Role-playing games make up one of the most timeless genres in video gaming. Whether it's an action-packed JRPG or a conventional western CRPG, fans are usually happy to return to the game decades later. This is because of the most compelling aspects of an RPG is the ability to develop the character and follow them on their journey through an epic adventure.
This is why fans are happy to return to classics like Final Fantasy VII and Baldur’s Gate over twenty years later and still have as much fun now as they did back then. There are lots of great RPGs to choose from that have been released in the last decade. Here are ten of the best that earned their spot on Metacritic.
10 Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition (Metascore 90)
Diablo III was originally released in 2012 on the PC and suffered a difficult launch due to the always-on DRM feature requiring gamers to be online to play. However, it was the Ultimate Evil Edition which was released on consoles with several new features that received the most critical acclaim.
Diablo III has since received another expanded collection with Diablo III: Eternal Collection which was released in 2017 on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch in 2018. The Eternal Collection is a better deal for fans because it includes all of the latest content including the Rise of the Necromancer and the Reaper of Souls.
9 Dragon Age: Origins (Metascore 91)
Dragon Age: Origins released in 2009 on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. It was developed by BioWare, who had already established themselves as one of the best developers of RPGs in the world. With games like the Baldur’s Gate series, Knights of the Old Republic, and Mass Effect expectations were very high for Dragon Age.
The game more than lived up to expectations and they created a game with a ton of lore and depth for players to get to grips with. Dragon Age received two sequels, a comic book series, a board game, and several novels.
8 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Metascore 92)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was originally released in 2011 on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the PC. It would later get remastered for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016 with enhanced visuals, features and additional DLC.
Skyrim is considered to be one of the most influential RPGs ever developed with games like Kingdom Come Deliverance and even the Far Cry series taking inspiration from the game. It’s a true high fantasy epic that all fans of the genre should experience.
7 Undertale (Metascore 93)
Undertale was released in 2015 on the PC, PlayStation 4, the Vita, and the Nintendo Switch. It was created by indie developer Toby Fox and was developed using the GameMaker Studio program. The game was heavily influenced by Japanese RPGs and included a lot of the same mechanics found in the Shin Megami Tensei series.
Undertale also uses a bullet-hell combat system inspired by the Touhou Project series. Despite its humble beginnings, Undertale won Game of the Year awards and was praised for its great writing and sits among the big-budget AAA RPGs as one of the best on Metacritic.
6 Mass Effect 3 (Metascore 93)
Released in 2012 Mass Effect 3 is the concluding chapter to BioWare’s videogame space opera trilogy. It was released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC and the Wii U and received huge praise from critics.
However, the ending didn’t sit well with most fans as they felt that the choices they made throughout the trilogy had no real impact. BioWare tried to rectify this with additional story content and a free DLC expansion called the Extended Cut. Criticisms aside, Mass Effect 3 is still a thrilling ride from start to finish and feels like one is taking part in a sci-fi blockbuster.
5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Metascore 93)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released in 2015 on the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox One. It was later ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2019. The game is a direct follow up to The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and is based on The Witcher novels by Andrzej Sapkowski.
The Witcher 3 is considered one of the greatest western RPGs ever made and its influence can be seen in games like Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, and Horizon Zero Dawn. The Witcher is getting a TV series on the 20th of December 2019 on Netflix starring Henry Cavill so there’s never been a better time try the game.
4 Divinity: Original Sin II (Metascore 93)
Divinity: Original Sin II was developed by Larian Studios and released on the PlayStation, Xbox One, PC, and the Nintendo Switch. Like its predecessor, Original Sin II was funded by the Kickstarter project.
Yet, despite its humble beginnings the game is considered to be one of the best RPGs of all time and the best in its generation. Original Sin II offers its players so much choice and it seems that every single action in the game will have a reaction. It’s one of the purest RPGs ever made and it’s a game where the player is free to be exactly as they want to be in a surprisingly realistic way.
3 The Legend Of Grimrock iOS (Metascore 94)
The Legend of Grimrock was originally released on the PC in 2012. It is a dungeon crawler based on the 1987 Amiga classic Dungeon Master. It was ported three years later in 2015 for iOS systems and was a near-perfect port where the touch screen provided a more user-friendly experience.
The original release on PC received a Metascore of 82 but the iOS release was received more favorably. This may have been because there aren’t as many quality RPGs on the system as the PC but it’s a great game that got more exposure and the love that it deserved the first time.
2 Bastion iOS (Metascore 94)
Bastion was released in 2011 for Xbox 360 and was later ported to iOS in 2012. It’s an action RPG that lends itself perfectly to the handheld and touchscreen platform and performed better than its PlayStation Vita counterpart.
It’s a Game of The Year winner for several websites like RPGamer, Game Informer, and IGN many of which complemented its story and voice narration for its innovation. Bastion's music which was composed by Darren Korb won the best music award from the Spike Video Game Awards show.
1 Mass Effect 2 (Metascore 96)
Mass Effect 2 was released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in 2011. It was the second entry in the Mass Effect trilogy and for many fans it is the Empire Strikes Back of the series meaning it’s considered the best in the saga.
Players could import their save from its predecessor and the choices they made in that game will affect the story of Mass Effect 2. The game is considerably darker in tone than the first game, has great character development, music, story, and introduces a more action-based combat system. With a Metascore of 96, it’s the highest-scoring RPG of the decade.