A Survey of the 2014 Gamescape

RPGs

7 Days to Die – The Fun Pimps (Linux, Mac OS X, Windows)
Homepage
May 2014

What is it?
A first-person survival game mixing together elements from games such as Minecraft and Dead Island taking place after a nuclear apocalypse blows up the world leaving you and zombies to fight over it. Players can mine for ingredients, grow crops for food, lay traps, break down walls and doors, set up traps, and gain experience to upgrade different skill trees unlocking better crafting options for weapons and other tools. There are also multiplayer options like co-op to get into. It was also successfully Kickstarted and Greenlighted.

Age of Decadence – Iron Tower Studio (PC)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
The game hit a number of important milestones in the past year a major one of which was being listed on Steam and in offering Early Access. Iron Tower Studio, the indie studio behind this CRPG, are shaping the game around classic lines with a deep, crunchy stats-filled character development system, consequences for your actions throughout the game, a huge post-apocalyptic medieval world fashioned after the fall of the Roman Empire to explore, and plenty of reasons to take care in who you piss off. Combat also reflects the gritty world in this game by making life both brutish and short for the careless, but rewarding for others that take the time to immerse themselves in navigating the mores of the world’s inhabitants to their advantage.

Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky – Gust Co. Ltd. (PS3)
Homepage
March 11, 2014

What is it?
Another RPG from Japan makes its way to the West joining the other chapters of the Atelier series with a whole new adventure. Like Namco Bandai’s Tales of Xillia, the player will be asked to pick which of two protagonists (quirky Escha or serious-minded Logy) to play the game as. The main story will remain the same, but certain events will be tailored to whoever you’ve taken control. Alchemy will still play a big part of the series as our heroes battle their way on through another lighthearted story.

Bravely Default – Silicon Studio, Square Enix (Nintendo 3DS)
Homepage
February 7, 2014

What is it?
An “old school” RPG drawing inspiration from classical Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest gameplay elements featuring a huge quest, a memorable cast of characters, and turn-based combat tweaked with a unique reward/risk system where you can store up points or burn them all triggering multiple attacks. Multiple endings are also promised adding another notch to the 3DS’ already impressive collection of RPG titles.

Barkley 2 – Tales of Game (OS X, Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Bumped from the end of 2013 to sometime in 2014, this Kickstarter is still on track for a release. As I noted last year, it’s the sequel to the first game, Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley Saga which you can play for free. This time around, it’s going to be action RPG. Expect all of the irreverent humor and attitude from the first along with a whole new story inside a world that changes around you as players seek out the Cyberdwarf in 666X’s cyberpocalypse.

Child of Light – Ubisoft Montreal (PS3, PS4, Wii U, Windows, Xbox 360, XBO)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Set in the world of Lemuria, players take on the role of Aurora, a young girl on a quest to save her father and kingdom. It will combine parts platforming and turn-based RPG systems allowing Aurora to level up, use skill points to unlock new abilities, craft what can help her, and solve puzzles to unlock the mysteries before her in a watercolor world of fantasy inspired by JRPGs. You can also keep up with the development of the game on their tumblr which has entries in both French and English.

Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars – Spike Chunsoft (Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita)
Homepage
April 15, 2014

What is it?
Sequel to the RPG from Spike Chunsoft where players court maidens in order to create Star Children with which they take into dungeons to fight terrible monsters in a sci-fi setting. It’s like a JRPG Brady Bunch, or a more social and child-happy Phantasy Star III, complete with role playing combat as you guide your kids to smash weak points together as long as you can maintain a good rapport  with each.

Dark Souls II – From Software (PS3, Xbox 360, Windows)
Homepage
March 11, 2014

What is it?
The third-person, action RPG sequel to the ego-breaking Dark Souls promising more of the same which, in the series’ case, always feels fresh because of the variety of ways that From Software thinks up on challenging players whether it is with a giant titan or a fire breathing drake dashing down from the sky. Featuring twice the size of Dark Souls, the accessible start tailored to newcomers may be the only reprieve players may have before they die, die, and die again.

Dead State – DoubleBear Productions (Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Updates are still incoming and the game continues to trudge along in development reaching a recent beta demo milestone internally with video showing off what they’ve done so far. As I noted last year, this is a CRPG with branching dialogue, plenty of NPCs, turn-based combat, crafting, and of course zombies…lots and lots of zombies. Players will have their hands full in trying to survive the zombie apocalypse they’re thrown in as they scavenge for supplies, lead expeditions out to find materials needed to upgrade their shelter, and negotiate the verbal minefield laying in wait between the people they’re supposed to save as everyone’s nerves begin fraying apart. This is also a part of the Kickstarter club having also been successfully funded and slowly making its way to release.

