GOTY 2021 Shortlisting the long list - GOTY

Myrthos

Myrthos

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Like previous year I present you the long list of released games from our database. The goal is to get the right games in the top 30, because that is the number we'll use for the short list to vote on.
Our editors had a first go already

The list is ordered by h-index, which could be seen as an indication of how often the game was discussed in our forums. Next to that there are also the comments and posts given for further sorting. If you see some unexpected numbers at some point, it is because games have already been manually moved in the list.
ID|Title|News Posts|Comments|Ratio|h-index
1|Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous|104|2445|23.3|28
2|Solasta: Crown of the Magister|116|1683|14.4|24
3|Encased|80|750|9.3|15
4|Knights of the Chalice II|28|490|16.9|13
5|Mechajammer|61|520|8.4|12
6|King's Bounty II|25|302|11.6|11
7|Gamedec|51|241|4.6|10
8|ATOM RPG: Trudograd|22|197|8.6|9
9|Biomutant|35|270|7.5|9
10|Tortured Hearts|13|369|26.4|8
11|Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood|21|111|5|8
12|Edge Of Eternity|88|231|2.6|8
13|Wildermyth|17|125|6.9|7
14|Disciples: Liberation|14|100|6.7|7
15|Gloomhaven|22|146|6.3|7
16|Vagrus: The Riven Realms|78|191|2.4|7
17|The Ascent|17|124|6.9|6
18|Urtuk: The Desolation|12|68|5.2|5
19|Tales of Arise|15|74|4.6|5
20|The Chronicles Of Myrtana: Archolos|6|88|12.6|4
21|The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV|7|47|5.9|4
22|Griftlands|7|46|5.8|4
23|Dungeon Encounters|10|61|5.5|4
24|Medieval Dynasty|8|44|4.9|4
25|Ruined King: A League of Legends Story|9|41|4.1|4
26|Dark Deity|3|12|3|1
27|Chernobylite|10|38|3.5|4
28|NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…|7|28|3.5|4
29|HellSign|11|29|2.4|4
30|Drox Operative 2|17|31|1.7|4
31|Legends of Ellaria|62|181|2.9|7
32|Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance|7|109|13.6|5
33|Black Legend|5|34|5.7|4
34|Himeko Sutori |10|43|3.9|4
35|Hobo Tough Life|3|82|20.5|3
36|Ambermoon Remake|3|41|10.2|3
37|Might is Right|3|34|8.5|3
38|Divided Reigns|4|40|8|3
39|Dead Age 2|6|48|6.9|3
40|Geneforge 1 - Mutagen|5|37|6.2|3
41|Outriders|5|30|5|3
42|DYSMANTLE|5|29|4.8|3
43|The Protagonist: EX-1|5|23|3.8|3
44|Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom|3|15|3.8|3
45|Tainted Grail: Conquest|6|23|3.3|3
46|Astria Ascending|7|26|3.2|3
47|Sands of Salzaar|9|24|2.4|3
48|Nioh 2|10|24|2.2|3
49|The Forgotten City|13|27|1.9|3
50|Jupiter Hell|12|24|1.8|3
51|UFO2: Extraterrestrials|2|29|9.7|2
52|This Land Is My Land|2|28|9.3|2
53|Beyond Mankind: The Awakening|3|27|6.8|2
54|Loop Hero|5|40|6.7|2
55|The Majesti|2|16|5.3|2
56|Outcast in Mars|2|14|4.7|2
57|Trials of Fire|3|18|4.5|2
58|Mercenaries Blaze|2|13|4.3|2
59|Tails of Iron|5|22|3.7|2
60|Arkham Horror: Mother's Embrace|3|14|3.5|2
61|Siralim Ultimate|3|14|3.5|2
62|Neon District: Season One|2|10|3.3|2
63|Persona 5 Strikers|6|22|3.1|2
64|Legend of Mana|5|18|3|2
