TheGamer - RPG

The Best Shooters With RPG Elements

Stephen Lagioia — Mon, 29 May 2023 17:30:15 GMT

There have been a plethora of gripping RPGs and heart-pumping shooters over the decades. Various studios have explored the concept of overlapping these two rewarding genres by sprinkling light RPG elements into shooting games and vice-versa.

Greatest ARPGs For Those New To Genre

Ben Jessey — Mon, 29 May 2023 15:00:17 GMT

It can be difficult to discern what a video game's main genre is, due mostly to the fact that modern titles blend them all. For instance, it can be hard to figure out the difference between a traditional RPG and an action RPG (aRPG). Both tend to include skills trees, leveling up, rich worlds, combat of some kind, and plenty of gear to pick up.

Tears Of The Kingdom’s Underground Fight Club Is A Brutal Trial Of Strength

Ben Sledge — Sat, 27 May 2023 16:31:16 GMT

Tears of the Kingdom has a thousand systems that all interact with each other in myriad different ways. I dread to think what is going on under the hood in order to make it all happen, what horrors we’d see if allowed a peek behind the curtain. Recall alone is magic in action, but giving Ultrahanded contraptions accurate physics no matter what creations players make is nothing short of spectacular. When players are building phallic mechs and functioning engines, you see the power behind this Zelda game.

The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum Review: Smeagre Offerings

Ben Sledge — Thu, 25 May 2023 08:00:17 GMT

Gollum is a pitiful creature. Not wholly evil but definitely not nice, his fate is cruelly tied to that of the Ring, his dedication to which forces him from Mordor to mountain cave and back again. Possibly the most interesting character in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books, many will immediately associate him with Andy Serkis’ scene-stealing mo-cap performance in Peter Jackson’s trilogy. But it’s high time the creature gets another shot.

Tears Of The Kingdom’s Temples Are The Pinnacle Of Zelda Design

Ben Sledge — Wed, 24 May 2023 16:26:57 GMT

Where are the Divine Beasts in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? I haven’t reached the end of the game yet, I’m not even close, but it seems like they’ve just disappeared off the face of Hyrule. After being created as imposing guardians of the land and then lying dormant for a century before performing a crucial role in Link’s defeat of Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild, you’re telling me that they just… Left? Well, good riddance.

Fuse Is Far More Creative Than Ultrahand In The Tears Of The Kingdom

Ben Sledge — Tue, 23 May 2023 16:31:15 GMT

Ultrahand is the mind-killer. Ultrahand is the little-death that brings total obliteration of creativity. Where once players thought laterally and came up with creative solutions to Hyrule’s sandbox puzzles, now they build long bridges. Any problem can be solved with an appropriately-sized bridge. Any of them. And it’s infuriating.

Hylian Pine Cones Are Secretly Tears Of The Kingdom's Best Weapon

Ben Sledge — Mon, 22 May 2023 16:30:16 GMT

I’m not doing the weapon degradation discourse again. I simply refuse. I do find it funny, however, that Nintendo decided to make 99 percent of weapons in Tears of the Kingdom physically degraded from the moment you pick them up (the only weapons that aren’t are weapons found in The Depths and makeshift weapons like Sticks and, um, Long Sticks). If this isn’t a message to Zelda players saying, “Suck it up, this is the direction we’re going in,” then I don’t know what is.

Tears Of The Kingdom Has Too Many Collectibles

Ben Sledge — Sat, 20 May 2023 15:00:17 GMT

There are 120 Shrines in Breath of the Wild. There are 900 Korok Seeds, and the reward at the end is poo. Literally. Early reports suggest that there are the same number of Koroks hidden across Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom, and 32 more Shrines in the sequel – my guess is that those are in the sky. That’s a lot of things to collect, even if they do level up Link by deepening his pockets or fueling his stamina bar. The trouble with Tears of the Kingdom is, there are loads more things to collect now, too.

Tears Of The Kingdom Should Never Let You Touch The Ground

Ben Sledge — Thu, 18 May 2023 15:30:16 GMT

Tears of the Kingdom has everyone in a tizzy, as we explore Hyrule all over again. While some players are too busy building functional engines or Korok torture devices out of Zonai parts and handy materials, most of us are exploring in a more normal fashion. You know, like in Breath of the Wild.

Tears Of The Kingdom Gives You Freedom, But You Should Do The Main Quest First

Ben Sledge — Mon, 15 May 2023 16:46:15 GMT

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has one hell of a tutorial. If you thought the Great Plateau was good, which most people did, this is on a whole other level. Literally. After a brief introduction with more story content than the entirety of Breath of the Wild, Link finds not awoken from a century-long slumber, but instead transported to the sky.

Tears Of The Kingdom’s Korok Crucifixions Aren’t The Problem, Ultrahand Is

Ben Sledge — Mon, 15 May 2023 16:30:17 GMT

People are crucifying Koroks. The poor little leaf waifs who are strewn across Hyrule’s map, so often stranded helpless and rendered immobile by enormous backpacks filled with goodness-knows-what, are being crucified by Tears of the Kingdom players who are eager to test the limits of the game’s new building ability, Ultrahand.

The Best RPGs For Kids

Gabrielle Huston — Mon, 15 May 2023 15:00:17 GMT

Role-playing games (RPGs) have been thriving in the video game community for generations, now, and every day more and more people are introduced to some of the best RPGs that we have to offer.

