There are a lot of games that get overlooked for bigger releases. This is can often be down to publishers releasing their games within the same release window as bigger more popular franchises or it could be due to terrible marketing. Whatever the reason, there are lots of games that go under the radar despite how well they are scored with critics.
Obviously, not all games are going to be the multi-million dollar blockbusters that games like Call of Duty or even Final Fantasy are. The RPG whether it’s from the west or Japan seems to be a genre that struggles to find anything more than a niche audience. Let’s take a look at 10 great but overlooked RPGs and how they scored on Metacritic.
10 Torment: Tides Of Numera (Metascore 79)
Released in 2017, Torment: Tides Of Numenera was released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC. It was released as a spiritual sequel to beloved Planescape: Torment by focusing on story, diplomacy, and relationships over combat and conflict.
Nothing in Torment is black and white when it comes to making decisions. Even when a player is trying to make kinder choices there will often be repercussions. It’s a game that forces players to really think about their actions and is a real masterclass in role-playing.
9 Tyranny (Metascore 80)
Released in 2016 on PC formats such as Windows and Linux, Tyranny is an RPG developed by Obsidian using the same engine as their Pillars of Eternity series. Unfortunately, any chance for a console release in the future is unlikely due to the game’s poor sales performance.
Unlike other RPGs where there’s a quest to defeat evil at the very last minute, in Tyranny evil has already won and an Overlord called Kyros reigns supreme. As a Fatebinder, the player is tasked with making sure the remaining forces of good bend the knee to the evil lord. Just like the Pillars of Eternity every action and allegiance made in the game will have a huge impact on how the story progresses.
8 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning (Metascore 81)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the PC in 2012. The game was developed at the now-defunct 38 Studios and the game was such a commercial failure that it put the studio into bankruptcy despite scoring well with critics.
There was a lot of talent involved in creating a brand new fantasy universe. The studio brought in fantasy author R.A. Salvatore to write the story, Todd McFarlane on the character designs, and the lead designer from The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. It was a fantastic RPG that had some of the best combat and character customization in its generation.
7 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (Metascore 83)
Released in 2016 on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a science fiction RPG set in a cyberpunk world. It’s the direct sequel to Deus Ex: Human Revolution and is set before the events of the very first game released in 2000.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t as successful as its predecessor and any plans for a sequel have been put on hold. Although the game’s main narrative wasn’t quite as strong as Human Revolution, the game’s use of environmental storytelling and world-building was definitely a step up. Furthermore, the level design during combat missions is up there with some of the best in the genre.
6 Valkyria Chronicles 4 (Metascore 84)
The Valkyria Chronicles series has always been a bigger hit in Japan than it has in the west and the series has always been considered something of a hidden gem. Thankfully, dedicated fans of the series are still getting treated to the series’ sequels with the most recent being Valkyria Chronicles 4.
Released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and the PC in 2018, Valkyria Chronicles 4 like its predecessors is a tactical RPG set in an alternate universe World War 2. Additionally, the series’ striking art design looks better than ever and it adds even more strategic possibilities in its gameplay.
5 Ys VIII: Lacrimosa Of DANA (Metascore 85)
The Ys series developed by Nihon Falcom is one of the most popular action RPGs in Japan. It has always had something of a cult following the in the west by comparison but the games are mega-hits when compared to the likes of the Final Fantasy series.
This is also true for one of the series' best entries in Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA. With half a million sales it isn’t a flop by any stretch of the imagination but it absolutely deserves to be held in the same regard as its big-budget rivals. The combat system is one of the best seen in the genre and the game’s lead character Adol is one of the most endearing in gaming.
4 Jeanne D’Arc (Metascore 87)
Jeanne d’Arc was released on the PlayStation Portable in 2007 and is still highly regarded as one of the best tactical RPGs of all time by those who have played it. It was developed by Level-5 studios who are now better known for their Ni No Kuni series. The studio’s penchant for telling amazing stories combined with beautiful artwork is on full display with this title.
The game’s story is a fictional fantasy-based retelling Joan of Arc’s involvement with The Hundred Years’ War between France and England. While it may not sound like the greatest idea in the world Level-5’s handling of the story within a fantasy setting was very well done. Unfortunately, Jeanne d’Arc’s exposure was only limited to the handheld system that never sold very well. Additionally, there have been no talks of a remaster for modern consoles even though the cell-shaded visuals would lend themselves well to a more powerful machine.
3 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (Metascore 87)
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was an enhanced remaster of the Japan-only original that released on the Super Famicom, Sega Saturn, and the PlayStation. It was developed by the same team that created Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII.
Tactics Ogre has some of the best writing in an RPG which is easily on par with its successors. The game offers players branching storylines based on the choices they make according to Law, Neutral, and Chaos concepts. The game’s story was inspired by the events of the Yugoslav Wars and the tragic events that unfolded during that conflict, so it’s not a typical fantasy tale.
2 Dark Cloud 2 (Metascore 87)
When Dark Cloud 2 (also known as Dark Chronicle outside of North America) was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2003 it was one of the most critically acclaimed RPG on the system. It was developed by Level-5 and used a cell-shaded art style that still looks good today with PS4 emulation.
It’s a fun and light-hearted RPG that feels suitably epic coming from Level-5 and it also includes a very robust town-building mechanic that works like the Dragon Quest Builders series.
1 Jade Empire (Metascore 89)
Developed by BioWare Jade Empire was released on the Xbox in 2005 and the PC in 2007. Unfortunately, the game never quite reached the heights of its predecessor Star Wars: The Knights of the Old Republic in terms of sales and despite fan outcry there’s isn’t likely to be another sequel.
Jade Empire’s world is based around Chinese Mythology and implements a more action-orientated combat system. However, the staples of a BioWare game are all there with its morality based choice and dialogue system allowing for a branching narrative and replay value.