Finishing a game you love is such a bittersweet experience. You did it! You achieved your goal of beating that final boss, or discovering that final piece of the story! But then… that’s it; it’s over. Time to mod it (if you can), or pick up something new. And finding that something new can be challenging if you’re looking for more of that pure RPG experience that Pillars of Eternity or the recently released Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire offers. If you’ve already mastered those two amazing games, well you've come to the right place.
If you haven’t played either PoE titles, but you’re looking for a game that’ll harken back to the top-down RPG glory days--with a sprawling open world, complex party dynamics, and a deep story--well then you, dear reader, have also come to the right place! (And you should probably check out Pillars of Eternity, I think you’d like it!)
Here are 15 games that RPG veterans will love: 15 games that make modern Bioware titles seem more like dating sims than RPGs.
SIDE NOTE: Maybe you’ve seen it before, but I’ll use the term cRPG in this article and you might be wondering what it means. Well you probably already know the RPG part (Role Playing Game), and the “c” technically stands for “computer” RPG, but it more accurately means “complex” or “classic”, as it refers to the style of old-school RPGs of yesteryear (late 90s) that are closer to actual table-top pen and paper RPGs than modern RPG titles like Skyrim or Mass Effect.
15. Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 gameplay (single-player)
Divinity: Original Sin 2 was PC Gamer’s “Game of the Year” for 2017, and that should be all I need to say to get you to try it out…. Oh, and it has a score of 93 on Metacritic. More? Really?
Well, Divinity: Original Sin 2 truly captures the essence of table-top RPG gaming. The game’s story is rich and deep, and there is absolute freedom to define the exact role that you want to play. Playing as a Human, Lizard (think: Argonian), Dwarf, Elf, or Undead, you can kill every NPC without bugging-out the game, and interact with every single creature you encounter--not many games can boast that! Every single choice does have a consequence though…
You don’t have to quest alone either. Gather your pen-and-paper D&D playmates (who you’re inevitably going to abandon after picking this game up) and gear up for some online or even split screen multiplayer instead!
Right from the start, Divinity: Original Sin 2 has so much depth and detail.
Manage your team and manage your cooldowns to make it through a fight like this.
14. Tyranny
Tyranny Let’s Play
Tyranny is especially similar to Pillars of Eternity because it was also developed by Obsidian. Released in 2016 between Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2, Tyranny has a similarly addicting story that is really hard to put down once you start. The biggest difference with Tyranny is that it has a significantly darker plot and aesthetic.
Instead of starting as the more typical dungeon crawling adventurer, in Tyranny your character begins as an arbiter of law in a world that feels a lot like Diablo 2: devastated, and ripped apart (literally and figuratively) by war and terror. It is up to you to lay down the law in Tyranny… however you see fit.
The combat is similarly tactical real-time, with the ability to pause and plan out how you will order your companions to decimate your enemies. And just like Pillars of Eternity, your choices really matter. So think carefully when you're deciding whether to be a charismatic, honorable leader, or an all-powerful tyrant (wink wink) who rules with fear!
Many players will appreciate the dark and foreboding aesthetic of Tyranny.
Each and every quest has so much detail.
13. Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins let’s play.
On the surface it is another fantastic cRPG offering. You are immediately immersed in a high-fantasy world that is on the brink of annihilation, and it is up to you as one of the last of an order of legendary guardians to assemble/order/and romance your companions (it’s a Bioware game!), as you sculpt your character and the outcome of the world. It really is a blast.
Technically, some features are a bit simplified when compared to Pillars of Eternity: classes offer less variation, there is less control in the choices you make, and the game is overall a bit more linear. But when you’re playing Dragon Age: Origins, when you’re knee-deep in a compelling quest and you’re confronted with a major moral choice, the fantastic story is all you’re thinking about, and not the slight technical differences.
The battles/boss fights are challenging and rewarding, and are built into the storyline in a satisfying way. You can’t change the set endgame objective but you can completely control the journey to get there (which is very Lord of the Rings-esque): Will you explore the elven forest to enlist their leaders, or the complicated depths of the dwarven deep roads in search of an ancient machine to aid your cause.
The cRPG purist might gripe a little bit, or call it another Bioware dating sim because of the romances that can feel a bit scripted at times, but in the moment you’ll be head-over-heels for the story.
You decide his fate.
Dragon Age: Origins is ready to mod too! There are tons available!
12. Titan Quest: Anniversary Edition
Titan Quest: Anniversary Edition playthrough
From the Age of Empires co-creator, this ARPG (Action RPG) takes you on an epic quest through the legends and locations of ancient Greece, Asia, and Egypt. Titan Quest is considered an ARPG because the combat is real-time instead of turn-based-- something that is different from Pillars of Eternity, but also something some gamers prefer.