Why Does Nintendo Hate Money?

Ben Sledge — Sat, 13 May 2023 14:00:17 GMT

Sometimes I feel like Nintendo hates money. Sure, the Switch is still selling like hot cakes, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are the fourth most popular games in the series. Tears of the Kingdom looks set to break every sales record under the sun, and a new Mario platformer would likely rival it if it was to ever rear its head. So why do I think Nintendo hates money? It’s simple: it could make the Switch into the ultimate Nintendo game system, and yet it simply refuses.

Horizon Forbidden West Has Outsold Zero Dawn, So Why Does It Feel Like A Failure?

Ben Sledge — Wed, 10 May 2023 18:01:15 GMT

PlayStation has just revealed the sales figures for Horizon Forbidden West, and it’s done pretty well. 8.4 million copies well, in fact. That’s no mean feat, and should be considered a great success by all conventional metrics. So why does it feel like a failure?

What Game Freak's Samurai Game Project Bloom Means For Pokemon

Ben Sledge — Wed, 10 May 2023 16:30:16 GMT

In what may be the most surprising news I’ve read in a few months, Game Freak is working on a triple-A samurai game in collaboration with Private Division. Yes, that Game Freak. The ones who did Pokemon and that other Pokemon. Private Division has a more varied roster, publishing games as disparate as The Outer Worlds, Hades, and OlliOlli World.

23 Best RPGs Where You Can Build A Town

Allison Stalberg — Wed, 03 May 2023 17:31:15 GMT

RPGs and city-building games generally occupy wildly different niches. However, crossovers between the two have become increasingly common over the years. And really, what's not to love about it? Maintaining immersive control over a character within an engrossing story is even better when you can build their home from the ground up, if not an entire town.

Citizen Sleeper Is Finally Getting A Tabletop RPG

Ben Sledge — Tue, 02 May 2023 17:00:15 GMT

Citizen Sleeper feels like it was based on a tabletop RPG. In many ways it was, albeit one in creator Gareth Damian Martin’s imagination. The cult indie hit was inspired by many TTRPG mechanics, and Damian Martin was keen to move away from the D&D pigeonhole that video game RPGs often fall into.

Jedi Survivor Looks Great, But Sekiro Made Me Feel One With The Force

Harvey Randall — Mon, 01 May 2023 20:01:15 GMT

Phrases like, 'this game makes you really feel like this thing' get thrown around often, and it’s usually the result of deliberate game design. It’s only natural that Insomniac’s Spider-Man series makes you feel like Spider-Man, or that Rocksteady’s Batman games make you feel like Batman. It’s what those games were designed to do, and therefore the intended power fantasy is evident.

2023 Is The Year Of The RPG

Andrew King — Mon, 01 May 2023 17:30:30 GMT

You can judge how good a year in games is by how much it has to offer for everyone. If a year was great for fighting games and nothing else, it wouldn't be great for me, because the only fighter I've spent significant time with is Super Smash Bros. Last year was a weak year if you're a fan of big triple-A games, with Elden Ring at the beginning, God of War Ragnarok at the end, and little in the middle. When we think of the great years in gaming, there tends to be something for everyone.

Best Potential RPG Adaptations for KDramas

Vanessa Esguerra — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 12:45:15 GMT

We've had RPGs based on animes or visual novels, and vice versa. But Korean Dramas becoming a source material for RPGs isn't a hot conversation people are having unless you count Sweet Home's undeniable influence in the creation of Resident Evil.

CD Projekt Lead Quest Designer Thinks AAA RPG Development Is Hitting A Wall

Lu-Hai Liang — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 11:26:53 GMT

Developing triple-A games is an expensive business. In fact the costs of making the ambitious, story-driven, and visually stunning games that owners of current-gen consoles and powerful PCs expect have been ballooning for years. For example, the graphically impressive The Callisto Protocol reportedly cost $162 million to develop. For longer and more complex RPGs meanwhile the effort and resources required can not only be intensive but lengthy.

17 Best Sci-Fi RPGs, Ranked

Ben Jessey — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:30:15 GMT

Science fiction and role-playing go together like peanut butter and jelly. After all, it's difficult for fans not to want to fantasize about becoming a character like Han Solo or Sarah Connor. But when gamers get lucky, a video game comes along that lets them do that and much, much more.

Why I Fell Off Dragon Age: Inquisition

Ben Sledge — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 17:30:15 GMT

You may remember that I started playing through all of the Dragon Age games last year. Wait, you don’t? It wasn’t that long ago, come on. You’re clearly not as big a fan of TheGamer’s most northern Features Editor as I thought. But anyway, I thought Dragon Age: Origins was outstanding, and the sequel was better than I expected, albeit it didn’t quite match up to its predecessor. I’m simplifying a lot – I must have written dozens of features about the pair over the months it took me to play them – but that’s the gist. Now you’re caught up, and we can jump into the most modern release - Inquisition.

The Cutest RPGs

Tallis Spalding — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 21:00:15 GMT

So many companies these days, AAA especially, are focused on creating games that are hyper-realistic or gritty. This often leaves the market wanting highly stylized works and games you can claim are cute. You're probably going to run across more horror games with cute art styles than you would much else.

Could You Conquer This Pokemon Escape Room ROM Hack?

