Games of the Year

RPGFan Games of the Year 2021: Best Localization

by and on January 22, 2022
GOTY 2021 Localization Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker

Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

Final Fantasy XIV has always dazzled with the written and spoken word, so it is no surprise that Endwalker has an incredibly rich and powerful localization. However, that doesn’t make what it does any less impressive. The sheer depth of emotion the localization team wove into this climactic expansion contributes majorly to the MMO’s, and this expansion’s, status as a masterpiece.

As an end of the world tale, Endwalker has no shortage of dramatic speeches and monologues. What better time to opine than the Final Days? Giving these speeches the vocal and written weight they deserve is a testament to the skill of the localization team. The beautiful script and amazing performances grant every character a distinct voice and depth – another character as lovingly localized as Urianger and his dense spoken prose does not exist.

Despite a huge amount of content, Endwalker’s localization manages to achieve consistency through every friendly conversation and mystical explanation.

by Izzy Parsons

Runner-Up: The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

For a game so embedded in a rich fabric of cultural and historical references, the localisation work done on The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is nothing short of incredible. For the longest time, it didn’t seem like we would ever receive a localisation for these games at all, so the fact that it finally happened is a miracle crafted by Capcom’s localisation teams themselves. From the fantastic name puns to the detailed references to the obscure artwork and literature all from the game’s period setting, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicle’s localisation is both precise and full of charm.

by Adam Arter

Readers’ Choice: Best Localization

Winner: Shin Megami Tensei V

Runner-Up: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

Only a single vote separated Shin Megami Tensei V and FFXIV: Endwalker! It was nearly tied. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles was only a half dozen votes from placing too.

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Izzy Parsons

Izzy Parsons

Izzy has been a fan of RPGs since before they were born, so it's no surprise they would end up as a reviews editor for RPGFan. When they aren't playing seven different RPGs at once, Izzy enjoys reading and writing fiction, chatting with their friends, and long walks in nature.

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