RPG Site Best of 2025 Awards: Our picks for the best of the year

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Each year brings a mix of expected and unexpected role-playing game releases. This year saw sequels to popular titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and The Outer Worlds 2. April brought fresh ideas with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. We also saw remakes of classic games, including Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter and Dragon Quest I&II HD-2D Remake. Level-5 released not one, but two RPGs: Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time and Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road. Plus, new installments arrived in the Pokémon and Digimon franchises with Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Digimon Story: Time Stranger, respectively. And with indie gems like Look Outside added to the mix, there was a fantastic variety of role-playing games to choose from this year.

As we do every year in mid-December, the RPG Site team came together to discuss all the RPGs released in 2025. This discussion is for our annual RPG Site Best of 2025 Awards, where we rank the best RPGs of the year.

If you simply want a quick summary of our final results, click here.

How RPG Site’s End-of-the-Year Awards Work

For years, RPG Site has run our end-of-year awards in a similar way. We highlight games that really stand out in certain areas, then discuss the nominees live to choose a winner. We even record these discussions so anyone can listen to how we arrived at our final decisions.

To list out and summarize how it works, here’s the run-down:

  • First, we’ll link a special edition of our Tetracast podcast, where we determine the winners of each category and the ultimate final RPG of the Year for the site. If there are any questions about why a game is (or isn’t) present on the list, or how the final determinations came to be, we record it all so that all the discussions can be referred back to!
  • Second, there will be several Category Awards that platform specific games with specific strengths, such as art and music. These are most like the specific awards you’ll find from other publications, but with an RPG-focused spin, of course. 
  • Thirdly, past the category awards, here’s where things get a little different than a simply top ten list. We rank our Top Ten RPGs of the year, starting with five unordered runners-up. These are games that we recognize as some of the best of the year, but did not land into our Top Five. You can think of these like our Top-Ten-but-Not-Top-Five, though that’s a bit of a mouthful. 
  • Then, naturally, we list our Top Five RPG releases of the year, specifically the four games outside of the overall winner, but remain RPG of the Year-caliber releases in their own right.
  • Finally, at the very end, we list out the official RPG Site RPG of the Year 2025.

A couple of final important notes to consider:

  • We operate on a schedule that goes from December through November. That means this year’s list includes games released between December 2024 and November 2025. This is done to make sure December releases don’t get completely snubbed due to lack of time to play. So titles released in December 2025 will be eligible in our 2026 deliberations, and games that released in December 2024 are in the running for this year’s! 
  • As more and more games become worldwide releases, this has become less and less relevant, but only official English releases are eligible. Fan translations or imports might be discussed in passing during our podcast, but RPGs will only be in official contention with a formal English release.
  • Outside of our overall RPG of the Year, our list is unranked within the Top Five and Top Ten categories.
  • As typical of our coverage, we include some RPG-adjacent titles.

We love hearing from our readers, so this December we’re running a poll on our social media pages to find out your favorite RPGs of the year, and which ones you’re most excited about for 2025. Plus, our team has shared a list of the RPGs we’re most looking forward to in 2026, completing our year-end coverage.

Tetracast – RPG of the Year 2025

In this special episode of The Tetracast, we discuss the games chosen by our winners. We began by compiling a list of around 30 RPGs nominated by our team and contributors – essentially, every game we thought deserved consideration for the year. First, we’ll reveal the winners in each category, and then we’ll announce our overall RPG of the Year.

After carefully judging the categories of Remaster/Re-Release, Design, Art, Music, and Writing, we started with a long list of games. We gradually narrowed it down – first to fifteen, then ten, then five – until we finally chose a winner.

Every year, choosing the top ten games is a really tough process filled with lively debate. If a game you liked just missed the list, it was likely a close call! Tune in to find out which RPGs were on the bubble. Like last year, we’re also sharing our Runner-Up picks in each category.

