The Best Obscure RPGs - 2022 Update

Table of Contents

• The Best Obscure RPGs - 2022 Update
• Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book
• Regalia: Of Men And Monarchs
• Masquerada: Songs and Shadows – a triple-A indie
• A House of Many Doors – an RPG from another dimension
• Expeditions: Viking
• Moonlighter – not-so-peaceful life of a shopkeeper
• Vaporum – a steampunk Grimrock
• Tower of Time – a heir of Baldur
• Valkyria Chronicles 4 – war in the Japanese version
• Druidstone – tactical RPG from the fathers of Grimrock series
• Octopath Traveler – a breath of fresh air in jRPG
• Sunless Skies – a train through fantasy outerspace
• Broken Lines – World War II in the form of a tactical RPG
• Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark - a worthy continuation of the Final Fantasy Tactics tradition
• Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk – there's no end to games and laughter

Expeditions: Viking

Expeditions: Viking is in turn a rare case of a historical RPG. The game is a continuation of Expeditions: Conquistador, published four years earlier. This project offered many interesting ideas, but the authors failed to fully unleash their potential. This time, they made amends.

The game takes us to the 8th-century Europe and casts as the son of a Viking clan chief. When the chief dies, we take the power, and with it, the responsibility to ensure the welfare and safety of the clan.

The game combines traditional RPG mechanics with elements of strategy. We create a hero and conduct a team of warriors, going to expeditions, exploring the world, and completing quests. The battle system is turn-based and offers great tactical depth. Then, there's the management of the village and resources during the expeditions. The gameplay is largely non-linear. We have a complete freedom to shape the career of our leader, and the world responds dynamically to all his achievements.

Expeditions: Viking debuted as a pretty buggy title, and although the most serious glitches have been since removed, there are still some minor issues and flaws. However, they are not so serious as to spoil the overall impression. This is a real RPG with rich gameplay and a delightful atmosphere that should be enjoyed by people who are fed up with the fantastic universes dominating this genre.