Best RPG Games
Are you looking for the best rpg games? RPG’s are one of those genres that deliver a compelling experience that you can lose yourself in. Now over the years there have been quite a few outstanding RPG games out there. But most of the RPG’s released these days are unoriginal crap. Fortunately, here is a list of the best RPG games. I’ve updated this list for 2011.
#1: Dragon Age
This game features a rich storyline, a cast of interesting characters, and epic gameplay that will have you skipping work.
Some people have asked me if Dragon Age 2 should be up here, but in my opinion, Dragon Age 2 is not as good as Dragon Age, not by far. It’s still a great game, but not Dragon Age greatness.
#2: Baulder’s Gate 2
This is the King of RPG’s and has yet to be dethroned. Baulder’s Gate 2 is what defines the very essence of the RPG. It’s absolute massive (you can spend over 100 hours trying to beat it), features a cast of indelible characters, each brought to vivid life through excellent writing and voice acting, and has some of the best rpg game play out there. If you haven’t played this game, do yourself a favour and play it, now.
This is one of those games that is still getting perfect ratings on Amazon nearly 10 years after it was first released. Why do you think this is the case? The graphics are, by current standards, crap. Because the story. Hands down you won’t find a more compelling story than you’ll find in Planescape Torment. If you want to play the latest generic Diablo hack n slash, then avoid this game. But if you want a real fantasy rpg that will blow your socks off with it’s compelling gameplay and deep, complicated story, then pick this oldie up.
#4: The Witcher
Another game that really never gain the attention it deserved. However, the game was re-released and many of the bugs were addressed. The Witcher is hands down one of the better action RPG games out there. It’s one of the more adult games too. If you are looking for a cartoony fantasy rpg game for kids, avoid this game. If you are looking for a dungeon slaying game in the vein of Diablo, avoid this. If you want an adult fantasy rpg game where there are no “right” choices and where your choices effect the plot, the Witcher is one of the best options out there.
The Witcher 2 further continues the excellent story started in THE WITCHER. By every measure, the Witcher 2 is a superb sequel!
#4: Knights of the Old Republic
The force is strong with this one, very strong indeed. Knights of the old republic came out a few years ago and stunned the world. This was Star Wars done right. The plot is a completely new storyline set thousands of years before the Original Star Wars trilogy – no more Luke, Lei, Chewbacca and any of that old (and now boring) cast.
Besides the great story, there’s also a serious amount of wicked fun game play too. Who doesn’t want to swing lightsabers and use the force to crush enemies? If you like KOTOR 1, be sure to play KOTOR II.
#5: Fallout 2
This is classic doomsday RPG’s done right. It’s an oldie, but it’s as classic as they come. What set’s Fallout 2 apart from any other RPG is the complete freedom of choice. There are many different ways to solve quests – and some of them are absolutely hilarious. You’ll get a kick spending hour after hour trying different ways to complete quests. Besides Dues Ex, I don’t think I’ve played a modern RPG game that gives you as many different options for getting things done. As you progress through the game, you’ll gain new skill perks and upgrade your character (as you do in pretty much every rpg game). You won’t get bored with this game — I guarantee it. If you you’ve ever wanted to play Mad Max in a twisted post apocalyptic world, Fallout 2 is your best bet.
The newest update, Fallout 3, is also a great game. Way better graphics than Fallout 2, but I still hold that Fallout 2 is the better.
#6: Deus Ex
The best first person shoot RPG combination, ever. Dues Ex takes place in a world gone mad. This game combines a deeply disturbing (and addictive) story with first person and rpg elements. There is a lot of freedom in this game – you can always solve any problem multiple ways, depending on how you have upgraded your character. This is an old game, but it’s still one of the best games ever. Yes, the game is over a decade old. And no, it doesn’t matter. There’s a reason why this game has almost a perfect rating on Amazon.com even after 10+ years. You can pretty much forget that the sequel Deus Ex 2 ever was made — it’s a terrible game. For fans of this series, Dues Ex 3 is on the horizon — let’s just hope they don’t screw it up like they did with number 2.
#7: Mass Effect 2
Bioware’s epic Science Fiction RPG. It’s good folks, very good. Anyone who loves RPG or Science Fiction should play this game. It’s made by Bioware, after all. Fabulous story and fabulous action. The actual fighting is so so, however. Mass Effect 2 is better than then Mass Effect 1 in every way.
