No wonder many players and critics consider Baldur's Gate 3 to be the best game of 2023. Developers from Larian Studios took the universe with Dungeons & Dragons game mechanics and transferred them almost perfectly to an interactive format. As a result, we got a game full of adventures, important decisions, interesting surprises, and space to play your own character.
You can spend hundreds of hours of real time in Baldur's Gate 3. But there will come a time when it will come to an end, and all the nuances will have been learned long ago. What can you do if you want to have a little more of this experience? It is to fulfill such desires that we have created this material.
The Age Of Decadence
Platforms Windows
Genre role play, tactics
Year 2015
The Age of Decadence began the journey of a small studio called Iron Tower Studio, which, by the way, employs many Ukrainians. The developers tried to lovingly recreate the key elements that made the CRPG genre popular. But they also left room for their own imagination.
For example, there is almost no magic in the world of The Age of Decadence. The game combines fantasy with post-apocalypse, inspired by the fall of the Roman Empire. You will have to study the intrigues of the city and its inhabitants to survive and uncover a large-scale conspiracy.
The Age of Decadence also stands out for its extreme hardcore. This is a gloomy, complex, and simply hard game for fans of the genre who want to test their skills.
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Platforms Windows
Genre role play
Year 2001
Troika Games has released only three games, but still entered the gaming industry hall of fame. What can we say when one of these games is the unsurpassed in many aspects Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines? However, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is also worthy of attention.
In the world of Arcanum, which is experiencing its own analogue of the Industrial Revolution, magic is in conflict with technological advances. The whole world is built around the contrasts of these two trends. Of course, the threat of ancient evil is also present in Arcanum.
You can choose either the path of the wizard or go the way of gadgets and advanced technologies. Either method will be useful, because the space for play and the variety of situations in Arcanum is huge.
Disco Elysium
Platforms Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Genre role play
Year 2019
Disco Elysium was released in 2019, but the game is still actively discussed today. Because the world, story, and characters that the developers from ZA/UM studio gave us turned out to be truly unforgettable. In Disco Elysium, you will take on the role of a detective who has lost his memory due to drug and alcohol abuse. However, he still has to solve a murder in the colorful city of Revashol.
The setting of the game is so well thought out that even ordinary household items can have an interesting description and place in a fictional story. The game generates unusual situations and constantly tests the skills of the protagonist. This is despite the fact that Disco Elysium does not have a combat system, but exploring the world and communicating with characters does not get boring until the very end. Everything is too atmospheric and soulful.
And even if the author of this text believes that the developers of Disco Elysium romanticize communism too much in their game, this does not diminish its greatness.
Divinity: Original Sin II
Platforms Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iPadOS
Genre role play
Year 2017
It was with Divinity: Original Sin II that the developers from Larian Studios began to master the genre of old-school role-playing games, additionally combining it with modern developments and their own interesting findings. Even the first part of Divinity: Original Sin deserves your attention, but in this selection we recommend the second part, because it's bigger and better.
In Rivelon, the greatest danger is the world of the Void, whose creatures want to overwhelm everything. The Divine Order is trying to restrain them, but its representatives have rather radical methods. The protagonist has experienced them firsthand, but by chance he becomes a potential key to saving the world. Or its ultimate destruction.
In Divinity: Original Sin II, your decisions shape the world around you, and you can influence almost all events and quests. A special system of elemental interaction makes battles and world exploration more interesting and encourages player creativity. And the most interesting part of the game is in cooperative mode, because then it begins to resemble a real party in a tabletop role-playing game. Divinity: Original Sin II is the closest game to Baldur's Gate 3 in terms of elements, so don't pass it by.
Dragon Age: Origins
Platforms Windows, macOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre role play
Year 2009
BioWare is still known as the studio that created some of the greatest role-playing games. However, in 2007, with the release of Mass Effect, the company began a shift away from classic CRPGs to more accessible action-oriented games that are easier to play on consoles. Dragon Age: Origins (2009) is a kind of compromise between modern RPG concepts and canons with genre traditions that have existed almost since the first Ultima game.
