Potion Permit
Life sims are, in theory, the ultimate role-playing vehicle. Many of these games root players in an ecosystem and ask them to make a life out of it. In some cases, this means running a farm or an alchemy store; conversely, Potion Permit casts players as Moonbury’s resident doctor/pharmacist. Although not completely new territory, the game’s focus on medicine sets it apart from the likes of Stardew Valley and Rune Factory.
RELATED: Beginner Tips For Potion Permit
After transferring to Moonbury to open a potion shop, the protagonist quickly learns that this job opportunity comes with a side dish of hostility from the village’s populace. In order to change the town folks’ attitude, players will need to work extra hard to meet all the clients’ needs. This involves completing a wide plethora of quests while also treating patients who visit the clinic.
Potion Permit’s strongest asset is Moonbury itself. Presented in gorgeous pixel art, the town oozes personality and whimsy out of every street corner and building. Its citizens are also memorable and unique, with most members coming across as fully developed individuals. On occasion, players will need to step out of Moonbury in order to collect resources, which shall involve taking on monsters. Potion Permit’s combat is not particularly interesting, but it is ultimately just a small part of the overall package.
Thymesia
RELATED: Beginner Tips For Thymesia
A largely linear experience, Thymesia guides players through a handful of eye-catching areas that are quite impressive in their own right. Combat is the name of the game here, and while not without some frustrations, it is enjoyable for the most part. Like Bloodborne, Thymesia prioritizes dodging and parries over things like shields, giving way to plenty of high-octane fights that require quick reflexes.
The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel 3 & 4
Nihon Falcom has been quietly producing excellent JRPGs since the early ’90s, and Trails of Cold Steel is arguably the most newcomer-friendly subseries in the studio’s The Legend of Heroes franchise. Set in a war-torn world and told from the perspective of a group of military students, Trails of Cold Steel blends political and social intrigue with a focus on interpersonal relationships and character development.
The Legend Of Heroes: Trails From Zero
A 2010 PSP exclusive released only in Japan, Trails from Zero would have to wait until 2022 to come to North America; consequently, the game’s visuals and combat are dated by today’s standards. That’s not to say they are bad, just that they give away the project’s age. More importantly, Trails from Zero’s storytelling, world-building, and characters are timeless.
CrossCode
Throwbacks to the SNES era are hardly in short supply in 2022, and every month seems to contain a handful of indie titles worth checking out. CrossCode is a must-play for anyone fond of classic ’90s action RPGs, but Radical Fish’s game amounts to far more than just a nostalgia trip. Set in a futuristic MMO, CrossCode follows Lea, a girl stripped of memories and the ability to talk. As she ventures out on a quest to discover herself, the story gradually peels back the layers as it reveals what is truly going on in this world.
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CrossCode’s combat is fantastic. Blending melee and ranged weaponry, Lea is responsive and simply fun to control, and she also unlocks new abilities as the campaign progresses. Visually, the title’s pixilated graphics are gorgeous, ranking right up there with nearly any indie release.
Strife: Veteran Edition
Strife debuted in 1996 and was innovative for its era. The game sought to combine rudimentary RPG elements with first-person gunplay akin to something like Doom. This formula would be executed to near-perfection by 2000’s Deus Ex, a title that largely overshadows its predecessor; however, Strife deserves praise for the risks it took.
While the combat is pretty ordinary by the standard of ’90s shooters, the game sets itself apart from its contemporaries through open level design and the utilization of NPCs for quests and items. Players even improve two stats as the campaign progresses. Strife might be relatively basic by today’s standards, but the RPG can still offer a few hours of fun for those who are fond of these types of classic releases.
Child Of Light
A side-scrolling RPG that has an engaging active-time combat system reminiscent of Square Enix’s ’90s classics, Child of Light is absolutely beautiful, both visually and narratively. The gameplay is easy to grasp but also deep enough to remain engaging throughout the relatively short campaign.
