Over the last two weeks of December, we are announcing the winners of the Third Annual SwitchRPG Awards. We’ll be announcing new winners every weekday, leading up to a final announcement on January 1st for RPG of the Year!

Best Progression System

Job systems, town-building, and character advancement – which progression system feels the most satisfying and unique?

And the Winner Is…

Staff Winner: Rune Factory 4 Special

While it was a pretty close call between Hades, Xenoblade, and Rune Factory 4 in regards to Best Progression System, the latter ultimately took the win. This enhanced version of the 2013 3DS hit(?) is filled to the brim with systems that are somehow all logically tied into each other. What this means is that whatever you do – farming, fishing, building relationships, selling products from your bazaar, issuing town orders, fighting, crafting, or anything else – it all plays a role in improving your character. Long, tedious grinds soon feel achievable when continuously fed bite-sized (but meaningful) bits of progression, and Rune Factory does this in spades. When it comes to content variety and rewarding the player for their time, no matter the activity, Rune Factory 4 Special comfortably sits with the best in its subgenre.

Community Pick: Hades

Riding the high of its previous success in Best Combat, Hades once again dominates with a 45.1% of the votes, only to be moderately challenged by Xenoblade’s 31% of the votes.

What are your thoughts on the winners? If you disagree with the results, what would you have preferred to make the cut? Let us know, and stay tuned tomorrow for another award announcement!