Topic: Rolevember 2026: The Backlog of Time

[broodwars]

Back during Backlaugust this year, there was some disappointment that longer games didn't really have a place at the event, so they weren't getting the coverage they should. I agree, so as an experiment I propose a new event: Rolevember, a 2 month event spanning from the start of November through the end of December dedicated solely to questing, leveling, and exploration as we look for games to clear out for the end of the year. That's right, this will be a Backlaugust-esque event dedicated just to RPGs and RPG-adjacent gaming.

So, for the purposes of this event, what are we considering an RPG? Well, I propose 3 criteria:

1. There is some form of leveling or character-progression system where the player grows in power over time.

2. There are sidequests that encourage the player to explore the world and uncover new stories.

3. There is permanent gear the player can find and equip to make combat easier or open access to new environments.

Not every RPG is equal, so I would suggest a given game should meet 2 out of those 3.

Now, let's get some basic questions out of the way:

Do Metroidvanias count as RPGs?

Yes. You have leveling, you have questing, and you have gear.

Do actual Metroid games count as RPGs?

No.

Do Zelda games count as RPGs?

It's a Nintendo site, so yes. But snark aside, that's why I worded those 3 criteria the way I did. There is no character progression system in Zelda, but you have quests and you have permanent gear that influences your stats.

Do Action games like Devil May Cry, etc. count?

Probably not, but Action RPGs are definitely a thing so it depends.

Does GTA count as an RPG?

Not while I draw breath. This is counter-programming to GTA 6.

Do the games need to be real-time or turn-based?

Doesn't matter.

With that established, I don't plan on enforcing any hard rules here. These are more like guidelines to set the scene. I know I have plenty of RPGs I've been sitting on for years, including a Kingdom Hearts 2 HD playthrough I've been meaning to do for ages. There's a certain big remake coming out next week I suspect many of us will be playing, and I think many of us will be looking for something else to play when a particular game comes out in a few weeks.

So, let's get out there and get some of those longer games out of our backlog with double the time and half the stress of one of these typical forum events!

On a side note, while I am going to put a tracker here to keep track of the games completed for this event just so we have a reference point for what everyone's been playing, I don't plan on having a leaderboard unless people want one.

ROLEVEMBER 2026 GAMES

1.

[Evan_B]

Finally, something I can contribute towards!

I know I haven’t been the most consistent with my contributions to Backlaugust and Shocktober, but I think this one might be my time to shine. If it isn’t already painfully evident, RPGs are my bread and butter genre, which isn’t always conducive to a slim-sized backlog. I do have a couple of games on the docket for this month, which I’ll play either in part or in whole:

1) I’m about 30 hours into Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen on Switch 2, which will likely be the main event this month. I’ve heard some folks say this game is about 30 hours in length, but I feel nowhere close to being finished with my playthrough and am happily exploring and getting lost where ever possible. That’s not super-great for accomplishing anything, of course, but I’m having fun and that’s what matters. When it comes to Japanese action role playing games that embrace medieval/european aesthetics, I far prefer DD over FromSoft’s works, though that’s not me saying one is objectively better than the other- DD is an easier game overall and I readily admit my scrub status. If anyone is familiar with DD2, I’ve snuck into Battahl through exploration and explored nearly all of Vermund.

2) The game I’m playing this evening to ring in Rolevember is Queen’s Domain… which I think is an RPG? It’s a King’s Field-like, so as someone unfamiliar with those games, I can only say that I’ve leveled up a weapon skill as I’ve been fighting my way through the first area. We’ll see if I actually gain any control over character stats as time goes on.

3) I am hoping to close the book on Shadow of Mordor this month, though I don’t know if I’ll jump right into Shadow of War right after. I know it has much more in common with the Arkham-style action game, but there are level-ups for health, resources, and skills. I’ll admit, it’s right on the fringe of what I’d call an RPG.

4) Lastly, the game I do expect to put some time into this month is Lies of P. I am a Souls-adjacent fan, which means I’ve played a number of games that claim Souls-DNA (Another Crab’s Treasure, Animus, Darksiders 3, Remnant/Chronos, etc etc) and having finally played a bit of Dark Souls Remastered and a lot more of Elden Ring than I feel comfortable admitting… I don’t love FromSoft’s own brand of their genre and find myself enjoying the “knock-offs” a bit more. Lies of P was quite the darling the year it came out and while I’m aware of its reputation, I’m going to give it a fair shot.

I’m also in the same boat as you, sir, in that I firmly believe that Zelda is NOT an RPG. The open-world games came close, but the way Armor and its upgrade path are designed don’t really encourage diversity in play style or character build, per se (though there are some silly armor sets that do crazy things), and ultimately those games are still focused on micro-puzzles and light-survival mechanics. Even the most RPG-leaning Zelda (Zelda II) doesn’t really give you much build variety and that’s something I think is essential for the overall RPG ethos. While I will play a bit of the Ocarina of Time Remake this month, you won’t see me talking about it here.

[broodwars]

Honestly, the Zelda thing is mostly an acceptance that the Ocarina remake is going to be one of the most-played games in the next 2 months, so either you allow it in or some people just might not post at all. Plus, at this point there's been so much contamination between Adventure games and RPGs that there's not a lot of light between them.

As for me, I started playing Final Fantasy Resonance over the last week, so that's what I'm currently playing. I already mentioned my interest in doing a Kingdom Hearts 2 HD playthrough, but I've also been meaning to get to Marvel's Midnight Suns, the Final Fantasy 1-6 Pixel Remaster Collection, and the Dragon Quest 1-3 HD-2D Remakes. Might also be a good time to finally play a Tales game for the first time in a long time with Tales of Arise.

Incidentally, I have a lot of experience with Lies of P. It's an excellent game, and it's one that I've been waiting for the DLC to finally get a sale so I can replay it. Darksiders 3 is...rough, but decent enough.

[NWR_insanolord]

I just started playing Mass Effect, which I suppose fits in with this. I'd had this game forever (in a couple different forms, but I've been playing the enhanced version in the trilogy release on PS5) and had always been meaning to play it because it seems right up my alley. In a sad twist it was the closing of BioWare that spurred me to finally get into it.

[broodwars]

I just started playing Mass Effect, which I suppose fits in with this. I'd had this game forever (in a couple different forms, but I've been playing the enhanced version in the trilogy release on PS5) and had always been meaning to play it because it seems right up my alley. In a sad twist it was the closing of BioWare that spurred me to finally get into it.

Mass Effect is absolutely an RPG, especially the first game.