65|Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen|5|18|3|2
66|Dust to the End|4|14|2.8|2
67|Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards|4|12|2.4|2
68|Backbone|2|7|2.3|2
69|The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante|3|9|2.2|2
70|Aragami 2|3|8|2|2
71|Shards of Feyra|3|8|2|2
72|Saviors of Sapphire Wings|2|6|2|2
73|Ultimate ADOM - Caverns of Chaos|2|6|2|2
74|UnDungeon|3|7|1.8|2
75|Viking Vengeance|3|7|1.8|2
76|Eastward|5|10|1.7|2
77|SaGa Frontier Remastered|5|10|1.7|2
78|Avalom: Ancestral Heroes|7|11|1.4|2
79|Yaga|6|10|1.4|2
80|Ys IX: Monstrum Nox|5|7|1.2|2
81|Disjunction|5|6|1|2
82|Scarlet Nexus|13|10|0.7|2
83|Legend of Keepers|10|7|0.6|2
84|Age of Fear 4: The Iron Killer|1|38|19|1
85|Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance|1|26|13|1
86|Blade of Darkness|1|24|12|1
87|The Curse of Feldar Vale|1|18|9|1
88|BRAVELY DEFAULT II|2|22|7.3|1
89|Blood Bond - Into the Shroud|2|14|4.7|1
90|Final Fantasy Remaster|3|18|4.5|1
91|Final Fantasy III Remaster|2|12|4|1
92|Inferno - Beyond the 7th Circle|2|12|4|1
93|Battle for Esturia|1|8|4|1
94|Karma|1|8|4|1
95|E.X.P.L.O.R.: A New World|1|7|3.5|1
96|Vampirem|1|6|3|1
97|Yakuza 6: The Song of Life|1|6|3|1
98|Aron's Adventure|1|5|2.5|1
99|Conqueror 940 AD|2|7|2.3|1
100|Death's Gambit: Afterlife|2|7|2.3|1
101|The Vale: Shadow of the Crown|3|9|2.2|1
102|Balrog|2|6|2|1
103|Der Geisterjäger|1|4|2|1
104|King of Seas|1|4|2|1
105|Spirit of Europe - Origins|1|4|2|1
106|Vampires Dawn 3 - The Crimson Realm|1|4|2|1
107|Wolfstride|2|5|1.7|1
108|Baldo: The Guardian Owls|1|3|1.5|1
109|Sorcerous|1|3|1.5|1
110|The Dawning Clocks Of Time|1|3|1.5|1
111|Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars|1|3|1.5|1
112|Star Dynasties|2|4|1.3|1
113|Eldest Souls|3|4|1|1
114|Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster|3|4|1|1
115|Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy|2|3|1|1
116|Curious Expedition 2|2|3|1|1
117|Wheel of Fate|2|3|1|1
118|Shattered - Tale of the Forgotten King|3|3|0.8|1
119|Wytchwood|3|3|0.8|1
120|Dreamscaper|3|2|0.5|1
121|Blackout: The Darkest Night|1|1|0.5|1
122|Gods Will Fall|1|1|0.5|1
123|Hindsight 20/20|1|1|0.5|1
124|Faye/Sleepwalker|2|1|0.3|1
125|Death's Door|5|1|0.2|1
126|Kena: Bridge of Spirits|3|1|0.2|1
127|Anima: The Reign of Darkness|1|0|0|0
128|Arboria|1|0|0|0
129|Black Book|2|0|0|0
130|Cris Tales|4|0|0|0
131|Everhood|3|0|0|0
132|Final Fantasy II Remaster|0|0|0|0
133|Final Fantasy IV Remaster|0|0|0|0
134|Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster|1|0|0|0
135|Fuga: Melodies of Steel|1|0|0|0
136|GRIME|1|0|0|0
137|Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin|5|0|0|0
138|Moon: Remix RPG Adventure|1|0|0|0
139|Ocean's Heart|5|0|0|0
140|Osteoblasts|1|0|0|0
141|Pecaminosa - A Pixel Noir Game|2|0|0|0
142|Rise Eterna|2|0|0|0
143|Serin Fate|1|0|0|0
144|Strike Team Gladius|1|0|0|0
145|Sword and Fairy 7|1|0|0|0
146|Sword of the Necromancer|4|0|0|0
147|The Legend of Heroes: Hajimari no Kiseki|0|0|0|0

Let us know what you think should be in the top 30 of this list.
 
