Upcoming AAA/AA CRPGs or story-based RPGs (updated 15/12/2025 following The Game Awards)

[Gladius Legis]

Sure, I quite accept that. The thing about railroads is you can’t see the rails until you want to go in a different direction.

But the game doesn't give my PC (my PC, not me myself) any reason to think they should be going in a different direction.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

But the game doesn't give my PC (my PC, not me myself) any reason to think they should be going in a different direction.

So? It did me, frequently, to the point of massive frustration.

And I’m far from the only person who complained about being railroaded.

 

[Gladius Legis]

So? It did me, frequently, to the point of massive frustration.

And I’m far from the only person who complained about being railroaded.

This is like complaining about Baldur's Gate 2 forcing you to go to the asylum, with nothing even remotely resembling a subtle approach, despite a wizard very obviously more powerful than you are at that point in the game very obviously setting a trap for you there.

In fact if anything the railroading there is far more obvious than what you're seeing in NWN2.

But at the end of the day, these games have a story to tell, and you can only influence it so much.

 

[Pale Violet Light]

It's still way better than the first game's main quest. It's worth one good-aligned playthrough, if nothing else just to set the context for Mask of the Betrayer.

The original campaign? Mask of the Betrayer? Pah! These are but trifling appetizers for the glorious sandboxy main course: Storm of Zehir.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Updated this for The Game Awards - will try to update quarterly at least going forwards.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Minor update as Swen said that Divinity will be a turn-based RPG like DOS/BG3, but "brought to the next level" (which I can only assume means even more cutscenes!). This is of note mostly because the original Divinity was actually a Diablo-like ARPG, just more story-heavy.

 

[Parmandur]

Minor update as Swen said that Divinity will be a turn-based RPG like DOS/BG3, but "brought to the next level" (which I can only assume means even more cutscenes!). This is of note mostly because the original Divinity was actually a Diablo-like ARPG, just more story-heavy.

Oh, boy, that interview has started a Discourse in the video game places I read.

Sounds like Swen is combining AI enshitification with pushing maximum grimdark...

 

[Reynard]

Oh, boy, that interview has started a Discourse in the video game places I read.

Sounds like Swen is combining AI enshitification with pushing maximum grimdark...

I am really excited for Divinity. I am also totally okay never hearing another word about it until it drops.

 

[CleverNickName]

I am really excited for Divinity. I am also totally okay never hearing another word about it until it drops.

The preview (cinematic) trailer for it at the Steam Game Awards last week was intense.

 

[Reynard]

The preview (cinematic) trailer for it at the Steam Game Awards last week was intense.

Indeed. But I do not gain any pleasure out of obsessively following development of things. I want to wake up one day with a message saying "Divinity from your Steam Wishlist is available!"