The best RPGs of all time. RPG with strategy elements on PC (best) Turn-based strategy genre with rpg elements

Tactical RPGs are an amazingly diverse genre that has absorbed so much that it is just right for writing doctoral dissertations and arranging scientific debates. Perhaps no other direction in games today provides developers with so much room for creativity, and for players the freedom to make decisions and compose their own multi-steps, as these interactive adventures. But at the same time, they are also an unusual, fascinating test of ingenuity and endurance.

And even if all this happens only on screens, a really good tactical RPG on PC easily transfers the player's consciousness to other worlds and eras, forcing him to believe in the proposed game mechanics and laws (it doesn't matter if they are extremely simple, or, on the contrary, cunning and confusing) , as in the highest truth of the local, virtual universe. Making you worry, afraid, angry, delighted, touched and still experience a whole palette of other feelings and emotions, often suppressed for one reason or another in real life in front of living people. Yes, yes, good role-playing games with a tactical element successfully inscribed in them are really capable of all this, and such a loud statement is not empty chatter - this fact is confirmed by scientific research of sociologists and psychologists.

Enough of the panegyrics, let's move on to our top tactical RPGs. The only thing that I would like to note in the end is the impressive number of really cool projects in this genre and their paradoxical dissimilarity to each other, which makes it difficult to unequivocally identify the superiority of one over the other. So take the positions offered in the top as a convention - all the games presented here are good in their own way.

21. Silent Storm

The release in 2004 of the turn-based tactical RPG Silent Storm became a real breakthrough in the genre, this game turned out to be so saturated with a variety of ideas. Moreover, almost all of them work here as it was originally intended by the developers, in other words, they have an extremely positive impact on the gameplay.

There is also a fascinating combat system based on realistic, reliably conveyed features of damage to one or another body part and a solid set of weapons (about 70 units), and a wide selection of tactical solutions for each individual mission, and two factions to choose from, and an unusual setting ( mixing a real historical era, specifically, with science fiction). Even the plot has various options for development and numerous branches, which in our time is not found in purely tactical games as often as we would like.

All this is just a small fraction of the merits of Silent Storm, which will definitely be of interest to gamers who do not put the graphics in charge, but prefer the tactical element.

20. Fallout Tactics

No less legendary game released in 2001 by Softworks (developed by 14 ° East), which takes place in the Fallout universe, which is well known to millions of players.

The game, in fact, is very close to the first two parts of the series, but it still has a noticeable bias towards tactical battles (although, if desired, they can be transferred to real time).

19. Commandos 3: Destination Berlin

A very unusual project from Pyro Studios, located at the junction of several genres at once: RPG, action, stealth, and even a little bit of.

The game has an excellent scenario, several unique types of fighters, the ability to use various equipment and even multiplayer. However, the main features typical for the whole are the most gorgeous in their drawing and design locations, which create some kind of enchanting mood among the players. And this despite the fact that Commandos 3 was released in 2003, so the overall level of graphics and effects is relatively low here.

18. Jagged Alliance 2

Some readers may have noticed that earlier on this place there was another game from the Jagged Alliance series, which got here more from the principle of "the road to the young" than due to its own merits.

We consulted and decided to replace her with the "old" Jagged Alliance 2, more worthy of mention in our top. And that's why.

Jagged Alliance 2 is a golden classic of tactical strategies, whose gameplay is characterized by an unprecedented tactical depth due to the many details under the control of the player. Here there is an opportunity to assemble a squad by choosing suitable fighters from more than a hundred unique mercenaries, each of whom has not only a certain set of skills, but also his own character that determines the reaction to all game events and relationships with other members of the squad. There is also an editor for creating your character.

All events in Jagged Alliance 2 develop randomly, so that each passage will be unique and unrepeatable, and the available missions can be completed in a variety of ways.

The only thing we have to warn you about with sadness is that this wonderful creation came out a long time ago - in 1999. You can draw the appropriate conclusions about its visual qualities yourself.

But if you manage to come to terms with its more than simple graphics by modern standards, you will find truly incredible adventures and exciting tactical battles.

17. Hard West

A tactical game with elements of an RPG pro, in which the developers (CreativeForge Games) managed to successfully fit the elements and a bit.

A beautiful picture, an interesting plot, an interactive environment (it occupies a very important place in), a lot of side effects, characters, weapons and unique skills - what else does the game need to attract attention. Especially those interested in the Wild West and tactical RPGs.

16. We Are The Dwarves

A very unusual game that stands out among all other tactical RPGs in several respects at once.

Firstly, the setting We Are The Dwarves deserves attention, in the center of which were three brave dwarves who went on to find magic stones. It would seem that these guys are the very place between fairies and, as well as other inhabitants of fantasy worlds. But no, our dwarves are "astronauts", and they will explore the "planets" lost in the "endless depths of space."

Secondly, the game offers an interesting gameplay, built on several innovative principles, which are difficult to describe, it is better to see and try it all yourself.

And finally, thirdly, the hardcore game. Even too much. Perhaps only the most patient will be able to master at least its first quarter. Moreover, the difficulties at each stage of the game will appear all new and completely unpredictable.

15. The Banner Saga Series

A series of tactical RPGs from the Stoic studio, currently numbering two games. Based on the Old Norse setting, which the developers supplemented with their own creative ideas.

In addition, The Banner Saga is characterized by a pleasant, hand-drawn visual style, fairly simple and quickly learned combat mechanics, which, however, gives unimaginable scope for tactical combinations, and an exciting concept of traveling through the local world, during which random events that make them take morally difficult ones and are important for future decisions.

14. The Dwarves

Another tactical role-playing game, the main characters of which are dwarves. True, this time everything takes place in a classic fantasy setting.

The game offers more than a dozen characters ready to join the Tungdil squad (protagonist of The Dwarves), interesting main and side quests, a good plot based on the novels of Markus Heitz, and, of course, intense tactical battles with dozens of different opponents.

13. Legends of Eisenwald

An RPG with tactical battles made in. A stunningly detailed in-game world, a rapidly and unpredictably developing plot bring Legends of Eisenwald closer to such famous projects as Mount & Blade and King's Bounty. The developers themselves call their creation a knight wandering simulator.

The game features a large number of historically accurate units, types of equipment and weapons. Moreover, weapons can be selected individually for each soldier. Also, each member of the squad has a skill tree, which over time allows you to make a narrow-profile combat unit out of it.

12. Valkyria Chronicles

A 3D tactical game with an unusual visual design, a large number of characters and a complex storyline. It will definitely appeal to all lovers.

Initially, the game appeared as an exclusive for the PlayStation 3, but in 2014 a special version for Windows was released. The PC version also received a ton of additional in-game content.

In addition to a uniquely executed element of tactical strategy, Valkyria Chronicles has a deep RPG system: all fighters, and there are more than a hundred of them, are unique, for each you need to select the right equipment and skillfully pump your abilities.

11. The Age of Decadence

An isometric tactical RPG from Iron Tower Studio, in the setting of which the ideas of the Ancient Roman Empire are bizarrely mixed, there are also some elements of the post-apocalypse.

The main feature that sets The Age of Decadence apart from all over the past few years is its incredible hardcore. Here the principle "one mistake - and start everything from the last save point" is taken to an absolute.

The graphics in the game, despite the 2015 release, look much older. Nevertheless, Iron Tower Studio's locations and game objects turned out to be quite convincing and.

The plot and history of the local world deserves special praise, full of many details and details, and contributing to an incredibly deep immersion in the game.

10. King's Bounty series

A wonderful series of computer games, which is a mixture of RPGs. Key Features:

1. A bright, enchanting with its beauty fairy-tale world
2. A fun plot that pokes fun at fantasy genre templates
3. Unusual quests
4. Interesting, although not new, combat mechanics and a balanced role-playing system, the presence of several playable classes

9.Shadowrun Series

A series of isometric tactical RPGs with an unusual setting that combines elements of fantasy and. By the way, the Shadowrun universe was originally created for the tabletop role-playing game of the same name, so the mechanics are worked out very meticulously.

All three games from the Shadowrun lineup are distinguished by an interesting, large set of races and classes, a classic role-playing and combat system that migrated here from, as well as amazing.

8. Darkest Dungeon

Darkest Dungeon is a 2D RPG from Red Hook Studios that also combines elements of tactical strategy and. The game hits with its turn-based combat system and well-rendered atmosphere of dark fantasy. The latter is due to the merit of the artist-designers and sound engineer, who gave Darkest Dungeon an original visual concept and a powerful, soul-chilling sound.

In addition, the game boasts a unique system of the characters' state of mind: while exploring the gloomy depths, the squad members are constantly stressed, suffer from various phobias, and can even earn a mental disorder. All this, of course, directly affects their combat effectiveness and behavior. By the way, the death of the characters is permanent here.

Random generation is of great importance in Darkest Dungeon: it creates the structure of the dungeons, offers a list of characters available for hire, determines the reward for success, and so on. All in all, roguelike at its best.

7. Mordheim: City of the Damned

Another stunningly beautiful and addicting role-playing game in the setting of dark fantasy (adapted for the popular Warhammer universe), but unlike Darkest Dungeon, it offers more traditional principles of gameplay. And here they are brought almost to perfection.

Four available factions, each with its own unique classes of fighters, a variety of weapons and abilities, a complex combat system that takes into account dozens of different nuances (distance, terrain, equipment, formation, luck and much more - all this somehow affects the course of the battle), gloomy the atmosphere and impressive scenery of the city mired in bloody battles, multiplayer and single-player modes are the most obvious advantages that City of the Damned can boast.

6. Tyranny

Fascinating story-driven RPG with an isometric view from. It is based on a huge, well-designed world with many possibilities for the player, a non-linear plot, a global role-playing system, the ability to take companions and much more. Including an excellent combat system with a tactical pause present.

In general, Tyranny fully complies with the high gaming standards set by Obsidian Entertainment, and will be of interest primarily to fans of large-scale RPGs that are widely open for interaction with the player. But tactical lovers will also find a lot of interesting things here.

