The CRPG is one of gaming’s oldest genres, with the golden age of them taking place in the late 90s. It was a genre born from developers who wanted to adapt table-top RPG rules to computers.
Lately, though, the genre has made an epic resurgence thanks to mainstream booms likeBaldur’s Gate 3andPillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.
8 RPGS That Have Aged Like Milk
These previously acclaimed RPGs haven’t aged well at all.
Now that many new players are jumping into the genre, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer breadth of choices available, so let us help you narrow that down as we go oversome of the best CRPGs of all time.
These are a mix of personal taste, critical acclaim and enduring games that still get brought up today.
10Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
A Dark, Thoughtful Adventure
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Warhammer 40k: Rogue Traderfits like a glove in the genre. Not only is the insane amount of lore and the depth of the world it takes place in perfect for the CRPG genre, but the turn-based combat works perfectly seeing as it was originally a table-top game played in a turn-based format.
The game itself is as deep as an ocean and as wide as one to boot. 100+ hours, tons of characters to recruit, endless depth in character building and brilliant writing on top of all of that.
It’s an awesome intro into this mind-bogglingly deep world and, for me, my first true exposure to Warhammer 40k, and I have to say, I’m ready for the sequel.
It’s aRPG that demands your attentionand requires a hefty amount of reading, but that’s the calling card of this genre and a great way to jump into it.
9Planescape: Torment
A Strange Tale
Planescape: Torment
I feel likewe just don’t get games like Planescape: Torment anymore. And, to be fair, most classic CRPGs have not aged the best. Still, know thatPlanescape: Tormenthas one of the most unique worlds any game has ever seen.
You wake up without your memory, without anything to your name except a floating skull companion, and off you go into one of the weirdest and most endearing worlds imaginable.
You discover you’re an immortal man who loses his memory whenever he is killed. Unraveling this mystery’s “how” and “why” presents us with some of the best writing in any game to date.
It’s not action-focused. It’s a playable book in many ways, but it’s a hell of a read for anyone with patience for an older-feeling game.
8Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II
Star Wars For Adults
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis the game that brought the CRPG into the mainstream, but it was the sequel that hit hardest for me.
I’ve always loved Star Wars as a fictional universe, but felt that there was so much more to absorb from the lore than what the movies gave us.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II is the game that gave me what I was looking for. It focused on the darkness of the dark side and gave us a universe that was scarred by war, almost a post-apocalyptic feeling.
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The final frontier is the perfect setting for video games to take flight.
It was so heavy, with so many interesting choices throughout the game, while keeping the depth of writing that the original game employed masterfully.
To some, it was a bit too dreary. But for me, it hit that spot perfectly, and the evolved combat, animations and overall presentation were the cherry on top for a series that ended far, far too soon.
We’re still waiting for KOTOR 3.
7Fallout 2
Welcome to the Apocalypse
Fallout 2 is easily one of the most critical games in CRPG history. You play as the chosen one, which, cliché, I know, but regardless, you’re here to try and save your small village. What starts as a small-sounding story evolves into something much grander.
Along the way, you’ll make all sorts of revelations, from government conspiracies to airborne viruses being released, and you’ll have important choices to make throughout this complex tale.
Combat is primitive, to say the least, but it respects your choice of how you approach any situation. you may find ways around confrontations if you pass skill checks and discover unique methods to resolve these situations that other players might never realize.
There is such a mature atmosphere in Fallout 2’s presentation, paired with an incredible amount of choice you have throughout every situation, that it’s simply a must-play for anyone who loves the genre.
6Wasteland 3
Shape the Wasteland
Wasteland 3
Wasteland 3 is a tribute to what the Fallout games of old were. The series was originally what would inspire the spiritual successor in the Fallout franchise, and everything I said about Fallout 2 also works here.
On your mission to save a post-apocalyptic Arizona, you will encounter various factions and weird and wonderful characters while building up your team from multiple odd recruits.
You choose who you want to support or betray here, and the reactivity and long-term consequences of your choices are incredible to see play out.
Combat is also a huge highlight in Wasteland 3. It offers gameplay reminiscent of XCOM while also providing deep ways to customize your characters.
This is, in many ways, the total package of a CRPGthat is also playable with friends. If you don’t mind a lot of gunplay in your CRPG, Wasteland 3 is a great game to try.
5Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
An Epic Journey That is Fully Yours
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Demons have opened up the Worldwound and unleashed chaos on the world. Sounds pretty basic, right? But despite the easy setup,Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteousunleashes one of the most in-depth CRPGs ever made.
You have a boatload of choices to make, from character creation to build to who your allies and enemies are. It’s admittedly overwhelming and anyone new to the CRPG genre should probably get their feet wet elsewhere.
