With some of the longest story-intensive games being RPGs (role-playing games), few of them appeal to the casual player. Expansive plots can deter occasional gamers, especially if the RPGs happen to also be difficult, require a lot of background knowledge, or move at a slow pace.
Looking back at some of the greatest RPGs, games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Dark Souls do not cater to casual gamers. They have steep learning curves or tangled stories. Here are some games for those looking to broaden their horizons playing RPGs but don't want to commit too much time.
Updated December 25, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Role-playing games can be life-consuming. Games like Persona 5 Royal, Disco Elysium, Elden Ring, and Divinity Original Sin 2 are reasonably popular, but they are not exactly designed with casual play sessions in mind. They all require significant time investments and demand that players master their mechanics and systems. If someone is specifically searching for a more laid-back title, they probably will turn to platformers or life sims before they venture into role-playing projects. That said, there are a handful of great casual RPGs out there.
13 Miitopia
Developer |
Nintendo EPD |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
July 28, 2017 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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Nintendo has a knack for crafting games tailor-made for the entire family. Miitopia serves as a prime example of the company's talent for satisfying a casual market, even if the game does separate itself from other RPGs by including life simulation mechanics.
The combat system is directly impacted by the relationships between the main Mii characters, while the story is charming enough for the genre. For those looking to dip their toes into RPGs, the Nintendo Switch's port of Miitopia is a great place to start.
12 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
Developers |
38 Studios, Big Huge Games, Kaiko |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
February 7, 2012 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
Reckoning
Re-Reckoning
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Lasting roughly 30 hours, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning features one of the most accessible and best combat systems in the action RPG genre. While the story is nothing more than decent, the variety offered by the battle system means that the game never grows tiresome.
Furthermore, Kingdoms of Amalur constantly throws loot at the player, providing a never-ending stream of goodies to get excited about. With a manageable difficulty level and solid visuals, Kingdoms of Amalur will impress casual RPG fans.
11 Child Of Light
Developer |
Ubisoft Montreal |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
April 29, 2014 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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Hardcore gamers should look elsewhere if they are searching for a long game. For a casual gamer, then Child of Light might be up their alley. It's a turn-based game with gorgeous visuals, an effective story, and great music.
With a short completion time estimated at around 11 hours, Child of Light does not require much of a commitment, but it also doesn't waste a single second. As long as someone appreciates RPGs with fun combat and great artwork, Child of Light is worth it.
10 Undertale
Developer |
Toby Fox |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
September 15, 2015 |
Platforms |
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Undertale is a PC gem that deserves to be played. It's a game that plays under the assumption that the user doesn't have to kill anyone. Undertale will take players approximately 6 hours to beat, so they don't wind up lost in a long story.
Even if someone plays casually, Undertale is bound to impress. The great thing about Undertale is that it can be played casually or under a completionist run for extended gameplay.
9 Diablo 3
Developer |
Blizzard Team 3 |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
May 15, 2012 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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The hack and slash game Diablo 3 doesn't have a lengthy learning curve or knotty story that will deter casual players. After a few hours, players will find themselves immersed in the action-oriented gameplay.
The main story is short, with the bulk of its content taking place in the endgame. Whether a person wants to play casually or with consistent and conscientious regularity, Diablo 3 is a game for people from all walks of life.
8 Skyrim
Developer |
Bethesda Game Studios |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
November 11, 2011 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is nothing if not adaptable. Want a hardcore experience that provides a substantial challenge? Skyrim delivers. Seeking a relaxed romp through a fantasy world without paying too much attention to the main quest? Skyrim delivers.
Similar to the Fallout games, Skyrim's greatest asset is the freedom it provides players. It is very much possible to drop hundreds of hours into this RPG and not complete the rather short central storyline. Skyrim is one of the best RPGs for casual gamers.
7 South Park: The Stick Of Truth
Developer |
Obsidian Entertainment |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
March 4, 2014 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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Obsidian Entertainment is known for story-intensive games like Fallout: New Vegas and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords. Beating South Park: The Stick Of Truth will not take the player as long as Obisidian's other RPGs.
The game is filled with light-hearted dialogue but also raunchy and suggestive humor as well. It's approximately an 11.5-hour game with not much content for a completionist. South Park: The Stick Of Truth is a must-play for fans of the cartoon or anyone who appreciates a fun RPG.
6 Rune Factory 4 Special
Developer |
Neverland |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
October 1, 2013 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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Rune Factory is an RPG series that incorporates farming simulator elements. Essentially, these games are a cross between Animal Crossing and simple JRPG dungeon crawlers. While Rune Factory 5 is out on PC and the Nintendo Switch, newcomers looking for an entry point into the series should pick up Rune Factory 4 Special over its sequel.
Rune Factory 4 maintains a relaxing and casual tone throughout its campaign, which is not something that many farming sims or action RPGs can claim. The game handles both sides of its loop well, offering enough depth to keep things interesting without getting bogged down with minute details.
5 Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Developer |
BioWare |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
May 14, 2021 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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BioWare's Mass Effect is rightfully regarded as one of the best sci-fi RPGs of all time. As a space opera, the original trilogy is ambitious both in terms of scale and the ideas it is willing to explore. However, the overall experience is nevertheless accessible, particularly its third-person shooter combat system.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition includes the full base trilogy and most of its DLC, presenting a very easy way for newcomers to experience Commander Shepard's storyline. Compared to some other casual RPGs, Mass Effect is relatively lengthy and complicated, but the games are never anything less than brilliant.
4 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
Developer |
Square |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
May 13, 1996 |
Platforms |
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One of the first RPGs to come from Nintendo came with a light-hearted story. Mario teams up with Bowser to defeat Smithy, who has stolen seven-star pieces. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars has RPG elements along the lines of Final Fantasy but a less intricate story for casual gamers.
This anything-but-forgotten classic is a must-play for avid Paper Mario fans, especially if they want something shorter.
3 Fable
Developers |
Big Blue Box Studios, Lionhead Studios |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
September 14, 2004 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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Although not easy to gauge the duration of the average RPG, it wouldn't be a stretch to say they typically span over 20 hours. The original Fable game only takes approximately 12 hours to beat.
It's an enchanting game with a shorter learning curve than other RPGs. The choices you make can have consequences, yet the game is short enough to attract occasional gamers. While not natively released on later consoles, backward compatibility means Fable also works on the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One.
2 Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
Developer |
Square Enix |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
September 4, 2018 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
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Dragon Quest is the best "casual" JRPG franchise, at least when it comes to properties not exclusive to Nintendo. Dragon Quest 11 delivers an epic but straightforward tale of good versus evil, all told through vibrant visuals and likable characters.
As tends to be the case with this series, Dragon Quest 11's turn-based combat is bog-standard; however, this is not meant as a criticism, as it is a tried and tested formula that simply works. Dragon Quest 11 also offers a lot of content, with the main campaign lasting more than 50 hours. While massive, Dragon Quest 11's adventurous tone and accessibility make it perfect for casual gamers.
1 Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! And Let's Go, Eevee!
Developer |
Game Freak |
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Original Release Date (North America) |
November 16, 2018 |
Platforms (+ Amazon Listing Page) |
Unlike the more recent Pokemon mainline games, Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are not as story-intensive. Releases like Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet are hardly terrible picks for casual gamers, but a lot of their value comes from someone's willingness to explore the franchise's meta beyond just the campaign.
Pokemon Red and Blue were remade under the names Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! While not ground-breaking titles by any stretch of the imagination, these early Switch projects are both exceptional games that cater to all players.