Role-playing games (RPGs) have been a popular genre of video games for decades. These games allow players to immerse themselves in a fictional world and take on the role of a character within that world. RPGs often feature complex storylines, character development, and strategic gameplay.
Over the years, the RPG genre has evolved to include a wide variety of sub-genres and gameplay styles. From classic turn-based RPGs to action-packed hack-and-slash games, there is an RPG for every type of gamer.
If you are curious about games that build character decisions around repeated attempts, my roguelike versus roguelite comparison explains what resets, what carries forward and how to choose a game that fits your preferred pace.
In this blog post, we will be taking a look at the best 9 RPGs of the last decade. These games represent the pinnacle of the genre and offer players an unforgettable gaming experience.
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is an action-packed RPG game that combines the full adventure of Blizzard’s epic action RPG, Diablo III, and the upcoming expansion, Reaper of Souls. This game is filled with adventure and epic loot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Story and Setting: Set 20 years after the events of Diablo II, players choose to play as one of six powerful character classes – Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, Witch Doctor, or Wizard – and are tasked with defeating the Lord of Terror, Diablo.
Character Creation: Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition offers a flexible character creation system that allows players to choose from one of six powerful character classes – Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, Witch Doctor, or Wizard.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: The game utilizes classic dark fantasy elements and fast-paced real-time combat. Many traditional elements of role-playing video games are present, such as choosing a character class, gaining experience and leveling up, and acquiring ever more powerful equipment.
Multiplayer: Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition supports up to four players in co-op mode.
Dragon Age: Origins
Opening Hook: Dragon Age: Origins is a captivating RPG game developed by BioWare that takes players on an epic journey through the kingdom of Ferelden. With its unique storyline and immersive gameplay, Dragon Age: Origins is sure to grab the reader’s attention.
Story and Setting: The game takes place in Ferelden, a kingdom in the fictional world of Thedas. Ferelden is threatened by a Blight, an attack by creatures from the underworld known as the Darkspawn. Led by a dragon known as the Archdemon, only members of the Grey Wardens order can defeat it and end the Blight.
Character Creation: Dragon Age: Origins offers a flexible character creation system that allows players to choose their race, gender, and class. Each choice affects the player’s origin story and their interactions with other characters throughout the game.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: Dragon Age: Origins features tactical combat where players can pause the game to issue commands to their party members. The game also features a deep character progression system where players can customize their character’s abilities and equipment.
Multiplayer: Dragon Age: Origins does not have a multiplayer mode.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Opening Hook: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an epic fantasy RPG game that transports players to a vast open world filled with breathtaking landscapes, dangerous creatures, and ancient lore.
Story and Setting: Set in the province of Skyrim, players take on the role of the Dragonborn, a legendary hero prophesied to defeat the evil dragon Alduin. Along the way, players will encounter warring factions, ancient ruins, and powerful magic as they explore the game’s rich and immersive world.
Character Creation: Skyrim’s character creation system allows players to fully customize their character’s appearance and abilities. With a wide range of races, skills, and perks to choose from, players can tailor their character to fit their playstyle.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: Skyrim’s core gameplay mechanics revolve around exploration, combat, and character progression. Players can choose to engage in epic battles against dragons and other foes or take a more peaceful approach by crafting, trading, and building relationships with NPCs.
Multiplayer: While Skyrim is primarily a single-player game, it does have a multiplayer aspect through the use of mods. Players can team up with friends to explore the game’s vast world together.
Undertale
Opening Hook: Undertale is a unique RPG game that allows players to make choices that radically affect the plot and general progression of the game. With its intuitive combat system, originality, story, dialogue, and characters, Undertale has won the hearts of many players.
Story and Setting: In Undertale, players control a human who has fallen into the Underground: a large, secluded region under the surface of the Earth, separated by a magical barrier. The player meets various monsters during their journey back to the surface. The combat system involves navigating through mini-bullet hell attacks by the opponent. Players can opt to pacify or subdue monsters in order to spare them instead of killing them. These choices affect the game, with the dialogue, characters, and story changing based on outcomes.
Character Creation: Undertale does not have a traditional character creation system. Instead, players control a pre-made character and make choices throughout the game that affect their character’s morality and development.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: Undertale employs a bullet hell/turn-based combat system in which players control a heart, avoiding attacks from enemies while fighting, acting, healing or sparing them. Players explore an underground world filled with towns and caves and are required to solve numerous puzzles on their journey.
