The Best RPGs With Slow Progression

Role-playing games have become all the rage in modern times, letting players check out action-packed titles with a ton of content and bombastic combat systems. These action-packed affairs are quite mainstream, but there’s something to be said about other RPGs that focus on slow progression instead.

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Players are rewarded for researching builds, meticulously leveling up their characters, and accomplishing everything possible in these worlds. It takes some time, but players who have hundreds of hours to spare will be rewarded with a rich experience that shows the strengths of the role-playing genre.

8

Baldur’s Gate 3

A Dense And Rewarding RPG That Can Take Ages If Players Try To Uncover Everything

Baldur’s Gate 3 is already regarded as one of the best RPGs ever made, showing that there’s a place in the gaming market for detailed role-playing games jam-packed with a ton of content. The turn-based combat may seem slow early on, but players will soon realize how to implement the proper tactics to take out most enemies with ease.

Every act in Baldur’s Gate 3 feels like a self-contained game in and of itself, showing just how detailed each section of the game is. With only twelve character levels, players must make meaningful decisions every time they get stronger, letting them take out tougher opponents without breaking a sweat as long as they put in the required thought and effort.

7

Persona 5 Royal

Going Through The Motions Is Fun, Even If The Game Can Get A Bit Slow At Times

Every Persona game after the third mainline entry revels in its slow pacing. Instead of bombarding players with epic set-pieces all the time, games like Persona 5 Royal encourage players to live out the life of a normal high school student who masquerades as a member of the vigilante Phantom Thieves by night.

This means that players will spend a lot of time doing regular activities every day to strengthen Joker’s bonds with his Confidants, enhance his social skills, and study regularly so that he can pass his exams. It perfects the gameplay of previous titles and is comfortably one of the best JRPGs players can spend their time on, even though the game’s pace can be slow at times.

6

Disco Elysium

A Tantalizing Detective Game Full Of Lengthy, Riveting Dialogue

It’s only a given that a game that shirks combat completely and focuses solely on dialogue will need to rely on slower and more thought-provoking moments to resonate with players. This is precisely what Disco Elysium nails, helping it stand out as one of the best story-driven CRPGs players can get their hands on.

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Disco Elysium can be confusing early on, but the charming writing ensures that the game remains entertaining even in its slowest moments. This meticulous pace helps its tense set pieces stand out even more, with the city of Revachol enhancing the atmosphere of this beautiful title.

5

Neverwinter Nights

A Classic CRPG That’s About As Slow-Paced As Games Can Get

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Neverwinter Nights

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Neverwinter Nights is a classic CRPG in every sense of the word, but it still offers players a cliched yet ultimately enjoyable adventure. As one would expect, the game boasts a slow pace that was all too common with most games in this genre back in the day.

Fans who want to check out BioWare’s brilliance from their heyday will love what Neverwinter Nights brings to the table. Today, the studio’s focus on faster progression and action-packed set pieces is higher than ever before, which is what makes the slow progression of Neverwinter Nights feel downright sobering in comparison.

4

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Tough Combat And Massive Worlds Make Every Adventure Take Hundreds Of Hours

A title that’s longer and more complex than its predecessor, Divinity: Original Sin 2 features a progression curve that can be slow at times. The addition of Physical and Magical Armor means that players will be punished for bringing outdated equipment into battle, which can be quite challenging.

This makes it important to ensure that both the build players are pursuing and the equipment they acquire or purchase are chosen with great care. A player’s patience and willingness to stick to a particular build will be rewarded with greater effectiveness in combat, which is essential in a final act where the difficulty becomes more overbearing than ever before.

3

UnderRail

Understanding The Game And Working Around Its Complexities Takes A Long Time

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UnderRail

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Released

December 18, 2015

Developer(s)

Stygian Software

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

UnderRail is perfect for fans of the classic Fallout games that made the most of their role-playing systems. As a result, players who don’t take their time to understand how this game’s progression works will be obliterated in pretty much every combat encounter.

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It’s important to understand how systems in UnderRail operate and how they enhance a player’s options in combat if they don’t want to be overwhelmed time and time again. Taking the time required to plan out a perfect build for one’s playstyle will ensure that the protagonist can eventually tackle tougher threats without being torn to shreds on the very first turn.

2

The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel

A Four-Game Arc That Is As Slow And Plodding As Possible In The Early Going

The longest arc in The Legend of Heroes series was bound to start on a slow note, and this is precisely why Trails of Cold Steel can be such a frustrating start for some players. The initial adventures of Class VII take players on episodic adventures with some connecting threads as all the characters get their time to shine.

The story is constantly setting things up that are meant to pay off in other entries. Progression also takes a while to get going, with access to high-end orbments, skills, and other party members being reserved for future titles while the narrative is building up to an explosive climax.

1

Planescape: Torment

The Incredible Story And Writing Can Be Too Slow For Players Not Used To Constant Reading

Despite the game’s combat feeling like an afterthought, the immaculate writing and story of Planescape: Torment make it stand out as one of the best CRPGs of all time. However, players must be ready to read pages upon pages of dialogue before the story can progress, and even that at a snail’s pace.

It’s a hard sell, but players willing to work around the title’s dated presentation will be rewarded with a rich role-playing experience that introduces them to the rich and detailed world of Planescape. Figuring out the history of the Nameless One as he struggles to remember his past is quite rewarding for patient players who are invested in his journey.

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