The role-playing game genre seemingly bursting at the seams with titles that are set in either the fantasy genre or to a slightly lesser degree a science fiction setting. While there’s nothing wrong with a game that uses a Tolkienesque backdrop to tell its story many fans of the RPG genre are crying out for games with a different setting.
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Games like thePersonafranchise have proved that a realistic modern-day setting can be just as engaging if not more so than a fantasy one. This is because gamers are able to relate more to a modern setting and participating in activities they have done in real life like going to school or work. Unfortunately, RPGs that use a modern-day setting are few and far between but thankfully there are a few to choose from. Let’s take a look at ten of the best according to Metacritic.
10Alpha Protocol (Metascore 72)
Released in 2010 for the PlayStation 3, PC and the Xbox 360,Alpha Protocolwas one of the most overlooked RPGs in its time. It’s a modern-day spy thriller RPG from the creators ofStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic IIand their most recent titleThe Outer Worlds.
Taking on the role of a super spy in an RPG is a very original concept for the genre. It also allows players to choose what kind of agent they want the lead character Michael Thornton to be through its Dialogue Stance System. The choices on offer are usually suave likeJames Bond, professional, or aggressive like Jack Bauer, all yielding varying results.
9Tokyo Xanadu eX+ (Metascore 75)
Released in 2017Tokyo Xanadu eX+is an enhanced PlayStation 4 and PC port of the PlayStation Vita original that released in 2015. It was developed by the Nihon Falcom who are better known for their popularYsandLegend of Heroesseries.
Unlike the fantasy setting of their two better-known franchises,Tokyo Xanadutakes place in a modern-day Tokyo. It’s an action-RPG with similar mechanics to Falcom’sYsseries and dungeon exploration takes place in an alternate dimension called The Eclipse and it works in a similar way to thePersonaseries.
8Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines (Metascore 80)
Released in 2004 for the PC,Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlinesis an action RPG set in a modern-day Los Angeles. It’s based on the tabletop RPG of the same name and offers players a lot of flexibility with its role-playing mechanics and character creation system.
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The combat system was a little clunky and awkward but it more than made up for this in its world-building and interactivity. There’s a new game in the works calledVampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2and its set to be released in 2020 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC.
7Parasite Eve (Metascore 81)
Developed by Square,Parasite Evewas released on the PlayStation in 1998 and it takes place in a modern-day New York. The game is based on the 1995 Japanese horror novel of the same name although it serves as more of a sequel to the book.
Parasite Eveputs players in the shoes of a rookie in the NYPD called Aya and although it takes a lot of inspiration theResident Evilfranchise the gameplay uses a turn-based combat system that has many similarities toVagrant Story.
6Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (Metascore 81)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FEwas first released on the Nintendo Wii U in 2015 and its enhanced portTokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encorearrived in the Nintendo Switch in early 2020. It’s a JRPG that is set in a modern-day Tokyo and is a crossover event between theFire Emblemseries and Atlus’Shin Megami Tenseiseries.
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It’s not anywhere near as dark as theShin Megami Tenseiseries but it included aspects ofPersona’ssocial link mechanics to help flesh out the characters and their development.Tokyo Miragewas considered one of the best RPGs on the Wii U and the Switch version is even better.
5Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 (Metascore 82)
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2was first released in 2012 for the Nintendo DS and it received an enhanced port for the Nintendo 3DS in 2015. It’s a tactical RPG set in the universe as thePersonaseries and the mainlineShin Megami Tenseiseries.
The game’s story takes place across several parts of a modern-day Japan where several young students are trying to fight off a demon invasion. As is typical for the series,Devil Survivoris very challenging and any mistake on the battlefield will cost the player’s party dearly. It’s a game worth mastering, however, because of its deep engaging story and characters.
4Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (Metascore 82)
Released in 2019,Tom Clancy’s The Division 2is set in a modern-day/near-future Washington D.C. where the remnants of the human race are trying to get by after a smallpox outbreak. It’s an always-online action-RPG combined with stealth and cover-based mechanics seen in otherTom Clancytitles.
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The game can be played alone or as part of a squad and it is packed with content and loot for players to uncover both during the main campaign and after the endgame. Since its release,The Division 2has received three story-based DLCs and there’s additional campaign incoming which set back in New York.
3Yakuza Kiwami 2 (Metascore 85)
TheYakuzaseries is an action-RPGs based in a modern-day Tokyo where the locations are based on real-life locations. The highest-scoring game in the series is theYakuza 2remakeYakuza Kiwami 2but the case can be made for gamers to experience the series in its entirety.
The series prequelYakuza 0is set during the 1980s but the setting is still very contemporary compared to medieval-set fantasy games in the RPG genre. The entire series is currently on the PlayStation 4 both with the first two games getting a from the ground up remake and episodes 3 to 5 being the recipient of remasters.
2Disco Elysium (Metascore 91)
Disco Elysiumwas released for the PC 2019 as was the recipient of many games of the year awards across several publications. It is also due to be released on the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One sometime in 2020. The inclusion ofDisco Elysiumon this list is cheating a little as it’s set in a 1950s alternate universe.
However, the whole premise feels very contemporary with its neo-noir detective story. Furthermore, the game feels very modern and its themes and story are very relevant to the social and political climate of today.
1Persona 5 (Metascore 93)
Persona 5was released on the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4 in 2017. It is a spin-off of theShin Megami Tenseiseries but has gained more mainstream popularity due to the popularity of the fifth entry in the series.
All of thePersonagames are set in a modern-day Japanese town with real-life locations to navigate and explore. There’s a large social aspect of the game that requires the player to spend time with friends in places like movie theaters, restaurants, and of course the game’s high school location.
