2023 was undoubtedly one of the greatest years for video games in quite some time, with a calendar stacked from start to end with a new landmark title arriving almost weekly and several franchises receiving long-awaited follow-ups or sequels. One of the more unexpected surprises of 2023, though, is the sheer amount of incredible RPG experiences that were on offer, with the genre seemingly in the full swing of a renaissance. Not only didBaldur’s Gate 3win both the Game of the Year and RPG of the Year honors at The Game Awards, but it’s brought tons of attention to the sometimes niche CRPG subgenre.
Between excellent CRPGs, JRPGs, and action-RPGs, the role-playing genre had a banner year in 2023, as evidenced by just how difficult it is to narrow down a selection of its best games. Aside from the highly-anticipated follow-up to two of the most-beloved CRPGs of all time, players also had an incredible indie RPG featuringtalent from theChrono Triggerteam, a slew of excellent Soulslikes to represent the action-RPG subgenre, and even some surprise remakes that showcase how well the genre’s classics have aged in the modern era. In alphabetical order, these areThe 10 Best RPGs of 2023.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3is a triumph in every sense of the term, representing the culmination of Larian Studios' years of hard work and creative vision to see theBaldur’s Gatefranchise (which BioWare introduced to the world) return to prominence. The game’s combat sandbox is essentially peerless, affording players an unprecedented level of creativity and flexibility with how they approach encounters, and the same can be said of its character interactions and dialogue. And, the lengths that the game goes to have players care about the characters, fromBaldur’s Gate 3’s romancesto simple NPCs, as well as providing representation and a voice to the voiceless is the stuff from which the greatest RPGs of all time are made. Truly a once-in-a-generation experience, and where Larian goes from here is heavy with potential for greatness.
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
Cassette Beasts
Cassette Beastsis an impressive take on the monster-taming RPG made all the more astounding thanks to it coming from an independent studio. It’s not often that games come along to playPokemonat its own game, and thatCassette Beastsunderstands so well what makes a great monster-collecting game and a turn-based RPG is a testament to the talents of its developer.Cassette Beasts' typesfollow a similar structure to Pokemon, but the rest is of the game is its own. The world is rich and bursting with brilliantly characterized NPCs, the story is solid, the monsters themselves feature excellent designs and mechanics, and the combat is supremely satisfying and engaging, requiring players to thoroughly strategize which of theirCassette Beaststhey prioritize in encounters.
Welcome to New Wirral, a remote island inhabited by strange creatures you’ve only dreamed of, nightmares you hopefully haven’t, and a cast of brave folks who use cassette tapes to transform for battle. To find a way home you’ll need to explore every inch of the island, and record monsters to your trusty cassette tapes to gain their abilities! Transform into monsters using… retro cassette tapes? Faced with the constant threat of monster attacks, the residents of Harbourtown, New Wirral choose to fight fire with fire. Record a monster to tape, then play it back to take on its form for battle! Fuse monster forms. Getting close to your companion has benefits–while transformed you’re able to combine your strengths to gain the upper hand in battle! Any two monster forms can be fused to produce unique, fully-animated new fusion forms. Explore a rich open world. Certain monster abilities can be used in human form. You’ll need these to help you get around, solve puzzles, and locate dungeons. Glide, fly, swim, climb, dash, go invisible, or turn magnetic! Travel alongside a diverse cast of human companions. Never fight alone! Form bonds, spend time together, and help your selected partner complete personal goals to become a better team. Master a deep battle system. Take advantage of elemental chemistry to apply extra buffs or debuffs alongside your attack, or even alter your opponent’s elemental type!
Final Fantasy 16
For all the ways that the game boldly takes a step forward for the franchise in exciting new directions,Final Fantasy 16is one of the most “Final Fantasy”-feeling games in the franchise in years. Yes, the game abandons turn-based combat in favor of a character action system, but the quality of its new encounter design speaks volumes. Fighting enemies and bosses is both fluid and fun, and the emphasis on action fits the game’s rollercoaster of a narrative perfectly. Aside from its drastically different approach tocombat, the story, characters, and lore at the core ofFinal Fantasy 16present it as one of the most compelling games of the year, and the Eikon battles are one of 2023’s greatest gaming spectacles.
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
Lies of P
Developer Neowiz accomplished something many thought was impossible, which is to producea Soulslike gamethat stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the titles in FromSoftware’s catalog. Mixing elements of bothBloodborneand the classic fairy tale ofPinocchio,Lies of Pis one of the best Soulslikes and ARPGs of 2023. The combat is punishing yet precise, the flexibility in builds and outfitting Pinocchio gives reason for multiple playthroughs, the story is compelling, and its boss encounters are some of the most intense white-knuckle encounters on offer from any game this year.
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat - a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
Octopath Traveler 2
While other RPG franchises opted for 2023 to be the year that they pushed the envelope and evolved their respective series,Octopath Traveler 2definitively looks to the pastwhile also honoring and simply refining everything that worked in the original. Not only does the gameplay harken back to a simpler bygone era of RPG design, but the title delivers what is quite possibly the most beautiful use of the HD-2D art style that the firstOctopath Travelerpioneered. It genuinely feels like a game that could have been released on the SNES were it not for its stunning visual presentation. Much like its predecessor,Octopath Traveler 2is pure classic RPG mechanics wrapped up in an appealing package, and it improves the few weaknesses of the original to be the best game in the fledgling series.
The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey.Embark on an adventure all your own.
