Upcoming New RPGs For 2025 & Beyond

Role-playing games have been a staple of the gaming industry for more than three decades. Each month, the genre tends to welcome a couple of noteworthy titles, be it high-profile releases such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Lies of P, Hogwarts Legacy, Octopath Traveler 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3, or more niche projects like Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society and 8-Bit Adventures 2. There are always new RPGs on the horizon.

Due to the ambitious nature of the genre’s AAA projects, they are often announced years in advance, a practice that can result in extremely high expectations. Once the hype train gets moving, stopping it can be impossible, which has resulted in some disappointments in the past. However, when a game lives up to its potential, it is a thing of beauty. Which upcoming 2025 RPGs are you looking forward to the most?

Updated September 5, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Three more upcoming RPGs have been added: Valor Mortis and Phantom Blade Zero. Lost Soul Aside has also been removed since it is now available.

Borderlands 4

Looter-Shooter

Gearbox’s Borderlands is the definitive looter-shooter franchise, and it does not really have any major challengers. Despite garnering an array of criticisms that might not make them 100% beloved, Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands are still fantastic co-op shooters with more than enough RPG elements to satisfy people who want to explore different builds and loadouts. Borderlands 4 is slated for a September 2025 release. The B4 reveal trailer did not include too much information, but subsequent releases shed some light on the upcoming project.

Despite garnering some criticism for its change in aesthetic, the project is still surrounded by plenty of excitement, simply due to the IP’s mostly positive reputation. There are just not all that many alternatives to Borderlands, and the fourth entry will likely be “good” at a minimum.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

The Return Of A Tactical JRPG Masterpiece

While a new Final Fantasy Tactics refuses to materialize, Square Enix seems happy to revisit the classic PS1 game every couple of years. In 2007, The War of the Lions was released to a relatively positive reception, and it is a decent way to experience this story. Now, in 2025, The Ivalice Chronicles appears primed and ready to become the definitive version of Final Fantasy Tactics, presenting itself as an ambitious remaster that improves the UI, visuals, battle speed, and combat presentation. The game will even include full voice acting and some minor script changes.

Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the greatest games of the ’90s, and its story has aged fantastically. The gameplay is certainly of the era, but it is still fun enough to play all these years later. From the available footage and screenshots, The Ivalice Chronicles looks set to be a faithful but still worthwhile upgrade, one that will hopefully introduce this masterpiece to a whole new generation. I cannot wait to revisit this universe.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

Turn-Based Creature Collection RPG

As somebody who dropped too many hours into Cyber Sleuth and Hacker’s Memory, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is my most highly anticipated 2025 RPG. Throughout its entire gaming career, Digimon has been defined by inconsistency. The franchise has tried every genre under the sun, opting for a scattershot approach that undermined any sense of momentum. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of great Digimon games, but the IP is messy.

That said, Digimon Story has been pretty consistently awesome. Digimon World Dawn and Dusk are solid Nintendo DS RPGs, and Lost Evolution should have been ported to Western nations. Cyber Sleuth and Hacker’s Memory are both fantastic 3v3 turn-based JRPGs, telling surprisingly dark stories while featuring an addictive Digievolution system. If Time Stranger is as good as those games, it will be one of 2025’s best JRPGs.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

The Next Evolution

Pokemon Legends: Z-A was shrouded in shadows for the longest time, but that changed in February 2025 when a video dropped showcasing the upcoming RPG‘s visuals, city, and some gameplay mechanics. Game Freak has confirmed that the project will take place in Kalos, which was introduced during the sixth generation. Similar to 2022’s Arceus, one has to assume Z-A takes place well before the events of X and Y.

The game’s announcement was mostly greeted with cautious optimism due to Arceus being relatively well-regarded; however, the 2025 video arguably undermined some of that initial hype. That showcase garnered a fairly negative reception, with criticisms being leveled at the empty city, Pokemon starters, and graphics.

Despite growing concerns, Pokémon Legends: Z-A remains one of the most highly anticipated 2025 RPGs. Why? Well, it is Pokemon.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

The Long Awaited Sequel To An RPG Masterpiece

To say that Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has had a rough road to completion would be an understatement. Rumors about its existence have circulated for the best part of a decade, to the point that Bloodlines 2 seemed destined to be remembered alongside Half-Life 3 as a game that just refuses to exist. However, Paradox Interactive and White Wolf have finally confirmed that the sequel will be published on October 21, 2025, a reveal that came a bit out of nowhere (despite its long development cycle).

