RPGs (Role-Playing Games) first emerged in analog form and quickly became a staple of geek culture. With the rise of video games, it didn’t take long for the genre to be adapted into the digital realm.
Today, RPGs include a wide variety of titles and are among the most beloved by gamers. Many of these titles—even entire franchises—are considered the greatest RPGs ever made! In this post, we’ll highlight 5 of them. Keep reading to find out!
1. The Witcher 3
Based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher is a true masterpiece and is frequently listed as one of the best RPGs of recent times.
Released in 2015 by CD Projekt RED for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, the game presents a vast and detailed continent filled with fantastic creatures and warring nations, allowing players to encounter action around every corner.
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The most popular installment of the award-winning Elder Scrolls franchise, Skyrim remains a phenomenon even after its 2011 release. It continues to maintain a loyal fanbase and was named the best RPG of all time by Game Informer magazine.
Playing as a legendary dragon slayer, the player is free to roam wherever adventure calls, in a kingdom full of magic and wonder.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
While The Legend of Zelda never explicitly claimed to be an RPG franchise, it has always featured many RPG elements—such as a protagonist who grows stronger over time and a rich, immersive world.
With Breath of the Wild, released in 2017 for the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, the series evolved into a full-fledged RPG, featuring a massive open world and countless side quests that can be completed independently of the main storyline.
4. Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger revolutionized the genre when it launched in 1995 for the Super Nintendo. Despite its old-school graphics, it still holds a strong fanbase and is considered a “flawless” RPG, where everything feels just right.
It’s no wonder that the development team at the time was dubbed the “Dream Team,” featuring Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragon Ball), Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator of Final Fantasy), and Yuji Horii (creator of Dragon Quest).
5. Final Fantasy
Just as it’s impossible to talk about RPGs without mentioning Final Fantasy, it’s equally hard to pick a single game from the franchise as the best. Released regularly by Square since 1987—and now on its 15th main installment (excluding spin-offs)—each Final Fantasy game has its own unique story, characters, and world, yet they all share common visual and gameplay elements.
Among fans, Final Fantasy VI, VII, and X are generally regarded as the best, but every title in the series is worth exploring.
There are still many other RPGs worth playing, available on a wide range of consoles. And of course, let’s not forget the classic tabletop RPGs that always make for great fun with friends!
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