10 Best RPGs Of 2024

Love for RPGs, especially those of the enormous open-world variety, has expanded exponentially over the past year, and that's largely due to the likes of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Dragon's Dogma 2. 2024 played host to some of the best RPGs of all time from a range of different platforms, which is naturally going to be incredibly overwhelming for those with huge backlogs.

Fortunately, not every RPG is a huge 100+ hour spectacle, as many of them fall into the small but incredibly sweet indie category. Additionally, many of these RPGs are on Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, making them more accessible than ever. From delving deep into dungeons to hanging out at school with some friends, there are so many phenomenal RPGs that were released in 2024 that will easily help carry players looking for a lengthy experience into the New Year.

10 DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake (Square Enix)

A Gorgeous Remake Of A Classic RPG

After releasing the original three Dragon Quest games onto current consoles and PC, Square Enix decided to do a full-blown remake of the trilogy, starting with the third game - which is chronologically the first. Fortunately, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, which gets its name from the HD-2D visual style popularized by the Octopath Traveler series, started this remake trilogy with a bang.

While it retains a lot of its old school charm, it is modernized where it counts, making it the definitive version of the game. In a year full of huge 100+ hour RPGs with photorealistic visuals, the Dragon Quest 3 Remake is a breath of fresh air and a great way to experience a true classic. For fans of old school JRPGs or those looking to see where it all started, the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a great place to start.

9 Unicorn Overlord (Vanillaware)

A Tactical RPG Like No Other

Unicorn Overlord is Vanillaware's foray into the world of TRPGs, giving players a remarkable experience that reviews stated beats Fire Emblem. It's a sprawling open-world RPG in which players attempt to liberate various cities and villages spread across diverse biomes. Each area can be approached in any order, so long as players have gathered a strong enough ensemble of fighters and leveled up their ranking so they can create bigger units.

The progression of units and squads in Unicorn Overlord is where a lot of the fun comes from, as it drastically alters how players approach combat. Unit formations and unit synergies are also important and require consideration. It's all a lot to think about, but Unicorn Overlord manages to make it feel digestible, ensuring never to overwhelm people. For anyone who wants a good TRPG, Unicorn Overlord is the perfect choice.

8 Granblue Fantasy: Relink (Cygames)

An RPG With So Many Playable Characters

Granblue Fantasy: Relink was overlooked in 2024, despite offering one of the most compelling RPG experiences of the year. It's an action-packed game with an epic story, a huge roster of playable characters, and a phenomenal soundtrack. For those who love over-the-top JRPGs, Granblue Fantasy: Relink absolutely fits the bill. It is a better experience for those who've seen the anime or played the original mobile game, but even newcomers can enjoy this sprawling RPG.

What makes Granblue Fantasy: Relink stand out from the other RPGs of 2024 is its roster of characters. Players start off with several that they can choose from - either to play as or to add to their party - and then will unlock more the further they get through the story. Each character has their own series of missions and unique weapon types that can be upgraded. They also have vastly different playstyles, which helps add a lot of replayability to this already enormous package.

7 Persona 3: Reload (Atlus)

The Ultimate RPG Remake

Persona 3: Reload is a great example of how to do remakes well as it not only improves the original game's visuals, but also injects it with a breadth of new content and character moments. While those who weren't fond of Tartarus won't find any love for it here, everything surrounding the procedurally generated dungeon is truly exceptional. The turn-based combat has been significantly upgraded with additions from Persona 5 and there are additional activities that can be done to improve social stats.

Furthermore, characters have new Link Episodes which help flesh out their backgrounds and even Tartarus has had a facelift to make it a little more tolerable. Frankly, from its writing to its soundtrack, Persona 3: Reload is one of the best, if not the best, games in the entire series. It's an excellent life-sim-RPG hybrid that constantly delivers across its lengthy runtime.

6 Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree (FromSoftware)

An Incredible DLC That Feels Like A Full Game

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree might be a DLC, but, as the 2024 Game Awards confirmed, it's practically its own game. With an enormous runtime and a huge offering of content to get through, Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the most ambitious DLCs ever made. While it was initially criticized for being too difficult, fans have since come around, and it now feels comparable to the original Elden Ring experience.

