Best RPG Games of All Time

Top 25 RPG Games

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RPGs have had a long history. From books, to the table top, and now video games. They provide some of the best storytelling experiences and have a sense of progression like no other genre. Unfortunately, that also means the market is saturated.

Though there are hundreds of good titles out there, there are also some that stand way above the rest, in story, presentation, customization, and exploration.

Based on those metrics, we've tried to come up with a list of the top 25 RPGs of all time.

Make sure you also take a look at our 'Best Fantasy Video Games of All Time' for our general 'best game lists'. And, if you love you a good story-driven game, check out our Best Fantasy Video Games with a Story" list.

The ranking

1

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

by Red, Cd Projekt

It's not often that a triple A game lives up to its pre-launch hype and it's even rarer that it surpasses it. With the Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red managed to reach an acclaim far beyond not just the other titles in the...

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2

Baldur's Gate Ii Shadows Of Amn

Few games have had as much of an impact on the genre as Baldur's Gate II. Its influence is seen across the market, from the smallest indie titles to development giants. Despite this, there's none of the forgiveness yo...

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3

Deus Ex (2000)

This is a title as revolutionary in its story as it is in its mechanics. Deus Ex has been labeled a founding father of the stealth genre, but underneath those accolades is an incredible, original story that still reso...

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4

Chrono Trigger (1995)

It may have roots on the SNES over twenty years ago, but Chrono Trigger is still one of the most original and compelling stories in gaming. This title's originality has led to numerous remakes, and it's still playable...

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5

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

by Studios, Bethesda Game

Skyrim has had an up and down existence. Its release was quickly met with widespread praise from critics, but some players realized it wasn't everything they wanted it to be. However, the real test of this game was ti...

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6

Planescape: Torment (1999)

by Studios, Black Isle

At the time of its release, Planescape: Torment was not a huge commercial success. It didn't sell millions of copies, but it was noted as an amazing title, and almost twenty years later, it stands out even more. Plane...

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7

Bioshock

by Australia, 2k Boston, 2k

This is one of the few steampunk fantasy games to make it big, and it easily deserves that popularity. Bioshock is set in Rapture, a sprawling underwater city that has lost its status as a utopia. Inhabited by genetic...

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8

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

by Epd, Nintendo

There have been many arguments over the years about Zelda and its status as an RPG. There's no doubting that it's an action-adventure game at heart, but with its latest iteration, the series strays further into role-p...

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9

Fallout 2

by Studios, Black Isle

There have been many arguments over the years about Zelda and its status as an RPG. There's no doubting that it's an action-adventure game at heart, but with its latest iteration, the series strays further into role-p...

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10

Final Fantasy Vii

Few games have had as unshakable impact on the RPG genre as Final Fantasy, and out of those, the seventh instalment stands out as a major turning point. It marked a transition from 2D to 3D and, just as importantly, t...

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11

Mass Effect 2

Full walkthroughs for every mission. Exclusive maps created especially for this guide. Fully labeled to make sure you see it all! Every special assignment detailed so you won't take a wrong step. Power evolution trees to...

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12

Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura

by Games, Troika

From the dev team that made Vampire: The Masquerade, and three big influences in the original Fallout games, Arcanum should be a good game, and it absolutely is. It's just very different from both of those. The game i...

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13

The Banner Saga

Stoic's debut release caused a huge stir in the gaming world, one of the first crowdfunded video games to truly make it big. It may be masterminded by three former BioWare developers, but that's where the similarity t...

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14

Mount And Blade: Warband

by Entertainment, Taleworlds

A sword and some clothes. That's essentially all you're given when you start Mount and Blade: Warband, and it's up to you to grow it into something bigger. First, though, you'll have to make it past the in-depth chara...

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15

Dark Souls

by Fromsoftware,

Dark Souls isn't your traditional RPG. Though stats do feature, they aren't quite mandatory, and the focus is on action rather than story. However, in the end, it's way too good to pass up on this list. The game's bro...

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16

Pokémon

by Ead, Nintendo

We thought long and hard about which Pokémon generation to include in this list. However, while there are a couple of stand-out successes, we realized that we could pick any of them and they would still deserve a plac...

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17

Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines

by Games, Troika

This game is one of the greatest examples of how important community is in gaming. Vampire: The Masquerade had a rushed release, plagued with bugs and underdeveloped content. Thirteen years later, it's a polished cult...

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18

Pillars Of Eternity

by Entertainment, Obsidian

With all of the modern graphics and first-person shooters saturating the market, it almost felt as if classic RPGs were a thing of the past. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, came Pillars of Eternity, and it showed just...

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19

Dragon Age: Origins

by Reality, Bioware, Edge Of

It's clear from this list that BioWare has a history of great RPGs, but there's one more recent title that deserves a mention. Dragon Age is a spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate, yet inspired by Lord of the Rings an...

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20

Fables

by Technologies, Big Blue Box Studios, Lionhead Studios & Robosoft

The love-child of Peter Molyneux, Fable offers a different take on the genre. In the colorful world of Albion, your future is shaped not by dialogue, but the actions you take. Murder, and you will be feared; save peop...

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Trending Books in Best RPG Games of All Time

Fables

Technologies, Big Blue Box Studios, Lionhead Studios & Robosoft

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