Best Offline RPGs On PC You Need To Play

RPG developers are continually raising the bar. With innovations that expand gameplay opportunities without changing the fundamentals, the RPG genre will forever remain relevant. The PC platform contains some of the most influential RPGs in gaming history.

Even years after their debuts, game series like The Witcher and The Elder Scrolls are still reverberating in the industry because of the great leaps and bounds they made to gaming as a whole. With many RPGs on the way, it seems all but likely the best is to come. For now, let’s take a look at the best offline RPGs on PC.

Updated March 7, 2024 by Mark Sammut: 2024 has been on a roll so far, and March looks set to maintain that momentum. On PC, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Crown Wars: The Black Prince, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition, and Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist are all set to launch by the end of the month, and they all have the potential to scratch someone’s itch for role-playing content. Unfortunately, a few of these titles will not be candidates for the best offline PC RPGs.

If a game requires Denuvo on Steam, it will not be included. Technically, these can be played offline most of the time, but they do require an online connection on occasion.

Tales Of Arise

Metascore: 84

Bandai Namco’s Tales has produced a few stellar games, and Vesperia or Symphonia would not look out of place in an article discussing the best offline PC JRPGs. However, Tales of Arise gets the nod since it is the franchise’s most recent and, more importantly, one of its most complete entries.

Unlike some of its predecessors, Arise delivers great combat, memorable characters, and a gripping storyline with a relatively mature tone. Visually, the game also looks pretty good.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Metascore: 85

2024 has produced plenty of great PC RPGs already: Persona 3 Reload, Infinite Wealth, Enshrouded, Last Epoch, The Thaumaturge, and even Palworld. These projects don’t qualify for this discussion due to either requiring an online connection (or featuring Denuvo) or just being a bit too niche, even if they are worth checking out regardless. Another title that deserves a shout-out is Granblue Fantasy: Relink, an action JRPG that prioritizes combat above everything else. That’s not to imply the game has no story, as its main campaign should be able to keep most people engaged for roughly 15 hours; however, it is largely secondary, and its conclusion does not signal the end of a playthrough. After that point, players are encouraged to keep doing raids akin to something like Monster Hunter.

Along with the core characters, Granblue Fantasy: Relink features an array of playable fighters that can essentially be hired, and they cover an impressive range of combat styles that make them all worth trying at least once. As most quests are designed to be tackled solo, players do not have to worry about going online to meet a challenge’s requirements. That said, the game supports online co-op as well, so multiplayer is an option if someone prefers to play with a couple of friends.

South Park: The Stick Of Truth

Metascore: 85

Despite being viewed by many as one of the best adult cartoons ever, this zany franchise hasn’t always translated well in the gaming realm. But Obsidian Entertainment soundly defies conventions with this charmingly depraved RPG. Both on a visual and contextual level, The Stick of Truth draws from a wealth of hilarious and memorable South Park lore.

This sets the stage for a fun — and achingly funny — journey, rife with goofy toilet humor and witty satire of fantasy and pop culture. The game truly feels like playing through an epic South Park episode, while the gameplay takes on the appealing vibe of Paper Mario meets D&D.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole
is also fantastic.

Cyberpunk 2077

Metascore: 86

Though it’s rough around the edges both thematically and regarding bugs, this CD Projekt Red hit nonetheless entices. It draws in fans with its awesome style and gameplay that’s both thrilling and deep. Cyberpunk 2077 takes players on a cinematic sci-fi ride full of heart-pumping action, breathtaking visuals, and a gripping, emotional story.

The game takes a page from the Fallout and Borderlands playbook when it comes to blending RPG elements and arcade-style shooting chaos. It also utilizes stealth and hacking concepts one might find in Watch Dogs. Even disregarding the awesome Keanu appearance as renegade Johnny Silverhand, there’s much to enjoy about this thrilling romp for PC. In September 2023, CD Projekt Red released the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion, two things that greatly improved Cyberpunk 2077.

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Metascore: 93

BioWare is no stranger to appealing RPGs that stress offline gameplay, as this Star Wars classic from ’03 reestablishes. Many fans consider KOTOR one of the best Star Wars games to this day, with a gripping story and solid writing that lives up to the stellar standards of the original trilogy.

