4 RPGs Better Than Elden Ring

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Role-playing games, or RPGs, are incredibly popular, but it’s tough for new ones to stand out. In 2022, FromSoftware released a game that captured the attention of nearly all RPG fans, even players unfamiliar with their challenging ‘Soulsborne’ style of games.

Many critics and players consider Elden Ring to be one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and it’s incredibly popular – so much so that its 2024 expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, was even nominated for Game of the Year. However, despite being a fantastic game, Elden Ring does have some strong competitors.

Dragon Age: Origins Is a Go-To RPG for Many Gamers

Any list of great role-playing games has to include the Dragon Age series. However, after the latest installment, it’s looking unlikely that we’ll see another game in the future. Despite this, Dragon Age remains a truly exceptional series and a perfect example of what an RPG can be.

Every choice you make in the game has significant consequences, impacting your character’s moral compass, shifting political relationships, and even determining their romantic fate. Many consider Dragon Age: Origins to be the strongest installment in the Dragon Age series. It’s a gritty fantasy adventure where you play as a member of the Grey Wardens.

So, I’m playing this game, and basically, there’s this secret group dedicated to fighting the Darkspawn – these really nasty creatures that are terrorizing the kingdom of Ferelden. The whole point of the game, Origins, is to track down and kill the Archdemon, which is like the big boss controlling all the Darkspawn. Everyone’s hoping if we take down the Archdemon, it’ll finally stop this massive invasion and save the kingdom.

The game offers a lot of character customization. Players can choose to be a warrior, mage, or rogue, each with distinct skills and ways of fighting. They can also select an elf, human, or dwarf, which affects the character’s story, how they interact with the game world, and their overall personality.

I really loved how the later Dragon Age games let you create almost any kind of character you wanted, with tons of different classes and races to choose from. It felt like they really wanted us to play the way we wanted. Plus, you don’t just control your main character – you’re leading a whole team! Each of your companions has their own special abilities and weapons, which makes combat way more interesting and strategic.

BioWare, known for the Dragon Age games, created Origins as a follow-up to the classic RPGs Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights. While Baldur’s Gate 3 was excellent, Origins remains a standout RPG. Nearly 20 years after its release, it’s still a fun and engaging game for most players.

Bloodborne Is FromSoftware’s Best Game

Although Elden Ring has received a lot of attention and remains popular, many consider it to be less impressive than other games made by FromSoftware. Many fans of their action RPGs, often called ‘Soulsborne’ games, believe Bloodborne is their best work. This game combines the captivating elements of RPGs with a dark and frightening setting.

In Bloodborne, you play as a Hunter venturing through the eerie, Victorian city of Yharnam. The game’s dark, Gothic atmosphere is both stunning and unsettling, creating a thrilling yet frightening experience. Yharnam is suffering from a strange blood-borne illness that transforms people into terrifying, inhuman monsters.

In this game, you play as The Hunter, a character you can customize, and your main goal is to find out what’s causing a mysterious illness and, hopefully, a way to stop it. You’ll do this by exploring the city of Yharnam while fighting off both infected people and strange, powerful creatures. When combat happens, it’s all about carefully choosing your weapons and using strategy to win.

Okay, so in Bloodborne, you can’t just beat every enemy the same way – you really have to learn their weaknesses and change up your tactics. What I love about it is how it mixes a bunch of stuff together. It’s definitely an action RPG where you level up and find cool gear, but it’s also super creepy and tense like a survival horror game. Plus, the whole story is basically a mystery – you’re trying to figure out what’s causing this awful disease, and uncovering the truth is a big part of the fun.

The game masterfully captures the feel of its inspirations, drawing from the architecture of locations like Romania and the Czech Republic, as well as the writing of authors like Bram Stoker and H.P. Lovecraft. Thanks to its incredible detail, demanding but satisfying battles, and stunning visuals, Bloodborne is widely regarded as a true masterpiece.

Fallout: New Vegas Set an Unmatched Standard

The Fallout series is a landmark RPG that continues to be incredibly popular. Recent successes include the Fallout TV show on Prime Video (2024-2026) and the ongoing game Fallout 76, which just got a big update. The first Fallout game came out in 1997, and players have loved exploring its world after the apocalypse ever since. Many fans consider Fallout: New Vegas (2010) to be the standout title in the series.

Fallout: New Vegas is an action role-playing game with survival aspects, taking place in the ruins of Las Vegas, Nevada, over two centuries after a nuclear war. You play as the Courier, who is almost killed at the beginning of the game, and quickly becomes entangled in a conflict between different groups battling for power in the city.

Initially, New Vegas was planned as a smaller, separate game. However, the developers at Obsidian Entertainment decided to make it a full-fledged title, centering the experience around Las Vegas and the nearby desert. They were drawn to the idea of combining a classic 1950s style with the harsh, desolate landscapes seen in post-apocalyptic worlds like Mad Max.

Explore the dangerous Mojave Desert from either a first-person or third-person view. The game takes place over 200 years after a devastating war and challenges you to discover the hidden truths behind the glamorous Strip. Your character’s skills and abilities are important, and how you develop them will affect how events unfold.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Is Still the RPG Gold Standard More than 10 Years Later

Developed by CD Projekt Red, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an action role-playing game widely considered to be one of the best games of all time – even comedian Conan O’Brien has praised it. It continues the story from the previous game, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, and is based on the fantasy novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.

In this game, you play as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter with special abilities and limited magical powers. He’s on a quest to find Ciri, his adopted daughter, and keep her safe from a terrifying group called the Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt are ghostly riders who hunt people to enslave them, and they’re particularly fixated on Ciri because of a unique power she possesses, known as Elder Blood.

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you’ll explore a huge, detailed world where you’re constantly finding new things. You can collect materials, hunt monsters to gain experience, and talk to characters who feel like real people and influence the story. Completing side quests and monster hunting jobs also earns you experience, money, and better equipment.

There are countless reasons why Wild Hunt is considered one of the greatest RPGs of all time, but its incredible immersion is what truly sets it apart. Even though it’s set in a fantastical world, the detailed world-building and how characters respond to your actions feel remarkably real. With tons to explore, discover, and multiple ways to end the story, players will always have something new to experience.

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2026-02-15 19:09