Welcome to our mega-sized list of our Most Anticipated Games of 2019! Believe it or not, the RPGFan staff had to really work hard to keep the list to a mere sixty titles. There's a ton of promising games on the horizon, and most of the ones scheduled for 2019 are looking to be in good shape to make it.
Kingdom Hearts III makes its final appearance on this feature, after years of hopeful inclusions, so we're leading with that. Otherwise, we changed up our list order for 2019. Usually we give you an alphabetized list, but that makes it far too easy to guess what's still to come as we roll out this feature. Instead, we've completely randomized all 60 titles across all three days, just to make things fresh. Start with these 20 below, and check back in the coming days for the rest!
What are you most looking forward to? Let us know on the usual places, whether you prefer Facebook, Twitter, Discord, or Instagram!
At long last, the Dark Seeker saga comes to a close with the long-awaited release of Kingdom Hearts III. This long, long (long) awaited sequel looks even more flashy and colorful than the games that came before it, with a selection of Disney worlds that each look to be monumentally larger than typical KH worlds. This new installment boasts an expansive cast of new and returning characters, and the thrilling real-time combat the series is known for. But even moreso than being a new game in a beloved series, the release of Kingdom Hearts III promises a sense of closure to a storyline that has been very long in the telling. While series director Tetsuya Nomura has stated that the series will continue in some fashion, there's a sense of finality about Kingdom Hearts III that is almost palpable: we'll see how it wraps up come the end of January.
Write-up by Peter Triezenberg
One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises to come out of The Game Awards last year, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3 couldn't be coming out at a better time, as it's been nearly ten years since the last Ultimate Alliance game. Marvel fever is at an all-time high right now with the impending Captain Marvel film and the second part to Avengers: Infinity War, so now is surely the perfect time to play with all of your favourite Marvel heroes on the go. Details are currently scarce, but if the first two games are anything to go by, you'll be able to swap your team of Marvel allies on the fly for endless party combinations. This will definitely keep us happy until we find out what that Marvel and Square Enix collaboration is about.
Write-up by Alana Hagues
Currently in Early Access, Overland has been around for a few years now, but the developers have confirmed that the full game will finally be released sometime in 2019. Blending survival elements with the much-loved roguelike formula, the game embraces a dark roadtrip aesthetic not unlike The Road, and is filled with tactical X-COM like battles. There's a really unique blend of genres and games being combined to make Overland, and if developer Finji can nail the tone and gameplay, this could end up being one of the indie darlings of the year.
Write-up by Alana Hagues
Had time to catch up on Shenmue I & II with last year's rerelease? There's still a bit of time to do that if you haven't...but not long, because after 18 years, we're finally getting another game in this beloved franchise! Following on from the end of the second game, Ryo Hazuki and Ling Shenhua are left to find out why their destinies are intertwined so intricately, while Ryu looks to exact revenge on the man who murdered his father, Lan Di. Yu Suzuki has expressed interest in making even more games in the series, so we're really excited to see just how far Shenmue has come in the 20 years since it first released. Hopefully, there will be no more delays or cliffhangers with a long wait involved!
Write-up by Alana Hagues
Since a main game/remake of a main game in the Neptunia series released recently, it's time for another spin-off! This one is being developed at Canadian-based Artisan Studios, which is the first time a Neptunia game has been developed outside of Japan; the Neptunia series will also make its first appearance on a Nintendo platform with a Switch release. Featuring a Valkyrie Profile-like battle system, this is an intriguing Neptunia spin-off that looks to push the envelope of the series. The E3 build was a bit rough around the edges, but there's still time to get the game polished up before its release this spring.
Write-up by Nathan Lee
Dragon Quest Builders was an unexpectedly entertaining little game that was juuuuust shy of greatness. We loved making our own RPG town in Armor Project's iconic universe, though we struggled with clunky menus and controls. A sequel to fine tune these issues is just what the doctor ordered, with an added bonus of online multiplayer. More than a few of our staff are champing at the bit to build more towns and whack more slimes — together!
