RPG Games, Ranked

CD Projekt Red's 2015 epic won over 250 Game of the Year awards and set the standard for meaningful side quests, where even minor contracts carry full narrative weight. Its writing and the Blood and Wine expansion are still cited as the genre's high-water mark.

The 1995 collaboration between Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest's creators featured multiple endings, a New Game Plus system it helped popularize, and zero random encounters. It routinely tops lists of the greatest games ever made.

Bethesda's 2011 open world sold over 60 million copies and became a cultural phenomenon, re-released across three console generations. Its go-anywhere freedom and endless mod scene keep it alive over a decade later.

BioWare's 2010 sequel tightened its RPG systems and built a cast whose loyalty missions could end in permanent death during the climactic finale. It's frequently named the best entry in the trilogy and one of the best RPGs ever.

The 2022 collaboration between Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin sold over 25 million copies and won Game of the Year, transplanting Souls combat into a vast interconnected world. Its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC was equally acclaimed.

Square's 1997 PlayStation landmark brought JRPGs to the Western mainstream and made Aerith's death one of gaming's most famous moments. Its influence was large enough to justify a multi-part remake decades later.

Larian's 2023 D&D adaptation won Game of the Year with reactive branching where nearly any action has a consequence. Its depth of choice and companion writing raised expectations for the entire CRPG genre.

ZA/UM's 2019 detective game replaced fighting with a skill system where 24 aspects of your psyche argue with you. Its writing is so dense and literary it's studied as a milestone for narrative games.

Atlus's 2019 enhanced edition blends dungeon-crawling with a social-sim calendar and one of the slickest UIs in gaming. It's widely regarded as the peak of the modern Persona series.

Bethesda's 2006 entry introduced the immersive Cyrodiil and a Dark Brotherhood questline still praised as its best. Its ambitious NPC schedules were groundbreaking even when they broke.

FromSoftware's 2011 title birthed an entire subgenre with its interlocking world design, cryptic lore, and punishing-but-fair combat. Bonfires and 'You Died' became instantly recognizable gaming shorthand.

Square's 1994 ensemble piece juggled fourteen playable characters and an opera scene that pushed the SNES to its limits. Kefka remains one of the most memorable villains in RPG history.

Square Enix's 2017 entry is a lovingly traditional turn-based JRPG with Akira Toriyama art and a sprawling, warm-hearted adventure. It won over newcomers while satisfying decades of fans.

Obsidian's 2010 spin-off is beloved for its branching factions and reactive dialogue that let you talk your way through nearly anything. It's often ranked above Bethesda's own Fallout entries despite launching buggy.

CD Projekt Red's 2011 sequel featured a second act that split entirely based on one choice, showing off dramatically different content. It sharpened the studio's writing before Wild Hunt perfected it.

Square Enix's 2005 action-RPG crossover delivered flashy combat and a surprisingly sincere story despite its famously tangled plot. It's the fan-favorite entry in a beloved but convoluted series.

CD Projekt Red's 2020 launch was so broken it was pulled from the PlayStation Store, though years of patches and the Phantom Liberty expansion rebuilt its reputation. The comeback doesn't erase one of gaming's most notorious releases.

Square Enix's 2009 entry drew heavy criticism for its extreme linearity and thin exploration before finally opening up dozens of hours in. Its combat has defenders, but it marked a divisive turn for the series.

Bethesda's 2018 online spin-off shipped riddled with bugs and an empty NPC-less world, then drew outrage over a $200 collector's edition whose duffel bag used cheap nylon instead of the advertised canvas. It's a textbook case of a botched launch.