MP3 Download

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 – Introductions and Outline
  • 8:06 – Best Remaster or Re-release
  • 1:14:35 – Best Writing or Storytelling
  • 2:22:35 – Best Artwork
  • 3:07:39 – Best Design & Immersion
  • 4:18:40 – Best Music
  • 4:55:53 – RPG of the Year top Ten
  • 5:49:43 – RPG of the Year 2025
  • 6:26:14 – Thank You and Sign Off

Music Links

This is a list of songs mentioned in the ‘Best Music’ segment of our podcast discussions. We checked the links, and they were working as of December 2025.

Category Awards: Special Commendations for Specific Excellence

So, the way we do our awards has changed a bit over time. Basically, a game might not be my overall Game of the Year, but it could really stand out in one area – like having the best art style, or the most innovative design. It’s a good way to highlight those strengths, and honestly, a lot of the games we talk about for these specific categories often end up being top contenders for the big award anyway! If a game consistently impresses us across the board – say, both the design and the writing are amazing – that’s a pretty strong sign it’s going to be in my Top Five, for sure.

We have a special category called Best Remaster or Re-Release. This award recognizes the best game that’s been remastered or re-released this year, but it’s separate from our main Top Ten list. We created this category to celebrate games originally released before 2025 that have been updated or made available in a way that deserves recognition. We want to keep our Top Ten list focused on brand-new games released in 2025, even if a fantastic remaster comes out. Essentially, re-releases are eligible for this award, but won’t be included in our overall Top Ten. This allows us to highlight great games without overshadowing new releases.

Without further ado, the category award winners for RPG Site’s Best of 2025 Awards are as follows:

Best Remaster or Re-release – Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

Remasters usually bring older games to modern platforms, and while Final Fantasy Tactics has been playable on mobile, The Ivalice Chronicles offers a significant upgrade for current systems. It features an improved user interface, better localization, and a ‘Classic Mode’ for a traditional experience, making it the most accessible way to enjoy this highly-regarded strategy RPG. Plus, it boasts some of the best voice acting in any RPG released this year.

Runner-Up: Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars

The Suikoden I & II remasters included two previously underrated PlayStation RPGs as one complete story. They updated the graphics and improved the translation, but carefully preserved the quirks and details that fans loved in the original games. [Dave Francisco]

Best Writing – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

What makes truly great writing and storytelling in RPGs is subjective, and it’s often a hotly debated topic. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II continues Henry of Skalitz’s story, giving him a clear goal: to recover his father’s sword and get revenge on Markvart von Aulitz. The game features a large cast of characters with diverse backgrounds and motivations, all woven into a lengthy adventure. Unlike many western RPGs where you create a character with no backstory, KCD2 lets you play as the well-developed Henry. The game’s strength lies in seeing Henry’s journey reach a conclusion after two substantial games. While you still have choices in how he acts and who he connects with, it’s Henry’s development and relationships that make the writing stand out. The result is a compelling and emotionally resonant story, balanced with moments of humor.

Kingdom Come Deliverance II truly shines with its quests, even beyond the main storyline. 15th-century Bohemia feels alive with interesting characters and their personal problems. What makes the quest design so good isn’t just the complex game systems and character development; it’s that you’ll genuinely be curious to discover what’s happening, whether it’s a serious story or something lighthearted and fun.

Runner-Up: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 quickly became a favorite among RPG fans this year. Its incredibly creative world and excellent voice acting set it apart, making it one of the most imaginative RPGs in recent memory. The game takes bold risks with its story, leading to a thought-provoking ending that players will be talking about for a long time. [Adam Vitale]

Best Art – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

The visual design in games isn’t just about impressive graphics; it’s about the complete experience. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II excels in this area, offering beautiful visuals both during gameplay and in its cinematic sequences. The game’s menus are also exceptionally well-designed, perfectly capturing the game’s atmosphere with charming 2D artwork and animations. KCD2’s cinematic scenes are among the best of the year, skillfully using silence, subtle body language, and thoughtful camera work and lighting. Remarkably, the game runs smoothly on a wide range of devices, from powerful PCs and consoles to handhelds.

