RPGWatch - Shortlisting the GOTY

If we remove J-RPGs some real contenders will be removed:

• The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 2
• Dragon Quest XI
• Valkyria 4
• Tales of Zestiria
• Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Here is the GOTY list sorted by the average number of comments per news post, which isn't really a good way to filter as a game with 1 news post and a decent number of comments can list reasonably high.

Title	Date	Genre	News Posts	Comments	Average
Fallout 76	2018-11-14	RPG	20	1032	52
Avernum 3: Ruined World	2018-01-31	RPG	4	151	38
Pathfinder: Kingmaker	2018-09-25	RPG	83	3026	36
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition	2018-03-27	RPG	10	274	27
The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep	2018-09-18	Dungeon Crawler	92	2436	26
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire	2018-05-08	RPG	107	2635	25
Monster Hunter: World	2018-08-09	Action-RPG	6	137	23
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey	2018-10-05	Action-RPG	20	400	20
The 7th Circle	2018-09-10	Dungeon Crawler	1	19	19
Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North	2018-12-17	Tactical RPG	3	50	17
Yakuza 0	2018-08-02	Action-RPG	4	57	14
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age	2018-09-04	J-RPG	14	178	13
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales	2018-10-24	Card-Based RPG	11	144	13
Wartile	2018-02-08	Strategy-RPG	1	13	13
ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game	2018-12-19	RPG	23	278	12
Exiled Kingdoms	2018-02-23	Action-RPG	2	24	12
Nantucket	2018-01-18	Strategy-RPG	3	36	12
Final Fantasy XV	2018-03-06	J-RPG	23	260	11
Call of Cthulhu	2018-10-30	Adventure-RPG	31	313	10
Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition	2018-08-31	RPG	8	81	10
The Great Gaias	2018-06-22	RPG	3	31	10
Underworld Ascendant	2018-11-15	RPG	120	1198	10
BattleTech	2018-04-24	Tactical RPG	90	839	9
Jagged Alliance: Rage!	2018-12-06	Tactical RPG	7	61	9
Kingdom Come: Deliverance	2018-02-13	Action-RPG	235	2040	9
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden	2018-12-04	Tactical RPG	21	190	9
Space Hulk: Tactics	2018-10-09	Tactical RPG	7	63	9
Valkyria Chronicles 4	2018-09-25	Strategy-RPG	12	103	9
Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics	2018-10-04	Strategy-RPG	6	49	8
Chrono Trigger	2018-02-27	J-RPG	5	39	8
Dark Quest 2	2018-03-06	Tactical RPG	4	30	8
Das Geisterschiff	2018-09-19	Adventure-RPG	1	8	8
Disgaea 5 Complete	2018-10-22	Strategy-RPG	4	31	8
Kenshi	2018-12-06	Strategy-RPG	17	129	8
Sword Legacy: Omen	2018-08-13	Tactical RPG	7	54	8
Ys: Memories of Celceta	2018-07-25	J-RPG	3	23	8
Epic Battle Fantasy 5	2018-11-30	RPG	1	7	7
Star Control: Origins	2018-09-20	Action-RPG	16	104	7
Vampyr	2018-06-05	Action-RPG	64	445	7
Ancient Frontier: Steel Shadows	2018-12-11	Strategy-RPG	1	6	6
Deep Sky Derelicts	2018-09-26	Action-RPG	5	29	6
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age	2018-02-01	J-RPG	4	24	6
Knight Bewitched	2018-04-18	J-RPG	2	11	6
Pendula Swing	2018-08-15	Adventure-RPG	2	11	6
Vigilantes	2018-10-03	Tactical RPG	38	216	6
Banner Saga 3	2018-07-26	Strategy-RPG	26	124	5
Book of Demons	2018-12-13	Card-Based RPG	8	39	5
INSOMNIA: The Ark	2018-09-27	RPG	74	376	5
