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GamesBeat’s 2015 selection spans sprawling fantasy, console and computer RPGs, tactical battles, and an MMORPG expansion. It is an editorial ranking, not a definitive scorecard for every RPG released that year. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt leads the list; the right pick for you depends on whether you want story, open-world exploration, action combat, or a more tactical party adventure.
GamesBeat’s 10 best RPGs of 2015
Here are the games in GamesBeat’s published order. The short descriptions focus on what distinguishes each entry, rather than implying they all offer the same kind of RPG experience. GamesBeat’s original list is the source for this ranking.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Xbox Series X | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
|
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Xbox One | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A large fantasy action RPG built around a strong cast, consequential choices, and substantial side quests. Game Informer named it RPG of the Year, and CD PROJEKT RED reported that it won Game of the Year and Best Role Playing Game at The Game Awards in 2015. Game Informer’s 2015 awards and CD PROJEKT RED’s award announcement provide independent and official recognition, respectively.
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Xenoblade Chronicles X
A console JRPG included prominently in GamesBeat’s selection. It offers a different point of comparison from the list’s Western computer RPGs, but the cited coverage does not establish current platform or availability details.
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Xbox Series X- Trained from early childhood and mutated to gain superhuman skills, strength, and reflexes, witchers are a counterbalance to the monster-infested world in which they live.
- Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth, and complexity.
- Take on the most important contract of your life: to track down the child of prophecy, the key to saving or destroying this world.
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Pillars of Eternity
A classic-style computer RPG with an overhead view and party-based adventure. Obsidian described it as inspired by games including Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment. Its March 2015 launch covered Windows, Mac, and Linux; Steam’s listing describes six races, eleven classes, and real-time-with-pause or turn-based play. Obsidian’s release announcement and Steam’s game page provide those details.
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Undertale
An independent PC RPG that plays with familiar RPG conventions. Game Informer also singled it out as a surprise in its year-end awards coverage.
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Fallout 4
An open-world RPG set in the Commonwealth, with exploration, crafting, and settlement building among its defining activities. Game Informer highlighted its Boston-area setting and exploration.
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Bloodborne
A PlayStation 4 action RPG pairing Gothic horror with demanding, methodical combat. It is the list’s clearest choice for players who want combat pressure and a darker atmosphere.
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Tales of Zestiria
A console RPG recognized in GamesBeat’s roundup. Game Informer discussed it in a broader comparison of handheld and console RPGs, but that coverage should not be read as a universal verdict on its reception.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
The MMORPG expansion on the list. Game Informer recognized it in its MMORPG category, making it the entry for readers looking for an online role-playing world rather than a standalone single-player campaign.
Rank #2
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Xbox One- If you buy this game, you will receive a free next-gen update on December 14th!
- Play as a highly trained monster slayer for hire.
- Built for endless adventure, the massive open world of The Witcher sets new standards in terms of size, depth and complexity.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year edition brings together the base game and all the additional content released to date.
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The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
A turn-based RPG whose combat system earned Game Informer’s recognition. Its tactical considerations include turn order, positioning, elemental properties, special attacks, and linked combatants.
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Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance
A tactical RPG distinguished by customization, humor, revenge mechanics, and alliance attacks. Game Informer named it its tactical RPG winner.
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How to choose among these RPGs
The ranking is a useful starting point, but these games do not compete on a single style or platform. Choose by the experience you want:
- For story and characters: Start with The Witcher 3, whose narrative, cast, difficult choices, and side quests drew contemporary praise. Undertale is another option if you want an independent RPG that questions genre conventions.
- For real-time action: Bloodborne is the horror-action pick; The Witcher 3 is the larger fantasy adventure. They share action combat, but differ sharply in tone and emphasis.
- For tactical or turn-based battles: Consider Trails of Cold Steel for turn order, positioning, and linked combat, or Disgaea 5 for tactical play, customization, and alliance attacks. Pillars of Eternity also offers turn-based play alongside real-time-with-pause.
- For exploration and making a world your own: Fallout 4 emphasizes open-world exploration, crafting, and settlements. Pillars of Eternity instead offers an overhead, party-centered computer RPG structure.
- For a console JRPG or online RPG: Xenoblade Chronicles X and Tales of Zestiria represent console RPG options on the list; Heavensward is the MMORPG expansion.
How the 2015 recognition fits the ranking
The Witcher 3 has the clearest cross-source validation here: GamesBeat placed it first, Game Informer called it its RPG of the Year, and it won both Game of the Year and Best Role Playing Game at The Game Awards 2015. Game Informer also highlighted other titles in narrower categories, including Heavensward as an MMORPG and Disgaea 5 as a tactical RPG. These awards add context, but they do not create a shared scoring system for the full ten-game list.
What to check before buying or returning to a game
This is a historical ranking of 2015 releases, not a current availability guide. Platform support, editions, remasters, regional catalogs, and retailer stock can change. Confirm the current platform and edition on the publisher or storefront page before buying. For The Witcher 3, CD PROJEKT RED says the 2016 Game of the Year Edition included the base game, both expansions, downloadable content, and updates, and lists PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 for that release. The same official page also lists a 2026 remastered-release announcement; check it for current details rather than assuming the older edition information applies to every platform or region. Official Game of the Year Edition information.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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