The RPG genre is one of the most popular in all of gaming, captivating players with fantasy worlds full of choice, conflict, and most importantly, freedom. Many standout games have cemented themselves as RPG cornerstones, elevating how players can engage with fictional worlds and proving that role-playing can take on many different forms.
Big Upcoming RPGs That Focus On Player Choices
Freedom to make impactful choices with far-reaching consequences lies at the heart of these upcoming RPGs.
There are classics that have stood the test of time, modern sequels that brought forward entire sections of the genre, and unique standouts that contributed something completely new to the space. These exceptional titles are must-plays for any RPG fan, and they could quite easily become any player's next favorite game.
Baldur's Gate 3
Bringing The Whole Genre Forward
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Baldur's Gate 3 brings Dungeons and Dragons into the mainstream like never before, sending players on an adventure that covers everything from mind-eating parasites to campfire romance. The game goes above and beyond in terms of how it presents its story, using cinematic cutscenes and high-fidelity models to bring players closer to the action.
Where Baldur's Gate 3 shines is in how it incorporates the simple act of rolling dice and makes it feel like so much more than just a tabletop experience. Every piece of dialogue has consequences, many of which ripple throughout the world, and even the smallest of details can come back to haunt players later. This level of dedication to immersion and player choice allowed the game to rise to the top, cementing its place in RPG history.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPG Excellence From A Fledgling Studio
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a remarkable thrill ride that is equal parts action and emotion. Set in an alternate reality inspired by Paris, the world is plagued by an annual event called the Gommage, where a giant paintress decreases the number on her monolith by one, resulting in a mass culling of any people of that age across the city of Lumiere.
10 Best RPGs You Can Sink Hundreds of Hours Into, Ranked
Lose yourself in epic journeys with these RPGs that pack hundreds of hours of immersive gameplay and rich narrative.
The setting and story are already enough to draw players in, but the turn-based action is where Clair Obscur takes it a step further. The combat blends traditional action-based turns with more modern Sekiro-esque parries and dodges to make the fighting feel more responsive and skill-based than a lot of other games in the genre. Considering the size of the development team, it is incredibly impressive to see such an ambitious and well-polished title like this, let alone have it be one of the best RPGs ever released.
Fallout: New Vegas
Turning The Apocalypse Into An Adventure
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Fallout: New Vegas drastically changed how RPGs functioned as a whole, demonstrating how a large open world can be governed by individual player choices. The wasteland is anything but empty, as players are free to explore and follow whatever path they choose, whether it be hunting for loot in decrepit buildings or helping settlers recover what they can of a lost civilization.
What made the game so impactful on the genre was how it handled dialogue options and player decisions within the world. It doesn't matter if players decide to side with a faction or head out on the open road by themselves; their actions will always have an impact, and despite being over a decade old, the impact of the game is still felt today.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Leading The Charge For Open-World Fantasy
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
The Witcher 3 revolutionized how RPGs tell stories, bringing players into a world full of character and consequence that can immerse them for dozens of hours. Geralt's quest takes him all across the Continent, fighting creatures in bogs and dueling locals in bars, but what makes the game so amazing is how it manages to make every side quest matter, even if they feel insignificant at first.
7 RPGs So Good, You’ll Play Them Twice
Great story, great characters, great combat, great world — great everything in these super role-playing games you'll want to play twice.
Missions into tiny shacks in the wilderness can quickly grow into sprawling adventures that take players from one side of the map to the other, and along the way, they will have plenty of choices both in how they deal with characters and the enemies that get in their way. This abundance of meaningful content fills the world with possibilities, ensuring that every session carries weight even if it's a diversion from the main story.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
The Perfect Medieval Simulator
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 takes realism to a new level, continuing the developer's commitment to historical authenticity and grounded storytelling. Set in a meticulously recreated 15th-century Bohemia, the sequel expands on its predecessor’s detailed combat, moral complexity, and player-driven world simulation where every choice carries tangible consequences.
Its refusal to rely on fantasy tropes or stereotypical RPG norms really sets it apart amongst one of the most contested genres out there. By focusing instead on immersive realism and historically accurate design, KCD2 bridges the gap between simulation and storytelling, redefining what role-playing means in the world of gaming.
Disco Elysium
Driving The Story Forward With Psychology
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- ZA/UM
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Disco Elysium completely diverted from straightforward RPG storytelling by stripping away combat and focusing entirely on dialogue, narrative choices, and character psychology. Players inhabit a broken detective navigating an equally broken city, solving mysteries while wrestling with their own fractured mind.
Every skill in the game is a part of the protagonist’s personality, and each has its own voice and influence on the player's decisions. This introspective approach redefined the genre by showing that conflict doesn’t need to rely on swords or spells, only words, resulting in an atypical RPG that has received just about as much praise as any game could ever dream of.
Dark Souls
Inventing An Entirely New Genre
Dark Souls
- Released
- September 22, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Adventure
Dark Souls reshaped the modern RPG landscape with its bold approach to difficulty, world-building, and storytelling. Instead of guiding players through scripted quests, it dropped them into a mysterious, interconnected world full of cryptic lore and punishing enemies, forcing players to learn by playing rather than by following specific paths or tutorials.
Its minimalist storytelling, delivered through item descriptions and environmental clues, inspired countless developers to embrace subtlety over exposition. This philosophy spawned the Soulslike genre, which has since taken over the gaming world and spawned countless other games that simply wouldn't exist without Dark Souls.
Final Fantasy 7
The Fan Favorite For Good Reason
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
When Final Fantasy 7 launched in 1997, it completely changed the perception around what RPGs could achieve on the global stage. Its cinematic storytelling and stunning 3D visuals brought JRPGs into mainstream Western consciousness for the first time. The story of Cloud and the battle over the planet’s fate remains one of gaming’s most widely known and beloved narratives.
What truly made the game revolutionary was its scale and ambition. It blended traditional turn-based combat with blockbuster presentation and a soundtrack that elevated every moment. It proved that RPGs could be grand, emotional, and universally appealing, and almost every modern RPG owes a debt to the game that turned a niche genre into a worldwide phenomenon.
Big Upcoming RPGs That Focus On Player Choices
Freedom to make impactful choices with far-reaching consequences lies at the heart of these upcoming RPGs.