Into The Breach	2018-02-27	Strategy-RPG	11	50	5
LEGRAND LEGACY: Tale of the Fatebounds	2018-01-24	J-RPG	3	15	5
Shadows: Awakening	2018-08-31	Tactical RPG	18	95	5
Shenmue 1 & 2	2018-08-21	Action-RPG	9	45	5
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II	2018-02-14	J-RPG	3	15	5
Tower of Time	2018-04-12	RPG	17	80	5
Valthirian Arc: Red Covenant	2018-10-02	Action-RPG	1	5	5
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus	2018-11-15	Strategy-RPG	7	38	5
Warhammer 40.000: Inquisitor - Martyr	2018-06-05	Action-RPG	30	161	5
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA	2018-04-16	J-RPG	7	33	5
All Walls Must Fall	2018-02-23	Tactical RPG	3	12	4
Ash of Gods	2018-03-22	Tactical RPG	21	81	4
Crimson Keep	2018-11-29	Dungeon Crawler	2	7	4
Dead In Vinland	2018-04-12	Adventure-RPG	5	22	4
Extinction	2018-04-10	Action-RPG	5	20	4
Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption	2018-07-10	Adventure-RPG	116	495	4
Hevn	2018-09-24	Adventure-RPG	3	13	4
Immortal Unchained	2018-09-07	Action-RPG	3	13	4
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk	2018-09-18	Dungeon Crawler	1	4	4
Sanctus Mortem	2018-11-16	J-RPG	5	20	4
Azure Saga: Pathfinder	2018-03-14	J-RPG	4	10	3
Beast Quest	2018-03-13	Action-RPG	2	6	3
Demon's Rise: Lords of Chaos	2018-04-25	Tactical RPG	3	10	3
Ghost of a Tale	2018-03-13	RPG	72	209	3
Healer's Quest	2018-04-18	RPG	8	20	3
Infinite Adventures	2018-10-30	Dungeon Crawler	4	12	3
Mary Skelter Nightmares	2018-07-19	Dungeon Crawler	2	5	3
Star Traders: Frontiers	2018-08-01	RPG	27	76	3
The Council	2018-03-13	Adventure-RPG	13	38	3
We Happy Few	2018-08-10	Adventure-RPG	11	30	3
Azuran Tales: Trials	2018-06-01	Metroidvania RPG	1	2	2
Below	2018-12-14	Roguelike	7	14	2
Dead Cells	2018-08-07	Metroidvania RPG	7	16	2
Delver	2018-02-02	Roguelike	6	12	2
Depth of Extinction	2018-09-27	Tactical RPG	15	30	2
Distortions	2018-03-02	Adventure-RPG	1	2	2
For the King	2018-04-19	Roguelike	31	61	2
Graveyard Keeper	2018-08-15	Adventure-RPG	3	5	2
Heroes of Hammerwatch	2018-03-02	Roguelike	1	2	2
Lost Sphear	2018-01-23	J-RPG	5	10	2
Moonlighter	2018-05-29	Action-RPG	5	9	2
Pit People	2018-03-02	Strategy-RPG	3	5	2
The Warriorlock	2018-09-14	RPG	20	45	2
Unavowed	2018-08-08	Adventure-RPG	7	11	2
Veil of Crows	2018-10-18	Strategy-RPG	3	6	2
Ashen	2018-12-09	Action-RPG	6	6	1
City of the Shroud	2018-08-09	Tactical RPG	8	7	1
CrossCode	2018-09-20	Action-RPG	12	9	1
Devious	2018-07-26	Dungeon Crawler	2	2	1
Just One Line	2018-09-12	Adventure-RPG	2	2	1
Niffelheim	2018-09-26	Adventure-RPG	5	3	1
The Swords of Ditto	2018-04-24	Action-RPG	3	2	1
Xploquest 2	2018-02-20	Adventure-RPG	2	1	1
Dust and Salt	2018-01-25	Adventure-RPG	1	0	0
Fallen Legion+	2018-01-05	Action-RPG	2	0	0
Gilded	2018-01-18	J-RPG	1	0	0
Once upon a Dungeon	2018-01-19	Roguelike	1	0	0
Secret of Mana	2018-02-15	J-RPG	5	2	0
Siralim 3	2018-10-15	RPG	1	0	0
Tangledeep	2018-02-01	Roguelike	2	0	0
The Greater Good	2018-10-23	Adventure-RPG	2	0	0
Towards The Pantheon	2018-05-16	RPG	3	0	0
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine	2018-02-28	Adventure-RPG	1	0	0

Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption way down and Fallout 76 on first proves that not always the most popular games are getting the most reactions.

