The best RPG of all time. The best RPG games for PC

Release date: first 1997 second 1998

Fallout is a cult turn-based RPG one of the violent games. It has an open world and non-linear passage of tasks. The action of the two parts of Fallout takes place after a nuclear disaster with a difference of eighty years. In the first part, the hero will have to find a water chip in order to provide water to the inhabitants of the Vault. In the second series of the game, there is no time frame, the character is allowed to calmly walk around the territory, fighting opponents, trading with merchants and looking for a mysterious suitcase with cutting-edge technologies.

The game has outdated graphics, but despite this, the atmosphere of the post-apocalypse is very well conveyed in it. This RPG literally immerses the player in his world. In addition, both games are difficult to complete, often the hero will not have enough ammo, health and money. Also, often in quests you have to make difficult choices.

Baldur's Gate 1 and 2

Release date: first 1998 second 2000

Genre: RPG

Baldur's Gate is based on the works of Robert Salvatore. It allows the player to be in the form of a descendant of Bhaal, who does not have the qualities of his insidious ancestor. The game sold two million copies in its release year alone. Both parts have gained many fans and clones of this game.

You can recruit up to 6 heroes to the team, and with it explore the big world by completing tasks and fighting opponents. Allies who have gained enough experience points can improve their skills. Equipment can be bought, removed from defeated enemies, received as a gift and found in caches. Fights take place in real time, but during the game you can take advantage of the pause and give orders to your comrades-in-arms.

Heroes of Might and Magic III

Release date: 1999

Genre: RPG, turn-based strategy

"Heroes of might and magic" if you have not played this game, then at least heard about it. The player controls the heroes, exploring the game world, who at one time hire a squad, fight and conquer cities. Battles take place in turn-based mode on a hexagonal map.

The player is given five races to choose from: elf, half-orc, human, dwarf and dwarf. And also there are ten classes, each of which gives a member of the team special abilities. Battles occur when the enemy notices the enemy. On the battlefield, the maximum number of enemies reaches three, the rest are waiting for their turn. The dead enemy is automatically replaced by a new one. On our website, the game is included in .

Planescape: Torment


Release date: 1999

Genre: RPG, open world

Planescape: Torment is an open world RPG focused more on atmosphere, dialogue and story than combat. Despite small sales, it received very good reviews and a large part of the fans. According to the story, the player in the role of the Nameless is destined to find his mortality in the society of five allies. There are three classes in the game. Initially, the character appears as a warrior, but in the future he is free to become a thief or a sorcerer.

In the mystical city, there are fifteen factions that want to replenish the ranks with new members to join. The plot involves the development of events through the quest line, offering to avoid battles. Conflict resolution through dialogue brings more experience than fights. The behavior of the protagonist affects the attitude of others towards his person. And also his actions determine the ending.

Diablo 2 and 3

Release date: Diablo 2 - 2000 Diablo 3 -2012

Diablo role-playing action, with the ability to destroy crowds of enemies. It entered the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest selling game. There are several characters to choose from, with standard characteristics. You can collect loot from killed mobs to get better armor and weapons. The main task of the game is to destroy the Diablo boss.

The game arsenal provides a wide selection of weapons, armor and magical abilities. Each class has individual equipment of different qualifications, from simple to Ethereal. Each set is different in color. There are two modes of passage single, where the wars are responsible for their actions and multiplayer. After successfully completing the easy level, you can go through the company on more difficult conditions.

Deus Ex

Release date: 2000

"God from" - the first part of the series and marked the beginning of the entire series and many modifications to it, has become one of the best-selling games. The game world is dystopian and cyberpunk. In the role of special agent JC, the player will have to uncover a worldwide conspiracy, the victims of which were innocent citizens. There are no classes in the game, the player is free to pump any skill, as it seems to him more convenient for passing. The series itself is also popular among players.

The last screenshot from the new part of the Deus Ex series: Mankind Divided

The hero must complete quests and conduct dialogues, each time carefully considering his decisions and actions that affect the course of the game. The character's arsenal includes a large selection of weapons, skills in medicine and lockpicking, as well as a set of unique superpowers that become available after nanobots are implanted into your body. Fights with the enemy can be avoided by using ventilation shafts and secret passages.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption

Release date: 2000

Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption is a gothic story set in the Middle Ages in Europe, and in the metropolises of the modern world. The player is destined to manage a squad of vampires led by a famous warrior. Christoph was once a crusader who saved an entire settlement from bloodsuckers, becoming a legend. In revenge, the enemies decided to convert him, thereby determining his fate.

The character will have to go in search of his beloved, the nun Anechka. The whole plot is based on the love line. The game has magical abilities that are unique for each hero. Disciplines make it possible to strengthen resistance to fire, allow you to see in the dark, revive dead bodies, summon souls, and read the aura of opponents.

Wizardry 8

Release date: 2001

Genre: RPG

Wizardry 8 is surrounded by an atmosphere of exciting adventures of a fearless warrior who is destined to find the Three Mystical Artifacts, formerly the cunning Warlock, who longs for incredible power. The action of the plot develops on the planet Dominus, where the character ends up accompanying the Muuk, who owns the Chaos of Molari. After the death of the employer, the player will have to decide the fate of the universe himself.

To create the perfect hero, eleven races and fifteen classes are provided. The parameters of the fighter and his functionality in battles depend on the main choice. And also in the game there is a large assortment of magical skills, all kinds of weapons, armor, and tools with magical abilities. Huge game world with many different locations. The plot events take place both in the dungeons and on the surface.

Gothic 1 and 2

Release date: first 2001 second 2002

Gothic is a classic RPG game with class selection, leveling and open world exploration. All events are developing on the island of Khorinis. The main character will have to fight with crazy magicians who want to destroy the barrier and wake up the Sleeper. The player has a chance to join one of the guilds. Gothic 2 became the most popular. According to many game publishers, it became the "Best RPG of the Year"

The main character has access to such skills as theft, opening locks. Armory allows you to use a bow, swords, crossbow. Experience allows you to increase the parameters of the hero. It can also be done with good equipment. Completion of quests and side tasks, as well as relationships with the characters affect the development of the story.

Anachronox

Release date: 2001

Genre: Third person RPG

Anachronox allows the player to feel like a failed detective living on a planet that was once the stronghold of an alien civilization. Sylvester Bucelli has a long and difficult journey to investigate the mysterious events taking place around him. He is destined to find ancient artifacts of extinct aliens that give access to mysterious abilities and save the galaxy.

The space saga inspires the hero to join battles, have conversations, explore various locations, acquire allies, use power strikes that become available after completing side tasks. Turn-based battles develop special tactics, giving you the opportunity to prepare for a fight with the bosses. Quests carry a huge amount of information that will come in handy in the further development of the plot.

Dungeon Siege 1 and 2

Release date: first 2002 second 2005

Genre: RPG, Hack and Dash

Dungeon Siege is a popular RPG one of the clones of Diablo. The game has more game content: 100 enemies and spells, a large number of playable characters that, in addition to simple communication, can help the hero by following him. The medieval atmosphere of the magical universe will push the fearless warrior against a crowd of monsters such as the undead, spiders, bloodthirsty wolves and giant scorpions.

The character can form his squad from allies and pets. If the hero is defeated in battle, then he is automatically transferred to the nearest city, where he must resurrect, the same applies to members of his team who did not have time to revive during the battle. In the inventory of a warrior, there are a sufficient number of cells to collect trophies. But the more enemies and various chests he encounters in the story, the more voluminous a travel bag is required, which can be expanded by buying backpacks.

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind

Release date: 2002

Genre: RPG, open world

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind is the third installment in the series. Received over 60 awards. It has a well-designed open world with freedom of action. The game is a classic RPG game. Where you can create your character, explore the world and complete side and main tasks of the game. A system of dialogues in which, depending on the attitude towards you, they will change. You can insult in the dialogues and so on.

In terms of pumping, the parameters and skills of the hero are improved, thanks to the points of experience gained. The weapons and armor in the arsenal are diverse, as are the materials from which they are created. Equipment classification affects stamina, strength and amount of life. Magic is available in the form of reusable spells and scrolls that disappear after use. Health is restored through sleeping, potions and eating food. And also the main character has thieves' skills.

Arx Fatalis

Release date: 2002

Arx Fatalis First person RPG. In the world of Exost, all terrestrial peoples, after the fall of a mysterious meteorite, moved to the dungeon, setting up a shelter there. The huge complex consists of eight tiers, each of which is inhabited by separate races. Creatures are divided into goblins, humans, trolls, Ederney Sisters, gnomes, and ratmen. The main character is destined to resist a mystical cult that worships the god of the Void. His goal is to prevent the penetration of a bloodthirsty entity into the magical world.

Many battles with monsters, performing various tasks, learning magical abilities with the help of found runes. The choice of equipment is very diverse. Weapons include swords, daggers, hammers, bows. Armor is represented by different types: armor, chain mail, cuirasses. And also the hero can use two enchanting rings, which endow him with witchcraft properties.

Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2

Release date: first 2002 second 2006

Genre: RPG

Neverwinter nights is a game that includes about 200 different spells and about 200 monsters. The game will allow you to play any combination of seven races and eleven classes, as well as develop several classes at the same time. Both parts were awarded with many awards, such as "Best RPG of the Year", "Best Game Atmosphere" and so on.

The player has at his disposal the choice of a hero, a lot of valuable things and gold left after defeating the enemy, as well as hidden in chests, boxes and garbage heaps scattered throughout the magical world. Each time the adventurer dies in combat, he can respawn in the temple and continue on his journey again. You can take up to five allies with you on a hike. Armor and weapons are easy to purchase from the ubiquitous merchants and sell unnecessary booty there.

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Release date: 2003

Genre: RPG, open world

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a Star Wars game. Gained wide popularity and continued in other parts. Won many awards in gaming magazines. Knights Of The Old Republic has one race and six classes for the player, as well as two classes and 5 races for companions. The leveling of the hero occurs when gaining experience, which can be obtained by killing the enemy, completing quests and applying skills.

The game features a huge world with picturesque planets and large-scale structures. At the beginning of the gameplay, you can choose one class: soldier, scoundrel, scout. In the future, there will again be a choice when an experienced warrior decides whose army to join. The range of allies is wide, but only one is allowed to take with you on a mission. Magic in this universe is replaced by Force, which can be used during battle. Any action affects the development of the story and its ending.

Space Rangers

Release date: 2002

Genre: RPG, open world, turn-based strategy,

Space Rangers is a multi-genre game of domestic developers. It has a role-playing component, elements of strategy, and a space simulator. Many players are nostalgic. The gameplay of the game is that we travel through space systems, trade with planets, fight with a hostile race, rob diplomats and transport, or vice versa drive pirates. Also on the planets, you can perform government tasks, which are various text quests or planetary battles (real-time strategy).

The story does not have a clear storyline. A hostile race is attacking the worlds of the galaxy and we need to deal with it by finding the control center. The passage of space rangers implies a leisurely passage with freedom of action. With the money you earn, you can buy yourself a new ship and better equipment for the ship. Pay attention to Space Rangers HD: A War Apart, a good stand-alone add-on that includes all the features of the old CR and even new ones.

Fable: The Lost Chapters

Release date: 2004

Genre: Third person RPG, open world

Fable: The Lost Chapters is a third-person role-playing game that tells the story of a little orphan who was taken in by a member of the Guild of Heroes. The main feature of the game is that everything the hero does is reflected in him. Fighting with a sword - muscles grow, shooting from a bow - accuracy increases, the character grows fat from gluttony, and scars appear from wounds, and so on.

The character is given a wide range of actions in the game. He can go through all sorts of quests, fight monsters, robbers, giant insects, search chests, pick locks, buy real estate, get married, fish. The location has several secret places that become available if the young warrior correctly answers the question of the talking door. In such rooms, you can find a lot of useful things.

Vampire: The Masquerade-Bloodlines

Release date: 2004

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines gives the player a chance to be in the place of a newly converted vampire, who is destined to become a member of one of the communities of ancient bloodsuckers that rule invisibly in the human world. His task is to find the mythical sarcophagus that arrived in Los Angeles, carry out the orders of the Prince, fight insidious monsters and evil spirits hunters. Each step and choice of the hero determines the development of subsequent events. The ending also depends on the chosen clan.

A character, turning into a mystical creature, acquires a superpower - Madness, which increases his parameters of dexterity and strength, but the skill must be constantly controlled by humanity, it can create a problem if used at the wrong time. The arsenal includes many types of firearms and bladed weapons, as well as a flamethrower, grenades and a crossbow.

World Of Warcraft

Release date: 2004

Genre: MMORPG

World of Warcraft is the MMORPG with the largest number of registered players. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records and has made a great contribution to gaming culture. You need to pay a subscription to play. The game allows the player to contribute to the fate of the vast world, performing great feats, completing tasks, fighting hordes of monsters and mastering professions. The hero has at his disposal a lot of quests and storylines, as well as a large selection of locations. The world of World of Warcraft is simply huge, you can play it for thousands of hours.