Write-up by Robert Fenner
Hot on the heels of Death Mark comes NG, the second entry in Experience Inc.'s Spirit Horror series. Set in 1999, NG (short for Not Good) puts players in the role of a juvenile delinquent searching for his missing sister. Whereas Death Mark saw its heroes run around haunted locations searching for ghosts, NG home-delivers the scares: the protagonist's world slowly corrodes around him, turning the mundane into the terrifying. NG hasn't been announced for localization just yet, but here's hoping the positive buzz around Death Mark will prove this one will be in high demand among horror fans.
Write-up by Robert Fenner
An anime-inspired take on the Dark Souls formula, the Action RPG Code Vein seems to offer plenty of challenges for those brave enough to step into its vampiric dystopian setting. Outlandish character designs, weaponry, and powers, including those gained from consuming the blood of your enemies, might ensure that this Bandai Namco title not only stands out. The numerous delays will hopefully mean an emphasis on a quality final release.
Write-up by Audra Bowling
It was raining pixels in Pinnacle City. Pixels that held the promise... of murder.
Combining the conventions of film noir and JRPGs, Pixel Noir is a hardboiled detective roleplaying game. Originally funded through Kickstarter, SWDTech Games has built strong bonds with their backers, providing them with impressive demos and alpha builds throughout development. With some absolutely stunning pixel art, turn-based combat, and an atmospheric chiptune soundtrack, Pixel Noir looks like it will scratch the itch of anyone who is looking for a more modern-day slant in their RPGs.
Write-up by Jonathan Logan
2019 is a bumper year for the Atelier series, but the next mainline game in this beloved crafting RPG series is bucking tradition. Atelier Lulua is a sequel to the Arland trilogy which was released back on the PS3, and is set several years after Atelier Meruru. Elmerulia, known as Lulua to her friends, is the daughter of Rorona, a name series fans will quickly recognize. Lulua looks to combine the familiar world of Arland with many of the new systems from the Mysterious trilogy, and we don't have long to wait for this entry, as it will be with us in Spring! Get your ateliers ready for yet another adorable alchemic adventure!
Write-up by Alana Hagues
With a stunning visual style and a story that could have been pulled from the best of Grimms' Fairy Tales, The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is an action-adventure game with a twist. Instead of barrelling through each level, you must instead lead a blind prince through a dark forest, protecting him from harm. Far from being simply a game-long escort mission, the relationship between the blind prince and the lying princess (who is also secretly a wolf-monster) looks to give the game a remarkable emotional depth. The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince features beautifully composed music, a complex story, and like with all fairy tales, a moral for all the good boys and girls!
Write-up by Jonathan Logan
We've been anxiously awaiting Necrobarista since at least late 2017. We understand delays for quality assurance more than anyone, especially from indie developers, but it doesn't make the wait any easier. A gorgeously presented visual novel/graphic adventure from Route59 Games, Necrobarista's premise could only come from a caffeine-fueled team: A café in Melbourne where the dead get a single, final night to mingle with the living. The gameplay will involve said mingling with your patrons, and crafting delicious beverages that sometimes are infused with the souls of the damned. Or maybe mocha. Whatever. There's nothing on the market quite like it, and we can't wait to get our caffeine fix with a shot of necromancy.
Write-up by Mike Salbato
Are you tired of massive, open-world games? How about trying an RPG that takes place... in a single town? The folks behind Pokémon are taking a break from the pocket monsters to develop Town, a brand-new RPG for the Switch. Rather than heading out into the world to fight monsters, the monsters come to you, constantly attacking your hometown. You and your fellow villagers must band together to fight off the monster invasion and discover the hidden secret of your home. The game, not unlike Pokémon, looks absolutely adorable with fantastic monster design. We think we are going to feel right at home in this Town!
