Role-playing games (RPG games) have long been a staple in the gaming world, offering immersive worlds, complex characters, and, most importantly, deep storylines that captivate players. Here are 14 RPGs renowned for their narrative depth, each a masterpiece in its own right.
1. Final Fantasy VII
- Release Date & Production House: January 31, 1997, Square
- Overview: In a world dominated by a mega-corporation, Cloud Strife, a mercenary, joins a group to stop them and a greater threat.
- Why Play? Landmark in gaming history with its rich storyline, complex characters, and cinematic storytelling.
- Storyline Strengths: Emotional depth, plot twists, and memorable characters like Cloud and Sephiroth create an unforgettable narrative. Its exploration of themes such as identity, destiny, and environmentalism adds depth. The game’s ability to blend personal stories with an epic quest against a backdrop of a beautifully crafted world sets it apart.
2. The Witcher Series
- Release Date & Production House: Since 2007, CD Projekt
- Overview: This series follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter, through a dark fantasy world filled with moral ambiguity.
- Why Play? Known for its rich world-building, complex characters, and impactful choices.
- Storyline Strengths:The narrative is deeply engaging, with each game expanding the lore and world. The series stands out for its mature storytelling and the way it handles complex themes like politics, society, and personal morality.
3. Chrono Trigger
- Release Date & Production House: March 11, 1995, Square
- Overview: A time-traveling adventure to prevent a global catastrophe.
- Why Play? Innovative gameplay, multiple endings, and character-driven story.
- Storyline Strengths: The time travel mechanic is used masterfully to tell a story that spans eras. The character arcs are deeply intertwined with the plot, making each decision significant. Its ability to balance a grand adventure with intimate character moments sets a gold standard for RPG storytelling.
4. Mass Effect Series
- Release Date & Production House: Since 2007, BioWare
- Overview: Set in a rich sci-fi universe, players control Commander Shepard, navigating complex interstellar politics and an impending galactic threat.
- Why Play? A blend of action, role-playing, and narrative decision-making, where choices significantly impact the story.
- Storyline Strengths: The series is celebrated for its deep character development and branching storylines. The narrative is a tapestry of personal, political, and ethical dilemmas, set in a well-crafted universe with diverse species and cultures.
5. The Elder Scrolls Series
- Release Date & Production House: Since 1994, Bethesda Game Studios
- Overview: Open-world exploration in a detailed fantasy world with rich lore.
- Why Play? Unmatched character creation and freedom in a vast world.
- Storyline Strengths: Intricate main quests and countless side stories create a deeply immersive experience. The lore of the world is vast and detailed, offering players endless opportunities to uncover secrets, legends, and histories that enrich the main narrative.
6. Dragon Age: Origins
- Release Date & Production House: November 3, 2009, BioWare
- Overview: As a Grey Warden, players fight to save the world from a demonic invasion.
- Why Play? Rich narrative with impactful moral choices.
- Storyline Strengths: Combines dark fantasy elements with deep lore and character-driven stories. The game’s strength lies in its ability to craft a world where every choice has weight and consequences, making the narrative experience deeply personal and immersive.
7. Pillars of Eternity
- Release Date & Production House: March 26, 2015, Obsidian Entertainment
- Overview: An isometric RPG set in a fantasy world, focusing on a quest to uncover the source of supernatural abilities.
- Why Play? It pays homage to classic RPGs with a rich, original world.
- Storyline Strengths: The game shines with its narrative depth, complex characters, and detailed world-building. It tackles themes of spirituality, power, and morality in a nuanced way. The player’s journey through this intricately designed world is filled with lore, challenging choices, and a storyline that adapts to their decisions, making it a deeply personal experience.
8. Divinity Series
- Release Date & Production House: Since 2002, Larian Studios
- Overview: Known for deep narratives, tactical combat, and interactive environments.
- Why Play? Offers narrative freedom and impactful decision-making.
- Storyline Strengths: Each game in the series provides a unique story with rich lore and complex character interactions. The series is celebrated for its intricate world-building and the freedom it offers players to shape their journey. The storytelling is dynamic, responding to player choices in meaningful ways, and the characters and their stories are woven seamlessly into the larger narrative.
9. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Release Date & Production House: March 3, 2017, Nintendo
- Overview: Link awakens to defeat Calamity Ganon and save Hyrule in this open-world adventure.
- Why Play? Redefines open-world exploration with a perfect blend of action, puzzle-solving, and discovery.
- Storyline Strengths: While not a traditional RPG, its storytelling through exploration, environmental cues, and lore creates a unique narrative experience. The game allows the story to unfold organically as players explore, making discoveries that piece together the history and fate of Hyrule, offering a deeply personal and interpretative storytelling experience.
10. Fallout Series
- Release Date & Production House: Since 1997, Interplay Productions/Bethesda Game Studios
- Overview: Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the series offers a blend of survival, role-playing, and exploration in a world devastated by nuclear war.
- Why Play? Known for its open-world exploration, dark humor, and player-driven stories.
- Storyline Strengths: The Fallout series excels in creating a rich, immersive post-apocalyptic world. Each game in the series offers a unique perspective on life after nuclear war, with stories that explore themes of survival, morality, and the human condition in a fallen world.
11. Disco Elysium
- Release Date & Production House: October 15, 2019, ZA/UM
- Overview: Play as a detective with a unique skill system to solve a murder mystery.
- Why Play? Narrative-heavy with immense freedom in character development.
- Storyline Strengths: The game’s strength lies in its narrative richness, complex themes, and deep character development. The story is not just about solving a crime but also about personal redemption, political intrigue, and exploring the human condition, making it a standout in narrative-driven games.
12. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor/War
- Release Date & Production House: September 30, 2014 / October 10, 2017, Monolith Productions
- Overview: Set in the Lord of the Rings universe, these games blend strong storytelling with innovative gameplay.
- Why Play? Unique blend of action, strategy, and immersive narrative.
- Storyline Strengths: These games excel in integrating Tolkien’s world with original stories that feel authentic to the source material. The Nemesis System adds a dynamic layer to storytelling, with player actions directly influencing the game world and its inhabitants, creating personalized stories within the larger narrative.
13. Baldur’s Gate Series
- Release Date & Production House: Since 1998, BioWare/Beamdog
- Overview: Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, known for its narrative depth and tactical gameplay.
- Why Play? A cornerstone of the RPG genre with deep storytelling.
- Storyline Strengths: Intricate plots, morally complex decisions, and rich character development define the series. The narrative is grand in scope yet personal in execution, offering players a world where their choices significantly impact the unfolding story. The series is renowned for its dialogue, character interactions, and the way it weaves individual backstories and quests into the larger narrative. This deep engagement with characters and the world elevates the storytelling, making each decision and interaction a part of a rich tapestry of narrative.
14. Pathfinder Series
- Release Date & Production House: Since 2018, Owlcat Games
- Overview: Based on the Pathfinder tabletop RPG, the series offers a deep role-playing experience in a fantasy world.
- Why Play? For its faithful adaptation of the tabletop experience, deep narrative, and character customization.
- Storyline Strengths: The series excels in narrative complexity, world-building, and player agency. It weaves a rich tapestry of lore, character arcs, and player-driven stories, allowing for a deeply personalized narrative experience.