The reasons for its popularity lie on the surface: Action RPG games combine elements of the genres of action and RPG, allow developers to combine different mechanics, and players - to enjoy dynamic gameplay without having to delve into the intricacies of character development inherent in. While classic RPGs require careful selection of stats and skills, and rely on the favor of the virtual dice roll system, action RPGs give gamers the opportunity to contribute to the battle through reaction speed, reducing the rigid dependence on pumping.
As practice has shown, the audience likes the second approach more, so the conditional Fallout New vegas demonstrates much higher sales than the conditional one, with the same good level elaboration of the world and the plot. Moreover, the focus on action allows developers to implement a wide variety of dynamic scenes, to create real blockbusters that players will remember for a long time.
Best Action RPGs
One of the first RPG games to contain action elements was the 1982 Dungeons of Daggorath, in which the player had to enter commands as quickly as possible for a character who explored and battled enemies. For several decades, a huge number of projects appeared in the genre, including those that received status. We will not be able to cover all of them, but of course we will tell about the best ones, and under the main positions of the selection we will present a list of games that are also worthy of attention.
22. Vendetta - Curse of Raven`s Cry
Polish studio Reality Pump works on the principle of the famous masters from Obsidian, only on a smaller scale. Taking a successful idea as a basis, the Poles supplemented and improved it, often releasing games ahead of their time. If their EARTH 2150 was a loose interpretation of WARZONE 2100, and the series Two worlds shyly huddled in one corner with Elder Scrolls, then Vendetta - Curse of Raven`s Cry claimed to be an almost empty niche of "Corsairs".
This project went through a difficult path: several re-releases and name changes, but still managed to survive and overcome all adversity. The game is of value primarily for lovers of the sea and pirate romance. Only unlike many works on this topic, the plot and characters here are quite serious and realistic.
In addition to following the exciting history, you can take a walk here at your own pleasure. And by the way, there is something for a walk. Cities, ports and made with high quality and detailed, fully conveying the spirit of the era. simultaneously, both at sea and in foot battles, is quite dynamic, but also deeper than in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag... Of course, the problems left over from a difficult fate remained in the form of bugs and balance problems. But given a slight stagnation in the genre, Vendetta - Curse of Raven`s Cry - worthy of attention a product for both fans of "Corsairs" and for lovers of pirate romance.
21. Mount & Blade
It happens that you find yourself in some fantasy world and think: "how cool it would be if it were possible to abandon the linear plot and freely travel around this world." So the developers of Mount & Blade decided not to limit your freedom, while giving you the opportunity to choose any path of development and occupation.
Mount & Blade is an alternative world without any magic and other supernatural stuff. All quests are aimed at making money, gaining valuable experience or improving relationships with some characters. Everything is like in real life.
Despite a lot of nagging, critics say the game's combat system reflects the realities of medieval battles better than any other project before it, and was generally called Mount & Blade best role-playing game with a medieval setting.
20. Assassin`s Creed Origins
It's unusual to see a game from the Assassin's Creed franchise in the RPG Action list. But it takes its place in the collection deservedly: after reproaches for turning the series into a conveyor belt, Ubisoft has significantly changed the gameplay of the new part.
Assassin`s Creed origins has every right to be called an action game with role-playing elements: here the main character grows in levels and learns new skills, weapons and shields have indicators of damage and protection, and story quests diluted with a good hundred additional tasks (many of which, by the way, are quite well developed). Of course, this is not a full-fledged RPG yet - you can't even choose options in dialogues - but the first steps in the right direction have already been taken.
19. Dungeon Siege
18. Divinity II: Ego Draconis
Larian has experimented with. Its various releases have been Diablo-style, blend and spirit Total war, turn-based RPGs and, of course, Action RPGs, to which our collection is dedicated. In the last example it comes about Divinity II: Ego Draconis - a rather unusual game in which you can read minds, assemble from parts and turn into a dragon.
The developers, in their usual manner, gave the players complete freedom of action. Here you can develop your character as you see fit (a warrior with a couple of fireballs in stock is a common thing), you can complete quests different ways (read the thoughts of the NPC and find out important information - priceless), finally, you can turn into a dragon and fly away from all the problems.
17. Darksiders 2
Remember the first part of Darksiders? If not, we will remind you. The last battle between the forces of Hell and Paradise turned the world upside down ahead of schedule. Humanity has not been able to survive it. One of the horsemen of the Apocalypse, War, was blamed for everything. Now Death is trying to prove his brother's innocence, save him from a terrible fate and revive humanity. In general, the plot of the second part develops in parallel with the events of the first.
But if you remember Darksiders as pure, then the continuation of the story will surprise you with its innovations. Now there are role-playing elements here, the opportunity to explore huge world and stuff your backpack with all sorts of useful things taken from the corpses of enemies. In addition to the vigorous combat, character leveling and other features for which we love the genre are waiting for you.
