Dec 18, 2013 Here’s a neat list of the best RPGs on Steam which you can download and play right now. These games are available through the ace digital distribution platform, equipped with support for everything from Achievements as well as online matchmaking and modifications for certain games. Eschalon is a world facing threats and mysteries. The first book does a good job of immersing you in its grim, low fantasy world. Recommended June 26. One of the best RPG games. Awesome cast of characters. Exploring the world. The character design, the combat, the visuals, the writing - everything is on point. Jul 07, 2021 So when one of the best RPGs of the 21st century was released, it was perhaps something of a surprise. Despite following a very traditional structure (visit four different enormous regions, building up to a climactic battle), the overwhelming volume of history, lore, culture and conflict that was in place from the very start let Dragon Age. The Best PC RPGs for 2021. Disco Elysium is just one of 20 expertly reviewed PC role-playing games. If you've ever wanted to slay dragons, save the universe, or fulfill an ancient prophecy, this. Here’s a neat list of the best RPGs on Steam which you can download and play right now. These games are available through the ace digital distribution platform, equipped with support for everything from Achievements as well as online matchmaking and modifications for certain games.
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Some of the earliest video games ever were role-playing games. Given the natural ability of computers to crunch stats, and the natural affinity between programmers and Dungeons & Dragons, that's no surprise.
Since then, the genre has come on in leaps and bounds.
Just as the numbers behind the scenes have become more complex, the interfaces above have become prettier and more accessible.
The games have diversified into multiple, confusing sub-genres each with their own vocal fan base. And you can find examples of every kind on Steam.
So here are some of the best, just in case you need a suggestion next time you fancy a bit of dungeon delving.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
By Beamdog - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£14.99)
Let's start than with the title that transformed role-playing games forever.
In place of the lumbering, stat-driven games of the past, here was a thing that wove character and story into an epic tapestry. And gave us heart-stopping real time combat with a pause button. In fact, it had even more lumbering stats than most of its predecessors. We just stopped caring because everything else was so wonderful.
The sequel, Baldur's Gate 2, went on to greater critical acclaim and is also on Steam. But my heart stays with the original for its comparative simplicity and naive charm. Who want and epic plot that span the cosmos when you could be gutting Gnolls at the behest of a mad Ranger with a hamster fixation?
Pillars of Eternity
By Obsidian Entertainment - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£34.99)
Besides, if you really want epic role-playing in the style of Baldur's Gate, you can skip the sequel and pick up this instead. It has the same concepts as the classic Infinity Engine that powered the Baldur's Gate games, but drags everything into the new millennium.
That doesn't just mean sharper graphics and richer sound.
It means ever more complex interactions between the members of your party and non-player characters. It means a novel fantasy world of astonishing richness and imagination bought to life in vivid detail. It means a lot more strategy and tactics to pause-button combat. It means a near-bottomless well of potential play hours.
Wizardry 8
By Sir-Tech Canada - buy on PC and Mac (£6.99)
If you want a glimpse of what role-playing was like before the Infinity Engine, this is the place to find out.
Oh sure, it's got the first-person view common to more modern fare. But after spending several hours poring over stats in the character creation screen you'll come to understand the true meaning of 'old school'.
If you can get past that, however, there's a massive, seventy hour game underneath. Filled with monsters, traps, and even more stat crunching as you level up and kit out your characters.
Legend of Grimrock 2
By Almost Human Games - buy on PC and Mac (£17.99)
Best Steam Rpgs 2021
Just as detailed stat crunching was starting to feel obsolete, along came a game called Dungeon Master. It dared to do something different. Rather than watching your party from above as they moved round the map, Dungeon Master let you see the world through their actual eyes.
Legend of Grimrock 2 is a love letter to that long-lost title. It eschews modern open world games and goes back to the simple click-move system and grid-based maps that characterised the original. Then it uses those mechanics to build the biggest, hardest most unfathomable puzzles you may ever encounter in a role-playing game.
Forget grinding for stats. This is all about watching your party starve as you stare bleakly at a cryptic riddle intoned by a stone head. It's more fun that it sounds.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
By Bethesda Game Studios - buy on PC (£9.99)
Those open-world games that grew out of the old first-person dungeon explorers have gone from strength to strength. The Elder Scrolls series, which sees you free to roam massive and richly detailed fantasy worlds, are the poster child of these titles. And Skyrim is the very best of them.
