The Best Single Player PC RPG Games of the Last 10-ish Years

[AsRock]

Kingdom Come Deliverance

As good as that game actually is, they recently pissed me off and just stopped playing. Fixing bugs is one thing but they changed the rules how the game works, like for example not being able to ride your horse if you are carrying to much and just made it a pain in the ass to play and make money to play the game.

 

[vectoravtech]

As good as that game actually is, they recently pissed me off and just stopped playing. Fixing bugs is one thing but they changed the rules how the game works, like for example not being able to ride your horse if you are carrying to much and just made it a pain in the ass to play and make money to play the game.

oh, I hope they start making other games real like this. I havnt owned that game yet btw

 

[aliovalio]

The Witcher, just because even a card game within a game was able to be made into a real standalone game... like, the thought put into making The Witcher 3 goes way beyond my comprehension, and it's nothing but awesome!

If you want to find out more about the Gwent game and its new expansion, here's my Blog Post.

Hope you'll enjoy it!

Cheers & Have a Good One!

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I'd choose Grim Dawn over D3 all day, I'm afraid.... But, that's why we have such variety available

I have Grim Dawn, I like it very much.

 

[yogurt_21]

neverwinter nights > 2 in many ways save for companion character development but really I think mask of the betrayer was peak on story/immersion and character development

really though if we're going back that far you have to bring in kotor1 and 2

had a hard time getting into the witcher series. Have yet to be able to complete a play through of 1. So I've never played 2 and thus not 3.

odds are getting worse I ever will.


will never play dark souls, keyboard and mouse only please.


dragon age origins is epic

I put ME2, Fallout NV and Skyrim on the same level

I get ME2 doesn't have the immersion or story of the first, but the many endings and replay-ability are awesome.

 

[dirtyferret]

neverwinter nights > 2 in many ways save for companion character development but really I think mask of the betrayer was peak on story/immersion and character development

really though if we're going back that far you have to bring in kotor1 and 2

had a hard time getting into the witcher series. Have yet to be able to complete a play through of 1. So I've never played 2 and thus not 3.

odds are getting worse I ever will.


will never play dark souls, keyboard and mouse only please.


dragon age origins is epic

I put ME2, Fallout NV and Skyrim on the same level

Reread (or just read) the initial post and you will see why Kotor I and II are not included but NW 2 is.

 

[yogurt_21]

Reread (or just read) the initial post and you will see why Kotor I and II are not included but NW 2 is.

With the best Single Player FPS games poll doing so well and with clear winners in Doom, Metro, Bioshock, and Wolfenstein I've decided to make my best PC single player RPG poll. You can vote for as many games as you like.

A few caveats;
* I can only list ten choices (which makes it fun and difficult to narrow down)
*Games & expansions by the same developer between 2008-2018 are used for the list and count as one game. So DA and NW2 count with their expansions but mods and different developer expansions don't count (KOTOR 2 restore mod and Beamdog's BA Siege expansion).
*The list is my personal opinion along with other lists on sites like PC Gamer, along with Meta-critic Professional and fan reviews.
*A few favorites like Fallout 3 & 4, Alpha Protocol, lost out to better versions in their series, mixed reviews, or better offerings from their developer.
*No MMORPGs; so no WoW, Guild Wars, ESO, etc.,

Enjoy, discuss, rant about missing games, and maybe you will find a game you haven't played but will enjoy down the line.

no idea what you thought you wrote there but no there is zero explanation as to why kotor was not included, a mod mention in a phrase that limits itself to a decade span many years after these games came out explains nothing at all.

but to Ford's point you did seem to be only including the past decade or so. (which is why he found the inclusion of NWN2 odd)

 

[dirtyferret]

no idea what you thought you wrote there but no there is zero explanation as to why kotor was not included, a mod mention in a phrase that limits itself to a decade span many years after these games came out explains nothing at all.

but to Ford's point you did seem to be only including the past decade or so. (which is why he found the inclusion of NWN2 odd)

Second caveat is the 100% explanation. I'm sorry basic math and reading comprehension is difficult for you.

 

[Fizban]

KOTOR II is 2 years older than NWN 2, and 5 years older than NWN's final DLC. Seems pretty obvious why it wasn't included.

