Join us as we look at the top 30 best action RPGs as of 2023 and what makes them worth playing.

30. Fallout 3

Much like Skyrim, Fallout 3’s combat hasn’t exactly aged well. However, at the time, it was pretty revolutionary, representing the formerly overhead 2D RPG in a fully 3D world with third and first-person perspectives.

The shooting felt more immersive, and V.A.T.S. was more of a slow-mo targeting system for damaging specific limbs (or exploding heads in over-the-top fashion). Aside from that, the world is well-developed, channeling the isolation of a post-nuclear fallout, while your choices had a notable impact on quests to create memorable moments.

29. Dying Light 2 Stay Human

When going from Dying Light 1 to 2, several things were lost. Fortunately, Techland has been doing a good job restoring some of these, while adding some new features to expand on and improve the combat. Legendary weapons, new enemy types, more dangerous Infected, Legend Levels, dismemberment and much more have been added in post-launch updates, resulting in a more visceral and engaging experience.

28. Bastion

Supergiant Games’ first title, Bastion, mixed isometric combat with some light building mechanics to create a compelling adventure. The world is a mess, and it’s the player’s job to put things back together, with the different structures conferring unique upgrades and facilities. Combat is fairly solid and responsive throughout, with melee and ranged options available, but it’s the story and its mysteries that immerse you, thanks, especially to the Narrator who follows your journey.

27. X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse

It’s a shame there haven’t been many action RPG titles in the vein of X-Men Legends, especially with how good Rise of Apocalypse turned out. The story was simple enough as Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants teamed with Xavier’s X-Men to defeat Apocalypse, which allowed for squads from an extensive roster.

Each character gained XP to upgrade their abilities and could even execute combos and Super Combos. With a central hub for viewing comic book covers and biographies, a Danger Room for additional missions and updated visuals over the original, X-Men Legends 2 was an upgrade in almost every way (except maybe the voice acting).

26. Weird West

An immersive sim from WolfEye Studios, Weird West is still an action RPG with open-ended objectives and fairly responsive combat. The various playable characters and unique abilities add some flavor to the supernatural adventure, and you can either go in guns-blazing or utilize stealth to take down foes. While some choices may not be that impactful, the combat is on point, the art style sharp, and the world brimming with things to do.

25. Transistor

Weird as it sounds, Supergiant Games’ Transistor qualifies as an action RPG, though it also has a sort of real-time with pause system. Protagonist Red wields the Transistor, a powerful sword, as the Cloudbank faces an attack at the hands of the Process.

During combat, players can go around whacking enemies or pause and plan actions as long as the Action Bar remains. After unpausing, those actions are immediately executed. With a surprising amount of depth to its encounters and Functions, Transistor is a different take on the genre, but one that presents an incredible art style and music to go with its emotional story.

24. Diablo 4

Despite a problematic launch for its first season, Diablo 4 has improved by leaps and bounds since then. Classes have received more items and Uniques to enable distinct builds and many more viable play styles.

The world has received several changes that make leveling up smoother and the end game more enjoyable (teleporting directly to a Nightmare Dungeon from its Sigil being one such change). Even the horse feels much better to control. Though things could always change, Diablo 4 is in a pretty good spot right now and worth checking out for fans of action RPG looters.

23. Ys 9: Monstrum Nox

Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana starts slow and often repels those who aren’t into its “stranded on a deserted island” plot or the basic survival tasks. Granted, it opens up and offers an incredible journey, but it takes some time. Ys 9: Monstrum Nox, on the other hand, is full throttle from the get-go.

The city of Balduq is seamless to explore and brimming with things to collect as players use Adol’s new traversal abilities in exciting ways. Each Monstrum’s story is interesting; the combat is as fluid as ever and the bosses fun to fight; and the new activities integrate seamlessly into the game. The Ys series may not be for everyone, but Ys 9 is simply phenomenal.

22. Borderlands 2

The pinnacle of the franchise, Borderlands 2 featured an unforgettable villain, some crazy loot and class synergies, and a decent story. Sure, the end-game devolved into utter chaos, especially in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, but with heaps of content and significant improvements over the original, it remains the definitive looter shooter. Yes, even over Borderlands 3.