Although there's a plot to follow, you can ignore it and be whatever you want to be. You can collect potion reagents, hunt monsters, or collect cabbages to earn your keep. You'll want to do it thanks to the incredible scenery, the snow blowing off windswept peaks, the sun shining off walls of ice.
Wherever you go, and whatever you do, you'll find secrets and wonders. But we suggest you do pay some attention to the plot, and not get lost in cabbages.
Fallout 3
By Bethesda Game Studios - buy on PC (£9.99)
The majority of role-playing games are set in sword and sorcery words. But there's no reason for that other than conforming to a stereotype. The mechanics work effectively transplanted to any setting.
Post-apocalyptic open world title Fallout 3 is perhaps the best proof of that. As the anonymous Vault Dweller, you'll emerge into a blasted world that's at once familiar and yet horribly different. Add in fine mechanics for survival, character building and a smidgen of black humour and you're looking at an all-time classic.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
By CD Projekt Red - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£14.99)
Just as open world settings threatened to overwhelm role-playing games, along came The Witcher 2. It reminded us how a hub-based world and act-based plot could be far more intimate and compelling than open wandering.
Its recent sequel, and critical darling, The Witcher 3 did go open world. But we're sticking with this game. Partly because the newer one requires a beast of a machine to run. Partly because the combat in the older title is harder and more satisfying. But you won't got far wrong with any game in this franchise.
Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition
By FromSoftware - buy on PC (£19.99)
Gaming is full of people who extol the virtues of Dark Souls in spite of all the things that make it a nightmare.
The grueling difficulty level. The punishing and often inescapable set-pieces. The design elements like hiding important save points and making one entire level a deadly poisonous bog. Here's the thing though: these people are right.
Your reward for suffering these torments is the satisfaction of having earned your rewards, of knowing you best something really hard. Plus, Dark Souls is one of the few genre blenders that manages to keep intact almost everything satisfying about its inspiration. It's a fully-fledged action role-playing game with combat like a fighting game. Ignore the naysayers and try it.
Bastion
By Supergiant Games - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£10.99)
If you can't get with the towering challenge represented by Dark Souls, we could forgive you for getting your action RPG fix here instead. Because while not as unique as the previous entry, Bastion manages to get everything else about the sub-genre just right.
The button-mashing and dungeon exploring, the experience gathering and loot collecting all dovetail snugly together. Not that you'd be looking, anyway, as you're carried along on soothing voice of the game's extraordinary event-based narration.
It's almost like someone reading you your very own fantasy story, with you as the hero, out loud.
Fable - The Lost Chapters
By Lionhead Studios - buy on PC (£6.99)
Reaching a bit further back into the mists of action RPG history is Fable. Given that the genre is now often celebrated for its difficulty, it seems ironic that this was once criticised for its lack of challenge. And the critics were right: it's a title you could play through with one eye closed.
What earns it its spot on the list is the sheer joy of the thing. Exuberance peeps out from between every pixel as you slay bandits, explore haunted ruins, and kick chickens. It's so full of fun, in-jokes, and silly Britishness that playing is like having Peter Molyneux in your front room with a party hat, giving a thumbs up and a cheesy wink.
Except a lot less creepy.
Torchlight II
By Runic Games - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£14.99)
It's worth remembering that not all action RPGs are over the shoulder third person. A little title called Diablo gathered elements from classic Rogue-likes and made a new kind of role-playing game. In which collecting treasure started to feel more like mainlining crack cocaine.
None of that series is available on Steam. Which would have been a shame until Torchlight 2 came along and eclipsed the games that inspired it at a stroke. While Diablo became ever more complex, convoluted, and po-faced, Torchlight 2 returned to simpler joys.
Such as clicking on monsters until they explode, then picking through the gore to find what items they dropped.
Also all of these games work great on Powerful Gaming Computers from Fierce PC.
Dungeons of Dredmor
By Gaslamp Games, Inc. - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£3.49)
Speaking of Rogue-likes, they're a genre onto themselves and deserving of their own list (Oh, here's one!). But the majority of them also look and feel a lot like classic role-playing games.
Dungeons of Dredmor is perhaps the best of them. It updates the formula of exploring a procedurally generated dungeon turn by turn with some nicer graphics and a healthy dose of humour. Which will leave you laughing right up to the point that permadeath kills your save file hours into the game.
