Best Role-playing games of 2016: Blood, wine and Pokemon

There were truly a lot of role-playing games we loved to play in 2016. From small and innovative indie titles to grand scale AAA adventures, we’ve experienced many stories across many different settings. Though we loved many of them, we had to pick out the best ones for this list – not an easy task to say the least. However, We made some pretty good choices, don’t you think?

Here are our picks for the best role-playing games of 2016.

Darkest Dungeon

Developer: Red Hook Studios

Publisher: Red Hook Studios

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PS Vita

A dark and twisted hamlet, a mysterious secret, an ancestor obsessed with the occult – Darkest Dungeon definitely dots all the “i”s and crosses all the “t”s in its Lovecraftian tale of death and horror. Lead a group of adventurers as they explore, fight and often die in your name to uncover the family secret and hopefully redeem yourself before it’s too late. A solid blend of RPG, Roguelike and some turn-based strategy, Darkest Dungeon pulls no punches and doesn’t let you off easily, but a good use of skills, a solid marching order and a dash of luck will you see you through to the end of this dark and grim story.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Developer: Eidos Montreal

Publisher: Square Enix

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Even if you are not a fan of the original Deus Ex titles from the early 2000’s, you have to admit there’s just something about the new series started by the excellent Dues Ex: Human Revolution in 2011. Dues Ex: Mankind Divided improves upon its predecessor in almost every way, starting with a true “freedom of play” that lets you tackle bosses and other challenges in the way you want to, be it stealth, aggression or subterfuge. Some of it is thanks to the new and very awesome augs Jensen has, but a lot of it is thanks to the well-crafted game world that provide a solid foundation for the gameplay to thrive on. Bottom line – Dues Ex: Mankind Divided is both a great game and a great cyberpunk RPG.

The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine

Developer: CD Projekt RED

Publisher: CD Projekt

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

It’s a bit weird for us to include an expansion in a list of best RPGs of 2016, but The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine is so huge, and oh-so-good, that it can stand on its own. While it can’t compete with The Wild Hunt in sheer volume of content, Blood and Wine does give the core game a run for its money when it comes to quality. Toussaint, the place where most of the expansion takes place, is the most beautiful area we’ve ever seen in a Witcher game, and the monsters you face there are some of the toughest. The main quest chain takes Geralt to some really interesting places, to meet some really interesting people, and solve some really interesting mysteries. Blood and Wine concludes The Witcher 3’s saga in a most satisfying way fans really don’t want to miss.

Pokemon Sun and Moon

Developer: Game Freak

Publisher: The Pokemon Company

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS

Pokemon Sun and Moon did a fantastic job of taking the Pokemon series to a whole new level. Withstanding the limits of a three year old handheld console, Sun and Moon looks and sounds amazing. The new pair of games added some much needed changes to the Pokemon series, while also giving a refreshing new kind of challenge called the Island Trials. Along with new challenges, the games simplified some of the series more tedious activities. With an amazing story to hold it all together, plenty of activities to do both during and after the campaign and a massive online community, this is truly a must-have game for the 3DS console.

Tyranny

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Publisher: Paradox Interactive

Platforms: PC

What makes Tyranny a solid contender for top RPG of 2016 aren’t its graphics, music or world – although all of these are excellent. What makes Tyranny stand apart from the others is how deep and how reactive the world is. While the story is obviously going to a specific destination and taking you along for the ride, the amount of control you have over your path is exceptional. The “R” of RPG shines bright as you enter your role and change the world – make it a paradise or the 9th circle of hell, Tyranny reacts and molds the world to your choice like no other game in recent years did.