Key Takeaways
- RPG genre offers diverse gameplay styles, from traditional turn-based to action looter-shooters.
- RPGs prioritize role-playing, character development, and engaging stories for immersive experiences.
- Games like Path of Exile, Fallout: New Vegas, and Baldur’s Gate 3 showcase unique RPG aspects to enjoy.
The genre of RPGs is one of the widest and most diverse in gaming. From traditional turn-based games to action looter-shooters, almost any game with role-playing elements can be classified as an RPG.
That said, some games still emphasize the elements of classic RPGs that defined the genre in its early stages. Role-playing, character development, and deep and engaging stories; these are just a few of the things that make up a true RPG. Below, we’ll take a look at a few of the best examples of these aspects that you can play on PC right now.
Updated November 7, 2024: We’ve updated this list to add even more of the best RPGs on PC. If you’re looking for a new RPG to sink your teeth into, start here.
24
Last Epoch
- Released
-
February 21, 2024
- Developer(s)
-
Eleventh Hour Games
- Developer
-
Eleventh Hour Games (Video Game Company)
- Publisher(s)
-
Eleventh Hour Games
- Publisher
-
Eleventh Hour Games (Video Game Company)
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer
- Engine
-
Unity
- ESRB
-
t
- How Long To Beat
-
18 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
Last Epoch is an indie ARPG defined by its player-friendly customization options. Some ARPGs get too complicated for their own good, and while this complexity can be part of the fun, not everyone wants to stare at a build planner for days before even starting their character.
This is where Last Epoch shines. Each class has tons of depth thanks to each skill having its own separate skill tree that can be customized in several different ways. Last Epoch gives you the freedom to come up with your own build, the tools to do so, and just enough complexity to make it fun, all without forcing you to look up anything outside of the game or seek aid from another player.
23
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas is a spin-off of the main Fallout series, following the player-created Courier on their journey to find the person who attempted to kill them. Set in the Mojave Desert two hundred years after The Great War, the Courier must brave the wastelands of Las Vegas, now dubbed “New Vegas”, to search for their killer.
Fallout: New Vegas is considered the best Fallout game in the series, and one of the best RGPs ever created. It’s immaculate writing and RPG mechanics provide an immersive and personal experience, allowing you to create your own story of survival in the ruins of the Mojave Desert.
22
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the golden standard when it comes to RPGs with deep character customization. There are so many ways to create your character that it can be paralyzing at first. But, if you can make it past the character creation screen, you’re in for one of the best RPG experiences out there.
There are tons of different characters to talk to, lore to dive into, and quests to complete, allowing you to get completely and entirely immersed in the world of the game. Plus, with the option to play the entire game with up to three other players, you can share the experience with a group of friends.
21
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a massive open-world RPG that takes exploration to a new level. With its deep combat, you’re only limited in how you explore the Lands Between by how well you can fight against its inhabitants.
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With hundreds of weapons and spells to specialize in, there is almost no limit to the number of ways you can build your character. While Elden Ring doesn’t feature much in the way of narrative and storytelling, the lore within the game is deep and interesting, if you have the patience to seek it out.
20
Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a story-driven CRPG with about as much depth as you could ever want. From the immense amount of race and class choices to the sheer number of mechanics, almost everything you do in Wrath of the Righteous can be done in multiple different ways.
This depth and complexity is one of the main selling points of the game, catering to a hardcore audience. If you want to play Wrath of the RIghteous, go into it knowing that you can’t do anything by half-measures; you’ll want to fully commit yourself to the experience. However, if you are able to do that, you’re in for one of the most rewarding games you’ll ever play.
19
Skyrim
Skyrim is one of the pillars of the RPG genre. With its massive open world and in-depth branching questlines, some players never even finish the main story of Skyrim and still come away satisfied with the time they spent in its world. It’s the type of game you can come back to year after year and always find something new.
There are tons of different ways to build and play your character, and mod support on PC makes everything about the game even better. Mods can add new quests, dungeons, storylines, and even entire campaigns, ensuring even the most experienced Skyrim players always have something new to try.
18
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is essentially Dungeons and Dragons in video game form. This long-running franchise stretches back to 1998 when the first game in the series launched. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a story-rich RPG that has become an instant classic, setting the new standard for party-based RPGs and narrative depth.
As with other games in this genre, you’ll be able to form a party from a unique and colorful cast of characters. You have almost complete freedom over your character. Whether you resist the temptations of the Mind Flayer and fight against the darkness, or give in to the corruption and side with the forces of evil, the choice is yours.
17
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins was developed by BioWare, who was also responsible for the first two Baldur’s Gate games. Bioware even described Dragon Age: Origins as the spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate. In this RPG, you play as a Grey Warden, tasked with saving the world from the invasion of beings called Darkspawn, even as war spreads across the realm.
Dragon Age: Origins is defined by its deep and detailed lore that only gets better the more you explore. Speaking of exploration, there’s tons to do in the world of Thedas, from developing your cast of characters to romancing several candidates as you fight against the Darkspawn.
16
Persona 3 Reload
Persona 3 Reload is a complete remake of Persona 3, combining elements from the original Persona 3, FES, and Portable. With its updated gameplay, quality-of-life features, new mechanics, and overhauled graphics and cutscenes, Persona 3 Reload manages to capture the charm of the original game while still carving out its own identity.
The overhauled graphics and lighting look phenomenal on a PC good enough to display them, making Persona 3 Reload an absolute joy to experience. Whether you’ve played the original games or not, Persona 3 Reload is more than worth playing.
15
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is quite different from the other games on this list. This non-traditional RPG has you take the role of a detective with amnesia, allowing you to mold your character in a variety of different ways. How you grow your character, the choices you make, and the conversations you have all create an organic and unique experience for each player.
