RPGWatch - Game of the Year 2022 and Most Promising RPG 2023 Vote

[JFarrell71]

Or just wait. No real reason to think Avowed is coming in 2023.

 

[Couchpotato]

Or just wait. No real reason to think Avowed is coming in 2023.

Latest leak or rumor this week claims Avowed is targeting 2024.

Makes me wonder what Obsidian is up to lately with no major release?

 

[Couchpotato]

Update on Avowed it seems the game was rebooted and why it wasn't released yet.

Check my news-thread for the links and new info.

 

[bizorker]

I had to vote 'none' for 2022 as I've basically only been playing WofR for what seems like a thousand years and I guess that was from 2021. I love the game but sometimes I feel like I'm in an RPG prison of my own making and can't get out. Actually I did buy and play Roadwarden a bit but wasn't to my liking.

My "looking forward to playing in 2023 what I should have played in 2022" top game would be Elden Ring for sure. That game looks awesome.

For 2023 games (hopefully) my picks are Starfield and Wartales (looks like a cool concept). I want to want to pick BG3, but I've taken my expectations and locked them in a trapped chest and then teleported to another plane.

 

[bizorker]

I'm still somewhat miffed how so many people haven't even tried Black Geyser yet, that's a game where definitions definitely aren't an issue & it's in a format that most people would have at least tried had it been made by a 'favourite' developer and classed as a 'flawed gem' (cough, Obsidian, Troika, Bioware, Radon Labs, Owlcat etc). It's not like we're awash with Infinity Engine clones to the point where we can't fit one in once a year. It's not even a gargantuan time stealer.

Checking out this month's negative reviews, it's still getting positive negatives, people choosing negative because they can't vote average:

1. "Again, it's not a BAD game, but not very good." - This reviewer didn't find anything memorable in 8.5 hours of playtime. Well, I found plenty memorable, but then I guess memorability is subjective. Memorable stuff can also be bad stuff as well, so they didn't remember anything really bad it seems.

2. "3/5 not bad nor good." - This reviewer was disappointed by the lack of Shakespearian levels of quality writing. Lol. Ironically, their review read like gibberish, of course.

3. "It was an ok game but not what I was expecting. I do not regret playing it." - This reviewer couldn't bare the loading times. Fair enough, but plenty of RPGWatch GotYs have very poor loading times, it's not, by itself, a reason to deny something recognition in this regard.

I'm not trying to champion the game for GotY, I wouldn't expect it to win even if lots of people had played it, but I wouldn't deny it a top 3 place, and I think it'd be insane if it was outside the top 5.

It's not like it's some obscure indy with 'interesting' systems and graphics that is specifically designed to be niche, it's pretty much the kind of game everyone usually plays here, even if it's not the ultimate perfection of the Kickstarter era.

You know, it's like people who played Gothic probably played and found some enjoyment in Risen. People who played and enjoyed Fallout probably found some enjoyment in ATOM. And yet people who played and enjoyed Infinity Engine games and Pillars of Eternity wont even try Black Geyser? Are not even interested to try?

Weird. Unusual.

Anyway, just my rant-like 2 cents in reaction to the idea that such games as God of War have the chance to rank higher in the RPG of the year award.

i appreciate your enthusiam and I will give this one a go in 2023!

 

[henriquejr]

Like I said here before, I could easily pick 5 or 6 Most Promising RPG for 2023. Next year has everything set to be a great gaming year. Some fine examples taken from the voting list:

Avowed
Baldur's Gate 3
Broken Roads
Colony Ship - A Post-Earth Role Playing Game
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint
Dark Envoy
Diablo 4
Dungeons of the Amber Griffin
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Forspoken
Gothic 1 Remake
Hogwarts Legacy
Immortal Tactics: War of the Eternals
Project Haven
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
Starfield
System Shock (Remake)
The Iron Oath
Urban Strife
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Wartales
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

 

[Farflame]

Gothic Remake and Avowed wont come in 2023 so I didnt choose them.

