August 2020 saw the release of InXile Entertainment's isometric role-playing game Wasteland 3, and the world very quickly realized that the game had a lot of what they were hoping for. Like many RPGs, there are intricate landscapes to explore, enemies to kill, followers to recruit, and different builds to perfect.
And while the game is a truly awesome romp through apocalyptic America, it does not go on forever. So to all the players who hungrily reached the end of the rangers' journey: fret not. The following ten titles will provide some party-building, equipment-looting, strategy-building goodness for any true Wasteland fan.
10 Divinity: Original Sin II
The best way to start this list is with an isometric RPG masterpiece from Larian Studios called Divinity: Original Sin II. It's another wildly immersive role-playing experience with a great story, tons of gear to be gotten, and a multi-faceted lore that has a life all it's own.
But the truly unique aspect of this game is the weight developers have put on decision making. The race players choose effects places they can/can't go, what items they can use, and how other characters react to them. And there are many NPCs that, if they die, will eliminate players' access to side quests and other fun things. It's a living, breathing world full of magic and fun, and a great follow-up to post-war Colorado.
9 XCOM 2
In Firaxis Games' XCOM 2, players take 4-6 person teams to engage in tactical combat against a technologically superior alien species. But this tale isn't the classic "stop an invasion story." After the canonical ending of the first game, aliens have already taken over, and players must help the human rebellion overthrow their extraterrestrial captives.
This title's combat is wildly addicting, leaving plenty of room for players to define their own play-style. Procedurally generated maps keep repeated play-throughs fresh, and permanent character deaths will leave players constantly debating whether to reload an old save file or mourn their fallen warriors. It's a deep and wildly fun experience, and a fresh take on team-based strategy/role-playing gameplay.
8 Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden
A turn based strategy game with RPG elements and a focus on world exploration, Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden is a challenging, strategic, and very rewarding hybrid experience. It draws comparisons to Wasteland 3 because of its RPG facets and its post-apocalyptic setting, but it differentiates itself from most games in many other ways.
A three character squad, including a man/mallard hybrid and a British fox, traverse a ruined world by either sneaking past enemies or ambushing them. Timing and planning is key, stealth is fun, and the world is always interesting to look at. And if players have ever wondered about what it would be like to go into battle as a duck, this title is exactly what they need to play.
7 Diablo 3
Blizzard is arguably the godfather of the modern role playing game, and Diablo 3 is a stalwart example as to why. Players pick between a variety of classes that wildly affect which strategy they adopt, then take their build into the flames of combat to test out their strategy in real time.
And strategies themselves can get quite complicated: necromancers are great at crowd control, but must harvest their abilities from the death of their enemies. Witch Doctors are fragile summoners with a versatile array of spells. Barbarians are raw tanks powered by fury, and Demon Hunters stealth around with a cloak and crossbow. It's a very in-depth system that stays fresh for countless hours, especially if players dive into cooperative play.
6 Disco Elysium
A title that is slightly unique to other games on this list, Disco Elysium takes elements of table-top role playing games and twists them into a macabre murder-mystery storyline that explores politics, poverty, and a world in decline. It was ranked one of the best RPGS of 2019, it was lauded for the gripping story, and even its soundtrack was one of 2019's best. So it's definitely not short on accolades.
And in the game itself, players must piece together both a grizzly murder and an internal mystery surrounding the protagonist's own personality, all while navigating some of the most sharply written dialogue in the last several years. It's chilling, intriguing, compelling, surprisingly realistic, and even sometimes funny, and definitely worth any player's time.
5 Fallout 4
Bethesda Studios' fourth installment in the Fallout franchise is an amalgamation of all of the things that made the previous three games great. There is intuitively fun role-playing/shooter combat, creepy baddies, amazing post-nuclear atmosphere, and some of the most ridiculous DLC in nuka-world.
After 55 hours of game time, players will probably have only just begun to scratch the surface of one of gaming's most expansive (and original) worlds. And that's not even mentioning the politically complicated, personally motivated, and morally muddy storylines that have players choosing which radiated regimes to side with. This game is full plate of fun, and an experience almost every player will give a glowing review.
4 Baldur's Gate 2: Shadow Of Amn
Another entry from RPG wizards Larian Studios and BioWare, and a title that is considered by Metacritic to be one of the ten best PC RPGs of all time, Baldur's Gate II: Shadow Of Amn is a super powered scratch for any player with a classic RPG itch. It may be kind of an oldie, but it also one of the most unanimous goldies.
An action-forward isometric RPG, similar in appearance to Diablo or Divinity: Original Sin, Baldur's Gate adapts D&D rules and worlds into an incredibly choice-heavy player experience. To say anymore would be sort of a waste, as any RPG fan needs to experience this game for themselves.
3 Skyshine's Bedlam
Describing this title is actually a rather difficult task. It is a rogue-like, turn based, tactical RPG with a lot of aesthetic similarities to Fallout's post-nuclear vibe or Mad Max's evil spikey cache of automobiles. But players should not doubt the fun (or sizable challenge) that this game has in store.
It's both a unique and difficult experience that will have players constantly second-guessing their decisions. Plus, the Banner Saga game engine gives this game a very lo-fi and retro feel, which perfectly fits the tactical, grizzly, rag tag combat and mutated world that players will spend their time exploring.
2 Dragon Age: Origins
Another entry in Bioware's extensive collection of amazing role-playing games, Dragon Age: Origins is also a relative oldie compared to other entries on this list. It is also one of the best, pure fantasy RPGs the industry has ever seen, with great focus on players' decisions. In fact, the game begins with 6 completely origin stories, depending on the class players select at the outset. So that's pretty cool.
And after the origin stories have finished originating, players join the famed ranks of the Grey Wardens, an order of warriors chosen to defend the world from dark invaders trying to end humanity. It would feel like a riff on Tolkien if it weren't for the incredibly appealing characters (each with their own relationships and side quests), the addicting and challenging combat, and the deep lore that drenches the world. If players are looking for some classic fantasy fare, it doesn't get much better than this,
1 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses has a lot in common with Wasteland 3. Mainly: players build parties of fighters that can all die at a moment's notice, and engage in tactical turn-based combat with deep RPG elements that make for a deeply strategic and customizable experience. Plus, this game has a brutal and compelling story with great characters.