One of the most popular genres around on any platform, RPGs are a flexible genre that can encompass a wide variety of themes and ideas. In 2022, those ideas gave birth to a rich tapestry of fantasy, sci-fi, and superhero action that set the charts ablaze. There was no shortage of engrossing role-playing games to play on consoles and PC this year, which was certainly welcome during yet another year where escapist entertainment proved to be a great distraction.
Elden Ring is obviously the biggest and most mainstream example here, as From Software's grim and dark sandbox earned rave reviews on launch day and has been a monumental success in the sales department as well. Popular and critically acclaimed, Elden Ring still faced some stiff competition from a number of other great games available in the RPG space this year. For a more intimate experience, indie RPGs were an amazing exploration of alternate themes and experimental ideas.
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is a surprisingly tender look at life and love when charting the stars for example, and on the more established side, Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream from Koei Tecmo is a delightfully cathartic romp through familiar territory. Remakes of cult-classics also arrived this year, shining a spotlight on forgotten gems from yesteryear. This year also brought an interesting departure from the norm for one of the biggest RPG franchises on the planet: Pokemon. Game Freak's Pokemon Legends: Arceus reinvigorated the long-running series with fresh ideas.
To find the best RPGs of the year, we crunched the numbers from GameSpot's sister site Metacritic and listed the best of the magical best below.
Elden Ring
Though everyone starts out as a Tarnished punching bag in the opening minutes of Elden Ring, it's not long before the game opens up and introduces you to a rich selection of roles in which to define your journey through From Software's masterpiece. From Bandit and Astrologer to Vagabond and Samurai, Elden Ring's flexible system of choice is amplified by an absurd amount of additional content that makes inhabiting its staggeringly massive world that much more fascinating. Elegant, dangerous, and constantly exciting, there's never a dull moment in one of the best games of the year.
Metascore: 96 | Read our Elden Ring review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero
A number of old school games have made 2022 a delight for retro fans, and with The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, this is the classic cherry on top of a nostalgic sundae. A blast from the past that has been updated with several great quality-of-life features, this particular entry in the long-running series is a solid entry point for newcomers and retains the well-aged gameplay of the original title on a new generation of platforms.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
If you're prepared to invest some serious time and effort into learning its complex systems, then Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will give you a pedigree RPG experience that few games can compare to. Its world is epic, there's danger everywhere, and the cast of characters you'll interact with will have you emotionally invested in one of the biggest games to ever be squeezed onto a Nintendo Switch cartridge.
Metascore: 89 | Read our Xenoblade Chronicles 3 review
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
At their core, RPGs are about growth. Take that idea, sprinkle in the growing pains of puberty, toss in teenage romance, and serve it up in a bowl of cosmic worldbuilding, and you've got I Was a Teenage Exocolonist. A narrative deckbuilding RPG, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist follows you through the 10 most important years of your protagonist's life as you find danger, romance, and heartbreak amongst the stars. With multiple playthroughs, striking art direction, and dozens of endings, Northway Games' galactic odyssey is both epic in scale and tender in its more nuanced moments.
Pentiment
Stepping into a beautifully realized world of intricate art and complex manuscripts is an easy sell, but throwing in cleverly approachable systems and RPG ideas seals the deal on this masterpiece from Obsidian Entertainment. Pentiment is a game of humble beginnings and a strong creative vision within the confines of 16th century paintings and illustrations. Like the best RPGs, it's a text-heavy experience that goes all in on its setting, creating a magical journey over the course of several decades.
Metascore: 88 | Read our Pentiment review
Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster
Decades after it was released, Final Fantasy VI is still considered by many to be the pinnacle of the beloved franchise. It's a fantastic mix of ambitious story ideas, novel gameplay elements, and graphics that were groundbreaking for its time, capped off with an elegant soundtrack that has stood the test of time. Fast forward to 2022, and Square Enix rolled out a vibrant pixel remaster of the game that courted some controversy with its font, but still proved to be an essential adventure for any RPG fan.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn
Technically, Tactics Ogre: Reborn is an updated version of the 2010 remake of 1995's Tactics Ogre, but one that gives the underrated classic a much wider audience with its rollout on PC and console. As deep with its rich gameplay systems and memorable cast of characters as it was all the way back in 1995, Tactics Ogre Reborn is a thoughtful remaster of a remake. Its tactical depth in the heat of battle, branching storylines, and welcome tweaks make this classic game feel better than ever to play.
Metascore: 86 | Read our Tactics Ogre: Reborn review
Triangle Strategy
On the surface, Triangle Strategy looks like your typical RPG. It has a grandiose story, warring kingdoms, and no shortage of characters who find themselves embroiled in political machinations. But that's just surface dressing for the game that lies beneath that fantasy setup, as Triangle Strategy is an approachable game that streamlines classic tactical-RPG systems and makes every battlefield decision carry substantial weight. Plus, the HD-2D graphical style is utterly gorgeous.
Metascore: 84 | Read our Triangle Strategy review
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Marvel games have primarily focused on action experiences over the last couple of years, but leave it to XCOM developer Firaxis to put a tactical-RPG spin on Earth's mightiest mortals. Not only a fun mix of character and deckbuilding fun, Midnight Suns leverages the signature strengths and abilities of Marvel's heroes to deliver exhilarating battlefield moments influenced by the direction you've taken to power up these icons.
Metascore: 83 | Read our Marvel's Midnight Suns review
Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream
If you were in need of a palette cleanser after soaking up some of Elden Ring's signature despair this year, then Atelier Sophie 2 was the perfect cure for what ails you. It's a rock-solid RPG with turn-based combat that is pure fantasy comfort food. It also excels at providing heartwarming and whimsical content. The wholesome story is effortlessly charming, offering a sense of kindness present in every pixel, and it mixes up a fantastical potion of positivity to escape to when you need a break from reality.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Sandwiched between a remake of Pokemon Diamond/Pearl and this year's latest mainline entry, Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a fairly significant departure from the franchise's usual tendencies. Anyone picking up the game has found a title that pays tribute to Pokemon's rich history while also introducing a number of new ideas that shakes the old pocket monster formula up in all the right ways. It's a fascinating adventure that proves Pokemon is still evolving.
Metascore: 83 | Read our Pokemon Legends: Arceus review
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