 Readers discuss their favourite styles of role-playing game, from action types like Elden Ring to strategy RPGs and classics like Skyrim. The subject for this week's Hot Topic was suggested by reader Marbon, who was inspired by this year's glut of big name RPGs, such as Final Fantasy 16 and Starfield. There are many different types of role-playing game though, so we wanted to know which you prefer and why. Although there was no general consensus, one common theme was changing tastes between Western and Japanese games and vice versa, with the games themselves evolving with new technology and shifts in fashion. Back and forth I used to think I didn't like role-playing games, as I couldn't stand Japanese role-players during the SNES days. I never liked Final Fantasy 7 either, but Skyrim was the game that got me into Western role-players and ever since I've slowly expanded my horizons. I still don't like the majority of JRPGs but I have enjoyed Persona 5, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Dragon Quest 8, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses. At the same time, I've got kind of bored with Western examples as they've all become very samey. I liked Fallout 3 but not 4, and BioWare don't seem to have done anything since the awful Mass Effect Andromeda. I think Western role-players are more interested in open world design nowadays, rather than anything actually to do with role-playing. By contrast, Japanese games have got much more interesting, I think because they realised things were getting stale. My absolute favourite is NieR:Automata, which I'm not sure I would've even counted as role-player if it was left to me, but everyone seems to call it that. It's got great action though, a really clever plot, and memorable characters. Importantly, for me, it's completely unpredictable, which is what I like from a game and haven't got from a Western role-player in a long time. Benson It all counts The Fallout series of games is top of my list. Pl){kind=link}
Readers discuss their favourite styles of role-playing game, from action types like Elden Ring to strategy RPGs and classics like Skyrim.
The subject for this week’s Hot Topic was suggested by reader Marbon, who was inspired by this year’s glut of big name RPGs, such as Final Fantasy 16 and Starfield. There are many different types of role-playing game though, so we wanted to know which you prefer and why.
Although there was no general consensus, one common theme was changing tastes between Western and Japanese games and vice versa, with the games themselves evolving with new technology and shifts in fashion.
Back and forthI used to think I didn’t like role-playing games, as I couldn’t stand Japanese role-players during the SNES days. I never liked Final Fantasy 7 either, but Skyrim was the game that got me into Western role-players and ever since I’ve slowly expanded my horizons. I still don’t like the majority of JRPGs but I have enjoyed Persona 5, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Dragon Quest 8, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
At the same time, I’ve got kind of bored with Western examples as they’ve all become very samey. I liked Fallout 3 but not 4, and BioWare don’t seem to have done anything since the awful Mass Effect Andromeda. I think Western role-players are more interested in open world design nowadays, rather than anything actually to do with role-playing.