The character can choose a race, become a member of a guild, participate in battles in the Arena, complete group missions, such as going to bosses. The class of equipment depends on the skill of the warrior and his experience in making equipment. Weapons and armor can be obtained by successfully completing certain missions from the faction. By increasing your reputation, you can get nice bonuses. Despite the diversity of MMOs in our time, "Military Craft" still holds the leading lists.

Titan Quest

Release date: 2006

Titan Quest Top-down RPG similar to Diablo. In the game, we explore the world, destroy crowds of monsters and upgrade our hero. Locations contain extensive maps of Greece, Egypt, Eastern countries and Olympus. The player will have to follow the storyline and visit all the territories one by one to get to the sacred mountain where the main villain Typhon is hiding. The game is saturated with legends and mythology of ancient states.

A diverse bestiary allows you to engage in battles with mythical creatures, fictional races, carnivorous plants, as well as members of various cults. Weapons, armor, artifacts and potions, each time you enter the game, are randomly generated in the same chests. The same applies to items dropped by slain enemies. A warrior is able to develop only two types of skill out of nine during the passage.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

Release date: 2006

Genre: RPG, open world

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is a classic open-world RPG. When released, it immediately became very popular and was a huge commercial success. Received its success, thanks to the detailed traced vast world, a lot of interesting innovations at that time. Players were attracted precisely by the fact that in the game you can do everything except follow the main plot. As a rule, they always put it off until the last moment and just study the world.

According to the game mechanics, this is an action game, both from the first person and from the third person, at the discretion of the player, as he likes more. In general, the game has a classic gameplay - we complete tasks, gain experience and download the hero. We get improved weapons and armor for our hero. Also in the game, according to all the canons, you can use magic, make potions and craft.

bioshock

Release date: 2007

Genre: first-person shooter with RPG elements

BioShock - can be more attributed to the shooter, but it has RPG elements and pumping the hero, which play an important role. Actions take place in the sixtieth year of the twentieth century. The game was a wild success. And all this thanks to the atmosphere of the game. Personally, according to the author, this is one of the atmospheric games.

In the game, we explore the "Rapture" along the way, destroying the crazy and changed inhabitants of the city. The game has submachine guns, as well as "Plasmids" that allow the player to use telekinesis, freeze burn, and so on. Weapons in the game can be upgraded with mods. There are also bosses in the game.

Mass Effect 1-3

Release date: 2007-2012

Genre: third-person shooter, RPG

The Mass Effect series is a third-person sci-fi space action game. The player will play the role of Captain Shepard, gender and appearance can be selected at the beginning of the company. The main character can choose a class and gender. The game has a huge range of quests, both main and side. It depends on the actions of the character how the crew members will treat him and whether there will be love affairs between some of them. By the way, just these connections and scandals with them brought the series even more popularity.

The gameplay allows not only to improve the found and purchased equipment, but also to upgrade the combat ship on which we travel. We can also recruit other characters into the team, who gradually join us during the passage of the game. In each mission, you can take no more than three allies, choosing from all team members. At the end of the game, giving orders to the crew members, we will decide their fate - who will die and who will survive.

Fallout 3-4 New Vegas

Release date: 2008-2015

Genre: RPG, open world, post-apocalyptic

Fallout is a post-apocalyptic RPG. Sequel to 1 and 2 Fallout. But the genre has changed in the game, now it is not a turn-based strategy, but an action from the first and third person. The game has won many awards and has rightfully become a cult game. All parts have many additions. The main thing in the game is the atmosphere. We play as survivors of a nuclear war and explore the wasteland, finding other survivors of the war.

In all parts, a wide variety of weapons, ranging from stab-cutting to mini-nuclear shells. In New Vegas and the fourth part, the possibility of modifying weapons and armor also appeared. Fallout attracts with its large open world and its exploration. Often, players do not immediately complete the story missions, but complete additional ones, and find more and more new opportunities in the game.

The Witcher 1-3

Release date: 2007-2015

Genre: RPG, open world

The Witcher trilogy is the story of the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, who is destined not only to save the common people from bloodthirsty monsters, but also to reveal the insidious plots of secret orders and royalty. The hero will have feats on the battlefield and on the love front. He will face a difficult choice, where the fate of not only friends, but also entire nations depends on his decisions.

The Witcher has the ability to use the magic of signs in battle, different styles of combat, and create magical potions. The huge game world gives a chance to travel to different parts of the magical land. The storyline allows you to complete many side tasks, thereby increasing the experience of the hero, which is used to upgrade skills. Killing all kinds of monsters contributes to the acquisition of trophies, as well as valuable substances for making magical decoctions.

Risen 1 and 2

Release date: first 2009 second 2012

Genre: RPG, open world

The first two parts of Risen tell the story of an adventurer who is destined to save the world from powerful Titans. The plot of the first episode takes place on the island of Faranga, where the hero has to find mystical relics and fight the Fire Monster. The second series takes the character's adventures to the continent of Arborea and the nearby islands, where they search for Steelbeard, whose knowledge will help stop the impending apocalypse.

The player will face dangerous battles with monsters inhabiting wild places. The bestiary is very diverse, and weak-looking opponents sometimes turn out to be extremely strong. The choice of weapons allows you to kill the enemy at a distance and in close combat. Magical abilities are limited. The fighter has the opportunity to join one of the guilds, each of which has its own advantages.

Dragon Age: Origins

Release date: 2009

Genre: RPG

Dragon Age: Origins is a classic third-person role-playing game, but with a strategic twist. For example, during a battle, you can pause the game and give orders to your team members. Dragon Age: Origins was the best game and RPG for 2009 according to many game publishers.

The player is given a choice of hero by race and class. Each selected character has its own backstory. Before passing a new mission, you can take three allies with you to the team. The formation of a combat team is possible in the location of the camp. During the battles, each of the squad members gains experience that improves their skills. In the game, it also depends on the actions of the player how the attitude towards him changes and which path he chooses - good or evil.

Mount & Blade: Warband

Release date: 2010

Mount & Blade: Warband is a full-fledged addon to the original for the game, in which a multiplayer mode appeared. The action takes place in the pre-medieval period, but there are no fantasy elements. The player can surround himself with followers and become the ruler of his own kingdom and fight large-scale battles, keeping a close eye on his soldiers, who may desert at the wrong time or stop following orders.

The combat system allows the player to ride and fight on a horse. During the battle, you can parry and block with a shield. You can also pick up weapons on the battlefield and use them. Network battles will allow up to 64 players to fight on maps. The hero gains experience for killing enemies and getting a new level, you can already distribute new attribute points.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Release date: 2011

Genre: RPG, open world

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim delights with large-scale territories and landscapes of the ice kingdom. Here the Jarls rule the cities, and the factions want to get a stranger into their ranks. The player is the notorious type that they try to recruit with the promise of honorary membership after they complete certain tasks. Skyrim is one of the top 10 RPGs of all time according to multiple gaming publishers.

The game has a huge selection of locations and quests that complement impressive battles. The school of magic allows you to learn new spells after each level. Dovahkiin was initially endowed with the Scream ability, which he improves by absorbing the souls of dragons. During the passage, you can become a vampire, a cannibal and a werewolf. A warrior has a decent assortment of armor and weapons in his arsenal.

Dark Souls 1-3

Release date: 2011-2016

Genre: RPG, open world

Dark Souls is a role-playing game that can be described as Pain. Why? Because in this game you will constantly die, constantly suffer and be perplexed. Dark Souls is a game where without competent pumping, you can not move further. For this, many people loved her. The game is a third-person action game where we fight the dead and the lords.

The game has a wide variety of weapons and armor: straight and curved swords, daggers, battle axes, spears, halberds, shields and more. In battles, you can use parries, counters, blocks, jumps and rolls. According to the gameplay, we explore different locations and destroy mobs and bosses in them along the way. Souls in the game replace money. By destroying mobs, we collect souls, which can later be used to improve the hero or weapons.

Bastion

Release date: 2011

Genre: RPG

Bastion is an isometric action game with RPG elements (top view). The world is presented in the form of air islands. The protagonist travels through the destroyed locations, whose main task is to find the rods to improve the only surviving city "Bastion". In the bastion, you can build a forge, an arsenal, a monument, as well as improve weapons. The game became commercially successful and gained many fans.

In Bastion, the presentation of the plot is well implemented. Russ is the narrator. And as we progress, the whole truth about the world is revealed to us and what is the only surviving city. Variety in the game makes the possibility of modifying weapons. Each weapon can be upgraded to the fifth level by choosing one of two possible bonuses at each level. Again, all of this is free to change at any point between missions.

Dragon Age II

Release date: 2011

Genre: RPG

Dragon Age II is a magical world of Thedas, where the main character, who fled from Ferelden from Blight to the Free Marches, will have to restore his reputation and earn the title of a great hero. The player is given the opportunity to choose gender, name and class. He can be a mage, a rogue or a warrior, each variant has its own unique abilities. When going on a mission, Hawk can take three more allies with him if they joined his squad earlier.

The game is available for trade, treasure hunting, completing difficult quests that pay off the efforts spent with a valuable reward. During battles, a pause allows you to give orders to an ally. Saving is not tied to a specific point and can be done at any moment. Equipment and items significantly increase the parameters of the protagonist. And gifts improve relationships with companions.

Borderlands 2

Release date: first 2009 second 2012

Genre: first-person shooter with role-playing elements

Borderlands 2 is a successful mix of RPG and first-person shooter with a unique hand-drawn style. Dark humor, violence, swearing, pirates, bandits, heroes, villains, explosions!, suicides, friends, enemies, romance, knights, monsters, dragons, scientists, tons of weapons, from the number of which the head is spinning and that's all Borderlands!

The game has a choice of characters, as well as their pumping. It is also possible to modify weapons. There is also a wide variety of locations and other NPS that give tasks. The game can also be played in co-op. In general, the game takes about 50 hours of gameplay.

Pillars of Eternity

Release date: 2015

Genre: RPG

Pillars of Eternity Deep RPG with a detailed world. Where simple notes convey whole stories. The game received many positive reviews. The main character can take up to five assistants in his squad, who will not only become a support in battles, but also reveal some details of the plot. By completing faction assignments, the squad earns a certain reputation and rewards.

The game has six races and nine classes applicable to the main character. Magic spells written in grimoires that are used during fights with the enemy remain available until the mana bar runs out. The player is subject to such abilities as disarming traps, interacting with partners, selling and buying items and equipment, and creating weapons. During the battle, you can pause the game and give orders to your assistants.

Torchlight 2

Release date: 2012

Genre: RPG, top view

Torchlight 2 is an open-world top-down RPG with cute cartoon graphics, good controls and user-friendly interface. The game has multiplayer and co-op. The game is the best in its hack and slash style and has gained a large fan base.

Detailed character editor. The hero can be created based on the desires of the user by assigning one of four classes to him. In local reservoirs, there is access to fishing. The catch can be fed to the pet, transforming it into various monsters, for an effective battle with the enemy. The game has multiplayer and the possibility of co-op.

Dust: An Elysian Tail

Release date: 2013

Genre: RPG

Dust: An Elysian Tail An RPG with a short but heartbreaking storyline. The game takes place in the fictional world of Falan, inhabited by cute animals. The protagonist named Dust does not remember his name and tries to remember it. Locations in the form of green forests and abandoned haunted houses, mystical dungeons and volcanic mountains and all this conveys a good atmosphere.

Among other things, the game has a lot of action, filed in the form of a slasher, good graphics and musical accompaniment. The battles in the game are simple but interesting. We can perform combos and special attacks that are carried out together with our assistant Fidget. Each level we get a power stone that can be invested in one of 4 parameters: strength, defense, health and Fidget.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing

Release date: 2013

Genre: RPG, Hack and Dash

Van Helsing. New Story is a top-down slasher RPG. The main character is Vag Helsing, who, together with his ghost companion, destroys many enemies. There are several classes to choose from. With the increase in the level that we receive for killing enemies, we can download the characteristics of the hero and other skills. You can also pump and assistant Lady Katarina.

In the arsenal of the hero there are many types of firearms, protective hats, amulets, raincoats. He can use military equipment in battles. The protagonist explores different locations and receives tasks from non-player characters. The game has humor. Also an element of the Tower Defense, where we build defensive structures to defend the resistance base.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Release date: 2014

Genre: RPG

Dragon Age: Inquisition A role-playing game with a large open world and tons of possibilities. It is possible to select a class, each of which has its own upgrade branch. The game also has a nice functionality in the form of control of the Inquisition. There is a tactical component. We see on the map what is happening and send our assistants there, or we go ourselves. The game has many additional quests.

On missions, you can take three more heroes to the team. During the battle, you can pause and give orders to your assistants. The game is really big. There is a cumbersome crafting system and a little inconvenient. It is inconvenient because you need to constantly move between the forges. The game has a well-developed plot and is really interesting. Dragon Age: Inquisition was the best RPG of the year, although it was released towards the end.

Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2

Release date: First 2014 Second 2017

Genre: RPG, turn based strategy,

Divinity: Original Sin is a turn-based strategy and open world RPG made in the canons of the old school of role-playing games. The game was made for the gathering of players, and became one of the best RPGs that ever existed. A beautiful world, competent and most importantly a variety of interesting tasks performed in the form of investigations or theft. A bunch of text dialogues, a lot of content, the ability to interact with objects in all sorts of ways and excellent musical accompaniment.

We manage two heroes who can often disagree with each other. The game can be played in co-op. Powerful pumping and bonuses that depend on your actions in the game. For example, if you are kind, you get a bonus to charisma, if you are selfish, you get a bonus to trade, and so on. In the game, you can rob a cat, get a bush out of your pocket and hide in it, and much more.

Wasteland 2: Director's Cut

Release date: 2014

Genre: RPG, turn-based strategy

Wasteland 2 is a post-apocalyptic turn-based strategy in the spirit of the first parts of Fallout. It was made thanks to the collections of fans. A game with freedom of action and a minimum of hints. Lots of humor in both quests and dialogues. For example, there is a quest where you just need to follow the turtle for half an hour, which will lead to the treasure. There are also many tasks in which, acting differently, we get a different alignment.

According to the plot of the game, we act as rangers, the only remaining stronghold of law in a destroyed world. There are several characters in our group, along the way you can take others that we will meet, each of which has its own history and tasks associated with them. A large system of pumping and skills of all characters.

Legend of Grimrock 2

Release date: 2014

Genre: RPG, magic

Legend of Grimrock 2 is a good old rpg with puzzles, treasures, pumped characters. Simple gameplay - we control a squad of four captive prisoners on the island. Each member of the team can be pumped and armed.

The game has five main races and eight classes inherent in the characters. Throughout the territory, you can look for hidden treasures, fish, get acquainted with the mysterious records of the mystical Lord, solve puzzles. But the main mission of the team is to find a person who has been living in these places for many years.

South Park: The Stick of Truth

Release date: 2014

Genre: RPG

South Park: The Stick of Truth - based on the famous animated series. The game is made in 2.5D graphics. It has a turn based combat system. The main feature of the game is black delusional humor. You will fight with such characters as Chelmedosvin, fascist rats, aliens, gnomes. As special abilities, you will use farting.

South Park World is a small fictional town that we explore and complete tasks. The city itself is small and the game has fairly short gameplay for an RPG. There is a pumping of the character and his skills. The weapon in the game can be an ordinary loaf. It's hard to describe the game, you just have to play it.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut

Release date: 2014

Genre: RPG, turn-based strategy

Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut is a tactical game where the hero is destined to find a mystical monster, a dragon who dreams of punishing the inhabitants of the earth, for attempting to destroy. Events take place in an alternate universe. The player will be embodied in the image of a fearless fighter for justice, who is forced to become the only hope of mankind. He must uncover terrible conspiracies, engage in battles and skirmishes. Among his enemies are both ordinary hooligans and experienced mercenaries.

The episode contains five story missions that will dilute the story of the original version. The character will have to travel, have long conversations, increase experience in a few fights, look for first-class equipment in stores, and solve complex puzzles. Playing time is about fifteen hours.

Transistor

Release date: 2014

Genre: RPG, action

Transistor is a top-down sci-fi action role-playing game. Transistor takes place in the town of Clydebank. One of the best and most atmospheric indie games. Beautiful graphics, beautiful music and a story that opens the story that excites your soul. The player will have to incarnate in the fair sex, who craves retribution. Red is destined to find the mysterious men who assassinated her in the past.

The combat system relies on the tactical component. During the fight, we can pause and give commands to our heroine, and after wringing out, she will execute them. The graphics and music of the game are great, something we can expect from the creators of Bastion. There is also a system for pumping the heroine. By killing enemies, we gain a level and points that can be spent on passive or active skills.

The Banner Saga 1-3

Release date: 2014-2018

Genre: RPG, turn-based strategy

The Banner Saga turn-based strategy opens up the amazing world of the Scandinavian Vikings for the player, where he is destined to decide his fate with the help of three heroes: Ubin, Hakon, Ruk. The actors will share their views on the current situation. The harsh deities of Valhalla left humanity and now endless winter reigns on the once fertile lands, which apparently is not going to leave these parts if something is not done. What caused the terrible events, the brave warriors have to find out.

The gameplay allows for instant travel between locations, but the characters will lose stamina. To restore it, you need to constantly make passes and eat well, otherwise the daredevils can suffer death. You can replenish provisions in trading shops for fame points. The reward is available after completing tasks.

Undertale

Release date: 2015

Genre: RPG

Undertale is an indie game with pixel art. But this is the category of games that tells us that the graphics are secondary. The game makes you feel. For example, in this game, you can spare the mobs. You have to try on the role of a child who fell from Mount Ebott in the Dungeon and wants to return home. The kid will have to find his way to the surface, explore the dungeon, fight monsters or win their favor. The development of the whole plot and its ending depend on the perfect deeds. Solving all problems peacefully and avoiding battles, you can come to a very pleasant ending.

You can save the game only in special places. Every time you go on another adventure, you should thoroughly prepare so as not to start the mission again. During the journey, the hero gains special points that determine his levels of violence and love. To cross the magical Barrier, you need the soul of a ruthless Monster or a merciful Angel. Who the character becomes is influenced by the actions and behavior in the gameplay.

Darkest Dungeon

Release date: 2016

Genre: RPG, turn-based, roguelike

Darkest Dungeon is a turn-based and dark RPG with inevitable death and the loss of your heroes. The atmosphere of the game breathes doom and hopelessness. The essence of the game is that we select heroes. Then we choose a party of four from them and explore the catacombs and dungeons fighting mobs.

Heroes can experience stress, which at a high level is transferred to others. Heroes can get sick. The game can be played slowly, but the main thing in it is the presence of the brain. In the game, the selection of a team and the pumping of heroes are of great importance.

Grim Dawn

Release date: 2016

Genre: RPG, Hack and Dash

Grim Dawn is one of the best hack and slash RPG games that combines atmospheric, addictive, exciting pumping, and a well-thought-out world. The game has a large open world. Good graphics and music. There is a choice of 6 classes, lots of loot and multiplayer.

Heroes are given to use various equipment in their wanderings, develop by increasing their experience and discovering new skills, fight against powerful enemies, connect pets to battles, modify weapons. A warrior can have any specialization from the occultist to the demolitionist. The open world allows you to make long journeys.

Best Online RPGs

Neverwinter

Release date: 2016

One of the best MMORPGs of our time, which first of all makes you fall in love with a detailed plot. He is so good here that sometimes you even forget whether you are playing an online game or a solo project. The boundaries are erased. Moreover, the game is made according to the D&D setting, which means that players will have many heroes with different characteristics, the ability to recruit a team of up to 5 characters and complete missions, controlling several heroes at once, etc.

PLAY

Separately, it is worth mentioning the presence of a special editor in the game, with the help of which players can add their own content to the project (fan missions can be found through a special item in the interface). In general, all fans of strong role-playing games (and not only online ones) must familiarize themselves!

Reborn

Release date: 2015

Genre: MMORPG

An excellent MMORPG that can safely claim to be one of the best in its genre. In the game, players begin their journey from a mere mortal to a deity by choosing one of four character classes. There are pets, riding mounts, as well as a personal elf that strengthens the hero.

PLAY

Of course, the gameplay here is not much different from that in other MMORPGs: we explore locations, complete missions, kill mobs and tame pets that help collect loot that has fallen from opponents, saving players from having to be distracted by such a trifle. One of the features of the project are the elves, which you need to grow in order to raise your character's characteristics. Your elf will need to be fed from time to time, then he will be able to significantly help in battles.

The world of computer role-playing games is developing more and more actively every year. The best RPGs on PC set the bar not only for the product of their genre, but also for other areas in computer games. This is an open game world with a well-thought-out plot and its own history. An ideal example for familiarization is the game "". Entering the top RPG games, it will be a great start to get acquainted with the genre. During their progress, RPG games on the computer have gone far ahead in their development. In the best games of this genre, the player will explore interesting worlds with an unusual story and thoughtful plot. The player is left to decide how he will behave in this world: will he be a villain and a threat to all civilians, or will he be known as a noble warrior? Moral choice will significantly add realism. The best RPG games for PC will not let you get bored - your choice will significantly affect what happens in the game universe!

RPG games for PC

Russian RPG games are a good reason to get acquainted with the product of domestic developments. Are you interested in the topic of medieval battles? Do you like stories related to dragons and other mythical creatures? Or maybe you have the spirit of the battle with modern technology? In our catalog of games you will definitely find something that will be to your liking!

Best RPGs on PC

Moving along the chain of intertwined events, your character will be directly involved in them.

What happens to you will affect your skills. Gain experience and improve your agility, intelligence, strength, magic. Often these areas have large branches of development. Also, what is happening to you can affect your skills in a bad way! In the world of The Elder Scrolls, if you commit a crime and end up in jail, staying in a cramped cell for a long time will affect your performance in a bad way.

You can explore the list of the best RPGs on our website!

Three main directions in RPG on PC

RPG games on PC have their own sub-genres. You can find the best RPG games of 2015, 2016, 2017 and other years on our website, but before that, let's clarify - how can they differ from each other?

RPG sandbox: in this genre, your character will be in an open world, the game will give you the opportunity to move around it as you wish. The main plot does not negate the fact that, in addition to standard quests, there will be a few more small, independent plots in the game. The huge world will also provide you with a large number of locations to explore.

RPG storytelling: the game is tied to the existing storytelling in it. The player, captivated by the story, goes further and further along it, and the game universe changes depending on what stage your character is at. RPGs on PC have taken a special step forward in this direction.

Clearing locations: the goal of the game is to kill opponents, and one of the main points is to get the best equipment possible. Such games are seasoned with a fascinating plot and an interesting branch of skill development. Every year the RPG genre gets a lot of new stuff!

RPG top

Our catalog is always open to get acquainted with the best RPG games. RPG games in Russian, free RPGs, legendary representatives and novelties - you can find all this here! When choosing to search by popularity, you can always be sure that you will not bypass the best new RPGs and older representatives of the genre!

Which RPG to choose?

Everything depends on you. Modern RPGs will not leave anyone indifferent - the choice is truly great. We have already dealt with the main directions, you can study in more detail and choose free RPG games on the site.

Check out our list of RPG games for PC and you will find what you are looking for. Interesting game!

The RPG genre has a long and exciting history. The best RPGs include the best traditions of storytelling, deep, absorbing gameplay, vast absorbing universes full of mysteries and quests. Our list of the best RPGs (TOP 30 RPGs) would be incomplete without the recently released Kingdom Come, so meet the TOP 31 Best RPGs

Kingdom Come: Deliverance


  • Developer: Warhorse Studios
  • Platforms: PC, XBOX One, PS4
  • Release date: February 13, 2018

Kingdom Come: Deliverance has become one of the most anticipated for many projects since its announcement. The main reason for this is the desire of the developers to make the most realistic life simulator in medieval Europe. Players have long been fed up with dragons, magic and other fabulous nonsense, so the story of a simple blacksmith's son interested them in earnest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73BOreieETk Video can't be loaded: Kingdom Come Deliverance Gameplay Trailer (PS4 - Xbox One) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73BOreieETk)

The second undeniable plus of the game is its combat system. There is no simple click-and-click that you see in most slashers and RPGs, and there is no roll/roll system from Dark Souls and similar games either. But gamers are offered to participate in sword fights, where the success of an attack or a block depends on the correct choice of direction (there are five of them in the game). It is very important to choose the right timing and react to what position the enemy will be in.

Fallout 1-2


A series of games where each part is considered a cult. The plot is based on a post-apocalyptic world that survived a nuclear war. Here the main character has to go to the lifeless wastelands. On his way there are difficulties: from radioactive rats to mutants that have flooded this already dangerous world. However, a whole set of tools will help you in the fight against them: character development, companions and just a bunch of all kinds of things scattered throughout the location. If we talk about the plot component, it is imperative to highlight the dialogues, each replica of which affects the world and the attitude of its inhabitants towards you.

Even with the outdated graphics, the excellent RPG content, the story and the world itself help convey the post-apocalyptic atmosphere that won the hearts of many fans.

Baldur's Gate 1 and 2


In the year of the release of the first part, two million copies of it were sold. You have to find yourself in the body of a descendant of the ancient god of war. The son, for certain reasons, decided to go his own way, but he can’t even imagine how many trials await him ahead.

Companions will help not only in battle: their witty remarks and verbal skirmishes very often cause a smile and help to penetrate the universe even deeper. If you pass Baldur's Gate, you will certainly become part of a huge army of fans of this franchise.

Diablo 2 and 3


A classic representative of the RPG genre: several classes to choose from and the ability to destroy crowds of enemies. You are the center of the story, you are the main character. Probably, it was the filigree implementation of the idea that allowed Diablo 2 to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the fact that licensed copies of the game sold out faster than hot cakes.

The goal is quite trivial: the destruction of the main boss, but he has yet to be reached. It is also worth noting the possibility of cooperative passage and the fact that a more difficult level opens only after you cope with an easy one, which encourages players to re-pass already familiar locations, but with a different character class.

