The 10 Best RPGs of 2023

2023 was undoubtedly one of the greatest years for video games in quite some time, with a calendar stacked from start to end with a new landmark title arriving almost weekly and several franchises receiving long-awaited follow-ups or sequels. One of the more unexpected surprises of 2023, though, is the sheer amount of incredible RPG experiences that were on offer, with the genre seemingly in the full swing of a renaissance. Not only did Baldur’s Gate 3 win both the Game of the Year and RPG of the Year honors at The Game Awards, but it’s brought tons of attention to the sometimes niche CRPG subgenre.


Between excellent CRPGs, JRPGs, and action-RPGs, the role-playing genre had a banner year in 2023, as evidenced by just how difficult it is to narrow down a selection of its best games. Aside from the highly-anticipated follow-up to two of the most-beloved CRPGs of all time, players also had an incredible indie RPG featuring talent from the Chrono Trigger team, a slew of excellent Soulslikes to represent the action-RPG subgenre, and even some surprise remakes that showcase how well the genre’s classics have aged in the modern era. In alphabetical order, these are The 10 Best RPGs of 2023.

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Baldur’s Gate 3

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Baldur’s Gate 3 is a triumph in every sense of the term, representing the culmination of Larian Studios’ years of hard work and creative vision to see the Baldur’s Gate franchise (which BioWare introduced to the world) return to prominence. The game’s combat sandbox is essentially peerless, affording players an unprecedented level of creativity and flexibility with how they approach encounters, and the same can be said of its character interactions and dialogue. And, the lengths that the game goes to have players care about the characters, from Baldur’s Gate 3‘s romances to simple NPCs, as well as providing representation and a voice to the voiceless is the stuff from which the greatest RPGs of all time are made. Truly a once-in-a-generation experience, and where Larian goes from here is heavy with potential for greatness.

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Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a Dungeons and Dragons inspired RPG developed and published by Larian Studios. Featuring both a single player and cooperative element, players create their character by selecting a starting class, take on quests, level up, and engage in turn-based combat using the D&D 5th edition rule set.

Franchise
Baldur’s Gate

Released
August 3, 2023

ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence

How Long To Beat
30 Hours

Metascore
96

Cassette Beasts

cassette beasts overworld abilities

Cassette Beasts is an impressive take on the monster-taming RPG made all the more astounding thanks to it coming from an independent studio. It’s not often that games come along to play Pokemon at its own game, and that Cassette Beasts understands so well what makes a great monster-collecting game and a turn-based RPG is a testament to the talents of its developer. Cassette Beasts‘ types follow a similar structure to Pokemon, but the rest is of the game is its own. The world is rich and bursting with brilliantly characterized NPCs, the story is solid, the monsters themselves feature excellent designs and mechanics, and the combat is supremely satisfying and engaging, requiring players to thoroughly strategize which of their Cassette Beasts they prioritize in encounters.

cassette beasts

Cassette Beasts

Bytten Studio’s Cassette Beasts is a monster-taming RPG with a turn-based combat system. Set on a peculiar island, players join the Rangers as they seek to help the local community while also investigating the world’s mysteries. In battle, Rangers can not only transform into monsters but also fuse together to create an extra-strong beast. 

Released
April 26, 2023

Developer(s)
Bytten Studio

ESRB
E10+ For Everybody 10+ due to Fantasy Violence

How Long To Beat
18 Hours

Metascore
84

Final Fantasy 16

final fantasy 16 clive fire

For all the ways that the game boldly takes a step forward for the franchise in exciting new directions, Final Fantasy 16 is one of the most “Final Fantasy“-feeling games in the franchise in years. Yes, the game abandons turn-based combat in favor of a character action system, but the quality of its new encounter design speaks volumes. Fighting enemies and bosses is both fluid and fun, and the emphasis on action fits the game’s rollercoaster of a narrative perfectly. Aside from its drastically different approach to combat, the story, characters, and lore at the core of Final Fantasy 16 present it as one of the most compelling games of the year, and the Eikon battles are one of 2023’s greatest gaming spectacles.

final fantasy 16

Final Fantasy 16

Final Fantasy 16 is an action RPG developed by Square Enix. Set in the land of Valisthea, six different factions are on the brink of war due to a spreading disease known as the Blight. Much of the plot revolves around summoned monsters called Eikons, who are controlled by unique humans called Dominants. 

