2023 could well be one of the best years in PlayStation history for RPG fans. That may seem like bold statement at first, but we've compiled a list of 30 promising titles set to release over the course of the next 12 months — and it's safe to say that 2023 is absolutely packed with role-playing games.
We've already highlighted a whopping 60 Most Anticipated PS5, PS4 Games of 2023, and although this list shares a fair few of the same titles, we're specifically looking at RPGs this time around.
We might be sticking to just one genre, but the amount of variety on offer this year is staggering. From your open world epics to your nostalgia-driven JRPGs, there's so much to look forward to in the months ahead.
This list is ordered chronologically, based on confirmed release dates. Now then, let's dive right in...
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (PS5)
A full year of role-playing goodness kicks off with the PS5 version of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Probably the best video game retelling of the Dragon Ball Z saga, this action RPG lets players explore a colourful world, powering up their heroes' abilities through quests and optional battles before taking on key fights from the source material. An well crafted love letter to the franchise — and the expansions are pretty good too.
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One Piece Odyssey (PS5)
One Piece meets Dragon Quest in this turn-based RPG, in which Luffy and his crew are transported to a strange island. Chunks of the game will see the Straw Hats relive past adventures, rediscovering their powers in the process. It's clear that Bandai Namco has had a big budget for this one, and even if you're not familiar with the juggernaut manga and anime property, we dare say that it'll still be worth keeping an eye on.
Persona 3 Portable (PS4)
It'll be great having Persona 3 on a modern console — even if Persona 3 Portable is a streamlined version of the experience. The PS2 original put Atlus' now smash hit series on the map, boasting a fantastic sense of style, a great cast of characters, and some memorable, eery storytelling. Large parts of the Persona formula were better fleshed out in its sequels, but there's something truly special about Persona 3's foreboding atmosphere.
Persona 4 Golden (PS4)
Many would say that Persona 4 Golden is the Vita's greatest game, and after you spend around 100 hours with its delightful cast, solving crazy mysteries in the shadow world, it's hard to argue. The sleepy town of Inaba makes for a superb setting, where inexplicable murders are taking place on a regular basis. Naturally, it's up to a bunch of high schoolers to get to the bottom of things. A role-playing masterpiece that we can't wait to experience all over again.
Monster Hunter Rise (PS5)
A surprise announcement from Capcom late last year, Monster Hunter Rise is making the jump to PS5 and PS4 this January. Switch and PC players have been banging on about this one since its initial release, and although it might not have the budget and shine of the excellent Monster Hunter World, this is clearly going to be another utterly engrossing action RPG.
Forspoken (PS5)
Forspoken's had its marketing ups and downs since its reveal — and the currently available demo seems to have divided opinion even further — but we can get behind Square Enix trying something new. An open world action RPG with an emphasis on spell-slinging combat and traversal, we're hoping that Forspoken will strike a chord ahead of the year's heaviest hitters.
Tales of Symphonia Remastered (PS4)
Tales of Symphonia is definitely old enough to be considered a classic at this point, and this remaster's set to deliver a hefty dose of nostalgia. Yes, it's a real shame that it's capped at 30 frames-per-second, but Tales fans will find it hard to resist the allure of Lloyd Irving's epic adventure to regenerate the world.
Wild Hearts (PS5)
If Monster Hunter Rise doesn't satisfy your creature-culling needs, then Wild Hearts should scratch the itch. A surprising joint effort from Koei Temco's Omega Force and EA, this is set to be something of a spiritual successor to the solid Toukiden games. Everything we've seen so far suggests a moreish action RPG, boasting big environments and even bigger beasts. The flashy combat system relies on the crafting of magical siege weapons, which could give Wild Hearts a real edge.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! (PS5)
Western fans have been begging for an Ishin! localisation for years, and fortunately, SEGA listened to our pleas. Not just a port, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a full-on remake of the samurai-styled Yakuza spinoff. Familiar faces from throughout the franchise have been added to the already dramatic story, and the combat system's been given an overhaul with some crazy special attacks. Truth be told we're not totally sold on these super moves just yet, but we're still expecting a fantastic Like a Dragon title.
Octopath Traveler II (PS5)
While it is a bit weird to have Octopath Traveller II, er, travel straight to PS5 and PS4, there's no denying the quality of this traditional JRPG property. This sequel looks to improve on its predecessor with a tweaked combat system and more intricate storytelling. With the first game still missing on PlayStation, it'll be interesting to see how Octopath Traveller II fares — but at the end of the day, a great RPG is a great RPG, and we're ready to get stuck into this character-packed epic.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (PS5)
Team Ninja's upcoming action RPG has a lot of Nioh DNA running through its veins, but Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is looking to branch out in some very intriguing directions. For starters, combat is designed to be even more flashy and fluid, with a heavier emphasis on agility, parries, and counters. It's shaping up to be a spectacle, complete with more than enough depth to keep hardcore players engaged.
Trails to Azure (PS4)
The direct sequel to last year's Trails from Zero, Trails to Azure continues to story of Crossbell's Special Support Section as the sh*t really hits the fan. Indeed, where Zero sets the stage, Azure is supposed to be an absolute barnstormer — as dramatic as Falcom's Trails franchise gets. We can't wait to see how things unfold in what should be a gripping follow-up to an already fantastic JRPG.
