Our 10 Most Anticipated RPGs Of Fall 2017

No games can craft immersive worlds or tell complex stories quite like RPGs. This year has already seen some fantastic entries in the genre, like Persona 5 and Yakuza 0 – not to mention titles like Horizon: Zero Dawn and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which heavily adapt and incorporate RPG elements. Even with all of the hours you could spend playing those games, the remainder of 2017 still has some standout RPGs to be excited about. Whether you want a sequel, a brand new property, or a reason to revisit an old favorite, you'll find something to love in this list of our 10 most anticipated RPGs for the coming fall and holiday season.

10. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Release: Fall 2017

Dragon’s Dogma is one of the most under-appreciated RPGs of the last generation, but hopefully a release on modern consoles will open this unique adventure up to a new audience. This version contains the base game and the Dark Arisen expansion, which includes tons of great content. The combat system has you grappling with massive mythological beasts and developing your character in interesting ways. The innovative Pawn system gives you community-created characters as your allies. Plus, without spoiling too much, you just have to see the ending to believe it. If you haven’t played Dragon’s Dogma yet, this is your chance to fix that problem.

9. Pokémon Ultra Sun & Moon
Platforms: 3DS
Release: November 17

No matter how many times old Pokémon games are modified and re-released, we can’t get enough of this franchise’s time-tested formula. Information on this new iteration is still slim, but it’s probably safe to assume that it adds new elements to the core of the excellent Pokémon Sun & Moon. We know that the Ultra versions have an alternate story taking place in the Sun & Moon world, and that they incorporate Pokémon that were not in the original game – and that’s enough to get us excited.

8. Yakuza Kiwami
Platforms: PS4
Release: August 29

Earlier this year, Yakuza 0 finally captured the mainstream attention that had previously eluded this series in North America. So, now you’re hooked on Yakuza and you want more? Sega has you covered with Yakuza Kiwami, which is a remake of the very first PS2 entry – which is set 10 years after the events of Yakuza 0 in the series’ timeline. Not only does Yakuza Kiwami look better, but it also modernizes the brawling combat system to feel more like Yakuza 0, all while including plenty of bizarre moments and side activities that distinguish the series.

7. Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
Platforms: 3DS
Release: October 6

Drawing on previous titles like Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga used clever writing and new mechanics to put a new RPG spin on Nintendo’s classic characters. That was in 2003, but now players can revisit that original adventure thanks to this upcoming rerelease. In addition to the core game, this new version also contains the Minion Quest mode – a parallel storyline where players control the bad guys as they search for Bowser. With other modern conveniences (like Amiibo support), this looks like a great way for new players and old fans to experience Superstar Saga.

6. Golf Story
Platforms: Switch
Release: 2017

Prepare to trade your spiked clubs for golf clubs, role-playing fans. Though Golf Story’s unconventional premise may not be what we expect from the genre, it has all the trappings and progression of a satisfying RPG. You buy new equipment, upgrade your character, explore towns, and solve puzzles that often involve hitting golf balls in various circumstances. The unique story and retro aesthetic give Golf Story an appeal similar to games like Stardew Valley – but with fewer chores.

5. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
Platforms: PS4, Vita, PC
Release: September 12

Nihon Falcom’s long-running Ys series returns, with Adol Christin shipwrecked on a cursed island. Players must survive this harsh environment, building up a base from nothing and recruiting a roster of allies who assist in combat or day-to-day operations. The action-focused combat has you assessing and exploiting enemy weakness by swapping to party members with the appropriate abilities, and the boss fights will push your skills to the limit. You can read our hands-on impressions in this Grind Time column, but here's the short version: Even if you’ve never played the Ys games before, put this one on your radar.

4. Divinity: Original Sin II
Platforms: PC
Release: September 14

Larian Studios breathed new life into isometric RPGs with Divinity: Original Sin, and now the sequel is building on that foundation. Divinity: Original Sin II retains the complex systems that promote strategic thinking on the battlefield, including an emphasis on elemental interactions. Co-op now supports four players, so even more friends can get in on the action, or you can go head-to-head against other players in PvP arenas. If you manage to get through all of that content, you can still use the game’s tools to create your own adventures and keep the game going.

3. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Platforms: Switch
Release: Holiday 2017

Nintendo’s last two consoles each had a Xenoblade title, and the trend is continuing on Switch later this year. Like its predecessors, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 features a sci-fi setting and massive environments to explore. Gigantic creatures called Titans hold what remains of civilization on their backs, and you see this unique world through the eyes of Rex – a warrior whose abilities are enhanced by other characters he encounters. An action-based combat system aims to keep you engaged as you roam the vast expanse of Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

2. Battle Chasers: Nightwar
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release: October 3

You don’t need to be familiar with the comic book source material to appreciate the world and mechanics at play in Battle Chasers: Nightwar. This adventure is being created at developer Airship Syndicate, which is composed of many former Vigil Games staff (the studio behind Darksiders). Battle Chasers: Nightwar is inspired by traditional Japanese RPGs, and features turn-based combat, isometric dungeon delving, and story-driven journey brought to life with a unique visual style.

1. South Park: The Fractured but Whole
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release: October 17

The biting satire and crude humor of South Park was successfully transmuted into an RPG in South Park: The Stick of Truth. While that first installment focused on more traditional fantasy elements, the sequel has the gang riding the wave of superhero stardom in a plot that lampoons Marvel’s Civil War storyline. If you want accessible RPG mechanics combined with irreverent South Park charm, you’ll find it here. Warring factions, absurd characters, and more sophisticated gameplay make The Fractured But Whole our most anticipated role-playing title in the latter part of the year.

Which RPGs are you most looking forward to? Share your thoughts in the comments below!