Role-Playing Game

Darkest Dungeon

Release date: January 19

This profoundly challenging side-scrolling adventure tasks you commanding a team of four heroes as they plunge into the perilous depths of a procedurally-generated dungeon. The catch? The heroes are affected by their stress levels, which can drastically reduce (or enhance) their combat performance, weaken their resolve, frighten them into pacifism, and others. So unless you want your heroes to start running away in panic or tearing their own hair out, you’ll have to manage their mental health in addition to killing hordes of hostile creatures. Go crazy with this one!

Dark Souls III

Release date: April 12

Gaming masochists rejoice! Come 2016, fans of the Souls series will be dying a whole lot in Dark Souls III. The combat will be faster, like Souls offshoot Bloodborne, and will even come with a new feature called Weapon Arts. This means that every weapon will come with a diversity of special attacks, enabling you to execute your foes in a variety of stylish ways. The areas also promise to be much larger than those in Dark Souls II.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Release date: August 23

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is set in 2029. A tragedy called the Panchaea Incident, in which “natural” people were mindlessly attacked by millions of augmented individuals, has led to the global persecution of augmented people. In the midst of all this, we follow returning anti-hero Adam Jensen as he attempts to foil terrorist plots. The game has more choices than before, including augmentation upgrades that will allow Jensen to do incredible, super-powered feats. Will Jensen be punching bad guys through walls again, or skewering them with his elbow blades? We can’t wait to find out!

Hyper Light Drifter

Release date: Q2

With mesmerizing retro visuals, Hyper Light Drifter pays tribute to the RPGs of the 8-bit and 16-bit era of gaming. But it’s more than just colorful, pixelated 2D graphics; Hyper Light Drifter combines the best gameplay elements of Diablo and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past to make a game that’s as action-packed as it is a pleasure to behold.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

Release date: Q4

So far, we know that Mass Effect: Andromeda takes place many years after the events of the original Mass Effect trilogy. Also – and most intriguing of all – the game will explore an entirely different galaxy: Andromeda. So what does that mean? New worlds. New aliens. New technology. New threats. And the two most important things of all, new stories and new adventures. 2016 can’t come soon enough.

Aderyn’s Cradle

Release: To be announced

An open world fantasy, Aderyn’s Cradle puts you in the shoes of an exiled traveler, who is being hunted down by the god of hunger. In your efforts to escape his wrath, you ally yourself with Aderyn, the deposed god of creation and free will. You are then appointed to bring Aderyn’s realm, known as the Cradle, back to Anora, and restore technology and culture to a dead world. A most intriguing premise, if we do say so ourselves!

The Banner Saga 2

Release date: To be announced

The punishingly difficult Viking epic, The Banner Saga, is a modern classic. Continuing where the first one left off, The Banner Saga 2 features addicting turn-based combat, the management of your troops, wonderfully written characters whose lives will depend on your choices, and a story that evolves according to your actions.

Cosmic Star Heroine

Release date: To be announced

Another game that pays homage to old school RPGs, Cosmic Star Heroine has the look, sound, and gameplay of classic 16-bit RPGs. So if you enjoyed games like Chrono Trigger, Suikoden, and Phantasy Star, this title will surely please.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Release date: To be announced

Divinity: Original Sin proved an excellent game, and its sequel, Divinity: Original Sin 2, looks just as grand. We’re sure to get another quality RPG, one with customizable characters and companions you can recruit; a cooperative multiplayer mode supporting up to four players; interactive environments; quests and dialogue options that change depending on your character’s history; exciting combat that comes with a cover system; and even a “Love & Hate” system that allows you to develop your relationship, romantic or otherwise, with other characters.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Release date: To be announced

Originally released on consoles, Dragon’s Dogma and its excruciatingly difficult expansion are making their way to PC. In Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, you embark on a quest to save the world from a dragon who has a habit of burning villages to the ground. The combat, which is fast-paced yet methodical, has wowed fans and critics alike. Especially glorious are the fights against giant monsters, such as chimeras, griffins, and the Cyclops – which you to climb and stab in their weak spots to defeat. You also get to have a coterie of A.I.-controlled followers to help you in battle. Add to all this breathtaking environments, frightening dungeons, and an incredible character customization system, and you’ve got an RPG worth spending months of your life on. We can’t help but salivate!

The Dwarves

Release date: To be announced

Everyone loves dwarves, those irascible, height-challenged humanoids sporting godly beards and axes with blades the size of a car door. Well, dwarves take center stage in The Dwarves, a tactical RPG set in an enormous fantasy world. As Tungdil, you gather companions to aid you in your quest, and engage in battles that involve fighting tsunamis of bad guys. What’s not to love?

Earthlock: Festival of Magic

Release date: To be announced

Earthlock: Festival of Magic is set in the fantasy planet of Umbra, which has stopped spinning courtesy of a catastrophic event. Yikes! The developer has described it as non-linear, with a focus on turn-based combat.

EITR

Release date: To be announced

The stunningly beautiful EITR puts you in the boots of a Shield Maiden. After the trickster god Loki scrambles your fate and infects the sacred tree Yggdrasil with an unknown darkness, you must explore the nine Norse worlds to solve the enigma of your newly unwritten destiny.