Demon Gaze – Kadokawa Games (PS Vita)
Homepage (Japan)
April 22, 2014

What is it?
An RPG sequel that takes place thousands of years after its predecessor, Students of the Round, where players take on the role of an amnesiac named Oz who has the power to seal away demons with a magic eye. Joining him are secondary characters that the player can cobble together to plunge into dungeons to find loot in order to pay for rent at the local inn or improve the party.

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Blizzard Entertainment (OS X, PS4, Windows)
Homepage
March 25, 2014

What is it?
The expansion for Diablo III introducing a new act, Act V, and a new Crusader class for players to sink even more grinding and loot into. The story behind this involves the missing Archangel of Wisdom, Malthael, now the Angel of Death who seizes the Black Soulstone from its resting place where it was placed by Tyrael in order to end the war by ending the world. In addition to a new Act and class, the expansion will also boast a new level cap up to 70, skills, and a host of new monsters to fight.

Divinity: Original Sin – Larian Studios (Windows (Mac and Linux TBA))
Homepage
February 28, 2014

What is it?
An isometric CRPG using turned based combat based on action points, a non-linear, open world approach to the main campaign, consequences for your actions, and drop-in drop-out co-op. The game centers on two protagonists; a condemned warrior and a heroine raised from the dead, as they quest to save the world of Rivellon from destruction. It takes place long before the first Divine Divinity title making it accessible to newcomers but promises tons of RPG goodness to satisfy longtime fans. It was also successfully Kickstarted to expand even more of what Larian Studios already had built up.

Dragon Age: Inquisition – BioWare (PS3, PS4, Windows, Xbox 360, XBO)
Homepage
Q3 2014

What is it?
The third installment in the Dragon Age fantasy franchise from BioWare and EA hopes to stage a comeback to elements that made the first game great and distance itself from the things that made the second game…not so great. This time, spending far more than only a year in development, it centers on putting the player in charge of an Inquisition without borders seeking answers as a nations-spanning organization, retaking keeps, assigning them purpose, and battling it out with a move straight from Mortal Kombat. Turn-based options are back along with the strategic camera, but the real test is how it will all come together. If all goes well, we’ll find out towards the tail end of 2014.

Drakengard 3 – Access Games (PS3)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Although Cavia is no more, a few members of the former company behind Nier as well as the title’s director went on to create Drakengard 3 as part of Access Games. Drakengard’s action RPG blend has always had something of a grim, and sometimes bizarre, slant to its narrative with unique characters and scenarios while casting the player into a dual role – that of the rider and the dragon that is their mount. The third game sounds like it’s diving back into that tradition as it places the player in the role of a mysterious Intoner who has returned to resolve her familial issues by killing her five sisters with her own dragon.

Fable Anniversary – Lionhead (X360)
Homepage
TBA February

What is it?
The first Fable is being re-released with re-mastered textures, models, tweaked interface, and will also include the extra content that had been released for it such as the Lost Chapters as it jumps on the HD bandwagon. If you missed the first Fable, this upcoming February might be a good time to see what all of the hubbub was about with Lionhead’s definitive version which will try to do for the first Fable what Crystal Dynamics had done for the first Tomb Raider with its own Anniversary edition.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – Square Enix (PS4)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
It’s the PS4 release of the MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, which was re-released to a warm reception among fans and newcomers as one of the biggest gambles any studio could make in doing something that would have crippled lesser developers by literally rebooting it. A beta is slated for the PS4 in February in Japan right around when the console launches there, though an exact date on its official release after that is still up in the air.

Grim Dawn – Crate Entertainment (Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Now pushing past 2013, Grim Dawn has made a few notable milestones like Age of Decadence has in making it to Steam and in opening itself up to Early Access. An “official” release date is still up in the air, but the main game seems to be well on its way to being released sooner rather than a year or so later if everything goes well. It’s also another Kickstarter baby  and is also being developed by many of the same people behind Titan Quest. As I noted last year and am copy-pasting for this year, Grim Dawn features a lot of the old-school, action RPG fun that Iron Lore’s veterans had brought out in their Greek-inspired epic now taking place in an original, post apocalyptic open world allowing players to roam freely and mash monsters at will while raining loot and skill trees at their feet. As always, sounds like awesome fun.

Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption – Far Studio (Linux, OS X, Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Pushing into 2014, the game is still well on its way with frequent updates on its progress. Copy-pasting the description from last year, Quest for Glory designers, Corey and Lori Cole, founded this via Kickstarter to help fund this spiritual successor to the popular series which blended traditional adventure gaming with RPG elements. Rogue to Redemption will still be a 2D adventure featuring a new character, Connor, who will explore a new world as he learns the ropes at Hero-U…which just happens to be built within the ruins of a mysterious castle. Turn based combat, adventure gaming puzzles, and a big story tying it all together make it one for adventure and RPG players to watch for…hopefully in 2014.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII – Square Enix (PS3, Xbox 360)
Homepage
February 11, 2014

What is it?
Released in Japan in November, the second follow-up to Final Fantasy XIII arrives in North America focusing on Lightning as she emerges from her crystal coccoon at the end of XIII-2 to save the world in less than thirteen days. Focusing more on her as a solo action hero, the game fuses the paradigm system into a “style change” system where she changes her appearance on the fly in combat by shifting into specific roles. Certain actions will also cause more time to pass than others, whether it’s in pushing the clock forward or back, giving players more to think about than mashing their way through every battle.

