Learn the Best Role-Playing Games and Get Lost in a World of Adventure
Updated: Mar 5
If you have tried role-playing games, I bet you haven't wanted to know about any other genre for quite some time! After all, this type of game offers multiple advantages, such as the economy (there are many free games available), autonomy to create the story, the stimulation of the creativity, and much more. But now comes the main question: Do you know the best RPG games?
The list of RPG games is longer than you might think. In fact, many players get lost in the middle of so much information. But this will not happen to you! In fact, the list of games is long because it has to suit the tastes of all kinds of players. Therefore, we can highlight another advantage of role-playing games: the issue of versatility.
To help you choose the game that is right for you, we have selected only the best, most acclaimed, and best-rated games (both by games and critics). We want you to have an indescribable experience!
The top 10 Best RPG Games of All Time
To make a list even more selective, let's start with the top 10 best games. Be sure to write down all the information you find necessary, and recommend them to your friends if you enjoy the experience! Check it out:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V is a famous role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and released by Bethesda Softworks in 2011. It is a very versatile game, as it has versions for PC, PlayStation 3, and XBOX 360.
The story of The Elder Scrolls V takes place in Tamriel, a fictional continent that is marked by the presence of the most fearsome beings on earth: dragons.
In this game, your character is a Dragonborn, a warrior whose job is killing dragons and, consequently, absorbing their powers. However, your character's main mission is only one: to slay Alduin, the most powerful and dangerous dragon on the continent. Will you succeed?
The game is famous for its free gameplay, meaning that you can explore the mighty continent in any way you like. Also, there is no predefined order to accomplish the missions.
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Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy was developed and released by Square (now known as Square Enix) for PlayStations in 1997. It is the seventh game in the Fantasy series and is considered to be one of the greatest RPG games ever developed in history.
In this game, your character is Cloud Strife, a powerful warrior who decides to join a group of rebels to try to save the world from total destruction. The game's story is totally thought-provoking, making for an immersive and thrilling experience!
Besides presenting fantasy elements, the game also has futuristic aspects, such as: modern cities, fully developed monsters, and powerful weapons. Also, because it is turn-based gameplay, you will be able to control a different group of characters whenever you want.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher, the famous fantasy book series, has not only inspired the creation of series and movies but has also come to life in the world of games! The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a role-playing game developed and released by CD Projekt RED in 2015.
In this game, you will follow the adventures and quests of the most famous monster hunter of the medieval era: Geralt of Rivia. So you already know it won't be easy, right? After all, you will control an extremely challenging and powerful character.
Besides its deep story and highly developed graphics, the game is also famous for its variety of quests and its high level of complexity.
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft, also known as WOW, is one of the most famous role-playing games in the world. It is a fantasy game that was developed and released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2004.
In this game, you will explore the world of Azeroth and have to deal with the confrontation of two enemy factions: Horde and Alliance. So, which faction will you join? This is one of the main decisions you will have to make during the game.
One of the biggest benefits of World of Warcraft's history is the inclusion of multiple expansions, meaning you will always have new content and characters to explore. The news never stops, and you always need to be up to date.
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins is a role-playing game developed by BioWare and released by Electronic Arts in 2009. It is one of the most critically acclaimed games, praised for its thought-provoking and fully immersive narrative.
In this famous fantasy game, you will explore the bleakness of Ferelden, unraveling all its mysteries and facing all the dangers that surround this place. But don't think that you will face this alone! You will be part of a famous group of heroes that unite to fight against all the threats in the place.
The demon army in Ferelden is constantly growing! Will you be able to defeat them?
Dark Souls
Now let's talk about one of the most famous games in the history of gaming! Surely you've heard of Dark Souls, right? The famous role-playing game was developed by FromSoftware and released by Bandai Namco Games in 2011.
This time, your character will be the amazing Soulless, a soulless being who has the mission to restore his soul. In addition, you will also have to find a solution to end the curse that has permeated the world for centuries.
Dark Souls has highly challenging gameplay and includes a well-developed progression system. The game has received critical acclaim for its completely thought-provoking and enigmatic narrative.
Diablo III
If you like to test your limits through high challenges, Diablo III is undoubtedly the game for you.
The game was developed by Blizzard Entertainment, a renowned video game developer, and was released by the same company in 2012.
In this adventure, you will have to assume the role of a warrior to fulfill the main mission of the game: to kill Diablo, a demon that has been released from hell to cause the destruction of the entire earth.