Gothic 1 and 2


At the beginning of the current millennium, Gothic managed to make a splash. Back then, no one had heard of The Elder Scrolls series, so the open world with a lot of well-thought-out characters delighted anyone who got into it. The player can join one of the guilds and stop the mad mages from awakening an ancient evil.

In addition to the standard weapon and spell skills, you can also pick locks and steal. Be careful when communicating with other story characters - the future of the entire island depends on your relationship with them!

Dungeon Siege 1 and 2


The Middle Ages, reliable companions and the fight against more than a hundred monsters - what else does a warrior need in order to turn into a legend? The Dungeon Siege series was one of the first clones of the legendary Diablo, which is why it was able to become commercially successful.

We will do without plot spoilers, but only give you one piece of advice - rationally allocate space in your inventory: most items will not have high value, and buying backpacks is not a cheap pleasure.

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind


Despite the fact that Morrowind was already the third part of the series of games, it was he who laid the foundation for The Elder Scrolls to become a legendary project. This is heaven for true RPG fans - you can choose from a variety of races, classes and origins, as well as build a line of relationships with the inhabitants of the fantasy world at your discretion.

As you might have guessed from the name, the game contains not only standard spells and armor, but also scrolls that have incredible power, but disappear after use. The plot does not rush the player, so you have an eternity to complete side quests and get into the atmosphere more and more.

Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2


There are legends that none of the parts of this game can be completed with a completely similar character: 7 races that can choose from 11 classes (or even pump 2 classes at the same time), over two hundred spells and more than 250 opponents.

The main feature is that loot falls not only from opponents - it can be found in chests, amphoras and even trash cans, so you have to explore the entire location in detail so as not to miss anything of value. Take everything that comes to hand - merchants will be happy to accept even what looks like trash.

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Many fans of the Star Wars universe still believe that nothing better than this RPG has appeared, despite the fact that only one race and six classes are available to the player. Moreover, access to them opens gradually, as you gain experience.

Endless flights across the "distant, distant galaxy", a lot of interesting quests and the ability to destroy opponents with a lightsaber - is there anything else you need for happiness? However, you should not make a row - after all, your every decision affects not only the outcome of the game, but also the fate of the whole world. May the force be with you!

Space Rangers


"Space Rangers" cannot be called an RPG in the classical sense, as elements of a turn-based strategy and a test quest are actively used here, but all this is combined so harmoniously that you do not even notice how time flies by.

Although the game does not have a clear storyline, you can complete it in just a few days, or you can stay for several months. It is up to you to decide which side to choose: you can become a real defender of your people, excellent merchants, an outstanding diplomat, or just a pirate. And when you get tired of surfing the expanses of space, take on quests that use elements of real-time strategies.

Fable: The Lost Chapters


Fable gave gamers the opportunity to more deeply associate themselves with the character, because all the consequences of actions are reflected clearly. Injuries leave scars, excess weight appears from overeating - in general, our hero is far from the image of the immortal terminator found in most RPGs.

Here you can even get your own family and castle, and in between battles with huge monsters, fishing is relaxed. Be careful and don't miss the "talking doors" - the correct answer to their question will greatly simplify your passage and give you a lot of useful items.

World Of Warcraft


World Of Warcraft has long been an object of mass culture, even those who are far from the world of games have heard about this MMORPG. Although the game on the official server requires a monthly payment, and the first part of the game was released (think about it!) 13 years ago, the army of loyal fans continues to grow. There are a lot of locations, quests, storylines, and all this is wrapped in the Warcraft universe, which we loved so much after the release of the legendary strategy.

Incredibly, in a world where a lot of new MMOs appear almost every day, World of Warcraft steadily holds the leading position, because the gameplay is not limited to killing monsters and bosses, but offers a lot of opportunities to interact with other players.

Titan Quest


Imagine that you are playing Diablo 2, where ancient mythology is used instead of a fictional fantasy universe. There is simply no better description for Titan Quest.

However, if Diablo gave us freedom of action, here the events develop very linearly, but the interest does not disappear anywhere, as the killings of packs of opponents alternate with plot inserts explaining the motivation of the heroes. And, if you are a fan of Greek mythology, then it is simply contraindicated for you to deprive this game of attention!

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion


Oblivion proved that even a large-scale world can be worked out to the smallest detail, which made it incredibly successful from a commercial point of view. It's hard to find a person who moves quickly through the plot: first, you will probably try all the possibilities of the character, pick up a couple of dozen side quests, and only then lazily get to the end of the first chapter.

The game was developed according to all RPG canons: there is magic, and potions, and brave knights, and many options for pumping your own character. It's nice to be able to switch between first and third person, bringing in a lot of action elements.

bioshock


Some would say that BioShock is more of a shooter with RPG elements, and they will be partly right, but this list would not be complete if this franchise, which made a splash among gamers, was not included in it.

You are traveling through an underwater city created back in the 60s of the last century. However, everything here is far from being as radiant as you might imagine. Your task is not only to save some of its inhabitants, but also to find out what really happened in this world.

Mass Effect 1-3


Saving the universe has never been so unpredictable and elaborate. If in the first part we learn about the outside world mainly from dialogues, then the second part opens the veil of secrecy and offers selection options no longer as straightforward as its predecessor. The player can customize the character in his own image and likeness, as well as become a villain, a hero, or try to find a compromise with himself.

By the way, you can upgrade not only the hero himself, but also companions, as well as the ship, the equipment of which will also play a very important role in terms of the plot. Many criticized the last part for a very simple ending, but all these people forgot about the 80 hours of incredible adventure that follows before it.

Fallout 3-4 New Vegas


The once-legendary tactical RPG series has been reborn as a first-person shooter. No, don't think, all the elements for which we love Fallout so much have remained in place, and the first-person view and a very touching story make you feel the atmosphere of the world after a nuclear war even more.

At the disposal of the player there are even miniature nuclear shells, and in New Vegas opportunities for modifying weapons open up. Exploring the world will take you more than one week, but it has so many well-developed and memorable characters that you definitely won’t regret the time spent.

The Witcher 1-3


The Witcher is primarily remembered for its well-developed game mechanics, as well as the colorful main character - Geralt of Rivia, who demonstrates success not only on the battlefield, but also on the love front.

The side quests here do not look distant: in almost every one of them there is an echo of the main plot, and the passage of quests not only gives experience, but also significantly complicates decision making. The third part became the apogee of the series, collected a huge mass of awards and did not leave any real gamer indifferent.

Dragon Age: Origins


This RPG was developed by the same studio as Mass Effect, so don't be surprised to be able to pause and issue orders to each member of your squad. However, high-quality mechanics appealed to those who ignored the sci-fi action movie, but could not resist the fantasy universe.

When choosing a character, you can get acquainted with his background, but be careful: some of the inhabitants of the world will treat you with prejudice, and some will worship you, but it is up to you to decide whether to respond to good with good.

Mount & Blade: Warband


In principle, the entire series of Mount & Blade games can be singled out, since there are no significant differences in game mechanics, but the setting from the Middle Ages smoothly moves into the Renaissance. You can become an independent ruler of all kingdoms, or remain a loyal vassal.

The main feature lies directly in the battles: you are in the thick of the action and cut enemies on a par with your soldiers, which allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and add adrenaline to your blood. A deep bow to the creators for the network mode - spacious maps for 32 vs 32 battles are perfect for large companies.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim


Skyrim was hailed as one of the best RPGs of all time just a few weeks after release, and it's safe to say that the folks at Bethesda have outdone themselves: Jarl-ruled cities, beautiful northern landscapes, and of course, dragons make it all incredible atmosphere.

You are the chosen one, who is destined to extract souls from mighty monsters that are much larger than you with one cry. There are so many side quests here that will last for several generations, and additions open up opportunities for building a home and a quiet family life. Believe me, the description of this RPG can take several hours, so it's better for you to immerse yourself in the magical world of Skyrim on your own.

Dark Souls 1-3


If you want to run around with a sword drawn and crush hordes of monsters with powerful spells, immediately pass by this franchise. The creators of Dark Souls sought to show that the main character is as close as possible to an ordinary knight, so he constantly suffers in battles with opponents, and an obsessive death counter makes him go through the same mission again and again.

We will warn you right away that the wrong skill can cost you the passage, so carefully consider each of your actions. And one more thing: do not look for gold or loans here, since the local currency is the souls of killed opponents.

Dragon Age II


While you can choose your name, class, and playstyle here, the main catalyst for the story will always be your desire to restore your reputation and prove to the inhabitants of your native land that you are a true hero. As in the previous part, you can form a team and take three companions on a mission.

The main difference from other RPGs is the complexity of side quests - some of them even indirectly affect the plot, and opponents sometimes have extraordinary abilities, due to which they periodically send your companions to another world. However, the reward is definitely worth the effort.

Borderlands 2


Forget about the nuclear wastelands of Fallout, and the picturesque worlds of The Elder Scrolls: in Borderlands 2, in addition to the very noticeable elements of the shooter, you first of all pay attention to the characters and the abundance of black humor. Why is this game on the RPG list?

Because here you can make weapons from almost anything, and there are more combat styles and story options than many people can imagine. The icing on the cake was a thoughtful cooperative mode in which each of the participants has their own role, and success can only be achieved through well-coordinated interaction.

Torchlight 2


The second part of the franchise has become incredibly successful, although in many ways it resembles Diablo. To be honest, Torchlight 2 was very lucky - firstly, the developers came up with an incredibly simple and thoughtful interface, and secondly, the release of Diablo 3 was delayed.

Now about the features of the game. You are given a choice of 4 different classes, each of which opens up access to a unique way of passing. You are also accompanied by a pet that can distract enemies while casting a spell, or fight shoulder to shoulder with you. Multiplayer and cooperative mode greatly increase the replay value.

Dragon Age: Inquisition


Yes, again a game from the same series. The reason is simple - this is one of the reference RPGs that will be popular even many years after the release. Of the novelties - a tactical component, that is, you can send your travelers to other points on the map, where they will complete your assignments.

Among the minuses, the crafting system can be noted: it is quite cumbersome, but after a few weeks spent traveling, you even get used to it. It is also worth paying attention to the plot - it harmoniously fits into the large-scale world, constantly pushing the hero to move forward.

Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2


The developers of Divinity have been experimenting a lot lately, combining RPGs with elements from other genres, but it was in Original Sin that they managed to find the perfect element - a bit of turn-based strategy mechanics.

You are given two characters, but be prepared for the fact that your only companion may not agree with your decisions, which, of course, will affect the gameplay. As expected, all actions affect pumping, but the main thing is that only here you can rob a cat!

Legend of Grimrock 2


If you have seen the times when RPGs were called nothing more than “walkers”, you will definitely like Legend of Grimrock 2. You lead a squad of four captives, each of which can be armed and improved.

Possible activities include catching fish, fighting monsters, searching for treasure, and reading the records of a mysterious lord. However, your main task is to find a person who has spent his entire life on this island.

The Banner Saga


The Banner Saga also combines elements of RPG and turn-based strategy, but the range of tools for interacting with other characters and the outside world is much larger. You have to find out why the gods left the mighty Vikings and plunged their homeland into the world of eternal winter.

It is important to pay attention not only to the development of the character, but also to your warriors: watch their food, arrange passes and raise morale. Although, you, as a real commander, need to be prepared for the fact that not everyone can reach the end of the path.

Darkest Dungeon


A great option for those who are used to thinking through the strategy of passing the dungeon to the smallest detail, but are already tired of relying on irresponsible allies from MMORPGs. Everything is extremely simple here: choose four allies and start clearing the dungeons.

However, this game will not be a ram to pass: your companions can experience severe stress, panic or even get sick, which forces you to carefully develop each step. After all, the loss of a fighter, especially in conditions where the enemy outnumbers you, can be critical.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall


This game is an explosive mixture of classic fantasy and the world of the future. You need to destroy the main enemy, threatening to kill all the locals. And if it was some kind of villain, or artificial intelligence - everything is logical, but, suddenly, the main antagonist is the dragon.

And let you pass Shadowrun: Dragonfall somewhere in 20 hours, it will leave a lot of positive impressions. The developers are pushing us to dialogue with every inhabitant of this world, stimulating us to feel the atmosphere, solve a few puzzles, or uncover a conspiracy.

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The best RPGs for PC guarantee hundreds of hours of exciting adventures in one of the main genres of the platform.

Here are the best RPGs for PC. RPGs have always been considered the cornerstone of PC gaming. Long before the advent of shooters and real-time strategy games, early PC game developers meticulously brought tabletop RPGs into the virtual world, creating action-packed adventures with orcs, wizards, and dangerous caves.

These games gradually added to the worlds of their desktop prototypes, and the RPG genre itself eventually became so popular that games of other genres began to borrow various mechanics and elements from there.

Whenever we compile a list of the best games in a particular genre, the first thing we do is try to understand what defines the "best" game. In this case, the main criterion is the fascination of a particular RPG by modern standards. By the way, this applies to all games of any other genre.

