The pleasure of immersing yourself completely in the worlds that role-playing games create is something only role-playing diehards will understand.
The best Steam Festival demos: RPGs Dirty roles, played dirt cheap. Feature by Alice Bell Deputy Editor Published on 19 Jun, 2020 Readers, I have put on my. The Best Role Playing Games available on Steam right now! 2018 has been a time with filled with big AAA releases on RPG Games like Monster Hunter: World, and Final Fantasy XV. They bring in solid RPG mechanics coupled with beautiful and stunning set pieces that immerses you into their world. Some of the best Steam games 2021 has are those that cannot really exist anywhere else. Complicated RPGs and strategy games require the unique features of a gaming PC to thrive, and Kenshi.
Spending long hours roaming around looking for rare loot, leveling up characters, and starting non-linear quests are some of the things that make role-playing video games great fun. Role-playing games have evolved and diversified into many, confusing sub-genres with each having their own devoted fan base. And you’ll find examples of each kind on Steam.
Valve’s video game retail service abounds with titles, and it’s difficult to choose a few from the slew of amazing role-playing games it has on sale. Having said that, we’ve put together a list of some of the best role playing game options on Steam, just in case you want a suggestion the next time you feel like indulging in some dungeon-delving.
1. Fallout series
Some people may prefer more fast-paced RPG shooter games, while others may opt for the isometric turn-based titles. No matter what type of genre you prefer, it’s possible that the Fallout series contains at least one title you’ll absolutely love. For example, you may love the base-building and craft in Fallout 4, or the side quests you can play in Fallout: New Vegas.
Fallout’s massive and treacherous wastelands are some of the most iconic places, with a wide range of sites to explore, loads of unfamiliar enemies to shoot, and countless stuff to loot. Nothing tops listening to 1950’s music on your Pip-Boy as you scavenge a seemingly deserted building, making Fallout’s calmer times an even enthralling experience. Check out our list of best Fallout endings.
2. Dark Souls
Unlike most fantasy RPG games, Dark Souls mostly focuses on brutal but rewarding combat, engrossing the gamer in a manner few games can. Character creation is restricted but given a large number of weapons, armor, as well as other useful things you’ll find, there’s a lot here to build your own individual experience.
Few experiences top the pleasure of finally overcoming that boss you’ve been fighting for hours or discovering some of Dark Souls’ numerous secret areas. You might die tens of times, but want to know what lies ahead can keep you bouncing back.
Although Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 3, and Dark Souls Remastered are also phenomenal titles, it’s hard to overlook the popularity of the original title that introduced many players to a more intense and grueling gameplay experience.
3. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is definitely a great title, but it’s hard to ignore the love many people have for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Straying off the well-trodden path is the best experience this game provides, with a massive number of exciting side quests to unravel that may take hours to finish.
From slaying skeletons and venturing into caves to uncovering the treasures found within to starting a family and constructing your own mansion, this game offers the best role-playing experience.
By picking what missions you want to complete, you can create your own experience. You can also choose what rivalries or alliances you want to start and what skills you wish to level up.
If you’re still not satisfied by its 300-hour long content, you can still use the ever-growing Steam workshop to download a huge range of texture enhancements, extra quests or even completely new regions.
You can become a Nord wielding double-handle weapons while clad in heavy armor, or become a stealthy Dark Elf who uses magic to deal with enemies. From the lure of what lies ahead to the iron inside the forge, there’s a countless amount of personality you can create just by playing this game the way you want. Check out how Skyrim compares to Fallout 4, Dark Souls, and Witcher 3.
4. Wizardry 8
For a sneak peek at what role-playing was all about prior to the Infinity Engine, Wizardry 8 is the perfect place to be. Of course, it boasts the first-person view commonplace in more modern titles. But after spending hours going through statistics on the character-building screen, you will come to know the real meaning of the phrase “old school”.
However, if you can go beyond that, there’s a massive 70-hour PC game beneath. Full of traps, monsters, and even more crunching of stats as you kit out characters and level up.
5. Divinity: Original Sin
Divinity: Original Sin, created by Larian Studios, came out of the woodwork to blow fans away with its challenging and deep turn-based combat, smart puzzles, and engaging mechanics that evoked nostalgic feelings of memorable RPGs like Baldur’s Gate.
Divinity: Original Sin’s colorful and vibrant visuals further enhance its fantasy RPG environment that tells a quite gritty but highly enjoyable narrative. There are loads of locations to explore and things to do, and with the inclusion of co op mode, this game is one of the most memorable and most unique role playing video game experiences in recent years.
