Best Western RPGs That Are Not Part Of A Franchise

Key Takeaways

• Developers often abandon potential sequel opportunities for Western RPGs due to financial constraints.
• Unique titles like Jade Empire and Tyranny faced challenges in attracting enough interest and sales.
• Neo Scavenger and Wildermyth showcase innovative gameplay in niche Western RPG genres.

Given how expensive it can be to make video games, it’s easy to see why developers rely on established IPs and sequels instead of taking a bold risk with a new game that has no attachment to other titles. If these games catch a whiff of success, publishers won’t waste any time in turning them into a series that fans can get invested in.

Western RPGs can be rather tricky and expensive to develop, since developers have to create brand-new worlds with interesting lore to keep players engaged. This is why it can be odd to see certain Western RPGs be one-and-done experiences despite having the potential to become a series.

8 Jade Empire

A Great BioWare Action RPG With Wuxia Elements

BioWare wanted to try something different with Jade Empire, attempting to evolve their role-playing gameplay by integrating action-packed loops instead of passive, tactical ones. The end result is an excellent RPG with fun combat and a great story that lets players use a whole host of martial arts to take on their opponents in style.

While Jade Empire‘s wuxia elements and inspired gameplay made it a joy to play through, the game failed to attract a ton of interest. This meant that BioWare had to abandon this title instead of building up on it with a sequel, which is a massive shame.

7 Alpha Protocol

An Espionage RPG That’s A Blast To Play Through But Launched In A Broken State

Obsidian Entertainment has a track record of developing amazing Western RPGs that are loaded with bugs, and Alpha Protocol is no exception here. This is a shame since the idea of playing an espionage RPG was engrossing and could’ve attracted a ton of eyes.

Unfortunately, a lack of technical polish and weird UI elements meant that Alpha Protocol was dead in the water when it launched. Behind all these issues was a genuinely entertaining title that let players pursue missions in whatever manner they saw fit and interact with a whole host of memorable characters.

6 Tyranny

Boasts Impressive Writing That Explores The Nature Of Evil

Not many RPGs explore what it truly means to be evil, which is why Tyranny is such a joy to play through. The writing has a distinctive flavor that makes it one of the most unique CRPGs that gamers can get their hands on, but Obsidian simply didn’t have the funds to achieve the full vision of this game.

So, despite a bombastic introduction and great plot progression following some epic moments, the finale of Tyranny has to hastily wrap things up instead of giving its narrative the closure it deserves. It also didn’t help that the game didn’t attract enough sales, leading to Obsidian abandoning this IP altogether despite the amazing writing that was rife throughout.

5 Disco Elysium

A Well-Written RPG With No Combat

Disco Elysium is one of the most thought-provoking and entertaining RPGs that gamers can get their hands on. Despite lacking any form of combat, the unique RPG elements of this game allow players to pursue the act of being a detective in whatever manner they see fit, failing in some actions and succeeding in others.

The writing of Disco Elysium is superb and one of the strongest parts of the experience, so it’s a shame that the developer who helped this title become a reality imploded. Even if this game gets the sequel it deserves, the absence of the team that helped create it almost guarantees that Disco Elysium 2 will be a shadow of its former self.

4 Lionheart: Legacy Of The Crusader

An Amazing Game To Play Through Early On Before It Loses Its Steam

• Platform: PC
• Release Date: August 12, 2003
• Developer: Reflexive Entertainment

Numerous Western RPGs faced the problem of having a massive scope that simply couldn’t be achieved given the development constraints. This is ultimately what prevented Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader from being a fun, action-packed CRPG series, which is a shame, since fans likely still remember that amazing moment when they come to Barcelona and slowly uncover the deep role-playing options present in this city.

The game falters and has to reduce its scope after players leave the city, turning into a linear title with combat encounters that are disapointingly rigid. If Lionheart had achieved its vision, then there’s no telling the heights this game could’ve reached with the amazing scope and detail teased in the opening act.

3 Neo Scavenger

A Hardcore Survival RPG With Numerous Complex Systems

Daniel Fedor, a former BioWare employee, split from the company and decided to make his vision of a hardcore survival RPG a reality. This led to the creation and development of Neo Scavenger, one of the toughest survival RPGs that gamers can get their hands on.

Managing Philip’s stats and ensuring that he doesn’t die at the hands of enemies or debilitating illnesses is easier said than done. This game has a niche fanbase and isn’t going to single-handedly establish an IP, but those curious likely won’t mind as long as they get to check out an excellent Western RPG that they will have a great time with.

2 Nox

An Underrated Action RPG With A Unique Take On Classes And Storylines

Westwood Studios may be known mainly for the Command & Conquer series, but many fans aren’t aware of this studio’s efforts to create an action RPG that was pretty impressive. Nox may have failed to attract mainstream attention, but it had some interesting ideas that helped it stand out as an underrated game in the series.

The choice of the hero’s class governed what story players would experience. This adds to the game’s replayability, with players being encouraged to play as a Warrior, Conjurer, and Mage as they experience completely different and engaging narratives.

1 Wildermyth

A Unique Indie RPG That Combines Procedural Narrative Design With Strategic Combat

Wildermyth is one of the best indie RPGs that more gamers need to check out. The game plays around with procedural narratives and helps a randomly generated cast of heroes sport more personality than other mainstream AAA titles.

The magic system is unique, and the turn-based strategic combat is simple yet satisfying. All of this combines to make for an excellent RPG that can let players enjoy hours of role-playing goodness, even if some of the story events and transformations may start repeating.