15+ Best RPG Games to Play in 2024: Enjoy Ultimate Adventures

The best RPGs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Whether you’re an RPG newbie or a die-hard veteran, the world of RPGs can be overwhelming.

Fortunately for you, we’ve done a round-up of the top 15 RPGs on the market at the moment, as well as a few honorable mentions to tickle your fancy. Whether you’re looking for RPGs on the Xbox Series X, PC, Nintendo, Switch, or PS5, our list has you covered.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. 15 Best RPG Games to Play in 2024
3. More of the Best RPG Games To Play in 2024
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. 15 Best RPG Games to Play in 2024
3. More of the Best RPG Games To Play in 2024
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

15 Best RPG Games to Play in 2024

With so many different sub-genres and franchises to choose from it can be confusing where to start. After all, a roleplaying game can potentially run for hundreds of hours at a time.

We’ve done the legwork, so sit back, relax, and read through our definitive list of the best RPGs to play right now.

15. Diablo 4

Easily one of the best multiplayer RPG games, Diablo 4 puts combat first, giving you and up to three other friends the chance to battle hordes of monsters with your own bespoke character builds. Blizzard Entertainment’s dark fantasy adventure boasts an impressive gothic aesthetic; one minute, you’re taking in awe-inspiring architecture, and the next, you’re traveling through a disgusting, flesh-coated tunnel.

Diablo 4 is a generous, open-ended RPG that rewards creativity and cunning. Savvy adventurers can use complimentary moves, creating lethal skill combinations. What’s more, you don’t necessarily have to splash out extra on it as it is also one of the best RPGs on Game Pass, too.

14. Honkai Star Rail

One of the best RPG mobile games, Honkai Star Rail is a turn-based science fantasy RPG where you play as a Trailblazer who quests across a vast galaxy.

Fair warning: Honkai Star Rail uses a Gacha system that’ll have you unlock new characters through loot boxes. However, if you like over-the-top sci-fi drama and trust yourself to spend responsibly, then Honkai Star Rail may well be the RPG for you.

13. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

Owlcat Games’ fantasy epic stands as one of the best CRPGs available. While not as cinematic as Baldur’s Gate 3, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous boasts a deep story with plenty of scope for player choice. Backed by a cadre of memorable supporting characters, you’ll rise to become the leader of an entire army in a dramatic battle against the demon hordes.

As you play, you’ll align yourself with one of many different cosmic forces, offering plenty of scope for replayability. Will you ascend to the heavens or let your inner demon loose? Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is one of the best RPGs on Steam right now and a must-play for anyone after a darker adventure.

12. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

No list of the best RPGs could be complete without Bethesda’s timeless first-person fantasy offering. Though its real-time action may be a little dated compared to the best ARPGs, Skyrim cannot be matched when it comes to versatility. While many of the roleplaying games on our list give you access to a single specific storyline or fantasy, Skyrim lets you cast an extraordinarily wide net. Many titles let you master assassination or sorcery, but Skyrim is special in letting you do both.

Additionally, the game is notoriously moddable. Thanks to an active fan community, Skyrim is less a single game and more a vast buffet of different entertainment experiences. With over a decade of mods to choose from, Skyrim stands as one of the best RPG games on Game Pass, despite its age. It’s been updated and re-released countless times, so give it a chance if you haven’t already.

11. Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth

Square Enix’s blockbuster RPG is boisterous and larger than life. A homage to one of the best RPGs ever made, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth re-imagines the generous middle slice of Final Fantasy 7 to great success as a definitive way to experience the story for older fans and newcomers alike.

Gorgeous, generous, and theatrical, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is elevated by gripping, real-time action, and stellar characterization from the title’s animators and voice actors. The game takes cues from the original, easily one of the best turn-based RPGs of its era, beautifully. With open-world sections that channel the adventurous spirit and need for exploration, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is an immersive treat, complete with a winding corkscrew of a story that will keep you guessing throughout.

10. Cyberpunk: 2077

After a rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has come into its own thanks to a series of patches and star-studded expansion in the form of Phantom Liberty. CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi RPG offers a first-person view of Mike Pondsmith’s grim dystopian future. Neon lights punctuate the rain-slicked streets of Night City, rife as it is with intrigue, conspiracy, and misery. It’s now one of the best ARPGs ever made.

Fully customizable, your character can be anything from a master hacker to a bullet-deflecting street samurai, battling gangers, police, and corporate troops in thrilling real-time engagements. No matter your choice, you’ll wrestle with tough choices and a gripping story, uplifted by a stellar performance from Keanu Reeves and, in the expansion, Idris Elba. Player freedom is paramount; Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the best open world RPGs ever made, as there are gigs and adventures around every corner.

9. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

The grandmother of space opera RPGs, the Mass Effect series combines aspects of the best turn-based RPGs with third-person shooter action to create a uniquely appealing sci-fi adventure that combines real-time third-person shooting with plausible, tactical decision-making. A staple of the Xbox 360 era, Mass Effect offered a meaty adventure propped up by an expertly realized central cast.

Full of dicey ethical dilemmas, your choices in any given Mass Effect game carry over to the next, a facet that plays well in an anthology. The Legendary Edition is just that. Popping with remastered textures and buckets of DLC, this latest edition is the definitive way to enjoy this glorious space opera. You have the full trilogy of games to explore in a definitive way.

8. Undertale

Weird, irreverent, and utterly charming, Undertale is the RPG of a generation, easily winning a spot on our best RPGs list. Riffing on classic RPGs from the 1990s, Undertale follows a young person who finds themself trapped underground in a world full of monsters.

