RPG Site's Most Anticipated RPGs of 2025

2024 turned out to be another bustling year for Role-Playing Games (RPGs), and it seems that the trend is set to continue into 2025. If you were hoping for a more relaxed pace in the upcoming year, you might find yourself disappointed as the calendar is already brimming with numerous intriguing RPGs – from fresh releases to long-awaited updates such as remasters and complete overhauls. In this article, we’ll be discussing some of the most eagerly awaited RPGs of 2025, so let me present to you: RPG Site’s Most Anticipated RPGs of 2025.

Instead, let me share with you what we were curious to know about – what everyone was excitedly awaiting in the year 2025! We invited our audience to voice their opinions using a poll that stayed active throughout December. What I’m about to present is our team’s chosen games. Additionally, you can explore the results from our reader poll for both the Favorite RPG of 2024 and the Most Anticipated RPG of 2025.

Among the RPG Site team, we chose 13 upcoming role-playing games that caught our attention either because of their promising potential, established reputation, or unique circumstances surrounding their development and release. These games piqued our curiosity, and we’re eagerly anticipating them this year.

In my gaming world this year, there wasn’t a specific ranking, except for the grand champion, who truly reigned supreme. Surprisingly, the points accumulated by the top-tier players ended up being equal, resulting in an exciting tie for the first place spot! We now have two champions to celebrate!

Curious about upcoming Role-Playing Games in 2025? Here’s a handy guide you can take a peek at just below.

RPG Site Staff Picks – Most Anticipated 2025 RPGs

Showa American Story

Ever pondered about surviving a zombie outbreak in the ’80s, if America were a Japanese colony instead? If so, this game might be just what you’re looking for… or perhaps it will be!

30 and a governor named Gokou, who embodies both cowboy and samurai traits. With its offbeat humor and action-packed gameplay, we can’t wait to see what Nekcom Entertainment has up their sleeves!

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Occasionally, we can get quite enthusiastic about a game that we don’t know much details of. With just a brief trailer and summary, Pokemon Legends: Z-A is largely shrouded in mystery. Yet, the changes introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have been intriguing enough to make us eager to discover how a new open-world approach for a Pokemon game could unfold.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled about the prospect that Pokemon Legends: Z-A might be set in Lumiose City. This could mean an intricate cityscape unlike any we’ve explored before within the franchise. Plus, whispers of a potential Switch successor launching in 2025 fuel my hopes for the next Pokemon game to potentially leverage the new console’s capabilities. Until official details emerge, it’s fun to envision what could be!

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

As a dedicated Yakuza/Like A Dragon franchise fan, I’m continually blown away by the rapid succession of new entries from RGG Studios. Since 2020’s “Yakuza: Like a Dragon”, there seems to be a near annual release cadence, with unexpected additions like the Gaiden entry and the remastered Ishin, making us think we’d have some time to catch our breath before the next big title. But here we are, eagerly awaiting another installment barely a year after “Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth”, which was set for 2024. And what’s even more surprising? It’s a Hawaii-themed pirate spinoff starring everyone’s favorite character, Goro Majima! Can’t wait to set sail in just a few short months!

In a skillful blend of humor and emotion, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii seems to favor the comedic side, and adds to this by incorporating an old-school fighting gameplay reminiscent of brawlers. Given Majima’s emotional journey in Yakuza 0 and subsequent series installments, it wouldn’t be surprising if his standalone adventure unexpectedly tugs at our heartstrings despite its humorous facade.

Fate/Extra Record

In recent times, fans of Type-Moon from the West have seen a surge in excitement due to the official launches of games like “Witch on the Holy Night“, “Tsukihime -a piece of blue glass moon-“, and finally “Fate/stay night“. The upcoming release, “Fate/Extra Record“, intends to maintain this enthusiasm by offering a remake of one of the PSP’s most contentious turn-based JRPGs. While the 2010 original game presented an engaging storyline, its gameplay mechanics were criticized for being less than satisfactory.

In the trailer for Fate/Extra Record released a few months ago, there’s a fresh glimpse into how the gameplay is moving towards a style more like Slay the Spire, as opposed to the strategy that resembled rock-paper-scissors in the original Fate/Extra. Instead of the simple rock-paper-scissors dynamics, it now offers a more engaging experience. The upcoming remake from Type-Moon Studio BB is being distributed by Bandai Namco and there’s great excitement surrounding this project. If all goes well, we might even hope for a remake of Fate/Extra CCC in the future – but only time and sales figures will determine that.

Dragon Quest I & II HD Remake

We’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Throughout its lengthy development period, there were whispers that the initiative would encompass remakes of not only Dragon Quest III but also Dragon Quest I and II due to their interconnected narratives. This speculation mostly proved accurate, as a 2025 release for the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake was announced shortly after last year’s launch of the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.

For quite some time now, since the debut of the “HD-2D” design in the initial release of Octopath Traveler, classic Dragon Quest games have been high on our wish list to see adorned with this stylish new aesthetic. The remake of Dragon Quest III was a big hit, making the classic game more accessible for new players while still preserving its original essence, thanks to smart and enjoyable additional features. This makes us very optimistic that a similar approach in remaking the first two games will also prove to be just as rewarding a wait.

Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars

Over the past few years, there have been many revivals and re-releases of classic role-playing games. However, there are still numerous titles that warrant a comeback. Among them are the cherished role-playing games Suikoden and Suikoden 2, which were particularly popular on the PlayStation 1. Over two decades after their initial launch, these games have been revived in the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars.

