The 18 Best RPGs on Steam to You Need To Try

best rpgs to try next

The pleasure of immersing yourself completely in the worlds that role-playing games create is something only role-playing diehards will understand.

Spending long hours roaming around looking for rare loot, levelling 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. Basically what we are saying here, is put down that latest battle royale title like Fortnite or Apex Legends, and invest your time in an awesome RPG.

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

fallout rpg on steam

Some people may prefer more fast-paced shooters with RPG elements, while others may opt for the isometric turn based RPG games. 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.

The Fallout game series’ 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

dark souls rpg on steam

Unlike most fantasy action 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

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 incredible RPG offers the best role-playing experience.

By picking what missions you want to complete, what memorable charcacters you want to meet and what kind of person you want to be through the charcater customization menu, 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. This is a all-time favorite game for many but if you have another in mind, you might appreciate our articles on how Skyrim compares to Fallout 4, Dark Souls, and Witcher 3.

4. Wizardry 8

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 customization 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

Divinity: Original Sin, created by Larian Studios, came out of the woodwork to blow fans away with its challenging, yet fun gameplay, and deep turn based combat, smart puzzles, and engaging gameplay 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

best rpgs on steam

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 that will please any Star Wars fan and retro Fallout fan alike. Its minimal and simplistic art style along with it’s gameplay largely based on table top RPG gaming 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 original 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.

Check out some of the best Pillars of Eternity 2 Mods you can try now.

7. Mass Effect II

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

rpgs on steam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 indie 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 this great indie 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

steam rpgs

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

  • Monster Hunter
  • Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
  • Final Fantasy XV
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Borderlands
  • Doom Eternal

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. So if you are looking for a good game to play, a good game that happens to be an RPG and a Steam game in particular, this list will help enormously. 

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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