Upcoming RPGs of 2014: Day 3
On to Day 3 of our "Upcoming RPGs of 2014" coverage!
I tried to find and post every single RPG that I could find that has either been confirmed for 2014, is seeking a full release in 2014 (in regards to games currently on services like Steam's Early Access or in an alpha or beta state), or slated to appear later this year.
The dates listed are their earliest confirmed dates, either being for Europe or North America. Note that we will be going through these titles in alphabetical order, and all release dates are obviously subject to change.
Day One | Day Two | Day Four | Day Five
Everquest Next (PC/PS4)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: Sony Online Entertainment
Now here is an MMORPG that looks to change the landscape of the genre completely. Through profound design theory, the entire world features destructible environments that are permanently affected using voxel technology (similar to Minecraft). This works in tandem with the emergent AI that adapts to the changes in the immediate surroundings. Non-repeatable In-game events and special quests will also take place that may dramatically modify an area and have a lasting change in the world. There are no character levels, instead focusing on 40 different professions that players can take on to carve out their own role in the game with their unique story.
Everquest Next: Landmark (PC)
Release Date: TBA 2014 (currently in alpha)
Developer: Sony Online Entertainment
While Everquest Next is the next big step in the series, this one looks to be more like an open sandbox MMO for players to get really creative. Containing a gigantic, persistent world that will allow players to create their own content. While initially only allowing the ability to create simple structures, eventually the developers want to see players make their own dungeons, quests, towns, and really their own game, all of which will be considered for inclusion into Everquest Next itself.
Fable Anniversary (360)
Release Date: February 4th, 2014
Developer: Lionhead Studios
I had a lot of high hopes for the first Fable. After reading a lot of different articles about features like the morality system and how the world changed based on your actions, I was getting excited just dreaming up my ideal hero in the game: a feared, but respected patriarch of the masses. Although it didn’t wind up meeting those lofty expectations that had been placed upon it, the game was still an enjoyable experience that made good on some of the promises creator Peter Molyneux had promised. The remake features a number of improvements over the original that builds a good case for why fans should revisit the nation of Albion. The interface has been improved to make it more friendly, textures and character models have noticeably improved, the audio is now uncompressed 5.1 surround sound, and the world looks a lot prettier and more fluid.
Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD (PS3/Vita)
Release Date: March 18th, 2014
Developer: Square Enix
It’s the Final Fantasy games you know and love - this time with more pixels. Another benefit is that Americans will finally be able to appreciate all of the goodies that the International version had brought - more boss battles and other encounters; the Last Mission, which adds more content to X-2 including a challenge tower; Eternal Calm, a video that serves as a bridge between the two games; trophies; and much more. The soundtrack for the games have also been remastered with new mixes included, and the character models were completely redone.
Forge Quest (PC/Mac)
Release Date: TBA 2014 (currently on Steam Early Access)
Developer: OpenRealms
A dungeon crawler RPG with a look reminiscent to a 3D Dot Game Heroes (and with it, clearly Legend of Zelda) with a much bigger focus on the RPG aspect. Not only does the game look unique with its voxels, it includes difficult boss battles and four-player cooperative play.Definitely one to keep an eye on.
Freedom Wars (Vita)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: SCE Japan Studio/Shift/Dimps
One of those titles that hasn’t been confirmed for the West, but we all know it’s coming - especially since this is a Sony Japan joint looking to reinvigorate the Vita, and an English version will be released in Asia this Summer.This mission-based multiplayer action title looks superb. Players take control of a prisoner looking to work off a million year sentence by rescuing captured civilian hostages that were taken by ‘Abductors’. Everything said about this game moves it away from Monster Hunter and more its own unique thing.
Game of Thrones: Seven Kingdoms (PC)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: Bigpoint
A browser-based, free-to-play MMO set during the events of the first novel, A Song of Fire and Ice, where the battle between the Houses of Baratheon, Lannister, and Stark is heating up. As the name states, the goal of the game is to control the majority of the Westeros continent. After joining a guild at the beginning of the game, players will swear themselves to one of the three Houses, where the fight over political control will be at the forefront of the experience. Instead of the typical MMO experience were a group of your friends may raid a dungeon somewhere, every battle will have an objective, and siege battles and PVP fights will be the norm.
Grim Dawn (PC)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: Crate Entertainment
Some of the key members of the development team behind the excellent Titan Quest series have been working on this Action RPG over the past few years shortly after Iron Lore were shut down. Grim Dawn is set in the Victorian era where the human race is at the edge of extinction. Taking on the role of one of the denizens of this new reality, the world can no longer be saved, but players must instead learn to adapt in order to survive. The end result is to take back the world that has been overrun with demons and other nasties. The game was originally slated for last Summer but has been delayed due to a variety of reasons, and hopes to see a release this year.
Heart Forth, Alicia (PC)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: Alonso Martin
After a long period of development, this below-the-radar indie RPG that is being created by a single individual may finally have its eyes set for release later this year. A platformer RPG, players control a young sorceress named Alicia who must venture through the Void that she is trapped in after her friend, possessed by an evil spirit that laid waste to their world, banished her to this realm. The game looks remarkable, featuring a beautifully-detailed pixelated world, along with plenty of towns to visit and NPCs to talk to and obtain quests from.