This semi-open-world epic also captivates from a gameplay standpoint. Star Wars fans and newcomers alike will revel in slashing and blasting through tons of colorful locales while carving their path and opting for the path of light or darkness.

Hades

Metascore: 93

Finally, this game is out for everyone to enjoy, and players will have a blast grinding it out in this hack and slash RPG. Hades takes players to the Underworld, where they defy Hades’s ruling as the Prince of the Underworld. Players assume the role of an immortal character in this rogue-like.

Following the troubled hero’s death, the player is brought back to a hub where they can refine and improve their character with permanent upgrades as well as new weapons. Hades takes after games like Dead Cells and Diablo 3 but offers unique content to relish.

Dragon Age

Metascore: 91 (Dragon Age Origins)

All the Dragon Age games are very good single-player RPGs, and a convincing argument could be made for either Origins or Inquisition. The former has slower-paced combat that is more tactical, and it was seemingly designed with PC gaming in mind. On the other hand, Inquisition opts for a more simplistic and flashy battle system, albeit one that still has a fair amount of depth. Both games feature lengthy campaigns with well-written characters, gripping main stories, and an emphasis on customization and build variety. Dragon Age 2 is also not terrible, but it is certainly the most divisive entry in the trilogy.

Origins represents BioWare at its peak, both in terms of storytelling and world-building. The campaign tells an epic and ambitious tale featuring some of the most iconic characters in the fantasy genre, and the combat has quite a bit of depth as well. The game is also replayable since players can customize the protagonist quite extensively.

Chained Echoes

Metascore: 91

In a year that produced Atelier Sophie 2, Rune Factory 5, Soul Hackers 2, and Star Ocean: The Divine Force, the best “JRPG” might have been an indie project by a German developer. Inspired by the ’90s masterpieces that dominated consoles, Chained Echoes is a modern throwback that provides way more than just a nostalgia trip. Utilizing 16-bit visuals, the game takes place in a world defined by an endless war, which serves as the background for a rat race-style story that finds multiple groups pursuing a MacGuffin that could bestow one nation an edge over their enemies. The narrative is well-thought-out and develops nicely over the rather long campaign.

Chained Echoes‘ combat has all the makings of a conventional turn-based system, albeit one that changes a few things up to keep things fresh. The biggest addition is the inclusion of a constantly evolving meter with three stages; depending on the area the player finds themselves in, they can either receive a boost in performance or suffer more damage from enemies. Monitoring this bar plays a significant role during battles and forces players to strategize and plan ahead rather than just doubling down on the same few abilities.

Disco Elysium – The Final Cut

Metascore: 97

Disco Elysium is something special, and comfortably one of the best single-player RPGs on PC to come out over the last few years. Rather than concentrating on combat, this neo-noir thriller is built on a deep dialogue system that is influenced by the main character’s chosen skills and behavior. This creates a strong connection between the story and gameplay as they feed into each other at all times.

Speaking of the plot, Disco Elysium weaves an incredible tale that starts as a murder mystery before expanding into a character study. The RPG tackles quite a few intriguing themes and philosophical ideas, which are naturally integrated into the game’s setting and society.

Elden Ring

Metascore: 94

FromSoftware has been crafting fantastic Metroidvania games for more than a decade, and Elden Ring is a top contender for the company’s greatest achievement. Set in the Lands Between, the 2022 title takes the Dark Souls formula and transfers it to a vast open-world that is stacked with bosses, secrets, and quest lines. For people who prefer the more contained approach of FromSoftware’s previous games, each region has a central dungeon that follows a more traditional structure.

Elden Ring gives players plenty of freedom on how they would like to tackle its content, and that goes beyond just character builds. Except for a few endgame sections, the map unlocks almost all of its areas right out of the gate, permitting players to just pick a direction and venture forth into the unknown. Now, Elden Ring‘s online components do enhance the overall experience, but the game can be played offline without any issues.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

Metascore: 80

Roughly two decades after its release, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines still manages to impress in a few key areas, although a recommendation comes with a couple of caveats. For the latter, the game’s age is obvious, to the point that the vanilla version should not be somebody’s first experience. At the bare minimum, anyone who picks up Bloodlines should install the Unofficial Patch since it fixes so many of the base content’s issues. The RPG was also rushed for release, which can be felt in the second half of the campaign. As such, the story peaks fairly early.

