss, which is an original story of a new Cave Raider. Both modes will let players fight creatures, collect treasures, and experience the Curse of the Abyss.
The anime received numerous awards when it was aired, so a lot of fans are excited to relive the story in the game.
23. Thymesia (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S)
Expected Release: August 18, 2022
If you are finished with Elden Ring, I think Thymesia may remove that souls-like itch for quite a while. Based on the trailer and demo that they released, the game is very similar to Bloodborne and Sekiro, which are both amazing souls-like games.
It is an action RPG where you play as Corvus, the last hope of Kingdom of Hermes. You fight off enemies that are incredibly challenging, and you can create your own playstyle that is unique as you upgrade your weapons and abilities.
22. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Expected Release: Early 2023
Flintlock the Siege of Dawn is an action-adventure RPG where you have to fight Gods, and honestly, the gameplay seems to be very inspired with the recent God of War games.
You play as Nor Vanek, who is accompanied by a magical creature, Enki. You fight against hordes of enemies, which is caused by a rift opening to the door of afterlife causing the undead to rise and destroy the living. It is up to you to retake the world.
21. Harvestella (PC, Nintendo Switch)
Expected Release: November 9, 2022
Looks like Square Enix has finally decided to release a farming simulator with their upcoming game, Harvestella. However, this is not your typical simulator as it is mixed with action RPG features, which adds to the uniqueness in the game. Although Rune Factory already did the same gameplay mechanics before, Harvestella seems to have a more mature take on the genre.
Moreover, it is not the only twist in the game, as there is a season named Quietus, the season of death, where your crops die when it visits your farm. This is where the story progresses as you find out what is causing that season and your journey is filled with fighting different monsters as well.
How will you manage your time on growing your crops and finding out why the season of death is occurring? Time to find out when Harvestella is released in November.
20. ONE PIECE ODYSSEY (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Expected Release: 2022
Anime games have been evolving for the past few years with games like Dragon Ball FighterZ and Attack on Titan, which are both above average games. One Piece Odyssey seems like that one game in the One Piece franchise to be amazingly well-done.
It is an RPG, which has a traditional turn-based system based on the trailer that they showed. The author of One Piece is pretty hands-on when doing this game as he produced the designs for the monsters that you will encounter in One Piece Odyssey, and the music is composed by Motoi Sakuraba, who is well known for his Dark Souls and Tales of series music.
They announced that it is going out this year, 2022, but sadly, we have not gotten a specific date yet. We still have 4 months to go so that is still plenty of time.
19. Valkyrie Elysium (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC)
Expected Release: November 11, 2022
Valkyrie Elysium is the fifth game in the franchise, and it looks like they are taking the creative direction of the series somewhere new as it is being developed by a new team, and it is more action-oriented compared to its predecessors.
The premise is quite simple, you play as a Valkyrie named Maria as you are created by All-Father Odin, and you are the last resort to save the world. You can create high-speed combos and perform different skills to unleash powerful damage against your foes. You can also summon a companion Einherjar, a warrior spirit to support you in battle.
Upgrade your weapons, abilities, and even Einherjar to create your own playstyle. This provides a bit of replayability as there is probably a lot of playstyle you can use in this game.
18. Little Devil Inside (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
Expected Release: Winter 2022
Little Devil Inside was a successful Kickstarter back in 2015, but due to several changes like increased in scope, it got delayed for a few years than the expected release.
However, despite being delayed, Little Devil Inside looks like an amazing and slightly relaxing game so far based on the State of Play that PlayStation did last October 2021. It is an action RPG with cartoonish visuals, and it seems like it has a lot of humor stored in it.
Let us hope it does not get delayed anymore for the sake of people who backed it on Kickstarter, and for those who have been enthralled and excited since it was first announced.
17. SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch)
Expected Release: August 25, 2022
Gundam has a special place for mech fans, and SD Gundam Battle Alliance seems like a dream come true for many of us.
SD Gundam Battle Alliance is like the Gundam multiverse is dragged into a place called G: Universe. If you know Dragon Ball: Xenoverse, then you may be familiar with the premise of the game as you are tasked to fix the history of each Gundam universe as they are being changed forcibly.
It is action heavy, but you can also collect blueprints and items so you can upgrade your mobile suit and transform to be an even more powerful suit. There is multiplayer for this game, although the developers picked an odd party number as it only allows 3-man party or trio. If you play solo, an AI computer will accompany you instead.
16. Atomic Heart (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Expected Release: Q4 2022
Atomic Heart is a first-person shooter RPG that is similar to Bioshock mixed with Wolfenstein. It is set in an alternate history of a futuristic 1950s in the Soviet Union, so you are dealing with robots, mutants, and many more.
I honestly love the design and visuals for this game, and it even reminds me of Killing Floor 2 when you are being chased by multiple enemies at once. I cannot wait to use an AK47 and start shooting every robot I see. They are pretty creepy!