Released
June 22, 2023

Genre(s)
Action RPG

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

How Long To Beat
36 Hours

Metascore
87

Lies of P

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Developer Neowiz accomplished something many thought was impossible, which is to produce a Soulslike game that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the titles in FromSoftware’s catalog. Mixing elements of both Bloodborne and the classic fairy tale of Pinocchio, Lies of P is one of the best Soulslikes and ARPGs of 2023. The combat is punishing yet precise, the flexibility in builds and outfitting Pinocchio gives reason for multiple playthroughs, the story is compelling, and its boss encounters are some of the most intense white-knuckle encounters on offer from any game this year.

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Lies of P

Neowiz’s Lies of P is a Soulslike based on Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio. Set in Krat, the eponymous puppet finds themselves going up against a range of mechanical enemies that now roam this city’s once lively streets. Lies of P has multiple endings, a crafting system, and a wide range of weapon types.

Released
September 19, 2023

Developer(s)
Round8 Studio , Neowiz

Genre(s)
Soulslike

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Violence

How Long To Beat
20 Hours

Metascore
84

Octopath Traveler 2

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While other RPG franchises opted for 2023 to be the year that they pushed the envelope and evolved their respective series, Octopath Traveler 2 definitively looks to the past while also honoring and simply refining everything that worked in the original. Not only does the gameplay harken back to a simpler bygone era of RPG design, but the title delivers what is quite possibly the most beautiful use of the HD-2D art style that the first Octopath Traveler pioneered. It genuinely feels like a game that could have been released on the SNES were it not for its stunning visual presentation. Much like its predecessor, Octopath Traveler 2 is pure classic RPG mechanics wrapped up in an appealing package, and it improves the few weaknesses of the original to be the best game in the fledgling series.

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Octopath Traveler 2

The next installment in the Octopath Traveler series sees eight new adventurers setting out across the lands of Solistia to make their mark on the world. Developer Square Enix and Acquire unveil new and exciting 2D and 3D visuals for this expansive traditional RPG.

Franchise
Octopath Traveler

Released
February 24, 2023

ESRB
Rated T for Teen for Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, and Use of Alcohol and Tobacco.

How Long To Beat
60 Hours

Metascore
84

Remnant 2

Remnant 2 - Example Of Multiplayer Lobby

Building on the proof of concept provided by its predecessor, Remnant 2 is an excellent ARPG and Soulslike that features a unique implementation of third-person shooting and emphasis on cooperative play. Few of the RPGs on this list are playable as anything other than solo ventures, so to have one of the best games in the genre be one built around squading up with friends is a pleasant surprise. Remnant 2 provides nearly limitless build options thanks to its use of hybrid class couplings, and the amount of gear and weapons it’s possible to uncover (as well as its excellent use of procedural generation) give plenty of incentive to keep coming back long after beating the game for the first time. RPGs tend to be longer experiences by nature, but one could legitimately spend hundreds of hours in Remnant 2.

remnant 2 game

Remnant 2

The sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes, Gunfire’s Remnant 2 is a Soulslike RPG that primarily plays like a third-person shooter. Focusing on co-op while still supporting single-player, the game features hard-as-nails bosses, an upgrade system, multiple classes with their own abilities, and dynamically generated dungeons that enhance replayability.

