Whatoplay presents 10 of the biggest RPGs coming out next year! All arranged by playscores. To
see the complete list, check out our page on all upcoming RPG games.
1. Pokemon Legends: Arceus Nintendo continues the tradition of a
new Pokemon game every year. Arceus is a major leap from the Pokemon games we know and love.
While it acts as a prequel to the Sinnoh Region titles--taking place years before the
events of Diamond and Pearl--the gameplay feels modern. Arceus opens up the world,
giving you more freedom to do whatever you want. You can even navigate around the world with now
that you can ride your Pokemon! It’s not an open-world game, but it almost feels like one.
Capturing Pokemon is done the old way: by throwing Pokeballs at them. The performance and the
environmental design are still major issues. But Pokemon fans can probably let those concerns go
to hop into a whole new adventure. This Switch exclusive releases on January 28.
2. Monark on PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch NiS, famed creators of the beloved Disgaea series,
returns with a whole new IP centered once again on an alternative world. MONARK takes us into a
dark realm overrun by otherworldly threats. It feels a little like Persona, but it has
enough features to set it apart from the Atlus title. As a player with a very special ability,
harness the power of your Ego and face off against creatures that roam this nightmarish
dimension. Conquer fiends along the way and strengthen them for your advantage. Yeah, now
it sounds like Persona. It’s set to release this 22nd of February for PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch.
3. Elden Ring on PC, PS5, Series X, PS4, and XB1 2022 wouldn’t be the same without FromSoftware’s
most anticipated action-adventure RPG. Of course everyone has heard about Elden Ring.
The trailer gave us a ton of gorgeous imagery to speculate on,
as well as a ton of easter eggs from the late Kentaro Miura’s Berserk. Unfortunately,
the game is still being kept under wraps. No one knows what the gameplay will be. The unfortunate
(but necessary) delay pushed the release back a month, but hey, that’s no big deal. No rush.
The Beta is coming this November. So if you want to get your first taste of Elden
Ring’s online experience, you better check out Bandai Namco’s website and register!
4. Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream on PC, PS4, and Switch
Koei Tecmo moves on from Ryza’s story and to create a follow-up to the also adorable Sophie.
Yes, this is still a game about Alchemy and yes, there are more attractive anime girls to talk to.
In this game, Sophie and Plactha find themselves in a weird turn of events after being transported
to a weird new world. In Atelier Sophie 2, you’ll appreciate the character models even more with its
improved 3D features. The RPG element here, aside from alchemy, is the crafting. Help Sophie and her
party get the perfect blend of materials for the challenging turn-based combat scenarios. There’s
a ton of room for creativity and experimentation here, just like all Atelier games. Who knows what
we’ll cook up in this chapter? It comes out this 25th of February for PC, PS4, Switch.
5. Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong on PC, PS5, Series X, PS4, XB1, and Switch
There’s a lot of games centered around the World of Darkness universe coming next year.
Bloodlines 2 isn’t gonna be out anytime soon, but Swansong
is a whole new project created by a different company and it’s confirmed to release next year.
Swansong features a different kind of gameplay compared to the first-person RPG of Bloodlines. In
Swansong, you take on the role of 3 protagonists, each with their own abilities and stories to tell.
There aren’t much gameplay footage next but it’s speculated to play the same as Quantic
Dream’s Detroit Become Human. We’ll control characters and make tough choices that create
branching narratives. It comes out February next year for PC, PS5, Series X, PS4, XB1, Switch.
6. Triangle Strategy The rebirth of the Tactics genre is
something any JRPG fan should appreciate. Square Enix revitalizes their gameplay of yore in this
brand new IP. Aptly named Triangle Strategy, it’s a turn-based tactics where you maximize your moves
in its tricky terrains. The world of is presented in the familiar 2.5D format of Square’s very own
Octopath Traveler. For new players, it may be challenging to get used to this age-old gameplay.
But once you master it, you’ll understand why everyone enjoys this level of combat.
The game’s biggest selling point, aside from the return of Tactics, is its multiple branching
storylines. The world of Triangle Strategy is massive and there are multiple characters
with their own set of problems. The ending and the flow of the story will depend on how
you manage your convictions. It comes out this 4th of March as a Switch exclusive.
7. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin on PC, PS5, Series X, PS4, and XB1
Another project published by Square Enix. 2022 is looking like their year so far,
especially if FFXVI gets a release date. Stranger Of Paradise is… a far cry from the
usual Final Fantasy games we’re familiar with. If you’ve seen the Trailers, seen the memes or
even tried the Demo, you’d know it’s a hack and slash RPG with minor souls-like elements. And yes,
we play as Hot Topic versions of our favorite FF classes. It’s developed by Team Ninja,
the guys behind the Nioh series. You can tell by the similarities. It’s a huge
undertaking and a strange way to take the series on a different direction.
It looks promising so far. I guess. It comes out this March 18 for PC, PS5, Series X, PS4, XB1.
8. Starfield on PC and Series X The biggest RPG coming out next year,
if things go according to Bethesda’s schedule.
Starfield is ambitious. It’s a science fiction playground where anything can happen.
Todd Howard did say it’s like ‘Skyrim in space’ so that’s something to look forward
to. Set in the year 2310, an interplanetary war is happening and your character is, as always,
stuck in the middle. Like Skyrim, you customize your own character and become part of a group
of space explorers called the Constellation. Unfortunately, the gameplay is non-existent as
of the moment. With the words ‘next-generation of RPG’ plastered all over its marketing materials,
we can only speculate. It comes out November 11 of next year as a Microsoft exclusive.
9. Hogwarts Legacy on PC, PS5, Series X, PS4, and XB1
The Wizarding World is back to producing more content. Controversies aside, Hogwarts Legacy is
a promising new RPG for anyone looking to be part of this magical world. One would say it fulfilled
the wishes of many: to be able to play a Harry Potter game where we can make our own character
and cast spells on our own. It has tons to offer both casual and hardcore fans of the series.
Sadly, it still has a long way to go. No gameplay footage are available right now, but according to
its devs, the game is slated for a 2022 release. We might hear more about it early next year.
10. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising on PC, PS5, Series X, PS4, XB1, and Switch
A great number of JRPGs is coming out next year. One of them is a spin-off of Hundred Heroes,
which comes out this 2023. Rising is published by 505 Games and it’s a product of a successful
Kickstarter campaign last year. Rising features an original story revolving around three major
protagonists. It combines town-building gameplay alongside its real-time side-scrolling combat.
After a long day’s journey in traditional treasure hunting, you will return to your camp and manage
a budding community that acts as a sanctuary for your characters. It’s a precursor to the events of
Hundred Heroes, but it acts independently of the series’ bigger picture. You won’t have to worry
about missing out on anything. No definite release date yet, but it’s scheduled for a 2022 release.