Throughout 2024, it seemed as if a new Amazon RPG was around the corner at every moment. The year started off with a bang when Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth launched just before Persona 3 Reloaded to show why the original story is a timeless story. And we only had to wait until February to return to Final Fantasy VII when Rebirth expanded the horizons of a beloved classic.
They may have been the headliners earlier in the year, but Unicorn Overlord has worked its way into our hearts with its impressive art style and tactical depth, before Dragon’s Dogma 2 proves why the cult classic deserves a sequel. That was enough to hold us over until Metaphor: Refantazio and Dragon Age: The Velgard landed later in the year, to see how two iconic RPG development teams could forge a new path in their own way.
This was an embarrassment of riches for the RPG sickos here at IGN, especially since the aforementioned games weren’t the only RPGs that stuck with us throughout the years. But we can only highlight a few of them, so here is our list of the best RPGs of 2024.
honorable mention
Two RPGs received an honorable mention this year, which we’d like to highlight before revealing our runners-up and winners.
You can spot a vanillaware game from a mile away thanks to its art style and expressive anime-inspired character designs. This is what gives Unicorn Overlord such a distinct fantasy aesthetic, but it’s the unique blend of real-time strategy and tactical gameplay that makes it stand out in a sea of great RPGs. Building squads composed of different classes and deploying them strategically fills the void in our lives the size of Ogre War, and exploring the overworld to build cities aligned with your objective combines all of its mechanics. Its political drama story has intriguing twists and turns, but it’s the squad members we make along the way that leave a lasting impression on Unicorn Overlord.
Despite it being a partially Hawaiian getaway for the crew from RGG Studios’ RPG debut Yakuza: Like a Dragon in 2020, the follow-up Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was pretty heavy. It’s an examination of family, legacy and what you do with the time you have left. Series-long protagonist Kazuma Kiryu teams up with his successor Kasuga Ichibane to make a graceful passing of the torch. I came for the detailed and nuanced entertainment of Waikiki, but it’s the poignant and inspiring moments of Infinite Wealth that remind us why there’s nothing quite like the Yakuza franchise.
Runner-up: Dragon’s Dogma 2
Many would consider the 2012 original Dragon’s Dogma a cult classic for the way it thrusts you into a harsh fantasy world with little to guide you. And the sequel Dragon’s Dogma 2 didn’t forget that. Capcom didn’t cut corners, streamline systems, or make its dark world more inviting, and that’s why it was able to stand up in 2024 despite being one of the biggest years for the genre.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is all about organic moments. Of course there’s a main quest to follow, but NPCs will tap you for side quests and you never know what you’ll run into. Its mechanics may seem crude, but after spending time, you realize how flexible and deep it is from a gameplay perspective, especially once you realize how responsive the in-game physics are. The pawn system adds another layer, allowing you to customize your own AI-controlled party members, or borrow members from others online to create the goofiest band of heroes. Dragon’s Dogma 2 isn’t a neat experience, and it thrives on a unique friction that’s hard to find in games these days. When you reflect on how much work has gone into surviving in its vast and harsh world, the resulting world-changing events and its messages are nothing short of amazing.
Runner-up: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
After playing the remake in 2020, it seemed as though there were endless possibilities for what the rest of Final Fantasy VII would look like for a new generation. Stepping into the grasslands for the first time in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Aerith captures the exact feeling when he sees the scenery and shows excitement about a world to fight for. The musical motifs that played on our nostalgia and recreation of its original world were undoubtedly impressive while instilling a sense of melancholy – it felt as if Final Fantasy VII had grown up with us.
We have our qualms about how Rebirth ends and sets up the third installment in this remake trilogy, but it doesn’t necessarily define the entire game. There are moments in the reinvention of existing stories that make beloved characters feel like brand new heroes who inspire us in new ways. Its open areas are a nice extension of the original’s overworld, and they’re full of things that are often more than just busywork – and don’t ask us how many hours we sunk into the new card game Queen’s Blood. In many ways, Rebirth connected us to a world we thought we knew on a deep level – it made for one of the best RPGs of the year and left us incredibly curious about what would happen next.
Runner-up: Dragon Age: The Wellguard
It’s been 10 years since Dragon Age: Inquisition and the way fans of the series have been thirsty At the time it was wild to see anything related to the Dragon Age. With an unstable development cycle, it’s kind of a miracle that The Villagard exists at all, but it’s turned out to be a worthy successor and one of the best RPGs of the year. Through the lens of our new customizable hero, Rook, we can pick up the story of Solas that left us hanging from Inquisition and its DLC. Nevertheless, The Velgard was still able to establish a new direction that was steeped in its own lore with the core concepts of a series. It may not have the warm tone you remember from previous Dragon Age games, but you’re rolling with a party full of bright personalities who create a sense of purpose reminiscent of past BioWare games.
Combat will be familiar to anyone who’s played a modern action game, without sacrificing the kind of depth you’d expect from an action-RPG. Each class feels great to play and retains a unique playstyle while remaining effective – which is important considering you’re the only one controlling Rook throughout the game. While your party members still play an important role in combat, it’s their presence and where you stand with them that makes the journey worth watching. Either way, you’ll be treated to some great conclusions that show how The Veilguard confidently forges its own path.
Winner: Metaphor: ReFantazio
With a pedigree of the last three Persona games, I came to Metaphor: Refantagio with high expectations, and even then, developer Atlus found a way to exceed them. Calling it a fantasy persona isn’t necessarily wrong (and a pretty good indication of what you’re getting), but it would also diminish the nuances that make Metaphor the best RPG of the year.
Using the context of a daily calendar system, Rupak uses familiar mechanics to initiate you through his imaginative political drama. Deciding how to spend your limited time makes those choices interesting, whether it’s spending time leveling up bonds with followers, exploring dungeons for sidequests, or bettering yourself by increasing character stats – it’s small moments like these that connect you to its world. Connecting ground level is the social sim element that naturally invests you, and it gives more weight to its big moments. So, when you see a character overcome their trauma or push themselves to do what’s right, it feels like it’s coming from a genuine place.
More than anything, metaphor is the game of the moment. It doesn’t shy away from themes like racism, inequality, religious extremism and abuse of power, and demonstrates an understanding of the material it’s dealing with with a powerful story. Every character, every bond and follower and every main story is a thoughtful representation of our real world, showing us the ugliest parts of our humanity but what it takes to create a brighter future. Allegory is very upfront about its message from start to finish, and yet, what it says about the power of fiction may be its most inspiring part. There’s nothing quite like Metaphor: Refantazio, and it represents the best of what games have to offer, especially in 2024.