21. System Shock 2

After the first game’s success, System Shock 2 leaned more into the action aspect while still emphasizing strategy over twitch aiming. Though there were different services of UNN to choose from, each specializing in different branches like weapons, hacking and psionics, the gameplay was still open-ended, encouraging experimentation. Of course, between all the different enemy types and weapons, it’s easy to forget that System Shock 2 is a horror game, with the insanity of SHODAN and the sound design still unmatched.

20. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

It may not have aged all that well, but one can’t discount the impact of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim’s combat on the genre. Being able to dual-wield and use different kinds of magic while having more agency on the development of your character was incredible, not to mention all of the different Dragon Shouts. The threats it offered, from dragons and giants, also felt fresh and challenging. Melee combat can be hit or miss, but Skyrim made up for it with the quality of its world and exploration.

19. Starfield

You could levy many criticisms against Starfield, but the combat has marked a step up from anything Bethesda has released thus far. The overall feel of shooting is crisp, and seeing the effects of certain weapons, like ballistic weapons pushing you around in Zero-G settings, is pretty cool. Throw in everything else, from compelling ship design and space combat to fun side missions, and Starfield does offer enough reason to lock and load.

18. Dead Island 2

No one expected anything from Dead Island 2 after it spent nearly a decade in limbo. So when it launched as a straightforward, zombie-killing hack-and-slash title with surprisingly deep combat, it was surprising.

Using the environment to damage zombies, unique weapons that all affected the undead in different ways, the Skill Deck for leaning into certain play styles, and the FLESH system, which took gore and dismemberment to a new level, all added to the experience. Even if the missions and story weren’t anything exceptional (the latter did have some fun revelations, though), Dead Island 2 gave you plenty of reason to run around and slay zombies in creative ways. And really, what more could you ask?

17. Remnant 2

The first Remnant is the very definition of a dark horse. With little hype, it cemented itself as a compelling, challenging game that blended third-person shooting with Souls-like mechanics. So to have Remnant 2, a bigger, bolder version with overhauled mechanics, more loot and customization is a dream come true.

From the bleak landscape of N’erud to the crazed streets of Losomn, the sequel offers a strong variety of enemies, fun boss fights and more complex procedural generation for entirely different questlines and challenges in each run. Even the build variety is significantly crazier since you can effectively mix skills from two classes together.

16. Pokémon Legends: Arceus

As perhaps the biggest shift to the Pokemon formula in a long time, Pokemon Legends: Arceus allowed the player to run around and capture Pokemon in real time. You can be attacked and knocked out during battles, which means deploying Pokemon to fight back. It was a big twist utilized in several unique ways throughout the story. Of course, on top of this, Arceus also featured a massive world to explore, tons of Pokemon to collect and an enthralling story that encouraged catching them all.

15. Lords of the Fallen

Like Dead Island 2, Lords of the Fallen is a long time coming, and it delivers on almost every single front. The dark fantasy setting, with the dual world motif playing a major role in the gameplay and story; the three magic schools, each with unique play styles; and the combat, which mimics Dark Souls in the best way possible – Hexworks delivered all this and more, along with some genuinely stunning visuals.

14. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 has seen so many changes since its launch that it’s hard to keep track. Nevertheless, it’s still one of the best looter shooters available, with new Exotics and Gear Sets leading to a diverse range of playstyles. Combat itself feels very good, with new Signature Weapons adding some exceptional wrinkles without feeling like bog-standard “Ultimates.” With how much The Division 2 has expanded in content, from The Summit to Countdown, it’s easy to get lost in the gear grind.

13. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Many appreciate Monster Hunter Rise and its mechanics and the new monsters it delivers, but there’s just something else to Monster Hunter World. Its combat is an altogether different kind of polish, and you’re not bound to Wirebugs to unleash some of the strongest attacks.

The sheer range of monsters, old and new, is fun to fight, while Iceborne ups the difficulty significantly while layering on new Skills, mechanics and match-ups. If the Siege activities aren’t your thing, then maybe you’d like to take on the vast range of optional quests, including collaboration with Resident Evil and The Witcher 3. While it could be frustrating in its own right, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is a stunning achievement for the franchise.

12. Hogwarts Legacy

Between capturing the essence of the Wizarding World’s locations and atmosphere and creating a fun open world, Hogwarts Legacy had its work cut out for it. Thankfully, even with average loot, it has stellar combat. There’s nothing quite like unleashing a bevy of spells against opponents while dashing around and using Avada Kedavra to wipe them out.

