The Ultimate RPG Masterpieces You Cannot Miss

Metaverse Planet

February 23, 2026

I’ve always felt that playing a truly great Role-Playing Game (RPG) is less about pressing buttons on a controller and more about packing your bags and moving to another dimension. Whenever I boot up a deep RPG, I am not just playing a game; I am living a second life.

Over the years, the genre has splintered into so many incredible sub-genres. We have classic tabletop-inspired CRPGs, highly stylized Japanese JRPGs, and massive open-world action epics. I spent some time looking back at the absolute best experiences this genre has to offer. I didn’t just want to list games with good graphics; I wanted to highlight the worlds that actually respond to your choices, where your character’s existence leaves a permanent mark.

From massive PC blockbusters to mobile ports that genuinely surprised me, here is my definitive list of the greatest RPGs you absolutely have to play.

Contents

The Greatest PC and Console RPGs of All Time

The Best Mobile RPGs for On-the-Go Adventures

The Greatest PC and Console RPGs of All Time

When I want to lose myself for a hundred hours, these are the heavy hitters I return to. They define what it means to build a digital world.

1. Baldur’s Gate 3

If you ask me, this is the undisputed peak of modern CRPGs. I was blown away by how Larian Studios managed to take the classic tabletop Dungeons & Dragons formula and turn it into a cinematic masterpiece.

The Hook: You have a mind flayer parasite in your brain, and you need to get it out before you turn into a monster.
Why I love it: The sheer freedom is staggering. Every single choice, dialogue option, and chaotic battle strategy actually matters. It’s a game that begs to be replayed.

2. Elden Ring

It is impossible to talk about RPGs without bringing up FromSoftware. While Bloodborne holds a special place in my heart, Elden Ring is their magnum opus.

The Hook: A dark, chaotic open world crafted with the help of George R. R. Martin, where you must hunt down demigods to claim the Great Runes.
Why I love it: It completely revolutionized open-world exploration. If a boss is too hard, you don’t hit a brick wall; you just ride your horse in another direction, find a weird dungeon, level up, and come back stronger.

3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Whenever I think of perfect side quests, my mind immediately goes to Geralt of Rivia. CD Projekt RED created a dark fantasy world that feels incredibly lived-in and politically complex.

The Hook: You are a monster hunter searching for your adopted daughter, Ciri, while a spectral army known as the Wild Hunt chases her.
Why I love it: There is no black-and-white morality here. Most quests force you to choose between two terrible options, and you have to live with the depressing consequences. It is brilliant storytelling.

4. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

This is the ultimate sci-fi epic. BioWare packaged the entire Commander Shepard trilogy into one modernized experience, and playing it back-to-back is something every gamer needs to do.

The Hook: You are humanity’s best hope against an ancient, galaxy-destroying machine race called the Reapers.
Why I love it: The fact that a decision I made in the first game fundamentally altered who lived and died in the third game still blows my mind. You build a crew that genuinely feels like family.

5. Dragon Age: Origins

Considered the spiritual successor to the original Baldur’s Gate, this BioWare classic still holds up because of its incredible tactical combat and rich lore.

The Hook: You join the Grey Wardens, an ancient order of warriors, to stop a demonic invasion known as the Blight.
Why I love it: Your chosen “origin” story completely changes how the world reacts to you. Playing as an impoverished elf feels entirely different from playing as a human noble.

6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

I couldn’t leave Bethesda off this list. While Oblivion is a classic, Skyrim is the game that defined a whole generation of open-world exploration.

The Hook: You are the Dragonborn, prophesied to stop the world-eating dragon, Alduin.
Why I love it: The main quest is just an excuse to exist in Tamriel. I usually end up ignoring the dragons completely to become an infamous assassin or the Arch-Mage of a wizarding college. You are free to be whoever you want.

7. Fallout: New Vegas

In my opinion, this is the greatest Fallout game ever made. It blends classic RPG mechanics with a first-person shooter in a post-apocalyptic desert.

The Hook: You are a courier who gets shot in the head over a poker chip. After surviving, you get caught in a massive war for control of the Hoover Dam.
Why I love it: The faction system is flawless. You can side with the military, a legion of Roman cosplayers, a billionaire cyborg, or just take over Vegas for yourself.

8. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

The first game was a hyper-realistic medieval simulator, but the sequel turns everything up to eleven.

The Hook: You experience 15th-century Bohemia through the eyes of Henry, dealing with brutal politics and devastating wars.
Why I love it: It drops the magic and dragons for historical realism. The combat is heavily skill-based, and the role-playing elements force you to act like a real person surviving in the Middle Ages.

9. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This game breathed entirely new life into the JRPG formula. It caught my attention with its bizarre, haunting premise.

The Hook: A mysterious entity called the “Paintress” paints a number every year, and everyone of that age instantly dies. You are part of the 33rd expedition trying to kill her.
Why I love it: It mixes traditional turn-based combat with real-time reaction mechanics (like dodging or parrying). The tragic narrative had me hooked from the start.

10. Persona 5 Royal

If you want style, you play Persona 5 Royal. It perfectly blends a hardcore dungeon-crawling JRPG with a high school social simulator.