There are two pretty big omissions in the list: Bleak Faith: Forsaken and Crimson Desert.

 

[HiddenX]

Gothic Remake and Avowed wont come in 2023 so I didnt choose them.

There are two pretty big omissions in the list: Bleak Faith: Forsaken and Crimson Desert.

Both are not even in the RPGWatch database yet...

 

[Farflame]

Both are not even in the RPGWatch database yet...

Really? That sounds like an act of heresy in RPG world. Where are prosecutors and judges?

 

[Redglyph]

First time I hear about those games. Just in case it helps:

Bleak Faith: Forsaken
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173220/Bleak_Faith_Forsaken/
- dev: Archangel Studios (not in our DB)
- publisher: (same)
- small team of 3 people, rare updates
- should release in January / February (ref)

Crimson Desert
- https://crimsondesert.pearlabyss.com/en-US/Main/Index
- dev: Pearl Abyss (no luck, it's not yet in the DB either)
- publisher: (same)
- news: https://www.pearlabyss.com/en-US/Board/Report (none since Dec 2020?? this site is a mess...)
- has been delayed until at least autumn 2023 (ref)

 

[Pladio]

Best Games :
1. Elex 2: Even with all its annoyances, it was one of the most fun games of the year for me. Really enjoyed the exploration and seeing old parts of Elex again. Joining the Morkons was actually fun too.
2. King Arthur: Was a bit of a surprise, but I really ended up enjoying this game. It's not perfect, but I found it fun. I played through the entire campaign. I might play it again after some DLC unless they focus only on post-campaign DLC.
3. Expeditions Rome: I didn't end up finishing this game, because of the campaign maps mostly, but the battles and the RPG-game itself were quite good. I played for over 50 hours and had a good time while it lasted.

Hard West 2 was fun too, but a bit limited for me.
I haven't yet played Lost Eidolons or Mount and Blade 2.
I am still playing through Marvel Midnight Suns, but it's not as fun in my opinion as the others.

Looking Forward:
1. Colony Ship RPG - loved Age of Decadence and I played through the first chapter of this one on Early Access and loved it too. So very much looking forward to this one.
2. Baldur's Gate 3 - I never played the original ones, but I am very much enjoying my playthrough of Div 2 OS now that I found someone to play with - so if he's happy to play BG3 then I think this will be a blast. I tried it out already in beta and it seems like an improved version of Div 2 for me. So that's a plus.
3. Gothic 1 Remake - Just for nostalgia sake really. I don't have many expectations as of yet.

I probably would be interested in the following games too:
Broken Roads - Looked good from earlier previews.
Darkest Dungeon 2 - I played through the first chapter on early access and had fun. Will probably play more of it when it's out.
Sacred Fire - I had KSed this with very high expectations. Since it's now n years later, I am not really looking forward to it anymore, but I'll play since I'll have a key.
Iron Oath - This looks like a cross between Darkest Dungeons and Battle Brothers. I tried it out for a bit and it looked like it needed some more work. I'll give it another go when it's out.
Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader - I really enjoyed the Owlcat games even though I am not a fan of RtwP so this seems even better to me. I am not sure 2023 release is going to happen but who knows.
Wartales - Everyone says this is good, but I'll wait for release to buy it.
Zoria - I KSed it as it looked like I could enjoy it.

 

[Couchpotato]

First time I hear about those games. Just in case it helps:

Bleak Faith: Forsaken
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173220/Bleak_Faith_Forsaken/
- dev: Archangel Studios (not in our DB)
- publisher: (same)
- small team of 3 people, rare updates
- should release in January / February (ref)

Crimson Desert
- https://crimsondesert.pearlabyss.com/en-US/Main/Index
- dev: Pearl Abyss (no luck, it's not yet in the DB either)
- publisher: (same)
- news: https://www.pearlabyss.com/en-US/Board/Report (none since Dec 2020?? this site is a mess...)
- has been delayed until at least autumn 2023 (ref)

Crimson Desert looks interesting to bad it was delayed. I hope it isn't another MP or online game like Black Desert. Bleak Faith: Forsaken is just a small budget Souls-like I'll pass.