Lords of the Fallen – Deck 13 (PS4, Windows, XBO)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
An action RPG led by the former senior producer of The Witcher 2, Tomasz Gop, that boasts “epic enemies” and a world that will “satisfy players’ hunger to explore each corner” with a customizable hero stitched together with skill trees. There’s not much else known about the game other than it promises to be “hardcore” as players duel against the terrifying leaders of a Fallen Gods’ demonic army in a world the rest of the gods have abandoned.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor – Monolith Productions (PS3, PS4, Windows, Xbox 360, XBO)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
An action RPG “prequel” set between the events of the Hobbit and the first book of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Players are cast into the role of Talion, a ranger killed by the resurgent armies of Sauron as they belch forth from Mordor. But he doesn’t meet his family in the afterlife. Instead, Tolkien-faithful will be challenged whether or not to embrace the idea of being bound to a wraith and returning to wage a one-man war against the darkness. Expect side quests, a fighting system described as something akin to Rocksteady’s Batman series, and the Nemesis System which promises enemies you fail to kill will remember you – and potentially grow stronger over time. You can even turn a few to your service…if you’re powerful enough.

Might & Magic X: Legacy – Limbic Entertainment (Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Remember grid-based movement, 90° turns, and  huge open worlds ripe for exploration? That’s what the first Might & Magic brought to PCs in the 80s with an incredibly ambitious first-person vision (and brutal levels of challenge). Limbic hopes to bring that flavor back to modern audiences using more current technology to prettify the environment but keep much of the hardcore trappings of the classic games such as World of Xeen packed with classes, races, and the dungeons that made them memorable.

One Piece: Romance Dawn – Three Rings (Nintendo 3DS, PSP)
Homepage
February 11, 2014

What is it?
Initially launched on the Japanese PSP in 2012, the 3DS port is finally making its way to North America as the last stop after hitting Europe and Australia, spreading more One Piece fun in RPG form. It sounds like a winning formula in having gameplay mine the massive One Piece universe. Unfortunately, it also sounds like something of a dud based on this early review from Nintendo Life.

Persona 5 – Atlus (PS3)
Homepage
Winter 2014

What is it?
It’s the long awaited next chapter to the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series which has long featured a unique system allowing players to blend together captured monsters from a vast dungeon to create new ones that can be summoned in battle. In-game social connections have also featured prominently in previous titles such as Persona 3 and 4 leaving a mystery in how they might figure into the “shackles” shown in the trailer.

Pillars of Eternity – Obsidian Entertainment (Linux, OS X, Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Successfully Kickstarted as Project Eternity, the new name is only the latest milestone for the upcoming CRPG hearkening back to old-school classics such as BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate and Black Isle’s Planescape: Torment. Obsidian’s house is packed with veteran designers with years of experience and the game will be based on an original world steeped in classic, party driven swords and sorcery combat married to a twisting story promising plenty of choices, consequences, and deep themes. This one is definitely on my most anticipated list as both a backer and a fan of CRPGs in general.

Ragnarok Odyssey ACE – Game Arts (PS Vita, PS3)
Homepage
February 18, 2014

What is it?
ACE is the updated version of Ragnarok Odyssey which came out in 2012 for the Vita based on the MMORPG, Ragnarok Online. It’s a Monster Hunter style game featuring tons of weapons, quests, and monsters to fight with the ACE version offering new tweaks such as Yggdrasil’s roguelike dungeon, new skills, and choices on how to improve your weapons.

Rainbow Skies – Sidequest Studios (PS3, PS Vita)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
A downloadable RPG following in Rainbow Moon’s footsteps in a new world. In this adventure, players can use combos to beat down monsters in turn-based battles, go on quests for loot, and even catch monsters, train them up, and add them to your party. The game will also support cross saves between the PS3 and the Vita.

Raven’s Cry – Reality Pump Studios (Windows, PS3, X360)
Homepage
May 7, 2014

What is it?
From the studio that brought you Two Worlds comes an action role-playing game about pirates. In this one, players are cast as Christopher, the sole survivor of a pirate attack that killed his parents. He lost his hand in that encounter eventually replacing it with a hook and when he was old enough, embarks on a quest to find the men that destroyed his life. The game promises tactical melee combat with an “authentic pirate-hunting arsenal” along with choices that will determine whether he finds the justice he seeks or ultimately becomes the monster he’s hunted all of his life.

