RPGs

RPGs aren’t always the most kid-friendly experience. They can be filled with complicated combat systems, massive difficulty spikes, and long run-times that can make them feel insurmountably long. While series like Pokémon cracked the code, making the genre more approachable for players of all ages, most young children aren’t likely to pick up something like Tales of Arise. Dragon Quest Treasures tries to solve that problem. The upcoming Nintendo Switch exclusive takes the colorful world of Dragon Quest XI and places…

If there’s one genre the Xbox series of consoles has struggled to really break into in the past, it’s RPGs. Yes, each system had a standout title or two, like the original Xbox having Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the 360 having Lost Odyssey, but this particular family of consoles was always seen as secondary to RPG fans compared to Sony, or even Nintendo, machines. With the release of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has made a strong effort to fill that gap in their library and has already done a great job…

The PlayStation platform has always been home to some of the best RPGs on the market. Whether they’re JRPGs, action RPGs, tactical RPGs, or any other variation, there’s never been a shortage of games that allow you to live out a new experience in nearly any type of setting you could imagine. RPGs were initially a more niche genre, catering to the old-school Dungeons and Dragons players, but have steadily grown in popularity as they have become more accessible and widespread. These games offer narratives and gameplay…

Assassin's Creed games in the future may be shorter in length. Speaking to IGN on upcoming entries to the franchise, Marc-Alexis Côté, VP, Assassin's Creed, noted, “Not everything has be a 150-hour RPG, right?” The development comes in the wake of Ubisoft Forward, held early Sunday, which unveiled multiple Assassin's Creed projects in the works. The announcements included Infinity, which is described as a central hub that connects upcoming Assassin's Creed games together. As per Côté, the technology would allow for the…

Image: Running PressThis week marked the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII’s North American release—and a new book by Aidan Moher, out October 4, examines the game’s scope of influence, not just on its legions of fans, but on the realm of Western pop culture itself. io9 is pleased to share an exclusive excerpt from Fight, Magic, Items: The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West, including a special introduction by the author.“Twenty-five years ago this week, Japanese RPGs…

The Nintendo Switch got a pair of high-profile role-playing games this month, but they couldn’t be more dissimilar. Live A Live is a remake of an influential 90s game that features retro visuals, turn-based tactical combat, and a breezy runtime. Xenoblade Chronicles 3, on the other hand, is a behemoth of an action-RPG that features a bevy of complex systems rolled out over a 150-hour adventure. It’s a tale of two RPGs. Like many Switch owners, I plan to hop into Xenoblade Chronicles 3 today, but Live A Live is the…

Baldur's Gate 3 is set to get another major content update, Patch 8, prior to leaving early access. Patch 8 looks to be a fairly substantial update, nearly doubling the size of Larian Studios' upcoming RPG."Patch 8 is drawing near, and it's going to be roughly 40 GB (so make sure you have space free!), bringing the total install size for Baldur's Gate 3 to approximately 104 GB," Larian Studios writes in a Steam blog post. "As with our previous patches, saves made on Patch 7 or prior will no longer be…

Gaming on mobile devices gets better and better with every passing year. That’s especially true with services like Stadia, which make streaming games on your phone or tablet a totally viable way to enjoy AAA games. Gaming on iOS is particularly robust thanks to the operating system’s support of external controllers like Sony’s DualShock 5. The App Store also has a ton of great games — including ports and exclusives on the Apple Arcade. Of course, the best time-sinks regardless of platform are RPGs. They offer hours…

The Nintendo Switch has been on the market for several years now, so it should come as no surprise that it has amassed a wealth of great role-playing games. Many of them are ports of titles previously released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but others are exclusive to Nintendo’s hybrid system. Whether you’re looking for a turn-based classic or something new with a massive open world, the portable console has it all. Here are the best role-playing games on Nintendo Switch. Further reading…

The Pokémon-themed MOBA, Pokémon Unite, is introducing a new game mode allowing players to catch wild Pokémon. The new mode, called “Catch ’em Battles” will be playable starting on May 30 on Switch and mobile devices. Pokémon Unite is the free to play Switch and mobile-exclusive MOBA where players take control of their favorite pocket monsters in 5v5 battles with other players. Catch ’em Battles shrinks the team sizes to 4v4, but also brings in one of the core elements of the franchise: Catching Pokémon in the wild…