Near the end of 2015, amid claims that turn-based combat in RPGs was dead, we looked at 5 upcoming turn-based RPGs

All of those games are now out, except for Dragon Quest XI, so let’s take a look at five more upcoming RPGs to keep in mind if you still love turn-based combat.

5. Dragon Quest XI

We’re getting this one out of the way early because I technically included it on the previous list, along with two other Dragon Quest titles. Back then, localization was still in doubt, but now we can look forward to Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age in 2018.

Dragon Quest XI has two distinct styles depending on whether you get the PS4 version or the 3DS version, and the 3DS version also lets you go for an even more old-school look, but no matter which version you get, it’s a turn-based JRPG with a traditional style.

Dragon Quest shows no sign of leaving its roots behind, and fans are happy for that.

4. Battle Chasers: Nightwar

Due out next week on October 3 (except for the Switch version, which is coming later), Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a game based on the Battle Chasers comic series and inspired by classic JRPGs.

I have no familiarity with the Battle Chasers series, but Nightwar looks pretty cool. The only thing I’m uncertain about is that it has randomly-generated dungeons, but previews of the game have suggested it does an excellent job with the classic JRPG formula.

3. Lost Sphear

When I finished I Am Setsuna, I was disappointed with the ending… but eager to see Tokyo RPG Factory have another chance. Lost Sphear will be out on January 23, and everything about it looks like exactly what I hoped for: a game styled after classic JRPGs, but with improvements over I Am Setsuna when it comes to the world and ATB combat system.

It remains to be seen if the story, which deals with characters restoring the world around them through the power of Memory, will be satisfying, but I have high hopes for Lost Sphear.

2. Project Octopath Traveler

I was skeptical of Project Octopath Traveler when it was first announced, because it’s being handled by the team behind Bravely Default. To some people, that’s fantastic news (and yes, I did have Bravely Second on my previous list of top upcoming RPGs), but when I tried to play Bravely Default, I couldn’t get invested in the story and characters at all.

However, the demo for Project Octopath Traveler available from the Switch eShop convinced me that maybe I was too hasty in my judgment. It looks beautiful and reminds me of older Final Fantasy games, and the story and dialogue so far seems a major step up from Bravely Default.

Project Octopath Traveler will be out in 2018, and I’m looking forward to it.

1. Trails of Cold Steel III

Finally, while I’m still all the way back with The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (First Chapter), the Trails series has already caught my attention as one I’ll enjoy.

Trails of Cold Steel III will be the newest entry in the series, and it’s due out tomorrow in Japan. No news has been announced yet about it’s Western release, but it seems a given that it will be localized. It won’t be the end of the Trails series, either. According to the developer, Trails of Cold Steel III will bring the overall Trails story to just over 60% complete.

They’ve taken steps to streamline combat, but it’s still turn-based. If it lives up to the standard set by previous games in the series, it is definitely one to be excited for.

Conclusion

Dragon Quest XI, Battle Chasers, Lost Sphear, Project Octopath Traveler, and Trails of Cold Steel III are five of the turn-based RPGs I’m looking forward to the most.

Of course, these are only five of many. Last time, I left off some of the games I ended up enjoying the most, like World of Final Fantasy and Persona 5, so I might have overlooked something wonderful again. What turn-based RPGs are you looking forward to?

Yesterday I looked back on the best games I played in 2016. Now it’s time to look ahead, to the games I’m most looking forward to in 2017.

But first…

Honorable Mention: Cosmic Star Heroine

Cosmic Star Heroine made it on my list of most-anticipated games for 2015 and 2016.

According to the developers, it is almost finished, although it couldn’t make its 2016 goal. Since it’s so close, I’m sure we’ll finally get to play it in 2017… but since it currently doesn’t have an official release date, I’m not counting it on the list this year.

Nevertheless, Cosmic Star Heroine still looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to play it.

Now, onward to my top 5 anticipated games of 2017!

5. Yooka-Laylee

Yooka-Laylee was one of my most-anticipated games of 2016, but it was delayed. My preferred version, for the Wii U, was also cancelled. But regardless of that, it looks like what modern Banjo-Kazooie would be, which is awesome.

Everything about it screams Banjo-Kazooie. It’ll be a welcome blast from the past, and it looks beautiful, too! I can’t wait to play it.

4. Tales of Berseria

Maybe I should be a little more wary of the next tales game after my disappointment with Zestiria, but from everything I’ve heard, Tales of Berseria will make up for it. People who played the Japanese version say it’s much better than Zestiria, and many say it’s the best Tales game since Vesperia.

That means many people like it more than Xillia, which I loved a lot for Gaius its characters and humor.

There has been a bit of chaos surrounding its censorship of one scene, but it doesn’t bother me and I’m interested to see where Velvet’s journey for revenge will take her. I’m also curious if it can patch up some of Zestiria’s worldbuilding issues, since they’re set in the same universe.

I won’t play Berseria immediately, since it comes out on the same day as another certain game… but it’s still one of my most-anticipated games of the year.

3. Finding Paradise

To the Moon is one of my favorite games. Some moments made me laugh out loud, and one part made me cry. The sequel, Finding Paradise, should be out this summer.

Another, smaller game called “A Bird Story” sets up Finding Paradise, and the free holiday mini-episodes for To the Moon imply interesting things ahead.

Will Finding Paradise be as emotional and exciting as To the Moon? We should know this year.

2. Muv-Luv Alternative

I finished Muv-Luv (Extra and Unlimited) on the last day of 2016, and I’m excited to play the sequel. Muv-Luv Alternative is considered one of the best visual novels ever and is ranked #1 on the Visual Novel Database.

(It also was the inspiration for Attack on Titan.)

More importantly, the ending of Unlimited left me curious about where the story will go from here.

The team originally hoped Muv-Luv Alternative’s translation would be finished in time for a winter release, but now they think it might take the entire winter. A little disappointing, yes, but it’s understandable. Apparently it has as much as 70 hours worth of content. That’s a lot of text to translate!

My review of Muv-Luv Extra and Muv-Luv Unlimited will be ready soon.

Now, what game has me more excited than even the top-rated visual novel of all time? It shouldn’t be much of a surprise…

1. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

Kingdom Hearts 2.8 was my most-anticipated game last year, and its delay to January means it’s my most-anticipated game this year, too. Every trailer has made me ridiculously excited.

It’s a compilation of three things:

• Dream Drop Distance HD
• 0.2 Birth By Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage
• χ Back Cover

(If you’re confused about the Kingdom Hearts game order, I’ve written a guide here.)

I can’t decide which part I’m most excited for. Dream Drop Distance, the final game I need to play to be caught up on the series? A Fragmentary Passage, the game that follows Aqua after the events of Birth By Sleep? χ Back Cover, the movie focused on the Foretellers during the time leading up to the Keyblade War?

All three have plot points I’m dying to see, and that’s what makes Kingdom Hearts 2.8 the game I’m looking forward to the most in 2017.

These are my most anticipated games of 2017. What are yours?