For Venturebeat the best RPGs for 2018 are:
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The D20 Beat: 2018's RPGs -- my critical hits and made saving throws
When I think about 2018's role-playing games, I don't see lots of bombast and flash. Blockbuster studios often stayed away. Square Enix's main offerings this year weren't triple-A releases. You didn't see anything from BioWare, and Bethesda's Fallout 76 sure doesn't feel like an RPG to me.
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The critical hits
These are my favorite RPGs of 2018. They tell fantastic stories, pose interesting combat situations, and have engaging character development (either through story or through stats).
- Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
- Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
- The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep
- Book of Demons
- Battletech
- Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu
Making their saves
These are solid RPGs, but they don't qualify as critical hits. They are worthy of playing.
- Octopath Traveler
- Tower of Time
- Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition (Switch)
- Pathfinder: Kingmaker
- Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
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