Games That Represent The Future Of RPGs

When creators made classic games like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy in the 1980s, did they consider the broader impact their games might have? As RPGs evolved through the 1990s and 2000s, did developers still think about creating something groundbreaking, or were they simply focused on delivering a self-contained gaming experience?

Games like Elden Ring and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are particularly worth considering. It’s likely these RPGs will heavily influence game design over the next decade, whether their creators intended to revolutionize the genre or not. We can probably expect to see elements from these games appear in future RPGs and JRPGs.

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Baldur’s Gate 3

Bringing Back Dungeons & Dragons

Baldur’s Gate 3 really raised the bar for computer role-playing games, and it did so while also working well on consoles. The game offered an incredible level of character customization – you could tailor everything from your character’s appearance and skills to their background and even play as a character with a unique story. Your choices, like selecting a Drow elf, could even change how other characters reacted to you, reflecting the prejudices within the game’s world.

While the combat wasn’t groundbreaking, it was still enjoyable. When developers focus on how players interact with a game, it really draws people in. Even small details can make a big difference, and we hope the depth of character and story choices in Baldur’s Gate 3 will be remembered for a long time.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A Counter To AAA RPGs

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was a throwback to classic Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs), proving that the genre still had a lot to offer. The game featured turn-based battles with a party of three characters, each with their own special abilities and attack styles. A unique element was how character skills evolved – for instance, the character Verso would gain access to new abilities as he improved his sword skills, indicated by an increase in rank (A, B, C, etc.).

Each hero had unique ways to avoid or fight back against enemies, making combat more engaging. The game didn’t use a typical open world; instead, players explored a world map similar to those found in classic RPGs like Final Fantasy 7. What’s particularly impressive is that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was created by a small, independent team at Sandfall Interactive, proving that a large budget isn’t necessary to make a successful RPG – a fact highlighted by the game’s numerous awards in 2025.

Elden Ring

Opening Up Soulslikes

Elden Ring marked a significant departure for FromSoftware, the game’s creator, and the Soulslike genre. Previous Soulslike games, starting with Demon’s Souls, typically featured interconnected maps similar to those found in Metroidvania games, or a central hub connecting different areas. Elden Ring was the first truly open-world Soulslike, giving players the freedom to explore a vast world without many restrictions.

The game’s progression system remained familiar, involving defeating enemies, earning Runes (the in-game currency), and using them to improve your character’s stats. While the combat and leveling weren’t significantly changed—they were already well-designed—the freedom to explore the world at your own pace was a huge benefit. Plus, the three-player co-op, though a little awkward to start, was a welcome addition that made Elden Ring more approachable for a wider range of players.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Merging Turn-Based And Action

The new RPG, ReFantazio, comes from the team behind the popular Persona series at Atlus, known for their excellent JRPGs starting with Persona 3. While ReFantazio keeps many of the elements that fans love about Persona, it also offers more freedom and depth. One key feature is the Archetype system, where each character can learn different classes and unlock even more powerful ones. Certain Archetypes can also combine, creating unique team attacks in the game’s turn-based battles.

While not as fast-paced as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Metaphor: ReFantazio stood out with its dynamic, real-time battles. A skilled, high-level player could quickly defeat enemies using the main character, Will. Though other JRPGs, like the Trails series, blend action and turn-based elements, Metaphor: ReFantazio felt more polished overall, with exceptional design in every area – combat, story, and art. Hopefully, this game will inspire other JRPGs (and RPGs in general) to embrace this level of flexibility.

Disco Elysium

Talk Your Way Through Problems

Both Baldur’s Gate 3 and Disco Elysium let players heavily influence the story through conversation. However, Disco Elysium goes even further, making dialogue the only way to play – there’s no combat at all. Instead of fighting, you choose a character type like a thinker or empath, and improve your conversation skills with skill points. While you can play a tough-talking detective, being too aggressive can backfire and lead to failure.

Even without battles, players need to carefully consider their choices in this game. This focus on dialogue and chance is similar to what drew people to Planescape: Torment in the 90s—though that game had combat, much of it could be avoided through conversation. Like Fallout, where you could even skip the final boss with the right approach, Disco Elysium shows game developers that impactful storytelling and meaningful choices are just as important as action, and that RPGs can be diverse in their gameplay.

Path Of Exile 2

A New Era For Looter RPGs

Path of Exile 2 is a significant upgrade over the first game, and many players feel it surpasses even the Diablo series, which pioneered the top-down action RPG genre. While Diablo 4 hasn’t satisfied all fans, Path of Exile 2 is currently available as an affordable Early Access title. When it officially launches, it will be free to play, just like the original Path of Exile.

While you won’t be able to change how your characters look, the way you develop their abilities and choose upgrades means no two players will create the same version of a class, like the Monk. The way skills, equipment, gems, and spells work together is a really promising feature for this type of game. And with maps that change randomly, players could potentially enjoy the game for a very long time. Hopefully, other upcoming games in the genre will take inspiration from Path of Exile 2 rather than Diablo 4.

Stellar Blade

The Rise Of Asian RPGs

With the release of Stellar Blade, the RPG landscape is beginning to change. Traditionally, North American players have mostly seen RPGs developed in Japan or Western countries like the U.S. and Europe. However, game development in other Asian countries, particularly South Korea and China, is rapidly growing. Stellar Blade is a prime example from South Korea, alongside games like Lies of P. Several Chinese developers are also entering the market with promising titles such as Black Myth: Wukong, Where Winds Meet, and the already popular Genshin Impact.

RPG fans have a lot to look forward to, as upcoming games promise fresh takes on familiar gameplay and storytelling by incorporating diverse cultural perspectives. Stellar Blade, for example, blended fast-paced action reminiscent of games like Bayonetta with the challenging difficulty of Soulslike titles, featuring enemies that reappear after you pass checkpoints. The game also starred Eve, a strong but sometimes debated female protagonist. Regardless of opinions on Eve’s appearance, players generally appreciated the game’s detailed cyberpunk world and its exciting, smooth combat.

2026-04-15 00:52