Debating the best RPGs is a hotly-contested topic in the gaming world – and for good reason, with so many to choose from
Role-playing games have seen almost unrelenting popularity, with elements of their genetic makeup found in the best single-player games and action-adventure multiplayer titles alike. From crafting suits of armor to keeping yourself well-fed, it’s a nebulous genre that has only grown in complexity over the years.
You may think of high-fantasy adventures inspired by tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, featuring all manner of knights, elves, dwarves, and the like. But this list also includes JRPGs, that unique flavor of roleplaying distinct to Japanese developers that can be appreciated anywhere in the world.
This list has something for everyone, whether you like to do your game combat with swords or pistols. From intergalactic adventures to swashbuckling medieval times, everyone has their vice – and perhaps your latest one is features somewhere on this list.
If you’re looking for platform-specific game recommendations from a variety of genres, visit our list of the best PC games, best PS5 games, best Xbox Series X games, or the best Nintendo Switch games.
Grabbed your swords and pitchforks? Let’s take a look at the best RPGs ever.
Best RPGs
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Image credit: Bethesda)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Get ready to lose sleep
Reasons to buy
+
Hundreds of hours of gameplay
+
Choice in how you play
+
Huge open world
Platforms available: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch
It may be old, but Skyrim remains one of the most vital RPGs out there, in part because of its incredible mod scene on PC. If you played this game back in 2011 and put it to bed, give it another go with some of the graphics and immersion mods. It’s like playing Skyrim 1.5.
Bethesda has also released The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, which includes all of the add-ons that have been released, along with some graphical overhauls. If you have a VR headset, then you can also get The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR for PC and PS4, which gives you an even more immersive experience.
If you’ve not played it all, where have you been? This open-world fantasy epic makes for hundreds of satisfying hours without even tackling the main story. Few games craft as rich a world as this, and there’s enough content to play the game as a whole bunch of different characters without feeling like you’re being funneled into a single “hero” mold.
We won’t spoil the main storyline, but let’s just say it features more dragons than Game of Thrones, and you even get to wield some dragon power yourself. Skyrim is one of the best RPGs of all time and well worth playing before The Elder Scrolls 6 releases.
Disco Elysium (Image credit: ZA/UM)
Disco Elysium
Disco Inferno, more like
Reasons to buy
+
Some of the best writing in all of gaming
+
Wonderful art and soundtrack
+
An incredible amount of choice
Platforms available: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Google Stadia
One of 2019’s finest titles, Disco Elysium is a dialogue-driven RPG set in a sizable, dystopian city.
This is a game that works completely without combat. Problems are instead solved with the use of the protagonist using the ‘Thought Cabinet’, a manifestation of dialogue choices and thematic decisions that permeate every aspect and decision made throughout the story.
It’s a risky decision, but one that pays off in no small part due to personable, politically ambiguous writing that is almost entirely player-driven. It’s a must-play for RPG fans, especially now that its been upgraded to The Final Cut, a version that features even more content and full voice acting.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Image credit: Sega)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Take a trip to Japan
Reasons to buy
+
Hilarious and unique
+
Fantastic side missions
+
can be enjoyed without knowledge of the previous games
Reasons to avoid
–
Turn-based combat is a little clunky
Platforms available: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC
The Yakuza games have always mixed mature themes with utterly bonkers shenanigans, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon really lets loose in the latter regard. While you can still expect plenty of hard-hitting plot points during the game’s lengthy and turbulent story, the entire fighting system has been re-imagined as a turn-based JRPG – and it works surprisingly well.
Each character can take on various classes, such as becoming a crooning musician or cutesy J-Pop idol, and each has their own abilities in battle. It’s certainly a different approach, but seeing as you’re fighting nudists and cult members, it’s only right that your magical summon should be a giant lobster. This is one of the best RPGs for players who enjoy a bit (or a lot) of the ridiculous.
Persona 5 Royal (Image credit: Atlus/SEGA)
Persona 5 Royal
Transform to save the world
Reasons to buy
+
Lovable characters
+
Really cool summons
+
Unique art design
Platforms available: PS4
Persona 5 might be the most stylish JRPG you’ll ever play. Everything from its animation, character design, acid-jazz-inspired soundtrack, and even its menus, screams cool.
This JRPG tells the story of a group of jaded teens who quite literally change the hearts of evildoers, uncovering stories of abuse, breaking free from societal norms, group thinks, and much more. There’s depth to Persona 5’s story and its characters learn and grow throughout the game’s 100+hr plot. This is a game that belongs on any list of best RPGs, both for how engrossing it is and how well it introduces you to all that makes JRPGs great.
Persona 5 exists both in the base version and as Persona 5 Royal – if you haven’t played either, we suggest going with Royal right away, as it features new characters, more activities, and even more plot developments.
The Witcher 3 (Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The definitive RPG that many still herald as the best
Reasons to buy
+
Memorable characters
+
A huge and varied open-world
+
Plenty to do outside main quests
Reasons to avoid
–
Long loading times
–
Combat can feel clunky
Platforms available: PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S tba)
If you’re after a classic western RPG with a great story, look no further than The Witcher 3. This game has more quality storytelling in some of its fetch side quests than some other games have in their main storylines.
You are Geralt, a gruff and grey-haired monster hunter chap; sort of heroic land pirate type, if you will. This is a deep-dive adventure you’ll want to set a few months aside for, a bit like Skyrim.
