RPG List for the Xbox 360

[lendelin]

If you find the lists below useful, check out these lists as well:
RPG List for the PS3
RPG List for the PS2
RPG List for the Nintendo DS
RPG List for the PSP

For a convenient printable version click on "Thread Tools" above, choose "show printable version," highlight the lists and print or copy and paste in your word processing programs.

Upcoming Releases
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel. Ascaron Entertainment, cdv Software Entertainment, 5/12/09.
Alpha Protocol. Obsidian Entertainment, Sega, 6/30/09
Two Worlds: The Temptation. TopWare Interactive, SouthPeak Games, 5/30/09.
Dragon Age: Origins. Bioware, Electronic Arts, 11/30/09.
Final Fantasy XIII. Square Enix, Square Enix, TBA 2009.

*************** Update: March12, 2009 ***************

1. Main List of Role Playing Games for the Xbox 360 (US Releases)

Title: Subtitle. Developer, Publisher, Release Date. (Month/Day/Year)
* = no published strategy guide

Blue Dragon. Mistwalker, Microsoft Game Studios, 8/28/07.
Dark Messiah: Might and Magic Elements.* Ubisoft Annecy, Ubisoft, 2/12/08.
Elder Scrolls IV, The: Oblivion. Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda/2K Games, 3/20/06.
Elder Scrolls IV, The: Oblivion. Game of the Year Edition. Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda/2K Games, 9/10/07.
Elder Scrolls IV, The: Shivering Isles. Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda/2K Games, 10/16/07.
Enchanted Arms. FromSoftware, Ubisoft, 8/29/06.
Eternal Sonata. tri-Crescendo, Namco Bandai, 9/17/07.
Fable II. Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, 10/21/08.
Fallout 3. Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Softworks, 10/28/08.
Infinite Undiscovery. tri-Ace, Square Enix, 9/2/08.
Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom. Blueside, Microsoft Game Studios, 1/8/08.
Last Remnant, The. Square Enix, Square Enix, 11/20/08.
Lost Odyssey. Mistwalker/Feel Plus, Microsoft Game Studios, 2/14/08.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Raven Software, Activision, 10/25/06.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Gold Edition.* Raven Software, Activision, 5/22/07.
Mass Effect. BioWare, Microsoft Game Studios, 11/20/07.
Operation Darkness. Success, Atlus/Sega, 6/24/08.
Phantasy Star Universe. Sonic Team/Total Entertainment Software, Sega, 10/24/06.
Rise of the Argonauts, The. Liquid Entertainment, Codemasters, 12/19/08.
Spectral Force 3.* Idea Factory, Atlus, 7/29/08.
Star Ocean: The Last Hope. tri-Ace, Square Enix, 3/3/09.
Tales of Vesperia. Namco Tales Studio, Namco Bandai, 9/15/08.
Too Human. Silicon Knights, Microsoft Game Studios, 8/19/08.
Two Worlds. TopWare Interactive, SouthPeak Games, 8/23/07.
Zoids Assault.* Atlus, Atlus, 9/9/08.

Total: 25


Borderline
Culdcept Saga.* Omiya Soft, Namco Bandai, 2/5/08.

Total: 1


Downloads from Xbox Live Marketplace
Arkadian Warriors.* Wanako Games, Sierra, 12/12/07.
Band of Bugs.* NinjaBee, NinjaBee, 6/20/07.
Penny Arcade: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. Episode One.* Hothead Games, Hothead Games, 5/21/08.
Penny Arcade: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. Episode Two.* Hothead Games, Hothead Games, 10/29/08.
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus.* Sonic Team, Sega, 11/20/07.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.* Infinite Interactive, D3 Publisher, 10/10/07.

Total: 6


MMO Role Playing Games
Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urhgan. Square Enix, Square Enix, 4/18/06.
Final Fantasy XI: Vana’diel Collection 2008. Square Enix, Square Enix, 11/20/07.
Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess. Square Enix, Square Enix, 11/20/07.

Total: 3


2. Special Lists

A. Deluxe Sets with Extra Content

01) Elder Scrolls IV, The: Oblivion. Collector’s Edition. The cardboard box contains a disc folder with a making-of DVD, a replica coin, a map, and a booklet "Pocket Guide to the Empire." Available in standard and collector’s edition. The collector’s edition doesn’t include a regular game case.