16. Series of Corsairs
Paradoxically, the majority of domestic games were remembered by gamers precisely for the feeling of freedom. Whether " Space Rangers", The famous" Stalker ", not quite successful Parkan and Xenus, they all tried to surprise with open worlds and their content. So I remember exactly the feeling of endless possibilities.
It is very difficult to single out a specific Action RPG among the "Corsairs", because the spread between projects by release dates is too great. But they are all united by one type of gameplay. You are given the starting boat, thrown onto the map of the Caribbean archipelago, and then released on all four sides.
Of course, each of these games has a main storyline, but the list of side activities is truly impressive. Players are not only waiting for the most beautiful waves and sunsets, but also trade, the capture of cities, the sale of loot and the search for treasures in the caves. All this makes the gameplay of "Corsairs" deep, multifaceted and capable of taking more than one hundred hours.
15. Two Worlds II
What to do if Skyrim and Oblivion are completed 10 times, and the thirst for Action RPG is still not satisfied? Well, you can download lesser known counterparts like Two Worlds II. Even at its advanced age, the creation of Poles from Reality Pump is still capable of delighting fans of the genre, which means it deserves its place in our selection.
Reminds the game of the Elder Scrolls series not only by the presence of a free world and a wagon side quests... The skill system consists of categories that are not tied to any semblance of classes. In this regard, gamers are free to run with a sword, throwing fireballs, or secretly destroy opponents from the shadows.
The world in Two Worlds II is beautiful, diverse and vast. There is a desert, a forest island, and some kind of s, and also a rather atypical location for fantasy. The area that has survived a magical cataclysm appears to her, representing in essence and in strong contrast with other territories. In general, Two Worlds II came out quite a solid game, and the authors only whet the interest in it by recently releasing a patch that updated the engine and added new content.
14. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
This action RPG was released on the PC and consoles of the previous generation and, unfortunately, failed in sales, depriving gamers of hope for a possible sequel. The thing is that the authors radically changed the concept during the development process: initially Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was conceived as, but later it was decided to make it single-user. This, of course, could not but affect the gameplay and quests: a huge open world, divided into various locations, is packed to capacity with the same type of "kill-fetch-pass" tasks.
However, the game also has advantages, and it is for them that numerous fans love it. Firstly, a very interesting universe created by the famous writer Robert Salvatore is realized here. Secondly, clearing locations from is accompanied by very spectacular battles - in some places Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning resembles not even an action game, but a slasher, with punches, blocks and rolls. This implies "thirdly": there is not just a lot of equipment here, but a lot, which will surely please those who love gathering.
13. Alpha Protocol
One of best games in the genre, unfortunately, spoiled by poor technical performance. Studio (Fallout: New Vegas, Neverwinter nights 2, Star Wars: KotOR 2) once again proved that she can make very good story games, but also once again fell short of the quality of gameplay and pictures.
But a lot, if not all, can be forgiven for detailing the Alpha Protocol's election system and consequences. Neither Mass Effect nor Dragon age could not achieve such an impressive level of influence of the player's actions on the plot. Here a spoken (or unsaid) word can backfire far in the future, a meeting with a charming killer can lead to a romantic scene or a deadly fight, and an attempt to force information out of the informant can lead to a completely unexpected result. All this is wrapped up in an entertaining story with mercenaries and terrorists, and is seriously fascinating.
12. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
The most fresh game from our list - the release took place in February 2018 - but already deserving to be on it. Czechs from Warhorse Studios (former developers of Mafia, UFO, Arma) have created a bold and unusual game, which breaks the foundations of the genre in its current manifestation.
11. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
If you are a fan of action RPG and vampire theme is close to you, passing by Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is an annoying omission.
Imagine the same world as ours, but more gloomy, inhabited by supernatural beings who do not put us into anything. The locals are not empty-headed monsters like in Buffy, not arrogant aristocrats like Dracula, and not unfortunate martyrs like Lestat de Lioncourt. They cannot be equated one size fits all, each has its own character and its own characteristics, due to personal history and belonging to a particular clan. You decide which one to join.
Immediately after turning into a vampire, you will be pushed around by a local prince, other prominent figures of the Camarilla will try to use you in their intrigues. The action will take place in an ominous, and sometimes outright frightening atmosphere. On your way, you will meet many interesting characters. That there is only Teresa-Jannet with a split personality, a tzimizu, making films with scenes of real murders and decorating the room with parts of corpses, or a former model turned into a bald, sharp-eared monster and now forced to hide from human eyes.
More than it seems depends on your choice, even though the plot is linear. To say that he is interesting is to say nothing. You can hardly guess how it will all end.
10. Deus Ex
Yes, in our world there are already "sequel prequels" in the form Human revolution and Mankind Divided, but the original one is worthy of our list of the best Action RPGs. Why? Well, if only because it is one of the best in the opinion of most plots in games. The history is decorated with a viscous atmosphere, diluted with the well-known style of the late 90s.