Titan Quest allows you to hack and slash your way through the myths that we usually only read about in books: like the horrors of Hades, the battles of Agamemnon and Achilles, and the dangers Odysseus faced on his epic journey.
There is online multiplayer available, co-op gameplay, and built in World-editor that allows you to create your own maps. And to top it all off , the price to fun ratio of this game is off the charts. As I write this, Titan Quest: Anniversary Edition is currently on sale for $3.99, and the historical lowest price is… free.
The HUD reminds me a lot of Diablo.
...so does the inventory!
11. Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
Let’s play Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition is brought to you by Black Isle, who also helped develop or publish every Baldur’s Gate titles and also Fallout 2. So yeah, their resume is legit. Icewind Dale debuted in 2000, shortly after Fallout 2, and was remade as an “Enhanced Edition” in 2014. For those of you who crave more action and gameplay enhancements in their RPGs, then this is definitely one for you to check out.
As the title might suggest, in Icewind tale you begin your journey in a frigid and frozen tundra-- the northernmost reaches of the forgotten realms to be exact. Here your main objective is to prove you’re tough enough to survive this harsh mountainous land that the locals call the Spine of the World as you search for some unseen evil that is wreaking havoc from beneath the icy land.
You'll encounter beasts that call this unforgiving land home, and meet them with dozens of different spells and weapons (many of them new in the enhanced edition).
You'll search for this demonic force that is ruining Faerun from somewhere beneath the icy ground with your custom designed AI companions, or with other players around the world with cross-platform multiplayer!
And you can enjoy all of this classic isometric RPG goodness of 2000 with improved graphics, bug fixes, and restored quests.
Is this dragon a sculpture? Or frozen in ice that could thaw at any moment?
10. The Bard’s Tale
The Bard’s Tale gameplay walkthrough
The defining characteristic of this RPG is its attitude! In The Bard’s tale, be prepared to follow the path of “coin and cleavage” instead of the usual “save the world” direction. Be prepared to take this Action RPG a little more lightly than the other titles on this list.
The Bard’s Tale is really funny and includes lots of satire and mocking of the RPG genre within which it exists. So it makes perfect sense that included in the 14 hours of hilarious Hollywood quality voice acting is dialogue performed by actress Cary Elwes from The Princess Bride!
The Bard’s tale is in many ways a spiritual successor to that classic movie, as the game is a humorous spoof on the genre it’s part of.
The bard you play as in action RPG tale is tired of existing in an action RPG. He is a suave and selfish man who is sick of pointless side-quests and repetitive dungeon crawling.
Being an ARPG, The Bard’s Tale is played in 3rd person within a 3D environment full of active combat(no turns or pausing), and without character classes and inventory management. The game definitely reminds me of the Fable franchise. But, there is a special feature in The Bard’s Tale that we don’t see much in Fable or other ARPGs : dancing, LOTS of dancing. You’ll encounter 50 enemy types (plus unique bosses), 150 unique items, tons of bizzare NPCs, and more song and dance numbers that any other game (including a zombie dance off).
Communication is done through “Snarky or Nice” dialogue options, and your 20-30 hour journey through the vast world of towns, forests, rivers, castles, towers, secret dungeons, snowy mountains, caverns, haunted tombs and more will be shaped by these dialogue decisions.
How do you reply: “snarky” or “nice”?
This guy is just begging for a snark-attack…
9. The Age of Decadence
The Age of Decadence let’s play, part one (mercenary playthrough)
While technically falling under the RPG category, The Age of Decadence is unlike any of the other games on this list, and that is, in fact, what the developers set out to achieve. The formula for an RPG is fairly predictable, as I’m sure you’ve noticed before, or at least just while reading this list. So The Age of Decadence set out to break this mold.
So what’s it about? Well at the heart of it you are trying to solve a mystery. Three noble houses govern over a society that is crumbling, and it is up to you to figure out why. There are the typical RPG guilds who also want their piece of the pie, filled with nearly 1000 characters interacting with you and each other with over 600,000 words of dialogue. But, there are NO elves, dwarves, magic, and all the usually trappings of a fantasy RPG.
The game is hard. Dying is easy, and you better have good reason to pick a fight. You won’t be able to “save the world” in The Age of Decadence by becoming all powerful and destroying everything in your path. You’ll progress through the choices you make. You’ll have plenty of decisions to make, and the consequences to deal with no matter which path you take; although you’ll also find that the paths become interwoven in the end, so doing multiple playthroughs of this title is a must!
