Role-playing games offer the opportunity to escape from reality and venture into rich and immersive fictional worlds, which is why they win over so many fans. Check out the greatest role-playing games of all time.
The core of role-playing games is the ability of players to take control of the actions and decisions of their characters, thus shaping the course of the story and the fate of the virtual world around them.
RP games generally involve elements such as exploration, interaction with NPCs (non-playable characters), character development (through skills, stats and equipment), puzzle solving and combat.
These games often feature deep and engaging narratives, which can be linear or offer multiple paths and endings, allowing players a highly personalized and immersive experience. Follow our list of the greatest role-playing games of all time:
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The greatest role-playing games of all time
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
In Skyrim, the player takes on the role of Dovahkiin, a prophesied hero with the power to fight the dragons that threaten the kingdom of Skyrim. The game is set in a vast open world full of cities, towns, dungeons and stunning landscapes. The main story involves the discovery of Dovahkiin’s purpose and his fight against Alduin, a dragon who seeks to destroy the world.
Skyrim is famous for its freedom of choice, allowing players to explore the world and embark on countless side quests and guilds. Its wealth of content, combined with engaging gameplay and a vibrant modding community, has solidified its place as one of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
In The Witcher 3, players control Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a Witcher, on his journey to find his adopted daughter, Ciri, before a dark force called the Wild Hunt captures her. The game takes place in a vast and detailed open world, where the player’s choices have significant consequences for the story and the world around them.
With a deeply emotional narrative, complex characters and an immersive atmosphere based on the work of Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher 3 stands out as one of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
Final Fantasy VII (1997)
Final Fantasy VII follows Cloud Strife, a mercenary who joins an eco-terrorist group called AVALANCHE to fight the evil megacorporation Shinra Electric Power Company. Throughout the game, Cloud and his allies become embroiled in an epic plot involving struggles against powerful forces, exploring themes of friendship, love and identity.
Final Fantasy VII is often considered one of the greatest RPGs of all time, setting the standards for the genre and influencing countless subsequent works.
Chrono Trigger (1995)
Chrono Trigger tells the story of Crono and his friends, who travel back in time to prevent a future apocalypse caused by an extraterrestrial entity called Lavos. The game features an engaging, non-linear narrative, where the player’s choices affect the course of the story and result in different endings.
The innovative gameplay and impressive graphics (for the time) led it to be considered a milestone in the RPG genre, influencing countless subsequent games and maintaining a dedicated fan base over the years.
Mass Effect 2 (2010)
Mass Effect 2 puts players in the role of Commander Shepard, a space hero tasked with assembling an elite team to combat an alien threat known as the Collectors.
The game is known for its engaging narrative, complex characters and dark tone. The player’s choices have significant consequences for the story and the fate of the team members, which adds an additional layer of immersion and replayability. For these factors, it is seen as one of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
In Fallout: New Vegas, players take on the role of a courier who is shot and left for dead in the Mojave Desert. After being rescued, the protagonist embarks on a journey to discover who attacked him and why, while navigating the warring factions vying for control of the region.
The game is known for its branching narrative, where the player’s choices have a significant impact on the world around them and the factions that inhabit it. It is considered one of the greatest role-playing games of all time, praised for its rich narrative and its ability to give players freedom.
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)
Baldur’s Gate II puts players in the role of a hero who has been captured by an evil wizard and must fight to escape his prison and discover his true identity. The game is set in a dark and rich fantasy world, where players can recruit a variety of characters to join their party and embark on an epic journey full of danger and mystery.
With its gripping narrative, memorable characters and depth of gameplay, Baldur’s Gate II is often considered one of the greatest role-playing games of all time, praised for its complexity and its lasting impact on the genre.
Persona 5 (2016)
In Persona 5, players take on the role of a transfer student who becomes a ghost thief and embarks on a mission to steal the corrupt hearts of abusive adults. The game combines traditional RPG elements, such as turn-based combat and dungeon exploration, with life simulation, where players must balance their school life with their activities as ghost thieves.
Dark Souls (2011)
Dark Souls places players in a dark and unforgiving world, where they must battle terrible monsters and deadly challenges as they seek to unlock the secrets of the land of Lordran. The game is known for its relentless difficulty, oppressive atmosphere and intricate level design.