The Hook: You are a teenager in Tokyo who moonlights as a “Phantom Thief,” diving into the corrupted minds of evil adults to change their hearts.
Why I love it: Time management is everything. Hanging out with your friends after school actually makes you stronger in combat. It is incredibly addictive.

11. Hogwarts Legacy

While it might not have the deepest branching narrative, it is an absolute dream come true for anyone who grew up wanting a wand.

The Hook: You are a late-blooming 5th-year student at Hogwarts in the 1800s, uncovering an ancient magic secret.
Why I love it: The combat is surprisingly fluid—juggling enemies in the air with spell combos feels great. But the real magic is just walking the halls of the castle.

12. Red Dead Online

While Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece, the Online component is a massive sandbox for pure roleplaying.

The Hook: Create your own outlaw and carve out a life in the incredibly detailed Wild West.
Why I love it: It is the little things. I can spend hours just hunting in the snow, trading pelts, or brewing moonshine. It’s a slow-paced, deeply immersive world.

13. Fable II

We are getting a new Fable soon, but the second game remains an absolute treasure. It is essentially an RPG mixed with a life simulator.

The Hook: A classic revenge tale set in the fairy-tale world of Albion.
Why I love it: Your morality physically changes you. Be evil, and you grow horns and flies buzz around you; be good, and you gain a holy aura. Plus, you can buy houses, get married, and have kids.

14. Divinity: Original Sin II

Before Larian gave us Baldur’s Gate 3, they made this masterpiece. If you haven’t played it yet, you are missing out on one of the genre’s highest peaks.

The Hook: You are a “Sourcerer” on the run, caught in a battle to become the next divine being.
Why I love it: The environmental combat is genius. Cast rain on an enemy, then hit them with a lightning spell to electrocute the whole puddle.

15. Cyberpunk 2077

I know the launch was a mess, but I have to admit, after all the updates and the expansion, this is now a top-tier action RPG.

The Hook: You are a mercenary named V, navigating a neon-lit dystopian metropolis with the digital ghost of a dead rockstar (played by Keanu Reeves) stuck in your head.
Why I love it: Night City is breathtaking. The ability to build a character that is a stealth-hacking ninja or a heavily armored, shotgun-wielding cyborg gives you immense replay value.

The Best Mobile RPGs for On-the-Go Adventures

I used to think mobile gaming was just matching candies, but the platform has evolved. Whether you want deep PC ports or native free-to-play epics, your phone is now a legitimate RPG machine.

1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II

KOTOR II brings one of the deepest, darkest Star Wars stories right to your pocket. The touchscreen controls work surprisingly well for its pause-and-play combat, and the gray morality of the Jedi/Sith conflict is brilliant.

2. Baldur’s Gate II (Enhanced Edition)

This is a piece of gaming history. Translating this massive CRPG to mobile means you can manage your party, pause combat, and explore the Forgotten Realms while sitting on the bus. It requires a bit of screen tapping precision, but the deep story is worth it.

3. The Banner Saga

This indie darling feels like a playable, hand-drawn Norse myth. It is a mix of tactical combat and brutal Oregon Trail-style resource management. I lost characters I loved simply because I made one bad leadership decision.

4. Stardew Valley

Do not let the cute farming facade fool you; this is a deep RPG. You build a farm, mine for resources, fight slimes, and build relationships with the entire town. It is the perfect, relaxing mobile escape.

5. Disco Elysium

The fact that this game runs on mobile is wild to me. It is an RPG with zero traditional combat. You play an amnesiac detective, and your “stats” are literally the different facets of your brain arguing with each other. It is a literary masterpiece.

6. Planescape: Torment (Enhanced Edition)

If you want an RPG that asks philosophical questions, this is it. You play “The Nameless One,” an immortal covered in scars trying to uncover his past. It is incredibly text-heavy, making it read like an amazing interactive novel on your phone.

7. Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

Built on the same engine as Baldur’s Gate, this game leans heavily into intense, tactical combat rather than a sprawling narrative. It is perfect if you just want to build a party of six custom heroes and clear out brutal dungeons in the frozen north.

8. Genshin Impact

It is honestly hard to believe this is a mobile game. Genshin Impact offers a console-quality open world with a brilliant elemental combat system. While it has gacha mechanics, the sheer amount of high-quality, free exploration available is staggering.

9. Zenless Zone Zero

HoYoverse struck gold again with this one. It is an urban, post-apocalyptic action RPG with an incredible neon-punk aesthetic. The combat is incredibly fast and flashy, and they optimized the touchscreen controls perfectly for high-speed combos.

10. Where Winds Meet

This is an incredibly ambitious free-to-play Wuxia MMORPG. Set during the fall of the Song Dynasty, it blends martial arts combat with deep political intrigue. The freedom of exploration and the stylized swordplay make it a standout on mobile.

My Final Take

Looking at this list, it’s clear that whether you have a high-end PC or just a smartphone in your pocket, there is an entire universe waiting for you to step in and take control. I’ve lived a hundred lives through these games, and I’m always looking for the next one.

Now I want to turn it over to you: If you could wipe your memory to experience just one of these RPGs completely blind for the very first time, which one would it be and why? Let’s chat in the comments!