 

[Vario]

I rated Skyrim the best. Its not a great RPG but it was the most fun for me. For me it was an FPS with swords, arrows, and spells. A lot of things about the game irritated me but I still had the most fun. I think the exploration and general goofiness that the player can get away with is what made it fun. One highlight was abusing the ritual stone to raise massive undead hordes. I love sandbox games. Also, I know this is single player discussion ... but I had a blast playing Skyrim Together Coop mod with some buddies even though it crashed a lot. I also liked FO4 but played that as a shooter as well, barely used VATs and leveled up the shooting skills.

 

[Fizban]

I liked Skyrim a lot, but Witcher 3 is definitely my favorite game of those listed. It's not even close. What is close for me is New Vegas vs Skyrim. I prefer the setting of Skyrim, but the writing of New Vegas.

 

[Apocalypsee]

I've voted few days ago but I never gave my opinion about it. The one and only game I voted is The Witcher 3. Mind you, I never played Witcher 1 and 2 before playing the 3. My cousin who love Skyrim give big praise to this game, keeps telling me to play this game and after a few years of its release I only played it last year (I think).

For me this game is the benchmark for all new games. It incorporate the best of visual, plus the great story and atmosphere with music that completes the package of this game. Earlier games like Skyrim and Fallout New Vegas might have good story and atmosphere and music, but it pales in comparison to this game in terms of (stock) graphics (and to some extend physics). IMO this game is the peak of what visual quality and story could ever come. Looking at how current trend of gaming, I don't think any other game will make me felt like this again. Perhaps they could make it again with Cyberpunk 2077? Time will tell...I don't like the setting of Cyberpunk, but I don't like the settings of Witcher too (at first) so I could be wrong.

It took me a couple of weeks to truly understands the game mechanics (silver sword for monster, steel for humans, signs, parry, equipment upgrades, etc.) but once that took off I'm really hooked to this game. Heck I played it for 3 straight months without touching any other games. After finishing the main game I started Blood and Wine and then stopped till this day. Why? Because I know if I finished the game I will feel very empty knowing I may never experienced anything like this again. Same like I felt when finishing the main game.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

KOTOR II is 2 years older than NWN 2, and 5 years older than NWN's final DLC. Seems pretty obvious why it wasn't included.

I have mixed feelings about KOTOR II. Namely, I beat it, and I remember hardly any of it. The story...felt...disjointed...

KOTOR was a better game because it wasn't disjointed. Problem is, combat in it sucked. It was like hybrid turn-based. Bioware really didn't get RPG combat right until Dragon Age: Origins.


I still don't know what RPG is my favorite and I think the reason for that is because RPG in itself is too broad of a category. It needs an extra field to narrow it down like sci-fi, fantasy, action, first person, third person, or adventure.

 

[Apocalypsee]

I have mixed feelings about KOTOR II. Namely, I beat it, and I remember hardly any of it. The story...felt...disjointed...

KOTOR was a better game because it wasn't disjointed. Problem is, combat in it sucked. It was like hybrid turn-based. Bioware really didn't get RPG combat right until Dragon Age: Origins.

KOTOR II was rushed and incomplete, but now there is restoration content mod for it. I finished it yesterday (with the restored content) and I'd say they restored the game well. I still need to replay it again since I dont get all the companion quest plus their full story.

 

[Fizban]

I've voted few days ago but I never gave my opinion about it. The one and only game I voted is The Witcher 3. Mind you, I never played Witcher 1 and 2 before playing the 3. My cousin who love Skyrim give big praise to this game, keeps telling me to play this game and after a few years of its release I only played it last year (I think).

For me this game is the benchmark for all new games. It incorporate the best of visual, plus the great story and atmosphere with music that completes the package of this game. Earlier games like Skyrim and Fallout New Vegas might have good story and atmosphere and music, but it pales in comparison to this game in terms of (stock) graphics (and to some extend physics). IMO this game is the peak of what visual quality and story could ever come. Looking at how current trend of gaming, I don't think any other game will make me felt like this again. Perhaps they could make it again with Cyberpunk 2077? Time will tell...I don't like the setting of Cyberpunk, but I don't like the settings of Witcher too (at first) so I could be wrong.

It took me a couple of weeks to truly understands the game mechanics (silver sword for monster, steel for humans, signs, parry, equipment upgrades, etc.) but once that took off I'm really hooked to this game. Heck I played it for 3 straight months without touching any other games. After finishing the main game I started Blood and Wine and then stopped till this day. Why? Because I know if I finished the game I will feel very empty knowing I may never experienced anything like this again. Same like I felt when finishing the main game.

