RPGs With The Best Towns, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• The towns in Sunless Skies, Deus Ex, and Gothic offer unique experiences with self-contained storylines.
• Final Fantasy 9, Yakuza 0, and The Witcher 3 feature charming and memorable cities and towns.
• Persona 4’s Inaba stands out as one of the best towns in any JRPG, adding depth to the engrossing story.

Most role-playing games feature a wealth of settlements players can explore to stock up on resources, find sidequests, and enjoy a respite after spending a long time fighting tough enemies. So, it’s easy to see why players would like to visit towns that have a unique identity and end up being memorable.

Some RPGs excel in this regard, letting players explore towns that are crafted with great care and make a lasting impression on players. It’s easy to see why these games are beloved by the masses once players see the attention to detail present in various areas, including the aforementioned settlements.

8 Sunless Skies

Despite Being Text-Heavy, Each Town Feels Unique

Players who want to check out a unique horror RPG with a focus on exploration will love what Sunless Skies brings to the table. This game is a massive improvement over its predecessor in every way. The presentation and gameplay enhancements go a long way in making this experience more palatable for the masses.

It’s a testament to the game’s mysterious writing that every town and city players dock at in Sunless Skies feels unique. With self-contained storylines and struggles that the players can help resolve, Sunless Skies is a joy to play through every single time.

7 Deus Ex

Every Urban Location Is A Blast To Explore

Deus Ex is one of the greatest action RPGs ever made, letting players make meaningful choices that determine JC’s skills. It helps that the levels in this game are masterfully crafted and give players numerous options to approach their objectives.

The game’s open-ended levels feel amazing to play through, especially when players get to explore the many cities and towns that they visit during their missions. With numerous secrets, memorable characters, and immaculate vibes to accompany the experience, these urban hubs in Deus Ex are a joy to explore.

6 Gothic

Every Town Has A Unique Flavor, With Intriguing Factions Behind The Scenes

Gothic is one of the most underrated open-world RPGs players can get their hands on. Players are dropped into a hostile prison with nothing to defend themselves with, slowly learning the ropes and developing the skills they need to take out the toughest enemies without breaking a sweat.

The faction system of Gothic is one of its crowning achievements. Players can choose to join one of three groups who occupy their respective settlements. These towns are jam-packed with detail and interesting characters, making each area a joy to explore after players survive in the hostile open world by the skin of their teeth.

5 Final Fantasy 9

The Charm Of This Game Extends To Its Many Towns And Cities

Final Fantasy 9 paid homage to the series’ classic roots, bringing back a lot of the charm that was lost in the gritty, futuristic worlds of the previous two games. This helps the adventure stand out even more, especially when players get to see the amazing design of the many towns and cities.

The explosion of colors and fantastical architecture players witness in these settlements is a thing of beauty. Final Fantasy 9 is considered by many to be the best in the series, and its towns are a joy to explore every single time players discover another populated area.

The Simple Act Of Discovering And Exploring Towns Is Magical

The magic of exploration in Morrowind plays a huge role in making its settlements stand out even more. Without any map markers or a traditional fast travel system, the Nerevarine must map out things in their mind if they don’t want to get lost in an open world full of dangers.

These settlements are full to the brim with memorable characters, a wealth of side quests, powerful factions, and valuable equipment. Players get immense satisfaction from discovering another town after a grueling journey.

3 Yakuza 0

Kamurocho & Sotenbori Hold A Special Place In The Hearts Of Fans

Despite Yakuza‘s open-world approach that prioritizes smaller landscapes, most fans would agree that areas like Kamurocho and Sotenbori are way more memorable than most cities and towns in other RPGs. These districts are jam-packed with detail and boast a ridiculous number of things to accomplish.

Given how Yakuza 0 will serve as a fitting introduction to the series for most players, it’s easy to see why the areas featured here will remain fresh in the minds of fans long after they complete this massive title. Picking fights on the streets of Kamurocho and Sotenbori as players make progress in the main story or complete numerous substories is a blast every time.

2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Huge Cities & Peaceful Villages Are Charming To Explore

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the greatest RPGs ever made, with its beautiful open world being one of its crowning achievements. From rural homesteads to thriving cities, the sheer number of populated locations fans can explore as Geralt is massive.

It helps that almost every city and town in The Witcher 3 is a blast to explore, packed to the brim with everything from engaging sidequests to valuable equipment. Players will have a great time uncovering everything these settlements have to offer, helping the White Wolf become stronger in the process.

1 Persona 4

Inaba Is One Of The Best Towns In Any JRPG

Given how every other Persona game takes place in a massive city in Japan, fans wondered if the small-town setting of Inaba would be a good fit for the series. Thankfully, Persona 4 puts all these worries to rest by featuring an engrossing story that is elevated by this town.

Inaba’s intimate setting ensures that players develop a connection with this town as they chase down a serial killer ending lives by throwing people into the TV World. As players form Social Links with numerous important residents in this town, they’ll eventually stumble upon plot revelations that will blow their minds, cementing this title as one of the greatest Persona games ever made.