Moving beyond these issues, Bloodlines absolutely nails its atmosphere and world-building, two elements that are still as strong as ever despite the genre’s many advancements over the years. The opening sequence is arguably among the most memorable in the RPG sphere, and it sets the stage beautifully for the rest of the content. While the main storyline is just good, Bloodlines fills its universe with fascinating NPCs that all feel like they have stories to tell, and players are allowed agency in how they interact with this world’s complex society.

Fallout: New Vegas

Metascore: 84

The further players dive into Fallout: New Vegas, the more they get a sense of the scale of this game. The quality of the writing is masterful, making this a must-play. As an RPG, it offers dialogue options that let the player influence the events of the game.

Fallout: New Vegas was developed by Obsidian Entertainment (not Bethesda Softworks, as previous entries in the series). Yet, the game is somehow on equal footing or better than the mainline games. The colorful Vegas setting and amusing features like gambling give New Vegas a unique charm.

Mass Effect 2

Metascore: 94

Mass Effect is gaming’s definitive space opera. Widely recognized as one of the best RPGs of all time, Mass Effect 2 is an offline sensation. The weapon customization, dialogue options, and romance possibilities put this game up there with the greatest RPGs. A variety of mods further up the ante when it comes to the game’s intrigue.

Players are cast as Commander Shepard, a human whose background is chosen by the user. This protagonist, who can be a male or a female, leads a revolving door of crew members throughout the original trilogy, with their goal being to stop the Reapers. Mass Effect blends character development, fantastic world-building, and a gripping main narrative that builds beautifully throughout the saga. While the second entry is generally considered the best, nowadays, players should pick up Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

All Legend Of Heroes Games

Metascore: 80 (The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel)

Nihon Falcom’s Legend of Heroes has been around since the late 1980s, and while not every game is available on PC, enough titles have been ported to keep someone busy for half a year. More importantly (and impressively), the license seems incapable of producing anything resembling a dud.

Every entry in each subseries is fantastic, and they combine to create what is undoubtedly one of the best offline RPG franchises on PC. Trails in the Sky is generally regarded as the series’ peak, but the Trails of Cold Steel and Crossbell (Zero and Azure) games are also easy recommendations.

Metascore: 94

The ultimate critically acclaimed RPG, Skyrim has tremendous replay value. Quests regenerate, meaning there is almost no end to the game. Players can join guilds, serve demonic gods, and choose paths of good or evil. Exploring the game’s medieval towns, players sense the scale of the world. Each town is filled with small nuances that add to the game’s overall enjoyability, including unique characters and plenty of hidden secrets.

Skyrim is a single-player experience that has kept players busy for more than a decade, especially on PC due to the very active modding community. Now, the latter is not exactly an “offline” benefit, but once a mod is downloaded, a game can generally be played without an internet connection.

Most of Bethesda’s other RPGs also qualify, including
Starfield
.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Metascore: 93

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was an ambitious project with a high payoff. The quests are immersive, and the game has a robust progression system along with a large world that is ripe for exploration, discovery, and intrigue.

Although the RPG doesn’t grant many stat bonuses, the player’s character improves through worn gear. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a standout RPG title played entirely offline, and it arguably still sets the standard for open-world games. Some aspects of the project like the combat system can be polarizing, but the writing, world-building, and characters are universally great.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Metascore: 96

Larian Studios crafted near-perfection with Divinity: Original Sin 2, a turn-based RPG that is an easy recommendation for anyone remotely interested in the genre. For its follow-up, the studio sought to not only create a game that maintains the same high standards but also one that lives up to a decorated franchise that had not produced a numbered entry in roughly two decades. Baldur’s Gate 3 is unbelievably brilliant, a fact reflected by its widespread success, something that is unusual for these sorts of releases.

Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, BG3 provides players with a massive and flexible campaign that adapts to the choices they make. The turn-based combat system builds beautifully on Divinity: Original Sin 2‘s blueprint, all the while being slightly more accessible. The writing is among the best in the genre, and the same can be said for the customization.