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There are 24 different skills that you can develop as you progress through the game, each offering different ways to tackle problems in dialogue with other characters. Disco Elysium is defined by its freedom of choice, allowing you to get deeply immersed in your story. It also features some of the best writing and narration in the entirety of video games.
14
Grim Dawn
Grim Dawn
- Released
-
February 25, 2016
- Developer(s)
-
Crate Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
-
Crate Entertainment
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer
- Engine
-
ron Lore engine
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ Due To Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Language
- Metascore
-
86
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
Grim Dawn is an isometric ARPG in the style of Diablo or Path of Exile. There are eight different classes to choose from, which can then be combined with any of the other seven classes for a total of 36 different dual-class options. And if that’s not enough, each of these dual classes has a number of different builds and unique abilities to invest in.
The world of Grim Dawn is dark and bleak, with monstrous enemies called Aetherials that are swarming the land. In traditional ARPG fashion, you’ll develop your character over 100 levels as you grind for the perfect equipment to take on threats of ever-increasing difficulty.
13
Cyperpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is an FPS RPG set in the stylish, brutal, neon-bright world of Night City. You play as V, a rookie mercenary looking to make a name for themself in a city where most don’t make it past their 30s. After a job goes wrong, V has to search for a way to survive certain death while gang violence and corporate war rage in the background.
Cyberpunk 2077 is something truly special in the RPG genre. How you develop and progress as V is entirely up to you, from the equipment you use, the skills you unlock, or the choices you make. Even just getting in your car, turning up the radio, and driving through Night City after the sun sets is a perfectly enjoyable way to play the game.
12
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 is one of the highest-rated video games ever created, and for good reason. The story follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer for hire, on his quest to find his adopted daughter, Ciri, who is being hunted by the spectral Wild Hunt. The Witcher 3’s story is the central focus of the game, allowing you to undertake dozens of in-depth and detailed quests involving numerous side characters.
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With multiple different endings for the main story alone, and most side quests having several different outcomes, your choices really do matter. Outside of the story, the Witcher 3 has fast-paced, responsive combat that will test your skills against a variety of different monsters. The Witcher 3 provides a complete RPG experience, and definitely deserves the title of one of the best games ever.
11
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Mass Effect needs no introduction in the RPG world. This trilogy, perfected in the Legendary Edition version of the game, tells the sprawling story of Commander Shephard and their crew. As you take on the responsibilities of your ship, you’ll have to make important decisions that shape the outcome of the story.
These choices will follow you through the games, making the journey feel like your own unique story. With updated graphics, controls, and quality-of-life improvements, Mass Effect Legendary Edition is an absolute must-play, especially for RPG fans.
10
Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter World marks a new age for the Monster Hunter series, with a shift toward immersiveness and deeper storytelling. You take on the role of a Hunter from the Guild, an organization that attempts to study and control the precarious ecosystem of the New World.
Battle massive monsters, make new weapons from their skin and bones, and then use them to fight even stronger monsters. Monster Hunter World’s simple but ever-satisfying gameplay loop has kept players engaged for years, and still remains the gold standard for monster-hunting games.
9
Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2 is a looter-shooter where you play as one of several different Vault Hunters on a quest for revenge and, of course, new guns. The Borderlands franchise is defined by its loot, with tons of different weapon combinations that make opening every chest and completing every side quest exciting.
Leveling up and looting across Pandora will pull you through the game’s wacky and memorable story, which can also be enjoyed with up to three other players in co-op. Borderlands 2 is highly replayable and nearly endlessly fun, and is definitely worth checking out on PC.
8
Path Of Exile
Path of Exile is a Diablo-like ARPG with an extremely deep character-building system, with one of the biggest passive skill trees ever. Set in the grim dark continent of Wraeclast, you play as one of seven different classes, battling monsters, bandits, and gruesome horrors.
The beauty of Path of Exile lies in its nearly unlimited options for building your character. Path of Exile uses a Skill Gem system to give your character abilities, which essentially means every class can use any skills. This freedom can be overwhelming at first, but luckily there are thousands of fan-made builds that can help guide you through the experience.
7
Warframe
Warframe is a hack-and-slash third-person action RPG where you play as the Tenno, a warrior race capable of wielding Warframes to battle across the massive solar system. Despite being a free-to-play game, every single aspect of Warframe can be experienced without having to spend a single cent, from its epic story to its deep build mechanics.
Warframe is one of the most stylish and smooth shooters out there, and the large number of Warframes to play around with only make it better. There’s so much to do in Warframe, and all of it is valuable in some way.
6
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance is an updated and expanded version of the original SMT5, bringing tons of new content, quality-of-life changes, and much more. Most notable of the new content additions in Vengeance is a second story path to experience, with new characters and demons to meet.
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SMT5: Vengeance feels like the complete version of the original game, fixing the original’s problems while filling in gaps in the story and gameplay. Even if you’ve played the original Shin Megami Tensei 5, Vengeance is definitely worth experiencing, especially for fans of difficult JRPGs with extremely satisfying combat.
5
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
While Yakuza: Like A Dragon is technically the seventh main game in the Yakuza series, it also marks the start of a new chapter, with a new protagonist and a completely different combat system. Like a Dragon is a turn-based RPG that follows Ichiban Kasuga, a yakuza grunt who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
Because of this soft reset, Like a Dragon is a great place to start in the Yakuza series, but its story is definitely more impactful if you’ve played the previous games. Still, Like a Dragon is filled with the charm the series has become synonymous with, including tons of mini-games, wacky sidequests, and outstanding characters.