5. Xenonauts

Indie masterpiece Goldhawk Interactive is a tactical RPG based on the X-COM series. The game adopted many of the mechanics from the named series, modernized and successfully supplemented them, bringing even more depth and tactical freedom to the gameplay.

The player will have to take control of a paramilitary intergovernmental organization that protects the planet from the invasive encroachments of alien aggressors.

All Xenonauts gameplay is divided into two parts:

1. Tactical battles taking place in turn-based mode. At the same time, the environment is constantly changing, depending on the mission being performed, and game events are never the same and consistent. I would also like to note the wide variety of enemies (about fifty types of alien enemies) and high locations, which have a tangible impact on the course of the battle.
2. A broad-based management of the base, which allows you to recruit personnel, conduct various research, expand the network of interceptors to fight the enemy and equip your fighters with the best weapons. However, it will not work out quickly and comprehensively: players will have to constantly keep a strict account of resources and maintain a balance between all the directions presented for the development of the base.

4. Wasteland 2

Continuation of the famous series of post-apocalyptic RPGs from Brian Fargo. Perhaps, you can even say that this is the best project in the framework of a post-apocalyptic tactical strategy / RPG, where the player will have to take control of a squad of assorted fighters. All other projects either came out too long ago, or do not reach the Wasteland 2 level in terms of quality.

The game has a lot of advantages, it makes no sense to describe all of them, the main thing that you should know about this game: it will definitely appeal to fans of the Fallout series

Original Sin 2 offers a traditionally diverse set of races and classes, a large number of quests, dialogues, the ability to choose from several options in almost every game situation, and much more.

We are primarily interested in the local tactical battles, which take place in step-by-step mode and with the active participation of party members. As in the previous part, in order to successfully complete the battle, players will have to competently use the features of the environment, which has become even more interactive here. Plus, the element of luck will play an important role.

It's also nice that Original Sin 2 has a co-op mode for 4 people, which allows you to play both on a split screen.

2. Pillars of Eternity

An RPG game very similar to the previous project. Their placement in the top next to each other is not accidental, because both of them are worthy of the highest positions and they can be safely swapped at least indefinitely.

The only thing worth remembering: much more hardcore (in Original Sin 2 there is a fairly flexible difficulty setting), and visually it does not look so impressive today, since it was released two years earlier and does not have 4K support.

1.XCOM 2

Coolest Sci-Fi tactical RPG in which XCOM fighters will have to free the Earth from alien invaders.

The basis of the gameplay is all that was present in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, except in a more advanced, modern form, plus a couple of new features were added, like your own ship, which acts as a base that can be improved, or dynamic generation of locations.

The battles are in the nature of pinpoint sabotage operations with small forces: being in the minority, members of the resistance are forced to act as secretly and carefully as possible.

Also in XCOM 2 there is an expanded system of collecting resources and occupies an important place in the gameplay.

Finally, we cannot fail to note the presence of multiplayer and a powerful in-game editor that allows users to create various modifications for XCOM 2.

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The RPG genre has a long and exciting history. The best RPGs include the best storytelling traditions, deep, engrossing gameplay, vast and engrossing universes full of mysteries and quests. Our list of the best RPGs (TOP 30 RPGs) would be incomplete without the recently released Kingdom Come, so welcome - TOP 31 Best RPGs :)

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

• Developer: Warhorse Studios
• Platforms: PC, XBOX One, PS4
• Release date: 13 February 2018

Kingdom Come: Deliverance has become one of the most anticipated projects for many projects since its announcement. The main reason for this is the desire of the developers to make the most realistic simulator of life in medieval Europe. The players have long been fed up with dragons, magic and other fabulous nonsense, so the story of the simple son of a blacksmith interested them in earnest.

The second indisputable plus of the game is its combat system. There is no simple mouse click that can be seen in most slashers and RPGs, and the roll / roll system from Dark Souls and similar games too. But gamers are offered to participate in sword fights, where the success of an attack or blocking depends on the correct choice of direction (there are five of them in the game). It is very important to choose the right timing and react to what position the enemy will be in.

Fallout 1-2

A series of games where each part is considered a cult. The plot is based on a post-apocalyptic world that survived a nuclear war. Here the main character has to go to the lifeless wastelands. On his way there are difficulties: from radioactive rats to mutants that have flooded this already dangerous world. However, a whole set of tools will help you in the fight against them: character development, companions, and just a bunch of all sorts of things scattered throughout the location. If we talk about the plot component, it is imperative to highlight the dialogues, each line of which affects the world and the attitude of its inhabitants towards you.

Even taking into account the outdated graphics, the excellent RPG component, the plot and the world itself help to convey the atmosphere of the post-apocalypse that won the hearts of many fans.

Baldur's Gate 1 and 2

In the year the first part was released, two million copies were sold. You will find yourself in the body of a descendant of the ancient god of war. The son, for certain reasons, decided to go his own way, but he does not even imagine how many trials lie ahead.

Satellites will help not only in battle: their witty remarks and verbal skirmishes very often cause a smile and help to penetrate even deeper into the universe. If you pass Baldur's Gate, you will certainly become part of the huge army of fans of this franchise.

Diablo 2 and 3

The classic representative of the RPG genre: several classes to choose from and the ability to destroy crowds of enemies. You are the center of the plot, you are the protagonist. Probably, it was the filigree implementation of the idea that allowed Diablo 2 to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the fact that licensed copies of the game were flying faster than hot cakes.

The goal is very trivial: the destruction of the main boss, but he still has to get to. It is also worth noting the possibility of cooperative passage and the fact that a more difficult level opens only after you cope with an easy one, which stimulates players to re-pass already familiar locations, but with a different character class.

Gothic 1 and 2

At the beginning of the current millennium, Gothic managed to make a splash. Back then, no one had heard of The Elder Scrolls series, so the open world with a mass of thought-out characters delighted everyone who got into it. The player can join one of the guilds and prevent insane magicians from awakening ancient evil.

In addition to the standard skills of using weapons and spells, you can also pick locks and steal. Be careful when communicating with other plot characters - the future of the entire island depends on your relationship with them!

Dungeon Siege 1 and 2

The Middle Ages, reliable companions and the fight against more than a hundred monsters - what else does a warrior need to turn into a legend? The Dungeon Siege series was one of the first clones of the legendary Diablo, and therefore was able to become commercially successful.

We will do without plot spoilers, but we will only give you one piece of advice - allocate space in your inventory rationally: most items will not be of high value, and acquiring backpacks is not a cheap pleasure.

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind

Despite the fact that Morrowind was already the third part of the series of games, it was he who laid the foundation for The Elder Scrolls to become a legendary project. This is a paradise for a true RPG fan - you can choose from a variety of races, classes and origins, as well as build a line of relations with the inhabitants of the fantasy world at your discretion.

As you might have guessed from the name, the game contains not only standard spells and armor, but also scrolls that have incredible power, but disappear after use. The plot does not rush the player, so you have an eternity to complete side quests and feel the atmosphere more and more.

Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2

There are legends that none of the parts of this game can be passed by an absolutely similar character: 7 races that can choose from 11 classes (or even pump 2 classes at the same time), over two hundred spells and more than 250 opponents.

The main feature is that loot drops out not only from opponents - it can be found in chests, amphoras and even trash cans, so you have to explore the entire location in detail so as not to miss anything valuable. Take whatever comes your way - merchants will be happy to accept even what looks like trash.

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Many fans of the Star Wars universe still believe that nothing better than this RPG has appeared, despite the fact that only one race and six classes are available to the player. Moreover, access to them opens gradually, as experience is gained.

Endless flights across the "distant, distant galaxy", a lot of interesting quests and the ability to destroy opponents with a lightsaber - is there anything else you need to be happy? However, it is not worth brawling - after all, your every decision affects not only the outcome of the game, but also the fate of the whole world. May the force be with you!

Space rangers

"Space Rangers" cannot be called an RPG in the classical sense, since elements of a turn-based strategy and a test quest are actively used here, but all this is combined so harmoniously that you do not even notice how time flies by.

Although the game does not have a clear storyline, you can complete it in literally a few days, or you can stay for several months. It's up to you to decide which side to choose: you can become a real protector of your people, an excellent merchant, an outstanding diplomat, or just a pirate. And when you get tired of surfing the vastness of space - take on quests that use elements of real-time strategies.

Fable: The Lost Chapters

Fable gave gamers the opportunity to better associate themselves with the character, because all the consequences of actions are clearly reflected. Wounds leave scars, excess weight appears from overeating - in general, our hero is far from the image of an immortal terminator found in most RPGs.

Here you can even get your own family and castle, and in between battles with huge monsters, you can relax to fish. Be attentive and do not miss the "talking doors" - the correct answer to their question will greatly simplify your passage and give you a lot of useful items.

World of warcraft

World of Warcraft has long been an object of mass culture, and even those who are far from the world of games have heard about this MMORPG. Although the game on the official server requires a monthly payment, and the first part of the game was released (think about it!) 13 years ago, the army of loyal fans continues to grow. There are a lot of locations, quests, storylines, and all this is wrapped in the Warcraft universe, which we loved so much after the release of the legendary strategy.

Incredibly, in a world where a ton of new MMOs appear almost every day, World of Warcraft steadily retains its leadership position, because the gameplay is not limited to killing monsters and bosses, but offers a lot of opportunities for interacting with other players.

Titan quest

Imagine that you are playing Diablo 2, where ancient mythology is used instead of a fictional fantasy universe. There is no better description for Titan Quest.

However, if Diablo gave us freedom of action, here events develop very linearly, but interest does not disappear anywhere, since the killings of packs of opponents alternate with plot inserts explaining the motivation of the heroes. And, if you are a fan of Greek mythology, then it is simply contraindicated to deprive this game of attention!

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

Oblivion proved that even a large-scale world can be worked out to the smallest detail, thanks to which he became incredibly successful from a commercial point of view. It is difficult to find a person who is rapidly advancing through the plot: first, you will probably try all the character's capabilities, dial a couple of dozen side quests, and only then lazily reach the end of the first chapter.

The game was developed in accordance with all the canons of RPGs: there is magic, and potions, and brave knights, and many options for pumping your own character. The good news is the ability to switch between first and third person, bringing in a lot of action elements.