Honestly, “excitement” is not the most accurate phrase to describe the discourse surrounding Bloodlines 2. For the most part, the game seems to be primarily igniting morbid curiosity and light optimism. Hopefully, the project will manage to live up to its decorated predecessor’s reputation by providing a player-driven RPG filled with nuanced writing, atmosphere, and world-building. Players will get to control an Elder vampire, and they will be able to customize them and join a clan. Initially, Paradox announced that two of the six clans would be DLC, although that decision received widespread criticism.

The Outer Worlds 2

Obsidian’s Sci-Fi RPG

Slated to be one of the biggest Game Pass 2025 games, The Outer Worlds 2 has the foundation to achieve greatness. The 2019 entry was beloved upon release, being seen as a stellar alternative to Fallout. Since then, its reputation has leveled out slightly, although it is still generally regarded as a good RPG.

Solid as it was, The Outer Worlds certainly had room for improvement, and a sequel with better combat and more diverse worlds should be fantastic. Obsidian is well-known for strong writing and world-building, two things that need to shine in The Outer Worlds 2.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

Revisiting Two Of The Most Important JRPGs

After the relative success of Dragon Quest III HD Remake, Square Enix is publishing a compilation containing modern versions of the first two DQ games. The originals are masterpieces that pretty much wrote the book on JRPGs, and they are arguably the genre’s most important releases of all time. However, they are products of their era and have not aged well, which is to be expected. DQ 1 and 2 are more like historical artifacts than actual games that you should experience for yourself in 2025.

Therefore, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is very much a necessary project that will hopefully introduce multiple generations to these two classics. So far, these HD-2D remakes have generally stuck pretty close to the originals’ blueprints, so I assume this compilation will do the same. That said, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake will include changes beyond just modern graphics.

Octopath Traveler 0

A Turn-Based JRPG With A (Hopefully) Great Story

Announced out of nowhere, Octopath Traveler 0 should be among the better JRPGs of the year, at least if it maintains the IP’s quality up to this point. A prequel set before both of the previous entries, the upcoming 2025 RPG shares similarities with Champions of the Continent​​​​​​, a mobile gacha game that arguably has the strongest story in the franchise. Square Enix has clarified that Octopath Traveler 0 is not a direct port of COFC, but rather a retelling that acts sort of like a sibling to that game.

You will be able to create a unique protagonist, and you will recruit dozens of playable characters throughout the campaign. Beyond that, Octopath Traveler 0 should be stacked with content, even incorporating a town-building system (going by the trailer). Honestly, if done right, this could be the best entry in the series.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault

A Shop Keeper Who Loves Action RPGs

A charming indie action RPG that emphasizes shop management, Moonlighter is not only very fun but also offers quite a bit of replay value. The 2018 release was successful enough that a sequel always seemed likely, especially since the concept certainly had room to grow. Fortunately, Digital Sun seems set to return to this universe, once again casting players as Will, a shopkeeper who needs to keep his inventory stocked by going out in the wild and collecting loot.

Moonlighter 2‘s biggest change is the switch to a full 3D presentation, albeit presented from an isometric angle. While its predecessor’s pixel art is top-notch, the sequel should be a pretty substantial upgrade in terms of visuals and presentation. Beyond that, players will get to explore a new area, Tresna, while helping a struggling village to flourish.

Pathologic 3

A Horror-Fueled Journey

Pathologic is not for everyone. The series is known for cryptic storytelling, ambiguous characters, purposefully frustrating mechanics, and nightmarish world design that can be genuinely unsettling. In other words, Pathologic is a wonderful but acquired taste. The third entry’s announcement came as a surprise since its concept was originally planned to be the Bachelor route of Pathologic 2, the final step in that game’s episodic-style release cycle.

Now, to be clear, Pathologic 3 appears set to expand greatly on the route, offering an experience that should hopefully justify its standalone presentation. Even if Pathologic 2 is not quite as highly regarded as its predecessor, both games are very good, and there is nothing to suggest their successor will fail to maintain that high standard. Horror RPGs are extremely rare, so this series should be cherished.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection

Turn-Based JRPG Goodness

Monster Hunter Wilds has had a rough first year, but Capcom is hardly abandoning the franchise. During a Nintendo Direct, Monster Hunter Stories 3 was revealed, with the game set to launch at some point in 2026. While I do appreciate and enjoy the main entries, the Stories spin-offs cater to my love of turn-based JRPGs with a monster-collecting element, and the third game looks set to be an impressive evolution of an already winning formula.