Atomic Heart is going to be released this year, which they teased on their trailer creatively.
15. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Expected Release: Early 2023
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a game set in a dark fantasy of Han Dynasty China, where demons infested the world during the chaotic Three Kingdoms period.
Wo Long means a person of greatness who is not known, so we can assume that it has character creation and customization. As you get used to the combat, you will be able to perform offensive and defensive maneuvers to be able to overwhelm your foes with powerful combos and parries.
14. Forspoken (PlayStation 5, PC)
Expected Release: January 25, 2023
Forspoken is an Isekai-type (if you are a fan of anime) action RPG. A new IP from the publisher, Square Enix, and it looks remarkably amazing.
You play as Frey Holland, a New Yorker who suddenly got transported to a fantasy world of Athia. A magical sentient bracelet also wrapped itself around her, which gives Frey magical powers as this is not your typical picnic on another world since there are so many aggressive monsters as you try to find your way back home.
It will be out by January, so it will be a great way to start the year!
13. Sea of Stars (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch)
Expected Release: 2023
Sea of Stars reminds me of everything good about the classic JRPGs back in the late 90s up to early 2000s, which are pixel art graphics, turn-based combat system, beautiful locations, and many more.
Sabotage Studio is aiming to modernize classic pixel art RPG, while creating an immersive storyline, more engaging take on the turn-based combat system, and tons of mini games. Yes, you can do fishing in this game.
Sadly, the game has been delayed to 2023 with no specific date, but if waiting is the price of playing a great game, then it is fine by me.
12. Gotham Knights (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S)
Expected Release: October 25, 2022
Gotham Knights is an action RPG by WB Games, and its main premise is that Gotham is without Batman and Commissioner Gordon anymore. It is up to Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood to take over the task that Batman left for Gotham when he died.
The game can be played as solo or multiplayer. Other players can join your session without interrupting your progress in the game. Characters can level up well, which means you can customize and upgrade your suits. It seems like you can respec stats as well, which is nice if you want to create another build without replaying from the start.
As for the gameplay, it looks very similar to the Arkham games and even Insomniac’s Spider-man game. It is open-world, and you fight crimes as you travel Gotham City. Combat is fluid and since it is an action RPG, you will be doing a lot of combo and evading.
11. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (Nintendo Switch)
Expected Release: November 18, 2022
Ah yes, Pokémon! Whether you are a casual fan or hardcore fan, a new Pokémon mainline title/s are always exciting when they are announced.
It is set in a new region of Paldea, and the games, Scarlet and Violet, seem to be vastly different from each other. Pokémon Scarlet is set in the past, while Pokémon Violet is set in the future. Thus, the professor in each game will be unique. Although, both are the first open-world RPGs in the series.
I think these differences warrant buying both games or the dual pack if you have the budget since there are enough content changes between the two.
10. Marvel's Midnight Suns (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch)
Expected Release: 2023
It is crazy to think that we have a DC game and a Marvel game for 2022-2023 However, they are not competing with each other as Marvel's Midnight Suns is a tactical RPG by Firaxis Games, the developer of XCOM and Civilization.
The twist on the gameplay is that it is also a card game. Basically, you draw cards that you can use in every turn, which may take a while to get used to even if you are a fan of XCOM games. You can use your environment to deal more damage, the animation is slick, especially the different attacks made by different superheroes.
There are plenty of Marvel super heroes to choose from such as Wolverine, Ghost Rider, Spider-man, and even Blade is here. This will definitely be a unique experience. Sadly, it has been recently announced that the game will be delayed to 2023. It is the second time Marvel's Midnight Suns has been delayed.
9. Diablo IV (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Expected Release: 2023
Blizzard has been on a lot of flak lately with controversies until Microsoft announced that they are trying to acquire the parent company, Activision, which hopefully Microsoft does some reorganization afterwards. Blizzard games when they are on the right hands are some of the best games that we can play.
Diablo IV has been in development since 2019, and they recently showcased the gameplay and visuals, which look enticing. There are currently five playable classes that you can customize, a new open world to explore, and a PVP feature for those who want to swing weapons to other players. They also mentioned a shared world for co-op, and you can do couch co-op as well, so if you have a friend or a sibling, then you can definitely enjoy Diablo IV.
Hopefully, Diablo IV does not have microtransaction, or if it has one, I hope it will be purely cosmetic. Otherwise, people would be put off big time because Diablo Immortal, the mobile game, was good, but it was plagued with microtransaction especially in the mid game to end game.
8. Baldur's Gate III (PC)
Expected Release: 2023
First of all, Baldur's Gate III has already been released as an Early Access back in 2020, but being an Early Access, it is not yet complete. However, Larian Studios recently announced that the full game will be out by next year, 2023.