Ben Sledge — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 18:00:15 GMT

Pokemon’s puzzles have never been too difficult. Maybe you got stuck on the Strength boulders in Ice Path, or struggled to work out the logic of Wallace’s Gym, but you were a child back then. Those kinds of things wouldn’t trouble you now. The Braille to unlock the Regis, on the other hand, was completely unfair, albeit easily solved with the help of the internet or a visually impaired friend.

I Killed 1,000 Cows In The Witcher 3 And Instantly Regretted It

Ben Sledge — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 14:00:15 GMT

I have a few regrets after finishing The Witcher 3. I failed to save Syanna Anna because I didn’t buy some overpriced ribbon from a drug-dealing child. I didn’t play enough Gwent, so my card collection is a little lacking. I was more than happy with my ending, but I’d like to see the others. This is a big game, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten more regrettable decisions than most people have made. But one stands out more than any other. One decision that wasn’t a part of a quest, wasn’t forced upon me, wasn’t some kind of Charlotte’s Choice affair, something I just did. I killed 1,000 cows.

You're Telling Me I Have To Play The Witcher 3 35 More Times?

Ben Sledge — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 16:30:15 GMT

Well that’s it then. I’ve finished The Witcher 3. Sure, it may be half a decade later than the rest of you, but I’ve done it. And I did it properly. I finished Geralt’s adventure (does that not sound like a side-scrolling GBA Witcher game, by the way?) with 78 hours of playtime, after eating up both courses of DLC and starting out deliberately attempting to not play it like a game, and finishing it by spending hours hunting ingredients in order to upgrade my armour.

Citizen Sleeper Purge Review: The End

Ben Sledge — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:01:15 GMT

“You are a part of this place,” refugee spacefarer Peake tells you early in Citizen Sleeper’s third and final DLC, Purge. And, for the first time, I feel it. My Sleeper has always felt like an interloper, an external force trying its best to fix The Eye for the people I care about. But now that Peake, who has been here for less time than I, points out that I’m a part of this ecosystem, I realise they’re right.

The Lord of the Rings: The One Ring TTRPG Respects Tolkien And The Player

Ben Sledge — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 19:00:17 GMT

Any game that builds on the worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien has a tough job. Do you fill in a small gap in Tolkien’s prose like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which explores a period of time that the great fantasy author describes briefly in an almost throwaway line in the Appendices of the book? Or do you play fast and loose with the existing lore in pursuit of making a cool game, like Shadow of Mordor?

Gareth Damian Martin On The Past, Present, And Future Of Citizen Sleeper

Ben Sledge — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 15:30:16 GMT

I chat to Citizen Sleeper developer Gareth Damian Martin over a video call, but it feels more like we’re tucked in a small corner of a bustling cafe. It’s less of an interview and more of a philosophical discussion, and Damian Martin is a talker, answering questions with digressive tangents and discursive ideas - fitting, for the range of life experience they bring to Citizen Sleeper’s team.

The Witcher 4 Needs To Grow Up

Ben Sledge — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 15:30:14 GMT

I’m approaching the endgame of The Witcher 3. It’s almost scary, the proposition that a game this vast, that I’ve practically lived in for the past three months, is coming to an end. I’ve loved the quests, the locations, and even the limited fast travel. Put simply, I don’t want it to end.

20 Years On, Wind Waker’s Bait Is Still The Best Zelda Item

Ben Sledge — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:00:16 GMT

What’s your favourite Zelda item? Okay, if we’re not counting the Hookshot, what’s your favourite item? Right, you’re not quite getting this, the Master Sword doesn’t count, that’s a weapon, not an item. Nope, Ocarinas are off the cards, too. How about your favourite item to only appear in one Zelda game? What, the bloody Gust Jar? Seriously?

The Best Historical RPGs

Alex Siebel — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 14:30:14 GMT

Video games have a long-standing history of allowing you to step into the shoes of someone else in another time and place, allowing you to experience life from a different perspective.

I Never Want The Witcher 3 To End

Ben Sledge — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:30:14 GMT

Last week I told myself I’d knuckle down and finish The Witcher 3. Right after I wrapped up Blood & Wine, that is. Once that whole werewolf-in-Toussaint affair was dealt with, I followed Avallac’h through his portal. I battled giant Starship Troopers-esque crabs and died to the freezing cold of a snowy apocalypse more times than I’d care to admit, then I realised that Dijkstra had asked me a favour. Well, he is an old friend and all…

10 Best RPG Overworlds, Ranked

Cameron Miller — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 13:00:15 GMT

No RPG, and even some of the best platformers, is complete without a fantastic overworld. The classic top-down view has evolved over the years, but what makes an overworld fantastic hasn’t. Sometimes simplicity is really all a game needs, while other times, morphing a simple screen into a sprawling world manages to pay off big time.

Dungeons & Dragons: How To Make Your Homebrew World Feel Alive And Real

Gabrielle Huston — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:46:14 GMT

You have to be a special kind of bananas to decide to write your own Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign. Wizards of the Coast puts out plenty of great premade ones, so why go through the trouble? 'Well,' many people would respond, 'it allows me to be creative and tell my own story!' We absolutely agree. However, it's just a fact that worldbuilding is hard work. It's much harder than it looks and often gets little-to-no credit for its role in supporting a good story.