6. Pillars of Eternity
Created by the company behind Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic and Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity is a wonderful isometric role playing game. Its minimal and simplistic art style can either turn you off or draw you in, but that aside, Pillar of Eternity’s incredible writing and deeply intriguing combat make it one of the best role playing video game options on Steam.
This PC game may be quite expensive, but with a realistic and dark fantasy world, it’s easy to get lost in its massive world. Pillars of Eternity may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who love a traditional role-playing experience might easily spend several hundred hours watching this title.
7. Mass Effect II
When it comes to science-fiction role-playing games, many people think about Mass Effect series and Deus Ex. But Mass Effect II was the zenith of the series, blending strong third-person shooting with aspects borrowed from Dragon Age: Origins, in which you can pause the war to issue commands. This usually creates devastating combinations.
In addition to that, Mass Effect II told a very personal narrative that was shaped by your decisions, both outside and inside of a dialogue, featuring various planets to check out that was full of complex and interesting characters. Not many games will ever come close to Mass Effect II’s perfect blend between glorious science fiction and emotional consequences.
8. Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins is an instant classic RPG from BioWare that perfected fantasy tactical RPG games, providing an intense, deep party-based combat that occurred in real-time. It could also be paused to give the PC gamer some tactical edge. Apart from all that, Dragon Age: Origins featured a thrilling and epic story that was embellished by keen attention to visual detail and more.
How your story unfolds is determined by what type of character you develop and create, how you engage with the open world and the people in it and what route you choose to take, letting you customize your own personal story experience. For this reason, Dragon Age: Origins is incredibly replayable as no two playthroughs are the same, which is why the game is a timeless treasure for many fans.
9. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Ever wondered what medieval life would look like in real life? If so, go for Kingdom Come: Deliverance. In this game, you play a blacksmith’s son who dreams of following in his father’s footsteps. One day, both your parents are killed and your village is razed to the ground as civil war rages on in Bohemia.
From here, you must learn everything on your own, from how to swing a sword, how to talk to noblemen in your mission to avenge your parents’ death, how to repel any invaders that might come to Bohemia, and how to chart Bohemia’s future.
10. Rebel Galaxy
Ever wondered what it’d be like piloting your own starship complete with all its armor coupled with a very skilled mechanic? Well, Rebel Galaxy allows you to explore multiple galaxies and planets as you look for ways to mine, trade, bounty hunt, and do everything else you can imagine under the cosmos.
The game boasts a Naval Broadside-like mechanic that’ll keep you drawn in with an assortment of weapons from missiles to laser batteries. While other games may have a stronger story, Rebel Galaxy offers a good way to create the perfect game environment and your quest for that newer, shinier ship.
11. Battle Chasers: Night War
Centered around a similarly named comic book published in the 90s, this game is inspired by the traditional console giants of turn-based JRPG setup and is filled with a rich storyline that’ll keep you begging for more.
You get to explore the open world with its procedurally-created dungeons full of puzzles and traps as well as a deep crafting structure that lets you create your own armor and weapons. This amazing JRPG title will give you your daily fix of nostalgia.
12. EITR
If you love the Souls video game but want a more isometric form of it, then you should choose EITR as it presents a new perspective on the world of Souls with an isometric viewpoint paired with outstanding combat.
In EITR, you can use and switch an array of spell buffs and weapons in real-time to help in battle, and you’ll also need this when dealing with multitudes of enemies while you explore the worlds of Nine Norse.
As you advance, you can collect hidden treasures and randomly produced loot from vanquished enemies but your equipment will be damaged if your Maiden dies. In this game, death isn’t necessarily game over but it will certainly be more difficult when you next spawn.
13. West of Loathing
Role-playing games have been largely brutal, serious, and gritty thus far but this game boasts a more light-hearted adventure game full of comedy as you assume the role of a cowboy in the Wild West.
West of Loathing pairs well-written dialogue with the allure of the old-fashioned figure games, keeping you entertained as you play. You’ll hear punchlines, puns, and reference humor along with its side quests and the usual linear storyline. It may not have the best combat but so long as you stick around, you’ll emerge laughing your head off and doing some stupid walking.
14. Elder Scrolls Online
Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG that provides so much fun like you can’t believe. There’s nothing we can say that hasn’t been said already. Simply download this game and join more than 10 million online gamers enjoying the adventure.
You can build, create, plunder, or loot items, or mix powers in order to create your own unique skill. Even just exploring Elder Scroll Online is amazing fun.