Deus Ex (2000)
Deus Ex puts players in the role of JC Denton, an agent for a secret organization fighting a global conspiracy that threatens the world order. The game offers a mix of first-person shooter gameplay and RPG elements, where players can customize their character according to their playing style and make decisions that affect the course of the story.
It is often considered one of the greatest role-playing games of all time, praised for its depth and its ability to offer players the freedom to shape the story according to their choices.
Planescape: Torment (1999)
Planescape: Torment follows the story of “The Nameless One”, an immortal man who wakes up with no memory in a strange world full of magic called Planescape. Throughout the game, the protagonist seeks to discover his own identity and his past while interacting with a myriad of eccentric characters and facing the ethical and existential dilemmas that permeate the world of Planescape.
Diablo II (2000)
Diablo II puts players in the role of a hero who must confront the demonic forces that threaten the world of Sanctuary. The game is known for its addictive gameplay, where players explore randomly generated dungeons, fight hordes of enemies and search for epic treasures.
The dark atmosphere, rewarding loot system and cooperative multiplayer ensure Diablo II’s place on the list of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an action RPG that puts players in control of Link, a hero who must rescue Princess Zelda and defeat the evil Calamity Ganon. The game is set in a vast open world where players can explore freely, discover hidden secrets and face challenges at their own pace.
With its freedom of exploration, Breath of the Wild is often considered one of the greatest role-playing games of all time, receiving praise for its ability to reinvent the Zelda franchise.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 (2017)
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is an isometric RPG that puts players in the role of a Sourcerer who must use his powers to defeat the evil that threatens the world of Rivellon. The game offers turn-based tactical gameplay, where players can explore a vast and interactive world, interact with a variety of characters and complete missions in a number of different ways.
Pokémon Red/Blue (1996)
Pokémon Red and Blue puts players in the role of a Pokémon trainer who must travel the world capturing and training creatures known as Pokémon and competing against other trainers to become a Pokémon Master. The game is known for its addictive gameplay, collection of Pokémon and deep strategy elements.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind transports players to the mysterious and exotic island of Vvardenfell, where they take on the role of a freed prisoner whose fate is determined by choices made throughout the game. The gripping narrative that delves deep into the history and culture of a rich fantasy world offers a truly immersive open-world RPG experience.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) takes players to a galaxy far, far away, thousands of years before the events of the Star Wars films. In this epic RPG, players embark on a journey full of twists and turns, difficult moral choices and strategic combat as they discover the secrets of the Force and battle the Sith.
Suikoden II (1998)
Suikoden II tells the story of a young hero who becomes embroiled in a brutal war between two nations and a larger conspiracy that threatens the world. The game is known for its epic narrative, where players recruit a variety of characters to their cause and build a fortress to resist the enemy.
Xenogears (1998)
Xenogears tells a complex and ambitious story that mixes mechas, philosophy and mythology in an exciting RPG. Players take control of Fei Fong Wong, a young man who finds himself embroiled in a worldwide conspiracy as he struggles to understand his own past and identity. It is often considered a cult classic of the genre, praised for its ambition and thematic depth, which is why it is on the list of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
Dragon Age: Origins (2009)
Dragon Age: Origins transports players to the world of Thedas, where a war between nations and a dark plague threaten to plunge the world into chaos. The game allows players to create their own character and choose from several origins, each with its own story and motivations.
List: the 20 greatest role-playing games of all time
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Final Fantasy VII
- Chrono Trigger
- Mass Effect 2
- Fallout: New Vegas
- Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
- Persona 5
- Dark Souls
- Deus Ex
- Planescape: Torment
- Diablo II
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Divinity: Original Sin 2
- Pokémon Red/Blue
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Suikoden II
- Xenogears
- Dragon Age: Origins
Os jogos de RPG continuam a ser um dos gêneros mais amados e duradouros na indústria dos videogames, cativando milhões de jogadores ao redor do mundo. E já que acompanhou nossa lista de maiores jogos de RPG de todos os tempos, veja mais conteúdos semelhantes em nosso site:
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