Remnant 2
Building on the proof of concept provided by its predecessor,Remnant 2is an excellent ARPG and Soulslike that features a unique implementation of third-person shooting and emphasis on cooperative play. Few of the RPGs on this list are playable as anything other than solo ventures, so to have one of the best games in the genre be one built around squading up with friends is a pleasant surprise.Remnant 2provides nearly limitless build optionsthanks to its use of hybrid class couplings, and the amount of gear and weapons it’s possible to uncover (as well as its excellent use of procedural generation) give plenty of incentive to keep coming back long after beating the game for the first time. RPGs tend to be longer experiences by nature, but one could legitimately spend hundreds of hours inRemnant 2.
REMNANT II® is the sequel to the best-selling game REMNANT: FROM THE ASHES that pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself. To succeed, players will need to rely on their own skills and those of their team to overcome the toughest challenges and to stave off humanity’s extinction.Intense Remnant Combat Experience: A mix of methodical and frenetic ranged/melee combat returns with cunning enemies and large scale boss battles. Choose specific gear and weapons to optimize for the different biomes and battles ahead. Bosses will bring high-level players to team up to overcome the challenge and try to obtain the biggest rewardsNew Worlds to Explore: Players can travel alone or with friends as a team through strange new worlds and beyond, overrun by mythical creatures and deadly foes while trying to stay alive. There are multiple worlds to explore with different types of creatures, weapons, and items. Utilize and upgrade discovered items to take on tougher challenges
Sea of Stars
Although name-dropping influences is a great way for indie developers to summarize what players can expect in an upcoming title, there’s always the danger of those same influences setting an unrealistic bar for the eventual release to meet. From its reveal and the launch of its Kickstarter campaign,Sea of Starshas always very proudly displayed its love and reverence for the RPGs from Square’s 16-bit “golden era” front and center.Sea of Starschannels all of this into its characters, combat, world design, story, and so much more. A lesser developer trying to match up with the likes ofChrono Triggermay have crumbled under that kind of pressure, butThe Messengerdeveloper Sabotage Studios proved to be more than up to the task, delivering one of the best classically-styled RPGs in years. Ultimately,Sea of Starssucceeds by embracing the charm and heart of the genre’s all-time greats, cementing its place among them in earnest.
Set in the same world as 2018’s The Messenger, Sabotage Studio’s Sea of Stars is an RPG that takes inspiration from Japanese classics like Chrono Trigger. Featuring a dynamic turn-based combat system and platforming-based exploration, Sea of Stars is an ambitious and gorgeous addition to the role-playing genre.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R
One of the more excellent releases from the latter half of 2023 is theremake of the beloved PS1 classicStar Ocean: The Second Story.Star Ocean: The Second Story Ris about as close to a perfect remake as a developer can get, embracing all the brilliance of the original title while also breathing new life into it through visual upgrades, quality-of-life features, and some adjustments to its mechanics and systems. The plot and cast of characters still stand as perhaps the best in the entireStar Oceanseries, and the real-time combat is made all the more engaging thanks to a refreshed Skill system and emphasis on recruiting the ideal characters for the adventuring party. Aside from being an excellent game in its own right,Star Ocean: The Second Story Ris perhaps the perfect template for more PS1-era RPG remakes.
Starfield
Starfieldis one of 2023’s best RPGs and a truly impressive sandbox in which to live out any number of different space-faring fantasies. Like Bethesda’s other RPG franchisesFalloutandThe Elder Scrolls, whereStarfieldsucceeds as an RPGis in letting players have nearly unprecedented freedom and variety in how they craft their character’s story through exploration and moment-to-moment gameplay. PlayingStarfieldpresents any number of viable options. It’s possible to become a double-crossing pirate, establish a homestead on an uninhabited planet, or be one of the galaxy’s peace-keepers and maintain justice in a zero-gravity version of the Wild West.Starfieldexcels at letting players try their hand at a variety of scenarios that would otherwise be impossible, and that’s precisely what the RPG genre is all about.
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
Super Mario RPG
As if one excellent remake of a classic RPG weren’t enough, 2023 also gifted players with the surprise of aSuper Mario RPGremake. Thepredecessor to the excellentPaper Mariogames,Super Mario RPGwas an interesting collaboration between Square and Nintendo that released late in the SNES' lifecycle, prompting the game to become somewhat of a collector’s item down the line. With many people missing out on one of the SNES' greatest RPGs (no small feat given the caliber of titles in the genre on the hardware), Nintendo’s decision to update the game and bring it to a wider audience is an excellent move that all players benefit from, regardless of whether they’ve played the original. The mechanics are easy to understand, the combat is fun and engaging, and theMariouniverse and characters are tailor-made for being the cast of their own RPG.
Set out on a classic Mario adventure: Enter—or revisit—a world of whimsy with Mario on a quest to repair Star Road and defeat the troublemaking Smithy Gang. Team up with a party of unlikely allies, like the monstrous Bowser and a mysterious doll named Geno, in a story-rich RPG packed with laughs and quirky characters.A strange party unites to save Star Road: Meet the team of oddballs setting out to thwart the troublesome Smithy Gang and protect everyone’s wishes. Even Bowser is lending a claw!Take it easy with Breezy Difficulty Mode: Players new to RPGs or who want a story-focused experience can use the new Breezy difficulty, which makes battles easier and leveling up faster. You can set the difficulty at any time if you change your mind.Adventure, battle, and traverse across a colorful world: Jump towards your next goal and continue the story. Run into monsters to enter turn-based battles with your party of three. Master the new Chain and Triple Moves system to claim victory.A delightfully reimagined world: Enjoy familiar sights with colorfully enhanced graphics and spiffy upgrades.
