The best role-playing games are the ones that effortlessly transport you to faraway lands, and in 2024, there was no shortage of fantasy adventures in this genre. This is a category of video games that feature a lot of legacy titles and franchises, and 2024's best-reviewed RPGs pulled from several franchises like Dragon Age, Final Fantasy, and Trails.In addition to those established heavyweights, we also got a new entry in the Like a Dragon series, Atlus releasing not one but three critically acclaimed games, and World of Warcraft kicking off a new golden age with its The War Within expansion. Thanks to our sister site Metacritic, we've rounded up the RPGs that received the highest Metascores in 2024 (as of December 5), and you can see them all for yourself in the list below.For a look back at the year that was, you can also check out GameSpot's Best of 2024 hub for a detailed breakdown on why one RPG in particular was our best game of the year. We also have a running list of the best RPGs to play right now.More Best Of 2024:Our Favorite Games That Didn't Make The Top 10Best PS5-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best Switch-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best PC-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best Xbox Games Of 2024Best-Reviewed Games Of 2024Best Of 2024 hub Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeShadow of the Erdtree raises the bar for what a video game expansion can be, as developer From Software crams an entire game's worth of content into this package. Improving on almost everything that made Elden Ring so brilliant when it was first released in 2022, Shadow of the Erdtree is a challenging and rewarding DLC that's a must-play for any FromSoft fan.Metascore: 94 | Read our Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review See at Amazon Metaphor: ReFantazioMetaphor: ReFantazio is more than just Persona with a high-fantasy setting, as this Atlus game takes that familiar formula of time-management and turn-based combat, refining it into a thrilling tale of succession. A surprisingly flexible fantasy game with a well-realized cast of comrades, Metaphor: ReFantazio is also a reminder of how powerful and inspiring fiction can be in the real world with its poignant tale.Metascore: 94 | Read our Metaphor ReFantazio review See at Amazon Final Fantasy VII RebirthThe middle chapter of the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga continued this year with a new game that busted free from the confines of Midgar. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth admittedly does have a bad habit of throwing filler content at players just when the story heats up, but beyond that gripe, it's a beautiful and ambitious sequel that you can sink dozens of hours into while you learn more about its iconic cast of heroes and villains.Metascore: 92 | Read our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth review See at Amazon Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth2020's Yakuza: Like a Dragon saw a seismic shift in the franchise's gameplay as it pivoted away from beat-'em-up action to turn-based combat. Infinite Wealth continues to strengthen its JRPG design while reveling in its absurdity and throwing an obscene amount of extra modes at players to try out. Combined with its engrossing story, it's another fun chapter in the saga of Ichiban Kasuga as he cements himself as the new face of the Like a Dragon series.Metascore: 89 | Read our Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review See at Amazon Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year DoorNintendo has a knack for developing games that can stand the test of time, and thanks to some minor tweaks, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door feels just as good to play today as it did 20 years ago. The original game was ahead of its time with its delightful papercraft visuals, and this high-definition remake is a stunning return to Mario's turn-based glory years.Metascore: 88 | Read our Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door review See at Amazon Persona 3 ReloadAtlus delivered a one-two combo of games this year, and alongside the critically acclaimed Metaphor: ReFantazio, Persona 3 Reload introduced a brand-new audience to one of the best Persona games of all time. A remake that retains the soul of the original game while also modernizing it, Persona 3 Reload is the kind of game that asks you to dedicate many hours of your life to it. But in return? You're getting an exceptional story, decadent visuals, gripping gameplay, and a cool soundtrack to enhance the experience.Metascore: 87 | Read our Persona 3 Reload review See at Amazon Shin Megami Tensei V: VengeanceCan you have too much of a good thing? Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance can easily consume dozens of your hours, leaving the rest of your life jealous of all the attention you're showering on this game. The third game in the hat trick pulled off by Atlus this year, SMTV: Vengeance is the original game but better. It has a ton of new content to play, the quality-of-life changes remove a lot of the game's grind, and on non-Nintendo platforms, it's a stylish riff on Pokemon with its demon-collecting focus.Metascore: 87 | Read our Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance review See at Amazon Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader - Void ShadowsWarhammer 40k's space marines hogged the spotlight this year, but for anyone looking to explore a different side of this grimdark galaxy, Rogue Trader stands out as an alternative that you don't want to miss out on. A strategy-RPG boasting well over 100 hours of content, Rogue Trader gives players a deep story to explore, engrossing combat that'll keep you on your toes, and a new perspective on the merchants looking to eke out a living in a hostile universe. The Void Shadows expansion is even more of that good stuff, adding even more hours onto an already impressively lengthy game.Metascore: 86 Unicorn OverlordThe best way to describe Unicorn Overlord is to call it a beautifully intricate tactical RPG. The complexity of its gameplay isn't for the faint of heart, but the sheer depth of it combined with its elegant high-fantasy art direction makes it hard to put down as each new discovery results in new options to use on the battlefield. That's the key takeaway from Unicorn Overlord, because if you're prepared to commit to it, you'll find a staggering amount of potential in this grand tale of magic and tactics.Metascore: 86 | Read our Unicorn Overlord review See at Amazon ArcoArco has a cinematic flair to its pixel-art design, but if you need a more substantial reason to pick this gem up, then look no further than its innovative gameplay. A combination of real-time combat and turn-based, tactical planning, Arco brings together two genres into a fantastical world filled with hundreds of levels, enemies, skills, and llamas across its intertwined stories. On paper, this bullet-hellish game shouldn't work, but clever design choices by its developers help create brisk battles to savor in this RPG gem.Metascore: 86 Dragon's Dogma 2Dragon's Dogma 2 checks all the boxes for a grand RPG adventure, from powerful swords and sorcery skills to use to titanic clashes against powerful bosses, but the real charm of this game is revealed when you go off the beaten path. Like the best fantasy epics, Dragon's Dogma 2 gives players a world full of possibility to explore and forge their own legend in, creating some of the best escapist entertainment of the year.Metascore: 86 | Read our Dragon's Dogma 2 review See at Amazon World of Warcraft: The War WithinThe 10th expansion in World of Warcraft's decades-long history, War Within is also one of the MMORPG's best. Not only does it lay the foundation for a new saga that'll play out over the next couple of years, it also introduces major progression changes, new modes to draw in solo players, and new zones that you'll want to explore for hours on end.Metascore: 85 | Read our World of Warcraft: The War Within review Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil IslandThe latest Shiren game doesn't rock the boat, as it sticks to the core gameplay loop of grid-based dungeons, taking on armies of enemies, and turn-based combat. There's a sense of comfortable familiarity with this new Shiren game, and alongside its roguelike direction and stylish design, it's surprisingly hard to put down as you plumb the depths of its challenging locations.Metascore: 84 See at Amazon Dragon Quest III HD-2D RemakeSeveral of the best RPGs of the year have introduced innovative new ideas to the genre, but if you're looking for something more classical, look no further than Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. A remake of the original 1988 game, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake benefits from Square-Enix's gorgeous HD-2D visuals, quality-of-life upgrades, and several other welcome modernization elements. It also makes this game a great entry-point for newcomers, as it's an uncomplicated and approachable session of old-fashioned JRPG goodness.Metascore: 84 | Read our Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake review See at Amazon The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through DaybreakTrails Through Daybreak continues to build Falcom's fantasy world, setting the stage for a new story arc while also serving as a decent point for newcomers to jump into. This entry in the series has rock-solid gameplay and well-written characters, with the combat benefitting from a substantial overhaul that makes it feel fresh and exciting for veterans to master.Metascore: 84 See at Amazon Diablo IV: Vessel of HatredDiablo has a long history of superb expansions, and considering just how good Diablo 4 was on launch day, Vessel of Hatred had a high benchmark to clear