02) Enchanted Arms. The cardboard box contains a softcover comic book. On the front cover is a circular imprint "Exclusive 48-page Graphic Novel Included." Sold only in the special edition.

03) Fable II. Limited Collector’s Edition. Comes in a cardboard slip cover. Included are a making-of DVD in a special slip cover, a card with additional downloadable in-game-content, and a Xbox Live Gold Trial Card. Available in standard and collector’s edition. The game in the collector’s edition is identical with the standard version.

04) Fallout 3. Collector’s Edition. Comes in a metal lunch box with a plastic slip cover. Included are a bobblehead figurine, a hardcover art book, and a making-of-DVD in a special slip cover. Available in standard and two special editions. The game in the collector’s edition is identical with the standard version.

05) Fallout 3. Survival Edition. This was an exclusive release from the retailer Amazon. Comes in its own special packaging in an oversized cardboard box resembling a shipping box with the console logo, title, graphics, developer and publisher printed on it. It contains the Fallout 3 Collector’s Edition (see 04) and a life-size replica of the ‘Pip-Boy 3000’ with a standee, a wrist-mounted device from the game. Available in standard and two special editions. The game in the survival edition is identical with the standard version.

06) Mass Effect. Limited Collector’s Edition. Comes in a metal case with a plastic slip cover. A cardboard disc folder holds the game and a making-of-DVD. Included are a hardcover art book and a fiction book. Available in standard and collector’s edition. The collector’s edition doesn’t include a regular game case.

07) Tales of Vesperia. Special Edition. The metal case contains a soundtrack CD of the Tales series and a special manual with artwork. Available in standard and special edition. The game case and the manual of the special edition are different from the standard version.

08) Two Worlds. Collector’s Edition. Comes in a cardboard box with a holographic slip case. Included are a map, a pen and dice, a hardcover fantasy RPG book, a DVD with music and video content, and a Xbox Live Gold Trial card with Two Worlds artwork on it. Available in standard and collector’s edition. The collector’s edition doesn’t include a regular game case.


B. Regular Cases with Extra Content

01) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Special Edition. Exclusively released as a Platinum Hits version with a making-of DVD. Available in standard and special edition. The special edition says "Special Edition" and "Includes Bonus Disc" on the front cover.


C. Platinum Hits

01) Elder Scrolls IV, The: Oblivion
02) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Special Edition


D. Exclusive Titles*

01) Blue Dragon
02) Culdcept Saga
03) Dark Messiah: Might and Magic Elements
04) Fable II
05) Infinite Undiscovery
06) Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom
07) Last Remnant, The
08) Lost Odyssey
09) Mass Effect
10) Operation Darkness
11) Spectral Force 3
12) Star Ocean: The Last Hope
13) Tales of Vesperia
14) Too Human
15) Two Worlds
16) Zoids Assault

*MMO RPGs and borderline cases included; PC releases and Downloads excluded


E. Strategy Guides by DoubleJump Books

01) Operation Darkness. Geson Hatchett, Thomas Wilde, and Alicia Ashby. [Redmond, WA]: DoubleJump Books 2008. 224 Pages. Paperback. Book Format.

*************** Update: March 12, 2009 ***************

[Aussie2B]

Nice, glad to see you making a list for 360 as well. I think the most impressive thing is how not only are there a lot of RPG options already, but there are so many from Japanese developers. Definitely a lot different from the original Xbox.

[esquire]

Can you change the white fonts for those of us using VB Blue? At first I thought those sections were empty.

Here are two you missed:

Dark Messiah of Might & Magic: Elements - Action RPG

Arkadian Warriors - XBL Download - Action RPG

[Cobra Commander]

Are you only counting games that have been released or what? Because there are two coming soon that especially stand out for me. Those are The Last Remnant and Star Ocean: The Last Hope; both from Square.

[darkslime]

Thanks for the list.

How is marvel ultamite alliance an rpg though?

It seems more like a beat em up game to me...

[The 1 2 P]

I'm not even an rpg fan(atleast not until the next Knights of The Old Republic game comes out) but your list gives great insight to the vast 360 rpg catalogue. Congrats and keep up the good work.

[Sudo]

Too Human, Silicon Knights, Microsoft Game Studios, 8/19/08.

[roushimsx]

you missed Grand Theft Auto IV and Saints Row 2!

[carlcarlson]

I'm not even an rpg fan(atleast not until the next Knights of The Old Republic game comes out)...

