Another year has come and gone, and with that flurry of levels and experience points goes many of our most-wanted RPGs finally delivered. 2014 was a good year for roleplaying games with the likes of Dragon Age: Inquisition leading the pack but 2015 looks to be downright spectacular. We here at MMORPG have spent a lot of time discussing this year’s games, but with New Year’s Eve fast approaching, let’s look ahead to what next year has in store.
Note: Release dates reflect the North American territory.
1. The Witcher 3 (PC, PS4, Xbox One; May 19, 2015)
Let’s get this one out of the way first, since it’s the biggun’. Despite being delayed until May, The Witcher 3 still has us at the edge of our seats in anticipation. A large open world with a mature high fantasy setting and produced by one of the most ambitious and high achieving developers in the industry? Count us in.
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2. Dying Light (PC, PS4, Xbox One; January 27, 2015)
From the makers of the original Dead Island, this first-person action-RPG blends the free-running of Mirror’s Edge with a day-night cycle the drastically changes zombie behavior.
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3. Persona 5 (PS3, PS4; TBA 2015)
Persona is a unique beast that’s proven to be a hit with Eastern and Western audiences alike. The game will continue the high school dramas of the previous games in the series but the teaser – “You are a slave. Want emancipation?” – leads us to believe that P5 will take on a different, darker tone, perhaps even outside of your nighttime, evil fighting adventures.
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4. Bloodborne (PS4; March 24, 2015)
From the makers of Dark Souls, this PlayStation exclusive looks to pack the skill-based gameplay (read: controller-throwing rage) of the developers previous games while also increasing the speed of combat. It’s dark, gritty, and all together horrible. Day one purchase!
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5. Shadow Realms (PC; TBA 2015)
A Bioware RPG that aims to bring back the glory days of table top roleplay? That alone would be worth our attention, but it’s also the developer’s first foray into asymmetrical multiplayer in a story-based campaign that “never ends.”
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6. Final Fantasy Type-0 (PS4, Xbox One; March 17, 2015)
Once a PSP hit residing solely in the East, the portable convert is making its way to big screens in 2015. The game features an action heavy combat style and a deep story making it, arguably, one of the best Final Fantasy games in years.
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7. Final Fantasy XV (PS4, Xbox One; TBA 2015)
Some call it a reinvention of the franchise, others say it’s not Final Fantasy at all. Either way, Final Fantasy XV is sprawling, action-based and aims to tell a deep story about relationship in an open-world setting. Also, you get to drive a car with your bros.
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8. Dead Island 2 (PC, PS4, Xbox One; Q2 2015)
Original developer Techland has passed the reigns onto Yager Development for this follow-up, whom you might remember from 2012’s spectacular story-driven shooter, Spec Ops: The Line. Ironically, from what we’ve seen so far, Dead Island 2 doesn’t seem set on an island at all and will instead take place in California. Maybe an earthquake caused the state to float out to sea?
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9. Darkest Dungeon (PC, PS4, PS Vita; TBA 2015)
Available soon in Steam Early Access, this party-based RPG explores the mental ramifications of being a hero. So… much… murder… Seriously though, it’s not often we get a unique look at a genre like this. There is something distinctly indie about this tongue-in-cheek title and we like it!
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10. Hellraid (PC, PS4, Xbox One; TBA 2015)
A second project from the teams at Techland, Hellraid is an action-RPG where the player fights to close the gates of Hell from a first-person perspective. Promising a full character progression system and refined combat with swords, axes, bows, staves, and more, Hellraid is high on our list of must-watch games.
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