when it arrived earlier this year. Fortunately, the expansion lives up to expectations, delivering the exciting new Spiritborn class, a dungeon that'll push you to your limits, and several raid-like elements that shake up the Diablo formula. Alongside several major patches and updates introduced before Vessel of Hatred arrived, Diablo 4 is in a pretty great place right now thanks to content like this.Metascore: 84 | Read our Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred review Dragon Age: The VeilguardAfter a rough couple of years, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a welcome reminder of just how good BioWare is at crafting single-player adventures. While it has its fair share of rough edges, The Veilguard sticks the landing with its satisfying combat mechanics, beautifully realized fantasy world, and a cast of legends to join you on your quest.Metascore: 82 | Read our Dragon Age: The Veilguard review See at Amazon Alaloth: Champions of The Four KingdomsTo call Alaloth: Champions of The Four Kingdoms a Diablo-like with souls-like combat and Lord of the Rings-inspired storytelling would be an insultingly brief description of the game. While it wears its inspirations on its chainmail sleeves, Alaloth manages to successfully blend them into a captivating experience that mixes old-school designs with modern ideas.Metascore: 81 Arranger: A Role-Puzzling AdventureArranger is the kind of game that takes a single idea and manages to squeeze out an impressive amount of content from it. In this case, it's the idea of shifting rows and columns to get around maps in this role-playing puzzle game, a gameplay system that's ingeniously crafted and fun to master. Not just a joy to play, Arranger's cheerful visuals and charming tale of self-discovery make it one of 2024's highlights.Metascore: 81 Black Myth: WukongOne of this year's biggest commercial hits, Black Myth: Wukong is an action-RPG rooted in Chinese mythology. Visually gorgeous and thrilling to play thanks to its well-balanced gameplay mechanics, GameScience makes an incredible first impression with its debut game.Metascore: 81 | Read our Black Myth: Wukong review See at Amazon InkboundA turn-based roguelike game isn't exactly a new idea, but Inkbound manages to take that fusion of genres and puts its own creative stamp on it with its complex gameplay systems. While that might be a turn-off for some, it's that complexity that makes Inkbound stand out from the pack, as it organically introduces new ideas so that you don't feel overwhelmed. With its colorful graphics and well-designed combat loop, it's the kind of RPG that'll keep you entertained if you're prepared to invest some time in it.Metascore: 80 Cat Quest 3Some of the best role-playing games provide escapist fantasy that you can't find in any other genre, and Cat Quest 3 does a brilliant job in making you feel like a high-seas pirate who also happens to be a cat. It's cute, it frequently throws puns at you, and it looks like a high-budget Saturday morning cartoon come to life. What more could you ask for from a cat-themed game brimming with nautical themes?Metascore: 80 Granblue Fantasy: RelinkEasily one of the best-looking RPGs of the year, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an adventure with a surprisingly tight and focused approach to storytelling. That streamlined narrative approach is a breath of fresh air compared to all the filler you'd typically find in other RPGs looking to pad out their runtime, and when combined with its slick combat, colorful cast, and deep gameplay, it's a fun RPG to pick up when you're looking for something that won't outstay its welcome.Metascore: 80 See at Amazon Last EpochOn the other armored hand, Last Epoch is the kind of game you pick up if you feel like spending hundreds of hours inside of a trippy fantasy land full of time-bending storylines and the lure of shiny loot. Its gameplay packs a punch, and you can spend days fine-tuning your character thanks to the dozens of skills you can learn, as The Last Epoch community regularly uncovers new game-breaking builds. It also looks like a Hollywood fantasy movie in action, thanks to its beautifully designed worlds.Metascore: 80 Ys X: NordicsThe latest entry in the longest-running Ys series is an RPG that's an action-packed blast of fun that mixes Viking-inspired combat with over-the-top combat. Ys X: Nordics encourages push-forward action, but in co-op, the game stands out thanks to its satisfying combo-attacks against a menagerie of monsters.Metascore: 80 See at Amazon

In LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, there are many different collectibles that players can obtain, including Datacards. There are 19 in total throughout all 9 episodes, and they can be used to unlock a multitude of different cosmetic items, as well as stud multipliers, and even cheats. They can be incredibly useful, and also provide you with some fun outfit options as well.

