Role-playing games aren’t for passive gamers. The time it takes to invest in diving into massive worlds, or multiple worlds, will quickly become too gargantuan a task for the passive gamer. I’m not saying the sports games or first-person shooters don’t take days out of people’s lives. There’s just a difference between leveling your player up in 2K, and running around the world in Elder Scrolls. That’s why RPG players are so devoted to their game titles, they’ve grown to become one with the game. They can’t buy next years edition of Madden or Call of Duty. They are still playing the same RPG from 3 years ago, without completing everything. Unless they’re that dedicated, of course.
The list of amazing RPGs is expansive, and narrowing down the best isn’t really a fair task. Personal preference plays such a large role in what RPG the gamer connects to the most. With this list in mind, we also included Action-Adventure games because of how close they relate to RPGs. Yes, some of the games on our list don’t feature leveling up or turn-based combat, but games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time have the same expansive maps with epic and lengthy story modes.
You might see your favorite RPG in here, and you might not. You will find groundbreaking titles that changed the genre or affected millions of people on a level that transcends regular fandom. We did not include more than one entry from a series on this list, although some games do have multiple classics in their catalog. If you haven’t played one of these titles, remember, the internet can be your best friend. From one gamer to another, this is our list of the best RPGs of all time.
Pokémon: Yellow Version
Systems: Game Boy
Release Date: October 19, 1999
Act like you didn't play this game. Yes, both the Red and Blue versions were epic as well, but that first time you got to have Pikachu follow you around was mind-blowing as a child. Plus, you were extra cool if you had the bundle that came with the yellow Gameboy. Who still remembers the rare candy glitch?
Mass Effect 2
Systems: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Release Date: January 26, 2010
Sometimes, sequels are better than the originals. Mass Effect 2 thrives in a universe where every interaction changes how the game will play out. You can play this game multiple times and walk down several different paths. Destroying the parasitic Collectors is that much better when you port your player in from the first Mass Effect.
Fallout 2
Systems: PC, Mac OS X
Release Date: September 30, 1998
Tasked with finding the Garden of Eden Creation Kit (GECK) in a wasteland, this Fallout changed the way RPGs were made forever. This game gave players endless choices and the freedom to explore almost everything imaginable. Politics and society play a big role in this game, and 90's babies may be jaded to the government based on their interaction with Fallout 2 at a young age.
Kingdom Hearts
Systems: PS2
Release Date: September 17, 2002
Final Fantasy and Disney unite in this epic RPG that created one of the most loyal fan bases in the virtual world. Visting different Disney locations and interacting with them as an anime character sounded risky at first, but developer Square knew what they were doing. Sealing the keyholes in each world will protect it from the Heartless, and ultimate destruction.
Knights of the Old Republic
Systems: Xbox, PC, Mac OS X
Release Date: July 15, 2003
KOTOR is the best Star Wars game ever, period. Taking the genre back 4,000 years before the original movies, gamers get to interact with Darth Malak. Becoming a Jedi, building a lightsaber, and traveling to different planets made this game one of the best titles on Xbox. The revelation that you are Darth Revan all along is a plot twist no one saw coming.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Geralt of Rivia is one of the most badass protagonists of all time. The entire Witcher series is pretty epic, but the third entry is perfect. Geralt uses his monster hunting skills to track down his daughter, who is on the run from the Wild Hunt, a malicious force determined to kill her.
Word of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Systems: PC, OS X
Release Date: November 13, 2008
This WoW expansion introduced the first "hero" class, the Death Knights. It vastly opened the game and became the fastest selling computer game at the time. The plot is centered around Northrend, home of the Lich King and his undead minions, and enemies must band together to stop him from conquering the world.
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Systems: N64, Gamecube
Release Date: November 21, 1998
Link sets out on a quest to save Hyrule and destroy Ganondorf, the king of the Gerudo tribe. The green-clad hero travels through time to awaken the Sages, who can unlock the power to defeat Ganondorf for good. The Triforce is at the center of the plot, which is a relic that grants the wishes of its owner. This is arguably the best title in a series full of classic entries.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Systems: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: November 11, 2011
Being hailed as the best Elder Scrolls is no easy task. The series features some of the best video games ever. The quests and map are so expansive in Skyrim, that people are still playing this game seven years later. After escaping execution and learning of your Dragonborn powers, the main character must stop Alduin, an angry ancient dragon, from destroying everything.
Final Fantasy VI
Systems: Super NES
Release Date: April 2, 1994
Although the North American release of this game is called Final Fantasy III, the sixth installment in the legendary franchise changed RPGs forever. It took the genre and turned it upside down by introducing over a dozen playable characters and side quests that give gamers engaging backstories and mystical lore. Kefka is one of the most memorable video games villains ever.