These aren’t your usual run-of-the-mill violent monsters, though. Undertale’s monsters are charming, bursting with sparkling, laugh-out-loud dialogue that’ll fill you with laughter and feelings in equal measure. Will you kill them and make your way out of the underground, or will you spare them and try to reach a compromise? The choice is yours.

7. Elden Ring

Dark, brooding, and unforgiving, Elden Ring stands as one of the best ARPGs of our time. Perhaps the most refined iteration on the Soulsborne formula to date, Elden Ring lets you loose in a dark fantasy open world, tasking you with slaying monsters and uncovering ancient mysteries.

Contrary to many other soulsborne offerings, Elden Ring is one of the best open world RPGs, too. Rather than forcing you to beat your head against one single, stubborn boss at a time, Elden Ring lets you explore, giving you a breath of fresh air where other Soulsborne ARPGs would keep you cooped up in semi-open environments.

6. Cassette Beasts

If you’re looking for a monster-catching game, Cassette Beasts stands as one of the best RPGs of the last few years, outshining modern Pokemon games with its retro art style and joyful panache. Contrary to what you might find in Nintendo’s behemoth, Cassette Beasts follows a group of fully grown adults navigating a disquieting situation. Trapped on the mysterious island of New Wirral, you are tasked with finding a way home.

To do this, you’ll need to capture some eponymous Cassette Beasts, so-called because of the 1980s-style cassettes needed to capture them. Complimenting the usual elemental rock-paper-scissors setup, Cassette Beasts has your adventure with a partner with whom you can fuse, forming a more powerful beast. This opens up hundreds of new options, ensuring that this cracking indie RPG never gets dull.

5. Final Fantasy 14

One of the best MMORPGs – if not the best – Final Fantasy 14 takes the characterful bombast of the Final Fantasy series and skillfully transplants it into the MMO arena. Full of diverse classes and tough dungeons to play them in, the dynamic yet simple real-time combat is enough to keep even seasoned MMORPG veterans on their toes.

What sets Final Fantasy 14 apart, however, is its stellar story content. The RPG’s cast worm their way into your brain, living their rent-free thanks to stellar voice performances and moving story beats. Ironically, an MMO should have one of the best RPG stories of 2024, but Square Enix’s multiplayer classic punches well above its weight.

4. I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

One of the best indie RPGs, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist offers a charming, sci-fi coming-of-age story. You play as an adolescent colonist on one of humanity’s first extraterrestrial settlements. Starting at 10 years old, you’ll spend 10 more years of in-game time with your characters, shaping them as they grow and learn every month.

Difficult narrative beats intersect with meaningful choices. Do you play sportsball (yes, that’s what it’s called) in the hope of becoming a strong security guard of tomorrow, or do you spend more time hitting the books? It may seem idyllic on the surface, but Exocolonist is full of dark twists and heartwarming characters; more than enough to grant it a place among the best RPGs around.

3. Persona 5

Perhaps the best RPG on Switch, Persona 5 follows the story of a teenager from Japan. Framed for a crime he never committed, our hero is put on probation and sent to Tokyo. The twist? Our hero is a phantom thief, capable of traveling into the minds of corrupt adults and stealing their worst desires. Despite its high concept, Persona 5 takes the appearance of a slick heist movie. From frenetic turn-based battles to the stunning loading screen, every inch of Persona 5 is bursting with style.

One of the most popular and best turn-based RPGs ever made, Persona 5 uses an elegant system of elemental damage and chained attacks, making its combat feel more fast-paced than many top ARPGs. What helps Persona 5 land, however, are its characters. The RPG’s cavalcade of troubled teens are a delight, each with their own quirks and talents, which make them diverse and compelling on and off the battlefield. Come for the style, but stay for the drama.

2. Disco Elysium

Equal parts emotional, political, and sardonic, Disco Elysium is, perhaps, the best RPG of the 2010s. You play as an amnesiac detective on a quest to solve a mysterious murder in a dilapidated yet colorful seaside sprawl. Set in a world both like our own and strangely alien, this CRPG has you choose your detective’s skills and use them as best as you can to solve the murder.

Of course, there’s more to do than just solve crimes. The snappy, affecting writing and wide range of decision points make for a dense and rewarding experience. Disco Elysium’s bold, unapologetic nature makes it one of the best CRPGs of all time.

1. Baldur’s Gate 3

The best RPG of the last decade, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an open-ended, imaginative, and dramatic fantasy adventure that both defines and re-invents the genre. Based on the classic tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a bespoke fantasy adventure full of meaningful choices, unforgettable characters, and exceptionally crafted combat.

Easily the best CRPG available at the moment, Baldur’s Gate 3 is like having a personal D&D game inside of your computer. The turn-based combat offers unparalleled dynamism. Yes, you could defeat the terrifying ogre with your strength of arms, or you could use magic to trip them over with grease before setting that grease aflame with a well-placed fireball.

What’s more, Baldur’s Gate 3’s fleshed-out co-op campaign mode makes it one of the best multiplayer RPG games too. In the tradition of some top Dungeons & Dragons sessions, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a canvass and isn’t afraid to offer you the brush. Endlessly explorable and constantly captivating, if you play one RPG from our list, make it this one.

More of the Best RPG Games To Play in 2024

The Bottom Line

The best RPG games may come in a wide range of different forms, but whether they’re gritty sci-fi or high fantasy, all of them share a common passion for storytelling and immersion. No matter your preference, there’s never been a better time to dive into this broad and rewarding genre.

What’s more, many older top-tier RPGs stand the test of time. Classics like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Skyrim can often be purchased incredibly cheaply during online sales. In some cases, you can get hundreds of hours of unforgettable adventures for less than a cup of coffee and a sandwich. The choice is yours.

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