Role-playing games have become so popular that the meaning behind these words has become muddled. No, RPGs aren't just about letting players level up and acquire power, unlike what most people think.
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Game developers have had trouble nailing down first-person RPG combat, but the games that do it right have become outstanding examples of RPG combat.
Hardcore role-playing veterans love the ability to mold the story as they see fit in the best RPGs around. These titles boast compelling choices and decisions that can lead to major changes in the narrative, making the role-playing in these games a step above the rest.
8 Cyberpunk 2077
The Player's Lifepath And Their Choices Decide What Quests They Do And The Ending They Get
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the best video games ever made, that somehow salvaged its reputation after facing one of the most disastrous video game launches in history. The game was riddled with so many issues that fans couldn't appreciate the RPG mechanics hiding behind the surface.
As the game was slowly fixed, more fans realized that Cyberpunk 2077 was something special. Both the main story and the many side quests let V make impactful decisions that shaped the fates of numerous interesting characters in Night City.
7 Alpha Protocol
Has Some Issues, But Makes An Effort To Integrate Major Choices And Consequences
Alpha Protocol
- Released
- June 1, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Alpha Protocol is an underappreciated video game that was essentially buried after a poor launch. Lackluster combat and a wealth of bugs prevented players from appreciating the amazing role-playing in this game.
Michael Thornton's decisions could shape the fates of important NPCs and entire countries. If players are willing to deal with the bog-standard gameplay, then the choice-driven narrative will leave them wanting more as they uncover the game's amazing story.
6 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt's Quest To Find Ciri Involves A Ton Of Critical Decision-Making
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the greatest video games ever made, letting Geralt end his virtual adventures on a high note. In a quest to find and ensure Ciri's safety, players will explore several iconic locations on the Continent and affect the lives that the White Wolf meets.
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Geralt can choose to help peasants solve monster problems, adhere to the whims of an Emperor, settle the issues regarding succession in Skellige, and accomplish a wealth of other feats. All of the player's choices are reflected in an ending where every major and minor decision that Geralt makes is scrutinized.
5 Disco Elysium
A Detective RPG With Many Meaningful Decisions To Take
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Disco Elysium is an amazing story-driven RPG that lacks any form of combat. Instead, players must level up their skills and initiate dice rolls to pass skill challenges. What makes Disco Elysium so great is how failure states are just as entertaining as successes, if not more.
The bumbling detective that players control eventually reveals himself to have a great analytical mind, even if his troubled personalities get in the way. As one would expect, numerous choices in this game have major consequences that govern everything from how certain major story sections play out all the way to how Kim Kitsuragi views his partner after the case is wrapped up.
4 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Players Who Walk The Dark Side Will Have To Make Some Very Hard Choices
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Released
- July 15, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
It takes some serious work to make the act of playing the bad guy fun in an RPG. Most games don't nail this, but the same can't be said of Knights of the Old Republic.
Not only will the Dark Side of the Force allow the protagonist to use some intense powers, but they can also fulfill their destiny instead of fighting it after a major turning point in the story. Some companies will fight to stop their captain, others can be convinced to join the Dark Side too, and the game itself can completely flip the script if players go down this route.
3 Fallout: New Vegas
A Game Lauded For Its Role-Playing, Allowing Players To Mold The Adventure In Their Image
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Given that Fallout: New Vegas has been lauded for its role-playing time and time again, it's easy to see why decisions feel so impactful in this game. Players will love making simple yet important decisions early on to decide the fate of certain settlements before eventually reaching the city of New Vegas.
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It's here that the game truly opens up and lets players embark on a quest to decide what happens at the end. New Vegas can be handed over to one of several parties or be taken over by the Courier, making for endless interesting ways to reach the game's ending.
2 Mass Effect 2
The Suicide Mission Is A Great Example Of How Decisions Matter In This Amazing Sci-fi RPG
Mass Effect 2
- Released
- January 26, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Third-Person Shooter
The beauty of Mass Effect 2 stems from the impactful nature of its decisions. Players must earn their squad's loyalty by completing missions, otherwise, they can die at the end in the Suicide Mission.
This final mission shows the game's choice and consequence, with players possibly losing their valuable crewmates if they don't assign the proper orders. It's a gauntlet for the ages where players must be wary of the decisions they make if they don't want any unnecessary casualties.
1 Baldur's Gate 3
Every Main And Side Quest Has Branching Paths Based On The User's Actions
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
One of the greatest modern role-playing games of all time, it's impressive just how much Larian accounts for player choices in Baldur's Gate 3. The protagonist's actions generate unique reactions from people, regardless of whether it happens in combat, during conversations, or somewhere else entirely.
Baldur's Gate 3 shows just how important it is for developers to be passionate about their products, allowing fans to enjoy a CRPG that is loaded with numerous branching paths. Players can comfortably spend hundreds of hours across various playthroughs and still discover a new outcome based on their in-game actions.
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