These two duke it out as fan-favorite medieval RPGs, but they both belong among the best RPGs equally. The Witcher 3 definitely won us over with its writing and detailed world-building, including offering some of the best and most sprawling sidequests of any game.
If you like the game series, then you should definitely check out The Witcher on Netflix, with Henry Cavill taking on the role of Geralt – soon to be overtaken by one Liam Hemsworth, to the dismay of many.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 (Image credit: Larian Studios)
Divinity: Original Sin 2
A modern RPG classic
Reasons to buy
+
Flexible and freeing systems
+
Classic RPG foundation
+
Multiple ways to progress
Platforms available: Xbox One, PC, PS4 and Nintendo Switch
An isometric RPG with incredible lore and world-building, Divinity: Original Sin II is a game that completely commits to the idea of player choice.
From character classes that play entirely differently to one another (like the undead character that can only speak to others with a disguise) to the ability to interact with NPCs in whichever way you choose, you can play through much of the game without getting your hands dirty with combat.
If you do decide to swing your sword, combat is a turn-based treat that takes a lot of strategic thinking. Playing with the environment and the elements is vital – you can destroy an explosive barrel to deal huge damage to an enemy, for example, or electrify a puddle to fry them.
Then there’s the cast of characters, each memorable personalities stuffed full of charisma. If you enjoy RPGs that make use of tabletop roleplaying systems, Divinity: OS 2 is one of the best RPGs in that category.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake (Image credit: Square Enix)
An old favorite, made brand new
Reasons to buy
+
Gorgeous visuals
+
New combat that rewards experimentation
+
Beautiful soundtrack
Reasons to avoid
–
The story additions are contentious
Platforms available: PS4, PS5 and PC
We still can’t quite believe that Final Fantasy 7 Remake exists. It had to be made, of course – the original was and is one of the best RPGs and introduced many people to the Final Fantasy series.
By taking elements from many of the Final Fantasy titles that followed the 1997 original, Square Enix has crafted arguably the finest combat system the series has ever seen, allowing players to switch from one iconic party member to the next.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake fills in story blanks that we didn’t know needed filling back in the original, bringing characters to life in a way we couldn’t have dreamed possible. It’s a love letter to the franchise’s past while giving a glimpse into what’s coming in the future.
Excited for the next part? Then check out everything we know so far about Final Fantasy Remake Part 2.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Image credit: Nintendo)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Nintendo goes open-world
Game Platform
Wii U
Reasons to buy
+
Great mix of puzzling, combat and exploration
+
Plenty of secrets to find
+
Engaging narrative
Reasons to avoid
–
Can be overwhelming in size
Platforms available: Nintendo Switch
The Legend of Zelda franchise has long been known for quality, but in leaning into Western sensibilities and taking inspiration from the likes of Skyrim, it has reached its zenith.
Breath of the Wild led many to pick up the Nintendo Switch, and for good reason – it’s an open-world game that doesn’t feel crowded with side-quests and icons to unlock. Every quest is given as a suggestion, an open-ended question that doesn’t need an answer.
From dozens of puzzle-focused shrines, chances to experiment with a robust physics system, or tough but rewarding combat, few games reward exploration like Breath of the Wild. Even years on from launch, players are finding fresh ways to play in this version of Hyrule. It’s definitely worth playing before the release of the sequel, Breath of the Wild 2.
Pokémon Sword and Shield (Image credit: Nintendo)
Close to being the very best
Reasons to buy
+
Fantastic Pokémon designs
+
Immersive new region
+
Effective gameplay improvements
Reasons to avoid
–
Dynamaxing doesn’t quite hit the mark
–
Not very graphically accomplished
Platforms available: Nintendo Switch
Pokémon Sword and Shield are essentially RPG comfort food. Players can spend hours catching monsters like it’s the mid-nineties, grinding levels and aiming to breed competitive Pokémon – or you can just enjoy its campaign.
In the franchise’s first mainline jump to HD, the new Galar Region is stuffed full of detail that couldn’t be found on the handheld-only versions. Pokémon wander the world freely, grass sways in the wind, and the new free-camera Wild Area allows for raids that can be enjoyed with friends.
It might not be the quantum leap forward many were hoping for, but the series is still among the very best that gaming has to offer. If you want to know more, check our list of best Pokémon games ranked by generation.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (Image credit: EA)
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
A beautifully remastered collection of Bioware’s best
Reasons to buy
+
The entire Mass Effect saga in one package
+
Explore new planets and defend earth
Reasons to avoid
–
Not for cover shooter haters
Platforms available: PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC
The Mass Effect trilogy that released during the Xbox 360 era is beloved by gamers the world over thanks to its immersive role-playing gameplay and deep science fiction lore. And the romanceable aliens. Let’s be real.
That’s exactly what we’ve gotten with Mass Effect Legendary Edition – a collection that significantly cleans up all three classic games with a number of visual, audio and gameplay enhancements, bringing the series into the modern age while keeping our rose-colored memories of it completely intact.
Along with improved controls (especially when it comes to aiming in the first Mass Effect), this Legendary Edition also brings two graphical modes: a resolution mode that allows you to play at 4K/60fps on PS5 and Xbox Series X, and a performance mode that runs at 1440p/120fps on Xbox Series X. Additionally, you get full HDR support, improved lighting and textures, and enhanced audio resolution across the whole trilogy.
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