Western RPGs That Are Quality Over Quantity

Summary

• Some RPGs offer shorter, meaningful experiences with interesting content.
• Games like Mass Effect 2 respect the player’s time with engaging set pieces.
• Disco Elysium and Alpha Protocol provide dense, interactive experiences in a shorter time frame.

Western RPGs are usually lengthy experiences that can take a lot of hours to complete. With games like Baldur’s Gate 3 blowing up because of the sheer level of content that it lets players enjoy, it’s easy to see why many players love this approach.

However, not all Western RPGs need to be time-consuming adventures full to the brim with so much content that they can overwhelm players. Sometimes, the best RPGs know to respect the player’s time by making shorter experiences that are jam-packed with interesting content.

8 Disco Elysium

A Story-Driven RPG Full Of Branching Paths And Excellent Writing

Disco Elysium is one of the best RPGs ever made that doesn’t feature any form of combat. The story at the heart of this game is engrossing, with the city of Revachol brimming with tantalizing opportunities to experience unique content.

The game world itself may feel small in comparison to other RPGs, but it’s the dense nature of this experience that will win over most fans. Disco Elysium has a ton of unique and meaningful interactions that players can experience over multiple playthroughs if they want to enjoy everything this special game has to offer.

7 Mass Effect 2

One Of The Greatest Sequels Ever Made That’s Jam-Packed With Entertaining Set Pieces

The Mass Effect games are known for being many things, and one thing fans can’t accuse them of is being overly long. Commander Shepard’s adventures take place over three amazing games that respect the player’s time and let them spend as much time as they want in the universe before moving on to the end.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in Mass Effect 2, where a player’s urgency determines critical elements in the plot. Players who make a beeline for the end can potentially save everyone kidnapped by the Collectors, but there’s nothing wrong with experiencing the detailed and engaging side content of this game that lets players explore numerous companion relationships before they eventually head to the Suicide Mission.

6 Alpha Protocol

Respects The Player’s Time With A Series Of Entertaining Missions That Are Fast-Paced And Entertaining

It’s a shame that Alpha Protocol launched with so many bugs, which prevented this title from enjoying the attention it deserved. The idea of playing an espionage RPG is a tantalizing one, with Michael Thorton embodying one of the three major JBs of the espionage genre in his interactions — James Bond, Jason Bourne, or Jack Bauer.

The missions are captivating and let players interact with their fair share of memorable characters without taking too long to complete. If players don’t mind playing through a game with admittedly clunky gameplay, they’ll love what Alpha Protocol brings to the table.

5 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

An Engrossing Star Wars RPG With A Story That Moves At A Breakneck Pace Before Delivering A Massive Plot Twist

Knights of the Old Republic is one of the best Star Wars games players can get their hands on. BioWare’s amazing RPG is loaded with content that’s meaningful and doesn’t waste the player’s time.

It helps that the story is so captivating that players will be invested at every step of the way, culminating in a mind-blowing reveal that cements this title’s legendary stature. Players who want to check out BioWare’s stellar history will have a great time playing through Knights of the Old Republic.

4 South Park: The Stick Of Truth

An Authentic Adventure With A Ton Of Entertaining Content To Discover

South Park is one of the most hilarious TV shows of all time, with The Stick of Truth serving as an accurate rendition of this town and how an RPG adventure would play out in this world. The game’s bizarre and controversial nature makes it a unique game that is enjoyable regardless of whether people are fans of the IP or not.

The beauty of South Park: The Stick of Truth stems from the enjoyable main and side content of this title that doesn’t feel tacked on. Even something that seems boring like hunting certain enemies or finding collectibles is engaging in its own way because of how the game presents these tasks.

3 Tyranny

Aside From A Hasty Ending, The Game’s Stellar Writing Is Prevalent Throughout A Unique WRPG

Tyranny is one of the most unique Western RPGs players can check out, exploring what it means to be evil in a game that is full to the brim with amazing writing. The game’s runtime isn’t unreasonable and ensures that both its story and gameplay remain fresh for the vast majority of the experience.

It’s a testament to the quality of this title that the rushed ending took many fans by surprise. They wanted to experience more of this detailed world, but Tyranny ends at a point when players feel like the story is kicking it into the highest gear, which is the only negative in an otherwise brilliant experience.

2 Dark Messiah Of Might And Magic

The Role-Playing Elements Are Entertaining Enough To Make The Most Of This Focused Experience

Before turning into masters of the immersive sim genre, Arkane Studios experimented with RPG elements in their first-person games. This can be seen in Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, which may not have the most captivating story but more than makes up for it with incredible gameplay that fans can’t get enough of.

Kicking enemies and using the environment to thin out waves of foes is a huge part of what makes Dark Messiah such an engaging experience. It helps that the game manages to captivate players with its interesting levels, making up for its flaws with excellent combat where players can unlock abilities from one of three classes to wreak havoc on their enemies.

1 Deus Ex

An Action RPG That Is Full Of Entertaining Missions And Clever Dialogue From Start To End

An immersive sim that does a great job of making its RPG elements feel meaningful, Deus Ex‘s progression system lets players palpably feel JC become more of an expert in the field of his choice as he becomes efficient at breaking into restricted areas or taking out his foes.

It’s amazing to see just how rich and rewarding the content of Deus Ex is. JC Denton’s missions take some wild turns as certain conspiracies come to light and he’s forced to switch allegiances, making for an engaging level that turns a friendly base into a hostile one. Reusing assets and levels can lead to accusations of padding, but Deus Ex manages to turn this into a memorable moment that shows how the game’s presentation helps the game’s incredible content stand out even more in a game that is paced brilliantly.