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Knights of the Chalice 2 hasn't released yet, it's still only available to kickstarter backers. So should be on the anticipated list rather than the GOTY list.

Dark Deity looks really out of place at 26, an anomaly of the rating system employed.

For starters I'd replace those 2 with Geneforge 1 - Mutagen, it might not have generated much chatter, but vogel fans are pretty dedicated & you might have some people looking for that vote specifically. And Nioh 2, there's bound to be someone who'd probably vote for that, or, if not Nioh 2 then Loop Hero had some people actually play it & so might be on their voting priority. Actually, you could probably ditch Hellsign and put all 3 in the top 30.
 
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lackblogger said:
Dark Deity looks really out of place at 26, an anomaly of the rating system employed.
Click to expand...
As the original post states:
If you see some unexpected numbers at some point, it is because games have already been manually moved in the list.
Click to expand...
 
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Dark Deity is higher ranked, because it is in the RPGWatch Curator list of 2021.
 
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The big question as in past years is if something not in the top 30 should be replaced by something below it.

Here are my opinions.

4. Knights of the Chalice 2 This one isn't released on Steam or GoG yet, so I think it hasn't had the exposure it deserves. It should be on next year's GOTY voting.

16. Legends of Ellaria I don't think this one should be on the list. Its critical reception isn't particullarly good and I had to look it up to remember it. I doubt hardly anyone here has played it.

19.Dark Alliance This really isn't an rpg as I understand it, and its also not supposed to be good.

25.Black Legend This one is on my wishlist, but suffers the same problems as Legends of Ellaria.

29Himeko Satori same problems as 16&25

So that means I would replace 5 games. I haven't played any game below 30.

I might include Persona 5 as its a big release even if its a jrpg. I also think the Forgotten City might be a good choice its a CRPG and has gotten good exposure. Its also on the Microsoft game pass, so I think a number of voters might have played it.
 
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I need to point out that Diablo II: Resurrected is not in the list because we used the original game as reference in our news, as we sometimes do with remasters.

I personally don't care much for that game and it's a remaster, but I'm mentioning it in case others feel it belongs to the short list. After all, we have FF remasters in that list already, so it's only fair.

The same goes with Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. Again, I'm fine without it (haven't bought it), it's only to bring it to other's attention.
 
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JFarrell71 said:
Do you mean Persona 5 Strikers? Because Persona 5 (and the Royal version) were both released before 2021. It's also not on PC, if that matters. Strikers isn't really a JRPG.
Click to expand...

I do meen Strikers, which I haven't played. I did play Persona 4, and I would consider it a JRPG, even if its an unusual one.
 
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forgottenlor said:
I do meen Strikers, which I haven't played. I did play Persona 4, and I would consider it a JRPG, even if its an unusual one.
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Persona 4 (and 3, and 5) are absolutely JRPGs, and some of the best around.

Strikers, however, is something different. It's a musou game, a Dynasty Warriors with the Persona 5 characters. It has a substantial story but it's more like a visual novel. You may as well put Ultimax on there too (a Persona 1 on 1 fighting game)
 
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Geneforge 1 - Mutagen should be in the top 30 over some of these others. I guess the Spiderweb games have a problem with this algorithm in that there is no "hype machine" coming from Jeff Vogel - they don't get a lot of news posts because there's no news.
 
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I think it is a tough beat for games like Mechajammer (indie/lacking polish) that released in December. Only the really early adopters would of had a chance to play it - most owners would be waiting for a few more patches before they jump in. I guess it is good that you are doing the vote at the end of Jan though.

I think it is a bit of a given who is going to win this year though :)
 
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Stingray said:
Geneforge 1 - Mutagen should be in the top 30 over some of these others. I guess the Spiderweb games have a problem with this algorithm in that there is no "hype machine" coming from Jeff Vogel - they don't get a lot of news posts because there's no news.
Click to expand...