The gameplay is also capable of surprising even after 18 years and even against the background of modern games. Well, for example, in many projects in which the hero is able to function, having lost limbs? In addition to such realistic little things, Deus Ex today pleases with the construction of missions, in most of which no one will lead you by the pen, helpfully marking everything important with markers.
Completing the list of advantages of the game is the famous pumping system, which is so diverse that no "Skyrim" dreamed of it. After all, even some locations you will not be able to open without having the necessary skill, which means that you risk missing an important part of the plot. And although outwardly Deus Ex is far from the gloss of its descendants, it is he, along with Morrowind, is considered by many to be one of the pillars of the Action RPG genre, and deservedly so.
9. Gothic series
The main competitor of The Elder Scrolls series, when the community in the early 2000s parted on two sides of the barricades. More hardcore, as unfriendly to the player as possible and with a huge number of technical problems, this series has won the hearts of millions of gamers. They especially loved her at home - in Germany, as well as in, when, at the same time, in the West, more The Elder Scrolls were preferred.
In terms of action, the last part looks better - Arcania: Gothic 4, created by the notorious person in the field of role-playing games, Jochen Hamm. But most of all, Gothic is loved precisely for its RPG component and excellent playing out of the simulation of life. Along with a charismatic and nameless main character with a callous character and caustic humor, the first two parts were received with a bang by the community.
It is impossible not to mention "Gothic 3" - a real phenomenon in terms of the loyalty of the fans who carefully patched the holes and completed game mechanics for the developers. Unlike the first two parts, in the 3rd and 4th editions of the series, the combat system is more like a casual slasher, when in the first two the emphasis is on the designation of strikes and full-fledged fencing.
8. Fable series
Legendary game designer Peter Molyneux loves to tell fairy tales, praising his games - the name of the Fable series of action role-playing games has become somewhat symbolic: most of the developer's fables about the "Fable" were unrealized.
But even what happened made the franchise famous and beloved by gamers. Moreover, Fable 2, which became exclusive to the Xbox 360 and did not come out on PC, was considered sufficient motivator for buying this console.
Why is Fable so valuable? First of all, the influence of almost all the player's actions on the character and the surrounding world. Feed the hero with meat and pies - get a fat man. If you miss blows often, the protagonist will be covered with scars. Wave your sword a lot - the warrior will build muscle. Doing bad deeds - yours will get cute horns and glowing red eyes. In addition, each part of the series boasts a fascinating storyline, home ownership system, the ability to look after NPCs, have a family and children, and many, many other gameplay features.
7. Dark Souls series
Darkness, death and hardcore - these three words describe quite accurately Dark souls... The world has plunged into chaos, some kind of tin is going on everywhere, zombies and other personalities of unpleasant appearance fly, roam.
The world is hostile to the point of impossibility, friendly-minded NPCs here are like an oasis in the desert. At the same time, the evil monsters in Dark Souls, but also the developers. Not only did they not give us a map, a compass, or at least a quest log at the very beginning, they also forbade us to save where they want, while giving us an endless number of opportunities to commit suicide. But in this crazy world, you can create an interesting and even viable character, combining the skills of different classes.
If you take the death of your hero hard and are ready to bang your head against the keyboard every time, perhaps Dark Souls will teach you to think about death philosophically.
6. Diablo Series
5. Fallout 3D generation series
After the closure of Black Isle and the bankruptcy of Interplay, the Fallout franchise was bought by the company. From that moment on, the series moved into the 3D generation and was reborn in an Action / RPG form. The 3rd part, like New Vegas, had a very mediocre combat system, so more often players fought through V.A.T.S. - analogue of a turn-based combat system in real time. Although the shooting itself was so-so, the genre showed itself from the right side, where we could already deal with the Deathclaw even at the initial levels, not relying heavily on the characteristics of our character, when in the first two parts it was almost impossible.
Of course, Fallout really turned into a solid action game only in 4 parts, where the combat system was developed together with, and the role-playing component faded into the background. Here it was already possible to fight without the V.A.T.S. system, although it did not remain unchanged, for example, time no longer stopped, but only slowed down a lot.
Not to say that such a synthesis of genres is bad, but in the pursuit of dynamics and casualness, the role-playing system of S.P.E.C.I.A.L. suffered greatly, which did not quite like the gaming community.
4. Dragon Age: Inquisition
3. The Elder Scrolls series
2. The Witcher series
The trilogy dedicated to the adventures of the witcher Geralt is probably known to everyone who considers himself a gamer. The Poles from CD Projekt RED managed to create a large-scale universe based on sheer enthusiasm, based on the fantasy cycle of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski.
Interesting facts: The founders of CD Projekt made their initial capital on the sale of pirated products, they acquired a license for the Witcher games from Sapkowski for a penny ($ 4000), and the engine for the first part of the game was kindly lent to them by BioWare.