Like I said, average number of posts is perhaps not a good criteria, so here is the list sorted by number of comments on the forum:

Title	Date	Genre	News Posts	Comments	Average
Pathfinder: Kingmaker	2018-09-25	RPG	83	3026	36
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire	2018-05-08	RPG	107	2635	25
The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep	2018-09-18	Dungeon Crawler	92	2436	26
Kingdom Come: Deliverance	2018-02-13	Action-RPG	235	2040	9
Underworld Ascendant	2018-11-15	RPG	120	1198	10
Fallout 76	2018-11-14	RPG	20	1032	52
BattleTech	2018-04-24	Tactical RPG	90	839	9
Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption	2018-07-10	Adventure-RPG	116	495	4
Vampyr	2018-06-05	Action-RPG	64	445	7
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey	2018-10-05	Action-RPG	20	400	20
INSOMNIA: The Ark	2018-09-27	RPG	74	376	5
Call of Cthulhu	2018-10-30	Adventure-RPG	31	313	10
ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game	2018-12-19	RPG	23	278	12
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition	2018-03-27	RPG	10	274	27
Final Fantasy XV	2018-03-06	J-RPG	23	260	11
Vigilantes	2018-10-03	Tactical RPG	38	216	6
Ghost of a Tale	2018-03-13	RPG	72	209	3
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden	2018-12-04	Tactical RPG	21	190	9
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age	2018-09-04	J-RPG	14	178	13
Phantom Doctrine	2018-08-14	Strategy-RPG	23	171	7
Warhammer 40.000: Inquisitor - Martyr	2018-06-05	Action-RPG	30	161	5
Avernum 3: Ruined World	2018-01-31	RPG	4	151	38
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales	2018-10-24	Card-Based RPG	11	144	13
Monster Hunter: World	2018-08-09	Action-RPG	6	137	23
Kenshi	2018-12-06	Strategy-RPG	17	129	8
Banner Saga 3	2018-07-26	Strategy-RPG	26	124	5
Star Control: Origins	2018-09-20	Action-RPG	16	104	7
Valkyria Chronicles 4	2018-09-25	Strategy-RPG	12	103	9
Shadows: Awakening	2018-08-31	Tactical RPG	18	95	5
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom	2018-03-23	J-RPG	19	89	5
Ash of Gods	2018-03-22	Tactical RPG	21	81	4
Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition	2018-08-31	RPG	8	81	10
Tower of Time	2018-04-12	RPG	17	80	5
Star Traders: Frontiers	2018-08-01	RPG	27	76	3
Space Hulk: Tactics	2018-10-09	Tactical RPG	7	63	9
Aeon of Sands: The Trail	2018-12-04	Dungeon Crawler	10	61	6
For the King	2018-04-19	Roguelike	31	61	2
Jagged Alliance: Rage!	2018-12-06	Tactical RPG	7	61	9
State of Decay 2	2018-05-22	Action-RPG	7	58	8
Yakuza 0	2018-08-02	Action-RPG	4	57	14
Sword Legacy: Omen	2018-08-13	Tactical RPG	7	54	8
Dustwind	2018-08-15	Tactical RPG	3	53	18
Into The Breach	2018-02-27	Strategy-RPG	11	51	5
Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North	2018-12-17	Tactical RPG	3	51	17
Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics	2018-10-04	Strategy-RPG	6	49	8
Shenmue 1 & 2	2018-08-21	Action-RPG	9	45	5
The Warriorlock	2018-09-14	RPG	20	45	2
Book of Demons	2018-12-13	Card-Based RPG	8	39	5
Chrono Trigger	2018-02-27	J-RPG	5	39	8
The Council	2018-03-13	Adventure-RPG	13	38	3
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus	2018-11-15	Strategy-RPG	7	38	5
