Summary

This year’s Game Awards delivers an unusually deep and diverse RPG lineup, blending blockbuster sequels, ambitious new IPs, and genre-defying indies. These ten titles stand out not just as contenders for awards, but as defining experiences of the year.

- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: The Front-Runner for Best RPG

- Metaphor: ReFantazio: A Bold New Fantasy From Atlus

- Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the Return of Western Fantasy

- Surprise Hits: Indie RPGs That Could Steal the Show

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: The Front-Runner for Best RPG

When Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launched earlier this year, it immediately reshaped expectations for what a modern AAA RPG can achieve. The game takes the beloved 1997 original and expands it into a sprawling open-world journey across the Planet, presenting a rich continent to explore that feels alive with side quests, mini-games, and hidden lore. Combat builds on the Remake’s hybrid real-time/command system, adding synchro abilities and a deeper party synergy that rewards tactical experimentation. What makes Rebirth the clear front-runner at the Game Awards is not just its technical polish, but how it honors the source material while daring to take the story into unknown territory. The narrative teases multiversal shadows and raises the emotional stakes for Cloud and his companions, leaving longtime fans endlessly debating what comes next. From its breathtaking cinematics to its reimagined classic soundtrack, every element seems calibrated for recognition. With nominations spanning best narrative, best art direction, and best score, Rebirth is poised to dominate the RPG categories—and if it does not win Best RPG, it will be a genuine upset. The sheer breadth of its world and the emotional weight of its character arcs make it an unforgettable contender.

Metaphor: ReFantazio: A Bold New Fantasy From Atlus

Studio Atlus has long been respected for the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, but Metaphor: ReFantazio marks its most ambitious original universe in decades. Directed by Katsura Hashino and featuring character design by Shigenori Soejima, this fantasy epic places you in a kingdom torn by political intrigue, tribal discrimination, and a cursed prince. What sets Metaphor apart is its unique “gauntlet runner” gameplay—a moving fortress that serves as your hub, allowing you to travel between vibrant cities and perilous dungeons while managing relationships and royal virtues. The turn-based combat is crisp, but the real innovation lies in the “archetype” system, which lets characters adopt mythic job classes that shift as party composition evolves. Thematically, the game confronts ideology and leadership with the same emotional intensity Atlus fans expect. Every social bond feels meaningful, and its twist-heavy narrative stays gripping until the final hour. At the Game Awards, Metaphor stands not just for sheer creativity, but for proof that a new IP can carry the same weight as decades-old franchises. Its lush art direction and soaring score distract you from loading screens that vanish behind excellent presentation. Whether it steals the show from bigger brands or lands as a quiet masterpiece, this is a title no RPG fan should overlook.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the Return of Western Fantasy

For years, Western RPGs have gravitated toward action-heavy systems and sprawling open worlds, sometimes losing the deep storytelling that defined the genre. Dragon Age: The Veilguard, however, pulls the focus back to companions, choices, and consequential story arcs that echo BioWare’s golden age. Set in northern Thedas, the game places you as Rook, a leader tasked with stopping two ancient elven gods from tearing the world apart. What elevates The Veilguard is its carefully interwoven faction dynamics, where past decisions and loyal alliances change not just dialogue but the physical landscape and city states. Combat offers a fluid action approach while retaining the series’ tactical pause-and-command options, striking a balance that pleases both die-hard fans and newcomers. Character relationships are central: each companion has a personal questline that subtly influences the main confrontation, which makes the final battle feel earned. Artistically, the game gives a breathtaking impressionist vision of deserts, forests, and lighthouse headquarters. At this year’s Game Awards, Dragon Age defends the tradition of Western fantasy RPGs against the dominance of Japanese titles. Even among fierce competition, its thoughtful worldbuilding and emotional payoffs secure it a obvious spot in the top ten. If you miss the days of meaningful party banter and branching plots, this is your comeback pick.

Surprise Hits: Indie RPGs That Could Steal the Show

While the big studios dominate headlines, the Game Awards has a tradition of spotlighting smaller RPGs that challenge the genre’s conventions. Several indie gems deserve attention this year, and they might surprise fans in both ceremony and showcases. Start with Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes—a love letter to the Suikoden era—featuring over a hundred recruitable characters and a dense political story told through pixel art that looks astonishingly modern. Likewise, Unicorn Overlord from Vanillaware and Atlus has turned heads with its unique overworld real-time strategy battles blended with classic RPG progression, proving that tactical depth and gorgeous visuals can go hand in hand. Another whisper among fans is the Studio Zero-adjacent indie, Backpack Hero, although it remains a lesser-known roguelike. More prominently, Mythforce and Sea of Stars have churned up nostalgia with old-school traversal and authentic 16-bit aesthetics that appeal to seasoned gamers. In the “hidden gem” category, Dragon’s Dogma II may be technically a AAA effort but plays like a soloistic sandbox that rewards curiosity. Still, the real joy comes from hoping that one of these smaller titles takes an evening’s light—not by sheer budget, but by creativity. Whether it’s an award for “Best Independent Game” or a title that slips into the overall RPG conversation, indie and mid-tier studios represent the vitality of the genre. The Game Awards would feel incomplete without celebrating them.