2021 was yet another good year for role-playing games on PlayStation. Granted, a lot of them were actually PS5 re-releases, but there were still plenty of top quality titles to go around.
As decided by the Push Square editorial team, these are the best RPGs of 2021.
Persona 5 Strikers is often mistaken for a Dynasty Warriors-style Persona spinoff, but it’s actually much, much more than that. This is a full-on action RPG that expands on the tale of the Phantom Thieves. The story takes place just months after the events of Persona 5, and does a surprisingly expansive job of providing each party member with additional character development. What’s more, the fast-paced but often quite tactical gameplay is a real homerun. A fantastic, typically stylish companion piece to Persona 5.
You can read our full Persona 5 Strikers PS4 review here.
One of gaming’s most beloved trilogies made a return in 2021, and simply put, playing through the engrossing adventures of Commander Shepard has never felt better. BioWare went above and beyond with this remastered collection, reworking gameplay mechanics and adding some welcome graphical improvements to games that many would consider all-time classics. A stellar (pardon the pun) experience from top to bottom, and one of the best value packages of the year.
You can read our full Mass Effect Legendary Edition PS4 review here.
After all of the praise that Disco Elysium received on other platforms, we couldn’t wait to see what all of the fuss was about with Final Cut on PS5 and PS4. As it turns out, this utterly engrossing RPG is well worth the critical acclaim. In terms of pure role-playing mechanics, no other game from 2021 comes close, as Disco Elysium lets you walk a completely unique path through a gripping murder mystery. Choice and consequence are at the forefront of what is a haunting experience — a truly memorable game.
You can read our full Disco Elysium: The Final Cut PS5 review here.
We’ve been big fans of the Tales series for what feels like an age, but we think there’s an argument to be made for Tales of Arise being the best of the bunch. Bandai Namco finally gave its role-playing property the budget that it deserves, and the result is an emotional, brilliantly paced, and often stunning adventure. In its memorable locations, endearing party members, and rewarding combat system, Tales of Arise is easily one of the greatest Japanese RPGs on PS5 and PS4.
You can read our full Tales of Arise PS5 review here.
Honourable mentions:
What was your favourite PS5, PS4 RPG of 2021? Have your own say in our poll, and then recall your adventures in the comments section below.