One Way Heroics
By Smoking WOLF - buy on PC (£2.29)
It takes something special to stand out amongst all the Rogue-likes on Steam, but one-way heroics has a unique selling point. As you explore the new procedural world the game has made, darkness is eating it from the other end.
The result is a bizarre blend of turn-based role playing and the forced scrolling common to old-school platform games. It has other innovations, too, like giving you points to spend on upgrading things for your next run.
It might sound odd, but there's nothing else quite like it on all of Steam.
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The pleasure of immersing yourself completely in the worlds that role-playing games create is something only role-playing diehards will understand.
Spending long hours roaming around looking for rare loot, leveling up characters, and starting non-linear quests are some of the things that make role-playing video games great fun. Role-playing games have evolved and diversified into many, confusing sub-genres with each having their own devoted fan base. And you’ll find examples of each kind on Steam.
Valve’s video game retail service abounds with titles, and it’s difficult to choose a few from the slew of amazing role-playing games it has on sale. Having said that, we’ve put together a list of some of the best role playing game options on Steam, just in case you want a suggestion the next time you feel like indulging in some dungeon-delving.
1. Fallout series
Some people may prefer more fast-paced RPG shooter games, while others may opt for the isometric turn-based titles. No matter what type of genre you prefer, it’s possible that the Fallout series contains at least one title you’ll absolutely love. For example, you may love the base-building and craft in Fallout 4, or the side quests you can play in Fallout: New Vegas.
Fallout’s massive and treacherous wastelands are some of the most iconic places, with a wide range of sites to explore, loads of unfamiliar enemies to shoot, and countless stuff to loot. Nothing tops listening to 1950’s music on your Pip-Boy as you scavenge a seemingly deserted building, making Fallout’s calmer times an even enthralling experience. Check out our list of best Fallout endings.
2. Dark Souls
Unlike most fantasy RPG games, Dark Souls mostly focuses on brutal but rewarding combat, engrossing the gamer in a manner few games can. Character creation is restricted but given a large number of weapons, armor, as well as other useful things you’ll find, there’s a lot here to build your own individual experience.
Few experiences top the pleasure of finally overcoming that boss you’ve been fighting for hours or discovering some of Dark Souls’ numerous secret areas. You might die tens of times, but want to know what lies ahead can keep you bouncing back.
Although Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 3, and Dark Souls Remastered are also phenomenal titles, it’s hard to overlook the popularity of the original title that introduced many players to a more intense and grueling gameplay experience.
3. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is definitely a great title, but it’s hard to ignore the love many people have for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Straying off the well-trodden path is the best experience this game provides, with a massive number of exciting side quests to unravel that may take hours to finish.
From slaying skeletons and venturing into caves to uncovering the treasures found within to starting a family and constructing your own mansion, this game offers the best role-playing experience.
By picking what missions you want to complete, you can create your own experience. You can also choose what rivalries or alliances you want to start and what skills you wish to level up.
If you’re still not satisfied by its 300-hour long content, you can still use the ever-growing Steam workshop to download a huge range of texture enhancements, extra quests or even completely new regions.
You can become a Nord wielding double-handle weapons while clad in heavy armor, or become a stealthy Dark Elf who uses magic to deal with enemies. From the lure of what lies ahead to the iron inside the forge, there’s a countless amount of personality you can create just by playing this game the way you want. Check out how Skyrim compares to Fallout 4, Dark Souls, and Witcher 3.
4. Wizardry 8
For a sneak peek at what role-playing was all about prior to the Infinity Engine, Wizardry 8 is the perfect place to be. Of course, it boasts the first-person view commonplace in more modern titles. But after spending hours going through statistics on the character-building screen, you will come to know the real meaning of the phrase “old school”.
However, if you can go beyond that, there’s a massive 70-hour PC game beneath. Full of traps, monsters, and even more crunching of stats as you kit out characters and level up.
5. Divinity: Original Sin
Divinity: Original Sin, created by Larian Studios, came out of the woodwork to blow fans away with its challenging and deep turn-based combat, smart puzzles, and engaging mechanics that evoked nostalgic feelings of memorable RPGs like Baldur’s Gate.
