Obsidian Says RPGs Stay Popular Through Innovation
RPG innovation is the reason the genre remains exciting, according to longtime Obsidian Entertainment developer Chris Parker.
Parker, who is currently working as game director on Grounded 2 and has spent nearly three decades connected to RPG development, recently shared his thoughts on why role-playing games continue to stay relevant. While some players may feel the genre occasionally looks tired, Parker believes RPGs keep proving their strength whenever a new game arrives and pushes the format forward.
For him, the success of recent titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Baldur’s Gate 3 shows that RPGs are still full of life.
RPG Innovation Keeps the Genre Fresh
The main idea behind Parker’s statement is simple: RPGs survive because they change.
He explained that there are moments when the genre may seem like it needs new energy. However, another game eventually arrives and proves that RPGs can still feel vibrant, exciting, and meaningful.
That is where RPG innovation becomes important. The genre is not locked into one formula. It can move between turn-based combat, real-time action, party-building, dialogue systems, player choice, open-world exploration, tactical battles, and experimental narrative design.
That flexibility is one reason RPGs remain powerful across generations.
Clair Obscur and Baldur’s Gate 3 Prove the Point
Parker specifically pointed to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Baldur’s Gate 3 as examples of modern RPG success.
Both games showed that players still respond strongly when RPGs bring something memorable to the table. Whether through bold combat ideas, rich storytelling, memorable companions, or deep player choice, these titles helped remind the industry that RPGs are far from outdated.
The source also notes that both games became major award winners, further showing how much impact RPGs can still have when they deliver something special.
Obsidian’s Own RPG Legacy Still Matters
The discussion also connects back to Obsidian Entertainment itself.
Obsidian has long been associated with RPG development, and Parker mentioned games like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 as projects that continue the studio’s role in the genre. He described both as fun and strong experiences that bring something valuable to RPG players.
That matters because Obsidian has built its reputation around choice-driven adventures, world-building, character writing, and player agency. Its continued work shows that established RPG studios are still searching for new directions rather than simply repeating old formulas.
RPGs Can Evolve in Strange and Creative Ways
Parker also highlighted Disco Elysium as an example of how RPGs can grow in unusual directions.
That title proved that the genre does not always need to follow traditional combat-heavy rules. RPGs can also succeed through dialogue, psychology, detective work, social systems, and deeply personal storytelling.
This is where the future of RPGs becomes exciting. The genre can support massive fantasy adventures, experimental indie games, tactical party battles, first-person worlds, and narrative-heavy experiences.
In short, RPGs do not need to become one thing. Their strength is that they can become many things.
Why RPGs Still Connect With Players
RPGs remain popular because they give players a sense of ownership.
Players do not only watch a story happen. They build characters, choose dialogue, form parties, explore worlds, solve problems, and shape outcomes. Even when the structure is linear, the feeling of growth and agency makes the experience more personal.
That emotional connection is hard to replace.
When a good RPG works, players remember not only the ending, but the choices they made, the companions they trusted, the builds they created, and the mistakes they had to live with.
Turn-Based RPGs Are Also Finding New Energy
The source also connects this discussion to the renewed interest in turn-based RPGs.
Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 show that turn-based systems can still feel modern when developers add style, timing, action elements, or fresh presentation. Meanwhile, Baldur’s Gate 3 proved that a deep tactical RPG can still reach a massive mainstream audience.
This proves that old systems are not automatically outdated. They only need the right execution.
The Genre Still Has Room to Grow
Parker said he has complete faith in the RPG genre and believes there is still a lot of room for it to grow.
That confidence is important because it comes from someone who has watched the genre change across multiple eras. From classic computer RPGs to modern cinematic adventures, RPGs have survived by absorbing new ideas and reshaping old ones.
That is why the future of RPGs still looks bright.
Players Benefit When Studios Take Risks
The most exciting RPGs often come from studios willing to take risks.
Some games experiment with combat. Others focus on writing, morality, world structure, or character systems. Some mix genres that normally do not belong together.
That willingness to take risks is what keeps RPGs from becoming stale. It also gives players more variety, whether they prefer fantasy epics, sci-fi adventures, dark comedy, tactical systems, or emotional character-driven stories.
RPGs Are Not Going Anywhere
Parker’s message is ultimately optimistic.
Even when the genre feels familiar, another game can arrive and change the conversation. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Baldur’s Gate 3, Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, and Disco Elysium all show different sides of what RPGs can become.
That variety is exactly why the genre continues to matter.
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THIS IS our take
RPG innovation is why the genre refuses to fade. Players still love leveling up, making choices, building parties, and exploring worlds, but what keeps RPGs exciting is how each generation finds a new way to express those ideas. From Baldur’s Gate 3’s massive choice-driven adventure to Clair Obscur’s stylish modern twist, the genre keeps proving that “old-school” systems can still feel fresh when developers are brave enough to evolve them.