Many role-playing games have created visually impressive fantasy worlds, but Kingdom Come: Deliverance II stands out for its consistently high visual quality. Beyond its beautiful and realistic depiction of medieval Europe, the game also excels in details like its menus and user interface, further enhancing the immersive experience.

Runner-Up: Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

Fantasy Life is a consistently cheerful game, boasting vibrant and detailed character designs, smooth animations, and diverse environments. It also manages to capture the charm of classic 3DS graphics in a way that still feels fresh today. – Mikhail Madnani

Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

It’s often clear who will win awards like these before the show even begins. While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 excels in many areas – its story, how it unfolds, and even its interface – the music is truly outstanding. Few soundtracks of this ambition come to mind, like those from Genshin Impact and the Final Fantasy VII Remake. It’s incredible that Sandfall Interactive achieved this level of quality with their very first game.

Players who experienced Expedition 33 likely won’t forget the memorable combination of Lorien Testard’s music, Alice Duport-Percierr’s singing, Monoco’s theme, and their initial encounter with Goblu. Despite some weaker parts in the game, the soundtrack for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is consistently excellent.

Runner-Up: Promise Mascot Agency

Promise Mascot Agency creates incredibly unique music for games by blending a wide range of sounds – from traditional Japanese instruments and retro synthesizers to electric guitars. Their songs are designed to perfectly match the game’s atmosphere while also being enjoyable to listen to on their own. According to Mikhail Madnani, it’s a sound unlike anything currently found in gaming.

Best Design and Immersion – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

You’ll notice Kingdom Come: Deliverance II mentioned frequently in this article and our Tetracast, and for good reason. While many games did well this year, none matched its incredible design and how completely it pulls you into the world. It’s a complex RPG with a lot of underlying systems, which I personally enjoy, but its immersive qualities really set it apart.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II truly brings medieval Europe to life. Its detailed world feels authentic because of how all its systems work together, its complex gameplay, and the diverse characters and music. This is all tied together with a strong and consistent artistic vision, including its menus and overall design.

Runner-Up: Dynasty Warriors: Origins

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a breakthrough for the series, successfully bringing the epic 1 vs. 1000 battles to life in a truly immersive way. For the first time, players can really feel like they’re part of the classic Three Kingdoms narrative. [Mikhail Madnani]

Best of 2025: Honorable Mentions

While recording our recent Tetracast episode, we debated how to categorize two games that include RPG-like features, but aren’t primarily RPGs. We still wanted to showcase them, so here are our Honorable Mentions for 2025.

Hades II – Honorable Mention

Hades II is Supergiant Games’ first sequel, and it’s a huge success. It feels like two complete games combined into one, offering improved gameplay, a branching story with many paths, new features, and a fantastic continuation of everything players loved about the original Hades.

I was already a big fan after playing the first preview, but Hades II truly exceeded my expectations – it’s a game I know I’ll be playing for years to come. Supergiant Games have somehow improved on the original, and it’s one of our top picks of 2025, alongside Elden Ring and Nightreign.

Elden Ring Nightreign – Honorable Mention

Given how popular cooperative play and player-versus-player combat are in FromSoftware games, it’s not surprising they decided to create something new with Elden Ring. Elden Ring Nightreign successfully built on what players already loved, delivering a uniquely challenging and engaging multiplayer experience in 2025.