Of course, we don't forget the influence of the game - however, innovation and relevance to the industry are not the main selection criteria.

It is quite difficult to find purebred RPGs, because, if you follow the literal definition, every game can be called a role-playing game.

Therefore, this list contains games that meet the canonical definition of RPG - in them the story is in the first place, in them you get used to the role of a character, developing it through skill points, making decisions in dialogues and building complex relationships with companions or non-playable characters. This framework allowed us to narrow down the list of games, although we made a few exceptions for the most prominent representatives of the genre.

Release year: 2015 | Developer: CD Projekt Red | Buy

Many RPGs feature lone wanderers as protagonists, but it’s rare to find a game with a story told as skillfully as in The Witcher 3. First of all, it’s a picturesque setting where you can admire sunsets and incredibly beautiful forests for a long time – even after months of playing, I prefer to move around this world on foot, ignoring the fast travel points.

But the main strength of The Witcher 3 lies in the fact that these luxurious landscapes are populated by NPCs who issue modest but memorable quests, thanks to which we have one of the most vibrant RPGs on the gaming market. In a godforsaken village, the witcher Geralt may stumble upon impoverished elves who have become victims of racism; in another location, he can help the stylish baron reunite with his daughter. Such quests carry an important morality, and it is served quite unobtrusively.

As in The Witcher 2, Geralt has his own goals and aspirations that are clear to any player. Therefore, even killing dangerous monsters and powerful opponents, he does not seem like a superhero. Before us is an ordinary (well, almost) person in unusual circumstances, and it is this fact that makes us empathize with him.

Release year: 2017 | Developer: Larian Studios | Buy

Larian Studios, known mainly as a board game creator, rarely pleases its RPG fans with complete freedom of action. That is why this list could not do without Divinity: Original Sin 2, because in this game you can do whatever comes to mind. For example, kidnap a merchant with a teleportation spell, and then set him on fire using his own blood.

Almost every skill has an alternative (and sometimes quite unexpected) use that can be revealed in the heat of battle.

You can enjoy the crazy experiments and tactical battles in the game in the company of up to four people, and the most interesting thing is that you are not required to work in a team or be in the same part of the world.

Moreover, there are many reasons to fight against each other. It all depends on the player himself, and when four people are connected to the game at once, collisions are inevitable. Just remember: if you decide to freeze your friends and then poison them, be sure to apologize for this act.

Release year: 2015 | Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Buy

There isn't much innovation in Pillars of Eternity; in fact, the game owes its existence to the general nostalgia for Baldur's Gate II on the outdated Infinity Engine. But nevertheless, Pillars of Eternity, even without bright innovations, became a hit.

The graphics here are similar to examples from the 90s, but the script of the game is executed simply masterfully. Obsidian Entertainment has managed to create a wonderful (albeit lacking in humor) story that gracefully touches on themes of religious conflict and social inequality. And almost every corner of the virtual world has its own backstory.

It is worth noting the excellent voice acting, replenished with new lines in the latest patch. The game is incredibly difficult in places, and even in the easiest modes, you will have to guess when to attack and parry in order not to die in battles against several enemies. And there is nothing wrong with that - in an era of excessive lightness of games, Pillars of Eternity looks bright and original.

Release year: 2015 | Developer: Failbetter Games | Buy

There is no other place like the Underground. The eerie subterranean ocean that serves as the setting for Sunless Sea is a vast abyss full of horrors and dangers that will drive even the most daring sailors crazy. In your flimsy little parachute, you navigate dark waters, trading, fighting and engaging in extraordinary adventures on islands inhabited by huge mushrooms or civil war rats.

Sunless Sea looks really impressive in places, but its beauty lies not in the visuals, but in the text. Like the browser game Fallen London from the same developer, Sunless Sea is filled with interestingly written quests, dialogues and descriptions. And he does not limit himself to the atmosphere of gothic horror. Your journey through the Underground can both scare and cheer you. But even in moments of fun, something sinister will be hiding nearby. Something that disturbs the usual peace.

Release year: 2014 | Developer: Obsidian | Buy

This game was not supposed to be successful. Most of the projects under the license turn out to be disgusting, and the role-playing game based on the animated series with artsy animation and an abundance of expletives was doomed to failure. But Stick of Truth suddenly became a hit, and the reason for this is Obsidian's competent work on integrating the world of South Park into the RPG framework.

We assemble our squad using a Facebook-style interface, complete "Deliver the package to Mister Masochist" quests, get sick during battles, and so on. This is not the deepest RPG in this collection, but one of the most fun. In addition, it is perfect for those who want to get acquainted with the genre.

Release year: 2001 | Developer: Ion Storm Dallas | Buy

Former id Software designer Tom Hall was at the helm of his first and only game under the wing of Ion Storm. He wanted to release a turn-based RPG similar to Final Fantasy, but only in a western setting.

It was this style that made Anachronox so memorable: what are only incredibly funny negotiations between Sly Boots and the leader of the mutants, chewing socks. In addition, this is perhaps the only game on the list in which you can add an entire planet to your squad.

Ion Storm built the game on a heavily modified version of the Quake 2 engine, and the project looked extremely unusual. But even today, square models look convincing, and their facial animations make you believe what is happening.

For example, Sly's renounced expression when he is thrown out of the window of his own office looks simply brilliant. Yes, the development of the project was far from smooth, and the final version of the game turned out to be frankly damp, but Anachronox is still interesting to play. It's a pity that Hall's planned sequels never saw the light of day.

Release year: 2018 | Developer: Warhorse Studios | Buy

In this historical RPG set in Bohemia in 1403, we play as a peasant named Henry who becomes involved in a war for his homeland. This is a detailed RPG with a deeply developed sword fighting system, thirst and hunger mechanics, excellent crafting and dozens of slots for the most authentic equipment for that time.

The player is given a surprising amount of freedom here. If you just want to roam the forests and pick mushrooms for sale, then no one bothers you - most importantly, beware of bandits who like to rob loners. The game is far from ideal - it has enough bugs and questionable moments - but this is an RPG in the spirit of the Elder Scrolls. For the sake of the general atmosphere, the project can be forgiven for its shortcomings.

Release year: 2016 | Developer: Crate Entertainment | Buy

If you've already explored every corner of Diablo 2 and want something modern in the same vein, you won't find a better game than this one. Grim Dawn is a dark and addictive action RPG with interesting classes and a beautiful world full of various monsters. In some ways, this is the ideological heir to Titan Quest, created by the same designers and using familiar mechanics.

We remember these mechanics in the 2006 ARPG dedicated to Greek mythology. In Grim Dawn, you can also choose two classes and distribute skill points between them. This allows you to create quite interesting combinations, and the skills themselves are very pleasant to use in practice - and this is a big plus for a game where combat plays a paramount role.

And the plot itself is not bad, if you start from the ARPG standards. Don't expect sudden twists or decisions with far-reaching consequences (this is a game about single-handedly clearing a monster-infested world, after all), but there is a reputation system that affects the difficulty of opponents. In other words, the more enemies you kill, the stronger the new criminals, cult members and monsters that you meet along the way will be.

Local demons and warlords, terrorizing certain areas of the world, are well drawn in dialog boxes and diaries scattered throughout the locations. The game itself is focused on killing and collecting items, and both of these components in Grim Dawn work as efficiently as possible.

Release date: 2018 | Developer: Square Enix | Buy

The smartest Final Fantasy game of 2018 finally has a ported version for PC. Unfortunately, the local open world is far inferior in scale and liveliness to more modern projects, but the graphics still look amazing, and the Gambit system remains one of the most exciting squad leveling systems in RPG history.

With its help, you can prescribe commands that your squad members will automatically follow in battle. You can create any characters and upgrade them in any direction. Vaan under your control can become both a specialist in two-handed swords and a magician who commands the elements. The ported version also has an accelerated mode that saves time on pumping.

Release year: 2014 | Developer: Almost Human Games | Buy

The original Legend of Grimrock was beautiful, first of all, with the familiar Dungeon Master system of creating squads (where the characteristics of the heroes played a big role) and turn-based exploration of the world. The only drawback of the project was that all its action was limited to dungeons. The enemies may have changed, but we kept wandering along the same corridors until the very end of the game.

The sequel offers us to walk not only through the gloomy caves, but also through the open world, which in total gives an unforgettable experience. The enemies here have become more dangerous, and the riddles have become more difficult. As with the original, the element of surprise plays a huge role. You can gleefully kill enemies in batches without feeling any resistance until you suddenly encounter an almost immortal demon. And in a second, flashing your heels, you will understand that retreat is not as shameful as it seemed before.

Release year: 2015 | Developer: tobyfox | Buy

In the first 20 minutes of passing Undertale, it seems like another nod to popular JRPGs - here you have jokes about Earthbound with Final Fantasy, and cute angular graphics, and a general sugary atmosphere. But if you decide to play the game to the end (and realize that it is not so sweet and cloying), you will see that this is an innovative and very touching project.

At times, the game is adept at knocking you out of your comfort zone, remembering little things, and using our expectations of a typical RPG to surprise, delight, or scare us. This is not just a respectful nod to the RPG genre, but a heartfelt message to all RPG fans and an exploration of our relationship with games.

Undertale clearly stands out from other indie RPGs, because even despite the atypical combat system and the virtual absence of a skill tree and hero levels, it has the most important thing: a gorgeous presentation of the story and respect for the player's choices.

Release year: 2016 | Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Buy

Tyranny turned out to be not as outstanding as Pillars of Eternity, which is close in spirit to it, but the setting of the game sets it apart from other RPGs. Here we play as the real embodiment of evil, but instead of sadism and cruelty, Tyranny focuses on cold bureaucracy and ideological issues. As the "Destiny Maker" who serves Lord Kairos, you need to regularly make various decisions and negotiate with enemy armies that do not want to submit to the forces of evil.
Often you have to find a compromise between cruelty and complete inaction. The game has a complex reputation system, where, unlike other morale systems, fear and loyalty are important elements of interaction with factions and allies.

As with Pillars, the pauseable combat and isometric fantasy world in Tyranny is a homage to classic RPGs, and it's not just nostalgic, it's a creative and timely reimagining of the genre's once essential trappings.

Release year: 2013 | Developer: Grinding Gear Games | Download

This beautiful free-to-play action RPG is a real paradise for players who love to build fearsome murder weapons. While not the most glamorous ARPG, the game has an incredibly deep progression system and a well-thought-out free-to-play model, where paid content is purely cosmetic and does not affect the experience of the game in any way. Even if the game looks a little unkempt, and the battles in it are noticeably inferior to the battles in Diablo 3, the pleasure of passing through this RPG is guaranteed.

The multi-level mechanics of Path of Exile already show up on the hero leveling screen, which can be seen in the screenshot at the link. Making your way through the crowds of enemies and leveling up your character, you gradually fill this huge board, honing one or another skill. Equipment customization is done with the same attention to detail. Path of Exile borrows the concept of interconnected slots from Final Fantasy VII.

Each type of weapon and armor has several slots for magic crystals. These crystals, if placed in the correct order, have powerful synergies and in total give significant bonuses to attack parameters (strength, speed, etc.). Ideally, you need to somehow combine these bonuses with your skills in order to achieve maximum effectiveness in combat. Of course, for this you have to sweat a lot, but believe me, it's worth it.

Release year: 2016 | Developer: Red Hook Studios | Buy

The first minutes in Darkest Dungeon are in many ways reminiscent of the XCOM campaign: we assemble a squad of fighters, come up with beautiful names for them, select powerful equipment and send them into battle. And then we understand the full depth of our naivety. Within minutes, your favorite character suddenly gets syphilis. And your healer shows masochistic tendencies and inflicts damage on himself every turn.

Your plague doctor discovers his greed and fills his pockets with gold from the common chest. And after a couple of hours, your team of flawless heroes turns into a bunch of outcasts - in this situation, you are either looking for an individual approach to everyone, or you just use them until they break and replace them with new ones. Like batteries.

In heavily inspired by Lovecraft's work, it's important to be able to make tough but effective decisions. Your heroes will die at the hands of underwater inhabitants, cultists, demons and monsters, but even more often they will return to the base with a damaged mind and on the verge of insanity. Will you spend gold to try to cure them, or will you prefer to use resources to achieve the ultimate goal?

Darkest Dungeon is an ingenious combination of visual style, soundtrack, story and design. Flickering on the screen

hand-drawn monsters, and their appearance affects each of the heroes. It's a tough game, but once you realize that everyone can be expended here (even the kleptomaniac nun you've become very attached to), the brutality becomes the breeding ground for creating mini-stories within one big plot. “Overconfidence is a slow and cunning killer,” as the narrator reminds us.

Release year: 2009 | Developer: TaleWorlds | Buy

Games in which medieval battles are served as they should can be counted on the fingers, and games where the ability to create armies is added to this are even fewer. Training a bunch of farmers to become warriors is great, but we love Mount & Blade because here we play the role of a hero on the battlefield, where the outcome of the battle depends on our skills as well.