And of course, if you think that this is all you have to do, you are very wrong! You will have to explore environments, search for quests to collect items, fight against little demons, and much more.
In short, you can say that the game is based on action and reaction. You will have to be strategic to use your attacking abilities.
Baldur's Gate II
Baldur's Gate II is a famous role-playing game that was developed by BioWare and released by Interplay Entertainment in 2000.
This time, your character will explore the world of Forgotten Realms, a place marked by intense magic. In this world, your character is a bastard of the prince of the Baldur's Gate kingdom and will have to uncover the whole truth behind his origin.
During the search for the truth, your character will face monsters, diverse enemies, and challenging missions to reach the long-dreamed-of goal.
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is a famous role-playing game that was developed by Square, now known as Square Enix. The game was released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and is considered a classic in the history of gaming.
This time, you will enter the story of Crono, a young adventurer who possesses an unusual talent: he can travel through time. Therefore, his main mission is to go to the future to prevent the total destruction of the world! Will you succeed?
The game is known for its engaging and thought-provoking story, charismatic characters, and innovative system.
And of course, we cannot forget its versatility. The game has different versions for the end of the story, i.e. everything will depend on the decisions you make along your journey.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the most coveted role-playing games for fans of the Star Wars franchise. The game was developed by BioWare and released by LucasArts in 2003.
The game tells stories that no one could possibly know, as they take place some 4000 years before the famous events of the Star Wars franchise.
In this unexplored adventure, you will discover that you are a fallen Jedi, and you will have to face several hurdles to find out who you are, as your character suffers from amnesia.
The game features the classic characteristics of an RPG, such as choices that directly affect your story; a turn-based combat system; a variety of places to explore; and many quests to complete.
Bonus: Path of Exile
To close the list with a golden key, let's talk about the most complex and coveted game in the gaming world: Path of Exile!
Path of Exile is one of the most famous RPG games in the world! The game was developed by Grinding Gear Games and was made available for free by Grinding Gear Games in 2013.
In this game, the story takes place in Wraeclast, a continent that has been seriously destroyed by a devastating apocalyptic event: the Cataclysm. Southeast of the Wraeclast region is the bleak island of Oriath, the only place that has remained intact! You will be an exile from this island and will have to fight to survive until you find a way back home.
And of course, let's not forget that Oriath Island is full of mysteries! Will you be able to solve all the mysteries of this place? It will not be easy.
Path of Exile is world-famous for its complex gameplay, and many players give up halfway through! But you will not be one of them, right? If you dedicate yourself to learning the details of each step of the game, I guarantee you will have a unique experience!
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The evolution of RPG Games: A Look Back
When we look at the modernity of today's role-playing games, we forget that it wasn't always like this (the first games were very simple). Games have come a long way in evolution! A journey marked by continuous development to reach the potential we know today.
The Early Days of RPG Games
The RPG (Rolling play game) genre was invented in the 1970s with the release of the Dungeons & Dragons game. Contrary to what many people think, the game did not have any technology! All you needed was paper and pencil to be able to play the characters and live the adventures of the story.
The game was developed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, two young men who had the brilliant idea of merging the elements of board games with fiction and fantasy. So you could say that they both invented the RPG genre in general.
The Rise of PC RPG Games
With the advance of technology in the 1970s and 1980s, role-playing games took off the paper and onto the computer screen! This was a major milestone in the world of gaming.
Initially, PC games were adaptations of tabletop games and included only text and command lines. However, everything changed as computer development advanced.
In the 1980s, for example, the most popular games were Wizardry and Ultima, two RPG games that became a reference and the basis for the development of other games.
The RPG Revolution console
After the computer, RPG games began to develop in another area: on video game consoles.
In the 90s, the release of Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger for Nintendo, and Final Fantasy VII for PlayStation marked the history of games.
It was clear to see the brilliant development that the games achieved when they finally arrived on the TV screen. The games had better graphics, more elaborate stories, and more variety, meaning they became more accessible to the broad gaming public.
In addition, we cannot forget that console games had more developed mechanics:
More advanced mechanics
Improved combat system
Characters with unique abilities
And much more!
The Emergence of Mobile RPG Games
Well, with the increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets, the release of mobile versions of RPG games has become inevitable.
