RPGs or role-playing games have always been one of the most action-packed and engaging genres in video games. Whether you're fond of high-fantasy or sci-fi themes, RPGs offer engaging narratives, iconic characters, dreamy settings, and a chance to play a hero or a villain for a while.
Here are some of the best RPG games that you can play right now.
Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter's rise to popularity is rooted in its monster-hunting features where players hunt down or trap different kinds of monsters that roam the landscape. The thrill of being able to capture a certain monster is exhilarating and addicting.
Monster Hunter World brings action and adventure to greater heights with its crafting mechanics and even more difficult monsters to hunt down.
The game also features an online multiplayer where you can team up with other players to take down a monster and share the loot.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Released in 2020, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is the twelfth installment of the Assassin's Creed series.
It explores the Viking expedition into the British Isles led by Eivor Varinsdottir who later gets entangled with the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order. In this iteration, players are given the chance to explore the expansive world while following the engaging narrative.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla remains one of the most successful Assassin's Creed games and one of the biggest launches of the series ever.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
The original Resident Evil 2 broke the ceiling of video gaming in the past few decades. It featured two of the most iconic characters in the horror-survival genre that ultimately made them household names.
The original Resident Evil 2 game featured improvements from the classic Resident Evil, bringing the action from the isolated mansion in the Arklay Mountains to the streets of Raccoon City. It wasn't long before Capcom remastered the older version and introduced the Resident Evil 2 Remake to the next generation.
The remade version further improved what the second installment was known for and with the addition of more gameplay features, it is safe to say that Resident Evil 2 Remake was a huge success.
The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt
The Witcher series is filled with high-fantasy thematics and complicated story arcs. But what makes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt even more enthralling to the players is the open world and third-person perspective that allows them to fully immerse themselves in the experience.
Wild Hunt features improved player interaction with non-player characters, an enhanced set of abilities and weapons alongside the unpredictable yet engaging storyline that has three possible endings.
The Witcher 3 follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer in search of his adoptive daughter while on the run from the Wild Hunt.
Dark Souls III
Perhaps the most challenging RPG on this list would have to be Dark Souls III. Dark Souls is notorious for its time-consuming and very challenging missions and yet players are still enamored by the storyline and the gameplay aspects of the game.
Dark Souls III features bonfires as the game's checkpoints allowing players to respawn if ever they get killed in the game. Players also gain access to a wide variety of weapons, magic, and armor to arm themselves against the different undead monsters that they encounter during missions.
While it may seem like an unforgiving game to play, Dark Souls III is one of the best and most popular RPGs in the genre.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a game where most people would remember fondly for the botched launch. The game suffered a lot of bugs and issues during the first few weeks of its release that bred memes and controversy.
However, game developer CD Projekt Red promised that the game would be fixed in the following months. The studio went on to fulfill that promise and Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most well-developed RPGs in the genre.
Players could already see a glimpse of the game's greatness even during its controversial launch and now that the studio has fixed all the bugs and issues, the game is easily one of the best RPGs out there.
Genshin Impact
Launched early last year and astounding millions of players worldwide, Genshin Impact made history with its release. In the game, players became the Traveler in search of his lost sibling while also meeting the denizens of Tyvat along the way.
Within the realm of Genshin Impact, players can travel and explore the vast colorful open world, meet new characters, face monstrous bosses while also following the adventures of the lone Traveler with the main storyline.
The beautiful art and character designs are what made Genshin Impact attractive in the first place but it's the action-packed gameplay and story that players have come to love.
Nier Automata
Nier Automata is a sequel to Nier which is a spinoff series to the widely popular Drakengard series.
In this game, alien machines and human androids are at war with each other and it is up to a combat android, her companion, and a rogue prototype to finally put an end to this war once and for all. Nier Automata features RPG elements and action-packed hack and slash combat.
The game requires a lot of time to finish which is a great experience for hardcore RPG fans. The multiple playthroughs unlock different story elements so there's always something new to discover every time you play the game.
Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic is probably the pinnacle of a role-playing game within the Star Wars universe. The game has all the features needed for RPG lovers with its morality system and engaging storyline set thousands of years before the main movie series.
Developed by BioWare, the game allows players to pick from three different classes but ultimately, it is up to the choices you make that make the game so interesting to play.
It's no wonder why it remains to be one of the most popular RPGs all over the world and has millions of devoted fans up to this very day.
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order
After the success of Knights of the Old Republic, the Star Wars video game franchise became so popular that many game developers began to create their own Star Wars video game. Fallen Order comes at perfect timing for the entire Star Wars video game franchise.
The game was developed and released at a time when players began to feel a bit of disdain for the myriad of Star Wars games that could not capture the authenticity of older games such as Knights of the Old Republic.
Fallen Order follows the story of Cal Kestis, a Jedi Padawan, who is hunted down by the Galactic Empire after Order 66, which sought the purge of all Jedi from the galaxy. Cal travels through different planets and locales in an attempt to complete his Jedi training and try to rebuild the fallen Jedi Order.
Diablo II Resurrected
Touted as one of the best games of all time, Diablo II builds on the success of Diablo when it was released in 2000.
This high-fantasy role-playing game follows a group of adventurers who arrive at a Rogue Encampment only to encounter different demons and are led to an adventure of a lifetime as they stop the forces of darkness and the ascension of Diablo, the Lord of Terror, himself.
Separated in five different Acts, Diablo II Resurrected continues the modern trend of remastering old classics and bringing them to a new audience. In Resurrected, the game is further improved with new and improved cutscenes, online features, and quality-of-life improvements.
Diablo III
Diablo III follows almost the same gameplay as the second game with the story set 20 years after the events of Diablo II.
In this game, players are sent on a quest to retrieve the Black Soulstone that would enable the protagonists to trap the Lords of Hell inside, destroy them, and end their threat to humanity. Diablo III also features a Hardcore Mode where characters become unplayable whenever they are killed in battle.
The game was one of the fastest-selling video games of all time when it was released in 2012. Diablo III is available on almost all platforms including PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Mass Effect is one of those legendary games with a cult following. The RPG follows the story of Commander Shepard as he recruits different characters from all across the galaxy in an attempt to stop the Reapers from invading and destroying all life.
Players can switch between the three characters that make up the team. Mass Effect also features a morality system and features different decisions that affect the lives of the characters within the team down the line.
One simple decision could lead up to the death of another so players are always on their toes when it comes to choosing the right option.
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is a unique RPG that uses dialogues instead of real-time combat to resolve issues and conflicts in the game. The game follows an amnesiac investigator who is tasked to solve a murder mystery while also uncovering certain memories in his past.
Disco Elysium also features a system called Thought Cabinet where players can choose their ideologies and personalities as well as enhance or suppress them altogether.
Its dialogue-heavy mechanics and its open world makes Disco Elysium a very unique RPG that should be on your list of RPGs to play.
World Of Warcraft
World of Warcraft continues the lore from Blizzard's Warcraft series and has been one of the most dominating RPGs in the market for over a decade.
With players choosing to play a character with a specific class and getting to decide their destiny in the game, players can explore the world within, battle bosses and monsters, complete quests, seek out new friends and guildmates, hunt for treasures, and more.
The game has been around for over a decade now and it is still growing.
Conclusion
With so many high-quality RPG games in the market today, there's bound to be a set of games that are a cut above the rest. The list above is just of the most popular RPGs that you should be playing today.