Valve has released the final issue of Team Fortress 2's long-running webcomic, with this also being the first update to the comic in seven years. Fans of Team Fortress 2 are used to waiting long periods of time for Valve to update its game. Updates to TF2 can sometimes take anywhere between months to even years, especially in the 2020s. However, one thing that fans waited for and were certain was never going to reach a conclusion was its long-running webcomic.

Treyarch has made a major change to the rewards from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's ongoing Archie's Festival Frenzy holiday event. Instead of players unlocking what they earn, gamers will now earn all the rewards at the end of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 event, "so everyone can play at their own pace."

Were more than halfway through December, which means 2025 is right around the corner with a whole new slate of new movies to look forward to. Before that, though, there are still plenty of decent sci-fi films to watch on Netflix this month to tide you over until the new year!This month, weve got a Michael Bay action thriller about transforming robots that sparked an entire cinematic franchise, a rough and rowdy cyberpunk thriller starring Logan Marshall-Green, and a cult-classic pulp adventure set in an alternate 1930s universe filled with giant flying robots!Lets take a look at what this month has to offer!Editors pick: TransformersDirector: Michael BayCast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh DuhamelDespite the fact that it came out just one year before Iron Man and The Dark Knight, Michael Bays Transformers feels completely disconnected from nearly every CGI-heavy blockbuster that came after it. Where superhero movies tended to be more ironic and sarcastic, Transformers is a shockingly sincere movie, with overwhelming heart and nearly no cynicism despite being a movie based on a toy brand.Im not here to tell you Transformers is good it absolutely is good, but you should know that already. What Im here to do instead is tell you to rewatch Transformers for a brief glimpse into what the blockbuster movies of the 2010s could have looked like. Im not really sure if thats better or worse than what we got, but its fascinating to rewatch this movie now that it looks totally unlike anything that came after it excluding its own sequels, of course. Austen GoslinUpgradeDirector: Leigh WhannellCast: Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, Harrison GilbertsonUpgrade might be the best cyberpunk movie of the last decade. The story follows a man who becomes paralyzed after a horrible car accident, which was orchestrated to assassinate his wife. In order to get revenge for her death, he accepts a computer chip that takes control of his body, giving him incredible strength, speed, and agility.Its a recognizable enough concept, but Upgrade manages to make it feel fresh and original, thanks in large part to its extremely funny script and an excellent performance from Logan Marshall-Green, who plays some of the movies funniest moments like a hapless passenger to the violence and mayhem that his body is perpetrating. AGSky Captain and the World of TomorrowDirector: Kerry ConranCast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Giovanni RibisiKerry Conrans 2004 pulp adventure is a labor of love. Conceived with his brother, production designer Kevin Conran, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow stars Jude Law as Joseph Sullivan, a mercenary fighter pilot who goes by the callsign Sky Captain, who teams up with his journalist ex-flame Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) to stop a mad scientist from terrorizing the world with his army of giant flying robots.The film is a unabashed homage to the adventure serials of the 1930s, with dieselpunk designs and towering skyscrapers flanked by floodlight beacons and floating zeppelins. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrows usage of virtual backlot technology would become a major influence, inspiring the look and production of films like 300 and Sin City. Conran hasnt directed a movie since, but if this is the only film he ever makes, it would be a fine legacy for him to leave behind. Toussaint Egan

