Best RPG of 2022: The Nominees

Midnight at Marvel

When Marvel’s Midnight Suns was announced as the next game from XCOM developer Firaxis, it was immediately assumed that it would turn into something like a remake of XCOM 2 but with Wolverine and Spider-Man. But that’s not what we got: not only does Midnight Suns offer an entirely new and innovative form of team tactics that cleverly integrates card game mechanics to add an element of unpredictability to deep, animated superhero leagues, it’s a long-running role-playing game in which to have a good time. With over a dozen Marvel heroes forming your party in the battle against the evil sorceress Lilith and her corrupt minions.

quintet

Although somewhat unusual, Pentiment is an RPG without any combat, dungeons, or loot. Despite this, she has the creation of a character, which immediately heightens the importance of decision making in this medieval murder mystery game. Instead of solving problems with their fists, players must talk to NPCs to advance the story, making life-or-death decisions that can have ramifications deep into the game. As in many great RPGs before this, Pentiment players often don’t know if their decision is right or wrong until it’s too late.

Pokemon Legends Arceus

2022 has been a strange year for Pokémon. Game Freak has released not one, but two new games that have taken huge strides toward a glorious new future for the Pokemon series – albeit with several caveats. The first was Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which boasted easily the best system for catching and battling Pokemon we’ve seen to date. The open area formula allows the characters of wild Pokémon to truly shine, and mixes in action-adventure elements for a taste of fast, fun, frenzied Pokémon that captures its heart. While the world itself ultimately felt somewhat empty, its stellar cast of monsters and refreshing thon-collecting collection at its heart made Legends: Arceus a wonderfully innovative experience and a promising step in the right direction for the future of Pokémon.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has as brutal a setting and story as any Japanese RPG, and though it’s sometimes a bit convoluted for its own good, the likable cast of characters keeps things interesting throughout the entire 150-hour adventure. This extends beyond the campaign where Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s side quests are so impressive they feel compulsive, and when you engage a variety of classes in their heavy combat, the moment-to-moment gameplay feels fresh even in the depth of the game.