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection (PS4)
When it comes to bang for your buck, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection looks difficult to beat. A compilation of ten titles, it's addictive and tactical turn-based battles from top to bottom. Throw in plenty of charming characters and entertaining storylines, and you've got a delightful time sink on your hands. Capcom's got bigger games coming out in 2023, but this collection simply can't be overlooked.
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores (PS5)
Who's up for more Horizon Forbidden West, then? We're expecting Burning Shores to basically be the equivalent of Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds — a meaty expansion that builds upon an already fantastic foundation. We anticipate some interesting little twists on the existing formula, and we can see Guerrilla Games crafting an absolutely gorgeous setting, since this DLC won't be held back by the PS4.
Diablo 4 (PS5)
Billed as a darker Diablo that echoes the grittier tones of Diablo 2, this long-awaited sequel places the property's timeless dungeon-looting blueprint in an expansive open world. We've actually played a chunk of Diablo 4 for preview purposes, and we think it's shaping up especially well. A satisfyingly weighty evolution of Blizzard's supremely addictive franchise.
Comments 31
I feel like I've been waiting for Granblue to the point I just keeping thinking its canceled.
No Hogwarts? I’m a bit vague on what is considered an RPG these days, but several similar games are included.
I went for Ishin and FFXVI
So glad you included Sea of Stars. Don't sleep on this one!
No Atelier Ryza 3?
I could easily vote for at least 10 games on this list and even a couple that didn't make the list.
FF16 and Rebirth are easily my most anticipated. I chose MH Rise as my third but that's mostly cause it's so close to releasing. Stuff like Wo Long, Suikoden, Trails to Azure, and P4G among many others are still high up there
Yeesh it is looking like an absolutely incredible year for RPGs. 3 picks isn't enough for me!
Ishin, All the Trails games, FF XVI, Persona 3&4, Lies of P, Horizon DLC... and on top of all these RPGs I got SF6 in the same month as FF XVI!? Time is going to be at a premium this year...
Why only 3 answers 😩
@KaijuKaiser Im excited for it too but like I said Rise is so close to release. Also I can expect a quality game from the MH series and it'll be $40 vs Wild Hearts' $70. Still Wild Hearts looks super promising
Theres literally too many to pick from. It’s gonna be a wild year.
Too many great options to single out but Octopath 2 might be the one for me. Visually stunning from what they've shown so far.
@thefourfoldroot1 It ALMOST made the list, we just thought it was a teensy bit borderline and wanted a round 30 games, so it was the last one cut.
Glad you put DBZ on first because I need a hyperbolic time chamber to play all of these games!
Fair play to anyone who has the time to play and complete all 30 of these.
I gave all my votes to Square. Two Final Fantasy games and a new IP from Luminous? Thank you very much!
And I’ll be contemplating about purchasing Diablo 4 the next half year as well!
Retro picks for me, final fantasy 1-6, p3p and suikoden. Sea of stars, diablo 4 and octopath 2 runners up.
I'd love final fantasy xvi on my list, but from what I've seen so far, I'm not even sure if it's going to be an RPG.
@get2sammyb
OK. Very strange choice to drop one of the biggest name games, that is being looked forward to by millions, for “Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection” and the like, or a DLC that isn’t even a full game strictly speaking…but I’m sure you had your reasons.
I'm sure square enix won't release ff16 and ff7rebirth in the same time period, at least one will go to 2024
This article just taught me that One Piece Odyssey's combat is turn based. Very interesting, I have no preference one way or another but it's getting a bit tiring how all these anime games have very similar feeling action combat systems. Being turn bases is, at the very least, something new. Definitely more interested in the game now.
Why is there no review or article about Chained Echoes?? One of the best games of 2022 not to mention classic JRPG feel.
Hogwarts Legacy is woefully missing, wtf? That’s my #1 pick.
The second is Diablo 4!
Nice! Thanks for this. Its gonna be an amazing year for rpgs.
Still mostly excited for the hack 'n' slash 'n' loot of Diablo 4.
A lot of amazing rpgs are coming.yo its gonna be fun as usual.word up son
So I have a insane backlog and now it's 30 RPG's i think I'll go climb the Himalayas that's more doable then finishing my backlog. 🤣
It has been great for jRPGs lately, and looks like 2023 will be fantastic also.
My next combo is One Piece Odyssey on SteamDeck and Forspoken on PS5.
Final Fantasy XIV is what I am really waiting for... it looks epic. Will need to take a long weekend from work like I did for GOW.
Kinda weird to cut Hogwarts Legacy, which defines itself as an action-RPG, but keep Monster Hunter Rise, a game where all of your character progression is tied to equipment upgrades.
@UltimateOtaku91
My thoughts exactly. One of very few games I have pre-ordered
@thefourfoldroot1 i agree hogwarts should be included here considering some of the other choices they put up..where is the first descendant as that looks like its going to be wicked or are free to play games excluded too?
I'm definitely looking forward to Final Fantasy XVI & Final Fantasy VII Rebirth the most, and am still cautiously optimistic about Forspoken for now.
I'll probably also play thru the Horizon: Forbidden West DLC if I can get around to playing Forbidden West from start to finish.
Everything else on the list I'll be waiting for deep price cuts on in a few years, I've got a massive backlog with plenty of RPGs to choose from.
Is blue protocol going to be mmorpg? Coz I'm kinda confused. I know it was originally planned as an mmo, but then I heard it changed to being co op multiplayer. So yeah confused. I would prefer it if it was an mmorpg.
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