11. Lies of P

If there’s any title that could come close to feeling Bloodborne-like, it’s Lies of P. The Belle Epoque era epic also tosses in aspects of Dark Souls and Sekiro as you look to break an opponent’s stance and follow up with devastating blows.

Along with extensive weapon customization and Puppet Arms for different abilities, there are also unique weapons with powerful skills, adding even more nuance to the combat. Its pacing and boss design may not be on par with FromSoftware’s best, but the fact that it invites such comparisons while delivering stunning environments and ample enemy variety is already an achievement in itself.

10. Demon’s Souls

The original Demon’s Souls is something special. It kick-started the Souls-like genre as we know it, with FromSoftware going on to create the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne and Elden Ring. While it’s impressive, Bluepoint Games took the essence of the action RPG and polished it to a stunning degree on PS5.

You could argue that the graphical upgrade alone shouldn’t make it worth considering, but so much work has gone into enhancing the atmosphere and revamping locations to create a new feeling without taking away from the difficulty.

9. Nioh 2

Team Ninja had a lot to live up to after Nioh. With Nioh 2, it delved even more into what made the series so great – unrelenting but fair difficulty, combined with new aggressive Burst mechanics to overcome enemies.

That’s on top of all the new skills, weapon types, and Yokai Skills, further deepening the combat, while new bosses and mission parameters – including the dreaded Dark Realm. With even more potential for broken builds and extensive end-game activities to test them, Nioh 2 is a meaty experience, even if its difficulty isn’t for everyone.

8. Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is when the series fully embraced the action RPG genre, becoming a third-person shooter where Shepard could issue commands to his teammates and combo effects together. It was seamless for such a massive leap in gameplay, delivering stellar gunplay while expanding on classes and weapons to offer more options. It’s backed by an amazing story, incredible companions, memorable side quests and one of the best final missions of any game, resulting in an unforgettable experience.

7. Cyberpunk 2077

When Cyberpunk 2077 first launched, its combat was good. Not spectacular, but good. Following numerous updates, it’s evolved into something truly spectacular. Between the bloody finishers, improved melee combat and solid gunplay is a toolset for more different builds.

Become a powerful hacker, spreading viruses and destroying opponents by driving cars into them. Leap around with Mantis Blades or toss bodies around. There are so many possibilities now, and it all feels good to control. Of course, the rest of the game being far better than before doesn’t hurt either.

6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Widely considered one of the greatest games ever made, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has it all: A compelling story, excellent side quests, a vast world brimming with activities and secrets, and, of course, some strong combat. Refined over the years, especially with the Complete Edition adding quick casting for Signs, the combat has the right amount of feedback as you dance around and demolish enemies.

5. Dark Souls 3

Some may love the first game, while others choose the second game to be different, but Dark Souls 3 is arguably the series’ peak. It strikes a balance with Bloodborne’s fast pace and the classic dodge-rolling gameplay, offers some incredible levels with striking details and delivers an incredible range of boss fights. Combine this with a healthy selection of spells and weapons for replay value, and you have one of the best action RPGs. Even after all these years, few games can match the brilliance of Dark Souls 3.

4. Final Fantasy 16

Yes, the role-playing game mechanics – specifically the loot – are fairly light. Yes, the dungeons weren’t packed with crazy mechanics. However, when it comes to embodying everything that makes the series so worthwhile, Final Fantasy 16 is superb. The combat offers a different take on Break mechanics and constantly adds new abilities and combos to try out as you progress.

The story is an enthralling odyssey with betrayal, revelations and its fair share of grimness. The characters are all portrayed excellently, even if some could have used more time to shine. Above all, the presentation with its visuals and music, especially the Eikon fights, has to be seen first-hand. It may not be everyone’s favorite Final Fantasy, but Final Fantasy 16 is still an accomplished action RPG.

3. Horizon Forbidden West

Video game sequels are meant to improve on their predecessors, and Guerrilla Games took this to heart with Horizon Forbidden West. Every aspect, from the Skill Trees and upgrade system to Armor Skills and open-world activities, is better than the first game. With so many unique movement options like the Shieldwing and Pullcaster, Aloy would have even tougher Machines to deal with, including the Tremortusk, Slaughterspine and Tideripper. It made for an enthralling adventure, as the secrets of the Forbidden West were laid bare.

