People who started playing video games in the 1980s with the NES and continued over the years have seen the gaming industry change dramatically. The role-playing game (RPG) genre is especially interesting to observe, as it’s full of groundbreaking titles – games that were either completely unique or set the standard for others that followed.
Both Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and Chrono Trigger were innovative RPGs on the SNES. Now, people are wondering what new RPGs are pushing boundaries with unique gameplay. Even if they aren’t entirely original, some upcoming titles appear to be adding exciting new elements to the genre and trying to stand out.
Octopath Traveler 0
A Big Party Awaits
- Planned Release Date: 12/4/25
- Planned Systems: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S
Both Octopath Traveler games offer a unique way to play. You begin by choosing one of eight different characters, then unlock the other seven throughout the game. Combat is turn-based, letting you control a party of four, with a special system where characters can defend to earn extra turns, and enemies can also be weakened during battles.
The new game, Octopath Traveler 0, is stepping things up with a party of eight characters – twice the size of most traditional turn-based RPGs! It also adds a character creator and lets you build up towns, making it a really promising addition to the Octopath Traveler series.
Chronoscript: The Endless End
An Inky Metroidvania
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PC and PS5
Scheduled for release in 2026, Chronoscript: The Endless End promises stunning visuals. The story centers around a book editor who unexpectedly finds himself transported into the world of the book he’s working on.
Players take on the role of a miniature knight exploring a vast, interconnected world within the pages of a book. This world is beautifully designed, resembling a hand-drawn map made of paper and ink. Gameplay combines action RPG combat with unique ways to interact with the environment, creating a truly captivating experience. It’s rare to find a game that’s both visually stunning and breaks the fourth wall so cleverly.
Ariana And The Elder Codex
Book Magic
- Developers: Idea Factory, Compile Heart, Hyde
- Publisher: Idea Factory
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PS4, PS5, and Switch
I’m really getting a similar feel from Ariana and the Elder Codex as I did with Chronoscript: The Endless End – the art style really looks like an old book! And as a magic lover, I’m super excited about the gameplay; it looks like you can collect and use different spell books as you play, which sounds awesome.
Attacks are mapped to the face buttons, and different abilities are accessed using the D-Pad. How these combine to create spells isn’t clear yet, but the initial trailer suggests a lot of diverse combat. It might even play like a Metroidvania! RPGs with complex magic systems are always interesting, and Ariana and the Elder Codex seems promising in that regard.
Dosa Divas
Free The People Through Cooking
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PC
In the world of Dosa Divas, nobody cooks anymore – everyone relies on pre-packaged meal kits for nutrition. The game follows heroes who are trying to bring back the joy of cooking by battling powerful and greedy corporations in turn-based battles.
The game features fast-paced, visually exciting battles reminiscent of Super Mario RPG. Between fights, players will explore the world, gather ingredients, cook meals for characters they meet, and upgrade their mech to improve its abilities in both combat and exploration. Developed by Outerloop Games – the creators of the also-excellent Thirsty Suitors – this RPG centers around food.
Threads Of Time
An Homage To A Classic
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: PC and Xbox Series X
Threads of Time clearly draws inspiration from the classic game Chrono Trigger, with similarities ranging from character designs – represented as small sprites on the world map – to its core concept of time travel across different eras like the present, the past, and the future. The battle system also feels familiar to Chrono Trigger, but with some significant improvements and added features.
The game appears to feature team-up attacks between characters, and uses a turn order timeline reminiscent of the classic game Grandia. It’s exciting that Threads of Time builds on both older and newer turn-based RPGs, and we’re hoping the time-manipulation elements will also be incorporated into battles.
Parasite Mutant
Parasite Eve Returns
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: PC and PS5
While Square Enix isn’t planning to make a new Parasite Eve game, the indie game Parasite Mutant appears to be taking up the torch. It features a blonde main character and a combat style reminiscent of the original, offering fans a similar experience.
In Parasite Mutant, players will search for mutants in everyday locations like factories and sewers. When a fight starts, players can move freely around the area, but the action temporarily stops when they’re aiming, allowing them to carefully select their targets using a circular grid. This mix of strategic movement and precise aiming worked well in the original game, and it should still be effective when Parasite Mutant is released – whenever that may be.
Prisma
Play With Yourself
- Developers: Dreams Uncorporated
- Publisher: Dreams Uncorporated
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: PC
Prisma is a visually stunning game with a unique, hand-drawn art style throughout. It features a turn-based battle system and a compelling story about Alma, a journalist who discovers magical camera lenses. These lenses let her shift perspectives during combat, offering strategic advantages like bending attacks to hit multiple enemies.
So, the main character in Prisma is super unique – all her party members are actually different versions of her from across the multiverse! It reminds me of a really cool RPG concept. The developers, Dreams Uncorporated, did something similar in their other game, Cris Tales, where battles happened across different timelines – past, present, and future. I’m really hoping they bring that same creativity to Prisma when it comes out, because that mix of story and gameplay was awesome!
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2025-10-30 19:07