Best Role-Playing Games of All Time

Role-playing games have come a long way since their early days. Today, they can have intricate storylines, expansive settings, and deep characters. There are so many great role-playing games out there that it can be hard to decide which ones to play. To help you find the best of the best, here are five of the top role-playing games of all time.

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a role-playing action game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and released in 2011. It is set in the fictional province of Skyrim and is one of the most popular video games of all time. The game features a massive open-world environment in that players can explore and take part in quests. It also features a deep character customization system and a variety of different weapons and armor to equip.

Pros:

• Massive open-world environment to explore;
• Deep character customization system;
• Variety of weapons and armor to equip;
• Quests and side-quests

Cons:

• Can be buggy at times.

2. Fallout 4

Fallout 4 is an open-world post-apocalyptic action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and released in 2015. The game is set in a post-nuclear future where the player must survive in the ruins of Boston.

The game features a deep character customization system, a variety of weapons and armor to equip, and a large open-world environment to explore.

Pros:

• Large open-world environment to explore;
• Deep character customization system;
• Immersive soundtrack.

Cons:

• Combat can feel repetitive

3. Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is a role-playing action game developed by BioWare and released in 2010. It is set in the distant future, where players take on the role of Commander Shepard, a space explorer tasked with saving the universe from an ancient alien race. The game features a deep character customization system, a variety of weapons and armor to equip, and a detailed storyline with choices that affect the outcome of the game.

Pros:

• Detailed storyline with choices that affect the outcome;
• Variety of weapons and armor to equip;
• Immersive soundtrack.

Cons:

• Performance can suffer on lower-end systems

4. Fallout 3

Fallout 3 is a post-apocalyptic RPG set in the ruins of Washington, D.C. After the nuclear war, the world is a wasteland, and the player must survive in an unforgiving environment. Fallout 3 features an expansive open world for exploration, a deep crafting system, and a branching storyline with a wide array of endings. 

Pros:

• Open-world exploration;
• Great character customization;
• Unique setting.

Cons:

• Occasional bugs and glitches;
• Limited replay value.

5. Diablo II

Diablo II is an iconic dungeon-crawling RPG from Blizzard Entertainment. Set in the high-fantasy world of Sanctuary, the game follows the story of a heroic warrior as they battle the forces of evil. Diablo II features intense hack-and-slash combat, deep character customization, and a variety of unique spells and abilities. 

Pros:

• Fun and engaging combat;
• Variety of character builds;
• Deep item crafting system

Cons:

• Graphical and audio quality has aged poorly.