Unlike the mainline games, Monster Hunter Stories follows a pretty standard JRPG formula, which means you should be able to look forward to character-driven quests, battle-based grinding, and a constantly evolving setting as you visit different towns and regions. Twisted Reflection is set to be released on all modern consoles, which is a first for this series.

Phantom Blade Zero

A Wuxia RPG

One of the most highly anticipated action RPGs of the last few years, Phantom Blade Zero has looked ridiculously awesome in every one of its showcases. Developed and published by S-GAME, the game is inspired by Wuxia, a genre that focuses on Chinese martial arts and has been gaining traction on an international stage, courtesy of donghua and a slow influx of games.

Specifically, Phantom Blade Zero is set in an alternate reality known as the Phantom World, a setting that should blend a range of genres like steampunk and horror. Players will get to control an assassin who is framed for the murder of his organization’s head, forcing him to try and clear his name before he dies in roughly two months. The story seems interesting, but Phantom Blade Zero has been primarily attracting attention due to its fast-paced combat, which has looked incredible in footage. Going by the available information, the game will not have Soulslike combat, which is kind of refreshing.

Valor Mortis

A First-Person Soulslike RPG

Revealed during Gamescom 2025, Valor Mortis looks set to shift the Soulslike RPG genre into first-person territory, a concept that has arguably yet to produce a really great game. One More Level is primarily known for the Ghostrunner games, both of which have satisfying combat that prioritizes quick thinking and one-hit kills. Valor Mortis will likely have longer battles than that, but the developer has already more than proven that they are capable of crafting intense and smooth first-person combat.

Valor Mortis has a pretty fascinating setting, with the story taking place during Napoleon’s reign. As a soldier who dies in battle, you awaken to hell on Earth, as corruption has spread and left the world filled with all sorts of entities that should not exist. Sounds like a brilliant concept for a dark fantasy RPG.

The Witcher 4

Action & Open-World (Presumably)

CD Projekt Red has been working on a new The Witcher project for a few years, but the developer did not confirm that it would be the next mainline entry in the saga until The Game Awards 2024. The Witcher 4 is on the horizon, and it is an exciting time to be a fan of open-world RPGs or just games in general. While Cyberpunk 2077‘s debut state reduced CD Projekt Red’s public goodwill, the developer’s post-launch commitment helped right a few of those initial wrongs, and the game is nowadays in good shape. More importantly, The Witcher 3 is still largely regarded as one of the greatest Western RPGs of all time, and time has done very little to dull its shine.

As the previous entry’s DLC nicely completed Geralt’s story, it had long been speculated that The Witcher 4 would feature a new protagonist, and Ciri has always been the most obvious pick. Well, The Game Awards’ trailer largely confirmed that rumor, with the powerful character being front and center. At this point, almost nothing is known about the sequel’s direction, except for Ciri seeming to be a few years older than in Wild Hunt. Also, Geralt will likely make an appearance in The Witcher 4.

Open-World (Presumably)

It was only a matter of time before The Elder Scrolls 6 was revealed, although that is essentially all that Bethesda has done. Except for some minor details that can be surmised from the few seconds of footage that has been released so far, the game is still largely a mystery; however, TES 6 is one of those upcoming RPGs that only needs to exist to generate hype.

Realistically, Bethesda’s sequel is still a few years away from a debut, and the publisher will probably not start to heavily market the project until after Starfield‘s cycle is complete. Nevertheless, it would be shocking if TES 6 does not wind up as one of the best-selling games of all time.

Dragon Quest 12: The Flames Of Fate

Turn-Based (Presumably)

Dragon Quest 12 is a weird one. Since being revealed in 2021, Square Enix has barely uttered a word regarding the next mainline entry in the storied JRPG franchise. Dragon Quest‘s influence and popularity cannot be understated, particularly in Japan where the series is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. While there was a fairly long dry spell after DQ8, the 11th mainline entry was a hit in Western countries, elevating the license to international highs it had not experienced for a while. Thanks to its predecessor’s success, Dragon Quest 12 is poised to be one of the biggest releases in the license’s history outside of Japan.

Perhaps, Square Enix announced DQ12‘s existence a bit prematurely or simply wanted to gauge the public’s interest in a sequel; whatever the reason, the post-reveal silence has lasted slightly too long. Hopefully, the publisher will expand on the game’s development at some point in the near future as the gaming world is ready for a new mainline Dragon Quest adventure.