Throw in the ability to forge alliances, marry, manage the economy, and you have Warband, a well-thought-out game where the number of enemies and allies is determined by the player's actions. And when you get tired of the single player game, you will find multiplayer and a lot of mods for Mount & Blade - dedicated to the galaxy far, far away.

Release year: 2003 |Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Buy

We love BioWare's original 2002 Neverwinter Nights (and especially its expansion packs), but Neverwinter Nights 2's single-player campaign beats it by far. If the original had a rather weak story mode, created more in order to demonstrate the potential of the Dungeons & Dragons universe, then in the sequel, Obsidian Entertainment, without any hesitation, presented a large-scale story.

And this story is served with proper humor, and allies like a colorful dwarf named Helgar Ironfist continue to delight today. The quality of the project grew as new additions were released. For example, in the ingenious add-on Shadow of the Betrayer, which traces the spirit of Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the story tells about two halves of one world, and Obsidian speaks gracefully on the topics of religion and faith.

Release year: 2002 | Developer: Piranha Bytes | Buy

Gothic 2 was remembered by us for its open world of incredible scale and harsh attitude towards the player. The first time I went through it, I left the city, turned off the main road and came across a crowd of high-level monsters that tore me to pieces in a couple of seconds. I learned from these mistakes throughout the game.

The severity of Gothic 2 is one of the main advantages of the project. The enemies here don't level up like they do in the Elder Scrolls series, and you'll have to carefully read the quest descriptions and dialogues of the NPCs you meet along the way. Once you get used to it (and get used to the awkward controls), you will realize that you have a huge (and, most importantly, alive) RPG-world in front of you, having studied all the secrets of which you will become invincible.

Release year: 2012 | Developer: Bethesda Softworks | Buy

Choose a direction and run. You will surely find some adventure right there, some part of the vast world that will capture you. It is this richness of content that attracts Skyrim. A trip to the guild of magicians will end with an exciting search for knowledge. A random conversation with a random NPC will lead you to a cave at the end of the world where a legendary relic is gathering dust.

You can just pick berries under the mountain and stumble upon a dragon. And what could be better than a sudden battle with a dragon? And if you're somehow researching all of Bethesda's content, head over to the Steam Workshop for the latest mods - the Skyrim community has kept the game in the Steam top 100 since its release and gives us the opportunity to plunge into new adventures in an already familiar world.

Release date: 2018 | Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Buy

In the sequel to the wonderful Pillars of Eternity, a journey to the Deadfire archipelago awaits us. Together with a company of desperate adventurers, you will have to track down the raging god, but before that you will have to master all the intricacies of navigation. While sailing the ocean on the “Daring” ship, you can rob oncoming ships and spend the money you receive on upgrading your ship.

When entering the port, the game switches to a top-down view (like in classic RPGs) so that you can enjoy detailed and rich locations.

Release year: 1992 | Developer: Blue Sky Productions (also known as Looking Glass Studios) | Buy

Once upon a time, designer Paul Nyurath came up with the concept of a dungeon simulator that was supposed to turn traditional notions of role-playing games on its head, calling it Underworld. Together with their team, which would later become the basis of Looking Glass Studios, they created a game with puzzles and NPC interactions atypical for the genre.

Meanwhile, Ultima's Origin Systems studio was so impressed with the 3D engine (you could look up and down here!) and first-person combat that they bought the rights to the game. And so The Stygian Abyss was born. Characters that would be enemies in any other game are our allies in Underworld, which is, frankly, something to be excited about.

It is no longer necessary to attack goblins here - you can dive with them. And when we saw that here you can arrange gatherings around the fire, we just fell in love with the game. Underworld was a technological marvel in 1992, and while the graphics look dated today, the joy of exploring the world of Stygian Abyss hasn't gone away.

Release year: 2014 | Developer: Larian Studios | Buy

Divinity is not your usual Kickstarter success story. Unlike most RPGs, the project was developed directly for co-op - even in the single player version, you control two protagonists at once, keeping in mind their motivations during dialogues. Studio Larian worked out the dialogues in such a way that one of the characters always disagreed with the decision of the second one and could even kill a story-important NPC, and therefore the tasks in the quests had to be solved in extraordinary ways.

Scenario Divinity deserves special praise. Of course, there were sometimes typical missions to kill goblins controlling huge robots, or quests where you had to talk to some dog. But this dog could give out a touching story, because of which it was not a sin to shed a tear. Larian created the world of Divinity with soul, and it shows in every little thing. It's a loose and rich RPG like we haven't seen since Ultima, and it has everything we love about the genre.

Release year: 2005 | Developer: Obsidian | Buy

While BioWare's first KOTOR sticks to classic Star Wars style, KOTOR 2 takes the franchise in a bolder direction. Instead of focusing on the light and dark sides of the Force, the sequel from Obsidian tells us about gray shades. Fragile alliances are created here, which collapse before our eyes and reunite in a few minutes.

Decisions that seemed optimal to you, as a result, lead to betrayal. The result is the most controversial approach to the world of Star Wars, with a superbly written antagonist. Like many of Obsidian's early games, KOTOR 2's complex development process meant that a number of locations had to be cut.

However, there is a fan-made mod that restores this content, including the droid planet, as well as fixing a number of bugs - all of which demonstrates that PC gamers are ready to move mountains to get the full version of their favorite game.

Vampire: The Masquerade-Bloodlines

Release year: 2004 | Developer: Troika | Buy

It's all about the atmosphere here - from gothic clubs where we meet contacts, to dark alleys where we hunt for fresh blood, and a cursed hotel (which is associated with one of the best quests in the game). The ambitious vampire universe in Bloodlines stands apart from other role-playing projects with sword-fighting and magic.

Unfortunately, the ambitions of the Troika studio exceeded its abilities - the game is full of bugs and not fully thought out mechanics. Therefore, the final product turned out to be a little raw, but this is perhaps the only game in which you can really feel like a vampire. And because of this, it is deservedly considered a cult classic RPG, and its fan base regularly releases various patches and additions that improve the project.

Release year: 2014 | Developer: Blizzard | Buy

Let's face it: the fan auction to raise funds for Diablo 3 was a bad idea. But this is where the list of cons of the game actually ends. Blizzard's fundraising continued right up to the release of Reaper of Souls, and were it not for the Adventure Mode, it's likely that the game would have been dubbed a disappointing sequel.

The whole charm of this mode lies in randomly generated tasks and locations, so that even after completing the main campaign in the game, you can disappear for several hundred hours. And today it is already difficult to imagine Diablo 3 without this mode.

But RoS had another feature that we love action RPGs for: guild support. When you chat with friends, making your way through dark dungeons, the oppressive feeling of loneliness disappears, and at such moments you begin to understand Blizzard's policy of releasing games that require a constant connection to the network. And do not forget about the spectacular fights and various skills of the heroes. RoS is the kind of action RPG that we are ready to play all day long.

Release year: 2001 |Developer: Troika Games | Buy

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura was incredibly buggy at launch, with most of the combat as unbalanced as the title of the game. Patches and mods have corrected the situation, showing how interesting a mixture of fantasy and steampunk was hidden behind the numerous glitches of the game.

As we wrote in our review back in 2001: "if you can't find anything attractive in this game, just throw your PC in the trash."

And we still adhere to this opinion. Arcanum was gritty and brutal before it even became a mod, and the character editor here let you create anything from gambling dwarves to outcast orcs who assemble deadly gadgets out of junk.

Add here a non-linear progression and many options for completing the same quest and you get a masterpiece that, even 17 years later, is able to take your breath away.

Release year: 2010 | Developer: Obsidian | Buy

While Fallout 3 was a highly successful game, it was very different from the classics released by Interplay. Obsidian's project took the franchise to the West Coast and introduced elements such as reputation and faction battles. Obsidian has expanded every aspect of Bethesda's game, shifting the focus from moral choices to issues of trust. The game also has more humor in the spirit of the classic parts - how can you not love a game in which you are given a nuclear rocket launcher?

And in the Hardcore mode in New Vegas, survival in the wasteland became even more interesting, because here first-aid kits and anti-radiation agents were much weaker than in normal mode. And if you are looking for variety, you can download any of the many mods, one of which was developed by Josh Sawyer himself - the author of the game. What we love most about New Vegas is how effortlessly it manages to blend the feel of the original Fallout with the first-person RPG framework that Bethesda introduced.

Release year: 2016 | Developer: From Software | Buy

Name any dark RPG of the last five years, and it will surely turn out to be inspired by Dark Souls. However, Dark Souls 3 proves that the studio does the best with this style. Of course, the project does not shine with originality, as was the case with Dark Souls 1, but it has noticeably prettier from a technical point of view.

Control in battles is more intuitive here, and therefore the player needs a lightning-fast reaction and a clear understanding of his actions. Thoughtless blows on the buttons will inevitably lead to death. At the same time, Dark Souls 3 is the most beginner-friendly part of the series.

Frequent savepoints, simplified online co-op, a beautiful (and grotesque) drawing style - all this allows you to join the process from the very first minutes. In addition, Dark Souls 3 strongly encourages the study of the background of the world and the search for various secrets, which deservedly makes it the best part in the series.

Release year: 2011 | Developer: CD Projekt Red | Buy

The epic scope of the events of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is beautiful in itself, but the important thing is that our decisions are of tremendous importance. Moral ambiguity has never been presented so gracefully: your choice literally changes the game world, and its consequences are often unpredictable and not always what you expect.

The most impressive thing about The Witcher 2 is the presence of two full-fledged storylines. At the beginning of the game, Geralt will have to make a choice, after which he will stand on one of the two sides, and all further events can be observed from two points of view if you decide to go through the game again. And, believe me, the second passage will be as bright as the first.

You probably think that all your misadventures will eventually lead you to a happy ending? This is not true. Geralt is far from being a hero, he is an ordinary person, trying with all his might to protect himself from the chaos that is happening around him. His quest is dedicated to personal goals, and his companions are the same living people with their own goals and aspirations. And it is precisely due to the characters worked out to the smallest detail that the plot looks extremely convincing.

It's a beautiful and well-told story layered on solid game mechanics - a flexible character development system, an excellent combat system, and an abundance of secondary content. Gloomy, cruel, and in some places capable of driving into depression, but at the same time a brilliant game.

Release year: 2009 | Developer: BioWare | Buy

Trying to convey the atmosphere of Baldur's Gate was the main task of the authors of Dragon Age, and, admittedly, they almost succeeded. The world of the game is similar to the Forgotten Realms universe, but it does not look like a parody of it, and the interactions between the characters sparkle with BioWare magic.

The local evil looks really menacing, even though most of the monsters can be destroyed in just a couple of hits. We love the way magic is presented in the world of Dragon Age, and especially the quests in which you have to decide the fate of terrible creatures - magicians possessed by demons.
And the best part of the game is the combat system: there is the necessary tactical depth (right during the battle you can stop, give orders and continue the battle).

It's sad that BioWare hasn't released more RPGs like this - Dragon Age 2 was too straightforward and Inquisition had a lot of open world focus - so this project can be called in some ways the swan song of the old BioWare, symbolizing the end of an era of classic game design.

Release year: 1999 | Developer: Irrational Games | Buy

Loneliness. This is the main feeling that you experience when playing the debut project from Irrational. As the game progresses, you'll often hear audio recordings of colorful characters battling terrifying creatures that call themselves The Many. But you will not meet these heroes, because they have already died.
And this loneliness in Shock 2 is only reinforced by the fact that the game constantly leaves you without resources.

Ammo? You will surely spend them on droids, although it would be worth saving them for later. First aid kits? There are so few of them here that it’s better not to even meddle in unchecked rooms. But the main thing that Irrational will take away from you somewhere in the middle of the passage is hope. The moment when you understand what an AI called Shodan is, deservedly considered one of the best in the history of gaming.

In all projects from Irrational, the environment is one of the full-fledged heroes, and in this case we are talking about the Von Braun starship. It creaks and rattles as you sneak through its corridors. Each door opens with a characteristic hum. Defense systems perceive you as an enemy, as if believing that you want to harm the ship.

Loving such a character is difficult, but the leveling system in Shock 2, where experience points are awarded for exploring locations, balances risk and reward. You will have to choose between psionic, hacking and military skills in order to be most effective. For a game that at first glance seems like an unpretentious action RPG, Shock 2 turned out to be really deep.

Release year: 1992 | Developer: Origin Systems | Buy

The Guardian is remembered by many gamers as one of the scariest characters in games. His huge stone face appearing on the screen, accompanied by real voice acting, both scared us and urged us to play further.

At that time it was a real technical breakthrough, but Ultima 7 has stood the test of time thanks to the interactivity of Britain. Any item on the screen could be picked up, and any NPC could be interacted with, and therefore the passage could drag on for several weeks.

The plot did not lag behind: it all began with an investigation of a double murder, but very soon it flowed into a religious war for the fate of the kingdom. The dialogue in Black Gate still looks decent today, and it also inspired the creators of Divinity: Original Sin - especially the lines related to religion. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best parts of the legendary RPG franchise.

