Best Fantasy RPGs

Highlights

• For The King offers addictive gameplay, online co-op, and a diverse party of characters for RPG fans.
• Grim Dawn provides a dark fantasy experience reminiscent of Diablo games, perfect for new and old players alike.
• Wildermyth combines engaging turn-based combat with procedural storytelling, offering a charming and strategic RPG experience.

The RPG genre is one of the broadest and most varied genres in video gaming. RPGs may have roots in tabletop role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, but over the years the RPG has become a diverse and highly saturated genre.

From action-RPG classics such as Diablo 2 to the massively popular Elden Ring, all the way to roguelike RPGs like Darkest Dungeon and Caves Of Qud, there are more fantasy-themed RPGs than any one person could possibly play. In the interest of variety, however, RPGs of all kinds have been included.

1 For The King

A Strategic RPG With A Loose Narrative And Online Co-Op

Light on story but heavy on the gameplay, For The King is a surprisingly addictive RPG despite its somewhat simplistic gameplay. In the game, players control a party of three characters, picked from a diverse selection of distinctive classes with their starting stats and abilities. Players explore an overworld map, attempting to complete objectives and raid dungeons in turn-based combat encounters.

What makes For The King such an engaging RPG, however, is its multiplayer component. Fans can play the game in online co-op, which makes for an often intense and frequently fun experience. Its narrative is incredibly loose, but RPG fans looking for a game they can play with friends should be sure to take a look at this strategic title.

2 Grim Dawn

An Indie ARPG That Rivals The Diablo Series

Titans such as the Diablo series and, more specifically, Diablo 2, are almost synonymous with fantasy RPGs. The Diablo games are cornerstones of the action-RPG genre, and Grim Dawn takes clear inspiration from them. However, Grim Dawn still manages to offer its unique flavor of dark fantasy.

While games such as Diablo 2 may be more revered than the more recent Grim Dawn, this modern indie title is arguably more accessible. Whether players are looking for a modern experience reminiscent of Diablo 2, or looking for a way into the action-RPG genre, Grim Dawn is an easy recommendation.

3 Wildermyth

A Narrative-Driven RPG With Procedural Generation And Tactical Combat

Wildermyth is a charming fantasy RPG that takes a narrative-driven approach to its design. However, Wildermyth doesn’t compromise on its gameplay, offering an engaging turn-based combat system and a strategic layer that adds a great deal of depth.

Attempting to harness the spirit of tabletop RPGs, Wildermythuses procedural generation to provide players with a diverse and ever-changing party of heroes on a quest that truly feels like their own. The combination of tactical combat and procedural storytelling makes for a consistently engaging experience that’s full of heart. Furthermore, Wildermyth is frequently pleasant to look at, thanks to a beautifully realized paper-craft art style.

4 Tyranny

A Story-Driven Old-School CRPG

Developed by the legendary Obsidian Entertainment, Tyranny is a well-crafted and story-rich RPG that’s driven by meaningful player choice and real-time-with-pause combat. This results in a remarkably old-school experience but features a modern style.

Of its many qualities, the meaningful choices that Tyranny asks the player to make are arguably its greatest strength. However, its old-school gameplay will likely appeal to fans of older CRPGs, such as the first two entries in the Baldur’s Gate series.

5 Baldur’s Gate 3

A Rich And Expansive Fantasy World

Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place in the iconic fantasy universe of Dungeons & Dragons and was developed by the creators of another popular fantasy RPG, Divinity: Original Sin 2. However, Baldur’s Gate 3 still manages to offer a unique experience despite its pre-existing IP.

The sheer agency that Baldur’s Gate 3 offers players is enough to set it apart from many fantasy RPGs. However, Baldur’s Gate 3 is also rich in its story, characters, and world-building, providing players with a narrative-driven RPG that rewards exploration and encourages players to play their own way.

6 Caves Of Qud

Old-School Gameplay In A Sci-Fi Fantasy World

Taking place in a sci-fi fantasy setting, Caves Of Qud combines hand-crafted locations and procedurally-generated areas to offer an intricate open world. Caves Of Qud plays like a traditional roguelike, but more heavily focused on RPG elements and open-world exploration. Although it does feature permanent death mechanics, Caves Of Qud allows players to play the game like an RPG via its “roleplay” mode.

Caves Of Qud features an extremely old-school, tile-based art style that won’t be for everyone. However, it offers a great deal of charm and, when combined with the sound and music, offers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. For fans of sci-fi fantasy settings, deep RPGs, and turn-based combat, Caves Of Qud offers nearly unparalleled replay value in a consistently intriguing open world.

7 Dark Souls

Challenging Combat In An Intricately Designed, Looping World

Many of FromSoftware’s RPGs make for compelling fantasy experiences, with Elden Ring being perhaps the most mainstream example. The world of the original Dark Souls, however, still holds a certain charm and mystery that its successors arguably lack. The intricately designed, looping world of Dark Souls is consistently rewarding to explore, offering players a diverse set of interconnected locations to uncover.

Although it may be somewhat rough around the edges, Dark Souls is still an engaging experience thanks to its iconic combat system and deep RPG mechanics. As with all Dark Souls games, however, the bosses are the main event, providing players with a dizzying array of unique and unusually large adversaries to take down.