Topic: Which game should I play next Thread

We have the Games Currently Playing and Games Recently Beat threads but I thought it might be fun to have a thread about what people are thinking of playing next.

Whenever I’m towards beating a game I’m always weighing up options of countless new games and what to dig out of the backlog. It would be fun to get community feedback on the options, and build excitement for the next experience.

This might get locked for being too similar to the Switch recommendations thread, if so then fair enough. I’ll comment next with my current dilemma.

I’m likely to finish FFX in the next week which gives me 3 weeks until XC DE comes out. I can usually beat a 50 hour RPG in that time and I’m in the mood to do just that. Grateful for any impressions and advice:

Trails Of Cold Steel (Vita) - I want to get into the series. The gameplay loop reminds me of Persona and Fire Emblem 3H a bit. But it might be a big long to squeeze in.

Final Fantasy VI (SNES) - Final Fantasy X is my first game in the series, I’d like to try this one next. A classic that I want to experience as a fan of the genre.

Braverley Default (3DS) - almost a Final Fantasy game? I’m leaning towards this as I want to play it before 2 arrives, but would it make more sense to play FFVI first which games like this play homage to? Also is what I hear about the 2nd half’s pacing really that bad? Can I just play until the bad ending and watch the good one on YouTube to avoid tedium? Is that just cheating? 😉

Ni No Kuni (Switch) - I paused on this 20 hours in so I want to come back to it. I love all things Ghibli but I’m not very good at the battle system, so I find the grind less fun than other JRPGs. I feel it deserves another shot, I feel obligated to finish it but I’d like to get better and have more fun with it.

@JoeDiddley Out of that list I would go with Bravely Default. I wouldn't say the tedious part is the second "half" of the game, it does take a decent chunk but really doesn't take that long relative to the rest of the game. Bravely Default is still a wonderful game with a pretty fun battle system, so I would recommend it. Bravely Second is very good as well, I enjoyed it more than Bravely Default. Although I will say, I wasn't too impressed with the demo for Bravely Default II, but we'll see.

Final Fantasy VI is also a wonderful game, it's definitely a timeless classic. It still holds up as one of the best Final Fantasy games in my opinion, and I'm not speaking from nostalgia since my first time playing it was just 4 years ago.

I played through Ni No Kuni on the Switch and I really didn't care too much for it. The battle system was terrible and I didn't care much for the story or characters. I really wanted to like it because I love the art style, but sadly it fell short. I honestly enjoyed the sequel more, which might be a bit of an unpopular opinion, but even though it had an even more bland story at least the gameplay was fun.

If I were to give any other recommendations, I would say Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, Tales of Vesperia: Difinitive Edition, and Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. I would also say Octopath Traveller sincs it has my favourite turn based battle system out of any JRPG I've played, it's like a perfect mix between SMT and Bravely Default, but the story and character development are held back by the "8 paths" gimmick. If you have a PS4 I'd highly recommend Nier: Automata.

If you're a fan of Final Fantasy you can't really go wrong with Dragon Quest games either. I really enjoyed all of them from IV to XI, but I would definitely say XI is the best one. That one might take you more than 50 hours to fully complete, though, but any of the others besdies VII could be beaten within that time. I think the VIII port/remake on the 3DS would be a great one to start with.

Difficult choices there, @JoeDiddley .... FFVI is a good one! Have you got/plan to get any others in the series, though? Dunno about the 3DS Bravely games as I missed them & hope they might come to Switch! Then, if you're about halfway through Ni No Kuni, it makes sense to finish it, too

Thanks both, food for thought. I’ll probably flip flop on this until the last minute!

@cynas - Dragon Quest VIII is also in my backlog after playing through XI followed by V (DS version) at the end of last year. I love the series but I realised I need to expand my diet to try other series as it’s those and about 7 SMT games I’ve seen through to the end.

Octopath is another on my guilt list I need to come back to. I told myself I wouldn’t start Dragon Quest XI until I finished it, but everyone was so excited for it. And I loved the gameplay but not the structure so much.

Radiant Historia is in my backlog, but after realising I’ve only beaten Atlus jrpgs this year it’ll have to wait.

Ys VIII and Tales Of Vesperia I also want to try, to see if I like action RPGs. I don’t have a PS4 so I’d love a Nier Automata port on Switch.

