Often one of the hardest genres to strictly define, RPG is a set of titles that take many of their characteristics from other types of games across the industry, but still have a core of traits unique to them. Much like customization became one of the most important options in gaming as a whole, RPGs often allow players to customize their experience by offering features like multiple dialogue options that can change the direction of the story or allow players to freely take up quests and progress through them as they please.
Essentially, RPGs tend to combine a more personalized approach that allows players to immerse themselves in the world and a general direction for what the main narrative thread should entail. The genre ranges from more accessible RPGs like the Pokemon series to a blend of obscure lore and gameplay mechanics, like FromSoftware's Dark Souls series, with plenty of other variants in between. 2022 has been quite generous with RPGs, spawning plenty of great titles. These are the best RPGs of 2022, listed in no particular order.
Chained Echoes
Intentionally taking many of its cues from stereotypical JRPG features, Chained Echoes manages to be one of the most enticing games of the year thanks to its varied cast of characters and its approach to builds. For example, Chained Echoes' Sienna is among the fan-favorites in the game thanks to her take on classic RPG rogues as well as amazing combat capabilities that allow her to stack multiple damage-over-time effects on her enemies, both crucial aspects of the game. With a combination of nostalgic stories and nuanced characters, Chained Echoes became one of the best old-school RPGs and climbed many charts despite its relatively recent release date, coming out just December 2.
Elden Ring
Possibly one of the most hyped games to launch this year, Elden Ring ended up dominating The Game Awards and many gaming discussions due to its near-perfect mix of storytelling, gameplay, and world design. With incredible lore to draw from, as well as incredibly detailed quests, items, and characters, Elden Ring has something of value for every kind of player, especially so for long-time FromSoftware fans. It's not a coincidence that Elden Ring ended up winning the Best RPG award, and with many fans calling it a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the future looks bright for FromSoftware's long-standing series of Soulslikes. Still, fans are hoping for multiple expansions in the future other than the free Arena DLC, possibly expanding the world of Elden Ring while creating new avenues for the Tarnished beyond the many endings that players can already unlock in the base game.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
With Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes being more like a direct sequel to Fire Emblem Warriors and an alternate-history Fire Emblem: Three Houses, players could still find many of the RPG elements that made the series iconic. Among them is a great focus on character relationships and the choice of which of the three houses to pledge allegiance to, as well as a combat system that doesn't shake up too much the winning formula from past games. With a handful of upgrades, primary and side missions, and near-endless options for characters in terms of which battles to take on or which items to use, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a fantastic addition to the genre and the series.
Horizon Forbidden West
Not many games manage to stick the landing for a sequel when its predecessor was received with overwhelmingly positive comments by the community, but Horizon Forbidden West goes above and beyond Zero Dawn's legacy. Not only that, but Horizon Forbidden West also adds plenty of great RPG features that make the experience even more unique compared to its predecessor, with skill trees for Aloy, crafting benches to upgrade weapons, and the game's underwater sections or new traversal abilities. Stacking great dialogues, quests, and character interactions in general, Forbidden West is easily one of the best RPGs of the year, making its upcoming Burning Shores DLC all the more exciting for fans.
Lost Ark
Although Lost Ark is far from being a new game in some regions, with a South Korea publication as early as 2019, it did come to the rest of the world this year with the aid of Amazon Games. Peaking at an all-time record of over 1.3 million concurrent players on Steam, the MMORPG set itself up for success with action-packed combat, multiple classes to choose from, and a progression system that scaled well into its end-game section. Lost Ark still contains plenty of elements from old-school RPGs like Diablo, and it successfully mixes them with striking visual effects and a decent character customization process that includes a hefty choice of cosmetic items later on. Flashy battles aside, there is a lot of depth to Lost Ark that may be lost in the many options and menus that players have to juggle, but at the core is a truly incredible RPG experience that appeals to newcomers of the genre and veterans alike.
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Although it may be hard to pinpoint Marvel's Midnight Suns down to one genre, given it's a mix of social RPG and tactical turn-based game, the new superhero title is an excellent addition to the Marvel series. It perfectly combines character relationships with the typical customization and rewarding progression system of RPGs with tactical battles and hero-specific challenges. Midnight Suns players can increase their friendship level. Marvel's Midnight Suns also has a lot of replay value, with the main character being a customizable superhero with a choice of many different powers, and the fact that players can find multiple secrets is a great incentive to do so.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Pokemon Legends: Arceus was very well-received by the community when it first came out because it revolutionized the Pokemon formula entirely, with a dynamic catching system and overworld critters attacking the trainer. In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, players are tasked with helping Jubilife Village thrive in the face of the constant threats coming from powerful wild Pokemon, which the villagers are mostly afraid of. Players take on tasks and quests to prove their worth and that Pokemon can be much more than fearful, untamable creatures, all while befriending NPCs along the way and exploring the lands of ancient Hisui. Even though its RPG elements are not as rich as other titles, Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a breath of fresh air in the franchise that deserves more recognition, especially in how it handles the novelty of crafting and Pokedex research tasks.
SteelRising
Set during an alternate-history French Revolution, SteelRising players control an automaton with a selection of starting classes and weapon types, each with their own specialization and combat roles. Speaking of combat, SteelRising draws inspiration from the Dark Souls series in how it handles stamina-focused action and traversing the world, as well as how it treats its many powerful bosses, which are much more than bullet sponges. Players can also allocate stat points the way they like and use different sorts of weapons found throughout the game, making each playthrough a bit different. On top of that, iconic historic French characters can also be found in SteelRising, often tasking players with completing quests.
Triangle Strategy
Triangle Strategy is not dissimilar to Divinity: Original Sin in how it approaches combat and interactions between spells and environment, with an example being lightning spells cast on bodies of water extending the effect to nearby units. Triangle Strategy's difficulty levels make it a superb tile-based tactical game when it comes to battles, but it does offer more than that with a focus on its many characters, their unique abilities, and how all these elements come together when exploring the world or progressing through the story. Seemingly an ode to Final Fantasy Tactics, Triangle Strategy has a lot going on that makes it its own game, and it particularly shows in its map design and character interactions, with a voting mechanic that makes team-wide decisions all the more realistic. These can also change the ending of the game, alongside a morality system that makes each choice all the more impactful.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
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Among the most anticipated games of the year was Xenoblade Chronicles 3, a JRPG that dramatically surpasses the previous entries in the saga by making its characters more compelling and relatable, allowing players to build meaningful relationships between them. That's not to say that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 gets rid of all the elements that made its predecessor loved by fans, but it does make Aionios arguably the most beautiful world in the series - rich in history, lore, and compelling struggles. What Monolith Soft achieved with this entry is a more mature take on the common themes of life and death, and the meaning players can find in each of them. Chiefly, Eunie's revelation that she remembers her past life and how she died forty years before the events of the game, which then acts as a springboard to unveil the truth behind Xenoblade Chronicles 3's Colonies and their Ranks.