Valkyria Chronicles 4
Sega’s Valkyria Chronicles combines various genres – third-person shooters, tactics, visual novels, turn-based JRPGs – to create something utterly unlike anything else on the market. More importantly, these elements came together seamlessly, resulting in an experience that works well on every level rather than feeling like a hodgepodge of scattered ideas.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 does not require familiarity with the previous entries to appreciate since the story presents a different perspective on the Second Europan War. Challenging gameplay, a strong narrative, and gorgeous visuals are just some things people can look forward to when playing Valkyria Chronicles 4.
Sparklite
While roguelites are acquired tastes, Sparklite lessens the subgenre’s entry barrier by allowing players to upgrade Ada between runs through the installation of patches that provide an array of benefits. Now, this game can be quite difficult in places, so it is not the greatest entry-level RPG for very young children; however, older players looking for a charming indie title with a Zelda edge should find a lot to enjoy here.
Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana
Nihon Falcom’s Ys might not have the mainstream appeal of a Final Fantasy or even Tales, but the series helped pioneer action JRPGs and has been a constant source for quality titles for more than three decades. Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana is among the franchise’s greatest games, along with being one of the most accessible to modern audiences since it shifted the series fully into 3D territory. After a shipwreck, Adol ends up on a mysterious island filled with dangerous monsters and secrets yearning to be discovered. Before long, Adol adds a few people to his party, resulting in six playable characters.
Ys 8’s story is decent and benefits from having a likable roster of core characters and an intriguing setting in the Isle of Seiren. However, the game’s appeal starts and ends with its battle system, which is an absolute blast. Players can swap between characters at the click of a button, and each warrior comes with their own weapon type, strengths, and weaknesses. Although hardly lacking in style, the combat is also reasonably challenging and deep enough to remain entertaining for the campaign’s sizable length.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2: Warlords Of New York Ultimate Edition
While the game’s story can be a bit polarizing, The Division 2 shines in the gameplay and customization department. Even if someone has no intention of diving into the endgame, the main campaign is enjoyable enough to be worth recommending on its own.
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling is a charming turn-based RPG that takes a few pages from the classic Paper Mario games. This influence can be seen in a number of ways: the heavy focus on puzzles, the vibrant visuals, the quirky sense of humor, and the mini-games infused combat. Also, similar to Paper Mario and The Thousand-Year Door, Bug Fables is fantastic.
Set in Bugaria, a trio of insects traverse a vast land in search of the mythical Everlasting Sapling. Their journey proves to be rife with danger, surprises, and whimsy. Be it the story or combat, Bug Fables gets everything nearly right, and the game can be appreciated by both adults and children.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Complete Edition
Ever since the release of Assassin’s Creed Origins, Ubisoft has been expanding this license’s role-playing ingredients. Valhalla is the closest this long-running series has come to producing a complete RPG, one that comes with a robust skill system and quite a few customization options.
RELATED: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Best Abilities, Ranked
Valhalla is a massive, ambitious game that features an engaging (if overly long) main storyline revolving around the Viking invasion of Britain. Although a bit too easy at times, the combat is enjoyable and hard-hitting, while the loot system keeps things fresh.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance pushes authenticity to the forefront. Set during the 15th century, this RPG is not a power fantasy in any shape or form; every small victory needs to be earned, and this universe delivers realism without much room for fantasy. Consequently, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an acquired taste that comes with a steep learning curve.
South Park Games (Only On PC)
For the most part, Ubisoft is not particularly known for RPGs. Even if some of their flagship properties include mechanics from the genre, they typically supplement the game’s main focus. The company’s South Park games are an exception since not only are they bona fide RPGs, but they also parody the genre’s tropes.
The Stick of Truth and The Fractured but Whole immerse players in the town of South Park as the new kid on the block. The games replicate the show’s visuals and humor, all the while delivering tight and enjoyable combat systems.
Might And Magic Franchise
PC users can also download and install a couple of titles from the Might and Magic franchise, including three releases from the Heroes of Might and Magic spin-off series. The latter are turn-based strategy games, while the mainline entries are old-school first-person RPGs.
Unfortunately, Ubisoft+ only has Might and Magic 8 and 9, the latter of which is not regarded as one of the stronger entries in the franchise. However, it is a passable RPG; meanwhile, its predecessor is very good.
