Top 6 Best RPGs of Q2 2018

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux

Best RPGs of Q2 2018

Shin Megami Tensei has seen countless entries over the years, and recently we’ve seen a wealth of strong titles from the series on everything from 3DS to PS4. Originally released on DS in 2010, Strange Journey casts you as a United Nations soldier investigating a strange spatial anomaly known as Schwarzwelt, a dome of dark energy threatening to consume the world.

Atlus hasn’t changed the core story of Strange Journey, but they have added in new elements including a new character, dungeon, and a surprising amount of story content. At the same time, some quality of life improvements make the game a smoother experience, like having a map on the bottom of your screen to help navigate dungeons. Strange Journey Redux is yet another quality entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series, and a strong addition to the already burgeoning library of JRPGs on the 3DS.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

Best RPGs of Q2 2018

The first Pillars of Eternity was a phenomenal Kickstarter success for Obsidian, harking back to the role-playing days of old with an isometric-style, intricate story, and robust tactical combat. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire was fully funded within one day of its crowdfunding campaign, and Obsidian has delivered yet another RPG gem, gaining a rare 4.5/5 from us at Twinfinite.

Deadfire is a direct sequel to the first Pillars of Eternity, and your choices in the first game will translate into the sequel. Returning and new companions are available, although your choices may affect just who joins. You can carry over your character from the first game, and Deadfire takes place in a new location, an archipelago of islands known as Deadfire. The game focuses on seafaring an island exploration via your ship, and you can even hire crews to help take care of your ship and assist in naval combat. Deadfire sports a new dynamic weather system, schedules for NPC characters, revamped combat, and much more, making it a worthy successor to one of the best RPGs in recent years.

Moonlighter

Best RPGs of Q2 2018

Any RPG adventurer needs a good shop to buy items from, it’s the backbone of your quest. Moonlighter flips the script by having you play as said shopkeeper, delving into dungeons to gather items to sell. You play as a young boy whose inherited the shop known as Moonlighter, and it’s your goal to bring the shop and the surrounding town back to its former glory.

There’s an incredibly satisfying gameplay loop to be found in Moonlighter, where you go into the dungeons and gather items, come back to town and sell them, and then use the gold to upgrade either your shop or your equipment. The game features elements of Roguelikes with randomly generated dungeons and the fact that you lose the bulk of your collected items when you die, but it’s the way Moonlighter combines these elements that work so well. Combat is smooth and fast-paced, the game’s art style is gorgeous, and there’s an engaging core mystery to unravel at the same time. With a wealth of big releases so far this year, don’t let an indie gem like Moonlighter fly under your radar.

Dark Souls Remastered

Best RPGs of Q2 2018

Dark Souls has had a profound effect on the game industry since its release, and a sub-genre known as Souls-likes has even popped up in recent years. The series has come a long way, but Dark Souls Remastered let everyone experience the starting point once again, albeit with some minor tweaks and enhancements. First and foremost, Dark Souls Remastered sports graphical tweaks, including the possibility to display in 4K resolution on PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and PC.

Most of the game’s myriad changes come to its multiplayer system, with a ton of small changes like upping the number of online players from four to six. A new arena mode has also been added letting players duke it out in 3vs3 or 6-player deathmatches. Besides that other small changes have been made across the game, like adding new bonfires in, letting you change covenants at bonfires, and letting you change the button configuration. Dark Souls Remastered brings the experience to a new generation of consoles, and its host of changes and fixes make it the perfect time for Souls diehards to jump back in, or the perfect place to start for newcomers.

Vampyr

Best RPGs of Q2 2018

DONTNOD has made a name for themselves with their critically-acclaimed narrative adventure Life is Strange, but Vampyr is a far cry from the teen-focused drama. In Vampyr, you play as Jonathan E. Reid, a doctor returning to London from the front of World War I. Arriving in the dreary city Jonathan finds an outbreak of the Spanish flu, strange murders, and the strange reality that he’s been killed and turned into a vampire.

Jonathan now has to grapple between his duty as a doctor and his newfound bloodlust, and this idea plays directly into gameplay. You can kill practically any NPC in the world and gain their blood as experience, however, doing so may completely remove quests and even sections of the story. Completing quests for characters can increase their blood quality resulting in more experience, so you need to play a balancing act and make some tough choices on who you want to keep alive. Vampyr’s oppressive atmosphere helps nail the tone of the game, and while it’s Souls-style combat may not be exceptional it’s serviceable, while the engaging story is what continuously draws you along. Vampyr received a 4/5 here at Twinfinite, and it’s easily one of the sleeper hits of the year so far.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana Nintendo Switch

Best RPGs of Q2 2018

The Ys series is over 30 years old, but one of its best titles yet released last year with Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. Finally, the critically acclaimed title made its way to Nintendo Switch, and it’s another quality title on the handheld hybrid. Ys VIII continues the story of Adol Christin and his friend Dogi, as they work aboard a luxury cruise liner named the Lombardia. When the ship is attacked by a Kraken, they and the rest of the passengers are marooned on the mythical island of Seiren. Adols and a handful of others need to travel the island to find survivors from the shipwreck, map their surrounding, and gather supplies to help build a village.

Ys VIII sports the same action-oriented combat system as its predecessors, and the arcadey nature of battles help them move along frantically. The game has an interesting way of combining story and gameplay as you find other survivors from the shipwreck, and they, in turn, can provide some special service or advantage for your growing village of castaways. The Nintendo Switch version does receive a minor dip in graphical quality and framerate, but all the elements that made Ys VIII great before are still great here. A vast explorable world, compelling narrative, and great ally AI are just a few of the reasons the game garnered a 4/5 from us on Switch.