BioShock

Someone might say that BioShock is more of a shooter with RPG elements, and they will be partly right, but this list could not be considered complete if this franchise, which made a splash among gamers, was not included in it.

You are traveling through an underwater city created back in the 60s of the last century. However, everything here is far from being as radiant as you might imagine. Your task is not only to save some of its inhabitants, but also to find out what actually happened in this world.

Mass Effect 1-3

Saving the universe has never been so unpredictable and elaborate. If in the first part we learn about the outside world mainly from dialogues, then the second opens the veil of secrecy and offers choice options not as straightforwardly as its predecessor. The player can customize the character in his own image and likeness, and also become a villain, a hero, or try to find a compromise with himself.

By the way, you can pump not only the hero himself, but also the companions, as well as the ship, the equipment of which will also play a very important role from the point of view of the plot. Many criticized the latter for its very simple ending, but all these people forgot about the 80 hours of incredible adventure that followed in front of it.

Fallout 3-4, New Vegas

The once legendary series of tactical RPGs has been reborn as a first-person shooter. No, do not think, all the elements for which we love Fallout so much remained in place, and the first-person view and a very touching plot make us feel the atmosphere of the world after a nuclear war even more.

The player even has miniature nuclear missiles at his disposal, and in New Vegas, opportunities for weapon modification open up. Exploration of the world will take you more than one week, but it has so many well-developed and memorable characters that you will definitely not regret the time spent.

The Witcher 1-3

The Witcher is primarily remembered for its well-developed game mechanics, as well as for the colorful protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, who demonstrates success not only on the battlefields, but also on the love front.

Side quests do not look detached here: in almost every of them there is an echo of the main plot, and completing quests not only gives experience, but also significantly complicates decision making. The third part became the apogee of the series, collected a huge mass of awards and did not leave any real gamer indifferent.

Dragon age: origins

This RPG was developed by the same studio as Mass Effect, so don't be surprised to be able to pause and issue orders to each member of your squad. However, the high-quality mechanics appealed to those who ignored the space science fighter, but could not resist the fantasy universe.

When choosing a character, you can familiarize yourself with his background, but be careful: some of the inhabitants of the world will treat you with prejudice, and some will idolize, but it is up to you to decide whether to respond with kindness.

Mount & Blade: Warband

In principle, the entire series of Mount & Blade games can be distinguished, since there are no significant differences in the game mechanics, but the setting from the Middle Ages smoothly moves into the Renaissance. You can become the personal ruler of all kingdoms, or remain a loyal vassal.

The main feature lies directly in the battles: you are in the thick of the action and chop enemies on a par with your soldiers, which allows you to plunge into the atmosphere and add adrenaline to your blood. Low bow to the creators for the online mode - spacious 32x32 battle cards are perfect for large companies.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Skyrim, just a few weeks after the release, was recognized as one of the best RPGs of all time, and we can proudly say that the guys from Bethesda have surpassed themselves: cities ruled by Yaroslav, beautiful northern landscapes, and, of course, dragons - everything creates incredible atmosphere.

You are the chosen one who is destined to extract souls from powerful monsters, significantly surpassing you in size, with one cry. There are so many side quests here that it will last for several generations, and additions open up opportunities for building a home and a quiet family life. Believe me, the description of this RPG can take several hours, so it's better for you to dive into the magical world of Skyrim on your own.

Dark Souls 1-3

If you want to run with a sword bald and crush hordes of monsters with powerful spells, immediately pass by this franchise. The creators of Dark Souls sought to show that the main character is as close as possible to an ordinary knight, so in battles with opponents he constantly suffers, and the obsessive death counter forces you to go through the same mission over and over again.

We warn you right away that the incorrectly chosen skill can cost you the passage, so carefully consider each of your actions. And one more thing: do not look for gold or loans here, since the local currency is the souls of killed opponents.

Dragon age ii

Although here you can choose the name, class and style of passage, the main catalyst for the plot will always be your desire to restore your reputation and prove to the inhabitants of your native land that you are a true hero. As in the last part, you can assemble a team and take three companions on a mission.

The main difference from other RPGs is the complexity of side quests - some of them even indirectly affect the plot, and opponents sometimes have extraordinary abilities, thanks to which they periodically send your companions to another world. However, the reward is definitely worth the effort.

Borderlands 2

Forget about the nuclear wastelands of Fallout, and the picturesque worlds of The Elder Scrolls: in Borderlands 2, in addition to the very noticeable elements of the shooter, first of all you pay attention to the characters and the abundance of black humor. Why is this game included in the RPG list?

Because here you can make a weapon from almost anything, and there are more styles of combat and options for passing the plot than many can imagine. The cherry on top is a well-thought-out cooperative mode, in which each of the participants has their own role, and success can only be achieved with well-coordinated interaction.

Torchlight 2

The second part of the franchise was incredibly successful, although in many ways it resembles Diablo. To be honest, Torchlight 2 was very lucky - firstly, the developers came up with an incredibly simple and well-thought-out interface, and secondly, the release of Diablo 3 was delayed.

Now about the features of the game. You are given 4 different classes to choose from, each of which gives you access to a unique way of passing. Also, you are accompanied by a pet that can distract enemies while casting a spell, or fight with you shoulder to shoulder. Multiplayer and co-op modes greatly increase replayability.

Dragon age: inquisition

Yes, again a game from the same series. The reason is simple - this is one of the reference RPGs that will continue to be popular even many years after its release. New products include a tactical component, that is, you can send your travelers to other points on the map, where they will carry out your assignments.

Among the disadvantages is the crafting system: it is quite cumbersome, but after several weeks of traveling, you even get used to it. It is also worth paying attention to the plot - it harmoniously fits into the large-scale world, constantly pushing the hero to move forward.

Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2

The developers of Divinity have experimented a lot lately, combining RPGs with elements of other genres, but it was in Original Sin that they managed to find the perfect element - a bit of turn-based strategy mechanics.

You are given two characters, but be prepared for the fact that your only companion may disagree with your decisions, which, of course, will affect the gameplay. As it should be, all actions affect the pumping, but the main thing is that only here you can rob a cat!

Legend of Grimrock 2

If you find the times when RPGs were called nothing less than "adventure games", you will definitely like Legend of Grimrock 2. You lead a squad of four prisoners, each of which can be armed and improved.

Possible activities include fishing, fighting monsters, searching for treasures, and reading the notes of the mysterious ruler. However, your main task is to find a person who has spent his entire life on this island.

The banner saga

The Banner Saga also combines elements of RPG and turn-based strategy, but the range of tools for interacting with other characters and the outside world is much larger. You have to find out why the gods left the mighty Vikings and plunged their homeland into the world of eternal winter.

It is important to pay attention not only to character development, but also to your warriors: watch their nutrition, arrange passes and raise morale. Although, as a real commander, you need to be prepared for the fact that not everyone can reach the end of the path.

Darkest dungeon

An excellent option for those who are used to thinking through the strategy of passing the dungeon to the smallest detail, but are already tired of relying on irresponsible allies from MMORPGs. Everything is extremely simple here: we select four allies and begin to clear the dungeons.

However, this game will not go through with a battering ram: your companions can experience severe stress, panic or even get sick, which forces you to carefully develop each step. After all, the loss of a fighter, especially in conditions when the enemy outnumbers you, can be critical.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall

This game is an explosive mixture of classic fantasy and the world of the future. You need to destroy the main enemy who threatens to kill all local residents. And if it was some kind of villain, or artificial intelligence - everything is logical, but, suddenly, the main antagonist is the dragon.

And even if you complete Shadowrun: Dragonfall in about 20 hours, it will leave behind a lot of positive impressions. The developers push us to dialogue with every inhabitant of this world, stimulating us to feel the atmosphere, solve several puzzles, or uncover a conspiracy.

Release date: 1999-2004

Genre:

Lords of War is a real-time strategy with role-playing elements. The gameplay consists in the construction of buildings and the creation of units to destroy the enemy, as well as the hero completing additional tasks. The game takes place on the continent of Etheria. In the campaign, the player must take control of one of twelve races and conquer all 67 regions of Etheria. In the game itself, the player plays the role of the hero he created. There are 12 different races available for the game, each of which has its own type of hero, unique buildings and dependence on resources.

There are some role-playing elements in the game, including leveling up a character and completing quests. In addition to the units, the player controls the hero, which is created before the game. A hero is a unique unit that can build buildings, cast spells and complete quests. Depending on the outcome of the battle, the hero gains experience points and increases the level.

Ascension to the Throne

Release date: 2007

Genre: RPG, turn based strategy

A classic turn-based strategy game with RPG elements set in a fairytale fantasy world, the game's structure combines elements of RPG and turn-based strategy. Between battles, the player moves around the game world, interacts with the NPC. All this, as well as the third-person view, the system of quests and the distribution of skills is a manifestation of the classic RPG

When joining a battle, the game enters the strategic phase. The battles take place in the same space where the player met the enemy, only divided into hexagons. The principle of combat is identical to the battles in the games of the Heroes of Might and Magic series, the only fundamental difference is that each fighter occupies a separate hexagon, so you need to take into account how many fighters can strike and think about blocking in a completely different way.

SpellForce series

Release date: 2003-2016

Genre: real time strategy, RPG

The Order of the Dawn is a blend of strategy and RPG genres and focuses on RPG elements and hero development and army advancement. At the beginning of the game, the player creates the main character, chooses his gender (male or female), appearance, skill categories, as well as characteristics that will develop during the game. The game has the ability to control different races, which are divided into two opposite sides: light and dark. Elves, humans, gnomes and so on.

Throughout the game, you will receive experience points for a well-completed task (defeating the most powerful enemy, destroying squads and camps, etc.). Points are needed to increase the level of the hero. A large number of options for the development of the main character and many allies. The tactics can vary depending on the preference of the player. During the passage it will be possible to use over 100 unique skills and spells.

