25 Best RPG Games In 2023

Diablo 3 is a worthy successor to Diablo 2, still an atmospheric treasure of RPG worth revisiting.

The action role-playing dungeon crawler game developed by Blizzard Entertainment takes everything we love about the series and notches it up a bit – controls, locations, enemies, you name it.

Diablo 3 is the best version of the game that keeps us hooked on, whether individually or in groups. Better random encounters, loot drops, and what-not make the game addictive, where we can spend hours theory-crafting the best builds.

In a clever move, the game induces nostalgia among the players. The treasure’s bright shiny ting and potion glugs remind us of the old Diablo, and everything starts off in Tristram. Good old times!

Very few other games drop you into a Vampire world like this true cult classic of an RPG.

The game, originally released in 2004, was developed by Troika Games and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows.

While we may describe Vampire as a broken mess in many ways, it is as timeless as it can be. This modern-day adaptation of vampire fiction is soaked in grime, horror, manipulation, and more, keeping us glued to the edge of our seats.

The game’s combination of dark themes, haunted house sequences, and exploration of sensual concepts make it eerie and interesting like no other.

While the game was initially marred by bugs, many of them are fixed now and we can enjoy a relatively smoother gameplay than before.

Needless to say, there is also a sequel in the pipeline, though it is uncertain when it will be out and what it might be like when it does.

Kenshi is a RPG that can be harsh but at the same time gives you stories far unlike the rest.

The Steam page describes the game as a “free-roaming squad-based RPG,” which seems to be a bit of an understatement of the complex supergame. 

Kenshi, developed by Lo-Fi Games in 2018, features an open-ended sandbox gameplay rather than a linear story. Become whatever you want – a trader, a farmer, a slave, a thief, a warlord, or just food for the cannibals. 

However, it soon turns out to be something much deeper than that, snowballing into a management game.

You never know where the game gets you. Be it lying among the corpses of your family in the dunes or building a whole town for your clan.

RDR II is a 2018 action-adventure (cowboy) RPG, the third in the Red series.

Rockstar Studios, which gave us classics like Grand Theft Auto (GTA), has delivered once again – this time with the survival game RDR 2.

It’s the story of a gang of criminals, where you live in the woods and stumble around the mountains in winter for eternity. 

The game follows the lead character, Arthur Morgan, a nice bearded man who keeps forgetting things, like the fact that you can get your clothes covered in blood and mucus when skinning a dear, causing other people to be like, “Ew, that’s one gross dude.”

If you’re a fan of a story-driven, open-world games, then RDR II is just for you.

Titan Quest is an action-packed hack and slash RPG available on gaming consoles, PC, and mobile.

The game, brought by Iron Lore Entertainment in 2006, joins the ranks of Diablo, Path Of Exile, Torchlight, and Grim Dawn in some of the most thrilling A-RPGs.

The story follows a user-created protagonist who navigates different parts of the world on a quest to defeat the Titans following their escape from their ancient prison.

Whether in solo or groups, Titan Quest is highly pick-up-able, getting us immediately hooked. 

If you’re looking for an action game that is incredibly seemless and enormously fun, the game is a must-play.

The Outer Worlds is a RPG that shows what would happen if Mass Effect and Firefly had a neon space baby.

Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the game lets the RPG-expert company display its best talent: Making games with the best characters, engaging dialogues, and a mesmerizing world.

The game’s setting is a divergent dystopian future, where extreme level of capitalism has created mega-corps that serve as rival governments.

While the game makes you do a lot of talking before you can get to the best bits, these conversations with the Halcyon denizens will charm you in some way.

Legend of Grimrock II does just the right amount of justice to its predecessor of the same name.

The dungeon crawling role-playing game series only got bigger and better with this yet another marvelous game by Almost Human Games.

Grimrock II notches things up a bit, making it larger, more fun and, yes, more difficult with additional dungeons, enemies, challenges, and treasures.

It takes things upstairs and outdoors, and makes them more open, letting gamers wander into areas that can be tricky to explore and face early on. 

Superbly executed and surprisingly tricky, that’s Grimrock II for you.

Fallout: New Vegas is one of the fan-favorite RPGs that must not be missed.

Obsidian Entertainment is back with another addition to the list. The success of the game is not really surprising given that it’s among the best open world games. 

In Fallout: New Vegas, you are among the unfortunate survivors of this world. After wandering for the first few hours, you’re on your own to venture where you like.

You might decide to do whatever you want once you’re in the New Vegas world: interact with people, team up with a fierce faction, try to become the Savior of the Damned, or just set your own goals.

You can even build your own game by combining the best mods after you’re done with the game’s offerings.

