Let’s be real. We have all noticed the worrying trend in most RPGs that are coming out these days.To grab the player’s attention, they frontload the best content right at the start, and as you progress, the fun tapers off.
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Fortunately, all hope is not lost for us, RPG lovers. When you play games for a living, you tend to occasionally come across certain gems that still deliver stellar experiences from start to end.
Instead of an explosive beginning followed by dullness, these RPGs got better as I went further into the game. And for the first time in a while, I felt like the game was respecting my time and rewarding me for my persistence.
10Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
Become the Fateless One
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
Fextralife Wiki
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoningis the remaster ofKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which added a ton of quality of life features and better graphics. Despite having a strong team of writers including R. A. Salvatore, and devs from Oblivion, this game was strangely forgotten about.Kingdoms of Amalur had a lot of promise, though, and still holds up, particularly due to its combat.
You start off in a laboratory that is overrun by a race of immortal fae called the Tuatha. Apparently, your character has just returned from the dead and gains the ability to create their own fate. However, the first few minutes will have you running through dark corridors and getting a chance to try out different playstyles. Pretty average stuff for an RPG.
The fun really kicks up when you reach the first village called Gorhart. I got a taste of the different factions I could join there, and from that point on, the game really got good. The best powers and abilities are unlocked way later, making the game fun and incredibly rewarding. The combat system is insanely addictive, and the more you specialize your character, the better it gets.
9Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Audentes Fortuna Iuvat!
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliveranceby Warhorse Studios is an immersive RPG that takes you back to 15th-century Bohemia as Henry, the son of a humble blacksmith. You start the game way down the social ladder, and the difficulty curve is enough to put many people off the game.
It takes a lot of time until you’re able to become a hero.For those who stick around, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a gem that can give you a power fantasy like no other game can.You’ll need to be patient, though, because this isn’t your average ARPG where you defeat trolls and dragons right out of the gate.
As I played the game and amassed some gold to spend, I could see new opportunities opening right in front of me. I got better at fighting, obtained better armor, and rubbed shoulders with some powerful historical figures of the time. At that point, the initial slog felt like a distant memory.
8Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Many Fall, But One Remains
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowindis one of my favorite games of all time. You start off as a recently released prisoner in the sleepy town of Seyda Neen. This is a game that doesn’t hold your hand, and since you’re weak at the start, you’re able to’t even hurt a fly.
Many people play the game for a few seconds, realize that the gameplay, including combat, is entirely based around dice rolls, and give up. I felt the frustration too, believe me, but that’s when I realized the importance of building a character. After a few experiments, I identified the skills I wanted to use and put all my time into training.
After getting my boots dirty from a few quests, I got better at the game and joined a bunch of guilds, and that’s when the game really opened up to me. Systems like alchemy and spellmaking require a lot of time, but pay off well. If you build your character with care, you’re able to unlock god-like powers and one-shot even the toughest enemies. Let’s hope it gets theOblivion Remastered treatment soon.
7Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
The Decision is Yours, Arisen!
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisenis an open-world action RPG where you are able to command a small party of pawns and go on adventures. The game features a surprisingly engaging combat system where you can grab onto monsters and climb them as you hack away at their health.
That was what I was expecting when I first launched the game. Unfortunately, it took some time before I could adventure on my own.The beginning was slow, and although the game features a surprisingly robust character creation system, I didn’t feel that connected to the story itself until a while later.
Sticking to it was definitely worth it. Finding new monsters, trying out new abilities, and experimenting with different parties never got old. You will never forget defeating your first Griffon, and when you do, you’ll see where this game shines.
6Dragon Age: Origins
Make Friends, Enemies, And Choices
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Originsis BioWare’s best. While I’m partial toMass Effectmyself, I think Dragon Age is one of those games that all fans of RPGs and fantasy should play.Unlike the high fantasy tone of the Elder Scrolls, this game features a dark and gritty world, inspired more by George R.R Martin’s works than Tolkien’s.