Space rangers 2

Release date: 2002 year

Genre: strategy, RPG, arcade

Space Rangers - tells the story of the confrontation between the Galactic Commonwealth. The game takes place in turn-based mode. The player's ship travels in space between planets and space stations - within one system - and through hyperspace - to move from one system to another. Each turn in the game corresponds to an in-game day. Before pressing the "end of turn" button, the player can enter into a dialogue with the ships of the commonwealth or scan them, reinstall equipment from the hold into the ship's slot or throw it into the airlock, activate a special artifact. All these actions are performed “out of time” and do not require spending game moves.

Having landed on a planet or space station, the player gets the opportunity to choose between different tabs, thereby, as if moving from the hangar to the government center or equipment store. Both in space and on planets, the player always has three buttons that open the inner structure of his ship, the galactic map and global ranking of rangers. The galactic map, in addition, makes it possible to choose the direction of the hyperjump to go to another system. To do this, you need to fly up to the border of the system and go into hyperspace. Once in the hyper, the player finds himself on the route plotting screen.

Darkest dungeon

Release date: 2016 Nov.

Genre: RPG, turn based strategy

Darkest Dungeon is a challenging turn-based RPG with a gothic atmosphere in which the adventures of the characters take their toll on their mental health. You have to collect, train and lead a team of heroes, each of which has its own shortcomings. The team will need to lead through eerie forests, deserted reserves, collapsed crypts and other dangerous places. You will have to fight not only with unthinkable enemies, but also with stress, hunger, disease and impenetrable darkness. Uncover strange secrets and send heroes into battle against terrible monsters using a new strategic turn-based combat system.

System of psychosis - you have to fight not only with monsters, but also with stress! Heroes are prone to paranoia, masochism, illogical behavior and many other conditions that affect the game. Stylish hand-drawn pen graphics. The new turn-based combat system will confront the heroes with numerous creatures of evil. Ten playable classes: the plague doctor, the savage and even the leper. A camp to heal wounds or give an uplifting speech. A city with an inn and a monastery, where the exhausted heroes can relax and relieve the accumulated stress. Classic features of computer RPGs: irreversible death of heroes, dangerous dungeons and the ability to play the game several times.

Hard west

Release date: 2015

Genre: turn based strategy, indie

This is the Wild West, which you have never seen. A tragic coincidence of circumstances forces the hero to embark on the path of revenge and chaos. He will not spare those who were cruel to him and his loved ones. Follow Warren into the darkest depths of the human soul and try to survive in a world of difficult choices and brutal consequences. Fight and survive in 8 unique scenarios and win 40 turn-based combat missions. Traveling around the game world, you will meet many colorful game characters, whose fates are intricately intertwined with yours. Together you have to make decisions and reveal the plans of the ancient dark forces. A complex plot can have multiple endings depending on the choices you make in the game.

Exciting turn-based combat: control a squad of up to 4 fighters and master a wide range of Western-style skills, from pistol tricks to survival at any cost. Kill enemies on unique maps completing difficult story missions. Get and combine special abilities. Change the course of battle with a sophisticated cover system where you can use environmental objects to gain an advantage. Maneuvering the game is a difficult and effective tactic. Shadow detection. The merciless sun will illuminate the shadow of the enemy and will not let him hide. 40 types of weapons based on historical prototypes. Choose from a selection of shotguns, shotguns, pistols and sniper rifles in the spirit of the era.

King's Bounty

Release date: 1990-2014

In King's Bounty, the player controls one character, the type of which is selected before the start of the game from four possible ones (Knight, Paladin, Barbarian and Sorceress). The character has certain attributes, the main of which is the army under his control, made up of various mythical creatures. The character also has the ability to use magic spells to change the course of events in one way or another.

The game has two modes: travel on the main map and battle on a special tactical map. In the first mode, the player controls the movement of the character himself across the lands on which the game takes place. The second mode is activated when the character enters the battle, besieging the enemy's castle or attacking one of the many wandering armies scattered around the map. The game keeps track of time in game days and weeks. The beginning of each week is marked by the writing off of money (for using the ship, for maintaining the armies) and the receipt of a salary from the king. The time allotted for the game is determined by the difficulty level selected at the beginning.

Heroes of might and magic

Release date: 1995-2015

Genre: turn based strategy, RPG

In the games of the Heroes of Might and Magic series, the player will have to fight other people or computer opponents for the possession of cities, sources of resources, treasures and artifacts. During the game, he controls the heroes - game characters who explore the global map and lead armies of creatures during the battle, and are also able to use magic. Winning battles, the heroes gain experience, and, having collected a sufficient amount of it, they move to the next level, increasing their parameters. Battles take place on land and water, in the open field and during the siege of castles, with enemy heroes and neutral creatures.

The main place of action is a global map, called the adventure map, on which game objects are located and heroes travel. The mechanics of battles have not changed much throughout the series. From one to seven detachments in each army enter the battlefield. In one unit, troops can only be of one type. The fight is divided into rounds. Each round, each unit takes one action. The order of the move depends on the speed of the creature. The speed can be increased or decreased by the abilities of the heroes, artifacts, spells and the characteristics of the creature.

Warcraft iii

Release date: 2002 year

Genre: real time strategy, RPG

The plot of the game is fully told through intros and intermediate videos, and additional information can be found in the manual. The campaign is divided into five chapters: the first is teaching the very basics of the game, the rest tell the story from the perspective of the people of Lordaeron, the undead, orcs and night elves. The action takes place in the fictional world of Azeroth, which is divided into 3 main continents: Kalimdor, the Eastern Kingdoms and Northrend. Humans live mainly in the Eastern Kingdoms, as do the orcs; at the same time, the night elves live in Kalimdor. In the center of the world, a huge, continuous storm is raging, called the Eternal Storm (or Maelstrom), which appeared after the destruction of the Well of Eternity.

By tradition, the campaign supplied with the game is educational in nature: the player gradually gets acquainted with the variety of the fairy-tale world, the complexity of the tasks gradually increases, and the storyline develops accordingly. In order to show the new capabilities of the heroes, a typical representative of the class was chosen from each faction, with the participation of which it is proposed to complete at least one mission. These heroes were endowed with bright, memorable personalities, a well-developed character and background, and they are tied to the plot of the campaign, a series of events that had a tremendous impact on the fate of all the nations of Azeroth.

Fallout 1 and 2

Release date: 1997 and 1998

Genre: Turn-based strategy, RPG

The main feature of the gameplay is that in the game world the player has complete freedom of action - he can travel, communicate, fight, complete tasks, and receive the necessary information. The main action of the game takes place in separate locations (cities, dungeons, military bases and other places) located throughout the game world. The transition between remote locations is carried out on the world map. The game on the locations is in real time. The battles are in turn-based mode; the one who starts the battle gets the advantage of the first move; in the future, the order of moves is determined by the order of the character's actions. Some types of weapons have several attack modes (for example, assault rifles can fire a single shot or burst.

The player has a wide range of actions. You can search cabinets, tables, corpses of people and animals, open and close unlocked doors, try to steal from any character. Characters can also be traded by selling, buying and exchanging items. Any creature can be attacked with bare hands or weapons, various objects can be used on any character with various consequences - for example, if you use an alcoholic drink on a person, then his perception will decrease, which makes it easier to steal; you can also launch a time bomb and put it in someone's pocket. You can have a dialogue with some of the characters. During the game, the Dweller will have to break doors, work with computers, detect traps, fix things, and for the successful implementation of all these actions, the presence of appropriate skills is required.

Wasteland 2

Release date: 2014 year

Genre: RPG, turn based strategy

Wasteland 2 is a strategy with the ability to manage and level up groups and characters. In the game, you can choose one or another choice of actions in missions. The game takes place in the southwestern United States in the middle of the XXI century after a thermonuclear war between the superpowers of the USSR and the United States, fifteen years after the events of Wasteland. The leader of the Nevada Desert Rangers, General Vargas, dispatches a squad of four new recruits to investigate this strange crime. From this point on, the main events of the game begin.

Wasteland 2's dialogue system is keyword-based. Clicking on a keyword causes the character to say a specific phrase associated with it. The player will always know what exactly will be said, since when hovering the mouse cursor over a keyword, the entire phrase will be visible. The composition of keywords will be associated not only with the dialogue system, but also with the role-playing system. You can replenish your "vocabulary" with the help of developed perception, reading descriptions of objects and the environment.

Disciples I, II, III

Release date: 1999-2012

Genre: turn based strategy, RPG

All games in the series take place in a fantasy world called Nevendaar, also called the "Sacred Lands". At the beginning of the campaign, the player must choose his own ruler class: warlord, archmage or guild leader. Each ruler has its own bonuses that determine the style of play. The gameplay includes three main components: Improving the player's capital, which gives access to new troops and opportunities. Learning new spells used on the strategic map. The use of heroes, leading small squads, for reconnaissance, attack and capture territories and resources (gold and mana).

There are four playable races: Empire, Legions of the Damned, Mountain Clans, Hordes of Undead. Addon "Rise of the Elves" adds a fifth - Elves. In the third game of the series, only three playable races remain - the Empire, the Legions of the Damned and the Elven Alliance. With the advent of Disciples 3: Resurrection, the Hordes of the Undead appeared. The system of troops in the first game of the series became the basis for the subsequent ones. Units are divided into five categories according to the method of combat: melee units can hit one enemy standing nearby; "Archers" - one enemy standing anywhere; "Magicians" - hit all opponents at the same time; there are also units that impose any positive effect on one or all friendly warriors and "summoners".

Jagged Alliance 1,2,3

Release date: 1994 - 2014

The game's plot revolves around the A.I.M. organization, which provides mercenary services in hot spots around the world. An integral part is the economic component, the cash flow coming from the extraction of raw materials to pay for the work of mercenaries and militias. In additions, the emphasis has been shifted to tactical battles, rather than the capture and control of strategically important objects. The series has six games, three official additions to them and a dozen unofficial ones.

The player's task is to recruit a detachment of mercenaries used to conduct hostilities, research, capture and hold new territories. The more territory a player owns, the more money he receives on a regular basis. The money earned in this way is used to pay for contracts of mercenaries and the work of collectors and guards. The total amount of revenue is highly dependent on the external market conditions, which the player cannot influence. The main features of the game are the wide tactical possibilities of combat and a detailed series of mercenary characters with their own short biography, character and role-playing characteristics.

