The year 2024 will be remembered as a watershed moment for role-playing games, delivering an unprecedented lineup that spanned haunting ghost stories, aquatic adventures, and legendary fantasy epics. With both brand-new IPs and triumphant franchise returns demanding dozens of hours from players, the RPG landscape offered extraordinary depth. To curate this definitive ranking, DualShockers conducted an internal team vote, breaking ties through additional rounds of polling to ensure a fair representation of collective preferences across their gaming experts. The resulting selection showcases not just technical excellence but bold creative risks that paid off spectacularly.

10 Banishers: Ghost of New Eden

Transporting players to a reimagined 1695 America, Banishers: Ghost of New Eden stands out with its unique paranormal investigator premise. Players control Red, a professional "Banisher" tasked with resolving spirits' unfinished business through morally complex decisions. The game innovates with dual-character combat mechanics – switching between Red and his ghostly partner – while delivering emotionally heavy subplots about tragedy and loss. Despite its spooky themes, the scares remain largely atmospheric rather than terrifying.

People Also Ask: Is Banishers suitable for horror-averse players? Yes, its focus lies more on emotional storytelling than jump scares.

9 Dragon Age: The Veilguard

BioWare's long-awaited sequel to Inquisition plunged players back into Thedas as Rook, confronting rebellious Elven gods amid political chaos. The game delivered flashy, weighty combat with remarkable build diversity through multiple classes. Crucially, player choices carried tangible narrative consequences leading to several distinct endings – a rarity in story-driven RPGs. Despite divisive community reactions, it satisfied franchise loyalists with its rich lore integration.

8 Another Crab's Treasure

This delightfully absurd action RPG featured Kril the hermit crab fighting to reclaim his shell from underwater loan sharks. Its vibrant visuals and humorous tone masked surprisingly punishing soulslike combat, blending platforming with RPG progression. The unexpected premise became its greatest strength, offering a refreshing contrast to darker RPGs while maintaining satisfying mechanical depth.

7 Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Though technically DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree matched standalone titles in scope and quality. FromSoftware expanded their masterpiece with magnificent boss battles, new weaponry, and lore-rich environments. The expansion redefined expectations for downloadable content, presenting enough substance to justify a full-game price point while seamlessly integrating with the base experience.

6 Stellar Blade

Shift Up's transition from mobile games to console RPGs proved spectacularly successful. Players controlled EVE against alien Naytiba in fast-paced combat rewarding precise parries. Beyond the adrenaline-fueled battles, the game impressed with cinematic set pieces and substantial exploration incentives including numerous unlockable outfits and side missions.

Key 2024 RPG Trends:

• Soulslike combat evolution (5/10 titles)

• Narrative-altering player choices

• Experimental settings (underwater, paranormal, sci-fi)

• Visual spectacle as storytelling device

5 Persona 3 Reload

This faithful remake revitalized the 15-year-old classic with fully redone voice acting and new combat mechanics like Theurgy abilities. The calendar-based progression system remained intact while additional social activities and side content made it accessible to newcomers without alienating series veterans.

4 Dragon's Dogma 2

Capcom dramatically expanded their cult franchise with a massive open world and innovative Pawn system. Players customized AI companions whose designs could be shared globally, creating a unique pseudo-multiplayer experience within a single-player narrative. The hack-and-slash combat provided a refreshing alternative to the year's prevalent soulslike mechanics.

3 Metaphor: ReFantazio

Atlus successfully blended Persona's calendar system with fantasy politics in this original IP. Players competed for a vacant throne through time-sensitive decisions impacting the kingdom's fate. The archetype-based combat and consequential storytelling established it as more than a derivative project.

2 Black Myth Wukong

This adaptation of Journey to the West became a cultural phenomenon, selling over 20 million copies in its first month. Its fluid soulslike combat featured spectacular boss battles while respectfully presenting Chinese folklore through stunning environments and narrative depth.

1 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Topping the list, Square Enix's ambitious reimagining honored the beloved original while expanding its world and characters. The hybrid combat system bridged turn-based and action preferences, while visual splendor and thoughtful additions created a nostalgic yet fresh experience that satisfied both newcomers and longtime fans.

People Also Ask: Will 2025 RPGs top 2024's lineup? Given upcoming titles like The Witcher 4 and Elder Scrolls VI, the bar has been set extraordinarily high.

With such a diverse and accomplished roster defining 2024, one must ponder: As technology advances and player expectations evolve, what uncharted territories might the RPG genre explore next? Will future developers prioritize innovative mechanics, deeper narrative branches, or entirely new forms of interactive storytelling to surpass this landmark year?