Suikoden, a game with over 100 characters to join in each installment, weaves tales of young warriors navigating conflict-ridden territories. Known for its gripping, character-driven narratives, Suikoden also offers strategic turn-based combat and army management features. With anticipated improvements to the English translation, enhanced gameplay quality, and resolution of persistent issues, Konami aims to release a refreshed definitive version of these beloved games.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Since the phenomenal success of “Monster Hunter: World” in 2018 and the continued triumph of “Monster Hunter Rise,” fans have been eagerly awaiting what the next mainline entry in the series would bring. A global release spanning PC and various platforms, with a renewed emphasis on an expansive open-zone design, seems like a logical and overdue evolution for bold Monster Hunters worldwide. After years of regional releases and console-specific matchmaking, the anticipation for “Monster Hunter Wilds,” which promises to eliminate these barriers, is palpable.

The tried-and-true Monster Hunter formula continues to captivate, entertain, and offer unparalleled fun. With its seamless multiplayer feature allowing for team-ups with friends in vast, intricately designed landscapes teeming with fresh, fearsome beasts, Monster Hunter Worlds promises even more enjoyment, making an already great experience even better.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

2018’s “Kingdom Come: Deliverance” has been a quiet yet significant triumph since its launch. By adopting a first-person viewpoint in a meticulously crafted medieval setting, Warhorse Studios successfully developed an authentic role-playing adventure that left players deeply engrossed and feeling like they were residents of a bygone era. What might come as a surprise is the gripping narrative of Kingdom Come: Deliverance; many have been eager to continue Henry’s tale since the first game’s somewhat ambiguous conclusion.

A crucial element found in numerous successful role-playing games (RPGs) is the feeling of significant advancement, which was evident in Kingdom Come: Deliverance and we expect it to be even more prominent in the sequel. It’s captivating to witness such a vast game world and a compact personal narrative blend harmoniously in a realistic way that has us eagerly waiting for the upcoming installment in just a few short weeks.

Avowed

Since the announcement of Avowed back in 2020, I’ve been buzzing with anticipation for a fresh fantasy RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. With their past successes like Knights of the Old Republic II and Fallout: New Vegas under other studios’ franchises, the prospect of them crafting their own world in the vein of their Pillars of Eternity titles, especially within a first-person RPG setting, has firmly placed Avowed on my watchlist.

With its foundation firmly established on the richly detailed universes of the two Pillars of Eternity games, Avowed promises an engaging experience for both long-time fans and newcomers. Renowned for crafting complex, layered narratives, Obsidian Entertainment could potentially produce a standout title in the fantasy genre by combining this storytelling prowess with a distinctive fantasy world.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land

2019’s release of Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout marked a significant surge in popularity for Gust’s Aterlier series, and its subsequent trilogy entries have only solidified this momentum. This year, we’re eagerly anticipating not just one, but two new installments! The first that caught our attention was Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land, which impressed us with its captivating character designs and swift-moving combat in the initial trailers.

Beyond the robust gameplay already demonstrated, initial previews hint at a narrative in Atelier Yumia that could be more intense and high-risk compared to past installments of the series. This possible shift toward a darker tone might serve as an exciting twist, especially with a brand new protagonist joining the ongoing saga. Fans will have to wait just a few months more to find out how this fresh beginning and novel setting resonate with both newcomers and long-time followers alike.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Among all the games on this list, none sparked the same level of awe as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 when it was unveiled in 2024. Its high-quality production, captivating turn-based combat, intriguing concept, and top-notch voice acting made us swiftly mark Sandfall Interactive’s debut production on our list of most anticipated games.

In recent times, there’s been a bit of a resurgence in the genre of turn-based role-playing games. This revival can be attributed to games such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and the rising acclaim for Atlus’s Persona series. It appears that Expedition 33 is drawing significant inspiration from this trend. What makes Expedition 33 particularly intriguing is that it isn’t associated with any existing franchise or intellectual property, which adds to our anticipation.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Tie Winner)

Among the final holdouts on the Wii U and undoubtedly the most prominent in the RPG genre, Xenoblade Chronicles X will be released this year. With the growing popularity of the Xenoblade series, such as the highly successful remake of the initial game titled Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, many have longed for the day when the more experimental Xenoblade Chronicles X would also receive a similar update. The idea that this moment is now just a few months away seemed unthinkable not too long ago.

Over the past ten years, the Xenoblade series has gained a strong following with each fan having their personal favorite installments. Ranking the trilogy from best to worst is quite challenging due to the diversity in preferences among fans. It seems ideal to gather all Xenoblade enthusiasts, including those revisiting Xenoblade Chronicles X and newcomers curious about what they might have missed, on a single console by releasing one title that encompasses the series’ lesser-known entries. Mark this game on your calendar if you fall into either category; it’s worth the wait as it deserves to be recognized as the most anticipated RPG of 2025.

Trails in the Sky First Chapter (Tie Winner)

There have been whispers about a remake of Trails in the Sky circulating for a while now. Given that this long-connected series has limited entry points for new fans, selling Trails in the Sky, the initial chronological installment, grew more difficult over time for those interested in the series. However, nobody anticipated a fully-realized 3D remake to pop up unexpectedly during a 2024 Nintendo Direct presentation, especially with Trails Through Daybreak II and the future localized release of Kai no Kiseki scheduled for 2025 and (hopefully) 2026.

It’s particularly thrilling that the upcoming release of Trails in the Sky First Chapter marks the first time in the series’ history that it will be a simultaneous worldwide launch on multiple platforms. Given the expectation that this will serve as an ideal entry point for both new fans and long-time series enthusiasts, such a perfect opportunity couldn’t be more fitting. In summary, these factors make Trails in the Sky First Chapter a clear choice as our most anticipated RPG of 2025.

2025-01-05 19:59