How Did The Witcher 3 Make Me Care About A Statue's Balls?

Ben Sledge — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 15:00:15 GMT

Last week, I made it my sole goal to finish The Witcher 3. I’ve tarried too long, and frittered away my hours slaying unsuspecting monsters and ticking off unnecessary side quests. There’s nothing wrong with this, per se, but I’ve got new games I want to play, and I want to finish Geralt’s story before moving on or, worse, getting bored.

After Golden Girls, These Are The Sitcoms That Should Be Made Into RPGs

Andrew King — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 15:31:14 GMT

The Golden Girls Take Manhattan DX, releasing later this year, is an RPG that takes Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sofia, transplants them from Miami to the Big Apple, and has them engage in turn-based combat in between accomplishing everyday tasks. The game is inspired by Persona, but it's inspiring me to think about all the other sitcoms that would also work well as role-playing games.

The Witcher 3’s Fast Travel Is Its Most Important Mechanic

Ben Sledge — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 17:00:15 GMT

Recent leaks for BioWare’s Dragon Age: Dreadwolf seem to show it taking cues from The Witcher 3 in its combat and presentation. The next Fable game is reportedly going to be a “Witcher-like”. Assassin’s Creed has repeatedly butchered its original ideas to add open world bloat and unnecessary side quests after the success of CD Projekt Red’s 2015 fantasy RPG. Eight years after its release, The Witcher 3 is still a direct and obvious influence on games in development, but no game since has figured out what made the formula work in the first place.

The Best Multiplayer RPGs Ever

Ben Jessey — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 15:30:00 GMT

The RPG genre has continually provided some of the best experiences in gaming for many years. For instance, the likes of Skyrim, Persona 5, and Fallout 3 are incredible. However, those games, like many others in the genre, have one downside: they don't allow cooperative play.

Best Multiplayer RPGs You Can Play On PS4

Paul DiSalvo — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 22:30:17 GMT

RPGs have been a staple genre of video games since the earliest days of gaming, initially drawing influence from traditional RPGs. As the video game genre evolved, however, unlike traditional tabletop RPGs, the majority of popular RPG video games took the form of single-player experiences. Despite this, there are still many great RPGs that have multiplayer functionality, allowing a game to be played cooperatively with several players.

The Eragon Video Game Taught Me To Play On Easy Mode

Ben Sledge — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:00:16 GMT

I’ve written a lot about my childhood video game memories here at TheGamer. It makes sense, seeing as those formative years spent maxing out the clock on Pokemon Silver and doing very little else have informed who I am today. If you’re an avid Ben Sledge reader, as I’m sure you are, you’ll know that I only played games on my trusty Game Boy Advance for years, finally getting a Wii as a teenager and then an Xbox 360 a few years later.

The Most Underrated Indie RPGs You Can Play On The Switch

Paul DiSalvo — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 21:30:14 GMT

It's no secret that the Nintendo Switch is home to a vast library of indie games. While some of these indie titles are beloved classics and others border closer to shovelware, there are many impressive yet lesser-appreciated indie games on the console.

Why Is Suicune A Dinosaur Now?

Ben Sledge — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 18:30:15 GMT

Paradox Pokemon are a cool concept. I especially like the past forms, shot through time to Pokemon Scarlet, which appear to be some kind of primal versions of the Pokemon we know and love. Unfortunately, I picked Violet, so my Paradox Pokemon are all robots. I like the Mecha-Godzilla vibes of Iron Thorns, and Iron Valiant is a great mix of Gardevoir and Gallade’s design. But overall, the olde timey-wimey monsters are way cooler.

The Witcher 3 Makes Even The Most Boring Tasks Exciting

Ben Sledge — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 16:30:15 GMT

If you’ve ever played Skyrim, you’ll know how dull smithing can be. The constant clink of hammer on anvil will forever haunt my dreams, and the hours of torrential rain pattering on Whiterun’s cobbled streets made me feel cold just by looking at it. My poor Dragonborn must have spent hours hunched over Adrianne’s smithing station, single-handedly paying her mortgage as I crafted armour and leveled up.

The Best RPGs on iOS

Josh Griffiths — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 22:30:14 GMT

The mobile games market is often derided by gamers, known more for its predatory games and cheap licensed titles. But there are actually a lot of great games on iOS, including long-time classics and new games that redefine what mobile gaming can be.

Project Fantasy Isn't Hitman, But I'm Excited For Any Big Swing From IO Interactive

Andrew King — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:30:15 GMT

For years now, rumors have swirled that Hitman creator IO Interactive was quietly working on a fantasy RPG. The Copenhagen-based developer finally confirmed that rumor yesterday with a job listing on Twitter for Project Fantasy, a "bold new online fantasy RPG." This will be fundamentally different from Hitman, the series IO has spent the bulk of the last 23 years working on. But, in many ways, Hitman has prepared IO to make exactly this game.

The 16 Best Pixel Art RPGs

Nico Dagny — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 18:30:15 GMT

Before the delightful world of photo-realistic graphics and an all-too-similar art style, there was pixel art. A time when it didn’t matter if a character looked like three pixels of discernible nothing, and shades of green, red, blue, and yellow were the dominant force.