It's a great game, but you seem to be overestimating its graphics. It's four years newer than Skyrim, and five years newer than New Vegas. Comparing its graphics to theirs is obviously going to look favorably upon it. Comparing it to more recent games like Far Cry 5 however shows how much graphics have come in the past four years since its release. It's not even close to the best looking game out. It was at launch, and Cyberpunk 2077 likely will be when it launches, but four years is a long time to think graphical fidelity hasn't improved as a whole across the entire industry. In another four years the games of today will look noticeably dated as well.

 

[Apocalypsee]

It's a great game, but you seem to be overestimating its graphics. It's four years newer than Skyrim, and five years newer than New Vegas. Comparing its graphics to theirs is obviously going to look favorably upon it. Comparing it to more recent games like Far Cry 5 however shows how much graphics have come in the past four years since its release. It's not even close to the best looking game out. It was at launch, and Cyberpunk 2077 likely will be when it launches, but four years is a long time to think graphical fidelity hasn't improved as a whole across the entire industry. In another four years the games of today will look noticeably dated as well.

Far Cry 5 or New Dawn don't look better than Witcher 3. IMO graphics has become stagnant this past few years, that is why nvidia has moved to new things like RTRT to improve things a bit.

 

[Fizban]

I don't even find it close. Far Cry 5 looks night and day superior to Witcher 3 IMO.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I don't even find it close. Far Cry 5 looks night and day superior to Witcher 3 IMO.

Far cry 5 looks sick, better than new dawn, which is a bit garish, needs a tad less color.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Far Cry 5 or New Dawn don't look better than Witcher 3. IMO graphics has become stagnant this past few years, that is why nvidia has moved to new things like RTRT to improve things a bit.

I don't even find it close. Far Cry 5 looks night and day superior to Witcher 3 IMO.

Far cry 5 looks sick, better than new dawn, which is a bit garish, needs a tad less color.

I don’t think you can compare them. They are different implementations of different engines. Each is suited to portraying their own worlds properly. I for one couldn’t imagine TW3 with different graphics. It is gorgeous for when it was made, and even as graphics move on, it is perfect for the setting and conveying the feel of that world.

 

[Fizban]

I think you can argue Witcher 3 has better aesthetics, because that's more about art style, and is fairly subjective. But as far as which is more realistic, I just really don't see how it can even be argued that Witcher 3 looks more realistic. It is undoubtedly a better game, but that's not at all the same as being superior graphically.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I think you can argue Witcher 3 has better aesthetics, because that's more about art style, and is fairly subjective. But as far as which is more realistic, I just really don't see how it can even be argued that Witcher 3 looks more realistic. It is undoubtedly a better game, but that's not at all the same as being superior graphically.

Again, as I just said, it’s not a competition for realism. It’s about the graphics conveying the setting OF THAT GAME, no matter the game.

There are other newer games that could be argued to look worse now, but they are perfect for the game they are implemented in. The Occupation comes to mind.

 

[Fizban]

That doesn't make sense to me. That just seems like a way to defend a game with inferior graphics. Clouds look like clouds. Water looks like water. Humans look like humans. You don't get to decide clouds look different in the Witcher's setting to argue that them looking less realistic doesn't mean they look inferior. Both games were aiming for photo-realism in their environments, one just succeeded more than the other.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Both games were aiming for photo-realism in their environments, one just succeeded more than the other.

Says who? You’ve got the inside scoop on every game team for every game ever made? I’ll make it even easier for you. Far Cry 5 and TW3 were both games you intimately know the dev’s goals and priorities because you were there?

Take a look at and play The Occupation. Hell, I’ll even BUY it for you. The graphics are perfectly suited to conveying a world FEEL. You then might see what I’m talking about.

Graphics is not about about realism. Consider them to be as much of a role as npc’s and the story in conveying a world feel.

Contrary to what you want to believe, every design team’s goal is NOT to make photorealism.

 

[Fizban]

I didn't say every games goal was photorealism. That's a strawman argument. I said it was specifically in those two games. Nothing about them is intentionally cartoony.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I didn't say every games goal was photorealism. That's a strawman argument. I said it was specifically in those two games. Nothing about them is intentionally cartoony.

So let me get this straight: for you, the only options are photorealistic and cartoonish? No room anywhere for anything in between huh? Wow!