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Being a houseplant mom or dad is not easythose babies are a lot of work. Smart technology has made managing them a lot easier for me, though. If you've still got someone on your gift list who will spend all winter tending to their beloved plants, here are some ideas for gifts they're likely to love. Indoor Plant Watering System $69.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $69.99 at Amazon Flora Pod AI-Powered Smart Plant Monitor | for Indoor or Outdoor Plants | Personalized Alerts for Moisture, Temperature, Humidity, and Light $44.99 at Amazon $54.99 Save $10.00 Shop Now Shop Now $44.99 at Amazon $54.99 Save $10.00 App Store Gift Card for Planta App at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now at Amazon Google Play Gift Card for Planta App at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal at Amazon Modern Sprout Smart Landscape Growframe Wall Mounted Planter with LED Grow Light, Emerald $299.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $299.00 at Amazon SEE 2 MORE An automatic indoor watering systemI love my plants, but watering them is a consistent chore I struggled to masterand if I'm being honest, all my plants used to get the same drink of water when I knew some should get watered more often or less often. An automatic waterer is what saved their lives. It was simple to set up: It's a pump that pulls water from a source you designate (I use a tall pitcher). You set up 1/4-inch black poly tubing to each plant, with included stakes and emitters, and adjust the emitters for each plant. It can even supply water vertically, so I was able to run tubing to my hanging plants. Using the app, you tell the system how often to water and for how long. I have two systems set upone for the plants that need water more often and one for the ones that enjoy more dry time. A smart plant moisture sensor that actually worksPlant sensors have existed for years; even Ikea had one. They've all been a bust, but Flora Pod actually worksI have a few of them. You stick them into the soil around your plant and the app gives you insights on that particular plant. Obviously it acts as a moisture sensor, but Flora Pod can also diagnose plant problems, give you access to experts and give you specific advice for the identified plant species. Technically, it can work outside or inside, but I've found that it's not as impervious to weather as it implies. This is for indoor plants, in my opinion, and it works fantastically. A way to keep track of my entire plant familyWhen you start amassing plants, keeping track of them becomes a challenge. Now, there is an app that will help make that task easier: Planta. Not only does it act as an inventory for your plants, but helps create a calendar of reminders for each one with specialized recommendations. One of the best features is a light meter in the app so you can gauge how your plant should fare and if it's getting enough light. Planta takes local weather and conditions into account to advise you on adjusting watering schedules, and has a diagnostic tool. There's a community you can join, so there's that benefit, but the best benefit? You can share your plant schedules with other people, like house sitters. A subscription runs $36 a year through the App Store or Google Play, so a gift card would be the perfect gift. Smart plant frames free up floor space and turn plants into artPlants take up space, which I want. I enjoy sharing my space with them, but they also crowd countertops, hang from ceilings and use up floor space. Modern Sprout has designed frames so your plants can reside on your walls, akin to living art. They are genuinely beautiful (and pricey), but include their own grow light and water reservoir, and they come in a few different configurations. In short: I want one. Gift cards to plant marketplacesI love my local nursery, but it's not where I get houseplants, and your houseplant-loving friend is probably the same way. In addition to trading clippings with other plant lovers, they're more likely to shop for houseplants on marketplaces like Etsy and Palmstreet. Gift cards to either would be welcome so your friend could acquire more plants, because if there is one thing every plant parent has in common, it is an inability to stop adopting new plant babies.