The Witcher game became a kind (and very successful) "pen test" for the developers, the sequel cemented its success, and the third part, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, can rightfully be considered one of the best games not only in the genre, but in the entire industry ... , putting an end to the entire cycle (including the book one), interesting quests, and an incredibly charismatic protagonist - all this makes Wild Hunt an almost perfect adventure (yes, there are flaws everywhere, and here too, but they are too insignificant) for every gamer.
1. Mass Effect Series
One of the most iconic Action / RPG franchises, it even has its own world N7 day. In 2007, the first part was released, with an amazing combat system, graphics, a stunning study of the world and fascinating story... Although BioWare's masters have called the beginning of the trilogy "A Defective Masterpiece" most of fans consider it and the second part of the best games in the entire life of the Mass Effect brand. The further the series went, the better the action component was worked out, which, we must admit, worked perfectly with the role-playing there.
The latest game, the Andromeda spin-off, completely changes the concept of combat and adds vertical gameplay, which was not in the trilogy. A huge number of combinations, a system of profiles and the largest selection of weapons make it the best combat system in the series.
All this great gameplay in Mass Effect has always been accompanied by interesting companions, an amazing story about saving the world, and tons of moral dilemmas. Of course, the fourth game in the franchise was not quite what the fans expected, but if you choose a game solely for the shooter component, then Andromeda may well drag on for a couple of hundred hours.
Honorable Mentions: Dragon`s Dogma: Dark Arisen, Sacred Series, Titan Quest, Hellgate: London, Torchlight, NieR: Automata, Dawn of Magic, Grim Dawn, Path of Exile, Nioh, Jade Empire, Lords Of The Fallen
Conclusion
In addition to the games listed in the list, the Action RPG genre has more than a dozen more good projects... We mentioned some of them in the category “Worthy of attention”, but you can tell in the comments about your favorite representatives of the genre, argue our choice with arguments, or express gratitude for the work done - we are glad to any of your activity!
Computer role-playing games have an army of fans all over the world. Vivid characters, detailed interesting plot and addictive gameplay - this attracts players who are ready to immerse themselves in virtual world... Top 10 on PC - we have compiled a list of the best games in the genre over the past few years.
10.
The game, released on January 16, 2016, is ranked 10th in Top 10 RPGs... Its creators drew inspiration from the works of Howard Lovecraft. The main theme of the game is fear and the preservation of the psychological health of the heroes. This is a 2D RPG in which the player controls a team of four characters. The task is to examine the dungeons and crypts located under the ancient mansion. For each campaign, the player must select several heroes from the proposed options. They travel through randomly generated dungeons, collect treasures and fight enemies. The player's task is to preserve their physical and psychological health. The RPG implements a psychosis system that affects the heroes when enemies attack, get injured or fall into a trap. Each time the stress level rises and this affects the fighters: they may disobey the player's order or start acting strange.
9.
Ranked # 9 in the Top 10 Best RPGs on PC in the last few years. This is not an RPG pure form, but an interesting mixture of RPG, shooter and stealth action. Here the player is given the freedom to choose the style of passing. The player controls Adam Jensen, the head of security for a company that develops and builds biomechanical implants. On the eve of the presentation of new products, extremists are raiding the company's headquarters. The laboratories were destroyed, and the leading scientists of the firm were killed. Jensen survived, but at the cost of replacing most of his body with implants. Back on duty, he begins an investigation into the attack.
8.
Top 10 best RPG games continues the reboot of the famous series -. According to the plot, the game continues after the events of the sixth "Heroes", so there are many old characters and previous conflicts in it. The player controls four heroes from different races. Each of them has three classes with their own skills and abilities.
The controversial assessment of the game by critics is primarily caused by an attempt by the developers to please the old fans of the game - it introduced a first-person combat system in cells, as it was in early games series. Not everyone liked this option of fighting.
7.
Ranked 7th in the Top 10 RPGs for PC - an open world game from a Japanese developer. The plot is typical for Japan - the main character seeks salvation from the curse. To do this, he must capture the souls of demonic entities living in the Dranglik kingdom. The RPG is interesting for its complexity - the player will have to be defeated by a strong enemy more than once until his hero gets enough experience and skills.
The gameplay consists in a phased exploration of the kingdom and battles with a variety of opponents. For victory, the hero receives the soul of the enemy. It also plays the role of a universal currency - for souls you can buy the necessary items and increase the level of the character.
6.
In XXII century, humanity entered the number of other intelligent races of the Galaxy. The world reigning in her was disturbed only by vague memories of the Reapers - machines that destroy life once every 50 thousand years. As it turned out, the time of their arrival is about to come. The third part takes the player to Earth, which the Reapers are already attacking.
A major scandal is associated with the game, caused by the discontent of many fans of the franchise with the endings of the third part. There are eight endings in total.
5.
Continuation of the legendary series, takes 5th place in the Top 10 best RPGs on PC. The game has sold over 20 million copies.