8 Best Indie RPGs

Gabrielle Huston — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 20:16:16 GMT

Roleplaying games (RPGs) can be polarizing. What defines a role-playing game? A long time ago, roleplaying video games were riffing off of the success of Dungeons and Dragons, so the genre was defined by the similar traits: companions traveling with you, skill trees to develop, a unique character to play. These days, the rules are much blurrier.

The 12 Best Strategy RPGs, Ranked

Jacob Whaling — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 21:13:36 GMT

Strategy RPGs are one of the most popular genres of RPGs, featuring powerhouses in the gaming landscape such as Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics. If strategy RPGs have one thing in common, it's their deep and satisfying gameplay that only gets better as you build out your roster, upgrade your characters, and unlock new abilities.

Best RPGs Where You're Not Saving The World

Seth Parmer — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 21:05:14 GMT

The RPG genre is expansive and varied, offering several sub-genres ranging from turn-based combat to real-time action battle systems and much more, having something for just about any player and playstyle. While most titles are outstanding in the genre, the vast majority center around your party rising up against all odds to save the world or defeat a literal God.

Remembering Pokemon’s Weird Strategy Game Crossover

Ben Sledge — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 16:45:14 GMT

Pokemon has made a lot of weird and wonderful spin-off games. There are games where you play as park rangers, photographers, and even Pokemon themselves, but there is only one that implements wartime strategy mechanics and sees you face off against a murderous warlord.

The Best RPGs To Play On A Small Screen

Jacqueline Zalace — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 15:05:14 GMT

RPGs, or role-playing games, put you in the shoes of the main character, allowing you to form parties, increase your level, and conquer any foe that stands in your way. RPGs are available on a variety of platforms, ranging from PC to the Nintendo DS. Some are more suited for the small screen though, perfect for cozying up with.

Hearts Of Stone Is The Witcher 3 At Its Very Best

Ben Sledge — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 17:00:14 GMT

I only started playing Hearts of Stone because I wanted to level up quickly to wear some new armour. It sounds weird, but the quests around my level just weren’t giving me experience quick enough, so I trotted off to meet Olgierd von Everec before I’d even set sail to the Isle of Mists to rescue Ciri. Little did I know that The Witcher 3’s first expansion would immediately latch its hooks deep into me with a gripping tale of heists, revenge, and giant, poisonous toads.

The Best RPG Maker Games

Ritwik Mitra — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 16:16:13 GMT

There was a time when most people considered RPG Maker to be nothing more than a beginner's tool for solo developers to get a taste of what it felt like to engage in game development before they would move on to more complex software. However, the RPG Maker dev tool is deceptively complex, with most people managing to make some truly incredible games that have stood the test of time as some absolute narrative masterpieces.

Pokemon Fans Are Reimagining Competitive Tournaments

Ben Sledge — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 21:00:15 GMT

Pokemon players descended on Liverpool this weekend for the game’s Regional Championships, all hoping to put in the performance of their lives and get a ticket to the World Championships in Yokohama this summer. They competed in traditional VGC and TCG categories, as well as battling it out in Pokemon Go, which comes with its own positives and pitfalls.

Five Star Re-Review: Fable 2 - A Beautiful, Bizarre Look At What Could Have Been

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 18:20:52 GMT

Fable 2 may have been a hit in 2008, but something seems to have stopped it from earning its place in gaming history. It's not too surprising, I suppose. Fable games are always kind of odd. They’re more linear and simplistic than other RPGs of the time, yet also more awkward, a little unwieldy and all over the place. Playing through it in 2023, the second entry in the series has only gotten stranger. It feels like it was boldly predicting a future for the genre that just never came to be.

The Witcher 3’s Novigrad Might Be The Best Video Game City Of All Time

Ben Sledge — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 18:00:14 GMT

If you hadn’t realised by now, TheGamer has once again been gripped by the throes of Witcherdom, specifically the current-gen upgrade variant, the symptoms of which are nicer reflections and better frame rates. I’ve bounced off The Witcher 3 what feels like a hundred times before, but once I finally got past the Griffin (yes, I didn’t even pass the tutorial on my previous attempts), it has well and truly sunk its talons into me.

How I Afflicted Geralt With The Witcher 3’s Worst Curse Imaginable

Ben Sledge — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 15:00:15 GMT

The Witcher 3 is full of curses, and Geralt of Rivia faces a wide range of foes, from greedy gangsters to mythical creatures with terrifying, and deadly, designs. 20 hours into my playthrough, however, I realised that his most fearsome foe is no beast or baron, but a being capable of wreaking terrible curses upon his head, and charging him for the pleasure. I am, of course, talking about the barbers of The Continent. Their curses? Haircuts. The price? Unthinkable. Or ten crowns.

The Witcher 3 Has Too Many Quests

Ben Sledge — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 18:30:14 GMT

I’ve never been more glad that I haven’t bounced off a game than I am with The Witcher 3. I’ve tried to play this game countless times on various platforms, and only made it past the Griffin tutorial once. Even that time, I’m pretty sure I didn’t make it out of White Orchard. I fully expected to bounce off the current-gen update, too, but it’s finally stuck. The addition of ray tracing is nice, but hasn’t kept me playing, and while I’m turning into a bit of a frame rate snob with performance mode, I doubt that’s the reason either. It’s just… sticking.