Divinity: Original Sin’s colorful and vibrant visuals further enhance its fantasy RPG environment that tells a quite gritty but highly enjoyable narrative. There are loads of locations to explore and things to do, and with the inclusion of co op mode, this game is one of the most memorable and most unique role playing video game experiences in recent years.
6. Pillars of Eternity
Created by the company behind Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic and Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity is a wonderful isometric role playing game. Its minimal and simplistic art style can either turn you off or draw you in, but that aside, Pillar of Eternity’s incredible writing and deeply intriguing combat make it one of the best role playing video game options on Steam.
This PC game may be quite expensive, but with a realistic and dark fantasy world, it’s easy to get lost in its massive world. Pillars of Eternity may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who love a traditional role-playing experience might easily spend several hundred hours watching this title.
7. Mass Effect II
When it comes to science-fiction role-playing games, many people think about Mass Effect series and Deus Ex. But Mass Effect II was the zenith of the series, blending strong third-person shooting with aspects borrowed from Dragon Age: Origins, in which you can pause the war to issue commands. This usually creates devastating combinations.
In addition to that, Mass Effect II told a very personal narrative that was shaped by your decisions, both outside and inside of a dialogue, featuring various planets to check out that was full of complex and interesting characters. Not many games will ever come close to Mass Effect II’s perfect blend between glorious science fiction and emotional consequences.
8. Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins is an instant classic RPG from BioWare that perfected fantasy tactical RPG games, providing an intense, deep party-based combat that occurred in real-time. It could also be paused to give the PC gamer some tactical edge. Apart from all that, Dragon Age: Origins featured a thrilling and epic story that was embellished by keen attention to visual detail and more.
How your story unfolds is determined by what type of character you develop and create, how you engage with the open world and the people in it and what route you choose to take, letting you customize your own personal story experience. For this reason, Dragon Age: Origins is incredibly replayable as no two playthroughs are the same, which is why the game is a timeless treasure for many fans.
9. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Ever wondered what medieval life would look like in real life? If so, go for Kingdom Come: Deliverance. In this game, you play a blacksmith’s son who dreams of following in his father’s footsteps. One day, both your parents are killed and your village is razed to the ground as civil war rages on in Bohemia.
From here, you must learn everything on your own, from how to swing a sword, how to talk to noblemen in your mission to avenge your parents’ death, how to repel any invaders that might come to Bohemia, and how to chart Bohemia’s future.
10. Rebel Galaxy
Ever wondered what it’d be like piloting your own starship complete with all its armor coupled with a very skilled mechanic? Well, Rebel Galaxy allows you to explore multiple galaxies and planets as you look for ways to mine, trade, bounty hunt, and do everything else you can imagine under the cosmos.
The game boasts a Naval Broadside-like mechanic that’ll keep you drawn in with an assortment of weapons from missiles to laser batteries. While other games may have a stronger story, Rebel Galaxy offers a good way to create the perfect game environment and your quest for that newer, shinier ship.
11. Battle Chasers: Night War
Centered around a similarly named comic book published in the 90s, this game is inspired by the traditional console giants of turn-based JRPG setup and is filled with a rich storyline that’ll keep you begging for more.
You get to explore the open world with its procedurally-created dungeons full of puzzles and traps as well as a deep crafting structure that lets you create your own armor and weapons. This amazing JRPG title will give you your daily fix of nostalgia.
12. EITR
If you love the Souls video game but want a more isometric form of it, then you should choose EITR as it presents a new perspective on the world of Souls with an isometric viewpoint paired with outstanding combat.
In EITR, you can use and switch an array of spell buffs and weapons in real-time to help in battle, and you’ll also need this when dealing with multitudes of enemies while you explore the worlds of Nine Norse.
As you advance, you can collect hidden treasures and randomly produced loot from vanquished enemies but your equipment will be damaged if your Maiden dies. In this game, death isn’t necessarily game over but it will certainly be more difficult when you next spawn.
13. West of Loathing
Role-playing games have been largely brutal, serious, and gritty thus far but this game boasts a more light-hearted adventure game full of comedy as you assume the role of a cowboy in the Wild West.
West of Loathing pairs well-written dialogue with the allure of the old-fashioned figure games, keeping you entertained as you play. You’ll hear punchlines, puns, and reference humor along with its side quests and the usual linear storyline. It may not have the best combat but so long as you stick around, you’ll emerge laughing your head off and doing some stupid walking.
