The recent gameplay and information drops for Bethesda's Starfield are gradually amplifying the excitement over the studio's next mainline RPG endeavor in 2023. Longtime fans will know the grueling wait in between their major game releases, but they have typically earned rapturous acclaim upon launch.
However, even with such a massive headliner like Starfield on the horizon, next year should see the release of several high-profile western RPGs. Aside from this new IP, Diablo IV is also around the corner, with Obsidian Entertainment's Elder Scrolls-like reportedly preparing for a 2023 release as well.
Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
Originally set to release sometime this year, The Verge reported that Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was delayed out of 2022 earlier this summer. The Avatar franchise has seemingly laid dormant since the original James Cameron movie was released in 2009, but now Disney and the director are ramping up full-speed ahead to finally try to get the IP back into the mainstream.
The Way of Water is slotted in for a December 2022 premiere, and Frontiers of Pandora is attempting to capture the visual spectacle of Cameron's vibrant fantasy world in an open-world RPG format. It will have players take on the role of a Na'vi journeying across the Western Frontier to defend against the invading forces of RDA. It set now planned for a 2023 or 2024 release for PS5, XSX|S, and PC.
Hogwarts Legacy
The game has admittedly seen a drawn-out production cycle, but it looks like Hogwarts Legacy is now in the polishing phase since it has a firm release date for next year. The Harry Potter franchise seems like a natural fit for the RPG genre, and this game is looking to capitalize on that worldbuilding to make its own mark in this nostalgic universe.
Developed by Avalanche Software, Hogwarts Legacy is set well before the events of the books/movies, putting players in the role of a customizable student protagonist at the wizarding school to take part in a social-sim-like gameplay loop in addition to magic-based combat. Hogwarts Legacy will release on February 10th for PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX|S, and PC.
Darkest Dungeon II
Red Hook Studios' Darkest Dungeon in 2016 proved to be one of the most inventive western RPGs in recent memory. The game adopts a unique art style for its grim dark-fantasy setting, as well as mixing the RPG genre with horror and the roguelike genre, and Darkest Dungeon II is set to follow up on that success.
As with the original game, Darkest Dungeon II will feature a variety of unique characters to form a party with, each having distinctive character classes with several strengths and weaknesses. This will surely allow for even more player freedom in how they approach dungeon runs, especially with the permadeath mechanic looming to add an extra layer of tension. Darkest Dungeon II is currently out in Early Access form on PC via Steam, with a full release in February.
Baldur's Gate III
Larian Studios has been credited with helping the CRPG subgenre see a resurgence in the modern age of gaming, with the likes of Divinity: Original Sin II earning high critical praise. Next on their docket, though, is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved Dungeons & Dragons RPG series Baldur's Gate.
The second game is 23 years old now, and this sequel puts players in the role of a customizable protagonist on a quest to rid themselves of the parasite that mind flayers have infected them with. Baldur's Gate III sees Larian implement its brand of turn-based combat, as well as single- or multi-player gameplay formats. The game is currently out in Early Access form on PC via Steam, with a full release planned for sometime in 2023.
Avowed (Rumored)
After the likes of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords and Fallout: New Vegas, developer Obsidian Entertainment has earned considerable goodwill with RPG fans. The genre has proven to be a strong suit for the studio, and Avowed has been heavily reported by the likes of Xbox insider Jez Corden to finally make its way to release sometime next year.
Set within the same high-fantasy universe of the team's Pillars of Eternity series, Avowed is set to be an open-world action RPG take on their CRPG formula. There hasn't been much seen of it yet, but should the 2023 release pan out, it could be just the thing to tide fans over the wait for The Elder Scrolls VI. The game is rumored to launch sometime in 2023 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 had one of the worst launches in video game history due to a myriad of bugs and other technical issues, but it's made an impressive turnaround thanks to post-launch support. The recent Netflix-exclusive Edgerunners anime series has also helped give it a resurgence in popularity, and now its highly-anticipated DLC expansion is just around the corner.
Phantom Liberty is the first and only major story expansion for the base game, and it touts itself as a spy-thriller take on the sci-fi world. Likewise, Phantom Liberty will also introduce a brand-new district to explore in Night City. This DLC is planned to release sometime in 2023 for PS5, XSX|S, and PC.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf (Rumored)
Developer BioWare and publisher EA Games have unfortunately a lot of work ahead of them to rebuild trust in the fanbase following a string of disappointments in the forms of Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, and the next mainline Dragon Age could be a big step toward that.
There's very little known about the game, but its subtitle Dreadwolf has excited fans by suggesting that it's a direct sequel to its predecessor, which would be a first for the series. Similar to Avowed, the release date/window for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf isn't concrete, but a report from GamesBeat claims that the game is still on track for a -- likely late -- 2023 launch for PS5, XSX|S, and PC.
Diablo IV
Regarded as a legacy series for the action-RPG subgenre, Diablo IV is being set to release over a decade after III. It's aiming to be the most ambitious mainline entry in the series yet, as it will expand its gameplay loop into an open-world setting. Elsewhere, Diablo IV will also incorporate procedurally-generated dungeons and player-vs-player mechanics.
So far, fans have been cautiously optimistic over what's been shown so far, with the open-world setting showing potential and its art direction seeing a return to form to Diablo's brand of gritty dark fantasy. Diablo IV is planned to release sometime in 2023 for PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX|S, and PC.
Starfield
Likely the most anticipated western RPG for many gamers, Bethesda's Starfield is finally poised for release next year. A new IP, Starfield takes a tabletop RPG- and Star Trek-inspired approach to the developer's gameplay style, putting players in the role of a customizable character that becomes a member of Constellation — a space-faring organization dedicated to the exploration of the galaxy.
Players can enjoy a mix of space travel, discovering a myriad of new planets, the main questline, and a helping of side quests that the developer is well known for. Combat uses a mix of first- and third-person shooting as well as melee, and it will also include base-building mechanics. Starfield is set to launch within the first half of 2023 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.