@Bruce CM I plan to get FFIX when it’s next half price again on Switch (every 3 months it seems) and I have the PSP version of FFIV. They’re the ones I’m most interested in after X and VI at the moment.

Cool, @JoeDiddley .... That the 'complete collection', with both FFIV & TAY? That'd be good as next games, then! IX is great, too! FF games are currently on sale on other platforms but they certainly do those quite often everywhere, so might as well wait to get that

Cool thread, as I've been considering posting in another thread as i need a recommendation myself. I'm probabaly on the last 3-4 hours or so of trials of mana. I do have XC:DE preordered on Amazon just in case I want to play it, but im not sure yet as ive barely played any of the series.

So for me, My next options after ToM are...
-Ys VIII
-FF9
-FF10
-FF10-2

Would love some feedback on which is a good game to follow up to ToM and as a heads up I played FF7 prior to ToM. So I've been on a rpg tear as of late 😋

The only one of those you definitely shouldn't play next is FFX-2, @NintendoByNature .... I think I'd go for Ys VIII as being the most like it, though

@BruceCM my top 2 for next are ff9 and Ys Viii, but if ys viii is alot like trials I may go with ff9 to Mix things up.

Not a LOT like but more so than the FF games, @NintendoByNature .... Let us know how you get on with whichever you pick

@BruceCM i will for sure. Im on the last benevadon and assume there's one more dungeon and boss battle after that. So Maybe a couple hours before I see the credits roll.

Hmm, probably a bit longer, @NintendoByNature .....

Oh my god, this thread is a great idea. I always find myself paralyzed with indecision XD

Anyways, I usually play something like 2-4 games simultaneously (1-2 to pass the time while watching TV and relaxing, 1-2 to get absorbed into)

Right now I finished Divinity Original Sin 2, which I finished for the first time now and intend to replay as a game to pass the time. I'm also playing Darkest Dungeon to pass the time.

On the more serious side, I kinda ditched Ys Lacrimosa of Dana 25-30 hours in. Wondering if I should hop into it or start something of the following:

Ni No Kuni,
Deponia
Caligula Effect
Dragon Dogma
Assassin's Creed Rebel Collection
Fire Emblem Warriors

Kinda tired with all the RPGs, but I'm waiting for Borderlands really, and there's nothing Lovecraftian left to play that I know of.

@Dusk
Honestly, if you're tired from the RPGs (and trust me, I know that feeling lol) and want a little something to pass the time until Borderlands, Fire Emblem Warriors would be my pick from your list. I'm not a huge fan of the Warrior games; I've literally only played one of the originals and then Hyrule/FE Warriors, but it's an awesome mindless action game with great FE personality. Perfect game to pass some time and let off some steam while waiting for something more substantial. Especially if you can get it on sale.

You should be most of the way through Ys VIII, @Dusk .... So, maybe finish that off? That's not my idea of a 'heavy' story

I really want to finish it, but the story is rather bland. I didn't even unlock all the characters yet I guess. Combat is fun, but the navigation system is a shitshow XD

@Dusk I hear Caligula Effect is a bit average, but I’d like to try it. Ni No Kuni people love but I didn’t enjoy the battle system enough to keep grinding half way through. I do want to grit my teeth and get through it for the story and Ghibli artwork one day though.

@NintendoByNature I’ve just finished FFX and really enjoyed it. You’d beat it before XC DE. I wanna play FFIX even more now though. They all seem like good choices (maybe not FFX-2 if @BruceCM says).

It’s Bravely Default I’ve decided on next I think. I’m in the mood for another FF game and it’s basically that with the same item names etc. I really am drawn to the artwork, soundtrack and battle system.

Well, only as the next one, since he's not played X 1st, @JoeDiddley .... No other reason! IX is probably my favourite, although there's only a fraction of a point between that & X

@JoeDiddley Yeah, people are dumb when they criticize something as average. There's plenty of room for average games, and besides, I disagree with most people. People didn't like Tales of Zestiria and I was crying my eyes out over this game, people also didn't like FFXIII, which I love too. Ni No Kuni honestly looks awesome but I didn't really play it yet.

@BruceCM I got FFXII and FFIX, didn't play either, loved FFX. Which one would be better for me?