I hope you're a MMORPG fan.

you missed Grand Theft Auto IV and Saints Row 2!

And I hope you're joking!


Thanks Lendelin, I will definitely be using this as reference. Who would have thought you'd be making this thread before a PS3 rpg thread? Not me!

[Daria]

Band of Bugs - SRPG for Xbox Live Arcade

[Lady Jaye]

Among the upcoming ones (although not for another year) is Bioware's Dragon Age Origins.

[chicnstu]

And Fallout 3.

[The 1 2 P]

I hope you're a MMORPG fan.

Who do you think broke that story on here?

[lendelin]

Can you change the white fonts for those of us using VB Blue? At first I thought those sections were empty.

Fixed it. Thanks for letting me know, because in the printable version it didn't show up either.

Here are two you missed:

Dark Messiah of Might & Magic: Elements - Action RPG

Arkadian Warriors - XBL Download - Action RPG

Added both. While I made a note of Dark Messiah and forgot to add it, Arkadian Warriors was new to me. THANKS!

[lendelin]

Are you only counting games that have been released or what? Because there are two coming soon that especially stand out for me. Those are The Last Remnant and Star Ocean: The Last Hope; both from Square.

Released games only. As long as they are not on the shelves, they don't exist.

However, I added a short list upcoming releases after the introduction, and followed your suggestions and those of chicnstu and Lady Jaye. Thanks to you all!

[lendelin]

Band of Bugs - SRPG for Xbox Live Arcade

Added. Thanks, Daria! I didn't follow at all the RPGs exclusively available as downloads. (except for Phantasy Star) I should have known that NO strategy RPG slips through your fingers. I even had to go to the official Xbox site to get the information on the game.

[lendelin]

I hope you're a MMORPG fan.
Who would have thought you'd be making this thread before a PS3 rpg thread? Not me!

Me neither. A surprise for sure. (see post below)

[roushimsx]

And I hope you're joking!

Please explain how they're not action rpgs.

[lendelin]

Nice, glad to see you making a list for 360 as well. I think the most impressive thing is how not only are there a lot of RPG options already, but there are so many from Japanese developers. Definitely a lot different from the original Xbox.

I agree. While the the two traditional RPGs by Mistwalker after the 'cooperation' with Microsoft didn't come as a surprise and are the obvious strategy of Microsoft to get established in the Japanese market, other releases were a big surprise.

These surprises are Eternal Sonata, Tales of Vesperia, Operation Darkness, Infinite Undiscovery, and even the two lesser Zoids and Spectral Force 3. After all, the PS3 is much more established in Japan than the 360 even though the PS3 sold clearly under expectations.

I think this is an indication that Japanese developers learned to think more globally and less locally after the severe slowdown of games three/four years ago in Japan. Japanese publishers don't follow hardware sales numbers in Japan alone anymore. They accept the dominance of the US market and the increased importance of the European markets.

What really surprised me was Namco with the two releases of Eternal Sonata and Tales of Vesperia. Not only did they release these games for the 360 and went multi-platform, but the games were released for the 360 first. (I'm sure we'll get Vesperia like Sonata also for the PS3 at some point). After six months or a year the hype and the newness factor of a game are gone; and Square Enix followed suit with Infinite Undiscovery and, of course, with the multi-platform Final Fantasy XIII.

I have the same list for the PS3, and it looks meager. Seven games and the additional borderline case of Folklore, the only exclusives are Untold Legends and Disgaea 3. Like in the case of hardware sales in the US the PS3 will decrease the gap to the 360, but it seems that the 360 is already too much established as the leading console for RPGs.

Who would have thought after the dominance in every aspect and genre of the PS2?

[lendelin]

Please explain how they're not action rpgs.

Let the definition debate begin. I know that you address carlcarlson, and, honestly, I don't mean it in a belittling way at all. Actually, I like discussions about genre definitions because most of them are antiquated.

However, you know that we are then in a discussion about a definition of a RPG, and that will be lenghty, and I'm afraid we will sacrifice the inclusionary character of the list on the altar of consistency based on an (all-agreed?) definition.

Dangerous, dangerous... but I don't try to discourage such a discussion at all.

Here is my question about a specific case and I don't know if the game should be included. Sudo suggested Too Human. After reading reviews, I'm still on the edge on this one. I'd tend to put it in a borderline category.