The two best-reviewed RPGs of 2020 are Persona 5 Royal and the definitive edition of Dragon Quest XI. Since both games are more like enhanced ports, they’re not truly new to 2020; consequently, they will be disregarded in favor of promoting two games that truly debuted in 2020. That said, the next best-rated games are Yakuza: Like A Dragon, which earned a score of 89 on Xbox One, and Final Fantasy VII Remake, which obtained an 87 on PS4.
While Final Fantasy VII Remake is also not technically new, the remake is way different from the original, so much so that it is very much its own thing. It’s hard to pick wrong when it comes to these two choices as both are fantastically RPGs. However, they both do some things better than the other, so let’s find out if there is a clear victor or not for the best new RPG of 2020.
11 Gameplay: Final Fantasy VII Remake
Yakuza: Like a Dragon ditched the brawler combat from the previous entries, a decision that was the complete opposite of what Final Fantasy VII Remake opted for.
Square Enix's game adds action gameplay to a typical turn-based structure, a mix that works quite well. Both games have great combat mechanics, but the Final Fantasy game wins out by a small margin.
10 Job System: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
When it comes to combat, Cloud, Tifa, and the rest all have distinct pros and cons that adhere to standard RPG Jobs or Classes. That said, as enjoyable as the action is in Final Fantasy VII, Yakuza: Like a Dragon's Job System adds a lot more strategy to battles.
The game comes with over 20 Jobs, and while they are all pretty goofy, such as the chef and club host Jobs, they fit into this world just fine.
9 Characters: Final Fantasy VII Remake
This is another case where both games are almost neck and neck, as both titles feature great characters. However, nostalgia is the deciding factor here that gets Final Fantasy the win.
As charming as Ichiban and his colorful cast of rogues are in Yakuza, the updated characters from Final Fantasy VII are too hard to resist. Seeing these iconic faces again will cause all the feels to come rushing back.
8 Side Quests: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
The side quests in the original Final Fantasy VII are legendary. However, since the remake was delegated to just Midgar, they lacked the punch they once did.
Side quests have always been one of the shining beacons in the Yakuza games, and it is no different this time around. From fighting Pokémon-esque mobsters to helping out a mascot get pirated merchandise off the streets, they are all memorable.
7 Music: Final Fantasy VII Remake
There really isn’t one track that sticks out from this Yakuza game. The karaoke has some wild songs but that is about it. Conversely, the updated soundtrack in the Final Fantasy remake is just superb.
The entry already had one of the best scores in the series, and it only got better with a live orchestra backing the classic tracks along with new beats.
6 Photo Mode: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Final Fantasy VII Remake launched in April and still has not received a Photo Mode, which is crazy considering this feature is pretty much a standard for AAA games.
Not only does this Yakuza game have it, but it is also integrated phenomenally well into the game. While it’s not the best Photo Mode out there, Ghost of Tsushima is a clear winner for this year, Yakuza's version is still pretty good.
5 Story: Final Fantasy VII Remake
When Square Enix announced that this game would not be a full remake and instead be released in parts, fans didn’t know how to react. Why aren’t they just doing a scene for scene remake?
The answer is a bit of a spoiler but let’s just say that certain things have been changed and all fans of the franchise should consider trying out this crazy ride. Yakuza: Like A Dragon has its moments but the story does not reach the same heights as Final Fantasy VII Remake.
4 Mini-Games: Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Like the side quests, the original Final Fantasy VII had some great mini-games. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case with the remake. This Yakuza game, on the other hand, has a crazy amount of mini-games, be it riding around in go-karts or becoming a billionaire cracker tycoon. They make up some of the best side content in the game.
3 The World: Final Fantasy VII Remake
From the graphics, style of the world, and variety in the environments, this Final Fantasy remake outdoes Yakuza on every turn. It was great to see a new city in Yakuza: Like A Dragon for a change, but it is not a significant departure for the franchise and the scenery can get a touch repetitive.
Final Fantasy VII Remake isn’t always great as it does have some backgrounds that look like JPEGs, but overall it is the clear winner.
2 Party Members: Final Fantasy VII Remake
This might be obvious as Final Fantasy VII Remake won the character entry, but the game's party members also outdo Yakuza’s. While the Jobs system in Sega's game is great and offers variety, players aren’t controlling the characters directly.
A Chef has different moves compared to a Bodyguard but they control the same. On the other hand, going from Cloud to Tifa is dramatically different, which is also why the combat is so good in the remake.
1 Verdict: Final Fantasy VII Remake
Honestly, either game could have won this contest. There are so many other comparisons that could be made to gain both games more points. These games are some of 2020’s best and they will remain some of the best for years to come in the RPG genre.
As it was said earlier though, nostalgia played a big factor to help claim the victory for Final Fantasy VII Remake.