Elden Ring Nightreign isn’t heavily focused on role-playing elements, but it’s a fantastic game for fans of FromSoftware titles. It offers a familiar experience while still feeling fresh and unique. With recent updates and the new downloadable content, it’s even better than when it first came out and definitely worth playing. Hopefully, the developers will continue to expand on the world of the Lands Between in the future. [Mikhail Madnani]

Best of 2025: The Near Misses, aka the Runner-Up Five

Okay, so these next five RPGs were really good – good enough to land in my Top Ten for 2025, but just didn’t quite make the Top Five cut. Honestly, they either had one small thing holding them back, or even better games came out later in the year. Still, I totally recommend checking these out – they’re some of the best RPGs I played all year. Here’s the list, in no particular order:


Dynasty Warriors: Origins – Top Ten of 2025

Koei Tecmo and Omega Force often showcase their Warriors games with impressive scenes of huge battles, but the final product rarely lives up to the hype. Dynasty Warriors: Origins is different. They’ve finally achieved their goal of a massive, 1 vs 1000 battle, and with more powerful consoles, they were able to create a Warriors experience with the scale and number of enemies they originally envisioned.

What truly sets this game apart is its compelling story and deep RPG elements, offering the most character progression the series has ever seen. It doesn’t simply recreate famous battles from Romance of the Three Kingdoms in a fast-paced action style. Instead, it immerses you in the events through the eyes of a new, customizable character, making you feel like a true participant in the world and its conflicts.

While some longtime fans might be disappointed by the smaller character roster in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, I appreciated how it redefined the series with its emphasis on a compelling story, character progression, and a truly massive scope that felt fresh and unique. [Mikhail Madnani]

Digimon Story: Time Stranger – Top Ten of 2025

The Digimon series has become popular again this year, largely thanks to the new Digimon Story game, Time Stranger. It delivers a classic JRPG experience, similar to the games from the PlayStation 2 era. A key feature is the huge number of Digimon you can use in your party, and players can spend a lot of time exploring all the different ways to evolve each one.

Time Stranger really showcases what modern gaming hardware can do, letting the developers create a detailed and vibrant Digital World. Each area is filled with Digimon, making it fun to discover which creatures live in each unique environment.

You can often feel when a game is made with genuine love and dedication, and Time Stranger is a perfect example – its developers clearly poured their hearts into it.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter – Top Ten of 2025

The remake of Trails in the Sky, known as Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, was highly anticipated. While I didn’t review it for RPG Site, I’ve been a fan of the series for years and have mostly created guides for it on other platforms. Traditionally, the Trails games have been hard to get into for new players because the story continues across multiple games. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter aimed to address this by remaking the original The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky.

The remake is generally successful, with strong visuals and well-developed characters, but it doesn’t surpass the original, particularly when it comes to how well the story and dialogue fit the game’s world. It mostly stays true to the original, rather than offering a fresh take. While the added modern features improve convenience, they also diminish the joy of exploration. However, for newcomers to the series, this remake is a great place to start and offers an easy entry point into the broader Trails universe. [Chao Min Wu]

Lies of P: Overture – Top Ten of 2025

It’s become common for expansions to “Soulslike” games to actually be the highlights of those games, and Lies of P: Overture follows that pattern. It’s so well-done that it really builds anticipation for the next game in the series.

Overture takes everything that made Lies of P a good game and makes it even better. With fresh weapons, imaginative bosses, stunning environments, and a more compelling story, it elevates the original to a truly exceptional level. Lies of P was great to begin with, but Overture is what solidifies it as a classic that every fan of the genre should experience.

Although it didn’t reach our top five favorites, the Lies of P: Overture DLC is definitely worth your time. If you haven’t played Lies of P yet, this is a great reason to start! – James Galizio

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road – Top Ten of 2025

Level-5 had a fantastic year, with both of their role-playing games ranking in the top 10 on our site. Both Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road and Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time faced difficult and lengthy development processes, leading many to believe they might not succeed. Thankfully, the wait proved to be well worth it for fans.

You don’t need to be a soccer fan to enjoy Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road. It’s a heartwarming story about someone finding their way back to the sport, even though they can’t play due to illness. The game features surprisingly impactful stories of hardship and success.