Nantucket	2018-01-18	Strategy-RPG	3	36	12
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA	2018-04-16	J-RPG	7	33	5
Disgaea 5 Complete	2018-10-22	Strategy-RPG	4	31	8
The Great Gaias	2018-06-22	RPG	3	31	10
Dark Quest 2	2018-03-06	Tactical RPG	4	30	8
Depth of Extinction	2018-09-27	Tactical RPG	15	30	2
We Happy Few	2018-08-10	Adventure-RPG	11	30	3
Deep Sky Derelicts	2018-09-26	Action-RPG	5	29	6
Exiled Kingdoms	2018-02-23	Action-RPG	2	24	12
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age	2018-02-01	J-RPG	4	24	6
Ys: Memories of Celceta	2018-07-25	J-RPG	3	23	8
Dead In Vinland	2018-04-12	Adventure-RPG	5	22	4
Extinction	2018-04-10	Action-RPG	5	20	4
Healer's Quest	2018-04-18	RPG	8	20	3
Sanctus Mortem	2018-11-16	J-RPG	5	20	4
The 7th Circle	2018-09-10	Dungeon Crawler	1	19	19
Dead Cells	2018-08-07	Metroidvania RPG	7	16	2
LEGRAND LEGACY: Tale of the Fatebounds	2018-01-24	J-RPG	3	15	5
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II	2018-02-14	J-RPG	3	15	5
Below	2018-12-14	Roguelike	7	14	2
Hevn	2018-09-24	Adventure-RPG	3	13	4
Immortal Unchained	2018-09-07	Action-RPG	3	13	4
Wartile	2018-02-08	Strategy-RPG	1	13	13
All Walls Must Fall	2018-02-23	Tactical RPG	3	12	4
Delver	2018-02-02	Roguelike	6	12	2
Infinite Adventures	2018-10-30	Dungeon Crawler	4	12	3
Knight Bewitched	2018-04-18	J-RPG	2	11	6
Pendula Swing	2018-08-15	Adventure-RPG	2	11	6
Unavowed	2018-08-08	Adventure-RPG	7	11	2
Azure Saga: Pathfinder	2018-03-14	J-RPG	4	10	3
Demon's Rise: Lords of Chaos	2018-04-25	Tactical RPG	3	10	3
Lost Sphear	2018-01-23	J-RPG	5	10	2
CrossCode	2018-09-20	Action-RPG	12	9	1
Moonlighter	2018-05-29	Action-RPG	5	9	2
Das Geisterschiff	2018-09-19	Adventure-RPG	1	8	8
City of the Shroud	2018-08-09	Tactical RPG	8	7	1
Crimson Keep	2018-11-29	Dungeon Crawler	2	7	4
Epic Battle Fantasy 5	2018-11-30	RPG	1	7	7
Ancient Frontier: Steel Shadows	2018-12-11	Strategy-RPG	1	6	6
Ashen	2018-12-09	Action-RPG	6	6	1
Beast Quest	2018-03-13	Action-RPG	2	6	3
Veil of Crows	2018-10-18	Strategy-RPG	3	6	2
Graveyard Keeper	2018-08-15	Adventure-RPG	3	5	2
Mary Skelter Nightmares	2018-07-19	Dungeon Crawler	2	5	3
Pit People	2018-03-02	Strategy-RPG	3	5	2
Valthirian Arc: Red Covenant	2018-10-02	Action-RPG	1	5	5
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk	2018-09-18	Dungeon Crawler	1	4	4
Niffelheim	2018-09-26	Adventure-RPG	5	3	1
Azuran Tales: Trials	2018-06-01	Metroidvania RPG	1	2	2
Devious	2018-07-26	Dungeon Crawler	2	2	1
Distortions	2018-03-02	Adventure-RPG	1	2	2
Heroes of Hammerwatch	2018-03-02	Roguelike	1	2	2
Just One Line	2018-09-12	Adventure-RPG	2	2	1
Secret of Mana	2018-02-15	J-RPG	5	2	0
The Swords of Ditto	2018-04-24	Action-RPG	3	2	1
Xploquest 2	2018-02-20	Adventure-RPG	2	1	1
Dust and Salt	2018-01-25	Adventure-RPG	1	0	0
Fallen Legion+	2018-01-05	Action-RPG	2	0	0
Gilded	2018-01-18	J-RPG	1	0	0
Once upon a Dungeon	2018-01-19	Roguelike	1	0	0
Siralim 3	2018-10-15	RPG	1	0	0
Tangledeep	2018-02-01	Roguelike	2	0	0
The Greater Good	2018-10-23	Adventure-RPG	2	0	0
Towards The Pantheon	2018-05-16	RPG	3	0	0
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine	2018-02-28	Adventure-RPG	1	0	0

