RPG games are one of the typical representatives of the PC games, providing a different variety of actions from the fantastic adventures of wizards and warriors to the post-nuclear, post-apocalyptic world with a lot of mutants.
Whether you are fond of reading many texts or watching the further development of the fights, RPGs offer all sorts. Action games have become especially popular in the recent years, for this reason there is a great list of games that are still enjoyable to play nowadays.
So, let’s consider some of the best RPGs on PC in 2024.
List of the Best RPGs on PC
1. Baldur’s Gate III
Larian Studios Baldur’s Gate III is a masterpiece in RPG design, offering the gameplay mechanics of classical Dungeons and Dragons with the graphic design as well as the mechanics of today.
It is a fantasy game with situation in the world of mind flayers, wizards and many other races offering 170-hour long adventure quest with many different characters, engaging story plays and the turn-based combat seems to be rightfully tempting.
The game is good with its open world where the player actions influence the story and, therefore, it will be different every time you start the game.
2. Elden Ring
The mechanics of the massive open world game design have been revolutionized by FromSoftware’s Elden Ring. The story of soothing is established in The Lands Between where the players act as an exile who need to reunite the scattered pieces of a ring.
All these features define the game and single it out from all those which offer players the vast, interconnected world of the game that is full of tough and numerous enemies, challenging quest that require from the player special combat skills and much more.
The visual quests for the magnificent Elden Ring, the myths of the game, as well as the opportunity to solve missions independent of each other make it an exceptional in the competition.
3. Divinity: Original Sin II
It is highly appreciated for intricate narrative, rich character relationships, and strategic turn-based combat system. The game allows individuals to create their very own destinies, join other people in playing together and explore a world that is filled with evil and myths.
This game appeals to everyone due to the following reasons; free roam, ability to create own character development and the element of surprise.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Players like Geralt of Rivia’s search for his adopted daughter in a world that is on the brink of war in one of the best RPG adventures of all times. The Witcher 3 succeeds with character background, moral dilemma, the well-realized world, and brilliant character cast.
The nonlinear environment of the game is diverse and packed with countless side quests that can be compared to the campaign’s missions in terms of quality, the detailed graphics and changing weather also help the players to be immersed in the dark fantasy of this world.
5. Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is one of the games made by Bioware, which is the space epic with memorable journey across the galactic space with the emphasis on the decisions taken by the players.
It is a sci-fi RPG that sit well between excellent tactical combat and narrative decision making that enables the players to develop intricate interpersonal relationships with members of their team.
The last part focuses on the final mission from the campaign that is going to challenge the relationships you have developed during the game.
Essentially it continues the battle of good against evil, but it’s not just about rescuing the universe but how you do it, whom you bring with you, and what you lose in the process.
6. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition has players explore various terrains in a game that focuses on the formation of coalitions and the conduct of an inquisition with the sole mission of repelling the devil’s forces from the world.
Crisp gameplay based on tactical battles, interesting interactions of characters, and meaningful decisions make it one of the best RPGs.
Thanks to great locations to navigate and a complex plot, condensed in a number of branches, this game is good for both lovers of the series and those who play the game for the first time.
7. Deus Ex
A cyberpunk game, Deus Ex provides the gamer with choices that affect gameplay and hence the story. Being a cyber-enhanced agent, JC Denton, players have different ways of handling missions and that may include being sneaky or going head-to-head.
Dealing with territory discovery, the game provides the player with problems that is characteristic of all RPG games.
8. Disco Elysium
Amalgamating narrative elements in the form of a narrative write-up, Disco Elysium is an RPG without battle. A graphic adventure game which is based on a detective‘s job, who himself has some sins to solve a murder in a dystopian city.
The skill system introduced in the game where the player makes the protagonist listen to voices inside her head is both engaging and mostly black comedies.
9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim is one of the most loved RPG games due to countless possibilities, dungeons, quests, and the possibility to explore the vast world.
This is why players can find themselves in number of different things, for example, join gilds, or kill dragons, during every single play. New content and improvements are also provided by the mod community of the game Skyrim.
10. Citizen Sleeper
All the fragments of the deep and complicated narrative, conveyed in visual novels and tabletop RPGs, intermingle in this indie RPG where players have to find life on a derelict space station.
Rather than following the traditional resource-management formula of survival simulation games, Citizen Sleeper introduces a unique dice-rolling system which defines success in everyday tasks.
11. System Shock 2
No matter what genre it is, people agree that System Shock 2 is perhaps one of the greatest games ever. In the context of sci-fi/horror, it has to be an amazing victory, as the film’s atmosphere puts it over the top.
This is an unforgettable game because of the feelings of claustrophobia and afraid of being an only astronaut in the space with death.
These narrow-confined environments, along with the regularly looming risk of corrupted organisms, made for some of the most profound realization that humanity is but one skin of metal away from the brink.
