5 RPGs With The Best Driving, Ranked

It’s no surprise that the RPG genre is one of the most popular among the gaming community, as it allows players to make different choices, use various weapons and armor, and shape their own fate and that of others. While some RPG games focus on hard tactical approaches, others opt for FPS-based narratives or fantasy settings.

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In a few cases, RPGs can start small and then expand gradually, making the experience feel more vast as players progress through the story. Typically, there are many ways to navigate around the map of an RPG, including traveling on foot or (rarely) atop a vehicle. Here are some RPGs with the best driving.

5

Mass Effect: Andromeda

The Nomad Is Fun To Drive Around

Systems

Released

March 1, 2017

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Violence

• Driving on the Nomad is decently entertaining
• Players can choose to play as either Sara or Scott Ryder

Although Mass Effect: Andromeda is not the most popular installment of the franchise, it still delivers an enjoyable and entertaining experience for players. Throughout the story, players will have the chance to take on the role of either Sara Ryder or her twin brother Scott, depending on their preference.

Granted, this title is not the most replayable of the Mass Effect franchise. However, driving around on the Nomad can be a fun experience that players can take advantage of and make their playthrough more interesting. The driving mechanics are not perfect, but are decent enough to be enjoyable.

4

Borderlands 3

Exploring Pandora Is Much Easier On A Vehicle

First-Person Shooter

Action

RPG

Released

September 13, 2019

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

• Good driving mechanics that make exploration more streamlined
• In most cases, running over enemies is very effective

The Borderlands franchise is known for many things, including its chaotic yet entertaining FPS mechanics, unique art style, and interesting enemy designs that make Pandora and its inhabitants intriguing. While Borderlands 3 is not primarily an RPG game, it does feature a class and upgrade system that makes it possible to classify it as such.

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It’s perfectly acceptable to explore Pandora on foot. However, grabbing a vehicle and driving it around is a much faster alternative. Not to mention that players will not have to deal with vicious Skags relying solely on their weapons, as they will also be able to opt for running them over or shooting them with their vehicle’s devastating armory. When ramping up the difficulty up to Mayhem 10, vehicles might not provide that much of an advantage. However, even then, the driving mechanics feel responsive and simple in a good way.

3

Starfield

The Recent Update Has Opened A World Of Possibilities

Systems

Released

September 6, 2023

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence

• A recent update has introduced drivable land vehicles to Starfield
• Even with land vehicles, many consider planet exploration to be boring

It’s undeniable that, while Starfield is a good game, it has not been able to become as critically acclaimed as other Bethesda classics, such as Skyrim or Fallout 4. However, this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have interesting game mechanics, a compelling narrative, a few creative spacesuits, or that it lacks the FPS action required to make it entertaining.

For the majority of its life, Starfield did not have land vehicles. However, an update released back in late 2024 changed that by introducing drivable land vehicles that would supposedly make exploration more streamlined. Unfortunately, many players have stated that, even with the introduction of land vehicles, exploring some planets is still a bit boring. But if the topic at hand is specifically driving mechanics, then those present in the game aren’t too shabby.

2

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Pod Racing Is A Very Entertaining Part Of The Game

Released

July 15, 2003

ESRB

T for Teen: Violence

• Pod Racing is a great way to earn Credits and earn XP
• The planets of Manaan and Tatooine have Swoop racing tracks

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is, arguably, one of the best RPGs of the last 30 years. While its game mechanics and graphics are considerably outdated when compared to those in modern titles, it still delivers an enjoyable experience and is still played consistently by a fair number of people worldwide.

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This title has multiple branching dialogue trees that include evil choices, treason, and even acts of kindness. While driving a vehicle is not something that can be done often in this title, there is Swoop Racing, which plays a significant role in how players can make money, beat challenging NPCs and even crown themselves as racing champions. Sure, the driving mechanics in the Swoop Racing mini-game aren’t as complex as those found in more recent titles, but they’re still incredibly fun and captivating in their own nostalgic way.

1

Cyberpunk 2077

Various Vehicles With Different Driving Stats

Released

December 10, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

• 23 purchasable vehicles in the game
• Outstanding driving mechanics that make exploring Night City great fun

Lastly, there’s Cyberpunk 2077. This game is a great example of a comeback story, as upon release, it was faced with tons of criticism due to performance bugs and an overall feeling of it being unfinished. Luckily, after four years of hard work and optimization, the game is now a masterpiece that has captivated millions worldwide.

Cyberpunk 2077 is great because of the various weapons it offers, the interesting hidden locations throughout Night City, the likable NPCs, and, of course, the broad range of vehicles that V can steal and purchase. There’s a total of 23 purchasable cars in the game, each with its own stats, appearance and price point. While it could be argued that Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t have the best driving mechanics in the world, they are pretty good, and allow for a nice amount of control, making for an enjoyable experience overall.

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