Stat Wars: KOTOR is as good as classic RPGs can get.

The Bioware game appeals to both hardcore RPG fans and those who may have been doubtful of joining the ranks.

While there are tons of good Star Wars games, KOTOR may arguably be called the best Star Wars RPG.

The game has a setting that is rewound four thousand years before the movies’ events, letting the creators use everything fans wanted to see in a Star Wars game. 

Accessible gameplay, a few massive plot twists, a great supporting cast, and incredible voice-acting make KOTOR a true classic and fan-favorite.

If you like the game, don’t forget to check out its sequel. 

Monster Hunter: World is a RPG that appeals to core and casual audiences alike. 

When we think of Capcom, we think of evergreen games like Street Fighter, Mega Man, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Monster Hunter.

The Japanese developers continue to exhilarate gamers with the latter. In the game, as you guessed, you hunt monsters. 

However, how you take out those ghastly beasts is what you will be obsessed over. The game lets you experiment with various weapons and optimization before you venture out into the jungle (or swamp, or desert).

There is so much gear to customize which you’ll use to track and tranquilise a Jaguar, Jesus lizard, T-Rex, and what-not. 

Yakuza: Like A Dragon is one of the best JRPG (Japanese RPG) contenders out there.

The game, released by Rya Ga Gotoku Studio in 2020, is a mainline game. However, it’s not just a continuation of the previous story, but it’s all about change.

The game features everything new: the protagonist, the main city, and the genre furthering its battle. While it’s a true pure JRPG, it also hits you up with all the drama, satire, and ridiculousness that make the series what it is.

The new lead Ichiban is preoccupied with Dragon Quest. He sets out to defeat the conspiracy at the center of Yokohama’s criminal empire. 

Path of Exile is among the ARPGs (action RPGs) that you must check out if you’re into this particular genre.

A production of Grinding Gear Games, the click-heavy combat with randomly generated dungeons and items could easily feel familiar to Diablo fans.

This excellent free-to-play game is nothing less than heaven for players who enjoy working over builds to develop the most effective and deadliest killing machine possible. 

As you take down enemies and level up, you will realize that it’s among the most polished, well-executed games. To make it even more thrilling, the developers have regularly been adding new content to the game.

NieR: Automata is one such RPG that does not exactly fit into a particular category – we’re not complaining though!

The PlatinumGames creation is a pitch-perfect blend of genres. Whether you’re looking for hack and slash, shooting, or adventure, you’re in for a treat.

Is this even an RPG? You may ask. But Steam says it is, so let’s go with that.

The outstanding combat follows three android protagonists who move around in hypnotic ways. It’s already fun to hack and slash away at enemies, but the game further shines when we start customizing the robotic elements. 

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy X/ X2 is one of the most popular-ever Final Fantasy games. 

A part of the game’s brilliance lies in its top-notch battle system. Sure, the plot sounds mad when you try to explain it, but it’s really very good. 

In addition to the excellent characters and the freedom to shape your party how you like, it has some of the best music of all the games in the series.

While a lot of the Final Fantasy games are pretty fugly on PC, X/ X2’s PC port doesn’t come with nearly as many issues or caveats, making it our top FF choice.

There was no way we could go on without mentioning an Assassin’s Creed game.

The Ubisoft game remarkably returns elements of the slyer aspects of the franchise without compromising the fan-loved elements. 

Valhalla has a beautiful, arresting story from 9th Century Anglo-Saxon England. The game follows an epic containing gods, monsters, betrayal, and what-not.

The main character is Eivor, a charismatic protagonist and a big buff blonde warrior. The game can get as violent and gruesome as you want it to. 

Whatever is the case, it’s almost certain that the game will stay with you even after you put the controller down. 

In the top 10 spot of our list is Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

The game developed by Game Freak is available on the Nintendo Switch.

After a slew of games like Pokemon X & Y, Pokemon Sun & Moon, and Pokemon Sword & Shield, Game Freak wanted to develop a new way of enjoying Pokemon games.

Pokemon Legends Arceus not only has an intriguing story, but also an open world to explore and experience the type of Pokemon universe we always dreamed of.

Arceus is a much-needed addition to the series, injecting it with new and enthralling life. 

The game is so captivating that you most probably won’t mind the occasional performance issues!

Disco Elysium is unlike many other RPGs and a must-try if you want to try something new.

The ZA/UM game makes you a detective with an alcohol problem and drug-induced amnesia, who can die in the opening minutes of the game.

When you wake up in the Disco after a night of heavy drinking, hardly remembering anything, it is up to you exactly what you want to be in this secret detective game.

The game’s sympathies eventually lie with working people and movements for their best interests, though asking you to play as cops.

