2015 was a few years into the life of the PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U console generation. Some of those consoles were more successful than others, but it was a good year overall. It seems like yesterday, but a decade has passed, and an entirely new console generation has launched.
8 Best RPGs You Can Play Forever
Will you ever get tired of these games, or should you put a ring on it?
Among these consoles is a plethora of RPGs that have helped shape the past decade with their innovative mechanics and storytelling. They may even be some of the best RPGs of the past twenty years and will probably remain timeless for years to come. They each have deep stories, great combat, and intricate quests, aka, the whole package. Across a plethora of consoles, these are the RPGs from the last decade that fans cannot miss.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Third Times The Charm
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Baldur’s Gate fans probably would have been happy with a game similar to spiritual successors like Pillars of Eternity. That’s a good game, but the budget and design stick very close to where PC RPGs like Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn stood in 2000.
However, fans were treated to something completely beyond their expectations with Baldur’s Gate 3. The story is moving and offers dozens of branching paths, the characters are easy to bond with, the gameplay is challenging and filled with options to manipulate characters and the environment both in and out of combat, and so on. The overall game was worth the wait, and it's easily one of the most comprehensive DnD simulators ever made.
Undertale
Celebrating Exactly Ten Years Of Subversion
Undertale
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Undertale turned ten years old in 2025 and is still talked about with a kind of quiet reverence. This RPG subverted the genre by encouraging players to talk to monsters instead of fighting them, and doing so would completely reshape the story.
With a suite of catchy music, wild characters, and an innovative gameplay system, Undertale easily sets itself apart from the rest of the RPG crowd. What’s most astounding is that it was primarily developed by one person, Toby Fox, who has gone on to become an indie icon.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Ten Years Already?
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
It’s hard to believe that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is already ten years old, as it still feels incredibly relevant thanks to its dedicated community and continued reference by gamers as one of the most expansive open-world games on the market.
It’s one of the most well-rounded RPGs of all time, with engaging quests that actually lead to interesting outcomes, dynamic combat with visceral swordplay and magic, and the overall story is nothing to scoff at either. The world is huge, easily taking players a hundred or more hours to thoroughly explore, and none of it ever feels frivolous.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The First FRPG
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of 2025’s indie darlings despite looking and playing like a AAA game. This French developer, Sandfall Interactive, gave it their all in crafting an homage to classic RPGs of the past while still creating something all their own.
Best RPGs To Play Over A Long Time
These RPGs aren't made for marathon gaming sessions. They reward steady play over long periods of time, and they're unsatisfying to complete quickly.
It’s a deeply affecting story full loss and corruption, but it never hesitates to say something funny on occasion either. The turn-based combat is engaging because of the unique active counter system, and it finally brought world maps back to prominence without relying on an open-world design. It also features one of the best final levels in any video game, one that will stick with players for a long, long time.
Diablo 4
Get The Party Started
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
A good multiplayer RPG needs to be celebrated, and Diablo 4 is just the game to deserve that recognition. It launched in 2023, and Blizzard is still updating it with seasonal content to keep players coming back for more.
Alone or with friends, this top-down action RPG has one of the deepest skill trees in any Diablo game, giving players many reasons to retry classes and start new playthroughs. The new open-world design is also innovative for the series, and the story is the best in years, featuring a truly diabolical antagonist, Lilith.
Persona 5
Live Your Best High School Life
Persona 5
- Released
- September 15, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Social Simulation
It’s been a long time since a new Persona game launched, as Persona 5 premiered in 2017 in North America and has kept the franchise in the gaming conversation ever since. Atlus has helped out with various spin-offs—some canon, some not—along with other games not tied directly to Persona 5.
Suffice it to say, Persona 5 sent the series to new heights thanks to many factors, including a cool story highlighting Palace-based conquests, stellar stylized menus, interesting characters, a fantastic jazz fusion soundtrack, and an overall style that no turn-based RPG has matched since.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
The Hawaiian Adventure
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Released
- January 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Simulated Gambling, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the first full game in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series to feature a campaign set entirely in the U.S., Hawaii specifically. While series diehards will get the most out of the story, it is an easy game to digest thanks to all the lore dumps that will help newbies along.
All new fans really needed to know is that former gangsters have teamed up to take down the real thugs in Hawaii through turn-based gameplay, which is a very blunt description. It’s wildly over the top and hard to put down thanks to its fantastic Job system and a slew of wacky side quests.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
A Return To Form
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the best game the Final Fantasy franchise has put out since maybe the PS2 era. It brought back so much of what fans loved about the franchise, and as a remake, it could have easily phoned it in and still been successful.
RPGs That Punish Players For Using Skills
You can make these RPGs easier by using these powerful abilities, but in exchange, you'll face some devastating consequences that may not be worth it
Instead, Square Enix doubled down on the action combat from Final Fantasy 7 Remake, loaded the open-world with quirky side quests and mini-games that would make any fan sing their praises, and so much more. It will be interesting to see if the final part of this Final Fantasy remake trilogy will end with a bang or if Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be the high point, like a Final Fantasy 7 version of The Empire Strikes Back.
Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
A Blast From The Past
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
- Released
- September 4, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Simulated Gambling, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age is another great home run from Square Enix, this time from their other long-running JRPG franchise.
It felt like a comforting RPG when it was released in North America in 2018. It doesn't do a whole lot to innovate on the franchise, but it's a solid turn-based RPG that boasts a lengthy campaign and unique visuals. For many fans, that’s all they really need from a Dragon Quest game.
Sea Of Stars
Reliving The Golden Age
Sea of Stars
- Released
- August 29, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Sea of Stars is another indie homage to the past. The developers, Sabotage Studio, took inspiration from the active turn-based system of games like Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and the world map design of Chrono Trigger, and used it to great effect.
Also like Chrono Trigger, characters can all perform combo moves to make the battles even more engaging. With pitch-perfect pixel art graphics, Sea of Stars would have been a classic in the SNES era for sure, and it still stands tall as an excellent RPG today.
7 Upcoming Action JRPGs With Intense Combat
Get ready for epic adventures with these upcoming action JRPGs. Their stories and settings are enticing, but it's the combat that makes them stand out