Top 10 RPGs Of The Generation

Game Informer: We're taking a look at the best role-playing games of the last console generation. Developers got more creative during the cycle, attempting to take the genre in new directions by giving gamers more choices in gameplay and narrative.

They created bigger worlds, and implemented unique battle systems. Western RPGs thrived on consoles, while Japanese RPGs struggled to find their place as development costs rose, causing those publishers to turn to handheld systems. Despite that transition, some console JRPGs still made an impact, proving they still have a place in the console market.

[lovethenoob]

I closed the link as soon as I saw Final Fantasy 13 @ #10

[Xof]

Well, that was a good call. This was the list you missed (in ascending order).

Final Fantasy XIII (terrible)
Valkyria Chronicles (not an RPG)
Dragon Age Origins (mediocre)
Xenoblade Chronicles
Diablo III (mediocre)
The Witcher 2
Dark Souls 2
Fallout 3 (mediocre)
Mass Effect 2
Skyrim (mediocre)

....

So pretty much both the first and last entry indicate that whoever wrote the list has pretty rubbish standards for RPGs.

[DoctorJones]

Dragon Age, FO3 and Skyrim are far from mediocre. You might want to find out what the definition of mediocre is, because they are far from it.

[3-4-5]

eww sick! Terrible list.

[thelaughingwiseman]

VC is an RPG, a Strategy RPG to be exact. There are different sub sects of an RPG, you know

[MrSwankSinatra]

GET OUT OF HERE, Fallout 3 is not mediocre.

[Inception]

Valkyria Chronicles IS an RPG!

[guitarded77]

HORRIBLE list. This gen was by no means the best for RPG's, but damn. FFXIII was bad... FFXIV was good though (I know it's an MMO RPG). Where is Ni no Kuni? It was great. Xillia was good too.

[Xof]

Sorry, VC is not an RPG.

In an RPG, the player assumes the role of a character within the story.

In Valkyria Chronicles, the player assumes the role of an external third party who views the story from the "outside," and interacts with the game from the perspective of a god.

An anime aesthetic and cel-shading don't make a game an RPG, people--the actual gameplay mechanics and narrative presentation are what matter here.

[Spotie]

An rpg is a game where you play a role. Like many, MANY rpgs, you play as multiple roles in Valkyria Chronicles. That crap about third party god mode nonsense is just weak justification for a bad "point" you're trying to make.

In VC, you assume the role of dozens of characters, not just one. It's no different from FF Tactics, Disgaea or any of many others in the strategy subgenre.

Don't know where you got the idea from, but your definition of an rpg is shared by no one.

[Xof]

Sorry, but you don't assume the role of any of the characters in the game. The player assumes the role of an entity external to the story.

Hence the book presentation with newspaper clippings and photos. You're experiencing a story that has already been documented--you are not an active participant in it.

You can whine all you like about how I'm wrong, but the point is I've able to argue my point, and those who disagree, it seems, are incapable of framing a counterargument.

What makes it an RPG, then, instead of a strategy game (which it is)?

[Sly-Lupin]

Dunno why people think VC is an RPG. It's turn-based strategy game. The fact that it borrows an aesthetic more common to JRPGs and that it gives each unit a name don't have any bearing on its genre--only the mechanics do.

And the mechanics of the game are solidly TBS.

[joab777]

Lol. I absolutely adore Valkyria...one of my all time favorite games.

For me in addition its Lost Odyssey, Ni No kuni, Persona 4, The Witcher 2, and Dark Souls.

[thorstein]

Ni NO Kuni and Demon's Souls!

[jambola]

Translation - "I closed the link as soon as it had something it had a game i didn't like"

[Magicite]

Ill fix it for you: ''Top 10 Most Hyped RPGs Of The Generation''.

[knifefight]

Doing this list before Persona 5 drops seems a little bit, I don't know, premature.

[rextraordinaire]

How could you get so much disagrees?

Persona 5 is almost sure to get the top spot.

[styferion]

even just watching Persona Q intro on 3DS is enough to get me thinking "Skyrim who? this is how you make an RPG". P5 definitely going to be a strong contender of top RPG of the generation.

[rextraordinaire]

I can't wait. After p4 golden and Catherine, I'm hyped like.never before!

