DualShockers’ 2025 Game of the Year Awards: 10 Best RPGs

It’s been a fantastic time for video game fans lately. We’ve seen a string of incredible releases that have truly changed the gaming landscape, even prompting major companies to rethink how they make games. And 2025 continued that trend, particularly for those who love role-playing games.

The immersive sim genre has been consistently present this year through new games, updated classics, and re-releases. February brought us Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and in April, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 surprised many players – even those who don’t typically enjoy turn-based RPGs – and briefly overshadowed the surprise release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

Japanese role-playing games, or JRPGs, were also popular, with games like Digimon Story: Time Stranger, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, and Octopath Traveler 0 being standouts. If you enjoy RPGs, you likely found a game you loved this year.

The team at TopMob got together to pick the 10 best RPGs of 2025. It was a difficult decision, and many other great games could have made the list! But if you’re searching for a fantastic RPG to play, these ten are an excellent place to start.

Each ‘Game of the Year‘ list is written by a single author, but the games included and their order were decided by a vote from all of TopMob’s writers. This means the list represents the collective opinion of TopMob, and not just the individual writer’s personal preferences.

10. Look Outside

Rather, Don’t Look Outside

I remember a time when people would automatically knock a game if it was made in RPG Maker. But with Look Outside, that’s actually what makes it so good! Francis Coulombe, the solo dev, used RPG Maker to really let his imagination run wild, and it resulted in one of the most disturbing and uniquely weird horror JRPGs I’ve ever played. It’s not a weakness, it’s the game’s biggest strength.

Right from the start, you play as Sam and can interact with everything around him – from houseplants and video games to a charming character named Sybil, who also serves as a place to save your progress. But once you step outside his apartment, things quickly get wild. Expect to find bloodstains, strange neighbors, and truly unsettling, yet beautiful, pixel art depicting body horror. It’s amazing how much tension and fear the game builds with its visuals and atmosphere.

Although the combat and equipment in Look Outside follow typical RPG Maker conventions, a standout feature is the ability to converse with – and even team up with – your enemies. The game offers a lot of different possibilities, encouraging multiple playthroughs to see how your choices affect the outcome. Above all, the game’s central warning remains: whatever you do, don’t look outside.

9. Where Winds Meet

Where A Hundred Gameplay Modes Meet

Ever dreamed of throwing a bear, participating in lively debates, winning drinking contests, constructing a castle, playing mahjong, or even performing a musical duet, all while mastering martial arts in a fantastical world inspired by wuxia stories? It sounds unbelievable, but you can do all of that – and much more – in a single game called Where Winds Meet. It’s an incredibly ambitious game that you can play solo, with friends, or as part of a massive online world.

It’s difficult to fully explain everything Where Winds Meet offers in just a few paragraphs – the game’s breadth really speaks for itself. You’ll build a character, get familiar with the world, learn the basics of combat, and understand how the game’s systems work. The main story is fairly linear, designed to teach you how to fight and stay alive.

As you spend more time exploring the world of Where Winds Meet, especially by doing side quests, finding hidden collectibles, and interacting with the characters you meet—whether by helping or hindering them—you’ll start to understand how truly expansive the game is. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, you’ll discover there’s still plenty left to experience and enjoy.

While the game isn’t perfectly polished, it’s easy to overlook a few rough spots when you consider everything it offers. Where Winds Meet is wonderfully chaotic – imagine a carnival, an amusement park, and a circus all rolled into one! The best part is, it’s completely free to play.

8. Demonschool

Getting Your Demon-slaying Diploma

I love seeing how older games inspire new ones, and Demonschool is a perfect example. It’s totally wearing its Persona and Shin Megami Tensei influences on its sleeve, which is awesome. You play as Faye, and the story kicks off when she arrives on Hesmk Island with a mission to take down a whole lot of demons. The whole game has this cool Italian horror movie vibe, too.

While the story revolves around preventing a global catastrophe, the script prioritizes quirky, over-the-top humor. The characters are all genuinely eccentric, creating a lively and interesting group dynamic. The fate of the world isn’t ignored, but it takes a backseat to more lighthearted moments, like trying to win over your teammates during a karaoke session.

