Top 5 Great RPGs or JRPGs You Can Play In 2025

Release & Developer

Baldur’s Gate 3 has been out since August 3, 2023, for Windows, PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2023, macOS on September 22, 2023, and Xbox Series X/S on December 7, 2023.

Narrative & Setting

In the Forgotten Realms, the game begins with your character infected with a mind-flayer tadpole on a ship that travels through dimensions and sets off on a large-scale adventure to prevent ceremorphosis. The rich, branching storylines allow decisions to flow through three acts and offer true agency and replayability.

Gameplay & Systems

Baldur’s Gate 3 features turn-based combat under Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, mixing cinematic dialogue with tabletop and deep party customization. Players can create twelve character classes, multiclass for hybrid classes, and recruit ten full-fledged companion origin characters with unique arcs.

Critical Acclaim

Critics everywhere widely praised the game’s story and production values and scored “universal acclaim” on Metacritic and a 98% recommendation. It’s a must-have for anyone looking for the best RPG of RPGs. You can even experience it with multiple friends!

2. Final Fantasy XVI

Release & Developer

Final Fantasy XVI was launched worldwide on June 22, 2023, exclusively for PlayStation 5, and a Windows version will be released on September 17, 2024.

Story & Themes

Set in the war-torn universe of Valisthea, the game tracks antihero Clive Rosfield, Dominant’s shield, as he uncovers political intrigue and Eikon-summoning battles. The darker, more mature narrative tackles themes of revenge, sacrifice, and moral complexity, introducing a new tone for the series.

Combat & Mechanics

Stepping away from turn-based stalwarts, FFXVI brings real-time, dynamic combat inspired by the fluidity of Devil May Cry, emphasizing combo-oriented action and Eikon forms. Shallow depth is the only flaw in an otherwise streamlined system that will appeal to action-RPG enthusiasts.

Critical Reception

Most Final Fantasys have always been top in RPGs, and this one’s no different. Metacritic features a 87/100 critic rating and a 92% recommendation. Some fans aren’t particularly fond of it, but the numbers on most, if not all, websites say enough for themselves. Play it and form your own opinion!

3. Starfield

Release & Developer

Bethesda Game Studios released Starfield on 6th September, 2023, for PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Scope & Setting

Staking “Skyrim in space,” Starfield invites exploration of procedurally generated thousands of worlds in a hand-created Milky Way galaxy. Become part of the Constellation and uncover secrets and interstellar artifacts in an open-world sandbox.

Gameplay & Features

Starfield blends Bethesda’s traditional quest design with deep RPG mechanics: character development, ship customization, and faction alignment. Its Creation Engine 2 powers diverse environments, augmented by the Inon Zur soundtrack to enhance immersion.

Critical Consensus

Most critics and fans rate it as overall positive, with an absolute minimum of 80% or higher. Polygon noted its combination of crafted narrative and procedural scope, though some note the somewhat shallow depth of exploration. Still, if you’re looking to play one of the multiple RPGs out there, definitely give this one a shot.

4. Dragon’s Dogma 2

Release & Developer

Capcom released Dragon’s Dogma 2 on March 22, 2024, for console and PC.

World & Pawns

Back in the fantasy realm of Gransys, the player navigates a vast open world with AI “Pawns” that evolve and learn. The groundbreaking combat, fusing monster-scale fights with visceral combat, builds upon the cult status of the original.

Mechanics & Progression

With class professions like Assassin and Mage, Arisen characters and Pawns set out into dungeons and the overworld, employing climbing and tactical commands. Capcom’s “time saver” microtransaction furore aside, the underlying loop of questing and beat-down boss fights is still interesting.

Reviews & Scores

Metacritic rates Dragon’s Dogma 2 a 86/100 on PS5 and Xbox Series X , with PC earning an 88/100. Fans praise its adventure, some mentioning optimization bugs, but agreeing it’s among the year’s greatest action RPGs.

5. Octopath Traveler II

Release & Developer

Square Enix and Acquire released Octopath Traveler II on February 24, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Windows.

Visual & Structure

Continuing the HD-2D diorama look, the game features eight main characters that all have unique “Path Actions,” which reveal lore and rewards. Its day/night cycle adds strategic complexity to character encounters.

Combat & Storytelling

Continuing turn-based combat with Boost and Latent Powers, OT II simplifies group synergy and difficulty escalation. Metacritic averages 84/100, but most praise its visual style, vignette-based characters, and 60+ hours of content.

Player Reception

Octopath Traveler II’s release on Xbox Game Pass in mid-2024 brought new gamers to its eight-tale design, earning high user reviews (9/10 on Steam) and praise for how it exceeded the first one, earning its rightful place as one of the best RPGs out there.

Final Thoughts

Whether you seek the story depth and D&D realism of Baldur’s Gate 3 or the retro HD-2D charm of Octopath Traveler II, these RPGs in 2025 have something for every type of player. Don’t get me wrong, there are many, many, MANY RPGs that are and definitely should be recommended, but if you’re new then maybe just start with these.

Each title adds something fresh, whether that be storytelling, fight innovation, or world creation, to ensure the role-playing genre will remain an institution of gaming today. Happy journeys!