UPDATE: Elden Ring won Best RPG at The Game Awards 2022!
The Game Awards are marked on a lot of calendars. Whether they’re looking for reveals and trailers for new titles, or simply want to see whether their favorite game of the year gets the attention it deserves, plenty of fans will tune in on December 8 to see whatThe Game Awardshas to offer. This year, there are over 30 categories, each trying to crown the best of a given genre, such as RPGs.
This year, the Best RPG category has a lot of competition in its list of nominees. From remakes of popular JRPGS to expansive steps in iconic franchises, a lot of great games are filling out theBest RPG categorythis time around, making it a somewhat difficult choice to pick which title will win out. However, it does seem despite the overall quality of the nominees for Best RPG, one title stands out among its competitors.
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Elden Ring
There has been ahuge amount of praise forElden Ringsince its launch, both from long-time FromSoftware fans and those who started their Soulsborne journey with the studio’s latest release.Elden Ringis the next logical step in the FromSoftware formula, opening up the exploration previous Soulsborne games had and expanding it greatly. It gives players an entire world to roam around in, most of which they can see right from the beginning of the game should they wish to ignore the path set out before them.
Elden Ringnot only sets a great new standard for open-world RPGs, but it also keeps a level of detail within character and build creation that allows players to fully engage with their role-playing. FromElden Ring’scomprehensive character creator to the Tarnished’s series of collectible gestures, the game allows for a great sense of immersion that rivals some of the most iconic titles in the genre.
Live A Live
A remake of the 1994 classic RPG,Live A Liveis a unique title from Square Enix that sees the player make their way through seven chapters that span the course of history, from the Prehistoric age to the far future. Each of these chapters come with their own stories, usually involving the player helping out an NPC in order to later take down the final boss of the scenario. Using the HD-2D presentation that fans may recognize fromOctopath Traveler,theLive A Liveremakemanages to upgrade the original’s visuals while maintaining its nostalgic look.
Combining different stories with unique gameplay mechanics with each chapter,Live A Liveremains a quirky RPG that has managed to draw new and old fans to it even nearly 30 years after its original release. Even months after launch, players are finding more details andEaster eggs fromLive A Liveeach time they dive into another section of the story.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Given thatPokemonis one of the most established and popular franchises in gaming history, spending 25 years with a very consistent formula, a shakeup in a mainline game wasn’t necessarily expected. However, this is exactly whatPokemon Legends: Arceusdid, as it removed players from their traditionalPokemonjourney of moving between towns and working their way towards becoming a Pokemon Master. The player is instead transported to an early version of theSinnoh region, where they find out some previously unexplained details about thePokemonuniverse.
Alongside some major reveals aboutPokemonlore, such as how the creatures manage to fit in Poke Balls,Pokemon Legends: Arceusalso shifts up the way in which players find out more information about the Pokemon they encounter. Through the changedPokedex inPokemon Legends: Arceus, it isn’t enough to simply catch a monster, and players must now complete research tasks, fully taking on the role of someone exploring the great Pokemon wilderness for the first time.
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Triangle Strategy
Throwing the player into a great conflict on the continent of Norzelia,Triangle Strategyalso comes from Square Enix and is a turn-based strategy RPG. Releasing in early 2022, it is possible that somemissed out on picking upTriangle Strategyat launch, but it is a title that RPG fans should try out if they’re looking for a modern twist on an established genre.
With an interesting roster of characters, crisp visuals, and combat that makes the most out of each environment, there’sa lot to like aboutTriangle Strategy. For anyone who wants to get lost in the politicking of a fictional setting, in a similar vein toGame of Thrones, they’ll want to look intoTriangle Strategy, as even in somewhat of an oversaturated genre, it managed to stand out in 2022.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
With references toXenoblade Chronicles 1and2for older players of the franchise, but not enough to scare away newcomers, the sixth entry in theXenoblade Chroniclesseries managed to impress both fans and critics when it released in July this year. The game’s visuals, story, and characters managed to entertain throughout, which has madeXenoblade Chronicles 3aGame of the Year contenderas well as a nominee for Best RPG.
Moreover, what was interesting about the game was that in a year of delays,Xenoblade Chronicles 3actually had its release date moved forwards, showing that Nintendo and Monolith Soft had well-placed confidence in the game. With a great score, gameplay, andstorytelling,Xenoblade Chronicles 3is one of the stand-out RPGs of the year, earning its place among its fellow nominees for Best RPG.
Final Prediction
There is a lot of quality in this category, and fans of the RPG genre might want to give each of these games a go if they haven’t already. However, there is one title among its competitors that seems as if it’s going to stand out at the Game Awards as a whole, and it isElden Ring. With an immersive world crafted byGeorge R.R. Martinand Hidetaka Miyazaki, gameplay that warrants exploration, and plenty of ways to build a player’s character,Elden Ringis likely to stand tall in the Best RPG category.
WhileXenoblade Chronicles 3could also make for a convincing winner, a lot of gamers believe thatElden RingandGod of War: Ragnarokwill be sweepingthe majority of their categories at this year’sGame Awards.At the very least,Elden Ringseems like it’s the comfortable king of the RPG circuit this year.
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