Game developers started to create more elaborate games adapted for these types of devices, allowing the game quality to remain the same (or even better). And of course, through this advance, gamers were able to achieve some advantages that had long been desired, such as
Flexibility: games can be played from anywhere, as long as they have internet access.
Economy: most games for mobile devices are free!
Developed quality: All games have highly developed graphics and advanced gameplay.
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The future RPG games
The trend is for RPG games to keep evolving and adapting to the technologies (which are also constantly evolving).
Developers are always looking for improvements and new features. They want to give players a complete, personalized, real and increasingly immersive experience.
The best RPG Games for PC
We have already talked about the best RPG games in general, right? Well, now it's time to talk about these games more specifically, presenting the ones that stand out in the video game, PC, and mobile versions.
Let's start with the best PC games! Check them out:
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a famous role-playing game that was developed by CD Projekt RED (the same creators of The Witcher) and released by the same in 2020.
The game is set in Night City, a futuristic-looking metropolis located on the West Coast of the United States. This time you will take on the role of "V," a customizable character who seeks a cybernetic implant to become incredibly powerful. The implant is known as "God's implant", and is considered a legend in the city!
The game was highly anticipated by gamers and was a huge success! It is famous for containing a rich variety of missions (main and side quests) and other random missions.
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is a science fiction game that will grip you from start to finish. The famous game was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and released by Private Division in 2019.
In this game, your character was cryogenically asleep on a colonizer ship that is lost in space, but is awakened to fulfill a mission. After waking up, he will be thrown into the world of the colonists and will have to face great challenges, as nothing is what it seems.
The game is famous for its variety of missions, and it also has a complex dialog system, meaning that you can influence the outcome of the missions.
Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter: World is one of the greatest adventure games developed by Capcom. The game was released by the same in 2018, and being available for PlayStation and PC.
In this adventure, you will live a monster hunter who needs to develop his own weapons to confront monstrous beings, meaning that it is not an easy game. In addition, you will have to participate in quests, protect the village, fight for the facilities, and much more!
The Monster game series is widely known for its high difficulty level and incremental progression, so be sure to study the game's metrics before embarking on this journey.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is an acclaimed role-playing game that was developed and released by Larian Studios in 2017. It is the sequel to Divinity: Original Sin.
In this game, you will explore an extraordinary world that is marked by the presence of evil beings. As such, your mission is to protect this world and discover your character's origins.
The game is known for its intense gameplay and rich story! It is a thoroughly exciting game that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a popular role-playing game that was developed by 38 Studios and Big Huge Games, and was released by Electronic Arts in 2012.
The story of the game is set in the mysterious world of Amalur, and your character will go through great challenges to discover his true identity. In this game, your main goal is only one: to change the disastrous fate of the world.
The game has a vast world to explore, and you can also complete side quests to earn rewards.
Conclusion
If you were completely lost in role-p
laying games and simply didn't know where to start, now you have the right foundation to begin the journey!
We have only separated the most acclaimed games! And the best part: we focused on versatility (we gave tips on games for PC, console, and mobile versions).
So you already know, right? Study the metrics of each game, stay on top of updates, and the main thing: have fun and enjoy every moment.
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FAQs
What are the best RPG games of all time?
Of all the games we have listed here, we can name three that stand out the most: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt; Path of Exile, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
What are the best RPG games for PC?
The three PC games that have stood out the most in recent years are Final Fantasy VII, Cyberpunk 2077, and Monster Hunter: World.
What are the best RPG games for Xbox?
In the games for Xbox, we can highlight three that are extremely acclaimed by the public: The Wicher 3: Wild Hunt (again), Elden Disco Ring Elysium: The Final Cut.
What are the best RPG games for PlayStation?
Let's highlight the best games for PS4! They are Final Fantasy XV(again), Diablo III, and Assassin's Creed Origins.
What are the best RPG games for Nintendo Switch?
The Nintendo games that are gaining the most prominence are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild; Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
What are the best RPG games for iOS and Android?
Check out the three mobile RPG games you can't miss: Final Fantasy XV, Chrono Trigger, and Eternium.
What is the number 1 RPG game?
There is no definitive answer to this question, after all, every gamer can have his or her number 1 game, right? That is very relative. However, the games that have been most successful are Path of Exile and The Wicher 3: Wild Hunt.
What's the best RPG game right now?
Again, we do not have a definitive answer to this question! The games are diverse and cater to all tastes. It is difficult to find a game that appeals to everyone universally.