[wynams]

Skyrim is not even the best TES game and definitely not the best RPG.

Also, give me Gothic I or II over almost everything in this list of 10

[joab777]

Skyrim is beyond overrated as an rpg. What made it so popular is its editor nature. It is almost a playground for coders on PC. A great big world for ppl to play in.

As an rpg, very disappointing.

[Rob_Ko]

Diablo 3 as rpg? lol

[StockpileTom]

As much as I love VC (and that badass Welkin pose) it isn't an RPG; it is a hybrid game that is in a category of its own.

[joab777]

True. Its more of an sjrpg. But nonetheless one of the best games of last gen imo.

[Inception]

Mass Effect also a hybrid of TPS and RPG but the core gameplay still an RPG. It's the same with VC. It's a hybrid of quasi-shooter, tactical/strategy, and RPG. But the core gameplay is an RPG.

[Tdmd]

A srpg is still a rpg, and VC is just that.

[StockpileTom]

It has RPG elements... Valkyria Chronicles III with it's individual character progression definitely crosses that blurry line. I would love a game that combines ideas from VC, Fire Emblem, MGS: Peacewalker together.

RPG, Strategy, SRPG, TRPG, JRPG, WR, TE... doesn't matter too much what we call it in the end- it is a great game.

[Metallox]

Xenoblade Chronicles it's first for me.

[Vantage]

What the hell is this list? FF13, Diablo 3, Dark Souls 2, and Mass Effect 2 do not belong on this list. This is "Of the generation".

Dark Souls 2 is badly designed in most aspects and fails to capture the Souls experience. If you're going to have a Souls game on here, let it be Demon's Souls or Dark Souls.

Dragon Age: Origins belongs in the top 5 and is superior as an RPG to Dark Souls 2 and Mass Effect 2.

Skyrim is not number one.

This article is misinformed.

[rextraordinaire]

No Child of Light?

Also... Ni No Kuni?

How could they forget Ni No Kuni? By far one of the most epic and grand scale RPGs of this generation and generations past...

[thelaughingwiseman]

I was thinking the same thing, but it didn't really start out as a console game. It was ported from the DS. I have trouble counting hand held games as part of certain generations because they move on their own time.

[rextraordinaire]

Yeah, but I think the ps3 version had enough work into it to count as a game in itself, not only a port. ( Dem graphics! :D )

[thelaughingwiseman]

No Deus Ex Human REvolution or Borderlands? Seriously, RPG's are very hard to clarify: Are they open world? Looting? Power Trees? NPC's? You play a role and your roles create certain outcomes.

My list is Demon Souls, Human Revolution, Borderlands, Valkyrie Chronicles, Mass Effect 2, Arkham City, Lost Odyssey, Fall Out New Vegas, Oblivion, Kingdoms of Amalur (very underrated)

[rextraordinaire]

And Dragon's Dogma?

[PiNkFaIrYbOi]

This list fails just for adding Final Fantasy XIII. Most of the other games weren't that great either.

[DiscoKid]

Never played Valkyria. Can someone tell me what makes it good? I may try it.

[Inception]

If i put it on word: it's like Growlanser made a baby with X-Com. But just like the article said:

"its combination of quasi-shooter, strategy, and role-playing elements"

The game had World War 2 theme but use beautifull cell shading anime style. You took control of an army squad who had class like scout, medic, sniper, engineer, etc + with a big ass tank that you can customize to fight the Empire who invaded your country.

For me, VC is worth every penny. The graphic really beautifull, gameplay are deep, and music is awesome (Hitoshi Sakimoto from Vagrant Story + FF XII composed the music). I suggest you should try it.

[Tdmd]

It's fun, it's beautiful, it's fun, it's challenging, has a great - long - story to tell, lots of personality, customization, huge cast, it's fun, charming... definitely one of the highest notes of this generation. Oh, and it is fun! Like, really fun! :D

[Inception]

Replaced FF XIII with Ni no Kuni, Bravely Default, Tales of Xillia, Resonance of Fate, Persona 4 Golden, or even Persona 5.

[DemonChicken]

my thoughts exactly, so many better rpgs out there

[Revengeance]

Final Fantasy XIII is garbage and a stain on the franchise. I would've replaced that with Ni no Kuni or Tales of Xillia.