The two best-reviewedRPGs of 2020arePersona 5 Royaland the definitive edition ofDragon Quest XI. Since both games are more like enhanced ports, they’re not truly new to 2020; consequently, they will be disregarded in favor of promoting two games that truly debuted in 2020. That said, the next best-rated games areYakuza: Like A Dragon, which earned a score of89 on Xbox One, andFinalFantasy VII Remake, which obtained an87 on PS4.
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WhileFinal Fantasy VII Remakeis also not technically new, the remake is way different from the original, so much so that it is very much its own thing. It’s hard to pick wrong when it comes to these two choices as both are fantastically RPGs. However, they both do some things better than the other, so let’s find out if there is a clear victor or not for the best new RPG of 2020.
11Gameplay: Final Fantasy VII Remake
Yakuza: Like a Dragonditched the brawler combat from the previous entries, a decision that was the complete opposite of whatFinal Fantasy VII Remakeopted for.
Square Enix’s game adds action gameplay to a typical turn-based structure, a mix that works quite well. Both games have great combat mechanics, buttheFinal Fantasygamewins out by a small margin.
10Job System: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
When it comes to combat, Cloud, Tifa, and the rest all have distinct pros and cons that adhere to standard RPG Jobs or Classes. That said, as enjoyable as the action is inFinal Fantasy VII,Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s Job System adds a lot more strategy to battles.
The game comes with over 20 Jobs, and while they are all pretty goofy, such as the chef and club host Jobs, they fit into this world just fine.
9Characters: Final Fantasy VII Remake
This is another case where both games are almost neck and neck, as both titles feature great characters. However, nostalgia is the deciding factor here that getsFinal Fantasythe win.
As charming as Ichiban and his colorful cast of rogues are inYakuza, the updated characters fromFinal Fantasy VIIare too hard to resist. Seeing these iconic faces again will cause all the feels to come rushing back.
8Side Quests: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
The side quests in the originalFinal Fantasy VIIare legendary. However, since the remake was delegated to just Midgar, they lacked the punch they once did.
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Side quests have always been one of the shining beacons in theYakuzagames, and it is no different this time around. From fighting Pokémon-esque mobsters to helping out a mascot get pirated merchandise off the streets, they are all memorable.
7Music: Final Fantasy VII Remake
There really isn’t one track that sticks out from thisYakuzagame. The karaoke has some wild songs but that is about it. Conversely, the updated soundtrack intheFinal Fantasyremakeis just superb.
The entry already had one of the best scores in the series, and it only got better with a live orchestra backing the classic tracks along with new beats.
6Photo Mode: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Final Fantasy VII Remakelaunched in April and still has not received a Photo Mode, which is crazy considering this feature is pretty much a standard for AAA games.
Not only does thisYakuzagame have it, but it is also integrated phenomenally well into the game. While it’s not the best Photo Mode out there,Ghost of Tsushimais a clear winner for this year,Yakuza’s version is still pretty good.
5Story: Final Fantasy VII Remake
When Square Enix announced that this game would not be a full remake and instead be released in parts, fans didn’t know how to react. Why aren’t they just doing a scene for scene remake?
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The answer is a bit of a spoiler but let’s just say that certain things have been changed and all fans of the franchise should consider trying out this crazy ride.Yakuza: Like A Dragonhas its moments but the story does not reach the same heights asFinal Fantasy VII Remake.
4Mini-Games: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Like the side quests, the originalFinal Fantasy VIIhad some great mini-games. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the casewith the remake. ThisYakuzagame, on the other hand, has a crazy amount of mini-games, be it riding around in go-karts or becoming a billionaire cracker tycoon. They make up some of the best side content in the game.
3The World: Final Fantasy VII Remake
From the graphics, style of the world, and variety in the environments,thisFinal FantasyremakeoutdoesYakuzaon every turn. It was great to see a new city inYakuza: Like A Dragonfor a change, but it is not a significant departure for the franchise and the scenery can get a touch repetitive.
Final Fantasy VII Remakeisn’t always great as it does have some backgrounds that look like JPEGs, but overall it is the clear winner.
2Party Members: Final Fantasy VII Remake
This might be obvious asFinal Fantasy VII Remakewon the character entry, but the game’s party members also outdoYakuza’s. While the Jobs system in Sega’s game is great and offers variety, players aren’t controlling the characters directly.
A Chef has different moves compared to a Bodyguard but they control the same. On the other hand, going from Cloud to Tifa is dramatically different, which is also why the combat is so goodin the remake.