All three games and their expansions take place in the fictional world of Sanctuary. The style of the game is dark fantasy. The forces of Darkness and Heaven are fighting for Sanctuary. In the third part, the younger forces of Hell and the nephalem enter the struggle - people born from the union of demons and angels with extraordinary strength. The latter are controlled by the player.
The gameplay does not differ from previous games in the series - you still need to destroy enemies and collect artifacts. The player can choose to play solo or play with a team of four nephalem.
4.
Is one of the best large-scale RPGs on PC to come out in the last few years. The war between the magicians and the templars continues, the heavens opened up and released hordes of demons to the earth. The player's task is to revive the Inquisition again and prevent the victory of evil. Along the way, you will have to solve a lot of other tasks - to participate in political intrigues, intervene in wars and explore the vast world of Thedas.
Dragon Age: Inquisition - # 4 in the Top 10 Most Fun and Spectacular RPGs.
3.
Ranked third in our Top 10 RPGs is an extraordinary project from From Software.
The ancient city of Yharnam, to which the suffering has long gone for help, was struck by an epidemic. Now it is full of terrifying monsters. The player controls a pilgrim who arrived in Yharnam for healing, who, with the help of a local ritual, was turned into a hunter for evil spirits. He explores the streets, looking for monsters and infected people. The gameplay of Bloodborne has increased difficulty - as in the case of Dark Souls 2, the player will repeatedly lose a character until he gains enough experience to fight bosses.
2.
This is an incredibly beautiful game with detailed graphics. It has everything you need for a first-class RPG - a huge open world waiting to be explored, a wide variety of quests, a large number of characters, spectacular battles, the amazing beauty of the surrounding game world, the ability to fully customize your character and much more. There is no point in describing the game - you have to play it.
1.
CRPG (Computer / Console Role-Playing Game) is the daughter of a board role-playing game. If you look at the first CRPGs, it's hard not to feel the influence of Dungeons & Dragons: the same numerical parameters such as the experience scale, level, hit points, collecting valuable loot, pumping skills and a small group of heroes whose goal is to go somewhere far in pursuit of a great goal. On their way, they fight enemies, take trophies, earn a living, improve their skills, in general, have fun in every possible way. It would be nice to go on such a hike, right?
There is hardly a person who at least once would not like to escape from reality with its dullness and a bunch of problems, to be someone else in another world. Fighting evil and saving the world sounds much more noble than staring at the office every day, and there you are not far from the princesses.
Classic RPGs are so good that they immerse us, ordinary people, in an alternative reality thanks to a thoughtful world, the characters of the characters, the ability to choose (or create a plausible illusion of choice) where the player will be led by the plot. Of course, without mixing with other genres, borrowing some elements from them, it was not without, but all the more interesting.
12. Torment: Tides of Numenera
Children born in the year of the release of the legendary Planescape: Torment have already celebrated their majority before the release of its ideological successor. Although these two games are separated by such a solid period of time, Torment: Tides of Numenera carefully preserves the traditions of its predecessor.
As in the original, fundamental questions about the structure of the world are raised here, the same principle of storytelling remains and much of what we loved Planescape: Torment for. But the setting has changed: if before all things were ruled by magic in its most classical sense, now it appears thanks to artifacts and technologies. In addition, the plot develops around life, not death, as in the original.
11.Neverwinter Nights series
10. Series Gothic
Gothic - CRPG in a fantasy setting with a classic role-playing system, and all that it implies. The first part of the series was released in 2001 and took the player into a world torn apart by conflict between people and. In the first two parts you have to travel and complete quests on Khorinis, while the third part sends the player to explore the mainland.
Gothic - traditional RPG in all senses. Character leveling here, of course, is one of the primary tasks. The main characteristics, skills and abilities in Gothic are practically the same as most of the representatives of the genre. Classics after all. However, in the third part, the role-playing system has undergone some changes, including the introduction of the reputation parameter. By completing tasks for different guilds, residents of certain locations, tribes, you can get additional buns.
9. Baldur's Gate series
Baldur's Gate is not just the first famous BioWare project, it is the most classic of the genre. The first game in the series was released back in 1998 and immediately acquired a whole army of fans.
There are many reasons for this. The open world of colossal size at that time could be explored as much as the heart desires. The plot was built on the basis of the AD&D universe of the second edition. The player will have to go in search of adventure, leading a whole group of characters. Moreover, each of them has their own character, their own desires and attitudes towards the actions of their leader - if you do something that the character does not like, he may even send you to hell and go home.
In 2012, to the delight of gamers languishing with longing for their favorite series, a re-release was released - Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition. You can download it in.
8. Might and Magic series
Despite the fact that the spin-off, Heroes of Might and Magic, has become much more popular than its predecessors, it is a huge achievement gaming industry... The first game is older than many of our readers, because it was released in 1986. An advantageous difference from other games in the fantasy setting was the introduction of elements of science fiction.
