There are plenty of upcoming action RPGs that are set to release within the next year. The video game genre is filled with titles that offer a compelling story, choices, and thrilling game mechanics. As we approach the New Year, we crafted a list of some of our more anticipated action RPGs set to launch at some point next year.
We, of course, would love to know what action RPGs, you’re looking forward in playing most. Let us know by leaving a comment down below!
Elex
Developer: Piranha Bytes
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platforms: PC, PS4, XB1
Release Date: 17 Oct. 2017
Described as an edgy, dark, uncompromising, and complex by the publisher, Elex is an upcoming action RPG based around war and the strive to claim a powerful resource known as Elex.
With Elex, those who have access to this resource will be given magic-like powers. As a result, there are several factions all with different morals and ideas who struggle in obtaining Elex to use in deciding the fate of their planet.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Horizon Zero Dawn will mark as the first IP developed by Guerrilla Games since their release of Killzone in 2004. This is an action role-playing video game title that is set a thousand years into the future.
Mankind has mysteriously fallen with cities only a shell of a once thriving society. Now only small tribal groups remain with giant mechanical beasts roam the world openly. The plot will revolve around a female hunter named Aloy who sets out on a journey to explore the open world, meet with other tribes, and potentially learn of the reason mankind fell to being with.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Wii U, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: TBA 2017
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will mark as the nineteenth main installment to The Legend of Zelda franchise. This time around, players will be placed in a large open-world environment with the ability to play through the game’s dungeons in any order.
Within The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players will take on the role of Link after he awakens from a deep slumber that lasted a hundred years. A mysterious voice alerts link to reach a ruined Kingdom known as Hyrule where he will learn of Calamity Ganon, the antagonist who had previously destroyed Hyrule, though, during the process, he had trapped himself within the Kingdom. Ultimately, Link will have to train and prepare for a battle against Calamity Ganon before he escapes and destroys the world.
The Surge
Developer: Deck13 Interactive
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platforms: PC, XB1, PS4
Release Date: 16 May 2017
The Surge follows a future in which mankind had successfully consumed all of the basic resources needed to survive. This has left a strain of environmental diseases and crisis.
Needing the use of exoskeletons to battle the infected, players must track down new technologies as they attempt to rid the infected.
Vampyr
Developer: Dontnod Entertainment
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platforms: PC, PS4, XB1
Release Date: TBA 2017
Development team Dontnod Entertainment really gained mass exposure for their Life is Strange video game release. Now the studio has taken a much darker tone for their next IP, Vampyr. This is a title that is set during the 1918 London Spanish flu pandemic.
Players will take the role of a doctor named Jonathan Reid who happens to be a vampire. Johnathan is fighting his own inner demons as he sworn to the Hippocratic Oath, but understands his need to feed on the blood of humans in order to survive.
Similar to Life is Strange, it appears that Vampyr will present players with a variety of choices and dialogue options that will likely steer the narrative overall. However, unlike Life is Strange, this is an action role-playing video game where players can battle enemies rather than focusing on communication and choices to progress the campaign story.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Developer: Monolith Productions
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 22 August 2017
Following the events of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Middle-earth: Shadow of War continues the story of Talion. Still infused with the spirit of elf lord Celebrimbor, Talion sets out to force a new Ring of Power which may control the ability to avoid becoming a Dark Lord but instead make Talion a power king.
Nioh
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: February 7, 2017
Team Ninja, developers behind Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, has been working hard on Nioh since 2004. The video game is an upcoming action role-playing video game set in the early 1600s. Players take on the role of William, a blonde-haired westerner who arrives in Japan seeking an enemy.
Nier Automata
Developer: PlatinumGames
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PC, PS4
Release Date: TBA 2017
Nier: Automata is an upcoming action role-playing video game. Taking place after the fourth ending of the previously released Nier installment, Nier: Automata follows YoRHa, androids sent to Earth in order to fight the invading force in a proxy war.
Being set in an open world environment, players will control multiple characters with combat mainly focused on melee weapons. Unfortunately, while Japan has a confirmed release date within 2017, a specific western release date was not officially revealed.
Destiny 2
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: PS4, XB1, PC
Release Date: 6 Sep. 2017
Destiny was met with a positive reception from critics and fans alike and now we are gearing closer to its official sequel release. While we’re still awaiting news regarding the title, developers Bungie had confirmed that Destiny 2 will be releasing at some point in 2017.
With the sequel release, it will be interesting to see if past characters from the original Destiny installment will carry over. Likewise, perhaps we’ll find more lore, bigger open world environments, new multiplayer modes, weapons, and more. Likewise, it would be nice to see the sequel to Destiny also launch on the PC platform.
Tales of Berseria
Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platforms: PS4, PS3, PC
Release Date: 24 Jan. 2017
Acting as the sixteenth main entry to the Tales series, Tales of Berseria makes our list for a title worthy of picking up this year. The video game retails the Linear Motion Battle System from previous Tales video games and it offers a new unique story.
Players take on the role of Velvet Crowe who takes on soul mission to stop the demons and evil that has come into the world after she was betrayed. Without spoiling too much of the story, players can expect a tale full of friendship, second-chances, redemption, and ultimately, revenge.
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
Developer: TaleWorlds Entertainment
Publisher: TaleWorlds Entertainment
Platforms: PC
Release Date: TBA 2017
Taking place hundreds of years before Mount & Blade: Warband, players will witness the decline of the Calradian Empire and the formation of the Kingdoms. Playing out similar to the previous Mount & Blade: Warband, gamers will also find that there will be different vassals, armor, weapons, and architecture that was inspired from 600 to 1100 A.D.