So if you're looking for a game that furthers the “hardcore” cRPG characteristics of Pillars of Eternity, a game where your choices actually matter (and there’s no going back), where fighting is sparse and satisfying difficult, and the lore is deep and well written… well then try this game out. And if you pick it up on Steam don’t forget about their return policy… The Age of Decadence’s developers actually remind you about this too… yeah it’s that hardcore.
Lot’s of beautiful classical architecture in The Age of Decadence
Stats galore!
8. Planescape: Torment
PC Review of Planescape: Torment
Planescape: Torment is another carefully “enhanced” gem of Black Isles golden age. Recently updated with a 4k interface, a remastered soundtrack, and the help of the lead developer Chris Avellone (worked on numerous classic RPG titles, Prey, Fallout: NV, and more), this classic title is ready to be enjoyed by today’s gamers. But don’t let the pretty paint job fool you: this is still a story-rich tactical RPG that’ll knock your socks off!
Planescape: Torment doesn't just tell you a story, it makes you part of it. You awaken as the Nameless One, covered in scars and tattoos but with no recollection of who you are or where you came from. And this will be your objective in this game: to search for answers. You’ll travel through the dirty, debaucherous streets of Sigil where you have just awakened, into the mysterious Outer Planes, and eventually to Hell itself. You’ll meet companions like a succubus that can kill with a kiss and a walking/talking suit of armor as you search for answers in this weird and mysterious world, and you’ll find that destiny is hard to escape.
Being patient and ready to read a lot are prerequisites for enjoying and succeeding in Planescape: Torment. You will have to explore, interact, read and learn if you want to beat this game; quests are not simple fetch-and-return missions with waypoints guiding your path. It’s a challenge well worth the reward!
Puzzles like this one will stand in the way of your search for answers.
You may have to talk your way out of or into a lot of situations
7. Wasteland 2
Let’s play of Wasteland 2 Director’s Cut, full playthrough
If you love the post-apocalyptic retro-futuristic action of the Fallout franchise, but are wishing the newer Fallout titles were more like the cRPGs that they used to be, then Wasteland 2 is the game for you.
From the producer of the original Fallout, Wasteland 2 is basically the unofficial sequel to Fallout 2. In a harsh and hellish desert landscape, you and your ranger squad’s main objective is to survive or die trying. This game is not for the faint of heart, and will definitely put your RPG skills to the test.
The abilities, traits, and skills in Wasteland 2 are extremely detailed and nuanced (compared to modern RPGs). For example, you could choose to level up “safecracking”, or also “lockpicking”, but if you come upon a digital lock you’re going to need a science related skill. It really makes you think carefully about you and your companion’s skills, which a fan of Pillars of Eternity might really enjoy. And, if cracking a lock/code isn’t really your thing, Wasteland 2 allows for other reasonable ways to get past that door, like brute strength or maybe some explosives!
Decisions are crucial in Wasteland 2, both with skill building, but also with other characters. Your choices can set in motion events that ripple outward to affect those around you as well as all of the inhabitants of the wasteland.
You’ll need to make some choices about your gear too, with literally thousands of ways to change your appearance, and over 150 different weapons (including a tactical nuke!). Oh and there are also the little choices, like deciding whether to aim to cripple an enemy’s leg or maybe blow off their head entirely.
In addition to perks, choose your “quirks” carefully too--they could prove extremely useful at some point...
Your squad choice really matters too--one of the most enjoyable parts of the game!
6. Tower of Time
Tower of Time let’s play
Go for this title if you want an interesting cRPG like Pillars of Eternity with equally as interesting combat. In Tower of Time, you have the option of pause or even slowing your tactical real time combat! This makes the fights (and the planning before a fight) much more involved and exciting. You’ll need to think about positioning yourself and your squad to maximize your potential, what abilities to use at first and then during a fight, and how you’ll respond to enemy counter attacks. Each battle in Tower of Time is like a combat-puzzle that you solve to survive!
The essence of Tower of Time’s premise is that technology has met magic, and the results are...questionable at best, devastating at worst. Tower of Time is a dungeon crawler, and the dungeons you’ll be crawling through are beautifully hand-crafted.
In addition to the typical RPG skills and abilities some features that are really exciting about Tower of time are the skill “gesture”, where you actually draw some of your abilities, gravity manipulation, and the primary city in the game is upgradable.
Tower of Time is considerably less dry and wordy compared to many of the games on this list, but still contains plenty of depth in its story and a good amount of lore to really get you invested in the environment.