In the original series, the developers focused on exploration along with a whole group of heroes. Battles here are not particularly dynamic, but they are not devoid of a tactical component, which will delight players who are not looking for easy ways. Old games are good because they make you turn on your head, and sometimes beat it against the monitor.
In 2014, the tenth part came out, which revived interest in the series, although, it seemed, no one expected this.
7. Pillars of Eternity
6. Icewind Dale Series
The gameplay of Icewind Dale practically does not differ from Baldur's Gate, nevertheless the games of the series were warmly received by critics and gamers, and musical arrangement was awarded many laudatory odes.
The game takes place in the same Forgotten Realms, taking the player to the frozen northern regions of the world, but the emphasis in it is on combat and high difficulty, which compensates for the linearity of the plot. Initially, the developers planned to build it based on the Trilogy "Icewind Valley" by Robert Salvatore - a heroic fantasy, one of the first works in the Forgotten Realms universe. But in the end, they decided that it would be better to postpone the action several decades ago, so some book characters did not appear in the game.
5. Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Even though Arcanum has bankrupted its developers, it has become truly. The plot of the game is thought out to the smallest detail, and the characters are spelled out in such detail, as if they left the pages of books.
The style of the game has caused genuine delight among many, because harmoniously combining magic with technology is not an easy task. Nevertheless, the developers managed to fulfill it by mixing these ingredients in equal proportions. Just the confrontation between science and magic formed the basis of everything that happens in the game.
In addition, the character development system, music, tactical turn-based battles and a giant world that can hardly be fully explored in a single playthrough were awarded all praise.
4. The Witcher
Surely everyone who read Sapkowski's novels imagined what it would be like to live in such a harsh world, inhabited by thousands of monsters and people who sometimes turn out to be worse than any monsters. And this world seems so real largely due to its cruelty.
Despite the fact that the latest book seemingly cut off all paths to the continuation of the story by launching the game, it becomes clear that it's not over yet. The witcher was badly crippled, but survived. Only now he does not remember practically anything from his past life. Nevertheless, he will continue to have to fight evil in all its manifestations. The plot of the games is thought out as well as in the books.
With every part of the series game process was undergoing changes. For example, in the second part, it became possible to overcome obstacles such as low walls and fences, changed somewhat, making a bias to the side, and in the third we finally learned how to play gwent, adored by dwarves and completely incomprehensible to Geralt.
3. The Elder Scrolls series
2. Dragon Age series
The world consists of individual countries ruled by people. Dwarven states are underground. But the elves were not as lucky as in the Witcher - they were exterminated for a long time, and now the unfortunate sharp-eared creatures are forced to live in specially designated areas or even wander around.
1. Fallout and Fallout 2
For many, Fallout is love for life. The hero development system, unusual memorable characters scattered around the map, an open world with a bunch of possibilities and a superbly seasoned atmosphere are what immortalized Fallout.
The developers have created a unique world: events seem to unfold in the distant future after a nuclear war, but everything is done in a retro-futuristic style that evokes associations with the 40-50 years of the last century. There are tons of really cool elements and features in the first installments of the series, but perhaps the best part is the ability to become anyone and do anything. If you want to try on the role of a villain, you can become, for example, a cruel mercenary, and if you are closer to the role of a good guy, exterminate mutants, free slaves and keep order.
Both games were released in the late 90s, so today's gamers who are put off by the graphics hardly have anything to blame. The following parts, of course, look nicer, but in many ways deviate from the canons set at the beginning of the series. So it remains to be hoped for a reissue of the legend.
RPG is not only The Witcher, Fallout and Skyrim. The popularity of the genre, which grew out of Nerd sessions in Dungeons & Dragons with blocks and notebooks, is constantly growing. However, the aforementioned pillars of RPG cast a shadow over dozens of worthy role-playing games that can only dream of world fame. In this article, Gmbox will tell you about ten not-so-famous RPGs, which, nevertheless, are definitely worth playing.
1. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
In fact, this is a gothic Deus Ex: almost all quests can be completed non-violently, or you can leave a trail of blood. In many ways, Bloodlines even surpasses Deus Ex, because here you create your own unique vampire instead of the standard Adam Jensen. Moreover, the choice of the clan affects the entire further game: the art of seduction is available to some, while others (ancient nosferatu) cannot get out of the sewers, otherwise there will be enough kondrashka passers-by.
2. Alpha Protocol
Almost all of Obsidian's games were hits. The key word is “almost”. There is one ugly duckling in this family of honors - Alpha Protocol. Overall, the game looks like a degraded version Metal gear, but it has its own pluses, proprietary, in the style of Obsidian. These are branching dialogues, no less “branchy” plot and impressive freedom of action - up to the possibility of killing key characters. Snake, moving along the rails of the plot, never dreamed of such a thing.
