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 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Lies of P, Hogwarts Legacy, Octopath Traveler 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, or more niche projects like Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society, 8-Bit Adventures 2, and Little Witch Nobeta. 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 RPGs are the most sought-after?

Updated July 3, 2025 by Mark Sammut: While not quite as great as April and May, June 2025 had its share of decent RPGs, particularly Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army. Still, the year is far from done, and the horizon is filled with exciting 2025 role-playing games. Three more titles have been added: Digimon Story: Time Stranger, The Outer Worlds 2, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles.

Edens Zero

Anime Action JRPG Open-World

Well, this project came as a bit of a surprise. Hiro Mashima’s Edens Zero is a reasonably popular sci-fi shonen manga (and anime), but it is not as famous as the demographic’s heavyweights like One Piece or the author’s other series, Fairy Tail. Yet, this franchise seems set to receive one of the more ambitious gaming adaptations, with Konami’s 2025 RPG featuring an open-world that, according to the Steam description, covers a planet. Frankly, the simple fact that Konami is handling the game is shocking in itself.

Edens Zero will feature multiple playable characters, along with extensive customization for each. The combat takes a few pages from the Musou blueprint, as most of the available footage showcases the heroes going up against fairly large groups of enemies.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Soulslike Action RPG Set During The Ming Dynasty

The term “Soulslike” has become so inescapable that its mere mention has to be taken with a grain of salt, as the label is often thrown on any modern action RPG with a dodge roll. However, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers specifically describes itself as Soulslike, so it is aiming to be part of this subgenre. More importantly, the game looks fantastic so far, and in more ways than just the combat.

Dropping players into the Ming Dynasty, Wuchang should bring to life an era that has not been explored all that much by gaming in general, let alone the Soulslike genre. Naturally, a disease spread across the country, leaving behind creative creatures that lean into horror territory in design. The setting is cool, and the incorporation of a named main character is also a nice change of pace from the norm for the genre. The combat has potential, and it seems to take some inspiration from more fast-paced action games.

Lost Soul Aside

An Action-Packed JRPG

A console PS5 exclusive that will also be coming to PC, Lost Souls Aside has been steadily building up momentum, paving the way for what will hopefully be a successful launch. An anime aesthetic that is reminiscent of some Final Fantasy games, Ultizero’s title follows Kaser, a rebel whose attempt to take down the Empire coincides with the arrival of a meteor that sends his world into chaos. Now, armed with strange powers, he goes on a mission to save both the world and his sister.

While the story’s quality will not be known until the game’s full release, the combat looks pretty great so far. Lost Souls Aside‘s gameplay trailer paints a picture of a fast-paced hack-and-slash system that incorporates RPG elements through skill progression, weapon variety, and player choice.

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.

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 really need to shine in The Outer Worlds 2.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

Action & Social Sim

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is the definition of a cult classic. While rough around the edges, the RPG features fantastic writing and characters, along with a great deal of customization that provides players with plenty of creative freedom. It is a masterpiece that, for the longest time, seemed destined to remain a solitary project (in the video game industry, anyway); however, in 2019, Bloodlines 2 was revealed to the world. Since then, the game has been pushed back a few times, and information regarding its production has been inconsistent. That said, a few Vampire: The Masquerade spin-offs have debuted over the last few years, so the IP is alive.

Set in Seattle, Bloodlines 2 will let players create a newly transformed vampire, which will involve picking things like their human background and preferred discipline. Vampire: The Masquerade‘s success can be partially credited to its deep clan system, which permits players to commit to one of the vampire groups operating in the city. This element should be present in Bloodlines 2. In terms of gameplay, so far, it seems like the sequel will stick close to its predecessor; therefore, expect first-person action with a heavy focus on a dialogue system.

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.

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.