Originally Posted by HiddenX
Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption way down and Fallout 76 on first proves that not always the most popular games are getting the most reactions.

Only because Hero-U has a huge number of threads.

Find me any game on that list with 2 or less threads, 12 or less comments, or an average of 2 or lower which deserves to be on the GOTY list.

Epic Battle Fantasy 5 for example - way better than Fallout 76 and Vampyr.

The game is just a bit unknown here.


PS:
Ni No Kuni 2 is missing completely.

Originally Posted by HiddenX
Epic Battle Fantasy 5 for example - way better than Fallout 76 and Vampyr.

The game is just a bit unknown here.


PS:
Ni No Kuni 2 is missing completely.

I haven't heard of or played Epic Battle Fantasy 5, and I think you and I buy a lot more indie game than most people here. It may be a great game, but I see it having absolute zero chance of making a top 10 GOTY place on this website, so I think its inclusion would be irrelevant.

I've played neither Vampyr nor Fallout 76, but a lot of people on this website have and deservedly or not both games will get more GOTY vote on RPGWatch than something like Epic Battle Fantasy 5, or any other game which doesn't make the 2 thread, 2 comment, or 2 average threshold which I mentioned in my last post.

Originally Posted by HiddenX
Ni No Kuni 2 is missing completely.

That is because the information for the game is incomplete in the database and the query I use requires information to be there that wasn't apparently. Modified the filter and also modified the table.

Let's consider the average. Two games have a large number of threads but an average of less than 2 (the Warriorlock and For the King) Those games have no chance imo. Trails of Cold Steel 2 has 3 threads, and it probably still doesn't have a chance to make a top 10 spot, as most of its predecessors didn't either, but no other game with 3 or less threads could be considered a contender for a top 10 spot (I'm talking top 10 here, not top 3). If we consider number of threads, TOCS 2 has 15, and nothing less than that could be considered a top 10 contender. The next contender on my list for a possible top 10 spot is Disgea 5 which had 4 threads and 31 comments.

I think this is a situation where you need to be the ruthless and single-minded boss of this here site what you are boss of Myrthos, lol. Like most of us you wont have time to know about all of these games, but as boss of the site you should have a good read on your internal bias & therefore the site's internal bias combined with what people have generally been talking about all year.

With both Hidden X and Forgottenlore as probably even more knowledgable leuitenants I feel sure that between the three of you you'd come up with something that covers pretty much all the bases.

So I suggest:

1. Myrthos creates a short-list that would be Myrthos' shortlist
2. Hidden X & Forgottenlore get a PM of said list & are allowed to add any they think are missing.
3. The list is then revealed to the public who are allowed to add games of their own suggestion by [insert deadline].

The RPGWatch Steam curated games (released in 2018) were

Atom RPG
Dragon Quest XI
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Valkyria Chronicles 4
The Great Gaias
The Bard's Tale Trilogy (remake)
Hero U: Rogue to Redemption
Vampyr
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Trails of Cold Steel II

(Kenshi will be added soon)

I agree with forgottenlor that everything below Trails of Cold Steel II has no chance to be in the top 10:

Se we can exclude:
Below
Hevn
Immortal Unchained
Wartile
All Walls Must Fall
Delver
Infinite Adventures
Knight Bewitched
Pendula Swing
Unavowed
Azure Saga: Pathfinder
Demon's Rise: Lords of Chaos
Lost Sphear
CrossCode
Moonlighter
Das Geisterschiff
City of the Shroud
Crimson Keep
Epic Battle Fantasy 5
Ancient Frontier: Steel Shadows
Ashen
Beast Quest
Veil of Crows
Graveyard Keeper
Mary Skelter Nightmares
Pit People
Valthirian Arc: Red Covenant
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk
Niffelheim
Azuran Tales: Trials
Devious
Distortions
Heroes of Hammerwatch
Just One Line
Secret of Mana
The Swords of Ditto
Xploquest 2
Dust and Salt
Fallen Legion+
Gilded
Once upon a Dungeon
Siralim 3
Tangledeep
The Greater Good
Towards The Pantheon
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine

********************************

Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition
Avernum 3: Ruined World
Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

are remakes and should be excluded, too.

