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 genre has 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 Scrolls series 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 Scrolls franchise 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 give The Elder Scrolls 6 a 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, many modern fantasy RPGs put 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 on Neverwinter Night 2, Dungeon Siege 3, and the Pillars of Eternity series. Obsidian's Avowed – set to release on February 18, 2025 – will follow in those past games' footsteps, being a spinoff of the Pillars of Eternity series.
However, much like PoE, Avowed won'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. Avowed is also doing away with traditional fantasy RPG classes, instead letting players craft their own class through the skills and abilities they choose to invest in.
Fable is 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, Fable looks 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's The Witcher 4 was recently revealed at The Game Awards. If it follows in the rest of the series' footsteps, The Witcher 4 will 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 6 might 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 time The Elder Scrolls 6 finally 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.
- Released
- 2026
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
- Franchise
- The Elder Scrolls
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- RPG