Write-up by Jonathan Logan
BioWare's sci-fi shooter action RPG Anthem promises to have plenty of content both for those who want to venture the wilds around Fort Tarsis solo or partake in an adventure with a group of up to three other players. A choice-heavy narrative complete with platonic NPC bonding and plenty of gameplay options to customize your character further round out the package. Plus, jet packs! Players can explore Anthem's open world in February.
Write-up by Audra Bowling
Steins;Gate Elite looks to bring together the best elements of both visual novels and anime into one game. The game will retain components of the visual novel, such as branching paths and multiple endings, but it will be fully animated, utilizing assets from the original anime along with original animation to cover parts of the story that the anime didn't. Plus, the Switch version of the game includes 8-Bit Adv Steins;Gate, a new adventure game with the same characters and setting as Steins;Gate done in the style of an 8-bit adventure game. Whether you're unfamiliar with Steins;Gate, or you're a long time fan of the property, Steins;Gate Elite looks to be the definitive way to experience this incredible story.
Write-up by Zach Wilkerson
Biomutant is an upcoming Action RPG by developer Experiment 101 and publisher THQ Nordic. An open world game where players take on the role of a fully customizable raccoon-esque mutant creature, Biomutant will take gamers on a quest to hopefully save the life-sustaining Tree of Life from a disastrous, poisonous oil spill. With a narrative that changes based upon players' actions, gameplay will heavily involve customizing your character and equipment to better traverse terrain and combat foes. It seems that there will be a plethora of ways to approach playing Biomutant when it is released later this year.
Write-up by Audra Bowling
As 2017's Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood draws to its epic conclusion, the seeds are being sown for its follow up, Shadowbringers, which looks to be delivering a darker story this time around. Going into the MMO's sixth year since its reboot, the usual upgrades can be expected: an increased level cap of 80, with new dungeons, jobs, and primal fights. There are some exciting and fresh concepts on the horizon as well. Final Fantasy XII's much-requested Viera is being implemented as a playable race. Additionally, players will have the ability to bring certain NPCs along into dungeons (similar to Final Fantasy XI's Trust system), or utilize a "New Game +" feature, allowing replay of earlier points in the story with their current character. All of this on top of a narrative that takes the story in a surprising new direction mean that Shadowbringers has our full attention.
Write-up by Kyle Seeley
Kickstarter backers have been waiting nearly three years for Koji Igarashi to deliver on his spiritual successor to Castlevania. While a specific release date has yet to be announced, Igarashi states that the team is in a fine-tuning period, indicating that a 2019 release is imminent. Famous for his series-redefining work on Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, he later became producer of the series as a whole. As the industry changed, Igarashi was unable to develop the types of games he loved creating, departing from Konami to do so. The project has endured, with regular backer updates and an 8-bit inspired side-game, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon in the interim. For those craving the classic Metroidvania experience, Bloodstained is one of the most anticipated games of 2019.
Write-up by Kyle Seeley
You can't say Bandai Namco doesn't know their audience. God Eater 3 is set to include big monsters, more outlandish weapons, and even more impractical outfits for its cast of anime weirdos. Still, this unique take on the hunting genre looks like an exciting time, and ought to provide a good palate cleanser while we wait for the Monster Hunter World expansion.
Write-up by Peter Triezenberg
Originally released by Atlus in 2011, Catherine featured a combination of puzzle and dating sim elements. Protagonist Vincent Brooks finds himself pressured to commit to his girlfriend Katherine, when he begins an affair with the similarly named Catherine. In nightmares, Vincent and other unfaithful men are forced to endure climbing an endless tower, dying in real life should they die in their sleep. Between action segments, Vincent makes decisions affecting the outcome of his relationships. Catherine: Full Body is more than just a remaster, adding more NPCs to interact with at the Stray Sheep Bar, scheduled DLC, and an additional love interest in Rin, who adds more story to Vincent's narrative. Full Body also addresses the high difficulty of its predecessor, offering the option to auto-solve the puzzle stages for those who just want to experience the story without hassle.
Write-up by Kyle Seeley