Release year: 2000 | Developer: Ion Storm Austin | Buy

Do you want to shoot enemies in the open, or maybe sneak carefully in the shadows? Are you more used to playing as a sniper? Or a hacker capable of controlling enemy droids? Or maybe you should talk to the guard NPC and hint to him that it's time for his squad to go to lunch? The world in Deus Ex is so free that the number of choices makes your head spin.

And although the game looks like a shooter, the whole essence of Deus Ex lies in the role-playing elements. For example, if you shoot from a weapon that you have not held in your hands before, even perfect aiming will not save you - you will miss. The leveling system encourages experimentation, and the most expensive upgrades will allow you to turn your character into a superhero. Even your weapons, if desired, can be upgraded to make a weapon of mass destruction out of a standard pistol. The attention to detail here is outstanding and none of the game's elements feel out of place.

The world of Deus Ex rewards the player for exploring dark alleys and ventilation systems, as clues can be found in the most unexpected places. And there are enough clues here - every note or sign in the game hints at a new conspiracy, which is why all alliances between the heroes are constantly under threat. And the NPCs themselves fit perfectly into this world full of secrets and conspiracies. Of course, Human Revolution boasts excellent graphics, but this game is much smarter and offers more freedom of action.

Release year: 2002 | Developer: Bethesda Game Studios | Buy

The release of Fallout 4 showed that the open world model familiar to Bethesda was beginning to show serious flaws, but in 2002, when Morrowind appeared on store shelves, this model was unshakable. There was something magical about the fact that we could run around the entire island of Vvardenfell, go into every building and never stumble upon a loading screen, as well as the fact that NPC heroes, apparently, had their own life, not limited to communicating with main character.

Over the years, many games have managed to replicate this effect, but Morrowind is still alive in our memory (we like it even more than its successor, Oblivion). All this thanks to the incredible surrealism of the world, in which racist elves rest inside mushrooms (like smurfs in someone's acid dreams), and traditional castles coexist with Scandinavian villages.

The AI ​​seems a little primitive by today's standards, but the stories told in the game are superior to most current RPGs.

The game is still thriving, and the modding community is regularly releasing new adventures and graphics-improving patches (some of which even port Morrowind to completely new game engines).

Release year: 2010 | Developer: BioWare | Buy

BioWare's first Mass Effect felt like a clone of KOTOR, and not in a good way. The universe was very convincing, but the game was overloaded with various menus and systems that made life difficult for the average gamer. However, when BioWare announced that they would focus on gunplay in the second part, we were pretty scared. As it turned out, in vain: in Mass Effect 2 there was a place for interesting innovations, among which were the level of trust of the squad members, which could be increased by passing special missions.

Instead of exploring the galaxy in Mass Effect 2, we played out a sci-fi version of Ocean's 11 or the Dirty Dozen. Gathering a squad for the final mission allowed the writers of the script to focus on short but interesting stories. Each special mission allowed you to get to know another ally better and feel his motivation.

That is why the final suicidal race hit in the heart - we were worried about each of the characters on the screen. It's rare for a game to focus on characters rather than the overall story, but Mass Effect 2 pulls that trick off. Definitely one of the best scripts in BioWare history.

Release year: 2011 | Developer: From Software | Buy

Yes, Dark Souls violates the main rule of RPG: the game can be completed without pumping. But only on the condition that you know all its secrets and understand its systems - in particular the crafting system. In a genre where system interaction rules the roost, Dark Souls can be called the king, as the interaction of these systems in the game is implemented flawlessly.

Each characteristic greatly affects the leveling of the hero, and this already sets the game apart from most D&D-inspired RPGs. Exploring the rich world of Lordran, where the backstory is told through cryptic dialogues and clues in the environment that are not obvious at first glance, we piece together a rather impressive story.

Everything is interconnected here, and various secrets and secret passages (hiding huge locations) await brave adventurers. It is also worth noting the summoning system unique to the genre in Dark Souls, which you can either turn off or get used to the fact that other players will regularly attack you. And don't be afraid of difficulty, otherwise you will deprive yourself of the opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the best RPGs in history.

Release year: 1998 | Developer: Black Isle Studios | Buy

The original Fallout was Interplay's first success, but the game wasn't as popular as one might think. The sequel, on the other hand, significantly expanded the boundaries of the world and added ambiguity to all the characters - it became even more difficult to distinguish between good and evil.

Playing as a villager instead of a bunker dweller, we looked at the world with different eyes - the hero was not so naive and was well aware of all the dangers of the world, and therefore could play on the feelings and expectations of other characters.

The search for the GECK (Compact Garden of Eden Generator) fit in well with the style of the 50s and looked even more interesting than the search for the water chip from the first part. The absence of a rigid time frame was also pleasing: it was possible to slowly study the population of the wasteland, and not break as fast as possible to an abandoned bunker. If you have not played the classic parts, we advise you to start with this one, and only then move on to the original.

Release year: 2000 | Developer: BioWare | Buy

The main problem with D&D games is that low-level characters tend to be pretty boring. Baldur's Gate 2 solves this problem by offering to transfer your squad from the first part or create a new group with characters of the seventh level. And this radically changes the perception of the game: instead of frail fighters and useless magicians, we get powerful spells and harsh warriors who can withstand any fight.

The amazing scale of the world of Amn is also pleasing, which was full of quests and quite interesting content. BioWare's Infinity Engine handled these quests well, as well as rendering battles where tactics and strategy had to be actively applied. It's hard to imagine managing a six-man squad without the ability to pause the game and issue orders.

Each of the modern games without this feature makes us longingly remember the days of the Infinity Engine. Yes, this is where the RPG romance tradition began, but there's nothing wrong with that - after all, BG2 features some pretty colorful characters.

If for some reason you have never played tabletop RPGs, then just install Baldur's Gate 2 - the atmosphere of sword and magic is perfectly conveyed here. If you have the original version, you can download mods to run it on modern monitors, or alternatively try out the Extended Edition, which includes tons of new content.

Release year: 1999 | Developer: Black Isle Studios | Buy

The history of the Nameless takes a special place in the world of gaming. This is a story of redemption in the face of countless sins, a story about trying to be yourself. The tattoos that the Nameless One wears are reminders of who he was, who he is, and who he wants to become.

The free interpretation of events in Planescape: Torment is the first thing that attracts in the game. We literally spend the whole game trying to find out who the Nameless One is, but at the same time, we define his character by our actions. This is just one of many RPG stereotypes that Black Isle is turning on its head.

Rats are worthy opponents here, people, as it turns out, can be worse than the undead, and it is not necessary to fight to win many battles. And, more importantly, we don't have to save the world like we do in thousands of other RPGs. We just need to find out who we are.

The companions of the Nameless One are perhaps the most interesting NPCs in the history of the genre. Most of them have already encountered us in our past incarnations: the pyromaniac magician Ignus was once our student, but the fact that he is constantly burning is much more interesting. Or Dak'kon, who swore allegiance to us, but can't remember why he did it.

The rest of the characters are even weirder. There is Fallen Grace here - a succubus cleric who does not recognize the gods. Being a product of evil, she, oddly enough, does not want to harm anyone. But the best of companions is Mort - a floating skull, whose sarcasm is not inferior in sharpness to his teeth (with which he attacks - it's not for him to brandish a sword).

In any other fantasy world, these characters would look at least strange, but Torment uses a D&D setting called Planescape - the most bizarre world in the entire multiverse. Therefore, it is no wonder that the main emphasis in Torment is on the presentation of history.

When it comes to fights though, BioWare's Infinity Engine handles them just as well as they did in the Baldur's Gate series. This is the RPG we recommend to anyone interested in the genre, a game that embodies everything we love about RPGs.

Release year: 2002 | Developer: Arcane Studios | Buy

When creating their first dungeon simulator, Arkane wanted to create something as rich as Ultima Underworld with its magic system, where the player had to memorize runes and draw them with the mouse at the right time. In this game, stealth is critically important, as is the crafting system, made in the spirit of the same Underworld. Arx is a complex and slow-paced adventure that requires you to think about your every move. Break through the gorgon using force, or slip through unnoticed, avoiding conflict?

Many design decisions will later find their place in another Arkane project - Dishonored, but we can't help but mention the classic mechanics, which are almost never used today. For example, the need to draw runes on the screen with the mouse - yes, this is not very convenient, but it looks spectacular. We hope that Arkane decides to do a sequel to Arx Fatalis and bring in the mechanics from Dishonored (as well as the excellent combat system from Dark Messiah of Might & Magic).

The reasons for its popularity are obvious: Action RPG games combine elements of the action and RPG genres, allow developers to combine different mechanics, and players to enjoy dynamic gameplay without having to delve into the intricacies of character development inherent in CRPGs. If classic RPGs require carefully choosing characteristics and skills, relying on the favor of the system responsible for throwing virtual dice, then action RPGs give gamers the opportunity to contribute to the course of the battle due to the speed of reaction, reducing the rigid dependence on pumping.

As practice has shown, the audience likes the second approach more, so the conditional Fallout New Vegas shows much higher sales than the conditional Pillars of Eternity, with an equally good level of development of the world and plot. Moreover, the focus on action allows developers to implement a wide variety of dynamic scenes, create real blockbusters that players will remember for a long time.

Best Action RPGs

One of the first RPG games to contain action elements was Dungeons of Daggorath in 1982, in which the player had to enter commands on the keyboard as quickly as possible for a character to explore dungeons and fight enemies. For several decades, a huge number of projects have appeared in the genre, including those that have received cult status. We won’t be able to cover them all, but of course we’ll tell you about the best ones, and under the main positions of the selection we will present a list of games that are also worthy of attention.

22. Vendetta - Curse of Raven's Cry

The Polish studio Reality Pump works on the principle of the well-known masters from Obsidian, only of course on a smaller scale. Taking a successful idea as a basis, the Poles supplemented and improved it, often releasing games that were ahead of their time. If their EARTH 2150 was a free interpretation of WARZONE 2100, and the Two Worlds series timidly huddled in the same corner as the Elder Scrolls, then Vendetta - Curse of Raven`s Cry claimed the almost empty niche of the Corsairs.

This project has gone through a difficult path: several re-releases and name changes, but still managed to survive and overcome all the hardships. The value of the game is primarily for lovers of the sea and pirate romance. Only unlike many works on this topic, the plot and characters here are quite serious and realistic.

In addition to following the fascinating history, here you can take a walk for your own pleasure. And, by the way, there is something to take a walk. Cities, ports and islands are made with high quality and detail, completely conveying the spirit of the era. The combat system, both at sea and on foot, is quite dynamic, but also deeper than in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. Of course, the problems left over from a difficult fate remained in the form of bugs and balance problems. But given the slight stagnation in the genre, Vendetta - Curse of Raven`s Cry is a worthy product for both Corsairs fans and lovers of pirate romance.

21 Mount & Blade

It happens that you find yourself in some fantasy world and think: “how cool it would be if it were possible to abandon the linear plot and freely travel around this world.” So the developers of Mount & Blade decided not to limit your freedom, while giving you the opportunity to choose any path of development and occupation.

The world of Mount & Blade is an alternative Middle Ages without any magic and other supernatural things. All quests are aimed at earning money, gaining valuable experience or improving relations with some characters. Everything is like in real life.

Despite many quibbles, critics say that the game's combat system reflects the realities of medieval battles better than any other project before it, and generally called Mount & Blade the best role-playing game with a medieval setting.

20. Assassin's Creed Origins

It's unusual to see a game from the Assassin's Creed franchise in the list of representatives of the Action RPG genre. But she deserves her place in the selection: after reproaches for turning the series into a pipeline, Ubisoft has significantly changed the gameplay of the new part.

Assassin`s Creed Origins has every right to be called an action game with role-playing elements: here the main character grows in levels and learns new skills, weapons and shields have damage and defense indicators, and story quests are diluted with a good hundred additional tasks (many of which, by the way, are quite well done). Of course, this is not yet a full-fledged RPG - here you can’t even choose answers in dialogues - but the first steps in the right direction have already been taken.

19. Dungeon Siege

A successful clone of Diablo, to which the famous game designer Chris Taylor (known for Total Annihilation, Supreme Commander and Demigod) had a hand. Dungeon Siege offered a seamless world unusual for its time, a partner system, a tactical pause, as well as a pumping system where skills and abilities improved as they were used (now they say about such a system "like in Skyrim", and then they said "like in Daggerfall" ).

The second and third parts of the series turned out to be not so innovative, but still quite interesting. In addition, a whole film trilogy was even filmed according to the franchise - however, from the famous thrashed by Uwe Boll, but with Jason Staham, Ron Perlman and Dolph Lundgren in the roles.

18 Divinity II: Ego Draconis

Studio Larian has repeatedly experimented with the Divinity series. Its various releases have been Diablo-style hack-and-slash, Total War-style mix of TBS and RTS, turn-based RPGs and, of course, Action RPGs, which our selection is dedicated to. In the last example, we are talking about Divinity II: Ego Draconis - a rather unusual game in which you can read minds, collect zombies from parts and turn into a dragon.