That still sums up to 65 games (out of 116), which remains to be a lot.

Let's consider the games above Trails of Cold Steel. I suggest doing away with


For the King
Jagged Alliance: Rage!
Sword Legacy: Omen
Dustwind
Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics 2018-10-04
The Warriorlock
Nantucket
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA
Dark Quest 2
Depth of Extinction
We Happy Few
Deep Sky Derelicts
Exiled Kingdoms
Ys: Memories of Celceta
Dead In Vinland
Extinction
Healer's Quest
Sanctus Mortem
The 7th Circle
Dead Cells
LEGRAND LEGACY: Tale of the Fatebounds

As I don't think any of those games have a realistic chance at a top 10 spot. Any other suggestions?

Originally Posted by Myrthos
If I had to do the filtering, I would start by removing all J-RPGs, Metroidvania-RPGs, and Roguelikes. Then I would remove anything that is an add-on or improved version. That would reduce the list with at least 20 games, but would still leave 80+ games.
The next thing I would do is check the number of news posts we have on each of the games and use that as an additional filter to get to half of the games, so some 40, which is more than enough in my opinion (with the idea that more news posts means more interest).

Or, if there is too much backlash on the first action, I would just do the second action and come also to some 40 games

All those filters look fine, but JRPG is looking like a wrong filter. I understand it, as I tend not like JRPG. But it's still looks wrong.

For others filters that could be added:
- Games heavily focused on tactical combats.
- Games heavily focused on strategy.
- Games heavily focused on sim.
- Games heavily focused on building.
- Games heavily focused on survival.

PC RPG releases in 2018 with a Metacritic score of at least 80:

Ashen
Crosscode
Darkest Dungeon: The Color of Madness
Dark Souls Remastered
Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition
For the King
Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II
Monster Hunter: World
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Tower of Time
Undertale

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass looks like an RPGMaker game but it is being well-received.

How many choices can enter the poll, 10? Then make a 1 week preliminary forum round where users can nominate 10 games from that huge list, and after that make the real poll with the 10 most mentioned games?

Originally Posted by HiddenX
The RPGWatch Steam curated games (released in 2018) were

Atom RPG
Dragon Quest XI
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Valkyria Chronicles 4
The Great Gaias
The Bard's Tale Trilogy (remake)
Hero U: Rogue to Redemption
Vampyr
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Trails of Cold Steel II

(Kenshi will be added soon)

This could also be the basis of the list. I would personally add:

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
Banner Saga 3
Battletech
Call of Cthulu
Disgea 5
Fallout 76
Monster Hunter World
Mutant Year Zero
Star Control:Origins
The Bard's Tale 4
Thronebreaker
Valkyria Chronicles 4

Because all of these are well known titles. A lot of posters seem to have bought these games. The exception may be Disgea 5, but there seem to be a few diehard Disgea fans on this website and its a well-known series-


I'd also consider the following:

The Council
Tower of Time
Yakuza 0
Ghost of a Tale

The Council, Ghost of a Tale and Tower of Time got a lot of coverage on this site and all seem to have been well recieived. I included Yakuza 0, because I saw it on a few GOTY lists on the Pillars 2 RPG of the year thread.

Maybe I should look into that Kingdome Come game. I have almost zero notion of what it's about. Haven't really read anything about it.

Originally Posted by porcozaur
How many choices can enter the poll, 10? Then make a 1 week preliminary forum round where users can nominate 10 games from that huge list, and after that make the real poll with the 10 most mentioned games?

We always have a top 10, so 10 games seems too few. I think something like 20-30 games would be ideal.