2024 has been a busy year for gaming, and if you’re into your RPGs, it’s one for the books.
The RPG genre has seen some absolute bangers join the ranks, includingbrand-new IPsand triumphant retellings of fan favorites. Even the most casual RPGs are a commitment; many demand dozens of hours of your time.
Because gamers are varied and have their own opinions about the best RPG’s of the year, we put it to a vote. We sent a survey to our entire team at DualShockers and then ranked each game based on how our team voted. In situations where two games received the same percentage of votes, we had our entire team vote on those games to break the tie.
If you want to make sure your time is well spent, here are the hottest games the genre has seen all year.
The big difference between this list and many of our others is how the entries were chosen. An internal vote across the Dualshockers team picked these games and their placement. I may not agree with all of them, but the writers have spoken!
10Banishers: Ghost of New Eden
If Only Paranormal TV Shows Were This Exciting
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Banishers: Ghost of New Edenstands out among other RPGs released this year thanks to its captivating setting in areimagining of America in 1695.
You play as aparanormal investigatoror “Banisher” named Red, tasked with hunting down spirits and resolving their issues so they can pass into the afterlife. While the setting and activities are remarkable, the subplots are surprisingly bleak at times, often focusing on harrowing incidents that lead to the spirit’s untimely end.
Your decisions feel like they have meaning, and you have multiple choices about how quests end.
Combat is also pretty refreshing asyou control Red or a ghostly partnerwith a different skill set. If you’re up for trying an RPG with a spooky theme, Banishers may be right up your alley.
Even if you’re acoward, this one is worth checking out, as most scares are surface-level.
9Dragon Age: The Veilguard
The Saga Continues
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Veilguardis the long-anticipated sequel toDragon Age: Inquisitionand the fourth game in the franchise.
You play as Rook on their quest to bring down the pain on unruly Elven gods. Dragon Age: The Veilguard isheavily story-driven, and you’ll have to make tough decisions on your journey.
Gameplay-wise, combat is flashy and satisfying. Many attacks feel weighty, and there areplenty of build diversitythanks to multiple classes and specializations.
RPGs are typically “one-and-done” affairs, butVeilguardhas multiple endings. I won’t spoilhow many there arehere, but your choices feel like they have gravity, as they can absolutely change the story’s outcome.
If you pay any attention to the gaming space whatsoever, you’ll know that there’s animmense amount of vitriolsurrounding the title. I won’t entertain either “side” of the argument here, but if you’re a fan of the previous games or story-driven narratives, you may find something to scratch those itches here.
8Another Crab’s Treasure
Krillin' In The Name Of
Another Crab’s Treasure
Another Crab’s Treasureoffers abrave take on the Action RPG genrewith bold, colorful visuals, a lighthearted tone, and an unlikely choice of protagonist.
You play as Kril, the hermit crab, on a quest toretrieve his prized shellfrom “loan sharks.” The story is as ridiculous as it sounds, and all the better because of it. There’s a generous serving of platforming alongside traditional RPG tropes, and there’s nothing else quite like it.
While you’ll be grinning like a Cheshire cat throughout the entire game,battles can be pretty punishingand wade deep into “souls” territory.
Combat is notably more straightforward than a typical souls-like experience, but based on critical reception, many see this as a positive rather than a detriment.
7Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
We Know What You’re Going To Say…
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Let’s quickly take care of the elephant in the room. Yes, we’re aware thatShadow of the Erdtreeis a DLC. However, it’s of such high quality and scope that it could easily be a standalone title, andif the Game Awards can do it, so can we.
I honestly expected the team to rate this one much higher, but there have been some banger RPGs this year, and competition was fierce.
2022’sElden Ringinstantly becameanother must-have titleby FromSoftware, who have become masters of the genre at this point.Shadow of the Erdtreetoes the line with the same critical attention to detail.
Everything you expect from a top-tier Souls game is here. Many boss fights play out likemagnificent set-pieces, and there’s juicy lore waiting to be discovered around every corner.
The new threats and environments are impressive, and players have an armory’s worth of new toys to play with.
Shadow of the Erdtreesets a new standardin what to expect from a DLC, and that doesn’t happen every year. If From Software released this content offering as a full-priced standalone title, nobody would batter an eye.
6Stellar Blade
A Stylish Sci-fi Adventure
Stellar Blade
Shift Upblew everyone’s expectations out of the waterthis year withStellar Blade. Considering the studio’s previous title is the mobile gatcha game Goddess of Victory: Nikke, this foray into RPG territory is even more impressive.
Stellar Bladeis aflashy action RPGstarring EVE, a stylish and sexy soldier on a quest to save Earth from an alien race called the Naytiba.
Combat is satisfyingly fast-paced yet rewards precision timing. Many soulslike tropes are present during fights, and you’ll have a great time if you can nail a few parries during battles. The game is littered withfantastic set pieces, like sliding down a tunnel with music reacting to your movements, and it’s a high-octane thrill ride from start to finish.
