The 25 Best Role-Playing Games (RPGs) for PC & Console

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Find the best classic & modern RPGs to get lost in right now

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

2 Mass Effect Legendary Edition

3 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

4 Elden Ring

5 Fallout: New Vegas

6 Planescape: Torment

7 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

8 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

9 Persona 5 Royal

10 Divinity: Original Sin 2

11 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

12 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

13 Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

14 Pillars of Eternity

15 Cyberpunk 2077

16 Disco Elysium

17 Dragon Age: Origins

18 Dark Souls

19 Fire Emblem: Three Houses

20 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

21 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

22 The Outer Worlds

23 Deus Ex

24 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

25 Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition

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Co-authored by Nathan Featherstone and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: August 25, 2026 Fact Checked

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Need some more meaty, intriguing RPGs (role-playing games) in your life? We’re so with you! And thankfully, there’s no shortage of fantastic RPGs waiting to be played. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best RPGs currently out there—all of them waiting to be discovered and played. You’ll find popular modern games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Clair Obscur, as well as modern classics begging to be rediscovered, like Planescape: Torment. So, take a look at our extensive list of amazing RPGs below!

Top 25 RPGs (Role-Playing Games) to Try

Some of the best and most popular RPGs (role-playing games) include titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, The Witcher 3, Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Planescape: Torment. Some are modern hits (like BG3 and Elden Ring), while others are older classics (like New Vegas and Planescape).

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1

Baldur’s Gate 3

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1. 
   Baldur’s Gate 3 is pretty much a masterclass in RPG storytelling, and most definitely one of the “GOATs” of modern video games. Built using the D&D 5e ruleset, BG3 is a huge adventure-RPG in which you take on the role of an adventurer afflicted with a deadly condition and forced to unravel a massive cult conspiracy—with a cast of lovable misfits at your side, of course! And in BG3, anything goes; you have the freedom to explore, make enormous decisions, and navigate the world on your terms.

   • Developer: Larian Studios
   • Release date: August 3, 2023
   • Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
   • BG3 isn’t the only game in the series to make waves. In fact, its predecessors—Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn—are widely regarded as classic RPGs and some of the best games ever made.
   • We recommended BG3 as the most recent (and modern) in the series, but those who don’t mind isometric games with older graphics should definitely try BG and BG2 as well!
   • Take a look at our other recommendations of games like BG3.
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2

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

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1. 
   Full disclosure: Legendary Edition is actually three games rolled into one, remastering the entire original Mass Effect trilogy. But it’s an absolutely brilliant trilogy, widely considered one of the best sci-fi RPG franchises ever made, in which you play as the tough, unflappable Commander Shepard. Mass Effect 2 is especially beloved, completely switching up the stakes from ME1 and forcing Shepard into a desperate mission that leads into the all-out galactic war of ME3.

   • Developer: BioWare
   • Release date: May 14, 2021
   • Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One

3

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

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1. 
   Clair Obscur is one of the newest games on this list, but it’s clearly already considered one of the “greats” of the RPG genre. Set in a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France, Clair Obscur follows a group of expedition members whose mission is to destroy the Paintress, a god-like entity who paints a number on a monolith each year (thus killing everyone that age). Yet Clair Obscur’s story is anything but straightforward; it’s complex and deeply emotional from start to finish!

   • Developer: Sandfall Interactive
   • Release date: April 24, 2025
   • Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
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4

Elden Ring

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1. 
   Elden Ring’s world and lore were created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin…so, no wonder it’s pretty unforgettable. The Lands Between are vast and as alluring as they are daunting to explore, with twisted lore that binds the game’s story together! Elden Ring is a dark fantasy game with an open world, meaning there’s lots to see and do—albeit with ever-present danger and challenging combat along the way.

   • Developer: FromSoftware
   • Release date: February 25, 2022
   • Platform(s): PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2

5

Fallout: New Vegas

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1. 
   Of all the Fallout titles released, New Vegas might be the most beloved entry to date. It’s an incredible open-world game in which players—as “the Courier,” a character who has just mysteriously survived a shot to the head—can explore the Mojave Wasteland, join a number of different factions, and work their way up to becoming the Savior of the Damned. Known especially for its deep storytelling and reputation system, New Vegas isn’t a game to miss!

   • Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
   • Release date: October 19, 2010
   • Platform(s): PC, PS3, Xbox 360
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6

Planescape: Torment

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1. 
   There’s a reason you’ll find Planescape: Torment on most “best of” RPG lists: despite its age, it remains one of the best stories in the world of video games. Planescape follows a player character who has lost all sense of self, the “Nameless One,” and must confront their past misdeeds through their adventures. The game’s graphics are definitely way out of date, but as long as you love a good story and compelling characters, that really doesn’t matter!

   • Developer: Black Isle Studios
   • Release date: December 10, 1999
   • Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

7

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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1. 
   The Witcher 3 is another modern classic as far as RPGs go—one that has inspired many other RPGs released since. It follows Geralt of Rivia, an experienced witcher, as he takes on his greatest hunt yet: the search for his surrogate daughter, Ciri, who has run afoul of the wraith-like Wild Hunt. From writing to quest design, everything about TW3 is masterfully done, and nearly every choice you make as Geralt feels like it has real weight as the game unfolds!

