Highlights
- D&D rules can result in slow gameplay, but Baldur's Gate is a precious achievement in the video game industry.
- Divinity: Original Sin 2 offers a combat system that surpasses D&D in complexity and rewards ingenuity.
- Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a strong D&D-inspired game with a close experience to the latest 5th edition ruleset.
There's a reason why games based on Dungeons & Dragons rulesets are few compared to the more typical action-based RPGs. Translating D&D rules into the video game medium can result in slow and traditional gameplay. That's why games like Baldur's Gate which have managed to thrive despite the mechanics' limitations are precious achievements in the video game industry.
The 20 Best RPG Maker Games of All Time
RPG Maker has helped indie developers to create some fantastic 16-bit style games over the years, many of which still hold up surprisingly well today.The long-awaited third game in the series was a significant contribution to both RPGs and D&D in general. Baldur's Gate 3 is going to stay on the tips of most peoples' tongues given its amazing technical fidelity, easily staking a claim as one of the richest and most fleshed-out RPGs of all time. Players who enjoy this D&D-inspired title and want to check out more games in the same vein have plenty of options at their disposal.
Titles directly set in the D&D universe will not be included as the focus is on non-official games inspired by the tabletop juggernaut. Check out this article for the best D&D games.
Updated January 1, 2024, by Mark Sammut: The specifications have been added for every recommended game.
7 Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous
Refines The Combat Of The First Game
Pathfinder is another series that has come up in this recent wave of CRPGs, with players loving this CRPG series and what it brings to the table. Kingmaker was a great game that fans of complex CRPGs will have a blast with, and Wrath of the Righteous serves as a perfect sequel in almost every department.
The game's writing may not be all that consistent, but most players won't mind once they get engrossed in this amazing, deep game. Wrath of the Righteous has enough great things going for it to make it a solid entry in the recent wave of CRPGs that have delighted fans of the genre.
6 Divinity: Original Sin 2
If DnD Combat System Was On Steroids
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a brilliant video game that took the world by storm when it was released. It was a massive upgrade from its predecessor, featuring an extensive campaign, well-realized worlds, and a combat system that rewarded ingenuity and creativity. The developer, Larian, would go on to work on Baldur's Gate 3, a project that has plenty of similarities with Divinity: Original Sin 2, albeit with a DnD makeover. While they are not the same, fans of the former will likely enjoy the latter.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – 24 Best Unique Armor Pieces, Ranked
In Divinity: Original Sin 2, armor can do so much more than just deflect blows. What unique pieces give the Godwoken an advantage in battle?There's something magical about controlling the elements to such an extent that battles turn into a dance of fire, swords, arrows, and hexes. The level of complexity in this combat system puts it a step above D&D in many ways, and fans of Baldur's Gate will especially love this game because of Larian's ties with it.
5 Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Based on D&D 3.5E
Pathfinder, with its latest game title, Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a strong entry to D&D-inspired video games. The crowd-funded game back in 2018 made quite a splash, enough to warrant a sequel, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.
Kingmaker is based on D&D's 3.5E ruleset, which is quite a close experience to the latest 5th edition. Apart from the usual adventuring, Kingmaker, true to its name, also gives players a kingdom to manage while they're out on adventures. Don't expect anything groundbreaking in terms of story, however, the plot is standard though interesting enough to keep players hooked.
4 Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
FPS Love Letter To Dungeons & Dragons
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
- Platform(s)
- PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PC
- Released
- March 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG , FPS
For a slightly different option, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands does not try to mimic DnD combat since it is a first-person shooter that sticks close to the Borderlands blueprint; however, the title is overflowing with nods and references to the tabletop classic. The campaign is framed around a game of Bunkers & Badasses, which is just DnD with some comedic flourish. The overworld reflects the story's tabletop roots, and there are a few mechanics that replicate the randomness of a DnD session.
Gameplay-wise, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a looter shooter with weapons that lean into fantasy and magic rather than sci-fi, although the latter is not excluded entirely either. The game plays as well as Borderlands 3, and while the story is fairly short, it moves at a good pace and is generally a fun time.
3 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Series
Modified D&D 3E
From BioWare again comes the most comprehensive Star Wars RPG to date, Knights of the Old Republic. It's an old and flawed gem that uses a heavily modified version of the 3rd edition ruleset to fit the gameplay better.
Best Star Wars Games Ever, Ranked
On top of many successful movies, the Star Wars franchise has also seen a whole host of incredible games that have brought its universe to life.In terms of story, it's also one of the most dramatic ones in Star Wars and is significant enough to find its own spot in the franchise canon. Players step in the boots of a seemingly random Jedi prospect only to find out just how special they are later on.
2 Pillars Of Eternity Series
Appears To Be Based on D&D 4E
Now, the Pillars of Eternity games aren't explicitly based on any D&D ruleset but by the looks of it, it uses a certain percentage of the 4th edition rules. The first game is closer to D&D than the second but both are worth any CRPG player's time.
Pillars of Eternity follows the tale of the Watcher who was inadvertently given the power to see and manipulate souls. Players will then have to guide the Watcher's actions to resolve a plague that's connected to the gods. Meanwhile, the second game is a more politically complex narrative where players have to chase a rogue god as they rampage through the Deadfire archipelago.
1 Tyranny
Highly Similar To Pillars Of Eternity
Tyranny
- Platform(s)
- Linux , Microsoft Windows , macOS
- Released
- November 10, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- RPG , Adventure , Strategy
Tyranny is also from the makers of Pillars of Eternity. Anyone who has played those games ought to be familiar with the mechanics, and it's not too far off from the later editions of D&D.
Where Tyranny sets itself apart is in the plot. Whereas most CRPGs or even other RPGs lay out a heroic progression for the players, Tyranny lets players start as a villain. From there, they can choose to continue their wicked path or correct it. Don't expect it to be as lengthy or as branching as other CRPGs as it's a relatively new intellectual property.