Larian Studios is best known for its tabletop RPG such as the Divinity: Original Sin series, so they are the right people to develop Baldur’s Gate III. Players can create and form a party, or you can join someone’s party online. The gameplay seems to be based on the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rule set, which is the most recent rule set for D&D.
You can now buy the game if you want to try it because you can probably shell out more than 20 hours of gameplay, but it does not cover even half of the content. Otherwise, you can wait until a year for a fully polished game with an actual ending.
7. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch)
Expected Release: 2023
For almost 2 decades, we have not gotten any Suikoden games as Konami seems to not care about their IPs anymore, but good thing the core team who worked on the series decided to create a Kickstarter to give us Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the spiritual successor of the Suikoden series.
As a spiritual successor, they retained some of the key features like having a 6-man party, doing party combos which is satisfying to watch, and I hope they add war scenarios as well because they are my favorite gameplay aspects of the Suikoden series. On the other hand, they manage to create visually appealing 2D-HD graphics as seen on several pixel art games nowadays.
6. Hogwarts Legacy (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch)
The lore of the Harry Potter universe is so vast that as kids who grew up watching every movie in the cinema, a lot of us are dreaming to explore or be part of Hogwarts. Hogwarts Legacy is the dream that came true for us. Finally, an RPG that is set in Hogwarts and its magical-filled world.
You can create and customize your own wizard, and you will be selected in any of the four houses, so you can be Slytherin or Hufflepuff. Of course, as a student, you have to take classes, and be able to explore the school and find its secret as you solve different puzzles.
The story is set in the 1800s, so most of the characters are new, but there are some that will be familiar, of course. There are enemies you will encounter as there is an impending Goblin Rebellion and the Dark Wizards.
Unfortunately, Hogwarts Legacy was delayed from Q4 2022 to February 2023.
5. Final Fantasy XVI (PlayStation 5)
Expected Release: Summer 2023
2023 will be a good year for Final Fantasy fans as we will be getting two big titles next year. One of those games is Final Fantasy XVI, and it looks like it will be set in a fantasy medieval world named Valisthea, which is vastly different from the last installment.
As seen on the recent trailer, humans have the ability to manifest or summon Eikons such as Ifrit and Phoenix. We also saw some gameplay mechanics, which demonstrates that you might be able to use different weapons, and perform quick yet powerful combos.
The soundtrack is impressive too, especially when the Eikons are fighting each other, so it is something a lot of us fans are waiting to hear once the game is released.
4. The Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Expected Release: Early 2023
First announced in 2019, the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still unnamed, but they did show some gameplay features and it looks like it will have a darker tone than the first game based on the trailer. It reminds me of Majora’s Mask, and if it is really as dark and creepy as Majora's Mask, then it is a sure buy from me.
Originally, they announced that the game would come out this year, but they eventually delayed it to early or Spring 2023. It is considered as one of the most anticipated games as the first game garnered several awards when it was released back in 2017.
3. Kingdom Hearts IV (TBA)
Expected Release: 2023 onwards
Kingdom Hearts IV has been surprisingly announced and teased in the series’ 20th anniversary announcement trailer.
Based on the announcement trailer, it continues the story after Kingdom Hearts III: Re Mind DLC ending, which puts Sora in Quadratum, a very realistic world. Sora fights off a giant heartless monster that shows a bit of the gameplay. It also shows Goofy and Donald Duck at the end as they encounter something that scared them.
It is kind of weird to see Sora and the characters in a hyper realistic world, but it does show that we will be seeing a lot more Disney and Pixar worlds in Kingdom Hearts IV. Star Wars and Marvel, maybe?
2. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (PlayStation 5)
Expected Release: Winter 2023
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is the second part of the Final Fantasy VII: Remake trilogy, which focuses on the party exploring outside of Midgar for the first time in the trilogy.
Based on the trailer, we will see a lot of Sephiroth and Zack flashbacks in the game. There is no gameplay shown yet, but Square Enix releasing the Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion this year would bridge Zack Fair’s story in the remake for those who have not played the original games.
1. Starfield (PC, Xbox Series X|S)
Expected Release: Q1/Q2 2023
Finally, Starfield is the most anticipated game for years now. Announced back in 2018, this is the first new IP of Bethesda for more than 2 decades. We finally get a release window, which is either in Q1 or Q2 of 2023. It is fairly close considering we are already on Q3 2022.
Based on the gameplay reveal, there is heavy emphasis on character customization, which Bethesda is quite known for, and there will be thousands of planets you can explore, and you can mine these planets of their resources. Additionally, you can upgrade and customize your weapon so you can handle enemies better.
Starfield will also let you build your own headquarters and spaceships. Headquarters can be manned by people you hire or meet along the way, and the spaceship customization is something that I am looking forward to, because who does not want to create and replicate Star Wars’ The Falcon.
Honestly, I hope the delay is due to developers polishing the game more and adding more content, and then I would not mind them releasing Starfield for the next decade as they did with Skyrim.