Aside from a fantastic story mode, this game offers tons of other ways to play, including a unique mode that revisits the entire history of the Inazuma Eleven series. Players can collect, train, and customize a massive roster of over 5400 characters. According to Josh Torres, it’s secretly and genuinely the best game of 2025.

Top Five RPGs of 2025

Okay, so after a lot of playing and debating, here are my picks for the top five RPGs of 2025. Seriously, these games were all amazing and could have easily been my Game of the Year. Honestly, if we had the discussion again, I might pick a different one! But, excluding my ultimate winner which I’ll reveal last, here’s the list of RPG Site’s Top Five RPGs of 2025.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time  – Top Five of 2025

Honestly, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time still feels like a dream come true. Level-5 really knocked it out of the park with this RPG, and the fact that it has full cross-platform play and lets you pick up where you left off on any device is amazing. I’ve sunk so many hours into it this year, both playing solo and with friends – some of whom I even played the original Fantasy Life with back on the 3DS! It’s easily been the most joyful gaming experience I’ve had all year.

Rather than trying to appeal to a broader audience by changing what made the original special, Level-5 stayed true to what fans enjoyed about Fantasy Life. They enhanced the game with vibrant menus, delightful writing, and a fantastic adaptation of the original 3DS visuals for modern systems.

I really enjoyed how Level-5 created a fantastic RPG that both honored the original game and updated the series with fresh ideas. Fantasy Life isn’t just a simple revival; it’s a huge, ambitious game that combines elements from many different games, all working seamlessly together to keep you hooked for hours.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time? Don’t let the title fool you – this game is the real time-stealer! [Mikhail Madnani]

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake – Top Five of 2025

After the awesome revival of Dragon Quest III, Square Enix and Artdink decided to go even further back and remake the very first two Dragon Quest games using that cool HD-2D style. Honestly, it was a bit of a gamble – those original games are super old school, and it’s tough to update something so foundational for modern players. But Artdink totally pulled it off! They didn’t try to just recreate the simplicity of the first game or the sprawling scope of the second. Instead, they cleverly reworked them to feel like continuations of the story we got in the Dragon Quest III remake. It’s like they built on what we already knew and loved, and it works brilliantly.

Now seen as the concluding chapter of the classic “Erdrick Saga,” Dragon Quest I & II have gained new importance. This remake expands on the original games while still preserving their unique feel and difficulty. The beautiful HD-2D visuals perfectly complement the games’ distinctive art style, making the monsters and characters stand out in battle while also capturing the nostalgic charm of older, simpler game development. While not a direct port of the originals, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake offers a fresh and engaging way to experience a series that every RPG fan should play. [Dave Francisco]

Look Outside – Top Five of 2025

Look Outside is a rare and unique game, blending the suspense of survival horror titles like Silent Hill and Resident Evil with the strategic gameplay of turn-based RPGs like SaGa, Dragon Quest, and Earthbound. It offers an experience unlike anything you’ve likely played before.

The premise of the game is straightforward: a strange presence has appeared in the sky, and anyone who looks at it transforms into a monstrous creature. You play as Sam, trapped in your apartment, forced to watch your neighbors change – some retaining their minds, others giving in to primal urges. This event will last 15 days, after which the sky will return to normal, but the changes it caused will be permanent. The question is: do you simply gather enough supplies to survive in isolation, or do you try to understand what’s happening and potentially attempt to fix it – even if you might fail?