Released
July 25, 2023

Publisher(s)
Gearbox Publishing

Genre(s)
Soulslike , Third-Person Shooter

ESRB
M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence

How Long To Beat
20 Hours

Metascore
85

Sea of Stars

Garl offers comfort on the journey to Valere and Zale

Although name-dropping influences is a great way for indie developers to summarize what players can expect in an upcoming title, there’s always the danger of those same influences setting an unrealistic bar for the eventual release to meet. From its reveal and the launch of its Kickstarter campaign, Sea of Stars has always very proudly displayed its love and reverence for the RPGs from Square’s 16-bit “golden era” front and center. Sea of Stars channels all of this into its characters, combat, world design, story, and so much more. A lesser developer trying to match up with the likes of Chrono Trigger may have crumbled under that kind of pressure, but The Messenger developer Sabotage Studios proved to be more than up to the task, delivering one of the best classically-styled RPGs in years. Ultimately, Sea of Stars succeeds by embracing the charm and heart of the genre’s all-time greats, cementing its place among them in earnest.

sea of stars game 2023

Sea of Stars

Set in the same world as 2018’s The Messenger, Sabotage Studio’s Sea of Stars is an RPG that takes inspiration from Japanese classics like Chrono Trigger. Featuring a dynamic turn-based combat system and platforming-based exploration, Sea of Stars is an ambitious and gorgeous addition to the role-playing genre.

Released
August 29, 2023

Developer(s)
Sabotage

Publisher(s)
Sabotage

ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language

How Long To Beat
28 Hours

Metascore
87

Star Ocean: The Second Story R

Star Ocean 2 Ernest possessed by a ghost

One of the more excellent releases from the latter half of 2023 is the remake of the beloved PS1 classic Star Ocean: The Second Story. Star Ocean: The Second Story R is about as close to a perfect remake as a developer can get, embracing all the brilliance of the original title while also breathing new life into it through visual upgrades, quality-of-life features, and some adjustments to its mechanics and systems. The plot and cast of characters still stand as perhaps the best in the entire Star Ocean series, and the real-time combat is made all the more engaging thanks to a refreshed Skill system and emphasis on recruiting the ideal characters for the adventuring party. Aside from being an excellent game in its own right, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is perhaps the perfect template for more PS1-era RPG remakes.

Starfield

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Starfield is one of 2023’s best RPGs and a truly impressive sandbox in which to live out any number of different space-faring fantasies. Like Bethesda’s other RPG franchises Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, where Starfield succeeds as an RPG is in letting players have nearly unprecedented freedom and variety in how they craft their character’s story through exploration and moment-to-moment gameplay. Playing Starfield presents any number of viable options. It’s possible to become a double-crossing pirate, establish a homestead on an uninhabited planet, or be one of the galaxy’s peace-keepers and maintain justice in a zero-gravity version of the Wild West. Starfield excels at letting players try their hand at a variety of scenarios that would otherwise be impossible, and that’s precisely what the RPG genre is all about.

starfield game

Starfield

Developed by Bethesda Game Studios, Starfield is a sci-fi action role-playing game where players interact with multiple factions, engage in combat, customize their main character and ship, as well as explore a universe that features over 100 systems and 1,000 planets.

Released
September 6, 2023

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence

How Long To Beat
20 Hours

Metascore
86

Super Mario RPG

Super Mario RPG combat

As if one excellent remake of a classic RPG weren’t enough, 2023 also gifted players with the surprise of a Super Mario RPG remake. The predecessor to the excellent Paper Mario games, Super Mario RPG was an interesting collaboration between Square and Nintendo that released late in the SNES’ lifecycle, prompting the game to become somewhat of a collector’s item down the line. With many people missing out on one of the SNES’ greatest RPGs (no small feat given the caliber of titles in the genre on the hardware), Nintendo’s decision to update the game and bring it to a wider audience is an excellent move that all players benefit from, regardless of whether they’ve played the original. The mechanics are easy to understand, the combat is fun and engaging, and the Mario universe and characters are tailor-made for being the cast of their own RPG.

super mario rpg remake

Super Mario RPG

A remake of 1996’s Legend of the Seven Stars, Super Mario RPG revamps the franchise’s first role-playing game to make it as accessible as possible for a modern audience. The game utilizes a turn-based combat system reminiscent of old-school JRPGs, one that allows three characters to form a party. Outside of fights, Super Mario RPG features platforming, puzzles, and a more involved story than a traditional Mario game.

Released
November 17, 2023

Developer(s)
Nintendo

Publisher(s)
Nintendo

ESRB
E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence

How Long To Beat
11 Hours