There have been quite a few spectacular Role Playing Games (RPGs) released in the latest console generation, and (almost) all of them are available to play on the Xbox One. There’s a ton of variation in these games, between Action RPGs, Turn-Based Combat, and First-Person Shooters. Games where choices matter, and games where the story is set from the start. Chances are, even if you only like a certain type of RPG, there’s a game on this list that you’re going to have an absolute blast with. Here is, in this humble writer’s opinion, the top ten RPGs available to play on the Xbox One:
10 10. SKYRIM SPECIAL EDITION
I mean, you knew I was going to include this, didn’t you? We’re going to get the Bethesda ones out of the way right off the bat because it’s a given that they were going to be included. Skyrim is one of the most engrossing and humongous RPGs ever released. It has a ton of replay value, it has a ridiculous amount of decisions you get to make, there is so much depth when it comes to building your character, and the world is full of characters who are (generally) interesting and fun to hang out with. There’s a reason people talk about this game in hushed and reverent tones, and if you haven’t played it yet, there’s no better time than now.
9 9. FALLOUT 4
While I don’t quite have the love for this game that I do for Skyrim (no hate, this is still a fantastic game), Fallout 4 is still a brilliant example of an RPG with hundreds of hours of content and a ludicrous amount of replay value. If you prefer a first-person shooter to sword and sorcery, then this is probably more your cup of tea than Skyrim. There’s quite a lot of different weapons available, all of which are customization and upgradeable. While there aren’t quite the same number of role-playing options here as compared to Skyrim, if you don’t mind that, then you’ll have a great time with this game.
8 8. THE WITCHER 3
Considered by many to be the greatest game ever released, The Witcher 3 is probably the biggest and most meticulously hand-crafted game that I’ve ever played. There’s an almost overwhelming amount of content in this game, and somehow, just about all of it is interesting and adds to the world. This is especially true of the Witcher contracts scattered about the game, most of which have a surprising amount of characters and story involved. The main quests are no slouch, either, with a wide variety of locations, enemies, and decisions to make therein. All in all, if this game isn’t the greatest of all time, it’s certainly a contender.
7 7. DIVINITY: ORIGINAL SIN 1&2
Both Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition and Divinity: Original Sin II are fantastic examples of turn-based combat in an open-world done beautifully. Each and every location in these games are super-dense in terms of content, and by the time you leave each area, you’ll likely be able to draw a map of them from memory. There are a ton of characters you’ll be able to play around with, allowing you to play with your party composition in order to figure out the combination that works best for you. Both of these games have a huge wealth of content, and if the gameplay is your thing, you’ll be spending dozens of hours with them each.
6 6. DARK SOULS SERIES
Now that the Dark Souls 1 Remaster has been released, every single Dark Souls game is available to play on the Xbox One. That means there are dozens upon dozens of bosses to struggle with, hundreds of bonfires to light in ecstasy, and at least two controller replacements to buy. Seriously, this series has not only made a huge impact in the games industry, but these games have also had a huge impact on the lives of those who have played them. If you’ve never dipped into a Souls game and you enjoy a merciless experience that forces you to improve yourself, then these are made for you.
5 5. DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION
The latest game in the Dragon Age series, Dragon Age: Inquisition was the first I’d ever played. And I’ll be honest, I wasn’t crazy about it at first. But once I got past the tutorial and the game really started, I had a hard time putting it down to do the little things, like eat and sleep. This game truly shines in the interactions between characters, and I don’t think I’ve ever played a game where I cared about how others perceived my actions as I do in Dragon Age: Inquisition. There’s so much depth to the decision-making in this game; everything you do is going to have a cost along with the benefit. Like a real leader, you need to weigh your options wisely or risk losing your influence entirely.
4 4. KINGDOM COME: DELIVERANCE
At first glance, Kingdom Come might look a little bit… strange. In fact, I wouldn’t argue if that was your conclusion after playing the game, but once you really get into it, learn the mechanics and how the world works, it’s a game that is truly unlike any other I’ve ever seen. This game does everything it can to stay as real as possible from the combat to the incredibly dark nights and the characters. This game is definitely not going to be everybody’s preference, but those who are willing to dive in and take some bumps along the way are going to find a lot to enjoy.
3 3. DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED
Like Dragon Age, this is the first game of the Deus Ex series that I’d ever played. And, like Dragon Age, I bounced off pretty hard on my first experience with the game. But once the story really gets going and you get some more options in terms of building the combat style you prefer, this game is awesome. The world-building this game accomplishes is something to behold, and if you like the cyberpunk aesthetic, you’re going to love the look and feel of this game. There are a ton of decisions to make in the story and a huge variety of ways you can get through every level, ensuring you get to play the game your way.
2 2. ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS/ODYSSEY
The latest of the Assassin’s Creed series, these two games make much more effort than their predecessors at being a full-fledged Action-RPG, and they pull it off pretty well. You get to build your character into the Assassin that you want as you progress along, as well as continually upgrade and improve the gear that you use. There are quite a few dialogue options and decisions to make in Odyssey especially, and they both have humongous and beautiful world’s to explore.
1 1. MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD
This was many people’s first entry into the Monster Hunter world (see what I did there?), as was the developer’s intention. This game is friendly enough to newcomers to allow them to ease into the game, while still having plenty of depth so that those fluent in the game’s mechanics can jump right in and get to work. There are a ton of enemies to fight, a slew of combat options, and quite a few locations to explore, ensuring you’ll stay busy with this game for quite a long time.
