If you’re video game shopping and looking for one of the biggest bangs for your buck, role-playing games fit the bill. These modern-day epics are packed with thrilling adventures and shocking tragedies. When they suck you into their worlds, it feels like you are bingeing a really great Netflix show. Players will linger for one more quest or they’ll have the urge to explore one more dungeon.
What gives these games value is that developers pack the titles with content, and that’s important at a time when publishers ask buyers to fork over $70 for a video game. Although RPGs dominate this list of the best releases of 2024, there are other ways to keep players enthralled, and the top game does just that.
1. “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” — Microsoft saved its best for last and published not only my favorite game of the year, but one of the best Indy adventures period. MachineGames lovingly crafted this game so that it hits all the right notes from voice actor Troy Baker nailing Harrison Ford’s timbre to the way it shows off Dr. Jones’ beautiful mind with clever puzzles. The developers focused on an authentic Indy experience with exaggerated fistfights against Nazis and spectacular chase scenes, and in the process, they made a generation of Indy fans feel like kids again.
2. “Astro Bot” — Team Asobi showed off what it could do with the title characters in demos, but Sony gave them leeway to make a full game, and the developer created a spectacular platformer that traipses along the road set by titles such as “Super Mario Odyssey” but finds its own path. That’s what makes this adventure feel so refreshing. Captain Astro’s power-ups and abilities feel novel and just as whimsical as anything Nintendo could think up. What’s more Team Asobi crafts levels that take full advantage of that creativity.
3. “Metaphor: ReFantazio” — After the breakthrough success of “Persona 5,” the minds behind that game wanted to work on a new project and that ended up this epic Japanese role-playing game. It puts players in the role of an Eldan resistance fighter, who has to campaign to be the next king after the previous ones assassination. It plunges players into a world of intrigue. With heavy influences from “Persona,” “Metaphor” will be familiar to fans but they’ll also discover new twists in the fantasy setting.
4. “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” — Nintendo seemed to devote the year to the women in its roster of heroes. Princess Peach starred in her own game, but it’s this adventure starring Princess Zelda that stood out. The game resembles the “Links Awakening” remake, but the developers flipped the script and made the star eponymous princess. With the power of the Tri Rod, she has the ability to copy nearly an object or enemy, and she’lll use those skills to solve puzzles and save Hyrule.
5. “Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth” — Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio didn’t give its new hero Ichiban Kasuga much screen time with its previous protagonist in the original “Like a Dragon.” In this sequel, longtime fans finally see the two team up in turn-based combat as their campaign takes place mostly in Hawaii. Like previous installments, this long-running series has its quirkiness that’s difficult to replicate and it has a storyline that takes a while to develop but becomes just as thrilling as any telenovela.
6. “Final Fantasy Rebirth” — The follow-up to the remarkable “Final Fantasy Remake” expands on the world players glimpsed at the end of the first game. Now, players explore it as Cloud and his resistance continue to fight for the planet. The game continues the franchise’s elegant mix of action-centric combat accented by turn-based elements. Meanwhile, “Rebirth” is packed with plenty of activities and sidequests to keep players busy.
7. “Dragon Age: The Veilguard” — It’s been a decade since fans had a new entry to BioWare’s fantasy franchise, but the wait was worth it. “The Veilguard” bears the hallmarks of the studio’s work including difficult player choices, but this entry continues the series’ evolution into a more action-heavy RPG realm. “The Veilguard” succeeds because it invests players into the characters and forces them to make weighty decisions that impact their allies in the long run, making it feels as though players have skin in the game.
8. “Helldivers 2” — Sometimes a change of perspective can transform a franchise, and that happened Arrowhead Game Studios follow-up to its co-op shooter. The original was a top-down, but with the sequel, the team shifted it to the third person but kept some of its unconventional mechanics in place. As elite shock troops protecting “managed democracy,” players have to work together to defeat hordes of enemies and accomplish goals. At the same time, they have to coordinate because friendly fire is always on. That simple change opened up a new world of fun as it led to hijinks and a push toward coordination.
9. “Unicorn Overlord” — Vanillaware makes some of the most beautiful games anywhere because of their hand-drawn work that pops on the screen. With this tactical strategy game, the team outdoes itself creating a rich fantasy world where the exiled prince Alain has to lead a rebellion against Galerius who has taken over other kingdoms. The tactical part of the game is surprisngly hands off and players have to set up their troops and watch battles unfold. It takes time to adjust to the concept, but it’s just as rewarding.
10. “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown” — When done well, a Metroidvania game can be a memorable experience and developers keep mining it for its natural depth and fun. Ubisoft Montpellier takes a dormant franchise and breathes new life into it. “The Lost Crown” is more challenging than its peers with its quick-twitch combat and hard-as-nails platforming, but the developer also comes up with creative ways to help players map and navigate the world.