2. Elden Ring

FromSoftware’s magnum opus, its take on the open-world genre, is nothing short of masterful. The Lands Between is brimming with secrets and challenges, and even with some repeated content and cheap bosses, it’s an epic journey.

If seeing what’s around the next corner is a big motivator, then combat is perhaps the second biggest, mixing the best of Dark Souls with the most customization in a Souls-like title yet. Whether you’re a samurai specializing in Bleed builds, a Warrior jump-attacking everything with dual greatswords or slinging spells, there are so many ways to play, to say nothing of the wide variety of Spirit Ashes that serve as companions.

1. Bloodborne

It’s only fitting that one of the few games that can match FromSoftware’s best works is what many consider its best work to date. Bloodborne isn’t the most technically accomplished action RPG on this list due to being stuck on the PS4 for all these years.

Nevertheless, it delivers a gothic Victorian setting and a sense of all-encompassing dread. The combat is still enthralling, engaging and involving, introducing weapon transformations and firearms for new ways to topple enemies. Throw in some excellent bosses and engrossing lore, and Bloodborne still towers over its competitors.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Initially, you pity Daniel – he’s trapped in a strange castle with no memories of how he got there and with a murderous Shadow that’s out to get him. Nothing can stop the Shadow and it becomes more commonplace as time goes on. However, it’s revealed that Daniel accidentally unleashed the Shadow upon discovering a strange orb during an archaeological dig. With no other options, he would eventually be contacted by Alexander, a mysterious being who says he can help repel the creature.

Doing this requires gathering vitae from people suffering from immense pain. And so Daniel helped Alexander to capture and torture people (whom the latter claimed to be criminals but were in fact not), using amnesia potion to ensure they remain terrified throughout. Eventually, however, it’s revealed that Alexander is harvesting the vitae to return to his own dimension using the orb. Daniel is betrayed in the process and seeks revenge, using the amnesia potion on himself to push past his guilt.

Upon venturing into the inner reaches of the castle, where Alexander is conducting a ceremony to open a portal, the player can either let him continue and thus be killed by the Shadow, or disrupt it, causing the Shadow to only kill Alexander. The latter seems pretty good but given Daniel’s hand in the torture of innocents, it’s hardly all sunshine and rainbows by the end.

Another choice is to throw the head of Agrippa, a prisoner with knowledge of the orb, into the portal. Both Daniel and Alexander then die to the Shadow but the former won’t descend into darkness because Agrippa will help him…or something. Even if you were being kind and felt Daniel deserved to be saved, there’s no guarantee that the Shadow wouldn’t still be pursuing him.

Bastion

Bastion offers New Game Plus, which is fairly straightforward – any Spirits that you’ve unlocked will carry over along with all weapons, levels, Fragments and upgrades. Some Vigils, along with Proving Grounds completion, are lost, but you can start out with a lot of your previous progress intact. It’s the story that’s most intriguing – if you choose the Restoration ending in your first playthrough, the narrator Rucks will have moments of deja vu, like all of this has happened before. You also gain access to the Stranger’s Dream, a level with waves of foes which also provides more details on Rucks’ and the world of Caeldonia before The Calamity.

Valkyr-Induced Nightmare – Max Payne

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again – Max Payne has had it rough. After his wife and daughter were brutally murdered by junkies high on Valkyr, Max devotes himself to finding out who’s behind it all. Once that’s revealed near the end, Max is injected with Valkyr and starts reliving the memories of his family’s death. Except it’s incredibly nightmarish and full of such facets as walking a blood trail to his  room and walls oozing blood.

In case you need more awesome indie games on the Switch after Into the Breach, you’ll be happy to know that Supergiant Games have announced that two of their three games – Bastion and Transistor – will both be coming to the hybrid platform. Bastion launches first, in October, with Transistor following just a few weeks later.

Whether or not the Switch ports of the two acclaimed and fan-favorite action RPGs will have any special Switch exclusive content like many games often do on Nintendo’s platform is currently unknown. However, you can at least try these games hands-on for yourself soon, because both Bastion ad Transistor will be playable at PAX West this weekend, should you happen to be attending that. They’ll be at the Supergiant Games booth.