In Dragon Age: Origins, you will take on the role of the Grey Warden, who must assemble a team of like-minded people and fight back against evil. BioWare's trademark emphasis on teamwork and a deep combat system will not let you get bored. It's also a pretty brutal dark fantasy that will appeal to all fans of the genre.
We recommend starting with the first part. Then the series experimented with presentation, tone, and gameplay, but not everyone liked the experiments. Now is the perfect time to join the series, because a new part of the saga is coming soon - Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Neverwinter Nights 2
Platforms Windows
Genre role play
Year 2006
Neverwinter Nights 2 was released in 2006, when interest in classic CRPGs began to fade. There was only a year left before the release of Mass Effect, which would change the way role-playing games were viewed. But Obsidian Entertainment has managed to give players a bright and mysterious adventure.
Developers from Obsidian Entertainment liked to make sequels based on other people's games and worlds. This allowed them to focus less on technology and more on creativity. Neverwinter Nights 2 was no exception, as BioWare was responsible for the development of the first part.
In Neverwinter Nights 2, you have to search for powerful artifacts that are linked to an ancient evil. Of course, to do this, you need to improve your character's skills and gather a party of skilled fighters.
Pillars of Eternity
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Genre role play
Year 2015
Nowadays, Obsidian Entertainment is owned by Microsoft, so it has a relatively stable situation in terms of financing. But in the mid-2010s, due to a series of failures, the studio was almost on the verge of closure. Pillars of Eternity became a salvation for the developers and a clear proof that players will always need classic and hardcore role-playing games.
The money for Pillars of Eternity was raised through Kickstarter, and the campaign was extremely successful. The project was positioned as a spiritual descendant of Baldur's Gate, so there are plenty of similar elements. The protagonist of Pillars of Eternity can see past lives and interact with people's souls. And all in order to solve the problem of mass births of people without souls.
Planescape: Torment
Platforms Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Genre role play
Year 1999
Planescape: Torment may seem like just "another CRPG" that was released as actively as possible in the 90s. But this game is remembered with special love and respect. After all, its setting and plot are so unique and outstanding that even today they can sincerely impress.
The protagonist of Planescape: Torment is the mysterious immortal Nameless One, who doesn't remember anything about his life. You need to find out why this happened, because there is a high probability that amnesia is associated with very evil deeds.
The game departs from all fantasy canons as much as possible. For example, instead of swords and shields, the game uses earrings and body parts as equipment. You can play the game almost completely without battles, and the dialogues here touch on the most philosophical topics. This is a difficult game to understand, but the experience is worth the effort.
Shadowrun Returns
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Genre role play, tactics
Year 2013
Shadowrun is another classic tabletop RPG that has been transformed into a video game. The first part was released back in 1993 on the SNES. But in this text, we recommend a more modern version of Shadowrun Returns.
The main feature of the Shadowrun world is a combination of cyberpunk and fantasy. Gameplay-wise, it is a turn-based role-playing game where you need to develop the skills of characters and follow their progression. The developers focused more on battles than on moral choices. However, due to the unique setting and gameplay, you hardly notice the linearity of the game.
If you like Shadowrun Returns, you can also play Shadowrun: Dragonfall and Shadowrun: Hong Kong.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister
Platforms Windows, macOS, Xbox One / Series X|S, PlayStation 5
Genre role play, tactics
Year 2021
The developers of Solasta: Crown of the Magister were also inspired by Dungeons & Dragons role-playing games, but they emphasized action and combat. That is, dialogues and the universe take a secondary place. The emphasis is on confrontations with enemies and exploring dungeons.
You will have to control four characters at once, but real people can help you with this in cooperative play. The game has a huge number of skills and nuances that CRPG fans love to learn.
And when you get bored with the existing game content, you can try yourself as a DM and create your own campaign.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Platforms Windows, macOS, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Genre role play
Year 2003
The world of Star Wars is so vast and complex that a role-playing game based on it seemed to ask for it. However, the franchise was in trouble with this genre. It wasn't until 2003 that BioWare fixed the situation for good with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. This is not just the best Star Wars RPG, but one of the best games in its genre in general.
