Last year was a very successful year for RPGs, and for one game in particular. Which title are we talking about? That would be Elden Ring, of course, which dominated 2023. FromSoftware’s game won the Best RPG award and caught the attention of many gamers, not just Dark Souls fans. But, of course, let’s not forget titles like Horizon Forbidden West, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and God of War: Ragnarok.
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Darkest Dungeon II
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Diablo IV
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Sea of Stars
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Starfield
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
- Lies of P
Hogwarts Legacy
- Release date: 10 February 2023 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC); 5 May 2023 (PS4, Xbox One) 25 July 2023 (Nintendo Switch)
- Developer: Avalanche Software
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Avalanche Software’s game based on the Harry Potter universe created by J.K. Rowling is already available to many players – those lucky enough to own a PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. But any fan waiting for the premiere on older-generation consoles and Nintendo Switch will not be disappointed, judging by the flood of positive feedback about the game.
Hogwarts Legacy is a fantasy RPG game that features beautiful settings, memorable characters and fantastic battle scenes. It’s set in an open, third-person view of the 19th century Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. During the course of the game, the player takes on the role of a young adept on his way to becoming a great wizard, while trying to cope with the chaos created by the unlikely alliance between goblins and warlocks.
Darkest Dungeon II
- Release date: 8 May 2023 (PC)
- Developer: Red Hook Studios
- Publisher: Red Hook Studios
Darkest Dungeon II continues the RPG released in 2016, which was well received by players. This time we are a group of 4 heroes on a quest to save the world from the apocalypse. The salvation seems to await on a far away mountain, but the road there is really long and full of dangers. Whether the protagonists will manage to reach it, as well as how they’ll go about doing it, depends on our decisions.
Each of the heroes has their own abilities and class. There are some we know from the previous part, but the team has added a new one: Runway, who specialises in fire attacks. Battles take place in side-view turn-based mode.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Release date: 12 May 2023
- Developer: Nintendo
- Publisher: Nintendo
Let’s leave aside the debate about whether or not The Legend of Zelda can be called an RPG. Tears of the Kingdom is the next part in a series that began in 1987 and is described as an action-adventure game with RPG elements. It is also a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, the 2017 hit.
The main storyline offers at least several dozen hours of fun. In the game, we will meet Link, well known to fans of the series, who will once again have to stand up and fight for the kingdom of Hyrule. There will be a huge open world to explore, puzzles to solve and enemies to fight. As you progress through the game, you will unlock new weapons, skills and gadgets.
Diablo IV
- Release date: 6 June 2023 (PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC)
- Developer: Blizzard Entertainment, Vicarious Visions
- Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Let’s forget for a moment about Diablo Immortal, which received a cool reception from gamers, because here comes a new game from Blizzard. Diablo IV promises to give players the unforgettable experience of the second part of the series, while keeping the good things from the third. Fans of the Diablo series will be thrilled to see a truly open world and return to a pure, dark climate.
Diablo IV is a classic hack’n’slash role-playing game in which players choose one of many heroes, each with their own fighting style, unique skills, and ability to evolve. The game focuses on exploring the world, collecting items, completing quests and, most importantly, fighting hordes of enemies with different weapons and special abilities.
Final Fantasy XVI
- Release date: 22 June 2023 (PS5)
- Developer: Square Enix
- Publisher: Square Enix
Final Fantasy XVI is the sixteenth game in Square Enix’s successful RPG series. This time we travel to the fantastic world of Valisthea, a land filled with large crystals capable of producing a magical substance called Aether. As protagonist Clive Rosfield, First Shield of Rosaria and guardian of his younger brother Joshua, we will embark on a dangerous path of revenge.
As in the fifteenth part of the series, the battles are dynamic and require us to show dexterity, reflexes and skilful use of the protagonist’s combat abilities. We will eliminate our enemies in melee combat, from a distance and with the help of a wide range of magical attacks. As you progress, your hero will evolve, allowing you to face new challenges over time.
Sea of Stars
- Release date: 29 August 2023 (PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC)
- Developer: Sabotage Studio
- Publisher: Sabotage Studio
Sea of Stars is an old-school RPG prequel to The Messenger, a game that was well received by many players. Despite retro style and pixel art, it features modern effects, in particular dynamic lighting.
The action in Sea of Stars takes place long before the events of The Messenger. At the start of the game, we choose two heroes from a total of 6 different characters, each with unique abilities. They travel by boat through a vast world of islands and once they reach the shore, they are free to explore the land.
In the meantime we are faced with various platforming sections that require us to jump over pits and avoid traps. We are also going to engage in turn-based combat, in which we are going to use different types of damage. Thanks to the synergy system, which allows us to combine attacks in effective combinations, hits are really dynamic and powerful.
Baldur’s Gate 3
- Release date: 31 August 2023 (PS5, PC)
- Developer: Larian Studios
- Publisher: Larian Studios
The third part of the popular RPG series will soon be coming out of Early Access and we will finally be able to enjoy the full story. The story of Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place 100 years after the events of Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. You will be able to play alone or with your friends using local or networked co-op for up to 4 players.
The game’s storyline is less linear than in previous parts – quests can be completed in a number of different ways, and their outcome has an impact on the story. The future of the presented world depends on the decisions of the players, as well as on the rolls of the dice.
What promises to be interesting are the detailed character models and locations, and the advanced turn-based combat, based on the rules of fifth edition D&D.
Starfield
- Release date: 2023 (Xbox Series X|S, PC)
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Do you dream of becoming a space traveller? Then Starfield, a RPG game set in a science fiction universe, is something you should be looking forward to.
The action takes place in the distant future, in the year 2330. Twenty years earlier, a bloody conflict between the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective broke out in the settled systems. The war ended in an uneasy peace, but it has left this part of the Universe dangerous and threatened.
As a participant in Constellation, an organisation dedicated to exploring the Milky Way and uncovering its secrets, you will be challenged to learn about humanity’s greatest mystery. Your spaceship journey will take you through more than 100 planetary systems, where you will discover more than 1,000 globes.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
- Release date: 2023 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC)
- Developer: Rabbit and Bear Studios
- Publisher: 505 Games
Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is the spiritual heir to the Suidoken series, created by its veterans. The game features a turn-based combat system, a hundred characters to recruit, and mechanics for expanding the city that serves as a fortress for the player’s army. The game’s attractive graphic design is also worthy of note. Despite its modern look, it retains the atmosphere of 32-bit JRPGs.
The action takes place on the continent of Allraan, where wars between humans, elves, beastmen and the desert people have been raging for years. The game involves exploring the world, completing quests, developing characters and fighting battles – in short, a classic of the genre. The game also features mini-games that focus on fishing and cooking.
Lies of P
- Release date: 2023 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC)
- Developer: Neowiz
- Publisher: Neowiz
The classic story of Pinocchio was written for children. The tale of the wooden puppet shows us how long and difficult the road to becoming a good person is. Lies of P, an RPG based on the story by C. Collodi, takes us on a much darker journey than the one we know from our childhood. It is a Pinocchio story with strong, dark accents that will give many players a shiver.
The game, realised as a soulslike production, takes us on a journey to the dark city of Krat. The main character is a mechanical puppet named Pinocchio, whose main task is to find his creator, Geppetto.
Lies are a characteristic element of the game. Based on them, the game procedurally generates tasks for the main character to complete. These affect both the plot and Pinnocchio. The more often he tells the truth, the more human he becomes, losing his mechanical abilities.