However, this is a list of the best games in the genre and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is absolutely one of those. The combat is excellent, with tons of unique abilities and enemy variety to fight. If it gets too convoluted, it lets you slow the action down by allowing you to make the game turn-based.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a lengthy adventure,easily stretching to 80 hours or more.The replayability is nearly infinite, with the many different paths you can take through the various situations you’ll encounter throughout this CPRG.
4Pillars of Eternity II
A Journey Into Creation Itself
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfirestarts out with you wandering a world between worlds as a spirit unable to find its place. Immediately, it grips you, and the journey that follows is a unique mix of pirates, magic, and vengeful gods that will have you thrilled through every twist and turn.
Combat-wise, you’ll have the option of real-time with pause or turn-based combat, and both are balanced well, giving you many options with which to build your characters.
You’ll be taking your ship into uncharted worlds, acquiring a multitude of companions, and deciding the fate of these new lands.
The story is the star of the show here, with fantastic writing, in-depth characters, and tons of interesting choices to make that alter the course of the game.
For fans of the old style of CRPGs that defined the golden age,Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfireis a remarkable tribute to those games that will provide everything you’re looking for and more.
3Divinity: Original Sin 2
The CRPG Returns
Divinity: Original Sin 2
While another game in the genre that you might see on this list brought the CRPG into mega-stardom, it wasDivinity: Original Sin IIthat said, “Hey, we’ve got something you’re going to want to see.”
And they weren’t kidding. Larian’s masterpiece introduced many people to the CRPG genre and is fully responsible for the massive surge of games in the genre over the past 5 years or so.
What DOS II offers is an incredibly in-depth story that starts out as an escape from a prison island and quickly evolves into something involving gods, fate, and all sorts of unique lore.
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You can choose to play as any of the main characters or create your own, and who you take along with you on your quest, betray, kill, or ignore entirely is up to you. Every quest has a ton of outcomes, allowing you to use your mind to solve situations more often than not.
Usually, combat in CRPGs is a massive point of contention, but here, it’s all aces. The combat is a fantastic turn-based system that allows you to use anything in the vicinity to win the fight. If you see oil barrels, throw them at your enemy, cast a fire spell, and watch the chaos unfold.
There are so many situations like this throughout the game, rewarding you for your creativity and allowing you to do pretty much anything you can think of.
If you’re looking for 80+ hours of CRPG perfection that you may also play in co-op, this is absolutely the way to go.
2Dragon Age: Origins
A Dark Fantasy Dream
Dragon Age
Dragon Age: Originsis the game that constantly gives fans of the series hope whenever a new game in the series releases. While some games have come close,none have achieved the feeling you get when you play the original.
This world is fully realized, with incredible lore, amazing characters, and a foreboding atmosphere that just makes it feel special. When you’re playing, you just know it; this is what a classic feels like.
The combat is where you’ll spend much of your time, and here, there’s a tactical system that emphasizes ability combos between your party members and an excellent system that allows you to determine how your companions will act depending on different battle circumstances.
While the combat is superb, the story is where this game truly shines. You play as a Grey Warden, a person who’s dedicated his life to fighting the Darkspawn, an evil race that is invading your world.
It’s a simple setup, but in between are incredible side stories that take place as you seek to unite the world against the threat.
There are tons of dialogue choices throughout that can determine if people live or die, how the story plays out, and which ending you get. Dragon Age: Origins is Bioware working at the height of its powers.
1Baldur’s Gate 3
The King is Reborn
Baldur’s Gate 3
Incredible voice acting, breathtaking graphics, clean presentation, and multiplayer. Is this really a CRPG? You’re damn right it is!
While the Baldur’s Gate series slumbered for two decades, Larian brought it out of hiding and, in doing so, took the crown of Game of the Year in the preposterously loaded gaming year of 2023.
It was well-deserved becauseBaldur’s Gate 3is the game that put the CRPG into the mainstream for the first time in the modern gaming age. And I meanmainstream.
It’s very accessible, allowing many first-timers to jump right in while providing so much of the hardcore, lore-scrolling, and character-building goodness that longtime fans of the genre crave.
Story-wise, you are trying to rid yourself of a tadpole implanted in your eye, which threatens to transform you into a Mindflayer over time. This journey to free yourself uncovers dark plots, gods, character betrayals, and visits from the actual devil himself.
It’s a wild adventure that allows you to shift the story in a massive number of ways, making replayability a must. you may ally or betray both sides of the quarrel, kill companions, kill seemingly crucial characters, play as the Dark Urge, and murder hobo your way through the whole game. The options are truly endless.
Whether you’re a vet of the genre ornew to CRPGs, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the must-play game of the decade.
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