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The Greatest RPG Video Games Ever Made
dukethepcdr This is my rather heavily modified version of what was already a pretty good list. I took off all the repetitive listing of entries in the same game series, leaving one game to represent each major rpg series. I also included a few more games that are worthy of mention.
List Criteria: Includes pure RPGs as well as popular offshoots, like tactical and action RPGs and MMOs.
- 1
Jan 01 1990#110 on the ultimate list“ This hard-core RPG brought Dungeons and Dragons to video games in a challenging but fun way. It perfectly captured the experience of dungeon crawling. The character development, item system, combat system etc. were pretty advanced for its day. I've played a ton of RPGs newer than this one, and it still provides quite a challenge to me. It's available for the SNES if you don't have a PC that can run games this old. „ - 2
Jan 01 1994#54 on the ultimate list“ This is one of the first turn-based RPG video games that most of us ever played. Its success paved the way for other games like it for years. That it has succeeded on multiple platforms and that it continues to have new games in the series after all these years is a testament to how good it is. FF I and II are still my favorites in the series and have aged quite well. „ - 3
Jan 01 2002#23 on the ultimate list“ While there have been many RPGs before it, there had not been any as detailed and deep as this one. What really made it stand out was the amazing level editor that let even total novices make their own amazing adventures. This game took what Eye of the Beholder started and took it up a few thousand notches. „ - 4
Jan 01 2004#61 on the ultimate list“ Paper Mario is the best Mario game ever in my opinion. But, then, I am a huge fan of turn based strategy and role playing games. It took the beloved Mario world and applied a winning version of a turn based rpg mechanic to it. It also makes very clever use of perspective and 3-D graphics that wowed us on the Gamecube. The version for the Wii was even more amazing. It left out the thing I hated the most about Mario games: split-second button mashing timing for getting past obstacles, so that makes it even better. „ - 5
Mar 16 1999#405 on the ultimate list“ I never got into EverQuest myself, but I had a bunch of friends who did. This game introduced a new and fascinating world to role play in. So fascinating that it pretty much created the MMO and had players happily whiling away the hours long before WOW came out. „ - 6
Sep 14 2004#31 on the ultimate list“ The Fable series was among the first to visually show you the consequences of your character's actions both in the way the character changed and in the way npcs reacted to him or her. And they did it on the Xbox, a console not known for having good rpgs. My favorite part, though, was having the pet dog that could sniff out treasure. „ - 7 Apr 14 2009“ This game from rpg stalwart publisher Atlus is a blast to the past! If you played rpgs like Zork, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and others on your DOS running PC 'back in the day', you've got to check this game out. You can play it in all its raster graphics glory (talk about really old school graphics :)) or with an overlay of highly detailed 2-D graphics. The music and art style of this game set it apart from the crowd while the game play is just as hard-core as Eye of the Beholder.
If you find most video game RPGs to be too easy, you need to get your hands on a DS, stick in this cart and get ready for the most sadistic virtual DM you've ever faced. „ - 8 Oct 04 1999“ Whether you are looking for a great game to introduce someone to role playing games with or if you have been RPG gaming for years and are looking for something different, this is the game. The hand painted 2-D graphics will run on almost any PC yet they look so amazing! The combat and encounter system will be very familiar to anyone who's played a turn-based rpg yet the blend of that mechanic with a kingdom conquering strategy game mechanic ala Risk makes for a unique experience.
If you've fancied yourself a game level designer but have been daunted by level design programs for other games, you'll love this one. It is point and click simple, yet it lets you do some pretty advanced stuff including scripting events throughout the game, modifying stats on heroes and monsters and (of course) laying out your own maps. „ - 9
Might and Magic
“ This game is a lot like Eye of the Beholder in some ways. Yet in other ways, it has some really nice touches and concepts that are quite different from the typical RPG. There is more non-combat interaction with npcs and exploration of more varied environments too. The Might and Magic series isn't as well known as the ones more directly based on D&D, but it has been quite successful in its own way. Fans of turn based RPGs who haven't tried this series need to give it a chance. You can even play it on your Sega Genesis if you have one. „ - 10
Jan 01 1984“ This is the most confusing yet funniest RPG you'll ever play! It was a text only adventure (no fancy shmancy pictures here) so you are required to use your imagination. There are a few websites out there that have versions of it that you can play online. I think someone should re-release this gem on consoles! „ - 11 Sep 30 1997#69 on the ultimate list“ This game took the video game rpg system pioneered by Diablo and blew the doors off it with amazing story telling, great npc interactions and a post apocalyptic setting that was so fresh back when the game came out. If you've only played Fallout 3 (not a bad game either) you should check out its ancestor! „
- 12 Oct 22 2002#68 on the ultimate list“ This game deserves props for bringing the great Baldur's Gate series to home consoles in a very accessible yet challenging way. This is one of the best games ever released for the Gamecube. „
- 13 Sep 16 2008“ This may be the most under-appreciated video game rpg of all time. Sure it doesn't have the shiniest graphics, but it does have a really deep character development system, open-world story-line and an award worthy combat system. While fancier games like Skyrim and Two Worlds struggle with horseback mounted combat, this older game had it down cold. The hand to hand, ranged weapon and mounted combat systems in this game are the best ever made. „
- 14 Nov 07 2000#220 on the ultimate list“ While not terribly exciting, this game deserves props for bucking the trend of the typical RPG and setting the story in a modern 'real life' setting. It has its moments and is an okay game. Not every RPG has to be set in a medieval fantasy land nor in outer space. „
- 15 Jul 15 2003#2 on the ultimate list“ I include this game because I'm a huge Star Wars fan and because I think there needs to be more video games based on Star Wars novels. I find this game to be a bit too confusing and slow moving for my taste, but the concept is awesome. We need a video game series based on the New Jedi Order novel series too. „
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