Mass Effect 1 had a great story, but the gameplay was spotty. Mass Effect 2 remedies this, drastically improving the fighting gameplay mechanics. Mass Effect 2 delivers the same superlative roleplaying experience that Mass Effect 1 did. So if you love a rich story, unforgettable characters, and great action (specifically in Mass Effect 2) gameplay, you want to play these games. The Mass Effect series is a new generation of roleplaying game where action and cinematography are seamlessly blended. It’s also one of my favorite games.
This game never found mainstream success like some of the other games, but it’s the BEST vampire game out there and a top notch RPG/FPS hybrid game. If you are a fan of Dues Ex, then you’re going to love this game. The rich voice acting, dark setting, and immersive plot make this game something special. If there is a flawed jewel out there amidst the best rpg games, then this game is it. The heavy dose of bugs prevent this game from being one of the best RPG’s, but it’s still well worth playing any day of the year. You can get some user made patches that fix up all the problems, however.
This is one of the crowd favorites. There is a remarkable difference between japanese rpg’s and western rpg’s. The japanese types of rpg’s are all about the visual experience. There is little freedom of choice and the choices you make rarely influence the plot of the game. Japanese rpg’s are about the visual experience — an not J RPG more represents this than the final fantasy games. Each final fantasy game is a unique experience. Most fans would agree that the Final Fantasy VII is the best. If you haven’t played it, you owe yourself to pick it up — old game or not. You might also want to check out the newest release in the series: Final Fantasy XIII. Final Fantasy XIII
#10: Jade Empire
Another game by fantasy rpg game masters Bioware. This game breaks the traditional Tolkienesque fantasy conventions and opts for a mythical Asian setting. As expected in a Bioware game, characters are interesting and the story is deep, entertaining, and well told. This is an action rpg game and the fighting is handled a bit differently – you can perform martial art moves to fight. It’s an entertaining change from the usual turn-based fighting systems that rpg’s use. However, the rich asian fantasy world and strong storyline are what make this game enjoyable.
SOME RUNNER UPS
These runner ups almost made the top rpg list. Well worth playing!
This 2009 update on the classic Fallout franchise has done justice to it. Fallout 3 features great graphics, an addicting story, and that graphic RPG gameplay we all love. You can’t go wrong with this one – it’s one of the best RPG games that’s come out in recent years. You will still want to play the original (Fallout 2), however. I personally prefer Fallout 2 over Fallout 3 as it maintains the dark humor that made the Fallout series into what it is. Fallout 3 does justice though, so it’s well worth playing.
While this game didn’t deliver on the some of the RPG elements that the first game did (community modding, mainly), the actual gameplay and story are pretty good — right up there with a Bioware game. It’s created by Obsidian, probably one of the other great development companies that create the storytelling rich games that deliver a rich gaming experience. If you are looking for a strong fantasy story in the vein of Baulder’s Gate 2, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, Neverwinter Nights 2 delivers on that. Just keep in mind there are some bugs.
The sequel to the popular Morrowind, which helped to pioneer the open ended “sandbox” rpg style. Oblivion continued the trend set in Morrowind, but adds an even bigger sandbox. While Oblivion can’t rival a Bioware RPG game in terms of story and choices, it does offer the player a huge world to get lost in. You can do whatever you want to do rather than be forced into a specific “storyline” plot.
This game made headlines around the world, becoming a best selling game. First the good. Morrowind is a big, big game. It pioneered the large, open ended game that Bathsheba has become known for (Obsidion, Fallout 3, etc). You can wander around in a giant sandbox, upgrading your skills, and completing quests. If you like massive worlds with very open ended gameplay, you’ll love Morrowind and the sequel Oblivion (which is even bigger). Not all is perfect though. If you enjoy a rich story in the vein of a Bioware game where you actually care about the characters and plot, you won’t find that in Morrowind.
This is a classic with an (old) killer soundtrack and an epic storyline that people still rave out. Yes, the graphics are outdated but it’s still a fantastic game that you should play, if you can get your hands on it.
I hope you find this list useful. If you have any more recommended RPG games, please leave them in the comment section. These are some of the best computer games out there, so make sure you play them if you are in any way an RPG fan. Heck, even if you don’t like RPG’s, still play them!
Fable 3
Another good game that quite a few people love. There’s a lot of choice present in the game and your actions effect how your character looks. Worth playing!