You can check out the announcement trailers for both games for yourself below. I’m sure many will be thrilled at having these games available to them on the go. Bastion launches on Switch on October 13, with Transistor following on November 1.

Bastion developer SuperGiant Games has announced its next endeavor. The company unveiled a game called Pyre on Tuesday with the understanding that we’ll be hearing more about this game at next week’s PAX East. What we do know about the game is that it’s a party-based RPG. The developers have promised Pyre will have “expressive decision making on the world map with fast, action-packed confrontations against rival groups of exiles.”

The game apparently starts out with a band of travelers finding the player’s character at the brink of death. The band is able to bring the character back and then travel this kind of “in-between” world looking for adventure and fame.

Pyre is going to be coming to the PC and PS4 at some point in 2017. The company said it will be showing more off at PAX East. If Bastion and Transistor are any indication, Pyre should be a pretty good game.

Those lines, spoken by Rucks, are the first thing you’ll hear in Bastion, Supergiant Games’ 2011 debut title. Rucks is right – most stories start at the beginning. Bastion’s starts at the end of the world. You play as the Kid Rucks mentioned, who has awakened to find that the world he knew is gone – shattered by a cataclysmic event known as the Calamity.

"The game’s narrative may seem pretty barebones at first, but Supergiant gradually builds it into something grand, which I will not spoil here. Most of the story is told through Rucks’ narration, which occurs during gameplay, and constantly provides information on the environments, what’s going on in the game world, the Bastion, the Calamity, and even what the player is doing.

He heads for the titular Bastion, designed as a safe haven for troubled times, and meets Rucks, an older man who serves as the game’s narrator. Rucks tasks the Kid with exploring the beautiful ruins of Celondia and trying to put the pieces back together, quite literally, by collecting Cores that revitalize the world and returning them to the Bastion. Along the way, he meets other characters, and begins to learn about the Calamity, and just what it has done to Celondia and the rest of the world.

The game’s narrative may seem pretty barebones at first, but Supergiant gradually builds it into something grand, which I will not spoil here. Most of the story is told through Rucks’ narration, which occurs during gameplay, and constantly provides information on the environments, what’s going on in the game world, the Bastion, the Calamity, and even what the player is doing. If you go crazy breaking everything in the environment, he say that the “Kid just rages for a while.” Fall off the edge of the world, and he says, “And so the Kid fell to his death… just kidding.” Talk to him at the Bastion after exhausting all of his current conversation options and he says, “Sometimes there’s just not much to say.”

Rucks’ voice and narration are all the work of voice actor Logan Cunningham, who brings the necessary gravitas and occasional bit of humor to the role that makes the game. His performance is nothing short of excellent, and it, combined with Bastion’s unique form of storytelling and Rucks’ ability to comment on seemingly everything you do, makes for an extremely compelling and memorable adventure.

"As far as the actual game goes, the PS4 version of Bastion is the exact same game that released 4 years ago, just in 1080p and running at the mythical 60 frames per second.

As far as the actual game goes, the PS4 version of Bastion is the exact same game that released 4 years ago, just in 1080p and running at the mythical 60 frames per second. Supergiant hasn’t added anything that wasn’t in the original release, or cooked up any new content for people who plan to pick it up on PS4. It’s the same as the 2011 game, which is a good thing, because Bastion still plays really well.

The world of Celondia, or what’s left of it, anyway, is still a beautiful place to explore, and Bastion’s lush, hand-drawn art style draws you in and makes you want to find out what’s beyond the next corner. The game’s mechanics enhance this feeling: the world pulls itself together as the Kid navigates each area, which means the only way to see what else is in the environment is to actively explore it. Collect the zone’s Core, however, and everything will start to crumble around you, meaning you’ll only get a shot at these areas. This adds a feeling of urgency and intimacy to each setting, as you know that it’ll all fall apart over once you find its hidden treasure.

The beauty of the art is complimented by Darren Kord’s beautiful music, which mixes bluesy guitars and the odd vocal to create tunes that blend perfectly with the game’s story beats and environments. This is the rare kind of soundtrack you’ll want to listen to out of the game. It’s that good, with songs like “Build That Wall,” “Spike in a Rail,” “In Case of Trouble,” “Terminal March,” “From Wharf to Wilds” and “Bynn the Breaker” serving as standouts on soundtrack that doesn’t have a bad track on it.