The Best Visual Novels With RPG Elements

Rebecca Timberlake — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 14:30:14 GMT

RPGs and visual novels are usually not combined in a single game because they imply very different gameplay. When they are combined, it can be clunky or awkward to navigate the game, or the balance is so uneven that it doesn’t feel like a visual novel with RPG elements at all.

Games Similar To Blacktail

Brandon Moore — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:45:14 GMT

Blacktail is a mystical adventure from start to finish. You play the role of Baba Yaga. This is a girl accused of witchcraft and forced to leave her home due to the accusations. The myth of Baba Yaga is one cemented in history, but you'll play through it and craft your own version in Blacktail.

The Best JRPGs On Switch (According To Metacritic)

Stephen Lagioia — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 21:31:13 GMT

It's been a while since a Nintendo home console has had such a strong showing of role-playing games, and the Switch could be on pace to have one of the best, most diverse RPG lineups ever. From blocky Minecraft builders to dungeon crawlers to epic, grandiose adventures, there are a plethora of JRPG options to choose from on Switch, both new and old.

6 Hardest Turn-Based RPGs Of All Time

Jouanna Bondakji — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 15:05:14 GMT

Those who aren't fans of the turn-based gameplay style in RPGs usually say they're boring and repetitive rather than challenging. On the contrary, a well done turn-based system finds a balance between fun and challenge. There are strategies you have to think about in your battles, especially because the game isn't afraid to throw powerful enemies at you with no warning.

The Best RPGs From 2022

Noah Hunter — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 17:30:14 GMT

2022 proved to be a mighty year for RPG fans. With so many titles available, at times it was hard to keep up with the amount of new releases. Long-awaited titles hit the market in 2022, and even new titles that no one expected.

Pokemon #1,000: A Review

Ben Sledge — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 16:45:13 GMT

There are now over 1,000 Pokemon. Catching ‘em all has never been more difficult. Or, at least, it would be if we had a National ‘Dex in the modern games. I’m not getting into that whole debate again (Dexit was a good decision, fight me), but if you’re trying to get yourself a full living ‘Dex in Pokemon Home or something, you’ve got your work cut out. Arceus help those of you trying to catch every form of Pokemon on top of the 1,008 monsters already out there – the God Pokemon itself has 18 forms, let alone the likes of Vivillon, which has 20, all dependent on your IRL region when you catch it. Alcremie has 63.

When Did Everyone In Pokemon Get So Rich?

Ben Sledge — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 17:30:14 GMT

I remember the days when all your Pokemon protagonist had was a two-room house with a telly, a fridge, and a bed. I assume your mom slept on the couch, or maybe you top and tailed in the one bedroom? When you move to Hoenn, you’re taking the trip in the back of the removal van, which is not only highly illegal but also shows that you don’t have the cash for a inter-regional taxi. Your mom is already unpacking your stuff when you arrive, with the help of some friendly Machoke, so I assume she rode in the cab and you were just trapped in the trailer by large cardboard boxes.

Most Anticipated RPGs Coming 2023

TheGamer Staff — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 23:30:13 GMT

If you're a fan of massive RPGs, then 2023 should have you hyped beyond belief. Not only are we getting Skyrim in space, we're finally getting a new Final Fantasy game. (We've been waiting ages for this one.) We here at TheGamer are particularly fond of the kind of experiences a good RPG can give us, which is why next year has many of us excited.

The Witcher 3 PS5 Update Overtakes Elden Ring As Highest Rated Open-World RPG

Lu-Hai Liang — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 18:12:42 GMT

While Elden Ring has been the breakout game of this year as it sold millions of copies to the surprise of its developer FromSoftware, and has been garlanded with the Game of the Year title from The Game Awards, it's a 2015 game that has come to usurp its position as the most highly regarded open-world RPG.

I’m Ready To Bounce Off The Witcher 3 Again, This Time With Ray Tracing

Ben Sledge — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 17:30:14 GMT

The Witcher 3 is a game that seems like it was made for me. I’m a Lord of the Rings nerd to the extreme – my annual Tolkien rereads outnumber my Rings tattoos – and love the fantasy genre well beyond the OG. From your Gaimans and Pratchetts to Jemsins and Kuangs, you name it, I’ve read it.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Battles Are Underwhelming After Galar’s Stadium Fights

Ben Sledge — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 16:00:15 GMT

Some of my favourite Pokemon memories are battles in playgrounds. Whether slamming my Dark Celebi card down on the lunch table with more gusto than sense, or stretching a Link Cable between benches to unleash my Jolteon’s Thunderbolts through the ether, battling was always a good time. Reenacting my childhood in Scarlet & Violet should have been a nice dose of nostalgia – a currency that Pokemon banks on more than ever in Generation 9 – but I can’t help feeling underwhelmed.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Make Jolteon The New Thundurus

Ben Sledge — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 18:00:14 GMT

I love new Pokemon games. As well as the joy of exploring a new region and catching brand new monsters, once I’ve finished the game there’s a whole new meta of PvP battling. In the brief period before Pokemon Home comes online and the Pokedex is expanded, there’s a beautiful sweet spot. People use suboptimal Pokemon and try wacky combos because the top tier monsters aren’t available yet.

