The 18 Greatest RPGs of All Time

From sprawling open worlds to tightly woven turn-based sagas, this lineup pits decades of genre-defining adventures against scrappy cult favorites. Where do you stand?

1

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

CD Projekt Red's 2015 open-world fantasy epic following monster hunter Geralt of Rivia.

1000pts

2

EarthBound

A 1994 cult-classic JRPG set in a quirky, modern-day America with surreal humor.

750pts

3

Chrono Trigger

A 1995 time-travel JRPG widely called the most perfectly crafted role-playing game ever made.

675pts

4

Planescape: Torment

A 1999 isometric RPG renowned for its philosophical writing and the immortal Nameless One.

562pts

5

Dark Souls

FromSoftware's 2011 punishing action RPG that redefined difficulty and interconnected level design.

375pts

6

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Bethesda's 2011 open-world fantasy RPG set in the dragon-haunted province of Skyrim.

225pts

7

Fallout: New Vegas

Obsidian's 2010 post-apocalyptic RPG set in the irradiated Mojave Wasteland.

225pts

8

Baldur's Gate 3

Larian Studios' 2023 D&D adventure praised as the most reactive RPG ever released.

225pts

9

Dragon Age: Origins

BioWare's 2009 dark-fantasy RPG following a Grey Warden's fight against the Blight.

225pts

10

Final Fantasy VII

Square's 1997 PlayStation JRPG whose story of Cloud and Sephiroth became a cultural landmark.

225pts

11

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Bethesda's 2002 open-world RPG set on the alien volcanic island of Vvardenfell.

225pts

12

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

BioWare's 2003 RPG set millennia before the films, famed for its dark-side twist.

225pts

13

Persona 5

Atlus's 2016 stylish JRPG about teenage Phantom Thieves stealing corrupt hearts.

225pts

14

Disco Elysium

ZA/UM's 2019 detective RPG built entirely on dialogue, skills, and inner monologue.

1pts

15

Elden Ring

FromSoftware's 2022 open-world action RPG co-created with novelist George R. R. Martin.

1pts

16

Final Fantasy VI

Square's 1994 SNES JRPG with a sprawling ensemble cast and the operatic villain Kefka.

1pts

17

Mass Effect 2

BioWare's 2010 sci-fi RPG built around Commander Shepard's suicide mission and crew loyalty.

1pts

18

Diablo II

Blizzard's 2000 action RPG that set the template for loot-driven dungeon crawlers.

1pts