Games of the Year

RPGFan Games of the Year 2020: Best Traditional RPG

by and on February 11, 2021
RPGFan Best Traditional RPG Banner featuring Ichiban in a trash can.

Winner: Yakuza: Like a Dragon

It all started as an April Fools’ joke. A turn-based Yakuza game? Bwahahaha! How ridiculous! Little did we suspect that the team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio were already well into the process of turning everything we knew about Yakuza on its head! By taking the framework of a Yakuza game, adding in compelling turn-based combat, an endearing new protagonist, party relationship mechanics, a deep love of Dragon Quest, and more mini-games than ever, they created a game that is easily one of the best RPGs of the year. If the beat-em-up combat always scared you away from the Yakuza series, then Like a Dragon is the perfect place to start with this beloved series!

by Jonathan Logan

Runner-Up: Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal somehow manages to improve on the already excellent Persona 5 with many quality of life improvements that address most players’ concerns regarding the pacing of the game. In addition, the third semester content provides us with a great arc for the primary rival as well as the best villain of the game. As long as you have the ability to push through a 110+ hour game, P5R is one of the best JRPGs of this console generation, hands down.

by Nathan Lee

Readers’ Choice: Best Traditional RPG

Winner: The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

Runner-Up: Persona 5 Royal

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Jonathan Logan

Jonathan Logan

Jonathan (he/him), or Jono for short, is the host of Random Encounter and the Reviews Manager for RPGFan. While reviewing a game, he has been known to drink up to 10 cups of tea to keep focused (Earl Grey, milk, no sugar). Fun fact: Jono holds a Masters of Music Theatre degree, which is only slightly less useful than it sounds.

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