   • Developer: CD Projekt Red
   • Release date: May 19, 2015
   • Platform(s): PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
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8

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

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1. 
   Skyrim’s presence on this list was more or less inevitable: it’s a super-famous open world RPG that lets you do whatever you want, whenever you want. Yeah, there’s a main plot and everything…but if you wanted to forget about the oncoming dragon apocalypse and just go around mastering magic or becoming the new leader of a thieves’ guild for 500 hours, Skyrim would absolutely facilitate that. That’s the beauty of it: the main character is the “Dragonborn,” but no two players’ Dragonborns have the same experience!

   • Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
   • Release date: November 11, 2011
   • Platform(s): PC, PS3/4/5, Xbox 360/One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

9

Persona 5 Royal

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1. 
   Persona 5 Royal is an improved, expanded version of the OG Persona 5—which just means there’s even more to love! If you’ve ever wanted to experience a high-school simulator and dungeon crawl all in one magnificent game, Persona 5 is definitely your kind of game; it follows a probationary student whose awakened powers lead to them joining a group of vigilantes called the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, banding together to explore a fantastical realm called “the Metaverse.”

   • Developer: P-Studio
   • Release date: September 15, 2016
   • Platform(s): PC, PS3/4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
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10

Divinity: Original Sin 2

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1. 
   Before designing Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian came out with Divinity: Original Sin 2—yet another game with an impressive level of freedom for its players, both in terms of story decisions and the different ways players can navigate the world! It’s set in Rivellon, a realm where dangerous beings are invading, and the world’s supposed savior has been killed…so, when you and your compatriots are called to action by the gods, how will you respond?

   • Developer: Larian Studios
   • Release date: September 14, 2017
   • Platform(s): PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

11

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

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1. 
   Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is yet another open-world RPG, this one set in 15th-century Europe. Players step into the shoes of Henry of Skalitz, a humble blacksmith’s son swept up into the soldier’s life when his village is burned. He’s introduced in the original Deliverance, and the sequel continues Henry’s story during a time of unrest in Bohemia. It’s a first-person, action-heavy game that puts a premium on immersion!

   • Developer: Warhorse Studios
   • Release date: February 4, 2025
   • Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
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12

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

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1. 
   The original FFVII was already a fan-favorite in the long-running franchise, and the remake does an impressive job of reinventing FFVII for modern consoles! It’s a reimagining of the original game that faithfully tells Cloud Strife’s story, taking place in the world of Midgar. And, of course, it features numerous improvements: better visuals, performance, and an episodic intermission with a whole new adventure to play through.

   • Developer: Square Enix
   • Release date: June 10, 2021
   • Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2

13

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

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1. 
   Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is an incredible modern isometric (top-down) RPG, this time based on the lore and mechanics of the Pathfinder TTRPG. Character creation is one of the game’s coolest aspects: there are 25 classes, over 100 archetypes, and “Mythic Paths,” allowing characters to transcend mortality itself and become living legends! Plus, there’s the whole plot about vanquishing demons and managing an entire crusade—that’s pretty neat, too.

   • Developer: Owlcat Games
   • Release date: September 2, 2021
   • Platform(s): PC, Mac, PS4/5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
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14

Pillars of Eternity

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1. 
   Remember those early Baldur’s Gate games we mentioned above? Well, Pillars of Eternity is their spiritual successor: an isometric RPG set in the fantastical world of Eora. In the first game, you’ll take on the role of “the Watcher,” an adventurer whose awakened ability to see past lives and souls also exposes them to a terrible curse—and helps them uncover an ancient secret. PoE’s vibrant world and immersive writing are especially worth experiencing!

   • Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
   • Release date: March 26, 2015
   • Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
   • There’s also a sequel, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, as well as another game set in the same world of Eora called Avowed.

15

Cyberpunk 2077

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1. 
   If it had stayed the same since its launch, Cyberpunk 2077 probably wouldn’t make this list—but it’s been steadily updated and added to, to the point that it’s actually become a much better game than its original launch version! It’s a futuristic game following a mercenary named V, whose exposure to some mysterious tech lands them in very hot water…and into an adventure across Night City alongside rockerboy Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves).

   • Developer: CD Projekt Red
   • Release date: December 10, 2020
   • Platform(s): PC, Mac, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S
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16

Disco Elysium

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1. 
   In Disco Elysium, you’re an amnesiac detective trying to solve a murder—and as the player, you’ll have to piece together the fragments of the detective’s memory along the way to find out what’s really going on. It’s a fun and fascinating game in which there’s plenty of action, but no traditional combat. Instead, events are resolved through skill checks and dialogue, based on a tabletop RPG setting created by novelist Robert Kurvitz (who was also Disco Elysium’s lead designer and writer).

