Top 10 RPGs Every Gamer Should Experience

Role-playing games represent the pinnacle of immersive storytelling in the gaming medium. From sprawling fantasy epics to character-driven sci-fi adventures, RPGs transport players to richly detailed worlds where their choices and actions have meaningful consequences. Here, we present our definitive list of the 10 most essential RPG experiences that have defined and redefined the genre.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

CD Projekt Red's masterpiece represents the gold standard for modern RPGs. Set in a vast open world inspired by Slavic mythology, The Witcher 3 follows Geralt of Rivia as he searches for his adoptive daughter while navigating complex political intrigues and battling terrifying monsters.

What elevates The Witcher 3 above its contemporaries is its remarkably nuanced writing and morally ambiguous choices. Unlike many RPGs with clear-cut good/evil options, The Witcher presents difficult decisions with consequences that often don't manifest until hours later. The game's two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, maintain the exceptional quality of the base game while exploring new themes and settings.

2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

Few games have captured the public imagination like Bethesda's Skyrim. Set in the northernmost province of Tamriel, Skyrim offers unprecedented freedom in a vast open world teeming with dungeons, dragons, and countless adventures. As the Dragonborn, players harness the power of dragon shouts while choosing their own path through the civil war-torn province.

Skyrim's greatest strength lies in its emergent gameplay and modifiability. The game's extensive modding community has created thousands of expansions, graphical enhancements, and gameplay overhauls that have kept Skyrim feeling fresh more than a decade after its release. From its iconic opening sequence to its breathtaking vistas, Skyrim remains the definitive open-world fantasy RPG.

3. Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)

BioWare's classic isometric RPG represents the pinnacle of Dungeons & Dragons video game adaptations. Following the child of Bhaal as they navigate the intrigues of the city of Amn, Baldur's Gate II offers an unparalleled depth of character development and tactical combat.

What makes Baldur's Gate II truly special is its companion characters and their personal quests. From the noble paladin Keldorn to the sardonic wizard Edwin, each party member has their own motivations, conflicts, and character arcs that develop throughout the game. The expansion, Throne of Bhaal, provides a satisfying conclusion to the epic saga while raising the stakes to godlike proportions.

4. Mass Effect 2 (2010)

BioWare's sci-fi space opera reached its creative peak with Mass Effect 2, which refined the series' third-person combat while doubling down on character development. As Commander Shepard, players assemble a team of the galaxy's most skilled (and troubled) individuals for a suicide mission against the mysterious Collectors.

The game's structure as a series of loyalty missions for each squad member allows for deep exploration of diverse characters, from the genetically engineered krogan Grunt to the philosophical assassin Thane. The game culminates in one of gaming's most tense final missions, where the fate of each team member depends on the player's preparations and decisions. Few games have achieved such emotional investment in digital companions.

5. Final Fantasy VII (1997)

Square's iconic JRPG introduced countless Western players to the genre and remains a cultural touchstone. Following the eco-terrorist Cloud Strife and his allies as they battle the sinister Shinra Corporation, Final Fantasy VII features one of gaming's most memorable narratives, complete with shocking twists and emotional character arcs.

While its polygonal graphics have aged, the game's innovative Materia system, compelling world-building, and unforgettable musical score by Nobuo Uematsu ensure its lasting impact. The game's significance is evident in Square Enix's ambitious multi-part remake project, which expands and reimagines the original while introducing it to a new generation.

6. Planescape: Torment (1999)

Black Isle Studios' philosophical RPG eschews traditional gameplay in favor of a text-heavy, deeply introspective experience. Players control The Nameless One, an immortal amnesiac searching for his identity and the reason for his curse. Set in the bizarre city of Sigil, where belief shapes reality, Planescape: Torment explores profound questions about identity, mortality, and redemption.

With over a million words of dialogue and description, Planescape: Torment is more interactive novel than conventional RPG. The game's unique companions, including a chaste succubus and a floating skull, contribute to its exploration of what it means to be human. Its famous tagline—"What can change the nature of a man?"—encapsulates the game's philosophical depth.

7. Chrono Trigger (1995)

Squaresoft's time-traveling masterpiece remains the perfect JRPG. Developed by a "dream team" including Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, and Dragon Ball artist Akira Toriyama, Chrono Trigger follows a group of adventurers as they journey across different time periods to prevent a global catastrophe.

What sets Chrono Trigger apart is its elegant design. The game features no random encounters, a revolutionary multiple-ending system based on player choices, and a memorable cast of characters from different eras. Its innovative New Game+ mode and carefully crafted side quests ensure that its relatively short length (compared to other JRPGs) is packed with quality content rather than padding.

8. Fallout: New Vegas (2010)

Obsidian Entertainment's spin-off of the Fallout series stands as the finest post-apocalyptic RPG ever made. Set in the Mojave Wasteland, New Vegas casts players as a courier who becomes entangled in a three-way power struggle for control of the New Vegas Strip and Hoover Dam.

What distinguishes New Vegas is its exceptional writing and genuine role-playing options. The game offers multiple approaches to nearly every quest, with skill checks and faction reputations that create a deeply reactive world. The four main factions—NCR, Caesar's Legion, Mr. House, and Independent—represent distinct political philosophies, allowing players to shape the future of the Mojave according to their values.

9. Disco Elysium (2019)

ZA/UM's revolutionary RPG reimagines what the genre can be. Players control an amnesiac detective investigating a murder in the city of Revachol while battling his own inner demons, represented by 24 different skills that function as aspects of his personality. With no traditional combat, Disco Elysium focuses entirely on dialogue and skill checks.

The game's political themes and philosophical depth are matched by its exceptional writing, which blends dark humor with genuine pathos. Players can embrace different political ideologies, from communism to fascism to radical centrism, each with its own questline and perspective on Revachol's troubled history. Few games have achieved such literary quality within an interactive format.

10. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)

BioWare's first venture into the Star Wars universe remains one of the finest adaptations of the franchise. Set thousands of years before the films, KOTOR allows players to create their own Jedi (or Sith) as they search for the Star Forge, an ancient space station of immense power.

KOTOR's greatest achievement is how it captures the essence of Star Wars while telling an original story. The game's moral choices between the light and dark sides of the Force feel meaningful, and its iconic twist rivals anything in the films. The diverse cast of companions, from the loyal Wookiee Zaalbar to the sardonic assassin droid HK-47, ensures that the journey remains engaging throughout.

Honorable Mentions

Many exceptional RPGs narrowly missed our top 10 list. These include Divinity: Original Sin 2 with its unparalleled system reactivity, Dark Souls for reinventing action RPGs, Persona 5 for its stylish presentation and social simulation, Dragon Age: Origins for its origin stories and rich world-building, and Elden Ring for its revolutionary open-world design.

Conclusion

The RPG genre continues to evolve, with each new generation of games building upon the foundations laid by these classics. Whether you prefer the tactical depth of isometric RPGs, the immersion of open worlds, or the character-driven narratives of JRPGs, the games on this list represent the pinnacle of what role-playing games can achieve as an art form.

What unites these diverse experiences is their commitment to player agency and immersive storytelling. In an age of increasingly formulaic games, these RPGs remind us of the medium's unique potential to create worlds where our choices matter and our adventures feel personal. They aren't just games—they're alternate lives waiting to be lived.