The Most Expensive RPGs Ever Made Revealed!

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Summary

  • RPG development costs are significant, with budgets ranging from $40 million to over $900 million.
  • SquareSoft’s classic games set high standards during the PS1 era, with huge budgets that put modern titles to shame.
  • Marketing plays a big role in the success of RPGs, like Cyberpunk 2077, which had a budget of $441.9 million.

Over time, the category of role-playing games (RPGs) has significantly advanced, making it a favorite among many video game developers. The element of advancement within these games, combined with the epic journey often featured in these types of games, contributes greatly to their widespread popularity.

It’s because many top-tier AAA studios spend substantial resources on creating cutting-edge RPGs that appeal to a wide audience. The expenses for development and promotion can sometimes seem excessive, demonstrating the significant financial investment needed to produce a quality role-playing game.

The total expense encompasses the funds allocated for both designing and advertising, and it’s essential to note that this amount has not been adjusted for inflation.

8. Final Fantasy 9

Total Cost: $40 Million

In the PlayStation 1 era, SquareSoft truly shone as an industry leader. The financial resources they invested in creating their timeless games often outstrip what contemporary titles receive, demonstrating the unparalleled dominance SquareSoft held in the heyday of Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs).

Final Fantasy 9 is considered one of their top PlayStation 1 games, with its initial $40 million budget being quite astonishing at that time. Fortunately, the investment proved worthwhile as the game’s graphics and storyline have matured beautifully, making this particular title a favorite among many Final Fantasy enthusiasts as the best mainline entry to date.

7. Lords Of The Fallen

Total Cost: $66.6 Million

It’s quite impressive, given the rising costs of video game production, that a Soulslike game like Lords of the Fallen has one of the largest development budgets in gaming history. For those unaware, it might seem surprising that this game received such substantial financial support.

Despite its challenges, the game’s title doesn’t quite match up against other top-notch Soulslikes. It might not fully warrant the investment, but those seeking an engaging action RPG experience could still find enjoyment in playing Lords of the Fallen.

6. Black Myth: Wukong

Total Cost: $70 Million

2024 saw Black Myth: Wukong as one of its most successful releases, significantly impacting the Chinese gaming market. This demonstrates the significance for international developers to establish themselves within the industry. The intense boss battles in this game are particularly noteworthy, indicating where a large portion of the budget was allocated.

As a gamer diving into the world of Black Myth: Wukong, it’s crucial to learn the art of parrying and dodging to minimize damage and triumph over these formidable bosses. It might seem like a daunting task initially, but if you persevere, you’ll eventually grasp the game’s combat mechanics and vanquish even the most challenging bosses in exhilarating battles.

5. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Total Cost: $81 Million

CD Projekt Red poured tremendous effort into crafting ‘The Witcher 3’, making it a captivating experience that generated significant interest, and serving as an impressive finale for Geralt’s video game journey. Consequently, it stands among the best role-playing games ever created, with fans continuing to relish its charm up until now.

In pursuit of Ciri, Geralt journeys through diverse landscapes across the Continent, often finding himself entangled in complex political intrigues and offering aid to settlements grappling with supernatural threats. This captivating dark fantasy role-playing game is a testament to CD Projekt Red’s investment, making every penny spent on this masterwork worthwhile.

4. Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Total Cost: $144 Million (Estimated)

Despite the team behind it already having an established foundation, the production costs for Final Fantasy 7 Remake turned out quite high. This was due to the need to innovate a fresh combat system, rekindle the enchantment of the original game, and expand Midgar with additional content.

The outcome is a game that surpassed fan expectations significantly, backed by an equally substantial budget. Both marketing and development efforts were instrumental in allowing fans to rekindle their nostalgia upon the launch of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

3. Final Fantasy 7

Total Cost: $80-145 Million

Final Fantasy 7” was the initial AAA video game, and its substantial production costs attest to this. A significant portion of the expenses associated with development were undeniably high, but a major factor contributing to the budget surpassing $100 million was the substantial investment poured into promoting the game.

The bold approach they took with Final Fantasy 7 proved fruitful, transforming Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) into a dominant gaming genre and sparking an enormous surge of anticipation for upcoming SquareSoft games. In retrospect, that investment was a stroke of genius; Square Enix would not have achieved its current standing in the video game industry without the phenomenal success of Final Fantasy 7.

2. Cyberpunk 2077

Total Cost: $441.9 Million

The budget for Cyberpunk 2077 was enormous, with the majority being spent on promotion. This game generated incredible anticipation among fans, who were eager to explore the final version. However, upon release, the game was riddled with issues, leading to one of the most devastating PR crises in gaming history.

It’s remarkable how CD Projekt Red managed to persuade gamers that Cyberpunk 2077 is among the greatest RPGs ever, despite initial doubts. Fixing all the bugs and enhancing gameplay through the release of a well-received expansion pack significantly restored the game’s tarnished reputation.

1. Genshin Impact

Total Cost: More Than $900 Million

The staggering $900 million already spent on Genshin Impact is hard to fathom, and it may become even more astonishing as time goes on since this amount is likely to grow. After all, Genshin Impact is a live-service game set in an open world that consistently generates income due to the developers’ careful addition of abundant content to

This substantial budget underscores the extraordinary fame this game has garnered. It’s incredibly gratifying when the game mechanics randomly reward a powerful hero, allowing players to experiment with new abilities for several hours.

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2025-05-25 13:38