The RPG genre is arguably the most immersive and timeless in gaming. Players tend to care more about narrative, exploration, and stats than they do about combat. For many RPG fans, fighting was a necessary evil to raise their character’s strength and fighting stats until they become strong enough to breeze through later battles like a god decked out in armor.RELATED:The Best RPGs Games Ever Made (According To Metacritic)Yet so many RPGs force the player into scenarios where battles can’t be avoided, which is why it is odd that there are very fewRPGs with great combat. Thankfully, in recent years there have beenopen-world RPGsthat seem to bring a complete package for gamers to sink their teeth into. These upcominggames have the best combatin the role-playing genre.UpdatedNovember 14th, 2021 by Michael Llewellyn: RPGs are often long games that require a lot of commitment from their players. Some of these games in the genre can last anything from 20 hours to 100 plus. Naturally, through the course of playing these games, there is a lot of combat involved especially as it comes to leveling up the player’s characters and party. One can be hopeful then that the combat system is worthy of such a huge commitment. That’s where a list like this comes in handy for players. This article has been updated with more games that are not only huge but havegreat combat systemsto back them up.
18Monster Hunter World
Released in 2018,Monster Hunter: Worldbrought the long-running action series into the mainstream and became a massive hit for Capcom. This is thanks to the game’s spectacular visuals and a combat system that’s more accessible than its predecessors.
The combat with monsters is spectacular asplayers can work alone or as part of a teamto take down gigantic screen-filling monsters. The fights can be lengthy but there’s a sense of accomplishment after a long hard-fought battle that many other games can’t replicate.
17The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimnever had very polished combat when compared to other action RPGs in the open-world RPG genre. Its execution is fairly simplistic and aside from the addition of brutal finishersSkyrimfeels like a very limited hack and slash.
However,Skyrim’s combat feels tailor-made for VR. It is responsive, uncomplicated and on the PlayStation VR doesn’t have any rivals when it comes to medieval sword fighting. In addition, taking the stealthy bow and arrow approach is also very satisfying in VR.
16Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisenwas originally released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 but was later remastered and improved for current generation consoles. Sadly, it wasn’t a major hit for Capcom in either gen, but the game has gained a cult following for its character creation tools and the epic boss fights.
Dragon’s Dogmawas developed by the same team behind theDevil May Cryseries. The combat scenarios with the many monsters in the game are a dynamic and epic experience despite the clumsy camera angles and awkward artificial intelligence.
15Borderlands 3
After the disappointingBorderlands: The Prequel,Borderlands 3is the return to form that series fans were hoping for. The series blend ofDiablo-stylelooting and chaotic shooting has always been a welcome change of pace from the likes of most open-world RPG shooters.
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Pulling off headshots is both satisfyingly brutal and amusing. The guns are excellent with varying abilities like transforming weapons that are just as crazy and quirky as the characters that inhabit its world.
14Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2is an unusual mix of RPG stat-based combat and a military shooter. In the original game, these mechanics often felt at odds with each other especially players used to other shooters in theTom Clancyuniverse opt for a more traditional style of shooting.
There is still asignificant learning curvebutThe Division 2is better balanced and more realistic with the addition of armored enemies. More ore importantly, the strategic combat was more impactful and satisfying. When bullets connect they feel more punchy and more akin to Ubisoft’s other shooters likeGhost Recon.Additionally, players will spend hours upgrading and customizing their guns.The Division 2is set to release on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2022.
13Xuan-Yuan Sword 7
More semi-open likeThe Witcher 2orDragon Ageas opposed to the massive open maps ofThe Witcher 3, Xuan-Yuan Sword 7is still anaction RPGworthy of a combat fan’s attention. The explorable maps are still large enough to warrant a mention on this list.
The fighting system is inspired by Chinese martial arts and the game’s historical setting is influenced by Chinese mythology.Xuan-Yuan Sword 7uses a variety of stances that open up new styles of fighting and is surprisingly accessible. The fights against human enemies and giant monsters are satisfying and it’s a system that requires speed and quickness from the player.
12Final Fantasy 15
First released in 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,Final Fantasy 15is an action RPGthat was designed to replicate the combat from the movieFinal Fantasy 7: Advent Children. The system combines elements from the ATB system fromFinal Fantasygames of the past and a turn-based system.
There are indeed areas ofFinal Fantasy 15that felt unfinished at the time of its launch. Thanks to some patchwork provided by the developer it’s a more user-friendly experience that’s adaptable to the user’s playstyle.
11The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is,without a doubt, one of the greatest RPGs ever made. For such a huge game with an incredible amount of depth, it would have been almost forgivable if the developers underdeveloped the combat system.
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This wasn’t the case, however, becauseThe Witcher 3’s real-time combatis fantastic for those who master it. The parrying system and the ability to repel attacks with magic require skill and timing. Developers CD Projekt Red worked hard to make the player feel like they’re the most dangerous warrior in a hostile land.The Witcher 3is set to release on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2022.
10Judgment
Released in 2019,Judgmentis a spin-off from the acclaimedYakuzaseries and is based in the same city streets of Kamurocho. Instead of a gangster, the protagonist is a former lawyer-turned private detective who deals with low-life criminals and members of the Yakuza.
The combat system inJudgmentworks very similarly to the classic beat-em-ups. It also allows players to switch between different fighting styles like Crane-style and Tiger-style. The Kung-Fu fighting style is much faster and more fluid than theYakuzagames.A sequel titledLost Judgmentwas released in 2021 for all major systems.
9Cyberpunk 2077
Released in time for Christmas in 2020,Cyberpunk 2077is a game that isn’t without its problems and will likely be the recipient of performance patches for a long time to come on base consoles. However, the world is beautifully developed and the variety in combat makes it one of the best in the RPG genre.
There is a huge variety of weapons that range from melee weapons like swords, knives, and modified baseball bats. There are powerful pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles, and Smart Weapons that not only find their target with homing projectiles but even communicate with the protagonist. There are PS5 and Xbox Series X/S isset to release in 2022.
