There are some games coming out that a lot of you might not have heard of. RPG’s are a genre that is made by several under the radar developers and publishers, this causes a lot of titles to go overlooked. Don’t let the smaller stature of some of these studios fool you. They are often very passionate about what they create and it usually shows in their work. This is where hidden masterpieces come from, talented developers making a game they are passionate about, even with a smaller budget.

There are currently some of these titles being developed and they are not that far off from release. If you are an RPG lover they might just whet your appetite. I will give you some insight as to what is in the works.

Risen
Developer: Piranha Bytes | Publisher: Koch Media/Deepsilver | Xbox 360, PC | Available: October 2, 2009

This is an open world RPG that takes place on a Mediterranean Island. It has mature subject matter and a lot of decisions you make during the game will have an effect on the gameplay. There is a main storyline but you don’t have to necessarily follow it as there will be plenty of side quest to spend time on. Risen has the potential to provide gamers with many hours of gameplay since how you spend your time directly effects how the game world evolves around your character – sounds enticing. Deepsilver hopes to have a playable demo of the game before the release this October so lets hope we get an early peek at the title.

Divinity 2: Ego Draconis
Developer: Larian Studios | Publisher: DTP | Xbox 360, PC | Available: 2009?

You get to turn into a dragon! Oh, you don’t want me to stop there? I thought that was enough to gain your interest. This is also an open world game but this one has a twist, aerial combat (dragon). This game will allow you to create your character from scratch and you can continue to change his skills as you gain experience. This one really has me intrigued, the first game was a success for RPG lovers and this one looks to add upon the formula. Soar in the air as a dragon and torch your enemies or stay on foot for some good old fashioned dungeon crawling.

Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment
Developer: Hijinx Studios | Publisher: Konami | PSN, XBLA | Available: September 2009

This is a strategy RPG (SRPG) from a proven franchise. The difference here is that this is an Xbox Live/PlayStation Network game. For fans of SRPGs this is a long time coming to Xbox Live/PlayStation Network. If they can come out with all these great ones on the PSP and DS why not on Xbox Live/PlayStation Network? Well maybe this will be the first, and yes I know about Band of Bugs and such games but they don’t quite fit the bill. Keep an eye open for this as it will probably have lots of value at a good price.

Two Worlds 2
Developer: Reality Pump | Publisher: SouthPeak Interactive | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC | Available: 2009

OK I’ll admit it I loved the first Two Worlds. If you hated it I understand because there were a lot of technical issues. If those issues were what hung you up on the first one then have no fear as this game has a brand new engine. It started as an expansion called Two Worlds: The Temptation, then they announced they have scrapped that game because of the size and the new engine and are making a huge full blown sequel. The first game had a lot to love about it with a deep skill system and great branching side quest. The sequel will also be open world and will have everything we loved about the first game and hopefully nothing we hated. Keep an eye out for it if you love a deep rpg experience.

Magna Carta 2
Developer: Softmax | Publisher: Banpresto | Xbox 360  | Release Date: Winter 2009

This one is a Japanese RPG (JRPG) and is an XBOX 360 exclusive. It is a sequel to a PS2/PC game that got pretty mixed reviews. If you’re a fan of JRPG’s than you know what to expect from a title like this. It utilizes the Unreal Engine 3 and the early shots I’ve seen look quite stunning. If you are a fan of franchises like Final Fantasy and Star Ocean then this game is probably right up your alley.

Arcania: A Gothic Tale
Developer: Spellbound Entertainment | Publisher: Dreamcatcher | Release Date: Fall 2009

Arcania: A Gothic Tale is Gothic IV. The last game in the series (Gothic 3) was plagued by bugs and a faulty combat system. Yet the game still ended up with a strong community devoted to it. Usually when that happens it’s because there’s still something great underlying all the issues (example- Two Worlds). The next installment will have a new developer this time (Spellbound) and will have a new focus on playability. We’ll see how it turns out, hopefully it releases with less problems than its predecessor. This series is know for having an unprescedented amount of freedom and choices, lets hope that with the new direction those things don’t change.

Venetica
Developer: Deck13 | Publisher: DTP | Release Date: TBA

Venetica is an action RPG set in Venice and it too is an open world. You play as a woman named Scarlett who just so happens to be the daughter of the one and only Death. The game has an interesting art style and what I’ve seen of it looks gorgeous. Keep on the look out for more info on this one in the coming months.

The Secret World
Developer: Funcom | Publisher: Funcom | Release Date: TBA

I hope this game actually comes out. Everything I’ve seen on it recently is mind blowing. An alternate reality world where fantasy meets reality. This is an MMORPG but not in the traditional sense. The story will play a big part in the game as you can play through it alone if you choose. There will be no levels nor  classes and your character will be developed in a skill based manner. The scope of this game is a massive undertaking and if they pull off what they say and release it on the 360 it will be very impressive.