Operation Silent Storm

Release date: 2003 r.

genre turn-based strategy, with RPG elements

The story takes place in 1943 and is a cryptohistory of the Second World War. The secret organization Hammer of Thor (MT) is a terrorist organization whose goal is world domination. The MT leadership knows that it cannot be achieved as long as there are military-political alliances in the world capable of resisting them. Therefore, they are developing a secret weapon - the orbital beam cannon. By putting this weapon into orbit, MT will be able to dictate its will to the leading countries of the world. In the beginning, the player can choose a side and a character, 12 characters of 6 nationalities are offered to choose from.

After completing the introductory task, the player is given access to the base, where the hospital, arsenal, chief's office and hangar for panzerkleins are located. From this point on, the player can recruit a group of up to six people (including the player's character) out of a total of twenty. All characters are divided into 6 classes: medic, sniper, scout, grenadier, soldier, engineer. Each specialty has its own advantages and disadvantages in battle. As the game progresses, new types of weapons will arrive in the arsenal: either from warehouses or trophy. The game uses an advanced physics model. The landscape can be changed, human bodies react correctly to hits from various types of weapons.

Xenonauts

Release date: 2012 r.

Genre: turn-based strategy, tactical strategy, with RPG elements

The game takes place in an alternate world in 1979, during the Cold War, when the USSR and the USA join forces to fight an alien invasion, the gameplay is divided into strategic and tactical parts. In the strategic part, the player creates and develops bases, recruits personnel for them, conducts scientific research, equips soldiers, fights against alien ships. The tactical part is a turn-based ground battle, tactical air combat between earthlings interceptor fighters and "flying saucers".

In ground missions, alternative victory conditions have been introduced, eliminating the need for the player to destroy all aliens on the map, as well as computer-controlled soldiers friendly to the player. The developers of the game expressed their approach to tactical combat as follows: You should lose units due to your mistakes, not due to bad luck, so weapons like a blaster bomb that can destroy half of your unit have been removed and replaced with weapons that a skilled player can resist.

Omerta: City of Gangsters

Release date: 2013 g.

Genre: turn based strategy, RPG,

Omerta is a gangster simulator set in the 1920s in Atlantic City. The player will have to open his own gangster business. The gameplay is made in the form of a strategy with a classic look; in combat mode, the game becomes a tactical strategy. The player can earn both "dirty" and "clean" money. There are quite a few ways to make "dirty" money: it is an underground business in the form of selling beer, alcohol or weapons, organizing fights without rules and bookmakers and many other entertainments of a dubious nature; it also includes completing various tasks and trading with various residents of the city. "Clean" money is earned through legal businesses such as selling alcohol through pharmacies, money laundering, or renting out residential buildings.

Sometimes the player will have to engage in a battle with police officers, bandits from other groups in the story. The player, depending on the position, can hire bandits in his squad and equip them with firearms, melee and explosive weapons. Weapons can be purchased from the Sheriff. Each bandit available in the game for recruitment has its own unique skills, each weapon allows you to inflict two or three types of attacks. Sometimes, in case of defeat, the bandits go to prison, from where the player can then release them if he wishes. With each victory, the hero and his minions get a new level and improve their abilities.

7.62

Release date: 2007 year

Genre: Tactical RPG, Real Time Strategy

The player acts as an experienced mercenary hired to find and deliver the fugitive oligarch Ippolit Fakirov to his customers. According to the plot of the game, Fakirov deceived many respected people in his homeland and fled to Algeira. The player will have to contact both the partisans and the official authorities in order to find out where Fakirov is. The campaign is non-linear - the player can play the game either on the side of any faction or independently. The main feature of the game is tactical combat, where, controlling a small squad (up to 6 people), the player solves various tactical tasks.

Large selection of weapons and equipment. All weapon models presented in the game have real prototypes, provided with a short but detailed description. The game also realistically presents the characteristics of weapons, adjusted for range. Since the maps are relatively small, their dimensions are 250-300 meters in length, the ranges of weapons are proportionally reduced so that only the most long-range samples can conduct effective fire across the entire map. You can capture settlements and raise a militia there. Thus, you can go through the whole game, fighting for yourself.

The best RPGs for PC guarantee hundreds of hours of action-packed adventure in one of the main platform genres.

Here are the best RPGs for PC. RPGs have always been considered the cornerstone of PC gaming. Long before the advent of shooters and real-time strategy games, early PC game developers meticulously brought tabletop RPGs to virtual reality, creating action-packed adventures with orcs, wizards and dangerous caverns.

These games gradually expanded the worlds of their desktop prototypes, and the RPG genre itself eventually became so popular that games of other genres began to borrow various mechanics and elements from there.

Whenever we compile a list of the best games of a given genre, the first thing we try to understand is what defines the “best” game. In this case, the main criterion is the fun of this or that RPG by modern standards. By the way, this applies to all games of any other genre.

Of course, we don't forget about the impact of the game - however, innovation and relevance to the industry are not the main criteria for selection.

It is quite difficult to find purebred RPGs, because if you follow the literal definition, each game can be called an RPG.

Therefore, this list contains games that correspond to the canonical definition of RPG - in them the story is in the first place, in them you get used to the role of a character, developing him through skill points, making decisions in dialogues and building complex relationships with companions or non-playable characters. This framework allowed us to narrow down the list of games, although we made a few exceptions for the most prominent representatives of the genre.

Release year: 2015 | Developer: CD Projekt Red | Buy

In many RPGs, lonely wanderers act as protagonists, but you rarely find a game with a story told as skillfully as in The Witcher 3. The point is, first of all, in the picturesque setting, where you can admire the sunsets and incredibly beautiful forests for a long time - even after months of playing, I prefer to move around this world on foot, ignoring fast travel points.

But the main strength of The Witcher 3 lies in the fact that these splendid landscapes are inhabited by NPCs who issue modest but memorable quests, making this one of the most lively RPGs on the gaming market. In a godforsaken village, the witcher Geralt can stumble upon impoverished elves who have become victims of racism; in another location, he can help the stylish baron reunite with his daughter. Such quests carry an important moral, and it is served quite unobtrusively.

As in The Witcher 2, Geralt has his own goals and aspirations that are clear to any player. Therefore, even killing dangerous monsters and powerful opponents, he does not seem like a superhero. Before us is an ordinary (well, almost) person in unusual circumstances, and it is this fact that makes us empathize with him.

Release year: 2017 | Developer: Larian Studios | Buy

Best known as the creator of board games, Larian Studios rarely delights its fans with RPGs with complete freedom of action. That is why this list could not do without Divinity: Original Sin 2, because in this game you can do whatever comes to mind. For example, kidnap a merchant using a teleportation spell, and then set him on fire using his own blood.

Almost every skill has an alternative (and sometimes quite unexpected) use that can unfold in the heat of the battle.

You can enjoy crazy experiments and tactical battles in the game with up to four people, and the most interesting thing is that you don't have to work in a team or be in the same part of the world.

Moreover, there are many reasons to fight against each other. It all depends on the player himself, and when four people join the game at once, collisions are inevitable. Just remember, if you decide to freeze your friends and then poison them, be sure to apologize for this act.

Release year: 2015 | Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Buy

There are not so many innovations in Pillars of Eternity; in fact, the game owes its existence to the general nostalgia for Baldur's Gate II on the outdated Infinity Engine. But nevertheless, Pillars of Eternity, even without bright innovations, became a hit.

The graphics here are similar to examples from the 90s, but the game script is simply masterful. Obsidian Entertainment has managed to create a wonderful (albeit with a lack of humor) storyline that gracefully touches on the themes of religious conflict and social inequality. And almost every corner of the virtual world has its own background.

It is worth noting the excellent voice acting, replenished with new lines in the last patch. The game is incredibly difficult in places, and even in the easiest modes, you will have to guess the moments for attacks and parries so as not to die in battles against multiple enemies. And there is nothing wrong with that - in the era of excessive lightness of games, Pillars of Eternity looks bright and original.

Release year: 2019 | Developer: Nine Dots Studio | Buy

Outward immediately relieves the player of the self-centered messiah complex, so familiar and familiar to many representatives of the Action-RPG genre. While regular heroes clean out the gang camp before lunch and save the world before dinner, Outward stops you in place and reminds you that no, you can't just go and beat a couple of wolves without some training. Mastering the routine battles for any other RPG, learned through basic training, in Outward is a real achievement.

Worse - or better, it seems to us - Autosave is constantly running in Outward. Your mistakes cannot be corrected, and imminent death cannot be bypassed by loading the previous save. A brutal mixture of Dark Souls and Minecraft, which sends the player far back after each death and forces them to scrupulously recall the previously traversed path, so as not to be left without dropped equipment and progress.

An interesting detail in the system of using Outward magic - you will be forced to sacrifice your own health on a regular basis for the sake of magical enhancement. Spells are difficult to obtain, they will cost dearly, and even the ability to conjure a simple fireball will become an unprecedented luxury.

Split-screen or online co-op is another unconventional element that brings new challenges and new fun to the concept of becoming a hero.

Release year: 2015 | Developer: Failbetter Games | Buy

There is no second place like the Undersea. The eerie subterranean ocean that serves as the setting for the Sunless Sea is a vast abyss full of horror and danger that drives even the most courageous sailors crazy. In your little flimsy parahodite, you wade through dark waters, trading, fighting and getting involved in extraordinary adventures on islands inhabited by huge mushrooms or rats waging a civil war.

Sunless Sea looks really impressive in places, but its beauty lies not in the visual, but in the text. Like the browser game Fallen London from the same developer, Sunless Sea is filled with interestingly written quests, dialogues and descriptions. And he doesn't limit himself to the atmosphere of gothic horror. Your journey through the Undersea can both scare and cheer you up. But even in moments of fun, something sinister will be lurking nearby. Something that disturbs the usual peace.

Release year: 2014 | Developer: Obsidian | Buy

This game was not meant to be successful. Most licensed projects turn out to be disgusting, and the RPG based on the animated series with artsy animation and an abundance of curses was doomed to failure. But Stick of Truth suddenly became a hit, and the reason for this is the competent work of Obsidian to integrate the world of "South Park" into the RPG framework.