Fable Legends

Release date: To be announced

In this unique, asymmetrical action RPG, four Heroes have to work together to defeat one Villain, while said Villain controls the behavior of his or her minions, and decides the nature of the protagonists’ quest. But it’s not all combat; like all RPGs, the players will get to interact with NPCs, have jobs, and play mini-games. It sounds very ambitious, and we can’t wait to try it out!

Final Fantasy Type-0 Online

Release date: To be announced

As a multiplayer hack and slash RPG, Final Fantasy Type-0 Online has a specific focus on combat. It is a set in a dimension parallel to the original Type-0’s, so fans of the series will find the experience a unique spin on the established formula.

Grim Dawn

Release date: To be announced

This fantasy action RPG is set in the war-torn Cairn, which appears to be a darker version of the Victorian era. Like Diablo, there’s a huge focus on combat, loot collection, and crafting. Like the game that inspired it, it will probably be as addicting as hell.

Kingdom Come : Deliverance

Release date: To be announced

Tired of fairies and dragons? Kingdome Come: Deliverance is an RPG set in a realistic, medieval world – the Kingdom of Bohemia, to be precise. So wipe those guts off your sword, and listen up! Kingdome Come: Deliverance’s immersive gameplay features branching quests, a superbly interactive world, environment and character designs that are accurate representations of their historical inspiration, and various classes such as the warrior, thief, and bard. To further add to the authenticity, characters will need to eat and sleep, and a physics system causes the weight of weapons and armor to affect combat performance and dexterity. Characters will also receive realistic damage, both visually and mechanically. Color us impressed!

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

Release date: To be announced

A prequel to Mount & Blade: Warband, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord takes places during the Calradian Empire’s decline. It can be played solo or multiplayer, and allows you to explore a sandbox world, join factions, and take on a variety of jobs. Because there’s nothing better than decapitating your enemies in the morning, then going fishing right after lunch!

Paradise Never

Release date: To be announced

Set in one of France’s island colonies during the Revolution of 2027, Paradise Never features sweet, artsy visuals, complex object and character interactions, and a procedurally generated world.

Prodigy

Release date: To be announced

Prodigy is a turn-based tactical RPG with a mechanic similar to Disney Infinity’s and Skylanders’; you place high-quality figurines on a board to make them appear in the game. Prodigy also uses cards, which allows your characters to perform special skills. Includes multiplayer and a single-player campaign.

Salt and Sanctuary

Release date: To be announced

Salt and Sanctuary is an RPG that features delightful hand-drawn graphics and furious side-scrolling action.

Soul Saga

Release date: To be announced

Fans of JRPGs will love Soul Saga, as it is obviously inspired by hallowed franchises such as Final Fantasy, Persona, and Breath of Fire.

SpellForce 3

Release date: To be announced

Set in a rich fantasy world, SpellForce 3 combines the action RPG elements of games like Diablo, and the real-time strategy aspects of titles like Warcraft. As you can guess, you can control more than one hero, and can even command several factions. Because there’s nothing sweeter than sending an entire troop of warriors to turn the enemy fortress into a steaming pile of rubble!

Tales of Symphonia HD

Release date: To be announced

The HD rerelease of the classic JRPG, Tales of Symphonia. As the Chosen One, you embark on a quest to restore a dying world, making friends and enemies along the way. Also a must-buy for anime fans!

The Technomancer

Release date: To be announced

This science fiction title takes place 200 years after the colonization of Mars. As a technomancer fleeing from the secret police, you’re going to need your skills, and some assistance from choice companions, to survive the harsh Martian landscape. Which of the five different endings you get will depend on your choices. So will you be naughty, or nice? Will you focus on putting as many holes in your foes as you can, or righting the injustices in the red planet?

Torment: Tides of Numenera

Release date: To be announced

Set in “The Ninth World” some one billion years in the future, this science fantasy game is based on Numenera, an award-winning tabletop RPG. Tides of Numenera will continue Planescape: Torment’s thematic legacy – which means rich storytelling, emotionally affecting personal narratives, and heavy themes exploring the meaning of life and the significance of leaving behind a legacy. Combat will be secondary to storytelling, and as you explore the game’s fantastic locations, expect to meet engaging characters and make many difficult choices.

Underworld: Ascendant

Release date: To be announced

The critically lauded Ultima Underworld games are known as the pioneers of 3D first-person RPGs, and introduced innovations such as the ability to look up and down in a true 3D environment. Shame that there hasn’t been a follow up in over 20 years! Well, fret no more, as Underworld: Ascendant will continue its predecessors’ legacy. Many of the influential people behind the original games are back to develop this one – and it’s even set in the Ultima universe, to boot! A must for franchise fans and newcomers alike.

Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr

Release date: To be announced

A visceral, action-packed RPG set in the brutal Warhammer 40,000 universe. Not to mention the game world is a colossal sandbox that will surely have you playing the game for ages. So fire up those chainswords, because you’ve got lots of fresh Ork meat to slice and cice!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine

Release date: To be announced

The hotly anticipated second expansion for the critically acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Expect more monsters to disembowel, and sex scenes even steamier than doing the deed atop a unicorn!