Role-playing games are a different breed of video games for they allow an individual to immerse themselves completely into the game by playing it the way they want to.
Largely, there are no set rules to accomplish the objective, which ensures a high relatability value.
RPGs have evolved a long way from text-based games to fully integrated 3D graphics, and in the last two decades, the video game industry witnessed the birth of some of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
Let us not wait any longer and look closer at the top-10 RPG games available on the market.
| Top 10 Role-Playing Games | Metacritic Ratings |
| Mass Effect 2 | 96 |
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 96 |
| Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn | 95 |
| Divinity: Original Sin II | 95 |
| Final Fantasy IX | 94 |
| Chrono Cross | 94 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 93 |
| Diablo | 94 |
| Star Wars: The Knights of the Old Republic | 94 |
| Persona 5 | 93 |
#1 Mass Effect 2
The second instalment in the popular Mass Effect series completely turned around the fortunes of the company behind the franchise. This space-based adventure RPG requires the user to bring together a band of misfits to save the entire galaxy.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 96
User Rating: 8.9
#2 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
No list of the best RPG games is complete without the inclusion of the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The game follows the adventure of the Dragonborn throughout the vast lands in a quest to destroy a world-eating dragon.
Moreover, despite being launched in 2011, the game still has a huge fanbase, thanks to the extensive mods available in the game.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 96
User Rating: 8.5
#3 Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn, released in 2000, is one of the greatest role-playing games of the generation. Set in a fantasy realm, the title explores the world beautifully, thanks to its crisp visuals and immersive sound design.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 95
User Rating: 9.2
#4 Divinity: Original Sin II
Divinity: Original Sin II is a highly complex and seamlessly flexible RPG that managed to garner praise from all the sections of the gaming society. Initially released in 2017, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the those few RPGs that features a local multiplayer option.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 95
User Rating: 9.0
#5 Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX – the last game in the series to debut on the original PlayStation redefined with a role-playing game could be during its launch. The title adopts a medieval setting focussing on the active time events, which unfold at different places of the map simultaneously.
Furthermore, Final Fantasy IX is one of the best games available for the original PlayStation.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 94
User Rating: 9.1
#6 Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross, released in 1999, follows the adventures of a teenage boy’s journey through parallel worlds with turn-based combat. Like Final Fantasy IX, Chrono Cross too is one of the best games ever built for the original PlayStation.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 94
User Rating: 8.8
#7 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt set a new benchmark for RPG games with its expansive setting, grand visuals, intuitive controls and immersive sound. The title won numerous awards for the same and is also recognised as one of the greatest video games of all times.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 93
User Rating: 9.4
#8 Diablo
Diablo is the first game in the longstanding RPG series that initially hit the stores in 1996. The hack-and-slash game requires the user to interact with the environment and travel across randomly-generated levels to progress further in the game.
For its optimal gameplay design, Diablo was recognised as a nearly flawless release during its initial launch.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 94
User Rating: 8.7
#9 Star Wars: The Knights of the Old Republic
Launched in 2003, Star Wars: The Knights of the Old Republic is a role-playing game that is set in the Star Wars universe with players being allowed to choose a character of their own liking. With turn-based combat combined with a great story and atmospheric sound, the title quickly established itself as one of the best Star Wars games ever made.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 94
User Rating: 9.0
#10 Persona 5
Persona 5, a PlayStation exclusive, follows the adventures of a high school boy in the modern-day Tokyo.
Like all the other video games on this list, Persona 5 is also considered as one of the best role-playing video games of all time. Furthermore, it was nominated for numerous Game of the Year awards, as well.
Metacritic
Critic Rating: 93
User Rating: 8.7