"As you collect Cores, you’ll be able to construct more buildings as the Bastion, all of which can modify your abilities or the game itself. The Distillery, for instance, gives you access to Spirits, which can do anything from increase your maximum health to give you a greater chance to score a critical hit.

The game’s combat system is equally refined. The Kid has the ability to equip two weapons at once, out of a possible arsenal of eleven melee and ranged weapons, and each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses. The Cael Hammer, for example, hits extremely hard, but is fairly slow, and the Kid has to be standing still while swinging it to access its full power. The Slinger Pistols, on the other hand, fire extremely quickly, but are relatively weak, and take a minute to reload. Then you’ve got something like the Breaker’s Bow, which must be charged and released at the right time for optimal damage, leaving you vulnerable until your arrow is ready.

The Kid also has access to a dodge roll and a shield that can absorb, reflect, and counter attacks, as well an ability that is unique to one of the equipped weapons. You’ll need to utilize all of the Kid’s abilities if you want to stay alive, as Bastion is willing to throw many enemies at you at once, making evasion and precision the name of the game. No matter what weapons or abilities you choose, however, Bastion gives you more than enough tools to succeed, and the sheer variety of enemies to fight and weapons to use ensures that you’re never bored.

As you collect Cores, you’ll be able to construct more buildings as the Bastion, all of which can modify your abilities or the game itself. The Distillery, for instance, gives you access to Spirits, which can do anything from increase your maximum health to give you a greater chance to score a critical hit. Build a Forge and you’ll be able to upgrade your weapons with materials you find in the world or get for completing weapon specific challenges. Those looking for an additional challenge should check out the Shrine, which allows you to trade increased difficulty via boosts to enemy damage and armor.

"Put simply, everything in Bastion - the narrative, the audio and visual presentation, and the gameplay - works together to create a cohesive experience, a feat few games can manage.

Put simply, everything in Bastion – the narrative, the audio and visual presentation, and the gameplay – works together to create a cohesive experience, a feat few games can manage. All of this culminates in two of the most powerful and memorable decisions a game asked its players to make during the last generation.

All of that was true in 2011, and all of it is true now. Bastion is the rare kind of game – the kind that simply doesn’t age. It is as relevant, powerful, and excellent today as it was four years ago, and that is no mean feat. Those who have played the game before won’t find anything new here, but this release is for the dedicated fans, and for those who haven’t experienced the game ‘till now. If you’re in the latter camp, I envy you. You get the opportunity to play Bastion for the first time. As for the rest of us, well, it’s just another opportunity to experience an excellent game again. Celondia, we’re coming home.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

It’s an interesting direction though considering Supergiant already delivered a brand new experience on the Vita and PS4 with Transistor. How will Bastion fare on the newer platforms, especially on the PS4? GamingBolt spoke to writer Greg Kasavin on the same, including the various improvements and changes one can expect.

"Folks have been asking us to bring Bastion to the PlayStation ever since we announced it. Given that, as well as Transistor's success on the PS4, not to mention the health of the platform overall, we wanted to bring Bastion over to this new audience."

Rashid K. Sayed: Bastion has been an unmitigated success for Supergiant Games. How does it feel to return to it especially following the release of Transistor?

Greg Kasavin: We’re very happy that Bastion has had such staying power, to where there’s still interest in it after all these years. We couldn’t have expected that when we first released the game in 2011. We’re excited to be bringing our first game to PS4, and to a PlayStation platform for the first time, following the success of Transistor. For many players, Transistor was their first exposure to our studio, so Bastion will be a whole new game for them. Despite their differences, we think the games share similar values, seeing as we made them both, so we think those who enjoyed Transistor are quite likely to enjoy Bastion as well.

Rashid K. Sayed: What motivated the decision to bring Bastion to the PS4? Was there any decision to focus on a new project as opposed to revisiting an old one?

Greg Kasavin: Folks have been asking us to bring Bastion to the PlayStation ever since we announced it. Given that, as well as Transistor’s success on the PS4, not to mention the health of the platform overall, we wanted to bring Bastion over to this new audience. We’ve brought Bastion to a number of different platforms in the past and each time we end up hearing from a lot of folks who never saw or heard of it before but end up really liking it.

