Summary
- Some ARPGs offer unique gameplay experiences but don't receive mainstream recognition due to bugs or being unconventional.
- Games like Bound by Flame provide distinctive combat mechanics and storytelling, deserving more attention.
- Titles like NieR Replicant and Vampyr offer emotionally engaging narratives with morally complex decision-making, standing out in the genre.
There’s no shortage of great action RPGs these days, but there is a shortage of recognition for the ones that take heavier risks — that try something different. These aren’t the big-budget juggernauts that dominate every gaming awards show.
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These are the ones that got buried under bugs at launch, slipped past mainstream hype cycles, or were simply too weird for the masses. But under that rough exterior? Some of the most creative, rewarding, and mechanically sound experiences in the genre—each deserving a second look, or maybe even a first.
6 Bound by Flame
A Flawed Flame That Refused to Die
Bound by Flame
- Released
- May 6, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Spiders
- Publisher(s)
- Focus Home Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Most players skipped over Bound by Flame when it launched in 2014, and to be fair, it didn’t do itself many favors. It looked rough, played rougher, and had some hilariously stiff dialogue. But underneath the jank was a combat system with genuine personality. Players could switch between melee weapons and pyromancy on the fly, shaping builds with actual consequences based on how far they let the demonic power within them grow.
Spiders, the same studio that would go on to develop GreedFall, leaned into moral ambiguity and reactive storytelling long before that became their brand. Choices affected everything from your party’s loyalty to your character’s literal face. And, while the story of a mercenary-turned-hellspawn wasn’t breaking new ground, it hit that rare sweet spot between B-movie charm and legitimate emotional beats. It never reached cult classic status, but it deserved better than being forgotten altogether.
5 Elex 2
The Best Game Nobody Played... Twice
Elex 2
- Released
- March 1, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Piranha Bytes
- Publisher(s)
- THQ Nordic
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
Open-world design is one thing, but Elex 2 took it to an entirely different, unapologetically chaotic level. The sequel to Piranha Bytes’ genre-fusing sci-fi fantasy ARPG dropped players into a post-apocalyptic world where medieval swordsmen and mechs shared the same skyline. And the game knew it was weird. It never bothered to hold your hand or explain its systems unless absolutely necessary, which was either a blessing or a curse, depending on who was playing.
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While the combat was clunky, the freedom was unmatched. Players could jetpack their way into enemy territory within the first hour, talk their way through impossible situations, or get vaporized for saying the wrong thing. Reputation, faction choices, and long-term NPC consequences made it feel like decisions actually mattered. If Elex 2 had launched with a bigger budget and tighter controls, it probably would’ve been considered a genre heavyweight. Instead, it’s that one game in your library that nobody believes you finished—and that’s part of the charm.
4 Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
A Second Chance That Got Buried Again
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
- Released
- September 8, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
There was a moment when Kingdoms of Amalur was supposed to rival Skyrim. It didn’t. But what it did offer was a ridiculously deep action RPG framework built on fast-paced, combo-heavy combat and a lore bible written by R.A. Salvatore. The 2020 Re-Reckoning remaster tried to fix the original’s balance and itemization issues, but the core was already strong. It just never got the spotlight it deserved.
What made Amalur special wasn’t the story, though it was serviceable. It was the class system, which let players respec at any time and blend rogue, mage, and warrior archetypes however they wanted. That freedom made experimentation feel fun rather than punishing. Throw in dozens of side zones, layered crafting, and skill trees that actually made an impact, and it’s baffling how this one keeps getting left out of ARPG conversations.
3 NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139
A Number so Long, it Might Be a Glitch in the Matrix
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
- Released
- April 23, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Cavia, Toylogic
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Some games hide their best secrets behind multiple playthroughs, and NieR Replicant does it on purpose. The remastered version of Yoko Taro’s cult classic polished the janky combat and gave its emotionally brutal story a second lease on life. But calling this just an action RPG feels limiting. It’s a love letter to genre-bending storytelling that just happens to let you dodge-roll and swing a giant sword.
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At first glance, it feels like a fairly standard fantasy tale—young warrior, mysterious illness, and fetch quests galore. But by the third playthrough, everything changes. Dialogue shifts, enemies reveal their tragic backstories, and the player’s role as the “hero” becomes disturbingly ambiguous. It’s the kind of experience that leaves players questioning not just their actions, but the medium of games itself. Anyone who skipped it because of the name—or because they assumed it was just a prequel to Automata—missed one of the most emotionally devastating journeys in ARPG history.
2 Vampyr
Sometimes You Heal People, Sometimes You Eat Them
Vampyr
- Released
- June 5, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Dontnod Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Focus Home Interactive
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Dr. Jonathan Reid didn’t ask to become a vampire, and neither did the players who signed up expecting a typical RPG. Vampyr turns combat into a moral dilemma. Every citizen in its foggy, plague-ridden London has a name, backstory, and relationships. Feeding on them grants massive XP boosts, but it also permanently erases them from the world, alters questlines, and shifts the district’s overall health.
The combat leans into blood magic and soulslike stamina management, but it’s the narrative systems that carry the weight. Leveling up quickly means embracing the monster within. Staying weak means preserving humanity—and watching storylines unfold. That push and pull between power and conscience makes Vampyr feel genuinely risky, and there aren’t many ARPGs that ask players to weigh morality against mechanics in such a direct, punishing way.
1 Grim Dawn
The Real Successor to Diablo 2 Is Hiding in Plain Sight
Grim Dawn
- Released
- February 25, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
When most people talk about the “next Diablo 2,” they usually throw around names like Path of Exile or Last Epoch. But Grim Dawn deserves just as much credit. Built on the ashes of the canceled Titan Quest sequel, this indie powerhouse delivered one of the most flexible class systems in any ARPG. Dual-classing let players craft wildly specific builds—from poison-slinging occultist-shamans to pet-based demolitionists—without ever feeling boxed in.
What really makes Grim Dawn shine is its attention to long-term impact. Faction choices affect access to vendors, questlines split based on tiny dialogue decisions, and gear drops remain meaningful deep into the endgame. The world of Cairn is grimy, corrupted, and steeped in apocalypse, but its systems are alive with potential. The fact that it quietly outpaces most modern ARPGs in depth, polish, and replayability is proof that not every classic needs a AAA budget to stand tall.
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