Multiplayer: Undertale is primarily a single-player game and does not have a multiplayer aspect.
Mass Effect 3
Opening Hook: Mass Effect 3 is an action RPG game that completes the Mass Effect Trilogy. The game’s captivating storyline and unique aspects have grabbed the attention of many players.
Story and Setting: In Mass Effect 3, Earth is burning. Striking from beyond known space, a race of terrifying machines have begun their destruction of the human race. As Commander Shepard, an Alliance Marine, the only hope for saving mankind is to rally the civilizations of the galaxy and launch one final mission to take back Earth.
Character Creation: Mass Effect 3’s character creation system allows players to fully customize their character’s appearance and abilities. With a wide range of races, skills, and perks to choose from, players can tailor their character to fit their playstyle.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: Mass Effect 3’s core gameplay mechanics revolve around exploration, combat, and character progression. Players can choose to engage in epic battles against various foes or take a more peaceful approach by crafting, trading, and building relationships with NPCs.
Multiplayer: Mass Effect 3 has a multiplayer mode where up to 4 players can team up to complete various missions.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Opening Hook: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an action RPG game that has won the hearts of many players with its captivating storyline and unique aspects.
Story and Setting: In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, players take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a master swordsman and monster hunter. With the Empire attacking the Kingdoms of the North and the Wild Hunt, a cavalcade of ghastly riders, breathing down your neck, the only way to survive is to fight back. Players must leave none of their enemies standing as they explore a gigantic open world.
Character Creation: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt does not have a traditional character creation system. Instead, players control a pre-made character and make choices throughout the game that affect their character’s development.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s core gameplay mechanics revolve around exploration, combat, and character progression. Players can choose to engage in epic battles against various foes or take a more peaceful approach by crafting, trading, and building relationships with NPCs.
Multiplayer: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is primarily a single-player game and does not have a multiplayer aspect.
Divinity: Original Sin II
Opening Hook: Divinity: Original Sin II is an action RPG game that has won the hearts of many players with its captivating storyline and unique aspects.
Story and Setting: In Divinity: Original Sin II, players take on the role of a character who must master deep, tactical combat. Players can join up to 3 other players, but only one of them will have the chance to become a God.
Character Creation: Divinity: Original Sin II’s character creation system allows players to fully customize their character’s appearance and abilities. With a wide range of races, skills, and perks to choose from, players can tailor their character to fit their playstyle.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: Divinity: Original Sin II’s core gameplay mechanics revolve around exploration, combat, and character progression. Players can choose to engage in epic battles against various foes or take a more peaceful approach by crafting, trading, and building relationships with NPCs.
Multiplayer: Divinity: Original Sin II has a multiplayer mode where up to 4 players can team up to complete various missions.
Fallout New Vegas
Opening Hook: Fallout New Vegas is an action RPG game that has won the hearts of many players with its captivating storyline and unique aspects.
Story and Setting: In Fallout New Vegas, players take on the role of a character who must explore the post-apocalyptic world of the Mojave Wasteland. The game is set in a world that has been devastated by nuclear war and players must navigate the dangers of this new world while making choices that affect the outcome of the game.
Character Creation: Fallout New Vegas’s character creation system allows players to fully customize their character’s appearance and abilities. With a wide range of skills and perks to choose from, players can tailor their character to fit their playstyle.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: Fallout New Vegas’s core gameplay mechanics revolve around exploration, combat, and character progression. Players can choose to engage in epic battles against various foes or take a more peaceful approach by crafting, trading, and building relationships with NPCs.
Multiplayer: Fallout New Vegas is primarily a single-player game and does not have a multiplayer aspect.
Dark Souls III
Opening Hook: Dark Souls III is an action RPG game that has won the hearts of many players with its captivating storyline and unique aspects.
Story and Setting: In Dark Souls III, players take on the role of a character who must explore a world filled with danger and unrelenting challenge. The game is set in a world that has been devastated by war and players must navigate the dangers of this new world while making choices that affect the outcome of the game.
Character Creation: Dark Souls III’s character creation system allows players to fully customize their character’s appearance and abilities. With a wide range of skills and perks to choose from, players can tailor their character to fit their playstyle.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features: Dark Souls III’s core gameplay mechanics revolve around exploration, combat, and character progression. Players can choose to engage in epic battles against various foes or take a more peaceful approach by crafting, trading, and building relationships with NPCs.
Multiplayer: Dark Souls III has a multiplayer mode where up to 6 players can team up to complete various missions.