We assemble our squad using a Facebook-style interface, complete quests like Deliver the Package to Mister Masochist, get nauseous during battles, etc. This is not the deepest RPG in this collection, but it is one of the most fun. In addition, it is perfect for those who want to get acquainted with the genre.

Release year: 2001 | Developer: Ion Storm Dallas | Buy

Former id Software designer Tom Hall was at the helm of his first and only game, created under the wing of Ion Storm. He wanted to release a turn-based RPG similar to Final Fantasy, but only in a western setting.

It was this style that made Anachronox so memorable: what is only the incredibly funny negotiations between Sly Boots and the sock-chewing mutant leader. In addition, this is perhaps the only game on the list in which you can add an entire planet to your squad.

Ion Storm built the game on a heavily modified version of the Quake 2 engine, and the project looked extremely unusual. But even today, square models look convincing, and their facial animations make you believe what is happening.

For example, the renounced expression on Sly's face when he is thrown out of the window of his own office looks just brilliant. Yes, the development of the project was far from smooth, and the final version of the game turned out to be frankly damp, but it is still interesting to play Anachronox. It's a shame that Hall's planned sequels never saw the light of day.

Release year: 2018 | Developer: Warhorse Studios | Buy

Set in 1403 Bohemia in this historical RPG, we play as a peasant named Henry, who finds himself involved in a war for his homeland. This is a detailed RPG with a deeply worked out sword fighting system, thirst and hunger mechanics, excellent crafting and a dozen slots for the most authentic equipment for that time.

The player is given surprisingly much freedom here. If you just want to wander through the forests and pick mushrooms for sale, then no one bothers you - the main thing is, beware of bandits who like to rob lonely. The game is far from ideal - it has enough bugs and questionable moments - but this is an RPG in the spirit of the Elder Scrolls. For the sake of the general atmosphere, the project can be forgiven for its shortcomings.

Release year: 2016 | Developer: Crate Entertainment | Buy

If you've explored every nook and cranny in Diablo 2 and want something modern in the same vein, then this game is the best you can find. Grim Dawn is a dark and addictive action RPG with interesting classes and a beautiful world full of various monsters. In a way, this is the ideological successor to Titan Quest, created by the same designers and using familiar mechanics.

These mechanics were remembered in the 2006 ARPG, dedicated to Greek mythology. In Grim Dawn, you can also choose two classes and distribute skill points between them. This allows you to create quite interesting combinations, and the skills themselves are very pleasant to put into practice - and this is a big plus for a game where battles play a primary role.

And the plot itself is not bad if you start from the ARPG standards. Don't expect sudden turns or far-reaching decisions (after all, this is a game about solo clearing a world infested with monsters), but there is a reputation system that affects the difficulty of opponents. In other words - the more enemies you kill, the stronger the new criminals, cult members and monsters that you meet on the way will be.

Local demons and warlords terrorizing certain areas of the world are well drawn in dialog boxes and diaries scattered across locations. The game itself is focused on killing and collecting items, and both of these components in Grim Dawn work as efficiently as possible.

Release date: 2018 | Developer: Square Enix | Buy

The smartest Final Fantasy game in 2018 finally got a ported version for PC. Unfortunately, the local open world is much inferior in scale and liveliness to more modern projects, but the graphics still look amazing, and the Gambit system remains one of the most addicting squad leveling systems in RPG history.

With its help, you can register commands that will be automatically followed by members of your squad in battle. You can create any characters and pump them in any direction. Vahan under your control can become both a specialist in two-handed swords and a magician who commands the elements. The ported version also has an accelerated mode that allows you to save time on pumping.

Release year: 2014 | Developer: Almost Human Games | Buy

The original Legend of Grimrock was beautiful, first of all, the familiar Dungeon Master system of creating squads (where the characteristics of the heroes played an important role) and the step-by-step exploration of the world. The only drawback of the project was that all of its action was limited to dungeons. Enemies may have changed, but we still wandered along the same corridors until the very end of the game.

The sequel invites us to walk not only through the gloomy caves, but also through the open world, which adds up to an unforgettable experience. Enemies here have become more dangerous, and riddles - more difficult. As with the original, the element of surprise plays a huge role. You can happily kill enemies in batches, without feeling any resistance, until you suddenly encounter an almost immortal demon. And in a second, flashing your heels, you will understand that retreating is not as shameful as it seemed before.

Release year: 2015 | Developer: tobyfox | Buy

In the first 20 minutes of the passage Undertale seems to be another nod to the popular JRPG - here you can find jokes about Earthbound with Final Fantasy, and cute angular graphics, and the general sugary atmosphere. But if you dare to play the game to the end (and realize that it is not so sweet and luscious), you will see that it is an innovative and very touching project.

At times, the game skillfully knocks you out of your comfort zone by remembering little things and using our expectations of a typical RPG to surprise, delight or scare us. This isn't just a respectful nod to the RPG genre, it's a heartfelt message to all RPG fans and an exploration of our relationship with games.

Undertale stands out brightly from other indie RPGs, because even despite the atypical combat system and the practical absence of a skill tree and hero levels, it has the most important thing: a chic presentation of the story and respect for the player's choices.

Release year: 2016 | Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Buy

Tyranny is not as outstanding as her close-minded Pillars of Eternity, but the game's setting sets it apart from other RPGs. Here we play as the real embodiment of evil, but instead of sadism and cruelty, Tyranny focuses on cold bureaucracy and ideological issues. As a "Maker of Destinies" who serves Lord Kairos, you need to regularly make various decisions and negotiate with enemy armies that do not want to obey the forces of evil.
Often times, you have to find a compromise between cruelty and complete inaction. The game has a complex reputation system, where, unlike other moral systems, fear and loyalty are important elements of interaction with factions and allies.

As with Pillars, the pause battles and isometric fantasy world in Tyranny is a tribute to classic RPGs, and it's not just elements of nostalgia - it's a creative and timely rethinking of the once inherent attributes of the genre.

Release year: 2013 | Developer: Grinding Gear Games | Download

This beautiful shareware action RPG is a real paradise for players who love to create formidable murder weapons. While not the most glamorous ARPG, the game has an incredibly deep progression system and a thoughtful free-to-play model, where paid content is purely cosmetic in nature and does not affect the game experience in any way. Although the game looks a little sloppy, and the battles in it are noticeably inferior to the battles in Diablo 3, the pleasure of playing this RPG is guaranteed.

The multi-level mechanics of Path of Exile give themselves out already on the hero leveling screen, which can be seen in the screenshot by the link. Making your way through crowds of enemies and increasing the level of your character, you gradually fill this huge board, hone this or that skill. Equipment customization is done with the same attention to detail. Path of Exile borrows the concept of interconnected slots from Final Fantasy VII.

Each type of weapon and armor has several slots for magic crystals. These crystals, if you distribute them in the correct order, have a powerful synergy and in total give significant bonuses to attack parameters (strength, speed, etc.). Ideally, you need to somehow combine these bonuses with your skills in order to achieve maximum efficiency in combat. Of course, this will take a lot of sweat, but believe me, it's worth it.

Release year: 2016 | Developer: Red Hook Studios | Buy

The first minutes in Darkest Dungeon are in many ways reminiscent of the campaign in XCOM: we collect a squad of fighters, invent beautiful names for them, select powerful equipment and send them into battle. And then we understand the depth of our naivety. Within minutes, your favorite character suddenly gets syphilis. And your healer is showing masochistic tendencies and damages himself every turn.

Your plague doctor discovers his greed and fills his pockets with gold from a shared chest. And after a couple of hours your team turns from impeccable heroes into a bunch of outcasts - in this situation you either look for an individual approach to everyone, or just use them until they break and replace them with new ones. Like batteries.

In, heavily inspired by the work of Lovecraft, it is important to be able to make cruel but effective decisions. Your heroes will die at the hands of underwater inhabitants, cultists, demons and monsters, but even more often they will return to the base with a damaged mind and on the verge of madness. Will you spend gold trying to heal them, or would you rather use resources to achieve the ultimate goal?

Darkest Dungeon is an ingenious combination of visual style, soundtrack, plot and design. On the screen every now and then flicker

hand-drawn monsters, and their appearance affects each of the heroes. This is a difficult game, but once you realize that everyone can be wasted here (even a kleptomaniac nun, to whom you have become very attached), the cruelty becomes the basis for creating mini-stories within the framework of one big plot. “Overconfidence is a slow and cunning killer,” the narrator reminds us.

Release year: 2009 | Developer: TaleWorlds | Buy

The games in which medieval battles are presented as it should be can be counted on one hand, and the games where the ability to create armies is added to this - even fewer. It's great to train a crowd of farmers, making them warriors, but we love Mount & Blade because here we play the role of a hero on the battlefield, where the result of the battle depends, among other things, on our skills.

Add to this the ability to create alliances, marry, and run the economy and you have Warband - a smart game where the number of enemies and allies is determined by the actions of the player. And when you get tired of the single-player game, you will find multiplayer and many mods for Mount & Blade - dedicated to a galaxy far, far away.

Release year: 2003 |Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Buy

We love BioWare's original 2002 Neverwinter Nights (and especially its expansion packs), but Neverwinter Nights 2's single-player campaign beats it at times. If the original had a rather weak story mode, created rather in order to demonstrate the potential of the Dungeons & Dragons universe, then in the sequel Obsidian Entertainment, no longer hesitated, presented a large-scale story.

And this story is presented with due humor, and allies like a colorful dwarf named Helgar Ironfist continue to delight today. The quality of the project grew as new additions were released. For example, in the ingenious addon Shadow of the Betrayer, which traces the spirit of Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the plot tells about two halves of the same world, and Obsidian speaks gracefully on the themes of religion and faith.

Release year: 2002 | Developer: Piranha Bytes | Buy

Gothic 2 is remembered by us for an open world of incredible scale and a harsh attitude towards the player. The first time I passed it, I left the city, turned off the main road and came across a crowd of high-level monsters that tore me to pieces in a couple of seconds. From such mistakes I learned the whole game.