3. Mount & Blade: Warband
Mount & Blade: Warband is arguably the most realistic feudal experience in video games. Yes, there is also Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but Delivery is more about the plot, while Warband is about medieval life in the broadest sense of the word, including strategic and economic aspects. The freedom of choice did not disappoint here: if other games mainly offer you forks that affect the fate of individual people, then in Mount & Blade you choose your role - a just ruler or a cruel tyrant. And this is the fate of the whole principality.
4. Pillars of Eternity
If you're a relative newcomer to the world of gaming in general and RPGs in particular, the names Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment may not tell you anything. Meanwhile, it was these cult games that helped bring the Dungeons & Dragons system from paper to screens. Pillars of Eternity in their background did not lose face. Of course, this game is not for everyone. Sheets of text and overly complex fights with an interactive pause will put off the most casual players, but others will gladly dive into the richest lore of the PoE world.
5. Neo Scavenger
Games about the apocalypse have now hit a playful tone and turned into something like Westerns about great heroes who are no longer constrained by the narrow framework of society. If you miss hardcore and Fallout 4 seems too glamorous, then Neo Scavenger is for you. In this game, a plastic bag, one smelly boot, or a piece of cloth can be valuable survival tools. Permanent death and randomization of the game world will ensure that you do not develop a "cheating" route with generous loot over time.
6. Gothic 2
In the early 2000s, the cult series The Elder Scrolls had a serious opponent: Gothic 2. In fact, this game had all the advantages of TES, and even more. For example, Gothic 2 reacted much more sensitively to all the player's actions: if in The Elder Scrolls the guards forgive murders for a couple of hundred gold, then in the Piranha Bytes opus, far-reaching consequences are possible. As you know, Gothic then “rolled down” (in Risen), but the second part is still worthy of your attention. In addition, the game will run even on the microwave, so you can safely download it to your country laptop or something like that.
7. Risen
Risen suffered an unpleasant fate for Mass Effect: with each part the game became worse and worse, and much faster than ME. However, the first, the original Risen was pretty much nothing. The game can be praised for being the first to bring fantasy storytelling from a standard setting a la medieval Europe to a tropical island. Character customization, branching dialogues, completely non-linear playthrough - the game was, in fact, "Gothic on a Summer Vacation", and has not yet gone down the path of simplification.
8. Jade Empire
Dragon Age in mythical China is the most accurate and concise definition for Jade Empire. The problem is that the vast majority of gamers prefer either traditional fantasy or sci-fi, so Jade Empire has gone almost unnoticed against the background of other BioWare games. But in vain. After all, all the key features, such as a branching interesting plot or the opportunity to strike up a relationship with an NPC, are also available here. Even a little offensive for the game. Perhaps if the Chinese market had been a little more open, BioWare would have gotten the sales it needs to continue.
9. Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition
A full-fledged game that is played cooperatively, and you can not only help each other, but also put a spoke in the wheels. Previously, this was only possible on paper, with cubes and pencils. Now there are two whole parts of Divinity. One of the most interesting features of the game's combat system is the use of elements. You can cause a harmless rain that does not take away health, but then an electric shock to a wet enemy will give a critical effect. And outside of the battlefield, don't forget to take the animal conversation skill, or miss out on a third of the game and not get a hefty dose of humor.
10. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
The smartest readers immediately realized that our rating was tied to a recent deal that transferred the rights to Kingdoms of Amalur to THQ Nordic. Perhaps one of the best RPGs of its time will have a sequel. Imagine Skyrim from a third person perspective, with a tangible influence on the art style of World of Warcraft, and a great combat system reminiscent of the most worthy slashers. At the same time, Kingdoms of Amalur had all the attributes of a huge RPG, no discounts were made for arcade quality. A warrior with a two-handed sword, a mage, a thief with daggers and a bow - all these archetypes were present in the Kingdoms, and they all felt different in battle. Moreover, the skirmishes with the enemies themselves resembled a little slowed down Devil may Cry, which made KIngdoms of Amalur a truly unique RPG.
In our top of the best games, we tried to select projects based on how interesting they are to play today and meet the definition of "role-playing game".
10. Dark Souls
Of course, we could not ignore the super successful and already cult series of Dark Souls, but we will focus on the very first part of the trilogy, released in 2011. The Japanese from From Software, with their usual Asian sophistication, decided to remind gamers of what games were like before the casual era.
But the dignity of Dark Souls is not at all in the prohibitive complexity and hostile attitude towards the player, but in the fact that it is essentially an RPG, albeit with an eye on the slasher combat system. Dozens of character build options, the ability to join guilds that give unique abilities and non-obvious quests, an open world where every NPC you meet, every item found reveals its own story for the player.
9. Kingdom Come Deliverance
Another game that was created as an outlet in the modern gaming industry, where developers seem to compete in how to make the game easier, more understandable, in short - in the era of "Press X to win". Unfortunately, the hardcore and medieval Tamagotchi scared away the lion's share of the players from Kingdom Come Deliverance.