The developers, in their usual manner, gave the players complete freedom of action. Here you can develop a character at your discretion (a warrior with a couple of fireballs in reserve is a common thing), you can complete quests in different ways (read the thoughts of an NPC and find out important information is priceless), and finally, you can turn into a dragon and fly away far away from all problems.

17. Darksiders 2

Remember the first part of Darksiders? If not, we will remind you. The final battle between the forces of Hell and Heaven has turned the world upside down ahead of schedule. Humanity has not been able to survive it. One of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, War, was blamed for everything. Now Death is trying to prove his brother's innocence, save him from a terrible fate and revive humanity. In general, the plot of the second part develops in parallel with the events of the first.

But if you remember Darksiders as a pure slasher, then the continuation of the story will surprise you with its innovations. Now there are role-playing elements here, the ability to explore the vast world and fill the backpack with all sorts of useful things taken from the corpses of enemies. In addition to vigorous combat, you are waiting for puzzles, character upgrades and other features for which we love the genre.

16. Series Corsairs

Paradoxically, most domestic games are remembered by gamers for the feeling of freedom. Whether it was Space Rangers, the famous Stalker, not entirely successful Parkan and Xenus, they all tried to surprise with open worlds and their content. So the series "Corsairs" was remembered precisely by the feeling of limitless possibilities.

It is very difficult to single out a specific Action RPG among the Corsairs, because the spread between projects by release dates is too large. But they all have one type of gameplay in common. You are given an initial boat, thrown onto a map of the Caribbean archipelago, and then released on all four sides.

Of course, each of these games also has a main storyline, but the list of side activities is truly impressive. Players are not only waiting for the most beautiful waves and sunsets, but also trading, capturing cities, selling loot and searching for treasures in caves. All this makes the Corsairs gameplay deep, multifaceted and capable of taking more than one hundred hours.

15. Two Worlds II

What to do if Skyrim and Oblivion have been completed 10 times, and the thirst for Action RPG in the open world has not been quenched? Well, you can download lesser-known analogues, for example, Two Worlds II. Even with its respectable age, the creation of the Poles from Reality Pump is still able to please fans of the genre, which means it deserves its place in our selection.

Reminds the game of the Elder Scrolls series, not only in the presence of a free world and a wagon of side quests. The skill system consists of categories that are not tied to any semblance of classes. In this regard, gamers are free to run with a sword, throwing fireballs, or covertly destroy opponents from the shadows.

The world in Two Worlds II is beautiful, varied and vast. There is a desert, and a forest island, and a kind of Japan with samurai, and also a rather atypical location for fantasy. It is the area that survived the magical cataclysm, representing in fact a post-apocalypse and strongly contrasting with other territories. In general, Two Worlds II came out as a pretty solid game, and the authors only stir up interest in it by releasing a patch recently that updated the engine and added new content.

14. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

This action-RPG was released on PC and consoles of the last generation and, unfortunately, failed in sales, depriving gamers of hope for possible sequels. The thing is that the authors radically changed the concept during the development process: initially, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was conceived as an MMORPG, but later it was decided to make it single-player. This, of course, could not but affect the gameplay and quests: a huge open world, divided into various locations, is packed to capacity with the same type of tasks of the “kill-bring-pass” level.

However, the game also has advantages, and it is for them that numerous fans love it. Firstly, a very interesting universe is implemented here, authored by the famous writer Robert Salvatore. Secondly, clearing locations from monsters is accompanied by very spectacular battles - in some places Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning resembles not even an action game, but a slasher, with blows, blocks and rolls. “Thirdly” follows from this: there is not just a lot of equipment here, but a lot, which will surely appeal to those who love gathering.

13. Alpha Protocol

One of the best games in the genre, unfortunately spoiled by poor technical performance. Studio Obsidian Entertainment (Fallout: New Vegas, Neverwinter Nights 2, Star Wars: KotOR 2) once again proved that it can make very good story games, but also once again fell short in terms of gameplay and pictures.

But for the detailed study of the system of elections and the consequences of Alpha Protocol, much, if not all, can be forgiven. Neither Mass Effect nor Dragon Age have been able to achieve such an impressive level of influence of the player's actions on the story. Here, the spoken (or unspoken) word can come back to haunt far in the future, a meeting with a charming killer can lead to a romantic scene or a deadly fight, and an attempt to force information out of an informant can turn into a completely unexpected result. All this is wrapped up in an entertaining story with spies, mercenaries and terrorists, and is seriously captivating.

12 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

The most recent game on our list - it was released in February 2018 - but it already deserves to be on it. The Czechs from Warhorse Studios (former developers of Mafia, UFO, Arma) have created a bold and unusual game that breaks the foundations of the genre in its current manifestation.

11. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

If you're an action RPG fan and love the vampire theme, skipping Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is an unfortunate omission.

Imagine the same world as ours, but more gloomy, inhabited by supernatural beings that do not put us in anything. The local vampires are not empty-headed monsters like in Buffy, not haughty aristocrats like Dracula, and not unfortunate martyrs like Lestat de Lioncourt. They cannot be lumped together, each has its own character and characteristics, due to personal history and belonging to a particular clan. You decide which one to join.

Immediately after turning into a vampire, you will be pushed around by the local prince, other prominent figures of the Camarilla will try to use you in their intrigues. The action will take place in an ominous, and sometimes seriously frightening atmosphere. On your way you will meet many interesting characters. What is worth only Teresa-Janet with a split personality, a tzimisce who makes films with scenes of real murders and decorates the room with parts of corpses, or a former model turned into a bald, pointed-eared monster and now forced to hide from human eyes.

More than it seems depends on your choice, even though the plot is linear. To say he's interesting is an understatement. You can hardly guess how it will all end.

10. Deus Ex

Yes, in our world there are already “prequel sequels” in the form of Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, but it is the original Deus Ex that deserves our list of the best Action RPGs. Why? Well, at least because it has one of the best plots in games in the opinion of most. The viscous cyberpunk atmosphere adorns the story, diluted with the well-known style of the late 90s.

The gameplay is also able to surprise even after 18 years and even against the background of modern games. Well, for example, in what projects is the hero able to function after losing limbs? In addition to such realistic little things, Deus Ex today pleases with the construction of missions, in most of which no one will lead you by the hand, helpfully marking everything important with markers.

The list of advantages of the game is completed by the famous pumping system, which is so diverse that no Skyrim ever dreamed of. After all, you won’t be able to open even some locations without having the necessary skill, which means you run the risk of missing an important part of the plot. And although outwardly Deus Ex is far from the gloss of its descendants, it is on a par with Morrowind that many consider it one of the pillars of the Action RPG genre, and quite deservedly so.

9.Gothic series

The main competitor of the Elder Scrolls series, when the community split on two sides of the barricades in the early 2000s. More hardcore, as unfriendly as possible to the player and with a huge number of technical problems, this series won the hearts of millions of gamers. She was especially loved in her homeland - in Germany, as well as in Russia, when, at the same time, in the West, preference was given to the more casual The Elder Scrolls.

In terms of action, the last part looks better - Arcania: Gothic 4, created by the notorious person in the field of role-playing games, Jochen Hamm. But most of all, Gothic is loved precisely for its RPG component and the beautiful play on the simulation of life. Along with the charismatic and nameless protagonist, who has a callous character and caustic humor, the first two parts were accepted by the community with a bang.

Not to mention Gothic 3 - a real phenomenon in terms of the devotion of the fans, who carefully patched up the holes and completed the game mechanics for the developers. Unlike the first two parts, in the 3rd and 4th issues of the series, the combat system is more like a casual slasher, when in the first two the emphasis is on the designation of strikes and full fencing.

8. Fable Series

Legendary game designer Peter Molyneux loves to tell tales, praising his games - the name of the Fable series of action role-playing games has become somewhat symbolic: most of the developer's fables about Fable turned out to be unrealized.

But even what happened made the franchise famous and loved by gamers. Moreover, Fable 2, which became an exclusive for the Xbox 360 and did not come out on the PC, was considered sufficient motivator to buy this console.

What is the value of Fable? First of all, the influence of almost all the player's actions on the character and the world around him. Feed the hero with meat and pies - get a fat man. Often miss blows - the protagonist will be covered with scars. Swing your sword a lot - the warrior will build muscle. Do bad deeds - your villain will get cute horns and glowing red eyes. In addition, each part of the series boasts a fascinating story, a home ownership system, the ability to care for NPCs, have a family and children, and many, many other gameplay features.

7. Dark Souls series

Darkness, death and hardcore - these three words describe Dark Souls quite accurately. The world plunged into chaos, some kind of tin is going on everywhere, dragons fly, zombies and other unpleasant-looking people roam.

The world is hostile to the point of impossibility, friendly-minded NPCs here are like an oasis in the desert. At the same time, evil monsters in Dark Souls, but also developers. Not only did they not give us a map, a compass, or at least a quest log at the very beginning, they also forbade us to save where we wanted, while giving us an infinite number of opportunities to commit suicide. But in this crazy world, you can create an interesting and even viable character that combines the skills of different classes.

If you take the death of your hero hard and are ready to bang your head against the keyboard every time, perhaps Dark Souls will teach you to be philosophical about death.

6. Diablo Series

Did Blizzard know that Diablo would not only be a standard action RPG and gather, without exaggeration, a multi-million army of fans, but would also become a new milestone in the history of computer games in general? Maybe they didn’t know, but they did everything to make it happen. The second part of the series completely broke all sales records, for which it got into the Guinness Book of Records.

A gloomy gothic atmosphere, the eternal confrontation between the forces of light and darkness, dynamic battles, character leveling in the best traditions of board games, an interesting history of the world and heroes - all this made millions of gamers kindle tender feelings for, let's not be afraid of this word, the immortal brainchild of Blizzard Entertainment.

5. Fallout 3D generation series

After the closure of Black Isle and the bankruptcy of Interplay, the Fallout franchise was bought by Bethesda. From that moment on, the series moved into the 3D generation and was reborn as an Action/RPG. Part 3, like New Vegas, had a very mediocre combat system, so more often players fought through V.A.T.S. - an analogue of a real-time turn-based combat system. Although the shooting itself was so-so, the genre showed itself on the right side, where we could already deal with the Deathclaw even at the initial levels, without relying heavily on the characteristics of our character, when in the first two parts it was almost impossible.

Of course, Fallout really turned into a solid action game only in 4 parts, where the combat system was developed jointly with ID Software, and the role-playing component went into the background. Here it was already possible to fight without the V.A.T.S. system, although it did not remain unchanged, for example, time no longer stopped, but only greatly slowed down.

Not to say that such a synthesis of genres is bad, but in the pursuit of dynamics and casualness, the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. role-playing system suffered greatly, which the gaming community did not quite like.

4Dragon Age: Inquisition

3. The Elder Scrolls Series

2. The Witcher Series

Probably everyone who considers himself a gamer knows about the trilogy dedicated to the adventures of the witcher Geralt. The Poles from CD Projekt RED managed to create a large-scale universe on their bare enthusiasm, based on the fantasy cycle of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski.

Interesting facts: The founders of CD Projekt made their initial capital by selling pirated products, bought a license for The Witcher games from Sapkowski for a penny ($4,000), and the engine for the first part of the game was kindly lent to them by BioWare.

The Witcher game has become a kind of (and very successful) "pen test" for developers, the sequel has secured success, and the third part, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, can rightfully be considered one of the best games not only in the genre, but in the entire industry . An excellent plot that puts an end to the entire cycle (including the book), interesting quests, gorgeous graphics and an incredibly charismatic protagonist - all this makes Wild Hunt an almost perfect adventure (yes, there are flaws everywhere, and here too, but they are too minor) for every gamer.

1. Mass Effect Series

One of the most iconic Action/RPG franchises ever, it even has its own World N7 Day. In 2007, the first part was released, with an amazing combat system, graphics, stunning world design and a fascinating story. While BioWare dubbed the beginning of the trilogy a "Faulty Masterpiece," most fans consider it and the second installment to be the best games Mass Effect has ever made. The further the series went, the better the action component was worked out, which, admittedly, worked perfectly with the role-playing there.

The latest game, a spin-off of Andromeda, completely changes the concept of combat and adds vertical gameplay, which was not in the trilogy. A huge number of combinations, a profile system and the largest selection of weapons make it the best combat system in the series.

All this great gameplay in Mass Effect has always been accompanied by interesting companions, an amazing story about saving the world, and a ton of moral dilemmas. Of course, the fourth game in the franchise wasn't exactly what fans expected it to be, but if you choose a game solely for its shooter component, then Andromeda could very well drag on for a couple of hundred hours.

Noteworthy: Dragon`s Dogma: Dark Arisen, Sacred series, Titan Quest, Borderlands series, Hellgate: London, Torchlight, NieR: Automata, Dawn of Magic (Blood Magic), Grim Dawn, Path of Exile, Nioh, Jade Empire, series Risen, Lords Of The Fallen

Conclusion

In addition to the games listed in the list, the Action RPG genre has more than a dozen good projects. We have mentioned some of them in the “Worthy of attention” category, but you can tell us in the comments about your favorite representatives of the genre, argue our choice with reason, or express gratitude for the work done - we are glad for any of your activity!