The severity of Gothic 2 is one of the main advantages of the project. The enemies here do not adjust to your level as in the Elder Scrolls series, and you will have to carefully read the descriptions of the quests and dialogues with the NPCs you meet along the way. Once you get used to this (and get comfortable with the awkward controls), you will realize that you have a huge (and, most importantly, living) RPG-world in front of you, having studied all the secrets of which you will become invincible.

Release year: 2012 | Developer: Bethesda Softworks | Buy

Pick a direction and run. You will surely immediately find some kind of adventure, some piece of the vast world that will capture you. It is this richness of content that attracts Skyrim. A trip to the guild of magicians will end with an exciting search for knowledge. A casual conversation with a random NPC will lead you to a cave at the edge of the world where a legendary relic is gathering dust.

You can just pick berries under the mountain and stumble upon a dragon. And what could be better than a sudden battle with the dragon? And if you're somehow researching all of Bethesda's content, head over to the Steam Workshop for the latest mods - the Skyrim community has held the game in the Steam Top 100 since its release and gives us the opportunity to plunge into new adventures in a familiar world.

Release date: 2018 | Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Buy

In the sequel to the wonderful Pillars of Eternity, we will travel to the Deadfire archipelago. Together with a company of desperate adventurers, you will have to hunt down the raging god, but before that you will have to master all the subtleties of navigation. Plowing the ocean on the "Daring" ship, you can plunder oncoming ships and spend the funds received to upgrade your ship.

When you enter the port, the game switches to top-down mode (like in classic RPGs) so that you can enjoy detailed and rich in details locations.

Release year: 1992 | Developer: Blue Sky Productions (aka Looking Glass Studios) | Buy

Once upon a time, designer Paul Nurat came up with the concept of a dungeon simulator that was supposed to turn traditional ideas about RPGs upside down, calling it Underworld. Together with their team that would later become the backbone of Looking Glass Studios, they created a game with atypical puzzles and NPC interactions.

Meanwhile, Origin Systems, the studio behind Ultima, was so impressed with the 3D engine (you could look up and down here!) And first-person combat that it bought the rights to the game. This is how The Stygian Abyss was born. Characters that would be enemies in any other game are our allies in Underworld, and that's honestly cause for delight.

It is no longer necessary to attack the goblins here - you can dive with them. And when we saw that here you can arrange gatherings around the fire, we just fell in love with the game. Underworld was a technological marvel in 1992, and while the graphics look dated today, the indescribable joy of exploring the world of Stygian Abyss hasn't gone away.

Release year: 2014 | Developer: Larian Studios | Buy

Divinity is an odd Kickstarter success story. Unlike most RPGs, the project was developed immediately for the cooperative - even in the single-player version, you controlled two protagonists at once, keeping in mind their motivations during the dialogues. The Larian studio worked out the dialogues in such a way that one of the heroes always disagreed with the decision of the second and could even kill an important storyline NPC, and therefore tasks in quests had to be solved in extraordinary ways.

The Divinity script deserves special praise. Of course, here you sometimes come across typical missions to kill goblins controlling huge robots, or quests where you had to talk to some dog. But this dog could give out a touching story, because of which it was not a sin to shed a mean tear. Larian has created the Divinity world with a soul, and you can see it in every little detail. This is a free and intense RPG that we haven't seen since Ultima, and it has everything we love about the genre.

Release year: 2005 | Developer: Obsidian | Buy

While BioWare's first KOTOR is classic Star Wars style, KOTOR 2 takes the franchise in a bolder direction. Instead of focusing on the light and dark sides of the Force, Obsidian's sequel is about shades of gray. Here fragile alliances are created, which collapse before our eyes and reunite in a few minutes.

Decisions that seemed optimal to you lead to betrayal as a result. The end result is the most controversial approach to the Star Wars world, with an admirably spelled out antagonist. Like many early Obsidian games, KOTOR 2's difficult development process resulted in a number of locations having to be cut out.

However, there is a fan mod that restores this content, including the planet of the droids, and also fixes a number of bugs - all this demonstrates that PC gamers are ready to move mountains in order to get the full version of their favorite game.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Release year: 2004 | Developer: Troika | Buy

It's all about the atmosphere - from the gothic clubs where we meet the messengers, to the dark alleys where we hunt for fresh blood, and the damn hotel (which is associated with one of the best quests in the game). The ambitious vampire universe in Bloodlines stands apart from other RPGs with swordfighting and magic.

Unfortunately, the ambitions of the Troika studio exceeded its capabilities - the game is full of bugs and not fully thought out mechanics. Therefore, the final product turned out to be a little raw, but this is perhaps the only game in which you can really feel like a vampire. And therefore, it is deservedly considered a cult classic RPG, and its fan base regularly releases various patches and additions that improve the project.

Release year: 2014 | Developer: Blizzard | Buy

Let's face it, a fan auction to raise funds for Diablo 3 was a bad idea. But this is where the list of disadvantages of the game actually ends. Blizzard's fundraising campaign continued until the release of Reaper of Souls, and if not for Adventure Mode, chances are high that the game would have been dubbed a disappointing sequel.

The beauty of this mode lies in randomly generated tasks and locations, so that even after completing the main campaign in the game, you can disappear for several hundred hours. And today it is already difficult to imagine Diablo 3 without this mode.

But RoS had another feature that we love action RPGs for: guild support. When you hang out with friends, making your way through dark dungeons, the oppressive feeling of loneliness disappears, and at such times you begin to understand Blizzard's policy of releasing games with a requirement for a constant connection to the network. And do not forget about the spectacular battles and various skills of the heroes. RoS is the action RPG that we are ready to play all day long.

Release year: 2001 |Developer: Troika Games | Buy

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura was incredibly buggy at release, and most of the battles were as unbalanced as the title of the game. The patches and mods made a difference, revealing how interesting a mixture of fantasy and steampunk was hidden behind the game's many glitches.

As we wrote in our review back in 2001: "If you can't find anything attractive in this game, just throw your PC in the trash."

And we still adhere to this opinion. Arcanum was harsh and brutal even before it was in vogue, and the character editor here allowed you to create anything from gnomes with a passion for gambling to rogue orcs who collect mortal devices from trash.

Add in this non-linear progression and many options for passing the same quest and you have a masterpiece that will take your breath away 17 years later.

Release year: 2010 | Developer: Obsidian | Buy

Despite the fact that Fallout 3 was a highly successful game, it was very different from the classics released by the studio Interplay. Obsidian's project moved the franchise to the West Coast and introduced elements such as reputation and faction battles. Obsidian has expanded every aspect of Bethesda's game, shifting the focus from moral choices to issues of trust. The game also has more humor in the spirit of the classic parts - how can you not love the game in which you are given a nuclear rocket launcher?

And in Hardcore mode in New Vegas, survival in the wasteland became even more interesting, because here the first aid kits and antiradi were significantly weaker than in normal mode. And if you're looking for variety, you can download any of the many mods, one of which was developed by Josh Sawyer himself - the author of the game. What we love most about New Vegas is how effortlessly she manages to blend the atmosphere of the original Fallout with the first-person RPG framework that Bethesda introduced.

Release year: 2016 | Developer: From Software | Buy

Name any dark RPG of the past five years, and it will surely turn out to be inspired by Dark Souls. However, Dark Souls 3 proves that the studio is best at this style. Of course, the project does not shine with originality, as was the case with Dark Souls 1, but it is noticeably prettier from a technical point of view.

The control in battles is more intuitive here, and therefore the player is required to have a lightning-fast reaction and a clear understanding of their actions. Thoughtless blows on the buttons will inevitably lead to death. That being said, Dark Souls 3 is the most beginner-friendly part of the series.

Frequent savepoints, simplified online co-op, beautiful (and grotesque) drawing style - all this allows you to join the process from the very first minutes. In addition, Dark Souls 3 strongly encourages the study of the backstory of the world and the search for various secrets, which deservedly makes it the best part in the series.

Release year: 2011 | Developer: CD Projekt Red | Buy

The epic scale of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is great in and of itself, but what's important is that our decisions make a huge difference. Moral ambiguity has never been presented so gracefully: your choices literally change the game's world, and the consequences are often unpredictable and not always what you expect.

What's most impressive about The Witcher 2 is the presence of two full storylines. At the beginning of the game, Geralt will have to make a choice, after which he will stand on one of two sides, and all further events can be observed from two points of view, if you decide to go through the game again. And believe me, the second playthrough will be as bright as the first.

You probably think that all your misadventures will eventually lead you to a happy ending? This is not true. Geralt is far from a hero, he is an ordinary person, trying with all his might to protect himself from the chaos that is happening around. His quest is dedicated to personal goals, and his companions are the same living people with their own goals and aspirations. And precisely due to the heroes worked out to the smallest detail, the plot looks extremely convincing.

It's a beautiful and well-told story, superimposed on solid game mechanics - flexible character progression, superb combat, and an abundance of secondary content. Gloomy, cruel, and in some places and capable of driving into depression, but at the same time a brilliant game.

Release year: 2009 | Developer: BioWare | Buy

Trying to convey the atmosphere of Baldur's Gate was the main task of the authors of Dragon Age, and, admittedly, they almost succeeded. The world of the game is similar to the Forgotten Realms universe, but at the same time it does not look like a parody of it, and the interactions between the characters sparkle with the magic of BioWare.

The local evil looks really threatening, even though most of the monsters can be destroyed in just a couple of hits. We love the way magic is presented in the world of Dragon Age, and especially the quests in which you need to decide the fate of creepy creatures - magicians possessed by demons.
And the best part of the game is the combat system: there is the necessary tactical depth (right during the battle, you can stop, give orders and continue the battle).

It's sad that BioWare no longer released such RPGs - Dragon Age 2 was too straightforward, and Inquisition had a lot of emphasis on the open world - so this project can be called a swan song of old BioWare, symbolizing the end of the era of classic game design.

Release year: 1999 | Developer: Irrational Games | Buy

Loneliness. This is the main feeling of playing Irrational's debut project. As the game progresses, you will often hear audio recordings of colorful characters fighting creepy creatures who call themselves "Many." But you will not meet these heroes, because they have already died.
And this loneliness in Shock 2 is only amplified by the fact that the game constantly leaves you without resources.