But if you let the game open up, you will see the canon RPG, which offers a lot of options for solving even the most basic quest. The variability of the passage makes you close your eyes to some of the project's jambs. After all, as befits many Middle Eastern RPGs, it has a crooked gameplay, annoying with constant bugs, but what a fun exploring this painted world!
8. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Any top best RPG without games from the Canadian studio Bioware is automatically unusable, and the authors of such collections should be sent to the GULAG. Canadian wizards took over the role-playing genre in the early 2000s and finally brought it into the mainstream. We love all of their games up to and including the Mass Effect trilogy, but KotOR will forever remain in our hearts.
The ability to move freely between planets, non-standard characters, the ubiquitous non-linearity, and cinematic production - all this blew the brain and ecstatic even the most skeptical role-players.
15 years later, the game is still relevant and impressive even more than the Captain Shepard trilogy.
7. Gothic 2
German products are famous all over the world for their quality, in almost all areas: from technology to food. But with computer games, not everything is so rosy, the German game industry can boast of only one game - Gothic 2, but the main thing is not quantity, but quality.
Like any cult gameGothic 2 had a special charm that made it stand out among the many Elder Scrolls clones. First, the atmosphere of the harsh Middle Ages, where the charming music of Kai Rosenkrats always played in the background. Secondly, a living world where each character lived according to a unique daily routine. And, of course, nonlinearity, which in cult RPGs without it, can it be.
6. Divinity 2 Original Sin
This game is a great example of the fact that even such a conservative genre as isometric RPGs can be modernized, made interesting for young gamers without breaking the usual canons of role-playing projects.
And as if this was not enough, the developers made it possible to play Divinity 2 in co-op for four players at once. Of course, in this case, the feeling that you are the hero chosen by the universe for the next rescue of the world will no longer be so obvious ... But putting our hand on our hearts, let's say that living partners are always better than computer dummies in a team.
5. Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines
In a bearded 2004, even before the vampire setting was tainted by the godless Twilight, Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines was released. When talking about this game, almost every RPG fan will name a lot of facts why the game adaptation of the World of Darkness universe is a unique masterpiece of the role-playing genre.
We, in turn, will also name a few of the main features of the latest good Vampire game. A hybrid of action, shooter and classic role-playing game, any task can be completed in many ways. The quests themselves also move as far as possible from the usual "give-and-bring", and tell an unusual story with unique gameplay situations.
4. Fallout 2
A small disclaimer: starting with Fallout 2, any position in the top of the best RPGs is equivalent, just in case, because putting the second "Fall" not in the first place will seem blasphemy, godless heresy to many old-fashioned RPG fans. After all, what exactly do we love role-playing games for? Of course, for role-playing, for maximum non-linearity, a world in which the hunt to dissolve and quests that surprise with non-standard plot twists.
Fallout 2 has all of the above advantages of roleplaying. This year the game celebrates its 20th anniversary, but in terms of features and replayability, it still remains one of the heights of the genre. If a modern gamer can get used to archaic graphics and gameplay, then even forcibly pulling him away from the computer will be an impossible task.
3. The Witcher 3
Over the past few years, so many flattering words have been said about the CD Project masterpiece that I don't even want to repeat it. We even put the game first. The Poles in The Witcher 3 have created just the perfect tool for storytelling and you really want to believe in this painted, mystical world filled with magical creatures.
Why not first place? As much as we love The Witcher 3, but in terms of non-linearity and role-playing, he still loses to many classic role-playing games. We always act out, sometimes cruel, sometimes benevolent Geralt, and neutrality, canonical according to Sapkovsky's books, is not a frequent guest here.
2. The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind
The age-old question: "Which is better - Morrowind or Skyrim" has already ruined more than a dozen lives. On any gaming forum, you can see this brutal confrontation, in which the moderators do not have time to banghammer especially eccentric users. Games differ in many details, but offer the most important thing - to live hundreds exciting hours in a fantasy world.
We will still give Morrowind primacy for a unique setting, the opportunity to join one of the Houses and build majestic country estates, for a huge scope for customization and hundreds of amazing quests.
1. Planescape Torment
The late Black Isle studio presented the world in the person of Planescape Torment with a true philosophical treatise. The plot of the game closely intersects with Buddhist ideas, in which a person must go through an endless cycle of being reborn, in order to then open the circle of Samsara and achieve parinirvana - final death. The search for death is one of the main goals of the game.
All in all, if you love intellectual works that pose difficult questions for thought, then Planescape will definitely appeal to you.
But the game is not only valuable for the plot, it is first of all an RPG, which is multiplied by a crazy world. Here you can sell your partners into slavery, dig in your own guts for valuable loot. This is a unique game and not only the best RPG, but also one of the most important projects in the history of the gaming industry.
Our top best RPGs have come to an end. We hope you found some interesting projects for yourself or just experienced a feeling of nostalgia for your favorite childhood games. And for those who prefer new video games, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with.
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