It’s a survival horror game for which it divides first-person gameplay with elements such as inventory, character progression that keep the game enjoyable even on subsequent runs. It remains in my mind the finest example of what a horror RPG can be from Irrational Games.
12. Undertale
Undertale is a highly innovative RPG that is both funny and heartfelt. It parodies the JRPG’s genre and is simultaneously a loving tribute, an absurd general’s type game was characters fight with hugs and kindness.
Along with the standard choices’ players can use special abilities like flirting, complimenting, or petting their enemies – so you don’t need to actually fight anyone.
Different from other games of this genre, means the monsters you fight also have the personalities that defy RPG tropes making Undertale cute and special.
13. Nier: Automata
Nier: Automata is an RPG that blurs all sorts of lines and setting between genres: it’s part bullet hell shooter, part spectacle fighter.
The plot of the movie revolves around a future world where artificial intelligence in full form of robotic android and robots fight over the future of the planet Earth.
Nonetheless, as with any other playthrough, there are layers of symbolism which make this action RPG a true existentialist game. This may surprise you, but other than being an action game full of explosions and quick decision-making, there’s much more to this game.
14. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
A direct follow-up to Yakuza: Incorporating the three missions, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth improves on almost every aspect of its prequel.
This RPG is set in Hawaii and has plenty of freedom, with turn-based combat with diversity along with open world combined with hundreds of amusing side quests.
Ichiban is such a depiction of positivity in the series compared to Kiryu’s serious demeanor, this makes the story emotional plus surprising. It’s funny, enemies are crazy, and side activities include Pokémon and Animal Crossing clones, making it rather joyful RPG.
15. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley — travel to the countryside and grow crops, fish, develop the village’s infrastructure, and do much more. Living as an office worker receiving a dilapidated farm as an inheritance, you grow crops, rear animals, and build relationships with the town’s rather unusual endearing characters.
While this life-sim is very shallow on the surface, there are layers on levels, from ramping up your farm to interacting with the town’s people.
The 2021 update also included the Ginger Island, and there is a lot to do, even if you base your gameplay on the base game alone. If there is anyone who has ever dreamed of living a more basic life then Stardew Valley provides that dream perfectly.
16. Planescape: Torment
Planescape: Torment is the ability to torture players, as well as eliminating fun and concentrating on the dark side rather than light and action, is a higher level of RPG writing.
Exploring the story of a man in search for forgiveness and purpose this RPG avoids common conventions to offer a rather unconventional narrative.
Even now, few other games have such an epic story, such aliens’ locales, such offbeat characters; it remains a classic of RPG gaming. Because of its freedom in themes, it became possible to make the actual moral decisions more profound in modern video games.
17. Path Of Exile
Originally the game was an Action RPG but now Path Of Exile is among the best addictive games that can be found in the specific genre.
For one, it possesses the largest skill trees and character builds that can be compared to nothing; second, these features are updated often and the game itself is expanded quite frequently.
Currently, there are plenty of possible dungeons and new stuff to find in Path Of Exile that make the players feel motivated to engage in building something better.
18. Pillars Of Eternity
This game is the homage to classic CRPGs such as Baldur’s Gate, Pillars of Eternity shares its inspiration with the classics but adds own flavor.
Full of details, strategic turn-based combat system and party mechanics, it becomes a real must have for every fan of RPGs and more, than that, it is beautiful. Despite the fact that some fights can be quite a hard nut to crack, numerous quests and an abundance of lore work in favor.
19. Weird West
Weird West is an indie first-person RPG with cowboys as its main theme. This has a reactive environment to your actions and presents most of the feel of a living world where your decisions actually determine the story.
On one hand, having isometric view and combat profile, which is accentuated by fast-paced combat, the game feels like a homage to classic CRPGs, while offering something new in form of well-developed storytelling and world. It is unpredictable, ever changing playing field that challenges the more keen-minded players who want more of a challenge.
20. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Final Fantasy X is among the most beloved of all the Final Fantasy series that it retells the timeless mythology of the noble young man and his odyssey to save existence.
Yes, the good old HD remaster features its less fantastically popular sequel Final Fantasy X-2 which brings a more vibrant n poppy element to the game.
Though, both games offer outstanding systems of combat: Sphere Grid in Final Fantasy X let the player to adjust the character in a unique manner.
Loosely based on the struggle for the independence of Ethiopia, the disclosing plot and emotionally warm music make this remaster a worthy ride down memory lane.
Conclusion
These games are among the best RPG experiences that one could find on the PC in 2024 with each game offering something that sets it apart.
It is made clear that regardless of whether you are in the need of a rich story, detailed combat or a huge world to explore, there is something in here for any RPG fan.
Also read: Best Picks of the Indie Horror Games of 2024