The Best Tabletop RPG Dice To Give As Gifts For Holiday 2022

Matt Arnold — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 00:45:13 GMT

Tabletop gamers, in general, love dice. From Dungeons & Dragons to Warhammer and even Magic: The Gathering, dice are much more than a gameplay tool or status tracker. They're a personality statement! Walk into any game store, and you'll find someone looking for the set of dice that perfectly captures their RPG character, or matches the paint scheme of their tabletop army.

Temtem’s Showdown Mode Is The Next Evolution Of Pokemon’s Rental Teams

Ben Sledge — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 16:30:20 GMT

Rental teams revolutionised competitive Pokemon battling. While committed players could still breed perfect IVs and grind out precise EV spreads, they could also share those hard-earned teams with others through rental codes. This allowed time-poor trainers to simply input a code and use a powerful team in competitive battles. Some tournaments even allowed rental teams, albeit not official VGC competition.

The Best Platformers With RPG Elements

William Antonio Quick — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 19:05:14 GMT

Platformers and RPGs could not be more different in terms of gameplay. The former is made to be fast-paced and engaging, while the latter tends to be slower and more immersive. Even with this in mind, there are designers who have had ideas to combine these two genres in one game.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Prove That Quick Balls Are The GOAT

Ben Sledge — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 17:46:13 GMT

Quick Balls have always been the best Poke Ball in every possible way. Firstly, I’d like you to just look at it please. What a design. The bold colours, the zigzagging yellow cutting across its blue surface like lightning on a summer’s day. Then there’s its effectiveness, but I’ll come onto that later.

The Next Pokemon Games Should Be HD2D

Ben Sledge — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 17:15:13 GMT

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet look terrible. They’re the worst looking Pokemon games ever made, and I’m including the weird Wii-era spin offs like Pokemon Rumble in that description. That’s a game where the Pokemon themselves are mechanical bastardisations of the monsters you know and love, by the way.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Legendary Twist Changes The Game

Ben Sledge — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 17:15:15 GMT

Major story spoilers for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet ahead. Beware.

Completing The Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Pokedex Is Still The Most Fun Challenge

Ben Sledge — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 21:00:14 GMT

I must be the last one of my friends to complete the Pokedex in Scarlet & Violet. All my pals are currently running around with their shiny charm, hunting miscoloured monsters and showing off in group chats. I haven’t found a single shiny yet, although to be fair I haven’t hunted, but I’m finally making some progress on my ‘dex.

Competitive Pokemon Community Considering “Nuclear Option” Of Banning Terastallising

Ben Sledge — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 19:00:14 GMT

Competitive Pokemon is a serious business. The World Championship has grown from being hosted in small hotel function rooms back in the early ‘00s, to filling convention centres and taking over the whole city of London earlier this year. It may not have the prestige of Dota 2’s The International or League of Legends’ World Championship, but it’s on its way to being one of the biggest events of the esports calendar.

Pokemon Players Don’t Know How To Raid

Ben Sledge — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 17:30:14 GMT

I didn’t want to write this article. Honestly, I didn’t. But you’ve forced my hand. Yes, you. What were you doing in that Raid? Torkoal? Are you serious? You’re the reason we lost. And now I have to log into my silly little job and sit in my silly little gamer chair and write a silly little article about you. You, too. All of you. Look what you made me do, all because none of you know how to tackle Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Raids.

I Was Wrong About Team Star

Ben Sledge — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 20:00:14 GMT

Coming into Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, I wasn’t sold on Team Star. The evil teams have got significantly worse over the years, to the point where neither Team Skull nor Team Yell were the true villains of their respective stories. I’d love Pokemon to further explore how massive corporations and business conglomerates like the Aether Foundation and Macro Cosmos are the true evil of our world, but Gen 9 has given us rowdy schoolchildren again instead.

Where Are Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Special Attackers?

Ben Sledge — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:16:14 GMT

Before I took on the Pokemon League in Scarlet & Violet, I wanted to finalise my team. I had five slots nailed down, and needed one more monster. It had to cover my weaknesses, add something new, and, most importantly, look cool. Not necessarily cool as in Tyranitar or Houndoom, it could be a cute lil’ guy, but I had to like the design. That couldn’t be that hard, right?

Every Ys Game From Worst To Best, Ranked

Renan Fontes — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 19:30:14 GMT

Ys is a groundbreaking series. Not only is it one of the most vital RPG series in the entire gaming medium, but it is also one of the more obscure, at least outside of Japan. For whatever reason, Ys never fully took off in the west, even in the face of consistent localizations throughout most of its run.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Larry Is My Spirit Animal

Ben Sledge — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 17:30:14 GMT

Being a Gym Leader must be great. It was always my dream as a kid, and to some extent still is now. Electric, if you’re interested. Jolteon my ace. Eelektross to stop challengers running through me with a Ground-type, or Zapdos if they’ll let me. Rotom-Wash for similar versatility, and – providing I’m a regular Gym Leader with no Legendaries allowed – Vikavolt and Electivire earn a place. My biggest surprise is Pincurchin setting up that terrain as my lead. Yes, that’s a team of six, as all Gym Leaders should have, and yes this is very much still my dream.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Desperately Need Level Scaling

Ben Sledge — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 16:01:13 GMT

One of the first things your battle-obsessed rival Nemona says to you is that she’s going to use what essentially amounts to her ‘noob team’ to face you. You’re a new trainer, after all, so it’s only fair. As it happened, my Fuecoco could have taken out her Sprigatito even if it was 12 levels higher, but that’s her fault for picking the starter weak to mine.

