VentureBeat’s Favorite RPGs of 2020

Because of all the COVID-related delays, 2020 wasn’t as RPG-rich as it was initially supposed to be. But if you still wouldn’t mind looking back at some of the new RPGs last year gave us, you may want to check out this VentureBeat article that lists their favorite RPGs of 2020.

A couple examples:

Kingdoms of Amalur Re-Reckoning

Developer: KAIKO, Big Huge Games
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

This is a fairly basic remaster — the colors look richer and deeper, and other visuals are improved as well. It comes with the DLC, and THQ Nordic says another piece is coming as well. It does some other mechanic changes as well. All in all, it doesn’t change much — and that’s a good thing, because Amalur was already a good game.

And in September, as anxiety over increasing COVID-19 infections and election nonsense continued to build, I found a great deal of satisfaction running around Amalur’s gorgeous areas, fighting baddies, turning in quests, and lusting over loot. It’s not a complicated game — you won’t find the layers of buffs and interactions that Diablo brings — but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a fun loot-heavy action-RPG, and I’m looking forward to seeing what new story content comes along in 2021, nine years after the original’s release.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister

Developer: Tactical Adventures
Publisher: Tactical Adventures
Platform: PC

Solasta is what I like to call a “next-gen RPG” in how it treats tactical encounters. Of course, this is no surprise, given the studio’s name. Like Larian Studios did with Baldur’s Gate III, you now get three axes of movement, something that’s new for turn-based RPGs. But this means more than attacking and exploring on the Z axis — it even uses factors such as light in determining who gets advantage in combat. Don’t worry, it provides plenty of ways to light things up, too. This makes each dungeon feel different as well — one is in an ancient library, where moving up and down to explore and solve puzzles is important. Another is shrouded in darkness, befitting its undead denizens.

What’s great is that Tactical Adventures uses all of this in solving puzzles as well as combat, giving Solasta a different spin on 5E Dungeons & Dragons gameplay than you’re getting in Baldur’s Gate III. It also has factions that look like they will throw their weights around when it comes to the story, giving you more interactions to factor in than just the reactions of your party members.

It’s in Early Access now, and I’m hoping we’ll get the full campaign by fall 2021.