Whatoplay presents 10 of the best NEW Role-Playing Games that came out
this year for all Consoles. Note that this list is not ranked by playscore.
To check out our full list, visit our page on all new RPG games.
1. NEO: The World Ends With You on PS4 and Nintendo Switch
A strong start to open this list. Square Enix’s beloved cult classic JRPG has finally released
its sequel, and it didn’t disappoint. Well, as evident in its Playscores. After 14 years,
this next installment takes players once more into the streets of Shibuya. This time around,
a new set of characters will take the limelight and together they must uncover the mysteries
plaguing this alternate world. For the first time in the series and a much needed improvement,
the game no longer relies on touch and motion controls. In its new 3D format,
players can explore and battle the Noise using their respective controllers.
2. NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… on PC, PS4, and Xbox One
This first chapter of the NieR series is more than just a Remaster.
It’s a fresh re-telling of the events prior to NieR Automata’s story.
Yoko Taro’s bizarre science fiction action-RPG series goes back to its PlayStation 2 roots
and features a different protagonist that’s far from Automata’s well-dressed Android.
Replicant borrows mechanics from Automata, especially with its stylish hack and slash combat.
This is due to the old game’s wonky controls not fit for the modern audience. And as usual, like
any NieR title: the story, while impressive, might leave more questions than answers, especially
when you’re new to the series. It received impressive playscores on both PS4 and Xbox One.
3. Mass Effect Legendary Edition on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X
BioWare’s galaxy-spanning space-opera is a jewel amongst the RPG Hall Of Fame.
This Legendary Edition not only reintroduces the series to new players,
but it also improved most of its janky controls that plague the originals. It comes with better
visuals, responsive cover controls (although there are times it can be questionable),
and an overall better experience ofto Commander Shepard‘s journey. This Trilogy is designed to
remind everyone how BioWare wants to continue the series after Andromeda’s rocky launch. Now
that we know they’re making the next Mass Effect title, we can only speculate on what’s to come.
4. Death's Door on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X An indie darling that made huge waves during
release due to its simple yet deep gameplay. Acid Nerve,
the developers behind the classic Titan Souls, takes another title inspired by Miyazaki’s works.
Expect souls-like platforming gameplay with a huge emphasis on exploration.
Death’s Door’s charm combines the brutal combat of the souls-like genre with the
sense of exploration and wonder from Nintendo’s award-winning Legend of Zelda series. Together,
these genres blend together in an impressive isometric RPG adventure. It’s only playable
on the Xbox One and PC, so other consoles might have to wait a few months (or years) for its port.
5. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade The second Square Enix title on this list
and much like The World Ends With You, it’s also something familiar to quote unquote old gamers.
Intergrade is basically a PlayStation 5 upgrade for last year’s award-winning FFVII Remake.
It comes with improvements to its visuals with more frames and a photo mode to take
pictures of Tifa with. To make it special for the next-gen experience,
the Developers added a bonus Episode where players follow the Wutai ninja Yuffie
in her exploits in Midgard. The rest of the game is pretty similar to the Remake,
but hardcore fans of the series who couldn’t wait for Part 2 will find something ‘special’ here.
Unfortunately, if you don’t have a PS5, you might have to wait, or check YouTube for it.
6. MONSTER HUNTER RISE CAPCOM continues to keep pumping out the
games we’ve always been asking for. Rise’s success is but the tip of the iceberg for the future of
the series. Heck, now we’ve seen the franchise going EVERYWHERE I mean everywhere. The Switch
timed-exclusivity didn’t impact any of its sales at all. That means anyone with a Switch will find
MH Rise a worthy addition to their collection. The introduction of the Wirebug adds new layers to its
never-ending monster-hunting gameplay. Players can mix and match combos and find the perfect weapon
of their choice. It’s a daunting task, but the streamlined gameplay can let anyone enjoy this
game even without playing the old titles. Let’s hope for more Monsters and events coming soon!
7. Hades on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X Considered as last year’s Game of the Year
by a wide margin, Supergiant’s mythological roguelike is something every gamer must try,
even though they’re not into the genre. Players are lured into its hours and hours
of story-driven narrative that fleshes out some of our favorite Greek Myth characters.
It’s a creative way of integrating story-elements into its never ending game cycle.
Sure, the game is somewhat challenging for anyone new to the genre. But with each death, and with
each encounter with iconic characters, Zagreus’ journey will be a cake walk. The recent release
on PlayStation consoles introduced the game to new audiences, resulting in huge playscores.
8. SCARLET NEXUS on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X
BaMco’s latest JRPG title and it remains consistent withto their previous published titles.
I mean, come on, cute anime characters, decent story and fast-paced combat? That’s Bandai Namco
written all over it. Out on almost every major console (except Switch lol), this action-packed
adventure puts us into the shoes of individuals with telekinetic abilities. Retake the Earth from
otherworldly threats using Psionic abilities and manipulate the environment to your own advantage.
PlayStation 5 players will find the Haptic Feedback satisfying,
while the other consoles might have to do with regular controls.
Nonetheless, the game received generally positive playscores.
9.
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut on PC, PS4, and PS5 If anyone’s looking for a true RPG on this list,
ZA/UM’s isometric adventure just released its Definitive Edition for the PC.
Other consoles will have to wait. It’s packed with new stories to tell and a fully voice-acted cast,
your journey as an amnesiac detective across this bleak and broken world is rich with atmosphere.
There’s so much freedom of choice here we don’t even know where to begin. Each decision leads to
unexpected encounters and it’s best you find it out on your own. Anyone who owns the game before
can opt for a Free Upgrade, which is a very pro-consumer move in a game about communism.
10. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin on PC and Nintendo Switch
This is what a Pokemon game would look like if it’s in CAPCOM’s hands. Wings of Ruin continues
the story of their Monster Hunter spin-off 5 years later and the best news is it’s no
longer exclusive to one console. Players create their own character and embark on a grand quest
to untangle the web of mysteries about Guardian Ratha. It’s turn-based combat is a breath of fresh
air in contrast to the original’s brutal real-time gameplay. Collecting Monsties and powering them up
to near perfection is the game’s strongest aspect. Smell those eggs, pray for RNGesus and watch how
your character amasses an army of formidable beasts. For more about this game, we made a
video about it just recently! Check out “How To Play: Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin”.