Rashid K. Sayed: Will Bastion see any significant graphical improvements in the PS4 version?

Greg Kasavin: Bastion for PS4 is meant to be an exacting translation of the original version of the game. Part of the reason we’re releasing this new version of the game is because we think the presentation has held up well. I think 2D games with hand-painted artwork have a tendency to age a little more gracefully than most.

Rashid K. Sayed: It’s interesting that Bastion is on the PS4 since Transistor was also exclusive to the console (along with the Vita). How much has Sony’s indie approach prompted you to stay on PlayStation?

Greg Kasavin: Transistor launched on PlayStation 4 as well as PC, so we never saw it as being exclusive to any platform. Certainly we’ve enjoyed working with Sony and appreciate all the support they’ve given to our small team and to our games. The folks over there genuinely seem to like our games, and that means a lot. As a game player I respect Sony’s approach to bringing lots of independent games to their platform, and think it’s very smart. Unlike the previous console generation, there are many fewer big studios making games these days, due to all the ways the business of making games has changed. But a console still needs software, so the Sony team has looked to many smaller developers to help round out its catalogue.

"While we have no other versions of Bastion or Transistor planned at this time, we haven't ruled anything out for the future. Certainly if you had asked me a year or two ago if Bastion would ever come to the next-generation PlayStation, I would have been very doubtful, but here we are!"

Rashid K. Sayed: Will we ever see Bastion or even Transistor arrive on the Xbox One? If no, is there a specific reason behind the same?

Greg Kasavin: While we have no other versions of Bastion or Transistor planned at this time, we haven’t ruled anything out for the future. Certainly if you had asked me a year or two ago if Bastion would ever come to the next-generation PlayStation, I would have been very doubtful, but here we are! That’s why I always put it this way, because circumstances change and I don’t know what the future holds. One of the nice things about being small is we can make decisions tactically and keep our options open.

Rashid K. Sayed: What will the PS4 version of Bastion add to the core game? Given its original release was almost four years ago, can we expect any new content?

Greg Kasavin: Bastion for PS4 is intended to be an exacting translation of the original game, so those who’ve played the game before should only get this version if they want to play it again on PS4. We didn’t want anyone who’s already played Bastion to feel pressured to get this version because of some added scrap of content that wasn’t intended for the original game. That being said, this version of Bastion does contain the free DLC content we released later in the game’s first year, which added alternate modes of play and a challenging new sequence to the New Game Plus second play-through.

Rashid K. Sayed: Will Bastion support cross-play or cross-buy on the PS4/Vita? Similarly, is Remote Play looking like an option at this point?

Greg Kasavin: Bastion for PS4 and Vita will support cross-buy, so if you purchase one, you will have access to both, once the Vita version becomes available. Bastion is a single-player-only game so cross-play wasn’t a factor in our consideration. As we still don’t have a release date announced for the Vita version, hopefully Remote Play will hold folks over in the mean time!

Rashid K. Sayed: How difficult has it been to translate Bastion to the PlayStation 4, especially considering the game’s age? Has it been harder or easier than developing Transistor from scratch with the PS4 in mind?

Greg Kasavin: The PS4 is a powerful console that’s very capable of handling a 2D game like Bastion, so from a technical standpoint bringing over our first game hasn’t taken us as long as building a new game from scratch. We’re working with a team called BlitWorks, based in Barcelona, on the translation effort. We thought they did a great job on the PS4 versions of games like FEZ and Don’t Starve, so they’ve shouldered the heavy lifting when it comes to making Bastion work well on PS4.

Rashid K. Sayed: Will Bastion support features like the PS4’s Touchpad or Share button in unique ways?

Greg Kasavin: We didn’t contrive any new features into this version of the game, though the Share button will work in the way it works with most PS4 titles. We use the Touchpad as a button for accessing the player’s inventory, and we ended up making some use of the light bar to reflect the player’s current health, and made some light use of the controller speaker as well for certain sound effects. It’s small stuff though we really like the DualShock 4 and wanted to take advantage of its unique aspects in ways we thought made sense for the game.

"Being small, we don't tend to plan too far ahead. We would like to stay small with this same team we've assembled and keep making games in the same spirit and with the same kinds of values as how we've been doing things so far."