While fighting is definitely a focal point, exploration is always rewarded, and there’splenty of optional side content. Completionists will enjoy the numerous side missions and there’s always a new outfit up for grabs for those who search for them.
10 Best Open World JRPGs
Open-world JRPGs aren’t the most common thing, but they’re introducing dazzling new worlds for players to explore.
5Persona 3 Reload
A Faithful Remake
Persona 3 Reload
ThePersonagames are distinctive turn-based RPGs, offering a calendar systemyou must respect if you want to see everything.
Persona 3is a fan favorite in the series but isover 15 years old. The title was only available on thePS2and PSP until it was spruced up inPersona 3 Reload.
Fortunately,Reloadcertainly earns its place on the list withmany new features. There are new ways to spend free time and plenty of extra side content to sift through. Combat is revamped with the newTheurgy and Shift mechanics, and the entire voice cast has been redone from scratch.
The result is aPersonagame anyone can enjoy, even if they never played the original.
4Dragon’s Dogma 2
Command Your Pawns
Dragon’s Dogma 2
The world ofDragon’s Dogmafeels medieval, with just the right amount of fantasy and monsters thrown on top. The sequel,Dragon’s Dogma 2,adds to the formula in all the right wayswith a massively expanded map and new vocations.
You play as an “Arisen” in DD2 ona quest to defeat a dragonwhile tiptoeing on the edge of a geopolitical struggle between two factions. The story is deep and engaging, but the most unique part about the title is the “Pawns” system.
Being Arisen isfar more than just a fancy title. You can hire AI-controlled Pawns to assist you in combat, each with specific skills. Better yet, you can hire Pawns created by other players, which is a neat way of injecting a small multiplayer element into an otherwise single-player experience.
You’ve probably noticed Souls-like combat is all the rage in this year’s RPGs, but Dragon’s Dogma 2 plays more like aHack-and-slash.
3Metaphor: ReFantazio
Atlus Does It Again
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metaphor: ReFantaziotells an engaging story about akingdom in turmoiland a frantic race to claim a throne without a king.
You play as Will as he joins the Royal Tournament fora shot at the crown. There’s a hard-hitting political story weaving everything together, and your actions feel like they have real consequences as you meet the struggling denizens of the United Kingdom of Euchronia.
Metaphor wears itsPersonaandShin Megami Tenseiinspirations on its sleeve, butthat’s not to a detriment. Events are beholden to acalendar system, andtime feels like a precious resourceyou must spend wisely.
The turn-based combat is delightfully flashy, with “archetypes” as a thinly-veiled replacement for traditional jobs.
Metaphor: ReFantaziobrings the heat with everything you expect from astylish Atlus titlewith enoughunique ideasto differentiate itself from its contemporaries.
2Black Myth Wukong
A Faithful Nod To Chinese Folklore
Key Information
Game Science
PC, PS5, Xbox
Release Date
August 2024
Black Myth Wukongbrought the heat when it came out in August, sellingover 20 million copiesin its first month. That impressive figure makes itone of the fastest-selling games of all time, and fortunately, it has the gameplay to match.
Black Myth Wukongis inspired by the Chinese novelJourney to the West. You play as the Destined One based on Sun Wukong from the story, and while fighting is the main draw of the title, a beautiful tale unfolds as you play.
Combat inBlack Myth Wukongteeters into “Souls” territory, but the pace and fluidity often make it feel like a “hack and slash.“Boss battles are like grand set piecesthat wouldn’t feel out of place in DragonBall Z, and the gorgeous world is a joy to explore.
It’s rare that games respect and show off their source material so well, and Black Myth Wukong puts on a masterclass at doing both simultaneously.
1Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7 Rebirth)
This Iconic Cast Never Looked So Good
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthdeserves praise for its ambitious attempt at retelling the story ofone of the most beloved RPGs ever made.
Rebirthis the second game in what we expect to be a trilogy, and Square Enix masterfullyinjects new elements into the talewithout dramatically changing it.
The visuals are to die for, from the environments to the super-model cast. Thatattention to detailis evident in every nook and cranny and makesRebirthfeel like a labor of love by the developers.
Square Enix could never please everyone with the combat, and we’ll likely see the flame war between turn-based and live-action battles rage until the PS10 comes out.The hybrid system is a bold choicebut an elegant one that most players seem happy with.
FF7 Rebirthhits all the right nostalgic beats. It’s approachable to newcomers and fans of the 1997 original, who will stare open-mouthed at what five console generations can do.
It’s been a banger year for RPGs, but only one question remains.Is 2025 up to the challenge?
Dualshockers Definitives: Best Souls-Likes Of 2024
Looking for a challenge. 2024 was more than happy to oblige.
