Throughout 2024, it felt as if a brand new amazin RPG was proper across the nook at each second. The 12 months kicked off with a bang when Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth launched simply earlier than Persona 3 Reload confirmed us why the unique is a timeless story. And we solely needed to wait till February to return to Final Fantasy VII when Rebirth expanded the horizons of a beloved basic.
Those might have been the headliners early within the 12 months, however Unicorn Overlord labored its approach into our hearts with its fascinating artwork model and tactical depth, earlier than Dragon’s Dogma 2 proved why the cult basic deserved a sequel. It was greater than sufficient to carry us over till the massive hitters like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Dragon Age: The Veilguard landed towards the tip of the 12 months, displaying how two iconic RPG growth groups can forge a brand new path in their very own methods.
It was a humiliation of riches for the RPG sickos right here at IGN, particularly contemplating the aforementioned video games weren’t the one RPGs that caught with us all year long. We can solely spotlight a handful of them, nevertheless, so right here’s our listing of the very best RPGs of 2024.
Honorable Mentions
Two RPGs from this 12 months acquired an Honorable Mention, which we would like to spotlight earlier than stepping into our runner-up and winner.
You can spot a Vanillaware sport from a mile away due to its painterly artwork model and expressive anime-inspired character designs. It’s what offers Unicorn Overlord such a definite fantasy aesthetic, but it surely’s the distinctive mixture of real-time technique and tactical gameplay that makes it stand out amongst a sea of nice RPGs. Creating squads composed of various lessons and deploying them strategically stuffed that Ogre Battle-sized void in our lives, and exploring the overworld to construct up cities that be part of your trigger introduced all its mechanics collectively. Its story of political drama has intriguing twists and turns, but it surely’s the squad members we made alongside the best way that left a long-lasting impression in Unicorn Overlord.
Despite it partly being a Hawaiian getaway for the crew from RGG Studio’s RPG debut Yakuza: Like A Dragon in 2020, the follow-up Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth was slightly heavy. It’s an examination of household, legacy, and what you do with the time you will have left. Series-long protagonist Kazuma Kiryu teaming up along with his successor in Kasuga Ichiban made for a phenomenal passing of the torch. I got here for the detailed and nuanced recreation of Waikiki, but it surely’s the bittersweet and provoking moments in Infinite Wealth that reminded us why there’s simply nothing just like the Yakuza franchise.
Runner-Up: Dragon’s Dogma 2
Many would take into account the unique Dragon’s Dogma from 2012 a cult basic for the methods it thrusts you right into a harsh fantasy world with little or no to information you. And the sequel in Dragon’s Dogma 2 didn’t neglect that. Capcom didn’t sand off the sides, streamline techniques, or make its darkish world any extra inviting, and that’s why it was capable of stand out in 2024 regardless of being one of many largest years for the style.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is all about its natural emergent moments. There is a important quest to observe, after all, however NPCs will faucet you for sidequests and also you by no means know what you run into alongside the best way. Its mechanics could appear inelegant, however after giving it time, you notice how versatile and deep it’s from a gameplay perspective, particularly when you grasp how reactive the in-game physics are. The Pawn system provides one other layer, letting you customise your personal AI-controlled celebration members, or borrow members from others on-line to make the goofiest band of heroes. Dragon’s Dogma 2 isn’t a clear expertise and it thrives off of a singular friction that’s robust to seek out in video games nowadays. When you mirror on how a lot work you set into surviving in its large and harsh world, the consequential world-altering occasions and its message are nothing in need of awe-inspiring.
Runner-Up: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
After enjoying Remake in 2020, it felt as if there have been countless potentialities for what the remainder of Final Fantasy VII would seem like for a brand new era. Stepping out into the Grasslands for the primary time in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, when Aerith takes within the scenic view and exhibits pleasure a few world value combating for, captures the precise feeling. The musical motifs performed on our nostalgia and the recreation of its unique world was undoubtedly spectacular whereas evoking a way of wistfulness – it felt like Final Fantasy VII grew up with us.
We have our qualms with how Rebirth ends and units up half three on this remade trilogy, however that doesn’t essentially outline all the sport. Tucked inside its reinvention of the present story are moments that elevate beloved characters to really feel like model new heroes who’ve impressed us in new methods. Its open areas are a phenomenal growth of the unique’s overworld, and so they’re full of issues to try this are sometimes extra than simply busy work – and don’t ask us about what number of hours we sunk into the brand new card sport Queen’s Blood. In many respects, Rebirth linked us to a world we thought we knew on a deeper degree – it made for one of many 12 months’s finest RPGs and it has us extremely anticipating what’s subsequent.
Runner-Up: Dragon Age: The Veilguard
It’s been 10 years since Dragon Age: Inquisition, and the best way during which collection followers have been thirsty for something associated to Dragon Age in that point was wild to see. With a tumultuous growth cycle, it’s sort of a miracle that The Veilguard exists in any respect, but it surely turned out to be a worthy successor and among the best RPGs of the 12 months. Through the lens of Rook, our new customizable protagonist, we get to choose up on the story of Solas that left us hanging from Inquisition and its DLC. Yet, The Veilguard was nonetheless capable of set up a brand new path that stayed true to the core ideas of a collection so steeped in its personal lore. Its hotter tone will not be what you keep in mind from earlier Dragon Age video games, however you roll with a celebration filled with vivid personalities who create a way of goal harking back to the BioWare video games of yore.
Combat will probably be acquainted for anybody who has performed a contemporary motion sport with out sacrificing the sort of depth you’d anticipate from an action-RPG. Every class feels nice to play and retains a singular playstyle whereas being viable – which is essential contemplating you solely management Rook all through the sport. While your celebration members nonetheless play an essential function in fight, it is their presence and the place you stand with them that makes the journey value seeing by way of. Either approach, you’ll be handled to some nice conclusions that present how The Veilguard carves its personal path with confidence.
Winner: Metaphor: ReFantazio
With a pedigree of the final three Persona video games, I got here into Metaphor: ReFantazio with excessive expectations, and even then, developer Atlus discovered a option to exceed them. To name it fantasy Persona isn’t essentially inaccurate (and is a fairly good indication of what you’re stepping into), however that will additionally undersell the nuances that make Metaphor the very best RPG of the 12 months.
Using the context of a each day calendar system, Metaphor wields acquainted mechanics to usher you thru its fantasy political drama. Deciding methods to spend your restricted time makes these selections intriguing, whether or not it’s spending time with followers to degree up bonds, discover dungeons for sidequests, or higher your self by rising advantage stats – it’s the small moments like these that join you to its world on the bottom degree. That’s the social sim component that leaves you naturally invested, and it offers its large moments extra weight. So, if you see a personality overcome their trauma or push themselves to do what’s proper, it feels prefer it comes from a real place.
More than something, Metaphor is the sport of the second. It doesn’t draw back from themes reminiscent of racism, inequality, spiritual extremism, and abuse of energy and demonstrates an understanding of the fabric it is working with by way of a robust story. Every character, each bond and follower, and each main story beat feeds right into a considerate illustration of our actual world, displaying us the ugliest components of humanity but in addition what it takes to create a brighter future. Metaphor could be very upfront about its message from starting to finish, and but, what it says in regards to the energy of fiction may be probably the most inspiring a part of all of it. There’s simply nothing like Metaphor: ReFantazio, and it represents the very best of what video games can provide, particularly in 2024.