Look Outside is a compelling RPG designed for multiple playthroughs. Like many great horror games, it encourages you to learn from each attempt and improve your strategy. But what truly sets it apart is its focus on the human side of a desperate situation: who you choose to trust, how you deal with the consequences of your choices, and what it truly means to be human. For the right player, Look Outside isn’t just a potential RPG highlight of 2025—it could become a new all-time favorite. [James Galizio]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – Top Five of 2025

RPG Site doesn’t formally rank its top games each year, but Kingdom Come: Deliverance II nearly won our RPG of the Year award for 2025. It was a very close decision – you can listen to our detailed discussion to hear how much debate there was! The game also received three commendations. Honestly, if we’d had the discussion on a different day, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II could easily have taken the top spot; it was that competitive.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is everything we hoped for in a large-scale, open-world RPG, and it rightfully won our awards for design, story, and art. The game truly delivers an immersive and captivating experience that consistently feels engaging. It’s rare for a game of this size to avoid feeling tedious, and even more unusual for every story moment to feel personal and well-crafted. We play a lot of lengthy RPGs, and many fall into the trap of extending playtime with unnecessary features or repetitive tasks. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II skillfully avoids these pitfalls, demonstrating a remarkable level of care in its gameplay, characters, and world-building. The result is a beautiful, believable world that’s easy to lose yourself in.

What makes Kingdom Come: Deliverance II so compelling is its ability to feel both grand in scope and tightly focused. The story picks up after the first game, centering on Henry of Skalitz’s quest to reclaim his sword and avenge his parents. While the narrative grows and becomes more complex, it does so at a skillful pace, something few games achieve. The stakes aren’t about saving the world, but about Henry’s personal journey and how he gets caught up in something bigger than himself—all presented in a realistic and believable way. The game also improves on the first installment, smoothing out some of its rough edges to create a satisfying underdog story without making the early stages feel too easy.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a remarkably detailed RPG. The game considers everything from your character’s clothing and skills with weapons or tools, to their reputation in different towns. Quests are diverse and cleverly utilize these systems. The game features impressive voice acting and motion capture, beautiful and realistic environments, and surprisingly strong technical performance, even in the intricately designed cities. Overall, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II excels in almost every aspect. [Bryan Vitale]

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – RPG of the Year 2025

The stone monolith with the number “33” from the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has become a defining image of gaming in 2025. When the game launched earlier this year, we didn’t realize how fitting it would be, with Expedition 33 quickly becoming a standout RPG. Even in our first look at the game, we sensed it was something special, but we couldn’t have predicted just how successful it would become.

Expedition 33 is a deeply moving story about coping with loss, much like the classic Japanese RPGs that inspired us. The game features incredible performances and a beautiful world filled with lovable characters. It really struck a chord with our team and many players, sparking endless discussions about the story’s events and whether anyone made the right choices. Despite a few flaws and some risky storytelling, Expedition 33 is a game that stays with you long after the credits roll, prompting you to question everything.

Okay, so the story in this game was really good, but a great story alone isn’t enough to win Game of the Year, right? You also need fantastic gameplay. And this game delivered! It took what I loved about old-school RPGs and blended it with the action of more modern games. The combat was turn-based, but it felt totally new because of how important timing was when you were parrying and defending. Plus, as someone who loves to really tweak and optimize my characters, the Pictos and Lumina systems were amazing – I could spend hours perfecting my build or just experimenting to find crazy powerful combinations. It didn’t completely change the turn-based RPG formula, but it definitely showed me that there’s still a lot of life left in the genre!

Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 proves that a new, dedicated team can achieve incredible things. We at RPG Site are thrilled to award it our Game of the Year, and we eagerly look forward to seeing what Sandfall Interactive creates in the future. A salute to them, and to all who will play! [Scott White]

RPG Site’s RPG of the Year 2025 Summary

Award Winners:

  • Best Remaster or Re-release – Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
  • Best Writing – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
  • Best Art – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
  • Best Music – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Best Design and Immersion – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

RPG of the Year 2025 – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

RPG of the Year 2025 – Top Five

  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
  • Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
  • Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
  • Look Outside

RPG of the Year 2025 – Top Ten

  • Dynasty Warriors: Origins
  • Digimon Story: Time Stranger
  • Lies of P: Overture
  • Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
  • Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road

Honorable Mentions 2025

  • Hades II
  • Elden Ring Nightreign

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2025-12-22 19:35