Best RPGs That Turn 10 Years Old In 2023

Alpay Dedezade — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 21:05:14 GMT

2013 was an exciting time for video games, as the arrival of the PS4 and Xbox One carried the huge potential for new gaming experiences. Initially, their launch lineups left a lot to be desired for fans of huge RPGs, as some games struggled to bridge the gap between the previous and newer generations. This left a lot of room for more unique games to get the attention they deserved.

Pokemon’s Titan Storyline Is Surprisingly Beautiful

Ben Sledge — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 21:00:15 GMT

Spoilers throughout for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Titan storyline. You have been warned.

I'll Never Replay Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

Ben Sledge — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 17:16:13 GMT

Anyone who loves Pokemon games will tell you their favourite, and most people will also tell you their least favourite. I’ll wager that their favourite is usually the one they first played as a kid – mine is, or at least the remake of that game is – and their least favourite is Sword & Shield because everyone loves to hate it, and unfairly overlook its qualities.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Version Differences: Why I Want To Buy Both Copies

Ben Sledge — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 18:00:14 GMT

Pokemon games have had two versions since time immemorial. Red & Blue. Gold & Silver. Scarlet & Violet. You get the picture. As a kid, you had to make the excruciatingly difficult decision of picking which one to get, and if you’re anything like me, usually based your decision on which one sounded cooler.

Ghostwire: Tokyo Elevates Horror Gaming’s Greatest Asset

Ben Sledge — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 17:00:13 GMT

In many ways, Ghostwire: Tokyo feels like a double-A title for the PlayStation 2. It’s got a unique mechanic that twists the usual conventions of a first person shooter in its spirit weaving, the story is largely inconsequential to allow that mechanic to shine, and it’s got those horror tropes that so many double-As lean into. The most obvious of those, other than the regular appearance of Yokai that is, is the fog.

Lingering Questions We Have After The End Of Omori

Christopher Padilla — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 17:46:14 GMT

Indie psychological horror RPG Omori is a ride. Inspired by the likes of Earthbound and Yume Nikki, the game tackles deep issues like isolation, alienation, and grief in a story that encompasses a fantasy realm and the real world left behind.

The Best RPGs Where You Can Be Evil

Mitchel Rayner — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 15:15:13 GMT

Let's face it: everyone has a bit of an evil side to them. Thankfully, video games have provided gamers with an avenue to let out all of their little aggressions throughout the day, by evolving past the days of “play as the hero as you attempt to defeat evil and save the day” and letting you live out the other side.

This RPG Marathon Stream Just Raised $100,000 For A Mental Health Charity

Sean Murray — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:39:52 GMT

RPG Limit Break, an RPG speedrun marathon, has wrapped up after reaching its goal of raising $100,000 for charity ($102,839.42 to be precise). The annual event raised money for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), An organization that advocates for mental health awareness, provide educational information about different types of mental illness, and offers a toll-free mental health hotline to offer a lifeline for those struggling with mental illness.

The Best Single Player Tabletop RPGs

Zackary Wiggs — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 01:45:14 GMT

Sitting down at a table with your friends for game night is such a great experience. Sadly, things sometimes get in the way of everyone being there. There are times when you'll find yourself wanting to dive into a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) but find that you're the only one at the table.

Chinese Authorities Are Now Looking To Regulate LARP Games

Lu-Hai Liang — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 11:53:36 GMT

Live-action role-playing is fast gaining popularity in China, with the hobby especially trendy among younger, urban Chinese. But since this surge, which one analysis estimates as generating $2.8 billion in revenue last year, it appears the authorities have begun taking more notice of LARPing and is seeking to regulate it.

RPGs With The Best Job Systems

Leah Isobel — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 13:06:12 GMT

One of the great pleasures of an RPG is how your party grows as you play; you start with a motley crew of strangers, but by the end of the game, you've seen them develop into close friends and companions. This emotional arc is created through exploration, story progression, and battling - often through a great job system.

Video Game Protagonists Who Deserve A Long Sleep

Sachi Go — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 20:05:13 GMT

It takes a lot of energy to be the main character. When you get dubbed the protagonist, you immediately get thrown into a swirl of twists, turns, and endless plot progression. How can a story be interesting if nothing happens to you?

Disco Elysium Is Bigger Than Its Auteur Creators

Ben Sledge — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:24:41 GMT

Disco Elysium is a masterpiece. It’s an RPG that changed the game for text-based narratives and political commentary in the medium, and is constantly named as one of the best PC games ever made, as well as being cited as the inspiration for countless more. This weekend, however, Studio ZA/UM founder and Disco Elysium editor Martin Luiga published an explosive blog post which detailed, first and foremost, the dissolution of “the ZA/UM Cultural Association,” an organisation entirely separate from the game studio. The association appears to be the developers’ original name for their collective of creatives, a place for ideas and discussion that the developer ZA/UM, in their minds, no longer represents.

Petition For Cyberpunk 2077's Second Expansion Gets 10,000 Signatures In One Day

Vlad Mazanko — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:18:05 GMT

Fans are eager for more Cyberpunk 2077 content, even before the game has received its only planned Phantom Liberty expansion. There is already a fan petition to release a second story DLC, with over 10,000 people signed in just one day.