Ammo? You will probably spend them on droids, although you should have saved them for later. First aid kits? There are so few of them here that it is better not even to meddle in unverified rooms. But the main thing that Irrational will take away from you somewhere in the middle of the playthrough is hope. The moment you understand what an AI named Shodan is is deservedly considered one of the best in the history of gaming.

In all projects from Irrational, the environment is one of the full-fledged heroes, and in this case we are talking about the starship "Von Braun". It creaks and rattles as you sneak along its corridors. Each door opens with a distinctive hum. Defense systems perceive you as an enemy, as if they think you want to harm the ship.

It is difficult to love such a character, but the pumping system in Shock 2, where experience points are awarded for exploring locations, allows you to balance the risk and reward. You will have to choose between psionic, hacking and military skills in order to be most effective. For a game that at first glance seems like an unpretentious action RPG, Shock 2 turned out to be truly deep.

Release year: 1992 | Developer: Origin Systems | Buy

The Guardian is remembered by many gamers as one of the scariest characters in games. His huge stone face appearing on the screen, accompanied by real voice acting, both frightened us and spurred us to continue playing.

It was a real technical breakthrough at the time, but Ultima 7 has stood the test of time thanks to the interactivity of Britain. Any item on the screen could be picked up, and any NPC could be interacted with, and therefore the passage could drag on for several weeks.

The plot did not lag behind: it all began with an investigation of a double murder, but very soon it spilled over into a religious war for the fate of the kingdom. The dialogues in Black Gate still look decent today, and they inspired the creators of Divinity: Original Sin - especially the ones related to religion. This is undeniably one of the best parts of the legendary RPG franchise.

Release year: 2000 | Developer: Ion Storm Austin | Buy

Do you want to shoot enemies in the open or maybe sneak carefully in the shadows? Are you more used to playing the role of a sniper? Or a hacker capable of controlling enemy droids? Or maybe you should talk to the NPC guard and hint to him that it's time for his squad to go to lunch? The world in Deus Ex is so free that the number of choices makes your head spin.

And while the game looks like a shooter, the whole point of Deus Ex is role-playing elements. For example, if you shoot with a weapon that you have not held in your hands before, even perfect aiming will not save you - you will miss. The pumping system encourages experimentation, and the most expensive upgrades will turn your character into a superhero. Even your weapon, if desired, can be pumped to make a weapon of mass destruction out of a standard pistol. The attention to detail here is outstanding and none of the game's elements seem out of place.

The world of Deus Ex rewards the player for exploring dark alleys and ventilation systems, as you can find a clue in the most unexpected places. And there are enough clues here - every note or sign in the game hints at a new conspiracy, which is why all alliances between the heroes are constantly under threat. And the NPCs themselves fit perfectly into this world full of secrets and conspiracies. Of course, Human Revolution boasts excellent graphics, but this game is many times smarter and offers more freedom of action.

Release year: 2002 | Developer: Bethesda Game Studios | Buy

The Fallout 4 release showed that serious flaws began to appear in Bethesda's familiar open-world model, but in 2002, when Morrowind appeared on store shelves, this model was unshakable. There was something magical about the fact that we could run around the entire island of Vvardenfell, go into every building and never bump into a loading screen, as well as the fact that NPC heroes, apparently, had their own life, not limited to communication with the main character.

Over the years, many games have managed to reproduce this effect, but Morrowind is still alive in our memory (we like it even more than its successor Oblivion). All this is due to the incredible surrealism of the world in which racist elves rest inside mushrooms (like smurfs in someone's acid dreams), and traditional castles coexist with Scandinavian villages.

AI seems a bit primitive by modern standards, but the stories told in the game are superior to most RPGs today.

The game is still thriving, with the modding community regularly releasing new adventures and graphics-enhancing patches (some of which even bring Morrowind to brand new game engines).

Release year: 2010 | Developer: BioWare | Buy

BioWare's first Mass Effect felt like a KOTOR clone, and not in a good way. The universe was very convincing, but the game was overloaded with various menus and systems that made life difficult for the average gamer. However, when BioWare announced that it would focus on gunfights in the second part, we were terrified. As it turned out, in vain: in Mass Effect 2 there was a place for interesting innovations, including the level of trust of the squad members, which could be increased by passing special missions.

Instead of exploring the galaxy in Mass Effect 2, we played a sci-fi version of Ocean's 11 or The Dirty Dozen. Gathering a squad for the final mission allowed the scriptwriters to focus on short but interesting stories. Each special mission allowed getting to know the next ally better and imbued with his motivation.

That is why the final suicidal race hit the very heart - we worried about each of the characters on the screen. It is very rare in games that the plot focuses on the characters rather than the overall story, but Mass Effect 2 managed to pull this trick. By far one of the best screenplays in BioWare history.

Release year: 2011 | Developer: From Software | Buy

Yes, Dark Souls violates the main rule of RPG: the game can be played without leveling. But only on condition that you know all its secrets and understand its systems - in particular, the crafting system. In a genre where the interaction of systems rules the show, Dark Souls can be called king, since the interaction of these systems in the game is implemented flawlessly.

Each characteristic greatly affects the leveling of the hero, and this already favorably distinguishes the game from most RPGs inspired by D&D. As we explore the rich world of Lordran, where the backstory is told through mysterious dialogues and seemingly non-obvious clues in the environment, we piece together a rather impressive story.

Everything is interconnected here, and various secrets and secret passages (hiding huge locations) await brave adventurers. It is also worth noting the unique for the genre of the summoning system in Dark Souls, which can either be turned off, or get used to the fact that you will be regularly attacked by other players. And don't be intimidated by the complexity, otherwise you will deprive yourself of the opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the best RPGs in history.

Release year: 1998 | Developer: Black Isle Studios | Buy

The original Fallout was the first success for Interplay, but the game was not as popular as one might think. The sequel, however, significantly expanded the boundaries of the world and added ambiguity to all the characters - it became even more difficult to distinguish between good and evil.

Playing as a villager instead of a bunker inhabitant, we looked at the world with different eyes - the hero was not so naive and perfectly aware of all the dangers of the world, and therefore could play on the feelings and expectations of other characters.

The search for the GECK (Compact Edenic Gardens Generator) fit well with the style of the 50s and looked even more interesting than the search for the water chip from the first part. The absence of a strict time frame was also pleasing: it was possible to slowly study the population of the wasteland, and not rush to the abandoned bunker at full speed. If you have not played the classic parts, we recommend starting with this one, and only then move on to the original.

Release year: 2000 | Developer: BioWare | Buy

The main problem with D&D games is that low-level characters tend to be pretty boring. Baldur's Gate 2 solves this problem by offering to transfer your squad from the first part or create a new group with characters of the seventh level. And this radically changes the perception of the game: instead of frail fighters and useless magicians, we get powerful spells and tough warriors who can withstand any battle.

The amazing scale of the Amn world, which was full of quests and quite interesting content, is also pleasing. BioWare's Infinity Engine did an excellent job with both these quests and the drawing of battles, where it was necessary to actively apply tactics with strategy. It is difficult to imagine managing a squad of six without the ability to pause the game and issue orders.

Each of the modern games without this feature makes us longingly remember the times of the Infinity Engine. Yes, this is where the tradition of romance in RPGs originated, but there is nothing wrong with that - after all, BG2 features very colorful characters.

If for some reason you have never played tabletop RPGs, then just install Baldur's Gate 2 - the atmosphere of sword and magic is perfectly conveyed here. If you have the original version, then you can download the mods to run it on modern monitors, or, alternatively, try the Extended Edition, which includes a ton of new content.

Release year: 1999 | Developer: Black Isle Studios | Buy

The history of the Nameless One takes a separate place in the world of gaming. It is a story of redemption in the face of countless sins, a story of trying to become yourself. The tattoos worn by the Nameless are reminders of who he was, who he is and who he wants to become.

The free interpretation of events in Planescape: Torment is the first thing that attracts in the game. We literally spend the whole game trying to find out who the Nameless One is, but at the same time, by our actions, we define his character. This is just one of the many RPG stereotypes that Black Isle is turning upside down.

Rats here turn out to be worthy opponents, people, as it turns out, can be worse than undead, and to win many battles it is not at all necessary to fight. And more importantly, we don't need to save the world like in thousands of other RPGs. We just need to find out who we are.

The Companions of the Nameless One are perhaps the most interesting NPCs in the history of the genre. Most of them have already encountered us in our past incarnations: the pyromaniac magician Ignus was once our student, but much more interesting is the fact that he is constantly on fire. Or Dak'kon, who gave us an oath of allegiance, but cannot remember why he did it.

The rest of the heroes are even more unusual. There is Fallen Grace, a succubus cleric who does not recognize the gods. Being a product of evil, she, oddly enough, does not want to harm anyone. But the best of the companions is Mort - a floating skull, whose sarcasm is not inferior in sharpness to his teeth (which he attacks with - not to brandish a sword).

In any other fantasy world, these characters would look at least strange, but Torment uses a D&D setting called Planescape - the most bizarre world in the entire multiverse. So it's no wonder that Torment's main focus is on the storytelling.

When it comes to fights though, BioWare's Infinity Engine handles them just as well as they did in the Baldur's Gate series. This is an RPG that we recommend to anyone interested in the genre, a game that embodies everything we love about RPGs.

Release year: 2002 | Developer: Arkane Studios | Buy

When creating their first dungeon simulator, Arkane wanted to create something as intense as Ultima Underworld, with its magical system, where the player had to memorize runes and draw them at the right time with the mouse. In this game, stealth is critically important, as is the crafting system, made in the spirit of the same Underworld. Arx is a challenging and leisurely adventure in which you have to think about each of your actions. Break through the gorgons using force, or sneak through without being noticed, avoiding conflict?

Many design solutions will later find their place in another Arkane project - Dishonored, but we cannot fail to mention the classic mechanics that are almost never used today. For example, the need to draw runes on the screen with a mouse - yes, it is not very convenient, but it looks spectacular. We hope that Arkane will still decide on a sequel to Arx Fatalis and bring in the mechanics from Dishonored (as well as the great combat system from Dark Messiah of Might & Magic).