South Park: The Stick of Truth – Obsidian Entertainment (OnLive, PS3, Windows, Xbox 360)
Homepage
March 4, 2014

What is it?
A year later after its expected 2013 release date, it looks like the game is finally coming out. Regurgitating what I said last year, Obsidian is taking South Park into a game with a “billion” costume changes as players head into a quest as a new kid to the neighborhood. They’re eventually pulled into a neighborhood-spanning LARP to keep the Stick of Truth from the hands of evil and hopefully find enough coolness to stand with Cartman, Kyle, Stan, and Kenny. Both series creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are heavily involved with the game ensuring that fans will have plenty to look forward to when it finally arrives. Hopefully.

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles – Namco Bandai Games (PS3)
Homepage (Japan)
February 25, 2014

What is it?
A remaster of Tales of Symphonia which includes Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World for the Wii, both now on the PS3. So, if PS3 players missed out on either of these classics, they’ll get another chance to dive into not just one but two epic Tales titles featuring solid combat mechanics, a host of great characters, and many, many hours of adventure.

Tales of Xillia 2 – Namco Bandai Games (PS3)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Sequel that takes place a year after the events of the original game with a new protagonist, Ludger Kresnik, who becomes involved in a new plot to save the world after an accident brings him and a young girl, Elle Marta, together. In this chapter, the game will be emphasizing how choice can spin new events and change how the story might play out. Though it didn’t do so hot over in Japan sales-wise, fans in the West will finally get a chance to jump into this themselves.

Toukiden – Omega Force (PS Vita)
Homepage
February 11, 2014

What is it?
An action role-playing game set against a mythic backdrop made up of elements from Japanese folklore and history casting players as medieval demon hunters. They can also collect souls, level them up, and equip them to enhance their own abilities in battle while taking on side quests and tackling missions to bag even larger demons lurking in wilderness. It sounds a lot like Monster Hunters, only with demons, which apparently was enough for this to become a huge blockbuster over in Japan more than doubling Vita system sales for a month when it was released.

UnderRail – Stygian Software (Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
Copy-pasting part of my description for this from last year, this is an isometric, post-apocalyptic indie RPG inspired by games such as Black Isle’s Fallout titles sticking the player inside an underground society where railway stations have become city-states – much like those in 4A Games’ Metro 2033. Players will be able to shape their character in any way they want with a massive selection of skills ranging from picking locks to scary psi powers. In the past year, the game has hit a few important points such as making it to Steam. A “final” version of the game looks like it will make it out in 2014 though if you can’t wait, you can always opt in for Early Access and give devs feedback on how to make it better.

Wasteland 2 – inXile Entertainment (Linux, OS X, Windows)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
The sequel to the post-apocalyptic CRPG that made surviving the wastes as fashionable as a bright yellow radiation suit. It’s now in Early Access on Steam so if you want to try out the game and contribute to its development, the option is open. There are a lot of reasons to be excited about this not to mention that Interplay alum, Brian Fargo, had managed to get many of the names responsible for the original together in a wildly successful Kickstarter effort along with a few new veterans such as Obsidian’s Chris Avellone. Full disclosure – I was a backer and I really should be playing more of that beta.

The Witch and the Hundred Knight – Nippon Ichi Software (PS3)
Homepage
March 25, 2014

What is it?
The makers of Disgaea are behind this action RPG which casts players as a “hundred knight” in service to the witch, Metallica (to be renamed Metallia in the West), who seeks to spread her marsh across the land once she deals with a pesky rival. It’s already out in Japan and will finally make its way to western shores in 2014 introducing players to a Dark Souls like death system where you lose everything you might be carrying only to return to life since you’re, well, undead. And if those villagers are getting in your way, just summon your inner Laharl and beat them into submission.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – CD Projekt RED (PS4, Windows, XBO)
Homepage
TBA 2014

What is it?
The epic, open-world conclusion to Geralt’s story. With a huge world reportedly “20% larger than Skyrim” and crammed with side-quests, beasts for the Witcher to hunt, a slew of skills and alchemical tricks to learn, and all set within the gritty world author Andrzej Sapkowski had set into motion with his books which CD Projekt RED brought to life with hard choices and unhappy endings, Geralt’s endgame promises to be both an amazing sendoff for a remarkable character and one of the biggest RPG events of 2014.

X – Monolith Soft (Wii U)
E3 Nintendo’s X page
TBA 2014

What is it?
Though it isn’t a direct sequel to the remarkable Xenoblade Chronicles, it looks like it will be spiritual  many of the same themes as part of the Xeno series of titles that Monolith Soft is known for. As a sci-fi JRPG, it looks like it will take more of a lead from their work with Xenogears and Xenosaga introducing giant mechs that the characters can use to explore an open world filled with new adventure and dangers.