The rapid improvements in AI video generation don't appear to be slowing down any time soon, and Google has announced a major upgrade to its own video maker in the form of Veo 2. It follows the introduction of Veo in May, and OpenAI rolling out its Sora AI video generator to the public earlier this month.Google says Veo 2 beats Sora and other competitors in terms of user preferences and prompt adherenceyou can see the relevant charts for yourself on the Veo 2 websiteand that the new model brings with it "enhanced realism and fidelity" as well as better handling for motion and improved camera controls.What Veo 2 can doVeo 2 has boosted its video-generating capabilities through "an improved understanding of real-world physics and the nuances of human movement and expression," according to Googleso it sounds like you'll see less weirdness in your clips. The new model also has a better handle on the language of cinema and film. That means prompts can include a specific movie genre, a certain type of lens, or a particular cinematic effect. There's now support for terms such as "low-angle tracking shot," "close-up shot," or "shallow depth of field," which can help generated videos fit more closely to a prompt. Videos can be created at resolutions up to 4K (an upgrade from 1080p), and can now run to several minutes in length. Some of the example clips Google has been showing off look impressive: We've got drinks being poured, dogs riding inflatables in pools, cartoon characters talking to the camera, and scientists peering down microscopes.It's not flawless, however, and Google admits Veo 2 still struggles with consistency in complex scenes. This is an issue with AI video generators as a wholethey don't understand the physics and space of the real world, even if they can do a rough approximation of it based on a vast amount of training data. You'll notice that none of these videos show something going out of shot and then coming back in, most probably because the AI would forget about it or render it differently.How to try Veo 2The process for getting at Veo 2 is the same as it already was for the first Veo model: You need to head over to Google's VideoFX tool on the web, which is part of Google Labs, and sign up for the waiting list. For now, you need to be in the U.S. to try out Veo 2, and you need to be 18 or older.Google is promising an expansion of Veo 2 availability over the course of next yearincluding putting it into YouTube Shorts for creatorsbut for the time being it's not available in other tools such as Google Gemini (which does offer access to the latest Imagen 3 art generator model). As I don't currently have access to Veo 2, I can't give you too many details on the limitations that are in place. Google says "each user is limited to a certain number of daily generations" but it's not clear how many videos you can whip up each day, or how long they can be. OpenAI is letting ChatGPT Plus users produce up to 50 videos per month, with the length capped at five seconds and the resolution limited to 720p.Any videos you produce will come with an "invisible SynthID watermark" that identifies them as having been AI-generatedpart of Google's attempts to minimize the risk of Veo 2 being used to deceive viewers and spread misinformation (safety concerns are also part of the reason for the slow rollout, Google says).

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If youve been considering adding a smart security camera to your home, the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) is now $29.99 (down from $59.99), its lowest price ever according to price trackers. Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) $29.99 at Best Buy $59.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $29.99 at Best Buy $59.99 Save $30.00 Available in white, black, charcoal, starlight, and blush, this indoor cam is compact enough to sit on a shelf, mount to a wall, or tuck into a corner, so it wont stick out or take up too much space. Despite its small size, it delivers 1080p HD video with a wide 143-degree field of view, offering clear visuals both day and night. For low-light situations, it uses infrared LEDs for black-and-white night vision, and when theres enough ambient light, it displays color night vision (though this PCMag review notes that the nighttime colors can look a little muted).This model comes with a manual privacy cover that you can slide over the camera lens to block the feed whenever you want, adding an extra layer of peace of mind for moments when you need privacy. Additionally, the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) features two-way audio, allowing you to listen in or speak through the Ring appwhether its telling your dog to get off the couch or checking in on family members. For added convenience, it integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, letting you view the live feed or control the camera using voice commands.The Ring Indoor Cam also works with IFTTT and third-party devices. However, it doesnt support Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant, which could be a downside if you rely on those platforms. Also, its worth noting that while the camera functions well on its own, accessing recorded footage requires a Ring Protect subscription. Plans start at $4.99 per month and include 180 days of video history, the ability to save and share clips, notifications with photo previews (so you can see whats happening without opening the app), and more. The subscription also adds support for automation with a Ring Alarm system.If HomeKit and Google Assistant integration is a dealbreaker for you, the eufy Security Indoor Cam E220 ($31.99, down from $54.99) makes for a solid alternative.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 leaks are continuing apace, and the latest batch includes details of the Slim model.

Kioxia Corporation has launched the industry's first QLC UFS 4.0 embedded flash memory.