 

[SirJames]

I suspect Crimson Desert will be exactly another online game like Black Desert, which is a terrifying prospect considering how good it looks and how much time and money I wasted on BDO.

 

[SirJames]

2. Baldur's Gate 3 - I never played the original ones,

Inconceivable!

 

[Couchpotato]

I suspect Crimson Desert will be exactly another online game like Black Desert, which is a terrifying prospect considering how good it looks and how much time and money I wasted on BDO.

Meh doubt it as the website says new Open-World Action Adventure not MMO.

Crimson Desert is an open world action-adventure with a narrative-driven single player, which follows the story of the mercenary Macduff, and multiplayer where you can also play the game with your own character.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimsonDesert/comments/w8h6p9

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimsonDesert/comments/w8h6p9/what_can_i_expect_from_the_multiplayer/

So sounds like Dragons Dogma or Monster Hunter.

 

[Redglyph]

Crimson Desert looks interesting to bad it was delayed. I hope it isn't another MP or online game like Black Desert. Bleak Faith: Forsaken is just a small budget Souls-like I'll pass.

Crimson Desert "brings together SP and MP" so it's probably like Watch Dogs and others, hopefully with an option to turn invasive MP trolls off. It looks too much like a JRPG for my taste anyway. EDIT: (ref) "combine elements of narrative-driven single-player games with online multiplayer functionality"

Bleak Faith: Forsaken is SP.

 

[JDR13]

I don't think Crimson Desert looks much like a JRPG at all. I'm not sure if I trust that trailer though. I feel like it might be one those games that looks great in the trailer but disappoints in RL.

 

[Redglyph]

I don't think Crimson Desert looks much like a JRPG at all.

Maybe that's not the correct term, but the gameplay has the same vibe as anime I've seen, with exaggerated cinematics (but not the same graphic style). I'm not a specialist, but their origin shows.

 

[JDR13]

Maybe that's not the correct term, but the gameplay has the same vibe as anime I've seen, with exaggerated cinematics (but not the same graphic style). I'm not a specialist, but their origin shows.

The trailer I saw reminded me of games from devs like Ubisoft or Naughty Dog.

I just watched it again though and noticed that it says "Winter 2021" at the end of the trailer. I guess it's an old trailer, and they're obviously quite delayed on the release.

 

[SirJames]

The thing is, Black Desert is probably the most singleplayer MMORPG there is. The main interaction would be the marketplace (auction house) where you sell things to each other. There's really very little incentive to group with other players beyond a few extra spongy farming spots designed for two or three players. They did add a dungeon, at some point, but that was after I'd quit. The PvP content seemed pretty fleshed out, but I never got that far because I wanted to get geared first but that turned out to need a lot more work than I could handle. That's sort of where it stops being free2play. If you want to compete you need to grind like 10 hours a day but if you're doing that you need to buy boosts and pets and get 20 hours worth of farming for your time. They did give out a lot of free boosts but I get bored grinding mobs after about 45 minutes so I just don't have the work ethic to compete.

So, I imagine it's just more refined. They add a few cinematics to the "main quest" and remove other players running around to improve performance since they're really not needed at all. You no longer risk being PVPd when someone wants your farming spot, but pvp is still there for those who want it. There's probably still some two player farming spots, it mentions dungeons but I'd expect a tiny amount. Maybe 1 or 2. Market Place will definitely be included and BDO style forced price range on stuff.

MMORPGs have become less and less social, over the years. Especially in the Asian territories they pretty much never talk. They just sell stuff to each other. I guess the main reason to have it online is because it feels better to waste your time when other people are too.

However they wanna word the marketing, I'll bet it's exactly like BDO, where it counts. The amount of money (pearls) you can drop on that game is like an endless abyss. (see what I did there?)