Summary
- Players seek ambitious RPGs with vast worlds, memorable characters, and rich storytelling.
- CD Projekt Red overcame obstacles to create the iconic RPG The Witcher, setting a high standard.
- From Disco Elysium to Elden Ring, ambitious RPGs with unique worldbuilding leave a lasting impact.
Video games without ambition aren't all that fun to play for obvious reasons. Players want to check out games where developers aimed for the moon and (mostly) stuck the landing, and this is especially true when it comes to role-playing games, where fans can get lost.
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Getting lost in a massive world with a ton of things to do is something that helps these RPGs stand out, since their ambition is clear as day for players to see. The incredible writing, memorable characters, and a story for the ages will keep fans coming back for more.
The Witcher
A Studio Known For Polish Localization Took The Plunge And Developed An Ambitious RPG
The Witcher
- Released
- October 30, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC
The Witcher 3 was ambitious in its own right, but one can argue that CD Projekt Red had to overcome more hurdles for the first game in this now-beloved series. The studio was mainly known for Polish localizations of BioWare games and showed a demo to this company, getting a lot of constructive feedback on why their game simply wasn't good enough.
However, the developers at CD Projekt Red never gave up. They used the Aurora Engine (used for the Neverwinter Nights games) and crafted one of the most iconic and ambitious RPGs ever made that fans loved, paving the way for the sequels to become more mainstream than anyone could've expected.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A Small Studio With Unproven Talent Developed Something Special
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
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
For a studio that featured people with little to no experience in the video game industry, it's amazing how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took over the world by storm. An ex-Ubisoft employee amassed a team of passionate individuals and let players enjoy one of the greatest modern turn-based video games of all time.
Combining turn-based combat with real-time inputs made for a dynamic combat system that players would have a great time with. The journey to stop the Painter from killing off people past a certain age in a beautiful world makes the developer's ambition clear as day and ensures that Expedition 33 will leave a lasting impact on players.
Dragon Age: Origins
BioWare's Attempt To Modernize Their RPGs Was A Resounding Success
Dragon Age: Origins
- Released
- November 3, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
BioWare had a major task to accomplish ahead of them with Dragon Age: Origins. Devising a whole new fantasy world and modernizing the role-playing gameplay they were accustomed to in a bid to cater to a large audience made it clear that the studio was being more ambitious than ever before, especially with EA's backing.
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They passed this test with flying colors, with the impressive variety of origin stories and the game's excellent role-playing ensuring that players can clock in multiple playthroughs in this title without getting bored. It single-handedly turned the Dragon Age IP into one of the most beloved universes in gaming, and it's a shame that BioWare hasn't reached the same heights as Origins with later Dragon Age games.
Disco Elysium
The Creators Developed An Incredible World That Features Some Incredible Lore
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
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Disco Elysium is one of the most ambitious RPGs ever made, using the simple district of Martinaise as a stage to let players enjoy the incredible worldbuilding and lore that the people behind this game spent so much time making. It's a shame that conflicts with the ZA/UM higher-ups meant that the people behind this game are now not a part of the company.
Harry's amnesia is used to familiarize players with the incredible world, learning about everything from its complex politics to the threat of the Pale that looms over the world. The sheer scale and ambition of this world are in a class of their own, ensuring that the story-driven approach of Disco Elysium will leave a lasting impression on players.
Elden Ring
The Amazing Sandbox Shows FromSoftware's Ambitions In Spades
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Elden Ring is one of the greatest open-world games ever made, showing just how much FromSoftware had grown after Dark Souls became a massive hit. This action RPG template was fused with an open-world setting, with the developer going all out to design one of the greatest video game sandboxes of all time.
The gargantuan scale and incredible visual design of this open world make Elden Ring arguably the most ambitious FromSoftware game of all time. Their efforts paid off, with the game reaching sales numbers that no one could've expected.
Cyberpunk 2077
A Studio With No Experience Making First-Person Games Reworked Their Engine For This Cyberpunk RPG
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the greatest video games ever made, but there was a time when the ambition of this game would've eaten CD Projekt Red whole. REDengine was impressive, but the developers had no experience with how to make a first-person game with this video game engine.
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The developers had to learn certain things from scratch while working on a tight deadline. While it seemed like CD Projekt Red had buckled under the weight of this ambition at first, a string of updates and patches helped players see the brilliant narrative and engaging gameplay of this title that was hidden underneath all the bugs.
Baldur's Gate 3
The Sheer Scope Of This CRPG Is Incredible
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
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the best RPGs of all time, with its ambition being one of the biggest reasons why Larian Studios knocked it out of the park with this title. The scope of this title was gargantuan and aimed to take into account every decision made by the player in this branching narrative.
This means that players can potentially clock in thousands of hours in this title across multiple playthroughs and still see unique events play out every single time. This, coupled with the better production values of Baldur's Gate 3, makes it one of the greatest modern RPGs players can get their hands on.
Final Fantasy 7
The First-Ever AAA RPG That Made A Huge Gamble... And Won
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
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The first-ever AAA game of all time was bound to be an ambitious affair that would be a huge gamble by investing a ton of money in both development and marketing. The PS1's improved hardware allowed SquareSoft to let their ambitions soar as players were treated to an incredible Final Fantasy game that combined sci-fi and fantasy elements to great effect.
The end result is one of the most iconic video games ever made that fans can't get enough of. Final Fantasy 7's ambitious nature was clear as day and is something that is replicated in a series of remakes that make things bigger and bolder than ever before.
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