In it, you will plunge into the times of the Old Republic, when the space confrontations between the Jedi and the Sith were on a completely different scale. Of course, you can master the Force on your own, but no one is stopping you from using lasers, blasters, and other technologies from a galaxy far, far away.
In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic you will visit different planets, see many canonical elements of Star Wars, and generally won't get bored. There is even a place for some interesting mini-games like the Pazaak card game.
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S
Genre role play
Year 2016
Planescape: Torment remains an unrivaled game even today, but that doesn't mean that its success hasn't been repeated. In 2016, Torment: Tides of Numenera, which can be considered a spiritual descendant of Planescape: Torment. And even if it falls a little short of the original source, it's still not unique.
The world of Torment: Tides of Numenera combines elements of post-apocalypse, science fiction, and magical realism. The game's plot deals with the themes of rebirth, eternal life, and atonement for one's actions, but it's not easy to explain. That makes it all the more interesting to learn.
Again, instead of battles, you'll be more likely to talk and explore the world. Interestingly, this emphasis was more critically received in 2016 than in 2019 with the release of Disco Elysium.
Tyranny
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux
Genre role play
Year 2016
Another game from Obsidian Entertainment in an era when the studio was trying to make good CRPGs, but for little money. Tyranny was never even released on consoles, which seems like a pretty bold decision for 2016.
In Tyranny, you play as a character with the title of Dolemaker, who is subordinate to a belligerent empire. In one of the regions, guerrilla resistance is still active. Your task is to deal with it so that the empire can continue to flourish in peace.
Yes, this is a game in which you can feel like a villain from the very beginning. People don't like you very much, but you have power and all available methods of solving problems. This vector of plot development makes standard CRPG entertainment more interesting.
UnderRail
Platforms Windows
Genre role play, tactics
Year 2015
UnderRail is another attempt to recreate the canons of classic CRPGs in a modern wrapper. For Stygian Software, the game has become the main source of income, so the developers have been working on it for almost ten years and do not even think about stopping. During this time, UnderRail has acquired a large amount of content, so there are hundreds of hours of gameplay in the game.
In the world of the game, humanity has almost destroyed itself, and people have to survive in a complex and intricate subway system. At the same time, stations have turned into separate states. Yes, the similarities with the Metro 2033 setup are obvious.
The protagonist finds himself in the middle of a conflict between several factions, and it is your decisions that will determine who will emerge victorious. UnderRail also offers a huge scope for creating character builds, and the game's leveling is diverse and interesting. Updates are released regularly, so there is a high probability that the game will become even bigger by the end of the first playthrough.
Wasteland 3
Platforms Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S
Genre role play, tactics
Year 2020
At one time, Wasteland was a source of inspiration for the first Fallout game, which says a lot. But Fallout has turned into an action/RPG where you shoot more than you think. But Wasteland has brought back the classic post-apocalyptic experience and presented it to modern players.
In Wasteland 3, you control a group of rangers who must maintain some semblance of order in a world that has survived the end. Your choices determine what the future holds for Colorado.
Gameplay-wise, Wasteland 3 is more like XCOM and other modern turn-based strategies. Therefore, the mountains have space for both character development and tactical thinking.
Honorable mention
Baldur’s Gate та Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Platforms Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, iOS, Android
Genre role play
Year 1998, 2000
It is quite logical that if there is a Baldur's Gate 3, there must also be the first and second parts. BioWare was responsible for their development. It was these CRPGs that once made the studio popular and finally "made friends" with computers and tabletop role-playing games.
Of course, after the modern conveniences of the third part, the previous ones may seem a bit archaic. But they offer you literally the same world with familiar rules, places, characters, and story nuances. In addition, the Enhanced Edition will allow you to enjoy the games without any extra settings and even in a portable format.
The world of CRPGs is much bigger than we can fit into one article. So let us know in the comments what your favorite games are that belong to this genre. You can also recommend games from other genres that somehow remind you of Baldur's Gate 3.