Rashid K. Sayed: So, Microsoft’s ID@Xbox Policy parity clause has been a subject of much controversy. Microsoft seems to have been relaxing it for some cases but the clause is still there. As an indie developer what is your take on the parity clause and why do you think it only applies to indies and not AAA games?

Greg Kasavin: I understand how from Microsoft’s perspective it may not be desirable to have a library of “hand-me-downs” from other platforms. It’s far less of an issue for AAA games because AAA games have the budgets and team sizes to ship their games simultaneously on many platforms, whereas for smaller developers, it can be almost impossible to go to every platform at the same time. Certainly that’s been true of us at Supergiant. At the same time, as a game player all I want is for my consoles of choice to have good, diverse lineups of games. I don’t care if they’re also available on other platforms as long as they’re great games for the console.

Rashid K. Sayed: I guess the game will run at 1080p and 60 fps, right?

Greg Kasavin: That’s correct!

Rashid K. Sayed: What is your take on the ongoing resolutiongate and frame rate debate? Do you think it will settle down anytime soon?

Greg Kasavin: I don’t have a take on it. I am in general against the act of diminishing or dismissing people’s feelings about things that are important to them. In the case of this particular debate, I think it’s reasonable for game players to expect great things from the current generation of consoles, especially given the long gap between console generations and the relative power and ease-of-use of modern-day gaming PCs.

Rashid K. Sayed: What’s next for Supergiant Games in 2015 and beyond?

Greg Kasavin: I’ll be at least as curious as you to find that out! Being small, we don’t tend to plan too far ahead. We would like to stay small with this same team we’ve assembled and keep making games in the same spirit and with the same kinds of values as how we’ve been doing things so far. What comes out of that process, I guess time will tell!

Rashid K. Sayed: Is there anything else you want to tell us before we let you go?

Greg Kasavin: Thanks for taking the time to check in with me! We’re excited to be bringing Bastion to a new audience come April 7, and really appreciate that PlayStation fans never relented in asking us for the game since it first came out. We appreciate everyone’s patience, and hope you enjoy it!

The hit action role playing games and one of the early breakout hits of the Xbox live Arcade, Bastion, is now available on the PlayStation 4. In Europe, the PlayStation 4 version of Bastion goes live on April 8.

Developed by Bitworks (who are also responsible for the PlayStation 4 ports of other hit indie games, such as FEZ and Don’t Starve), the game runs in a full 1080p and 60 frames per second, meaning its gorgeous art is done full justice (and that people who care about visual fidelity have nothing to complain about). If the added visual panache is not enough to compel you to look into the port, it also includes a Platinum Trophy- just in case building up your PSN level is something that matters to you.

If you’re still not sure (maybe because you’ve never played the game before, and just aren’t sure if it is something you wold like), check out the trailer above. It will likely do a better job at selling you on the game than I will.

GamingBolt recently caught up with Greg Kasavin from Supergiant Games to talk all about the PS4 version of Bastion. During our conversation we asked Greg about his opinion on Microsoft’s ID@Xbox Policy parity clause that has been a subject of much controversy. Microsoft seems to have been relaxing it for some cases but the clause is still there. So as an indie developer what is his take on the parity clause?

“I understand how from Microsoft’s perspective it may not be desirable to have a library of “hand-me-downs” from other platforms. It’s far less of an issue for AAA games because AAA games have the budgets and team sizes to ship their games simultaneously on many platforms, whereas for smaller developers, it can be almost impossible to go to every platform at the same time.”

“Certainly that’s been true of us at Supergiant. At the same time, as a game player all I want is for my consoles of choice to have good, diverse lineups of games. I don’t care if they’re also available on other platforms as long as they’re great games for the console,” Kasavin stated.

He also gave his views on the ongoing resolutiongate and frame rate debate and although he does not have a particular opinion on it, he does believes players deserves the best. 

“I don’t have a take on it. I am in general against the act of diminishing or dismissing people’s feelings about things that are important to them. In the case of this particular debate, I think it’s reasonable for game players to expect great things from the current generation of consoles, especially given the long gap between console generations and the relative power and ease-of-use of modern-day gaming PCs.”

Bastion comes out next week on the PS4. Stay tuned for our full interview with Greg Kasavin and our review of the game soon.