   • Developer: ZA/UM
   • Release date: October 15, 2019
   • Platform(s): PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

17

Dragon Age: Origins

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1. 
   Honestly, any of the Dragon Age games could sit on this list—which is why we’re just starting at the beginning with Origins. Each game in the Dragon Age series follows a different protagonist and is (technically) standalone, although there’s an ongoing plot that’s best followed by playing the games from first to last. Origins kicks things off with a grand fantasy adventure in which the remnants of the Grey Wardens (an order of warriors) fight to protect the world from an oncoming Blight!

   • Developer: BioWare
   • Release date: November 2, 2009
   • Platform(s): PC, Mac, PS3, Xbox 360
   • As already mentioned, Origins is just the first Dragon Age game. Its sequels are also great RPGs: Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
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18

Dark Souls

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1. 
   Dark Souls is an iconic game for several reasons—maybe most notably for how harsh and unforgiving it is. There’s no hand-holding in Dark Souls; if you play, you’re in for a real challenge! Yet the result is also incredibly rewarding, since everything you do is such an uphill battle. It’s high-risk, high-reward gameplay at its finest, all in an extremely dark setting in which the player—an undead hero—must decide the fate of the changing world.

   • Developer: FromSoftware
   • Release date: September 22, 2011
   • Platform(s): PC, PS3/4, Xbox 360/One, Nintendo Switch

19

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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1. 
   The Fire Emblem series features a long series of standalone games, with Three Houses being one of the more recent standouts. It’s a strategy RPG with a truly epic story and turn-based action; in Three Houses, you’ll be taking on the role of a mercenary assigned to one of three school houses—and each choice leads down a different route of the game. With a mix of tactical gameplay and social simulation elements, Three Houses is a great story-driven RPG!

   • Developer: Intelligent Systems
   • Release date: July 26, 2019
   • Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
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20

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

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1. 
   For people who were never able to get into the early Zelda games for one reason or another, Breath of the Wild is a great point to jump in! Although there are lots of Zelda games, Breath of the Wild is both standalone and considered one of the best modern RPGs in its own right, which means you can dive in with no prior Zelda experience. It’s an open-world game with a self-contained plot, and plenty for the amnesiac Link to do as he explores a ruined Hyrule!

   • Developer: Nintendo EPD
   • Release date: March 3, 2017
   • Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
   • Although Breath of the Wild doesn’t require you to play the previous games, it does have a sequel (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom).

21

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

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1. 
   Horizon Zero Dawn is an engrossing post-apocalyptic game in which the world has been lost to colossal robotic machines, and humanity lives in tribal societies around what used to be the United States. One young machine-hunter, Aloy, has been an outcast all her life—and embarks on a journey to discover why. It has a vibrant setting, great visuals (especially since the remaster), and fun combat, too!

   • Developer: Guerrilla Games
   • Release date: February 28, 2017
   • Platform(s): PC, PS4/5
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22

The Outer Worlds

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1. 
   The Outer Worlds takes place on a trip through outer space, all the way to the distant Halcyon planetary system. It’s a sci-fi action-RPG in which planets are colonized by megacorporations, and players take on the role of a survivor from a lost colony ship rediscovered after 70 years. And as you play, you’ll get to enjoy a well-written narrative with a touch of dark humor and satire to go along with it!

   • Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
   • Release date: October 25, 2019
   • Platform(s): PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

23

Deus Ex

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1. 
   Deus Ex might be relatively old, but there’s a reason RPG-lovers still remember it: it’s got an amazing narrative with deep world-building and environmental storytelling! It’s set in the year 2052, and follows agent JC Denton on his mission to more or less save the world while it’s hounded by terrorists and on the brink of economic collapse. And even though the game is old, its mechanics are easy to get the hang of—so it’s still worth picking up.

   • Developer: Ion Storm
   • Release date: June 23, 2000
   • Platform(s): PC, PS2
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24

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

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1. 
   It’s pretty hard to go wrong with a classic BioWare RPG—which is why there’s more than one on this list, including Knights of the Old Republic. KotOR is set about 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire was established (in other words, long before the films), allowing players to learn the ways of the Jedi and master the Force…although you can defect to the dark side, if that’s what you want! Regardless, KotOR is widely recognized as one of the best Star Wars games, complete with well-written characters and entertaining gameplay.

   • Developer: BioWare
   • Release date: July 15, 2003
   • Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox, Nintendo Switch

25

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition

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1. 
   Last but not least, we have Chrono Cross: a classic game (with a modern remaster) considered a masterpiece in its day. In the game, a boy named Serge sets out to discover the truth behind the divergence of two worlds—helped along by a group of very likable allies. Chrono Cross’s watercolor graphics, combat system, and multi-dimensional story have all been touted as highlights…not to mention its amazing soundtrack!

   • Developer: Square Enix
   • Release date: April 7, 2022 (original version on November 18, 1999)
   • Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
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• If you're looking for a great tabletop RPG game, tabletop role-playing game expert Nathan Featherstone recommends Shadow Dark and Pirate Borg.
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• Looking for even more game recommendations? We also have articles dedicated to horror games, shooters, games like Minecraft, games like Civilization, and games like Life is Strange.
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