The fantasy RPG genre has been around since before the dawn of video games, with tabletop RPGs having existed commercially since the 1970s. Naturally,the fantasy RPG genrehas evolved a great deal over the last five decades or so, especially in the video game landscape where ever-advancing tech leads to growing expectations. That said,The Elder Scrollsseries has managed to retain its core identity for 30 years.
Though it’s moved to a 3D open-world structure, has been given many major graphical overhauls, and has even become an MMO at one stage,The Elder Scrollsfranchise has always been, and will probably always be, a fantasy RPG in the most traditional sense of the phrase. And embracing that tradition might actually giveThe Elder Scrolls 6a unique angle when it eventually releases.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Stand Out in an Ever-Shifting Genre By Remaining Still
The Fantasy RPG Genre Is About to See Some Innovative New Takes
The fantasy RPG genre has seen countless entries in the last few decades, the vast majority of which have been fairly traditional interpretations of the genre, where the player becomes an infallible hero with a unique power that means they’re the only one who can save the world against the forces of evil. To try to carve out a niche for themselves, manymodern fantasy RPGsput a unique spin on the genre, and a few such titles are set to release soon.
Obsidian Entertainment is no stranger to the fantasy RPG genre, having worked onNeverwinter Night 2,Dungeon Siege 3, and thePillars of Eternityseries. Obsidian’sAvowed– set to release on June 01, 2025 – will follow in those past games' footsteps, being a spinoff ofthePillars of Eternityseries.
However, much likePoE,Avowedwon’t be a traditional fantasy RPG, with its fantasy races not conforming to the usual stereotypes, its locations not conforming to the Gothic settings the genre is used to, and its combat taking a more action-heavy approach.Avowedis also doing away withtraditional fantasy RPG classes, instead letting players craft their own class through the skills and abilities they choose to invest in.
Fableis another fantasy RPG set to release in 2025, but it too looks to be putting a new spin on the genre. Though its pre-release footage has been minimal,Fablelooks to be carrying forward its predecessors' dark humor and penchant for satire, which is sure to flip a few fantasy staples on their head.
CD Projekt Red’sThe Witcher 4was recently revealed at The Game Awards. If it follows in the rest of the series' footsteps,The Witcher 4will be a fairly traditional fantasy RPG, albeit one with a unique focus on Slavic folklore, and one that goes out of its way to explore more mature themes.
The Elder Scrolls 6’s Traditional Approach to Genre Could Ironically Help it to Stand Out
Against this line-up,The Elder Scrolls 6might actually be able to stand out by simply doing what it’s always done, embracing the fantasy RPG genre in the most traditional sense. By the timeThe Elder Scrolls 6finally releases, fantasy RPG fans might be craving a conventional experience, where they choose from a set of staple races and classes, fight a series of classic fantasy monsters, and save the world from a classic kind of magical evil.