Discover Tamriel’s secrets as you embark on regaining your soul and keep the world away from Oblivion. Live any storyline anywhere in the world, in any order you decide on—alone or with others. Join the multiplayer environment and finish quests with your pals. It’s much more fun with pals.
15. Tropico 6
The President is back! Show the whole world what a successful leader you are one more time. A peace-loving leader or a fearsome dictator—the choice is entirely yours! Lead and improve Tropico Island and turn Banana Republic into one of the best countries to visit.
For the first time in the Tropico series, you can play on vast archipelagos. Manage several islands at once and adapt to many new challenges. Heck, you can even send your staff to steal and plunder and use that loot to develop Tropico Island.
Steal the world monuments and wonders and grow your tourism with them. Build buses, transport, and give your citizens a decent transport system. Create world wonders and improve tourism. Build cable vehicles to attract and retain tourists.
Tropico 6 features an online multiplayer mode that accommodates up to four gamers. You can design and build your castle, customize it and change its color at will. The game also gives you access to the updated research system where you can become the most brutal dictator in the world.
16. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
This video game speaks for itself. In the game, you can pick your own fate. From a living legend to an outcast, embark on a mission to uncover your past and make changes to ancient Greece in your own way.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers you the amazing scenic majesty of ancient Greece. You have everything, from volcanic islands to lush green meadows. Roam around ancient Greece’s streets to uncover your past and chart your future.
Every decision you make will have an impact on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and it’ll determine how your journey progresses. Make meaningful decisions and face the consequences. Tailor your gears, ship, and special skills to be a legend.
Prove your warrior credentials in large-scale epic fights between Sparta and Athens featuring several hundred soldiers, or cleave or ram your way through streets in naval battles all over the Aegean Sea.
17. UnderRail
Lovers of the Fallout series strategy game will find themselves right at home with this game as it’s inspired by Fallout while having an original perspective on the game. In UnderRail, you find yourself in a post-apocalyptic world where you must fight and explore underneath metro tunnels alongside marching loony denizens who want to eat you alive or snatch your loot.
In the game, you can customize your character to fit your needs like a deft ninja shooting arrows between the enemy’s eyes or a melee-focused brute wielding a sledgehammer. You’re the protagonist caught in the middle of the conflict between factions in UnderRail. Will you manage to battle your way through?
18. One Way Heroics
It’s not easy to stand out from all the RPGs on Steam, but this game comes with a unique draw. As you check the new bureaucratic world of One Way Heroics, darkness is consuming it at the other end.
This results in a bizarre mix of forced scrolling and turn-based role-playing that’s common in old-fashioned platform games. The game has other innovations as well, such as handing you points you can spend on upgrading stuff for your next attempt.
It may sound weird, but nothing else compares to this in the world of Steam.
Honorable Mentions
Play These RPGs on Steam Today!
No matter what type of gamer you are or which platform you’re using, you’ll definitely love these role-playing games. From triple-A titles such as Elder Scroll Skyrim and Fallout: New Vegas to role-playing games on Steam, let this list help you buy the best RPGs on Steam that are worth your money.
FAQ’s About RPG
What Does RPG Stand for?RPG is an abbreviation or acronym for “role-playing game”.
What Are the Qualities of a Good RPG?Most RPGs contain some sort of mission mechanic or quest. These provide your character with a reason to start exploring the world, garner experience with your skills, build wealth, and have an impact on the world of the game. Quests are vital as they lengthen the RPG game in a fun and meaningful way.
What Are the Different Kinds of RPGs?RPG games exist in many forms, including tabletop RPG, live-action, gamemaster, electronic media (single-player and multiplayer), the player character, and non-player character.
What’s a Turn-based RPG?This is a type of RPG game where battles have turned and a gamer can command characters to do different things to defeat opponents.
What’s JRPG Short for?JRPG is an abbreviation for the Japanese role-playing game. It’s a subcategory of the RPG genre.
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Power down
Steam gaming often places a premium on power. The latest hardware, the biggest hard drives, the fastest processors. It's exciting, but in many ways, it's the antithesis of what Pocket Gamer is usually about.
So we thought we'd put together a list of pocket-friendly titles for you to check out. Many of these are touchscreen-friendly for tablets, and most are undemanding enough to run on a netbook.
We haven't neglected action titles, either, for those with miniature mice to carry about. There are some classic first-person shooters dating from before the days when the genre became all about cut-scenes.
Want more?Check out our growing collection ofBest on Steam features!
Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition
By 3D Realms - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
Duke Nukem won fame for its humorous script and level of gore. But it managed to keep with with a diverse selection of interesting and amusing weaponry that encouraged tactical play.