14. Elder Scrolls Online
Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG that provides so much fun like you can’t believe. There’s nothing we can say that hasn’t been said already. Simply download this game and join more than 10 million online gamers enjoying the adventure.
You can build, create, plunder, or loot items, or mix powers in order to create your own unique skill. Even just exploring Elder Scroll Online is amazing fun.
Discover Tamriel’s secrets as you embark on regaining your soul and keep the world away from Oblivion. Live any storyline anywhere in the world, in any order you decide on—alone or with others. Join the multiplayer environment and finish quests with your pals. It’s much more fun with pals.
15. Tropico 6
The President is back! Show the whole world what a successful leader you are one more time. A peace-loving leader or a fearsome dictator—the choice is entirely yours! Lead and improve Tropico Island and turn Banana Republic into one of the best countries to visit.
For the first time in the Tropico series, you can play on vast archipelagos. Manage several islands at once and adapt to many new challenges. Heck, you can even send your staff to steal and plunder and use that loot to develop Tropico Island.
Steal the world monuments and wonders and grow your tourism with them. Build buses, transport, and give your citizens a decent transport system. Create world wonders and improve tourism. Build cable vehicles to attract and retain tourists.
Tropico 6 features an online multiplayer mode that accommodates up to four gamers. You can design and build your castle, customize it and change its color at will. The game also gives you access to the updated research system where you can become the most brutal dictator in the world.
16. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
This video game speaks for itself. In the game, you can pick your own fate. From a living legend to an outcast, embark on a mission to uncover your past and make changes to ancient Greece in your own way.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers you the amazing scenic majesty of ancient Greece. You have everything, from volcanic islands to lush green meadows. Roam around ancient Greece’s streets to uncover your past and chart your future.
Every decision you make will have an impact on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and it’ll determine how your journey progresses. Make meaningful decisions and face the consequences. Tailor your gears, ship, and special skills to be a legend.
Prove your warrior credentials in large-scale epic fights between Sparta and Athens featuring several hundred soldiers, or cleave or ram your way through streets in naval battles all over the Aegean Sea.
17. UnderRail
Lovers of the Fallout series strategy game will find themselves right at home with this game as it’s inspired by Fallout while having an original perspective on the game. In UnderRail, you find yourself in a post-apocalyptic world where you must fight and explore underneath metro tunnels alongside marching loony denizens who want to eat you alive or snatch your loot.
In the game, you can customize your character to fit your needs like a deft ninja shooting arrows between the enemy’s eyes or a melee-focused brute wielding a sledgehammer. You’re the protagonist caught in the middle of the conflict between factions in UnderRail. Will you manage to battle your way through?
18. One Way Heroics
It’s not easy to stand out from all the RPGs on Steam, but this game comes with a unique draw. As you check the new bureaucratic world of One Way Heroics, darkness is consuming it at the other end.
This results in a bizarre mix of forced scrolling and turn-based role-playing that’s common in old-fashioned platform games. The game has other innovations as well, such as handing you points you can spend on upgrading stuff for your next attempt.
Best Steam Rpgs Pc
It may sound weird, but nothing else compares to this in the world of Steam.
Honorable Mentions
Play These RPGs on Steam Today!
No matter what type of gamer you are or which platform you’re using, you’ll definitely love these role-playing games. From triple-A titles such as Elder Scroll Skyrim and Fallout: New Vegas to role-playing games on Steam, let this list help you buy the best RPGs on Steam that are worth your money.
FAQ’s About RPG
What Does RPG Stand for?RPG is an abbreviation or acronym for “role-playing game”.
What Are the Qualities of a Good RPG?Most RPGs contain some sort of mission mechanic or quest. These provide your character with a reason to start exploring the world, garner experience with your skills, build wealth, and have an impact on the world of the game. Quests are vital as they lengthen the RPG game in a fun and meaningful way.
What Are the Different Kinds of RPGs?RPG games exist in many forms, including tabletop RPG, live-action, gamemaster, electronic media (single-player and multiplayer), the player character, and non-player character.
What’s a Turn-based RPG?This is a type of RPG game where battles have turned and a gamer can command characters to do different things to defeat opponents.
What’s JRPG Short for?JRPG is an abbreviation for the Japanese role-playing game. It’s a subcategory of the RPG genre.