2021 was a solid year in gaming, but now it's drawing to a close with players eagerly anticipating what the latest generation of games will bring in 2022. Of the various popular genres, RPGs had an especially good year across all platforms.
Meanwhile, the likes of Elden Ring and Final Fantasy XVI are two of the big fantasy-themed RPGs coming up, but what 2021 and earlier years gave players will be plenty going into 2022 to make the wait bearable. The genre is ripe for high and low/dark-fantasy games, and the variety on hand for modern fantasy RPGs is already deep.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt still makes a strong case for best fantasy RPG. This adaptation of author Andrej Sapkowski's dark-fantasy world put the franchise on the international map and is still celebrated for its dense and enthralling world, stories, and characters.
The main questline provides a sprawling story with plenty of content as is, but the side quests and equally-acclaimed DLC expansions give The Witcher 3 even more depth, especially in how it tackles grounded themes and moral grays. Fans with a PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or the latest PC graphics cards will likely want to wait for next year's remaster, but it's currently available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and an impressive Switch port.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bethesda's re-releases of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim feels like a tradition by now, but the modern remasters/ports keep it a worthwhile fantasy RPG to get deeply immersed in. It holds up today, despite originally coming from the PS3/360 generation, and is also one of the best RPGs for beginners.
There's plenty of lore to dig into, side quests to get lost in, and a fluid character build system that gives the game endless replay value. Skyrim is available (on modern systems) for PS4, XBO, PC, Switch, as well as the recent next-gen remaster on PS5, Series X|S, and PC.
Divinity: Original Sin II
The classic CRPG subgenre has become more niche as years went by, but smaller developer studios brought it back within the indie and double-AA gaming scene. Larian Studios' sequel Divinity: Original Sin II built off the strong foundation of its predecessor in every way, becoming one of the best RPGs ever made.
The game made its gameplay mechanics and the sheer amount of narrative content even deeper and is also praised for how fleshed out character progression, interaction, and narrative choice were. It's a love letter to the subgenre that lost none of its engrossing complexity while making it accessible for newcomers with its Definitive Edition on PC, PS4, XBO, and Switch.
Monster Hunter Rise
Capcom's Monster Hunter: World gave the action-RPG franchise the international fame it deserves, but this year's Rise proved to be a worthy follow-up. The developer team did an impressive job delivering a packed experience onto the comparatively low-tech Switch, with the modified version of the RE Engine delivering great visuals.
Monster Hunter Rise's new monsters are expectedly well-designed and thrilling boss fights, and even streamline the pivotal quality-of-life changes from World ever better on Nintendo's hybrid console. In a year stacked with quality, Monster Hunter Rise stands as one of the best RPGs to play on the Nintendo Switch.
Final Fantasy XIV
Square Enix's second stab at the MMORPG formula with Final Fantasy XIV is arguably gaming's biggest comeback story. The initial launch was disastrous from a quality and technical perspective, but thanks to devoted developers, it turned into one of the best games in the franchise.
Subsequent expansions overhauled the game and gave it one of the best, long-form Final Fantasy stories. Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker just released to cap off its overall story arc up until this point, and achieved critical acclaim and a mass influx of players in the process. It's been made all the more accessible, as it's available on PS4, PS5, and PC.
Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire
Like with Larian Studios, RPG-darling Obsidian (of Fallout: New Vegas fame) also made their stamp on the CRPG genre's resurgence. Similarly, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire was a worthy sequel to an already well-received first endeavor. The game keeps its fantasy setting but adds a seafaring, pirate-themed backdrop with naval combat as one of the new gameplay additions.
Sub-classes made for a welcome inclusion to combat and character build variety, and the writing for the story was notable praises among critics and players. Deadfire follows up on the original's story but gives newcomers an accessible way to seamlessly hop into this sequel and be brought up to speed narratively. It's available now on PC, Switch, PS4, and XBO.
Dark Souls III
FromSoftware's Dark Souls games are another iconic dark-fantasy series. The post-apocalyptic world and heart-pumping difficulty combine for a rich, atmospheric setting, with Dark Souls III debatably being the pinnacle of the trilogy's game design. It's filled with many memorable bosses, excellent art design, and great worldbuilding.
Hidetaka Miyazaki's Souls games are famously subtle when it comes to storytelling, but for those willing, the ominous flavor text, environmental cues, and intimate character interactions (though limited) still provide an engrossing and fascinating world to dig into. The game is available on PS4, XBO, and PC.
Bloodborne
Exclusive to the PS4, Bloodborne is another acclaimed FromSoftware modern classic that quickly became a fan-favorite. In plenty of circles, some fans even consider it FromSoft's best game. Like its cousins, Bloodborne is an action-RPG Souls-like title with subtle and environmental storytelling, as well as grueling beasts and boss fights.
It keeps the fantasy setting but twists it into a Victorian England-inspired gothic backdrop. The story, lore, and worldbuilding craft an eerie and almost horror-like experience influenced by Lovecraftian eldritch monsters. Unlike the Dark Souls games, Bloodborne's combat largely rewards smart, fast-paced, and relentless offense.
Monster Hunter: World
Even after the franchise continues to cement its blockbuster status with Monster Hunter Rise, World is still just as addicting to play today. The game is seamless to drop in and out of for newcomers and veterans while having a massive wealth of content to grind through in the process. It also made great use of the PS4, XBO, and PC capabilities, delivering a feast for the eyes when it came to vibrant, lifelike environments and the monsters that populate them.
Though Monster Hunter: World defines itself by the grind-like gameplay loop, it makes it thrilling instead of a chore like many other games. And like The Witcher 3, it remains one of the best examples of DLC done right, as the Iceborne expansion provides enough engaging content that it could've been a straight sequel to Monster Hunter: World.
Demon's Souls (PS5 Remake)
One of the two big launch titles for the PS5 was Bluepoint Studios' remake of Demon's Souls. The original 2009 game for the PS3 created the Souls-like subgenre, much like Metroid and Castlevania created the "Metroidvania." It brought gaming back to a point where it largely left players to discover and learn for themselves, with its unique flavor of "tough-but-fair" difficulty.
Bluepoint gave fans a beautifully modernized rendition of FromSoft's classic in terms of gameplay and graphical fidelity, making it easily accessible in the modern day. The Demon's Souls remake was also exclusively for the PS5, meaning it was able to take full advantage of the new hardware's power.