If you think video games should not have politics, Disco Elysium is not for you! 

With Dragon Age: Inquisition, the creators went all out in a bid to create one of the greatest-ever fantasy RPGs.

BioWare is back on the list and no surprise, given its known ability to craft deep, enchanting, personal stories. 

While the original Dragon Age was a commercial and critical success, Dragon Age II did not hold up much. Nevertheless, they made quite a comeback with this trequel. 

The developer’s track record showed that they were capable of offering players a massive world to explore with a brilliant story and a fun combat system.

Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim delivers one of the most magnificent ARPG settings to date.

The Bethesda game is set in Skyrim, a land torn apart by the ongoing battle between two leaders, where you are a prisoner recently spared execution.

You can customize the protagonist as you see fit and be anyone you want. Sure, the threat of an incoming dragon is almost ever-present, but in the game, your goals are just that – your own.

As we wait for Elder Scrolls 6 to be out, we can rest assured it has big shoes to fill. 

Mass Effect 2 is our choice of an unmissable sci-fi RPG that must not be forgotten.

If you’re wondering why this particular edition of the trilogy makes it to the list, it’s because the first did not quite know what to be, while the third was a victim of the need to resolve a plethora of trailing story threads.

On ther other hand, Mass Effect 2 has a focus, like none other. It holds a meaningful sense of behavioural choice and momentum. 

Bioware has once again done a great job, making you want to play through the whole series and ultimately the Legendary Edition. The thrill of the Mass Effect is something that just keeps on growing.

Elden Ring, packed with exceptional enemies, dungeons, and characters, is another ARPG on the list.

The FromSoftware game introduces us to a glamorous world filled with bizarre, twisted lore – and you will never want to leave it.

The Lands Between is a fascinating and fearsome world that attracts veterans and beginners alike. 

A whole lot of options are available for the gamer, including various weapon, armor, and stat builds, making it seemless and fun.

It’s one of the developer’s most acclaimed works to date, and rightly so. There’s a good reason it won the highly coveted The Game Awards’ Game of the Year (GOTY) 2022.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a detailed RPG filled with overlapping quests and character arcs. 

Original Sin 2, developed by Larian Studios in 2017, is a game consistently making it to the list of best games in the world. 

Set in the fantasy world of Rivellon, this superb RPG lets us into a vast world full of personal stories, intricate politics, unique missions, and rich combat.

It’s more than just a RPG; PC Gamer calls it a remarkable combination of three genres: the classic RPG, the tabletop-style adventure enabler, and the online arena battler.

The game rewards you with tons of flexibility, exciting combat and beautiful visuals that truly make it one of the best. 

This 2017 Nintendo game remains one of the top RPGs and Switch games of all time.

Set at the end of the Zelda timeline, this edition sees Link waking from a 100-year sleep only to realize her loss of memory, which she must regain if she is to stop Calamity Ganon from destroying the Kingdom of Hyrule.

Thanks to the huge open world of Hyrule, one will never get bored. With exciting puzzles, missions, and chances to experiment with a robust physics system, only few games reward exploration like Breath of the Wild.

Upon its release, the game led many players to pick up the Nintendo Switch. The game has even inspired other highly popular RPGs like the 2019 game Genshin Impact. 

Despite its rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077 remains one of the best RPGs ever made.

With a next-gen update, the CDProjekt Red game eventually got good and has even more potential with the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty release coming up.

In the futuristic RPG, you play as the highly customisable protagonist V, tasked with hunting down a one-of-a-kind implant which may hold the key to immortality. 

The gigantic metropolis of Night City possesses a mix of quirky characters, countless main and side quests and eventual entanglement with Johnny Silverhand, Keanu Reeve’s ‘breathtaking’ character.

After years of wait and anticipation, CD Projekt released the game for Windows, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One in December 2020, followed by PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in February 2022.

The Witcher Hunt 3 takes the top spot on our list of best RPGs to play in 2023.

Yet another applaudable work by CD Projekt Red, this series has helped the developers rise from niche to pop culture fame, from humble beginnings to stardom.

The third game in The Witcher series is well-known and acclaimed for its rich world and incredible narrative, among many other things. 

The Witcher 3 does not back down from anything, challenging subjects like racism, bigotry, and what-not. The result is an extraordinary RPG that sets you out on open-world adventures, like nowhere else.

While you’re waiting for the release of The Witcher Hunt 4, make sure to enjoy this artistry of a game as much as you can.

Now that we’ve come to the end of our list, let us list down some of the promising and highly anticipated RPGs of the year 2023.

• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Starfield
• Fable
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Diablo IV
• Greedfall II
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
• The Lords of the Fallen
• Octopath Traveler II