You can drop pipe bombs on enemies from above, freeze them, even shrink them and stamp them underfoot.
Braid
By Number None - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
Another recent game that won't demand much from your hardware, Braid was rightly celebrated for its narrative curveballs and rock-hard puzzle platforming.
You won't find many other games that manage to so demanding on your brain, your emotions and your twitch fingers all at the same time. It's frustrating but, as the designer said, if you manage to beat its challenges, you will feel very good about yourself.
Terraria
By Re-Logic - buy on PC (£6.99)
A bizarre blend of exploration, action and Minecraft, Terreria offers incredible depth and variety for a game that runs on modest hardware.
If it's not enough to explore a procedurally generated world, fight boss monsters and attracting followers, you can even use your imagination to build elaborate machines.
Rome: Total War - Alexander
By The Creative Assembly - buy on PC (£2.99)
Total War hasn't managed to be a fixture on the gaming calendar since 2000 for no reason. Happily for the owners of older systems this entry from 2004 remains one of the very best.
It's a proper real-time strategy game with actual strategy in place of base-building races. Plus some good history too. So a winner all round.
Broken Sword - Director's Cut
By Revolution Software Ltd - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£4.99)
No retro-focused list would be complete without a classic point and click adventure. But on Steam, many of these have been enhanced or revamped to a level where they won't run on modest hardware.
Luckily, one of the best of the lot will. With a compelling plot and a diverse selection of logic and hidden item puzzles, it should keep you occupied for hours.
Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition
By Epic Games, Inc. - buy on PC (£5.99)
This may be the purest distillation of frenzied shooting action ever made. It eschews niceties like narrative in favour of a vast range of maps and game types to play against real people online or skilled AI bots off it.
Plus, it's graced with a wonderful selection of enormous guns and ludicrous power ups.
System Shock 2
By Irrational Games - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
A game this old shouldn't be this scary. You might want to give up during the opening sequence with its ponderous tutorial and dated graphics. But keep at it and you'll be rewarded with one of the most horrifying action games ever made.
It's another older game that regularly shows up in high positions on best of all time lists. And it's not hard to see why. All the limitations of the ancient video engine won't matter a jot when you're lifted out of your seat by a jump scare.
Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition
By Ion Storm - buy on PC (£4.99)
When people compile lists of the best PC games of all time, this regularly comes near the top in spite of having been released in 2000.
It's the combination of the free-form way in which you can complete objectives and the knock-on effects of your choices that make it such a winner. The mix is almost as intoxicating now as it was back then.
FTL: Faster Than Light
By Subset Games - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
Most of our picks on this list are older classics. But here's a modern game that's undemanding on hardware, but very demanding on the player.
It's got an addictive and unusual blend of rogue-like, strategy and choose your own adventure. The story is different every time you play, although it commonly ends with the horrible death of your entire crew.
Half-Life
By Valve - buy on PC, Mac, and Linux (£6.99)
If you're going to try and run a first-person shooter on a limited machine, you might as well start with the best.
Half-Life remains a pivotal moment in the history of video gaming. And it's old enough now both to run on weak hardware and to be unfamiliar to younger gamers. So there's no excuse not to have experienced this genre-changer for yourself.
Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete
By Firaxis Games - buy on PC (£2.99)
Civilization fans will tell you to play IV or V in the series for challenge and accessibility respectively. However, if you can't run either of those, Civilization 3 still lets you easily connect to network games.
That means you can enjoy playing this incredible strategy franchise against your friends, however aged your device is compared to theirs.
Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
By Black Isle Studios - buy on PC (£7.99)
Everyone's talking about Fallout 4 at the moment. While you wait, why not remind yourself that the popularity of this series started long before Fallout 3 by playing this classic iosmetric RPG.
The interface might feel dated, but the post-apocalyptic setting is just as vivid, exciting and unusual.
X-COM: UFO Defense
By MicroProse Software - buy on PC (£2.99)
A contender for possibly the most-played older game on Steam. This was the inspiration behind the much more recent XCOM: Enemy Unknown and will be instantly familiar to fans.
It's nowhere near as accessible or pretty as its successor game. But it is much more challenging, offering enormous amounts of play hours for a tiny investment.
Torchlight
By Runic Games - buy on PC and Mac (£10.99)
Best Steam Rpgs Pc
Torchlight isn't all that old, but the devloper made a special effort to make it as portable as possible. It's got a special netbook mode which helps it run like a dream on older machines.
And while it might be tempting to go for the more recent sequel, this original has all the fun and charm which underpins the success of the series.