The mostinfluential role-playing gamesinspire new games and shift the dynamics of the genre. The first role-playing game of all time wasDungeons & Dragons.In video games, role-playing involves players taking the role of a character in a fictional setting. They can control everything from the speech of a character to their movements. People love the genre for being able tocustom-tailor their experience.Upcoming role-playing games likeCyberpunk 2077,Shenmue 3,The Outer Worlds, andFinal Fantasy VII Remakemay not exist if it weren’t for the games in this list. This is ranking the 10 most influential RPGs of all time.
10Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
TheStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicseries precededMass Effect,which is another game developed by BioWare. Because of its masterful integration of role-playing elements, we can say thatStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis one of the most influential role-playing games in history. One can carve their path through dialogue choices that influence the game. RPGs were never as defined untilKOTOR.Even today, people are still asking for a sequel to one ofStar Wars' most (if not the most) memorable games.
9Dragon Age: Origins
It depends on who you ask, but many would say thatDragon Age: Originsis the best game in theDragon Ageseries. Its impact on the role-playing genre can be attributed to its top-notch dialogue and character development. The game is entirely single-player, unlikeDragon Age: Inquisition.The series fared better when it was single-player because of its pathos and story immersion. Its take on the dungeons and dragons theme comes with a huge emphasis on dragons. It’s one of the few games we looked forward to and delivered on all fronts.
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8World of Warcraft
When we think of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs),World of Warcraftusually comes to mind. It is the leading MMORPG—and for a good reason. It’s addictive questing and dungeons give the game replay value. You might say itsloot and combat systems are the best in gaming.Playing as characters like dwarves, orcs, and trolls prove to be effective. People have logged thousands of hours into this game, lost their jobs, relationships, and more just because of this video game. Several MMORPGs attempt to mimicWorld of Warcraft, but none capture its magical essence.
7Mass Effect 2
Although the originalMass Effectlaid the foundation,Mass Effect 2answered back with triple-A voice actors, refined gameplay mechanics, and a more intriguing story. The Illusive Man, played by actor Martin Sheen, was a secretive character who is one of the commanding forces inMass Effect 2. With impactful characters like the Illusive Man and the Harbinger, the game had depth like few role-playing games.Mass Effect: Andromedadoesn’t hold a candle toMass Effect 2.Mass Effect 2is one of the greatest RPGs of all time.
6Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIIis nostalgia at its best. The depth of its gameplay is unlike other games in theFinal Fantasyseries. Although it is lengthy, it is highly immersive and deeply engaging. Future role-playing games useFinal Fantasy VIIas a standard for quality. The music in the game is glorious. A remake forFinal Fantasy VIIis scheduled to release in March of 2020. With high expectations, there is a large margin for error. This is one retro game worth playing over and over until the cows come home. It wouldn’t be unusual to log over three-hundred hours inFinal Fantasy VII.
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5The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
AlthoughThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntis largely inspired by open-world exploration games likeThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,it beatsSkyrimin more ways than one. For starters, it is a newer game, so the graphics are improved. Enemy variety is more diverse inThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntand side quests are more intuitive.The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis one of those games you can play endlessly without touching the main story. That’s not to say that the main story is terrible, but its side quests are amazing.
4Fallout 3
Fallout’sfirst attempt at a three-dimensional third-person open-world role-playing game (sorry for the mouthful) had remarkable execution.Fallout 3might not be the best Fallout game in the series, but it is the most impactful. It laid the groundwork for games likeFallout: New VegasandFallout 4.This post-apocalyptic game is enormous. The story is immersive because it incorporates role-playing elements masterfully. It’s a bit more challenging thanFallout 4, so you may need a strategy guide. It wouldn’t be surprising if this game received a remake.
3Diablo 3
Diablo 3is a hack and slash role-playing game that had inspired numerous copycats. Games such asPath of Exile,Grim Dawn,andTorchlight I & IIall attempt to copyDiablo’sloot-system that rewards players for slaying enemies.Diablo 3is the product of a generation who loves to find loot. The game’s enigmatic bosses and character classes are too memorable.Diablo 3’s sequel is now one of the most anticipated games out there because of the leaps and bounds ofDiablo 3.
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2Dark Souls
It doesn’t happen often, butDark Soulscemented itself in a new genre of video games. The Souls genre encapsulates a broad variety of games that appeared after the release ofDark Souls.Code Vein, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice,Nioh, andThe Surgeall take afterDark Souls' combat. As a role-playing game, there isn’t as much customization as some of the other games in this list, but there is still a tremendous amount of weapon choices and character builds, which allows you to walk your own path.
1The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis the ultimate open-world role-playing game. The scale of the map was ridiculously large in comparison to other games when it released.Skyrimgenerates quests, so there is virtually no end to the game. With DLCs like Dawnguard, Dragonborn, and Hearthfire, it’s no wonder whySkyrimis considered one of the best games of all time. New role-playing games are often compared toSkyrimsince it serves as a benchmark for RPGs. The game is available inVR,providing an unparalleled immersive experience.
