R oleplaying games (RPGs) time considerable time and there’s no way around it. Whether your RPG involves fighting dragons, maxing your materia, exploring the seedy underbelly of Night City or maybe even starting a fistfight with god, chances are it’s going to take you tens of hours to get good at it.
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While the settings and mechanics may be different, every good RPG shares the ability to increase your character in ways that’s meaningful for you. This usually involves stacks of loot, levelling a character as well as grinding out XP by battering several low-level goons, too. So, with that in mind why invest all that time into an RPG that’s rubbish when you are able play on the of the greatest RPGs instead?
So, with you (yes, you. aren’t you special?) in mind we’ve dug up this list of most of the and latest RPGs to ensure that you’re only grinding away in the most worthwhile games out there, rather than indulging your loot goblin tendencies in other, lesser, titles.
These would be the RPGs you absolutely need to play. And here’s why…
Best RPGs
This list covers the most effective RPGs you can play in 2023. They include modern classics, in addition to new releases. As new games are released we’ll consider them with this list. In the meantime, check out the list below:
- FF7 Remake Intergrade
- Cyberpunk 2077
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Persona 5: Royal
- NieR: Automata
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Elden Ring
- Final Fantasy XIV: Online
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
Originally, Final Fantasy 7 Remake would be about this list but with the discharge of Intergrade, the next-generation version of the JRPG most surely deserves to be around instead.
With 60FPS gameplay, FF7 Remake Intergrade feels every bit as good because the real-time combat that compliments it. Its newly realised narrative sets up the world and characters perfectly for old fans from the original and new ones alike, whilst introducing a brand new new combat system that makes taking down bosses exhilarating.
Along using the main campaign, Intergrade also treats PS5 players with an extra piece of content by means of Episode Intermission which adds more substance towards the main campaign along with the teenage ninja herself, Yuffie.
Cyberpunk 2077
Look, Cyberpunk 2077 is always going to become a controversial addition to their list after its launch woes, but it is one of the better RPGs on the market after years of bug-fixing thanks to developers CD Projekt Red. It’s a testament to this work that this time buffing out most of the game’s more egregious problems at launch makes it feel fairly polished following the launch woe.s
Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t as filling an RPG as other things out there, with its Deus Ex styling and first-person shooter sensibilities you may be forgiven for thinking of it as being an action game, but there’s deep progression and a rich world hidden underneath the slightly buggy exterior. With ray tracing on, the setting of Night City is really a beautiful place to spend a few hours, as the situations you’ll find yourself often seem like there is a numerous different solutions informed from your own skills and perks.
If nothing else, it’s the only real game out there that allows you to cut someone in two together with your cybernetic wrist-blade implants.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim launched as i what food was in university, but somehow it’s still incredibly popular. Why? It could be the rich world that lets players explore and prod at the world, or maybe the fact you get to batter dragons and take their powers.
But, it might be also the fact you can dodge all of the actual “game” and reside in a weird shack in the woods and hunt deer as you grind your skills, letting you
Skyrim is one of the best RPG games not only because you can play whatever game you want to play, but since you can decide on whatever role you want to play. It has less freedom than some games: certain characters will be unkillable if they’re plot-relevant, and when you choose to dabble within the story you will end up saving the planet instead of dooming it, however, you can also throw yourself into a career in the thieves guild or even the dark brotherhood (they do assassinations).
Persona 5 Royal
The expansive version of Persona 5 is the absolute best way to play this JRPG. Not only does Royal range from the original campaign, it includes hours of more story quite happy with adding completely new characters and locations.
Royal's best moments revolved around its main cast of characters, The Phantom Thieves, who're each unique within their style and turn-based abilities. It might take you up to 100 hours to complete the primary campaign but every single hour is worth your time.
Persona 5 Royal's dungeon crawling might be its main appeal, but it is just one of a lot of things you can do hanging around as it is also a life sim. Completing activities, travelling around Tokyo Japan and gaining trust with other members of the Phantom Thieves is another vital part of the game's progression and your journey. Also, who would've thought while attending college may very well be fun?
NieR: Automata
NieR: Automata has some of the best combat in almost any RPG, there's no doubt. Its fluid combo-based, hack and slash gameplay accompanied by its emotional narrative and original soundtrack sweeps you up in a captivating journey that spans multiple endings.
Playing from three perspectives, you can explore a dystopian city, uncover its mysteries even while fighting hordes of robotic enemies with your trusty Pod along with a number of weapons.
Automata excels at telling a complex story whilst making the gameplay addictive as hell, and will also be one you will be talking about for years to come. This incredibly existential bit of storytelling is among the best RPG narratives available, and you need to play it.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is really a dream to experience if you're a fan of anything to use fantasy because the game has everything, as a result of breathtaking visuals and incredible focus on detail making going through the world as Geralt of Rivia great to play.
A fantastical narrative finds the player seeking answers across the many realms from the Continent producing a unique journey full of some of the finest role-playing ever, even when it is thought to have a lengthy campaign.
Wild Hunt's greatest RPG elements have been in the type of boss fights, player choices, interesting NPCs and side quests which are just like immersive because the narrative, along with developed characters that are worth your attention. Even after you've finished the primary campaign, the Witcher 3 DLC, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, expands the world much more with quests, locations, and characters which are just like memorable.
A “visually and technically enhanced” version of the game (promising to include new content inspired by Netflix's The Witcher series starring Henry Cavill) is expected to land mid-way through 2023.
Elden Ring
Is it cheating to include two Fromsoftware games towards the list? Maybe, but an exception needs to be made for Elden Ring. By transporting the Souls formula into among the best open worlds created in years, Fromsoftware’s latest hit produces the strongest RPG offering in the studio so far.
The Lands Between is ripe for exploration, and it’s hard to remain on the path to becoming an Elden Lord when there are so many goodies to find out in the world’s countless forgotten catacombs and dingy caves. Elden Ring also allows players to tackle its plethora of bosses at their own rate: if the enemy is especially tough, there’s nothing stopping players from retreating to understand more about for a short time before coming back stronger.
When you combine all of that having a thorough character creation system and titanic opportunity for build customisation, you’ve got all of the hallmarks of the great RPG – so that as our five-star review of Elden Ring highlights, it’s simply must-play.
Final Fantasy XIV Online
By now, no doubt you've heard of the critically acclaimed MMO which has a free trial up to Level 60. Final Fantasy XIV may be the culmination of all things great about RPGs by having an adventure that spans across three expansions and some of the very most stellar gaming writing ever.
The characters, who've become as iconic as other notable Final Fantasy protagonists, are the heart and soul from the story and its passionate creators make it therefore the player reaches experience that entirely. You aren't an onlooker within the narrative but they are instead actively active in the overall outcome, which makes it a deeply personal journey to experience.
I don't have enough words to even compliment its diverse selection of Job options, fantastic raid and dungeon design, enjoyable side quests when ever you need a break, as well as hundreds upon hundreds of hours more happy to scratch the itch (I am not kidding, there's a lot to do).
It's no secret that FFXIV launched inside a bad state, but put those thoughts aside because the game has evolved exceptionally since. Plus, there's more to look forward to as the MMORPG’s final expansion within the decade-long story launches later this year. Also, bunny boys!
That’s all we have to date for the best RPGs you can play in 2023. For a look at what’s still in store with this year, have a look at our upcoming games article.
