I have to say that 2024 was a great year for ARPGs. We saw a lot of experimentation in the genre, which I’m genuinely excited to see continue in 2025. Games like Dragons Dogma 2 started the year strongly for ARPG fans, bringing the original fluid and impactful combat system from the original into a massive open world. Furthermore, Games like No Rest for the Wicked added a new twist to the traditional top-down ARPG format, mixing Souls-like mechanics.
This train was followed by games like Black Myth Wukong and Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 successes, and the year ended with a bang with Path of Exile 2 Early Access. While you might think it’s a bit too early to have hope for ARPGs, I think it’s not. So, will this momentum continue in 2025? I, for one, strongly believe so, and here’s why.
1. Shift Towards Challenging Gameplay
A clear change in the 2024 ARPGs was a shift towards a higher difficulty, even mixing Souls-like mechanics in many new releases. Games like No Rest for the Wicked, Black Myth Wukong, Space Marine 2, and Path of Exile 2 show a clear shift towards challenging gameplay that gamers have fully enjoyed so far. This will likely continue in 2025, with games like Monster Hunter Wilds, Ghost of Yotei, and The First Berserker: Khazan releasing next year.
We have already had a taste of Monster Hunter Wilds, and like other Monster Hunter games, it won’t be a piece of cake. Similarly, the First Berserker: Khazan, appears souls-like, which always means a challenging combat system. And you might think Ghost of Yotei might be a cakewalk, but remember Ghost of Tsushima? Yeah, even that proved to be a hell to get through sometimes.
An even stronger level of difficulty in ARPGs might just bring that much-needed meat grinder. I don’t know about you, but experiences like these keep your pulse pounding and give you that satisfaction simultaneously.
2. Bigger Maps with Open-World-esque Vibes
Another shift that I have personally loved in the ARPG genre is the shift towards bigger maps, either becoming an open world or giving a similar feeling. Games like Path of Exile 2 have been built on the open-world idea of Diablo IV, creating maps that feel like an open world, as it takes almost an hour to complete each one in the game. Similarly, Black Myth Wukong also showcased big-level designs with a ton of exploration.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 was another example where Open Worlds are a great addition to ARPGs. With games like Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and Ghost of Yotei releasing in 2025, the trend for bigger maps seems to continue, and I love it.
Monster Hunter Wilds has been revealed to be an open world, although it won’t be a seamless one. From dev trailers, we also know that KCD 2’s map is almost twice the size of its predecessor and seamlessly open-world.
3. Top-down ARPGs Continue to Go Strong
2024 started with the release of Last Epoch among the top-down ARPGs, receiving great reception from new and old players. This was soon followed by No Rest for the Wicked, which became the first Souls-like in the top-down ARPG genre, with slow and tactical combat with dash rolls and well-designed bosses. Diablo IV also released its Vessel of Hatred DLC, which, although it felt a bit underwhelming compared to the competition, still received a great reception.
However, the year was completely stolen by Path of Exile. Both the Settlers of Kalguur and Necropolis Leagues were a hit, especially as they were used to Beta test for the Path of Exile 2 early access release. Finally, the year ended with a bang with Path of Exile 2, becoming a contender for the genre’s best game of all time while still missing 50% of its planned content for the official release.
With highly anticipated sequels like Titan Quest II releasing next year, followed by a possible third expansion in Grim Dawn, and the official release of Path of Exile 2 in 2025, the year is set to continue the dominance of Top-down ARPGs. I am also looking forward to new additions to the genre, like Dragonkin: The Banished, releasing in February 2025.
4. No Holding Back on the Gore
One of the best things I have enjoyed about ARPGs in 2024 is that they did not hold back when it came to gore. With games like Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2, players could spend hours just blasting through hordes of enemies. This is also where I felt Dragon Age Veilguard failed miserably, as the game failed to add the gore the original fans loved in Origins and Inquisition.
Seeing games like The First Berserker: Khazan and Kingdom Come Deliverance II for 2025, I am highly optimistic about more gore in games next year. The gameplay trailer for the First Berserker: Khazan has already showcased that it isn’t shying away from gore, with blood flying as the sword tears away enemies. Similarly, Kingdom Come Deliverance already has a reputation for realistic combat gore, and the gameplay trailer has already backed it up for the sequel.
5. A Focus Back To Boss Fights
A good action RPG should always have good boss fights, something that we have been missing in most games prior to 2024. But bosses were brought back into focus, with games like Black Myth Wukong almost competing with Elden Ring regarding boss design, or Path of Exile 2 featuring some of the best boss designs in the top-view ARPG genre.
Similarly, games like No Rest for the Wicked also emphasize their boss designs, and hopefully, this trend will continue in 2025. We can expect strong boss fights in games like The First Berserker: Khazan. Otherwise, I expect good and memorable bosses in Soulframe, Ghost of Yotei, and Monster Hunter Wilds.
However, my focus here is not on just tough boss fights but ones that are packed with memorable art design and beautiful aesthetics. It’s not every day you see a dev’s labor of love combined with insane difficulty.
So, I have high expectations from ARPGs in 2025; hopefully, they will deliver them. What do you think about the upcoming ARPGs? Tell us whether you agree with the above points in the comments below.
