This year has been an absolutely stacked year for RPGs, bringing fan-favorite franchises back and introducing new classics. Taking us across the multiverse to different worlds and times, there was an RPG for every fan. Here are the top RPGs of 2024.
The only requirements for the top RPGs of the 2024 list are that the developer/publisher describes the game as a role-playing game and that it was released in the calendar year of 2024 (January to December). There is no restriction on console or region, and with so many titles to cover, we’re just sorry we had to narrow it down. Here are the Top RPGs of 2024.
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10. Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Dragon Age: The Veilguard proved that Bioware still fundamentally understands RPGs. With a fantastic core story, a great cast of characters, and fun and deep combat systems, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is very much worth the trip. I genuinely got stumped on some of the choices the game presents, having to put my controller down for a few minutes to consider next steps. It quickly grabs you and doesn’t let go, with each choice feeling impactful.
The art style and graphics are also gorgeous. Each biome completely different than the last, just the act of adventuring through different places stayed with me. Dragon Age: The Veilguard was a long time coming, and thankfully, stuck the landing.
9. Dungeons of Hinterberg
Developer: Microbird Games
Publisher: Curve Games
Dungeons of Hinterberg takes the dungeon design of Zelda and blends it with the social systems of Persona, making it a dream come true. Joining Luisa on her trip to the magical town of Hinterberg is fantastic. Her strong writing and fun gameplay make the adventure worth taking.
There’s something serene about the town and its inhabitants, even with trouble bubbling underneath. It touches on burnout and finding oneself in beautiful ways. Deciding who to spend time with is genuinely challenging, as I felt torn in multiple directions. The combat and dungeon designs are similarly excellent, with each area having unique power-ups. Dungeons of Hinterberg is a fantastic and heartfelt adventure about finding yourself.
8. Dragon’s Dogma 2
Developer & Publisher: Capcom
Dragon’s Dogma 2, the follow-up to the cult classic original, is more of a reboot than a true sequel. Bringing the janky mechanics and big monster battles forward to the latest generation is an enjoyable experience unlike anything else. It can deliberately slow you down, making the adventure more significant than the destination. When you encounter a massive cyclops or dragon wandering around, the following fight is always epic.
With plenty of different builds and classes, there’s a different way to play. I used a rogue, focusing on climbing the enemies and striking weak points. Initially, I had no hype for this, but after diving in, I was hooked. It shouldn’t be missed for fans of The Witcher or action RPGs.
7. Persona 3: Reload
Developer: P Studio
Publisher: Atlus
Persona 3: Reload had a tall order in bringing back a beloved entry in the series and modernizing it. Luckily, it did just that. The overhauled graphics and environment were beautiful, bringing Gekkoukan High School to life in a way it never has been before. The core story remains poignant, and the cast is fantastic, making it easy to fall in love with a cast struggling in some aspect.
Bringing in Persona 5‘s flashy UI and style matched well without ever feeling like too much. Persona 3 was the beginning of the new era, layering in social systems on top of the dungeon crawling, monster collecting series. Persona 3: Reload elevates it even further. While not everything from the old iterations is there, and I’m looking at you, FeMC, Persona 3:Reload is a fantastic RPG.
6. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: NIS America
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak introduces a fantastic jumping-on point for anyone curious about the long-running franchise. The story is dark and mature, touching on drugs, murder, loss, mental health, and a lot more while still bringing in levity that doesn’t feel out of place. The combat is fantastic, taking the turn-based combat the series is known for and introducing new elements that make it even more fun.
The new cast is immediately memorable, with Van being one of my favorite protagonists in recent memory. It all feels very Gintama, my favorite anime, in the best way, as the begrudging odd-jobs detective leads a motley crew of individuals as they dig deep into a country-wide mystery. There’s a lot here for old fans to connect with, and it is a perfect spot for new fans to sink into the greatness of The Legend of Heroes.
5. Tactical Breach Wizards
Developer & Publisher: Suspicious Developments
The setup for the RPG Tactical Breach Wizards is deceptively simple: what if SWAT was wizards? Taking that and running with it on a global adventure, out to stop an ex-colleague gone sideways, Tactical Breach Wizards is a blast. The cast is fantastic, with some of my favorite writing of the entire year. Each character has a unique voice that fits as a piece of the puzzle, with Jen being a standout.
She’s endlessly charming and self-deprecating and an absolute powerhouse in combat. The level design is incredible as you infiltrate buildings, move trains, and more with your mage squad. The battles are fantastic, especially as more powers and abilities unlock. Want to defenestrate a multitude of enemies, sending them you the window with magic and guns? Tactical Breach Wizards delivers in spades; it’s one of the year’s best games besides being a top RPG.
4. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Developer: From Software
Publisher: Bandai Namco
From Software has been on a historic run in the last decade, with Elden Ring bringing in even more players with its more approachable, open-world design. That didn’t stop it from being hard, but you could go elsewhere to level up and get new gear. Shadow of the Erdtree continues the excellent design and combat Elden Ring is known for, expanding the world into more harrowing beauty.
Fans who may have thought the core game was too easy (I don’t know how, but okay) had their prayers met as Erdtree beats you senseless. The overwhelming feeling of accomplishment in taking down the bosses is still unlike anything else. Shadow of the Erdtree is big enough to be its own experience and is well worth the trip back to the Lands Between.
3. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: Sega
The Yakuza/Like A Dragon franchise kicked this year of great RPGs with one of the series’ best titles in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Bringing back best boy Ichiban and teaming up with series icon Kiryu Kazama was constantly awesome, delving into new spaces for both characters. The series left Japan for the first time, taking fans to the sunny streets of Hawaii.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is packed with stuff to do, from Pokémon-esque monster catching to renovating and managing an Animal Crossing-styled getaway to a resort island. Top it off with an incredible story, memorable characters, fun combat, and amazing substories, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the complete package.
2. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
Developer: Creative Business Unit 1
Publisher: Square Enix
Part two of the trilogy is based on the beloved classic built on everything that came before. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is excellent front-to-back, a global adventure that brought fans back to spaces they thought they knew, making them bigger and more exciting than ever before. Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, and the rest of the gang are still as lovable and endearing as ever.
New combatants in Red XIII, Yuffie, and Cait Sith added even more to an already excellent combat system. The spectacle and epic scale of Rebirth was on constant display, without ever losing the heart and character the original is known for. I already can’t wait for the finale.
1. Metaphor ReFantazio
Developer: Studio Zero
Publisher: Atlus
Metaphor ReFantazio may look and feel like medieval fantasy Persona, but it quickly becomes so much more than that. Taking a darker and more politically charged story, rife with racism, classism, and religious persecution, Atlus managed to build on the foundation that was there. It proves the formula works outside of the high school setting, instead focusing on a battle for the crown.
The cast of characters is fantastic, all drenched in some form of trauma or loss, and going on their personal journeys with them is as important as the core plot. The combat is incredibly fluid, with a job system that allows for endless party experimentation and unique compositions. The social system is more integrated than ever, feeling more natural and ingrained in the journey. Metaphor ReFantazio is the best RPG this year, but also, one of the best of all time.
This year was jam-packed with incredible RPGs across both AAA and indie and our top RPGs of 2024 captured that. With 2025 not looking like it’s slowing down at all, the next couple of months are the perfect time to hop into some modern RPG classics you may have missed in 2024.