Shadow of the Erdtree adds a whole new area to the game as well as a plethora of new bosses and lore details. Of course, those who loved Elden Ring will likely have already played it, but for those who haven't, it's definitely one of the best RPG games from 2024 that's absolutely worth playing. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree surpasses a lot of other RPGs that released in 2024 in many ways, but especially in terms of scale and ambition.

5 Dragon's Dogma 2 (Capcom)

The Most Immersive Open-World RPG Of 2024

Dragon's Dogma 2 is the perfect sequel in many ways, offering a completely standalone experience that builds upon the original game by introducing better versions of past mechanics and a swathe of new ideas. For example, the Pawn system which made the original game such a unique RPG returns in Dragon's Dogma 2, only it's far more advanced and immersive. The Pawns have more to do, more to say, and better interact with the world and enemies around them.

Additionally, the level of emergent events has been significantly increased, which helps make the world feel more alive. Simply heading out on a journey from one town to another can lead to a myriad of memorable moments that will stick with the player long after the credits roll. Of course, with dozens of side quests to complete, secrets to uncover, Pawns to meet, and story missions to experience, players will have a lot to enjoy in Dragon's Dogma 2.

It Was Nominated For GOTY

Metaphor: ReFantazio was nominated for the Game of the Year award at the 2024 Game Awards, which naturally puts it quite high on the list of 2024's best RPGs. Of course, it earned its nomination for that prestigious award thanks to its many improvements over Atlus' traditional RPG formula as well as its sprawling narrative that has enough twists and turns to fill multiple games.

Fortunately, while the core story which deals with the politics of a fantasy kingdom is utterly fascinating, Atlus hasn't forgotten the importance of downtime. When they're not fighting horrifying monsters in some of the best turn-based combat encounters ever made, the player can mingle with the various excellently written companions to help boost their stats. Metaphor: ReFantazio takes all the best elements from Atlus' other RPGs and combines them to create a truly exceptional game.

3 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio)

A Fantastic Culmination Of Everything That Came Before It

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth feels like a culmination of all the Yakuza and Like a Dragon games before it, telling an epic, nostalgia-filled story that features the series' best characters and writing. The core story is centered around Ichiban and Kiryu as they both face their own demons and challenges during an incredibly tumultuous time. This is a heartfelt, emotionally charged story that fans of the series will certainly enjoy.

Of course, while there's a lot of somber introspective reflection to be found in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, there are also plenty of goofy moments. Whether it's the ridiculous collection of minigames or the hilarious side quests, players looking for the fun side of Infinite Wealth will absolutely find it in droves. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth manages to trump practically every Yakuza and Like a Dragon game before it to offer fans the ultimate RPG experience.

2 Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)

A Phenomenal Action-RPG

Black Myth: Wukong is one of the best-looking RPGs of 2024, with each of its many varied locations offering striking vistas as players run around beating up an assortment of monsters. With a plethora of bosses to face, an epic story filled with spectacular moments, and some of the best cutscene direction in gaming, Black Myth: Wukong is a huge, mind-blowingly gorgeous RPG well worth playing.

When players aren't beating the many bosses of Black Myth: Wukong, they can explore its immensely detailed environments, each of which has several secrets to uncover. Once again, Black Myth: Wukong was nominated for GOTY, and while it didn't win, it is still a phenomenal RPG. For those craving a blockbuster RPG with great combat and compelling progression, Black Myth: Wukong is the ideal game.

1 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (Square Enix)

The Remake Trilogy's Best Part Yet

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is one of the greatest RPGs ever made and a phenomenal follow-up to the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Remake. It's a bigger, bolder, and more action-packed experience, one full of compelling optional content, striking sprawling open areas to explore, and a myriad of exceptional character moments that are worth the price of admission alone.

Of course, it helps to have played Remake first, but even newcomers can enjoy everything Rebirth has to offer. The best RPGs of 2024 all offer a unique experience, whether that's tactical combat, turn-based school sims, or blockbuster open-worlds, and that's what makes it such a great year for the genre. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and all the other best RPGs are wonderful games and will make 2024 a year to remember.

Source: PlayStation/YouTube, Xbox/YouTube