I don't agree, not because I don't like Spiderweb games, but because it's a barely different re-release of a much older game.
 
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JFarrell71 said:
I don't agree, not because I don't like Spiderweb games, but because it's a barely different re-release of a much older game.
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I agree that "remasters" and "enhanced editions" and that sort of thing shouldn't be in the voting lists, but Spiderweb's stuff is more along the lines of a "remake" and I'm pretty sure remakes have historically been allowed. If they aren't, then NieR Replicant (in the top 30) should also be removed (it might even be closer to a remaster itself...)
 
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I don't see why both proper remasters or remakes shouldn't be allowed. I think the only ones that should be excluded should be repacks i.e. where the game gets bundled together with DLC as a "Legendary edition" or patched and called a "Directors cut". If someone completly remasters the graphics like Wasteland Remastered it should be on the list. Things like Skyrim Legendary/Special/Anniversary edition would be excluded. Just upscaling textures would be excluded but doing completely new textures would be okay in my book.
 
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Well, without any wish to make it more complicated, it's true that when I see titles like Mechajammer, FF remasters and Pathfinder sitting next to one another in the same list, I can't help but think that it would be fair to have a few categories. Their respective budgets and team sizes differ by several orders of magnitude.

On the other hand, it's hard to find even 2 categories that would have enough titles in them. Remaster vs others? "Indie" - whatever that is, vs others? Or "AA+" vs others?
 
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JFarrell71 said:
I don't agree, not because I don't like Spiderweb games, but because it's a barely different re-release of a much older game.
Click to expand...

&

Redglyph said:
Well, without any wish to make it more complicated, it's true that when I see titles like Mechajammer, FF remasters and Pathfinder sitting next to one another in the same list, I can't help but think that it would be fair to have a few categories. Their respective budgets and team sizes differ by several orders of magnitude.

On the other hand, it's hard to find even 2 categories that would have enough titles in them. Remaster vs others? "Indie" - whatever that is, vs others? Or "AA+" vs others?
Click to expand...

The RPGWatch vote has always been quite esoteric and the definitive rules are deliberately vague. The essence of it is that it is supposed to reflect whichever games the members have most liked this year within the general banner of the PC RPG sphere of influence.

As such, in previous years you've had things like X-Com always doing very well, even though X-Com isn't necessarily on most people's mind as RPG content, there's just a very large contingent here that view it as within the PC RPG sphere of influence. So it's a kind-of site-wide democratic exception to the rule.

JRPGs and a lot of action RPGs often don't feature purely because they are console exclusives.

Remakes and remasters often feature based, once again, on their site-wide democratic exception to the rule. So, for example, Beamdog's Enhanced Editions are very much acceptable, in the same way Vogel's remakes are, and so are old console games getting their first PC port, but simple re-issues with minor enhancements are usually passed over.

It's quite a nuanced process and ruleset that's more about site-experience than words set in stone.
 
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lackblogger said:
&







The RPGWatch vote has always been quite esoteric and the definitive rules are deliberately vague. The essence of it is that it is supposed to reflect whichever games the members have most liked this year within the general banner of the PC RPG sphere of influence.



As such, in previous years you've had things like X-Com always doing very well, even though X-Com isn't necessarily on most people's mind as RPG content, there's just a very large contingent here that view it as within the PC RPG sphere of influence. So it's a kind-of site-wide democratic exception to the rule.



JRPGs and a lot of action RPGs often don't feature purely because they are console exclusives.



Remakes and remasters often feature based, once again, on their site-wide democratic exception to the rule. So, for example, Beamdog's Enhanced Editions are very much acceptable, in the same way Vogel's remakes are, and so are old console games getting their first PC port, but simple re-issues with minor enhancements are usually passed over.



It's quite a nuanced process and ruleset that's more about site-experience than words set in stone.
Click to expand...
Sometimes you put things in words better than I ever will. :)
 
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