Hyper Light Drifter (PC/Mac/Linux/PS4/Vita/WiiU/Ouya)
Release Date: Summer 2014
Developer: Heart Machine
When this title first popped up on Kickstarter, everyone I knew was blown away by how incredible the 2D graphics looked on this indie game. Not only did the graphics look fluid, but the gameplay itself was awe-inspiring. Needless to say, the game earned a ridiculous amount of financial support from backers. The locales range from dangerous ruins to dark forests, with a multitude of baddies all dripping with murderous intent. This is easily one of my most anticipated titles for the year.
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX (PS3)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: Square Enix
After the release of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, it was only a matter of time before Tetsuya Nomura would announce that the second entry in the mega-popular Square Enix/Disney crossover would be getting the same remastered treatment. Much like the previous release, we will also be getting the Final Mix version of Kingdom Hearts II (my favorite in the series), along with Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Final Mix and HD-ified cinematics from Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. Nomura has also promised that they have added additional cutscenes that work to tie Re:coded and Birth By Sleep to one another.
Kingdom Under Fire II (PC/PS4)
Release Date: Summer 2014
Developer: Blueside
I feel like I have been reading about this game for the longest time. Finally, in November, Blueside spilled the beans on this upcoming high-fantasy Action RPG/RTS by announcing that not only will this title be coming to the Playstation 4 but will look at 2014 for a possible international release. After watching footage of players participating in these massive battles filled with giant spiders and orcs and Mammoths, with nation battles, sieging, land cultivation… I’m stoked for this one..
Legend of Grimrock 2 (PC)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: Almost Human
One of the best dungeon crawlers to come out in years that completely reinvigorated the genre like indie games are apt to do will finally be getting itself a sequel. With a ton of improvements planned and a much larger world, I am definitely excited for this one. Not a lot of details are available right now, but hopefully the team will shed some more light soon.
Lichdom (PC/PS3/360)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: Xaviant
A first-person RPG that takes elements from games like Elder Scrolls (of course) and Fable, takes place in a world filled with darkness; one plagued with disease. After being possessed by an immortal mage, players take control of a person destined to save the world from despair. The game puts a heavy focus on the story with a combat system revolving around the use of magic.
Liege (PC/Mac/Linux/PS4/Vita/WiiU/Mobile)
Release Date: TBA 2013
Developer: Coda Games
A party-based tactical RPG that looks to take the elements of what made JRPGs great and put a modern twist on them with a more mature story and a focus on hand-drawn visuals. Planned as a trilogy, the core of the plot revolves around a political power struggle after a Kingdom finds itself in a civil war after its royalty mysteriously dies. Battles happen seamlessly - there is no break between roaming the map and getting into battle, which features a grid-based combat system.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (PS3/360)
Release Date: February 11th, 2014
Developer: Square Enix
With 13 days set until the end of the world, Lightning has been tasked as the Savior to guide the souls of mankind to a new world that will be created when the current one ends. Gran Pulse and Valhalla have merged after the events of XIII-2 into Nova Chrsyalia. The world of Nova Chrysalia (formerly known as Novus Partus) is a strange land. Four continents make up its base and include the city of light Luxerion; a vast natural landscape dotted with villages known as The Wildlands; and The Dead Dunes, a desert location featuring many dungeons hidden beneath ruins. Having stopped aging, the people of Nova Chrysalia have become burdened. A heavy weight lies upon their hearts and now a group wishes to stop the Savior at all costs. Serial murders have started occurring in Luxerion, the victims resembling Lightning - it is clear that someone is out to get her. This particular city of God is soaked in blood, and after three people are killed in as many days, Lightning hunts to find the culprit. With a much more action-oriented combat system and far more open maps, this game looks to provide a more impactful experience for FFXIII fans. You can check out our import review for more.
Lineage Eternal (PC)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: NCSoft
The newest entry in the very popular MMO will hopefully see its release later this year. The game makes a number of changes to the formula, including a system where players perform gestures with their mouse to activate skills, a big focus on large-scale battles and sieges, and a dynamic graphics engine that changes based on the viewing angle the player uses.
LISA (PC)
Release Date: TBA 2013
Developer: Austin Jorgensen
A post-apocalyptic RPG where only men exist and they’re all barbarians, and the only way to survive for another day is through nefarious means - prostitution, gambling, life-or-death games, murder, selling limbs, exchanging of drugs, and more. Decisions made in the game have a lasting impact on your party - leak the location of a hideout, and you lose access to that area completely. Sell a limb to help another party member survive, and you take a permanent stat hit. This game is rough.
Lords of the Fallen (PC/PS4/XBO)
Release Date: TBA 2014
Developer: Deck13 Interactive
I already talked a lot about this title shortly after E3 with my preview so I recommend just checking out that article for more information, but this is another one of those games with a lot of potential. The developer is unproven in this genre, but with the backing of Tomasz Gop, it at least has the right people at the top.
Lords of Xullima (PC/Mac/Linux)
Release Date: Spring 2014
Developer: Numantian Games
An isometric turn-based RPG that takes inspiration from Ultima and Might & Magic, the atmosphere is laid on thick in this upcoming indie title. While most of the game takes place with a pulled-out view, the camera changes to first-person while in turn-based combat. It definitely has that vintage look to it that may draw solid appeal to fans of that design.
That's all for Day 3 of our list of RPGs! Things start to pick up even more in Day 4, so head back here tomorrow!