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Despite the praise, I don’t think Dragon Age: Origins gives a good first impression of what kind of game it is. When you start, you get to create your character and choose an “Origin” which is determined by your character’s race and class. I chose the Human Warrior Origin, and the first hour felt cliche, railroaded, and lacked meaningful choices outside of dialogue options.
Still, after completing the Ostagar section, I was free to explore the world, go wherever I wanted, and hire different companions. Meeting Zevran, Leliana, and others was a total game-changer for me and made me really attached to not just the game, but the character I built. When you get the hang of the game,be sure to try out some mods.
5Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Now, Death Reigns Over All
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteousis an overwhelming game. It is inspired by old-school isometric CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate 2 and Planescape Torment and requires your time and attention. There are a ton of systems to learn, and it can be really challenging for new players.
I remember trying to get into the game multiple times, but getting too overwhelmed and closing it again. Having a guide with me helped out a lot, so if you’re like me,I recommend watching a few tutorials or guides, because this game deserves your time.
Sticking with it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The near-limitless customization, varied moral choices, and epic scope make this game increasingly rewarding. If you don’t mind a bit of turn-based combat and are patient, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous could be the best game you’ve ever played.
4Fallout: New Vegas
The Game Was Rigged From The Start
Fallout: New Vegas
WhileFallout 3might have been the revival the franchise needed, andFallout 4was the most popular,Fallout: New Vegasstands head and shoulders above them in terms of being an RPG. Created by RPG veterans at Obsidian,New Vegas has a living, breathing world, a ton of factions to help or hinder, and a comprehensive character-building systemwith limitless potential.
Fallout: New Vegas starts with you getting shot in the head. No, really. You get shot and are rescued by the kind people of Goodsprings. You spend a few minutes creating your character and doing some tutorial missions, but it isn’t until you reach New Vegas that the game ups the ante.
New Vegas is pretty janky by modern standards, but it is an RPG that is second to none. It features a ton of replayability and monumental choices later on as you play the role of the kingmaker in a war between different factions. No wonder different developers have tried torecapture the magic of New Vegasever since.
3Divinity: Original Sin 2
Glory Is Mine
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Before Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios were primarily known for their Divinity series, withDivinity: Original Sin 2being one of their best works by far. It was released way back in 2017 before turn-based games became cool again, so a lot of people skipped this one.
For those that didn’t,Divinity: Original Sin 2 was a fantastic experience that took its time to build up, but when it did, it hooked you in.The game allows you to choose from a variety of races and classes, and when you’re in, the narrative changes based on what your character does.
I was really fascinated by the lore of the world, the more I dug into it, and I felt like the game reciprocated my love for its narrative with engaging twists and turns along the way. If anything, that’s a sign of a GOAT.
2Elden Ring
You Will Witness True Horror
Elden Ring
Fextralife
Elden Ringtook a departure from previous games from From Software and featured a massive open world, filled with enemies to defeat and artifacts to collect. If you were thrilled by the prospect of exploring the world and found yourself giving up because the combat was too difficult, this is your sign to pick it up again and stick to it.
Soulsborne games, as they are known today, are difficult by design. They are not beginner-friendly, so don’t feel bad if it takes a few tries to kill enemies. Just be patient, and remember not to rush.
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I faced the same challenge, too. Even the first boss took more than a few tries to defeat. However, this made me come up with new strategies andexperiment with different classes.After the initial few hours of frustration, I played a masterpiece of open-world designthat constantly rewards you, either with loot or even greater challenges.
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Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2is one of the best games you’re able to play.It is Rockstar’s Magnum Opus, at least until GTA 6, and puts you in the shoes of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw with a heart of gold as his gang crumbles around him.
When it was released, Red Dead Redemption 2 got a lot of criticism for its slow opening. You start off on the run in the snow-capped mountains at the corner of the map, and I admit, it is dull, but that’s how it is designed.
The game isn’t about open-world chaos. In fact, it’s more like an RPG where you explore new places, meet interesting characters, and make choices that will shape your character. The story alone is worth playing through the initial dull moments.In time, you will be hunting creatures, breaking legendary horses, and dueling the most legendary gunslingers in the West.
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