Top 5 RPG Video Games of All Time for You

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

Developer: CD Projekt Red

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is often considered the gold standard for modern RPGs. Players step into the role of Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter navigating a morally gray world torn apart by war, politics, and ancient forces.

What sets the game apart is its writing. Side quests often rival main storylines in depth and emotional impact, forcing players to make difficult choices without clear moral answers. Consequences unfold slowly, sometimes hours later, reinforcing the weight of decision-making.

The world feels alive—towns react to your actions, characters remember your choices, and monsters are rooted in folklore rather than random encounters. Combined with rich expansions (Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine), the game redefined expectations for open-world RPG storytelling.

2. Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)

Developer: BioWare

Baldur’s Gate II remains one of the deepest role-playing experiences ever created. Built on Dungeons & Dragons rules, it places players in a vast fantasy world where character choice, alignment, and dialogue matter constantly.

The game’s greatest strength lies in its companions. Party members have distinct personalities, moral beliefs, and personal quests. They argue, leave, fall in love, or betray you based on your decisions—making the world feel reactive and alive.

Its villain, Irenicus, is widely regarded as one of the greatest antagonists in gaming history, elevating the narrative to operatic levels. Even decades later, Baldur’s Gate II remains a benchmark for narrative complexity and player agency.

3. Fallout: New Vegas (2010)

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Fallout: New Vegas is a masterclass in player freedom and political storytelling. Set in a post-apocalyptic Mojave Desert, the game places you at the center of a power struggle between multiple factions, none of which are purely good or evil.

Unlike many RPGs, New Vegas rarely tells you what the “right” choice is. Instead, it presents competing ideologies—authoritarianism, democracy, anarchy—and lets you decide the future of the region. Your actions shape alliances, leadership, and even the end state of the world.

Role-playing is deeply supported through skills, dialogue options, and reputation systems. The game respects intelligence and rewards curiosity, making it one of the most philosophically rich RPGs ever made.

4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Skyrim is the ultimate freedom-driven RPG. Players are released into a massive open world and told simply: explore. Whether you become a legendary warrior, master mage, stealthy thief, or wandering hermit is entirely up to you.

The game’s appeal lies in its accessibility and scale. You don’t need to follow the main story to feel engaged. Countless guilds, side quests, and hidden locations ensure that no two playthroughs feel the same.

While its narrative may not be as tightly written as others on this list, Skyrim excels at immersion. Its world feels lived-in, and its modding community has extended its life for over a decade—cementing its place as one of the most influential RPGs ever made.

5. Final Fantasy VII (1997)

Developer: Square

Final Fantasy VII changed how the world viewed Japanese RPGs. It delivered a cinematic, emotionally complex story that tackled themes of identity, loss, environmentalism, and corporate exploitation.

Players follow Cloud Strife, a deeply flawed protagonist whose personal journey is as important as the fate of the planet. The game’s twist-driven narrative, memorable cast, and iconic villain, Sephiroth, left a lasting cultural impact.

Its success helped bring RPGs into the mainstream, proving that games could tell stories as emotionally powerful as films or novels. Even decades later, Final Fantasy VII remains a defining work in gaming history.