The game blends everyday school life with a hidden world of demons, drawing inspiration from the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series. While the combat is strategic and fun, it feels more like solving a puzzle than playing a traditional tactical RPG. Instead of focusing on complex character builds, success comes from smart positioning and hitting multiple enemies at once. Overall, Demonschool is a fantastic indie RPG that deserves wider recognition.

7. The Outer Worlds 2

Only Your Character Has Flaws

Obsidian Entertainment consistently creates excellent role-playing games with truly outstanding writing. Their games are full of clever humor, emotionally resonant conversations, and even playfully chide players who skip through the text – like a feature in Outer Worlds 2 that penalizes those who don’t read the dialogue. That’s what makes Obsidian so beloved by players.

The upcoming Outer Worlds 2 builds on the strengths of the original, significantly enhancing the RPG aspects. You’ll immediately feel connected to your customized character, and quickly encounter a memorable, quirky group of people. The game lets you experiment with dialogue choices to see how they affect the story, and offers a rich world to explore at your own pace – diving deep into the lore is optional, but rewarding.

As a fan, what I’m most excited about with Outer Worlds 2 is how much freedom it seems to offer. It’s awesome that there’s tons to do, but you don’t have to do it all. Even the smaller side quests matter because your choices actually have consequences that affect what happens later. Combine that with the Flaws system, and it sounds like the game will have incredible replay value – you really feel like your decisions are shaping the story, which is exactly what I want in a role-playing game!

The core gameplay feels very similar to the original game, which might disappoint some players. However, it’s strengthened by RPG elements and the freedom to play how you want – choosing your weapons, going in with all-out attacks, or using stealth. Outer Worlds 2 isn’t just one of the top RPGs of 2025; it’s the most responsive and dynamic, truly reacting to your choices.

6. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Medieval Simulation At Its Finest

Most fantasy role-playing games involve becoming a powerful warrior – grabbing a sword, battling monsters like goblins and minotaurs, and eventually taking on dragons. But Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is different. This game focuses on more realistic needs: you’ll need to worry about staying clean, eating, drinking, and getting enough sleep. And forget about dragons – you won’t find any here.

Many players believe Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the most realistic and absorbing medieval role-playing game to date. While you don’t create a brand new character, everything else about the game feels incredibly detailed and engaging, even when the more complex systems feel challenging. Ultimately, though, it doesn’t matter – stepping into Henry’s shoes and living his life in Bohemia is just plain fun.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II features lengthy journeys without clear directions, demanding chores for money, and a lot of detailed historical background. It also includes open-ended quests with multiple possibilities, realistic conversations, and occasional combat. While it won’t appeal to all players, it’s a truly exceptional RPG for those who appreciate its commitment to realism.

5. Octopath Traveler 0

The Travel Continues

Square Enix has recently become known for its impressive HD-2D technology. This style beautifully blends classic pixel art with modern features like voice acting and subtle animations, creating a unique and engaging experience. It first gained popularity with the game Octopath Traveler, and Square Enix has been using it in their games ever since.

Octopath Traveler resonated with players who longed for the classic RPGs Square Enix was known for in the 16-bit days, but with updated features and improvements. Its success led the company to continue the series, resulting in this year’s release of Octopath Traveler II. Though built using elements from the mobile game Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, the new installment remains a standout title.

Octopath Traveler II builds on the foundations of the first game – its unique Path Actions, turn-based battles with the Boost system, and the interwoven stories of eight different characters. But it’s the new additions, like building and managing your own town, that really make Octopath Traveler II stand out as one of the year’s best role-playing games, and will especially appeal to longtime fans of the genre.

Battles in Octopath Traveler 0 are turn-based and emphasize exploiting enemy weaknesses. You can use all eight characters in your party and switch between them freely during combat, which adds a lot of strategic depth. What’s really impressive is that the main story offers over 80 hours of gameplay without feeling repetitive, as there’s always a sense of moving forward. If you enjoy games by Square, the HD-2D art style, and turn-based battles, Octopath Traveler 0 is an excellent choice.

4. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

Return of the King

Square Enix, the company behind popular game franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, has recently been concentrating on revitalizing these well-known series with new games and updated versions of classics. They started with the original Dragon Quest trilogy, giving the first three games a beautiful “HD-2D” makeover. While the third game was already highly regarded, the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake improved upon the experience even further.

Following the story of the hero Erdrick as introduced in Dragon Quest III, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake lets you play as his descendants, tasked with saving the world from a growing evil. We were initially unsure if focusing on a single character would work for the Dragon Quest I remake, but it proved successful, largely due to new features like Scrolls – which teach the hero new skills and spells – and Sigils, which can dramatically change battles in real-time.

The recently updated combat system is now available in Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake, where you control a party of four characters, each with unique skills. The game’s story has also been expanded with new cutscenes, story moments, and voice acting, which enhances the entire Erdrick trilogy. And be warned – the ending of Dragon Quest II is surprisingly emotional and might even make you cry!

3. Digimon Story Time Stranger

The Spotlight the Franchise Deserves

For a long time, Digimon was often compared to Pokémon simply because both involve collecting creatures. But after years of waiting, Digimon fans finally got Digimon Story: Time Stranger, which is the most ambitious, well-funded, and highly-rated RPG in the series so far. This game clearly demonstrates what makes Digimon unique, leaning more towards the style of Shin Megami Tensei than typical creature-collecting games.

In Digimon Story: Time Stranger, the story revolves around time travel, connecting both the human and digital worlds. A particularly strong element is how the game uses time to emphasize Digimon’s evolution, making the story more compelling and impactful.

For fans who love to collect, Time Stranger boasts a huge selection of over 450 Digimon to scan and evolve. Each Digimon has its own special abilities and animations, which makes the turn-based battles more strategic, as you’ll need to find and exploit enemy weaknesses.

If you enjoy collecting creatures and are looking for a game with a more grown-up story, Digimon Story Time Stranger is a great RPG choice. And honestly, the ability to ride with Beelzemon is a fantastic reason to play it on its own!

2. Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles

The War of the Lions Never Ends

When people debate the best spinoff games, Final Fantasy Tactics frequently comes up as a top contender. Many fans consider War of the Lions to have one of the strongest stories in the entire Final Fantasy series, even though it’s a spinoff title. Thankfully, Square Enix made this beloved JRPG available to players around the world with the updated version, Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles.

Ramza Beoulve is back and better than ever, now with full voice acting for the entire cast! The game has also been updated with new menus and helpful improvements to make it easier and more enjoyable for everyone. A new feature called ‘State of the Realm’ helps you follow the complex story, which is full of political twists, demons, and thought-provoking themes about class and social injustice.

Players often found the original game very difficult and lacking in helpful guidance. Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles addresses this by including an easier “Squire” mode and making it simpler to level up all character classes, even from the beginning.

If you like a classic look, you can play Final Fantasy Tactics with its original graphics while still benefiting from helpful modern improvements. Overall, Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles reminds us why the first game is so highly regarded as one of the best JRPGs ever made.

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

2025’s Masterpiece

It’s rare for us to give a game a perfect score. A score of 10 doesn’t mean a game is perfect, but it does mean it excels at everything it tries to achieve. Before the release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, our team at TopMob played Sandfall Interactive’s RPG extensively. When our reviewer confidently requested a perfect score for Expedition 33, it was the most straightforward 10 we’ve ever awarded.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 clearly draws inspiration from classic Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs), as its creator has often stated. However, it also incorporates Western storytelling and visual styles. This blend of features has appealed to a wide audience, attracting both longtime fans of turn-based RPGs and newcomers interested in the dynamic combat system, which includes timed actions like parrying and dodging.

Expedition 33 isn’t just fun to play; it’s a truly immersive experience. The game boasts a fantastic story and characters who feel real, with all their strengths and weaknesses, drawing you in from the beginning. Everything – the story delivery, character movements, voice acting, music, and overall atmosphere – works together seamlessly. It’s no surprise it was named TopMob’s best RPG and overall game of 2025.

2025-12-20 17:13