Face off against 150 unique enemies and 50 different bosses in Tower of Time.
Every dungeon is meticulously handcrafted
5. Shadowrun: Dragonfall
Shadowrun: Dragonfall let’s play, part 1
Cyberpunk! I’m a fan of the style, and there aren’t many turn-based tactical RPGs with a steampunk theme, so this title really excited me when I first discovered it.
In Shadowrun: Dragonfall the year is 2054, and as most cyberpunk games go, we’re dealing with a dystopian situation. The line between man and machine is blurred thanks to rampant and unchecked advances in technology, elves and trolls live among humans and Berlin (where the game is set) is a “Flux State” where power is decided by the right connections and pretty much anything goes. You are a shadow runner, a mercenary, and the only thing on your mind is getting paid. That is, until you and your crew are wrapped up in a deadly conspiracy and the only things you need to do now are survive and figure out who’s behind all of it--whichever comes first.
Check this game out for the sleek cyberpunk feel, and keep playing for the gripping story. This is one of my favorites on this list, and one that any Pillars of Eternity fan would love.
Cyberpunk Berlin is sleek and mysterious.
Be prepared from some spicy situations...
4. Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition
Let's Play Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition - Ep 1 - Candlekeep!
So this game is not what I meant when I implied that modern Bioware games are like dating sims (dating sims that personally I love to play) when compared to old-school cRPG games. Baldur’s Gate is Bioware’s crown jewel of an RPG, from which all their other (also fantastic but definitely different) RPGs have descended, and retain bits and pieces of.
The Enhanced Edition was not developed by Bioware, but the remake retains all of the original elements while including new playable characters, a new separate arena adventure entitled The Black Pits, and a number of other improvements to the game.
And of course, Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced edition includes its original story, which is the heart of all RPGs, and which helped set the standard for pen-and-paper style isometric games since 1998. So pick this game up, customize your companions, and discover the truth behind why the Sword Coast is on the brink of all out war-- the truth is a lot darker than you might expect…
“Hi, can Baldur come out and play?”
It’s a trap!
3. UnderRail
UnderRail lets play, part 1
UnderRail is another game to go with if you’re looking for a game that feels a lot like a sequel to the classic Fallout titles, but has a fresher modern look. UnderRail is an isometric cRPG just like Pillars of Eternity, that’s also turn-based like the games Titan Quest or Shadowfall which are featured earlier in this list.
UnderRail is set in an awesome post-apocalyptic sci-fi setting. In the distant future, all of humanity now lives within a vast network of abandoned metro tunnels in makeshift “station-states” that form the “UnderRail”. Earth’s surface has long been made uninhabitable. It’s kinda like the “Metro 2033” games.
And kinda like some of the other cRPG game plots on this list, the player is caught in the middle of a lot more than he or she bargained for. Two conflicting factions are struggling to be the king of the UnderRail and it’s up to you, just a common underRail inhabitant, to decide how that will happen and how it will shape you in the process.
The crafting system is one of the most fun/unique parts of UnderRail.
Home sweet home on the rails.
2. Torment: Tides of Numenera
Torment: Tides of Numenera let’s play
Torment: Tides of Numenera is the thematic successor to Planescape: Torment, one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved role-playing games of all time. Torment: Tides of Numenera is a single-player, isometric, narrative-driven role-playing game set in Monte Cook’s Numenera universe, and brought to you by the creative team behind Planescape: Torment and the award-winning Wasteland 2.
If you’re into Planescape: Torment or any other RPG from the late 90s, you should check out Torment: Tides of Numenera. This single-player, isometric RPG was developed by the team behind Planescape: Torment and also Wasteland 2. And just like those two fantastic titles, Torment: Tides of Numenera features a gripping story, detailed lore, and a visually stunning techno-fantasy world. You’ll find decrepit ancient constructs that stretch on and on as you walk around them interacting with every little detail, and then next to them buildings that seem to be made of the flesh from faces, with a semblance of a mouth still intact.
The characters you meet are just as weird and interesting: from a girl who carries around a rock she believes has a god living inside it, to a robot that wants to be a parent, you definitely don’t experience companions like these in most games.
Although there is combat, it is not the focal point of the game, and I found it very fun to try and weasle your way out of a fight through dialogue. And if you are more of a fighter, don’t worry, combat is not absent from this title, there are still plenty of spells, physical abilities, and mysterious magical artifacts that are designed to help with this.
Love the lighting effects on these handcrafted dungeons.
You can never quite tell where this game will take you next.
1. Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Let’s play Baldur’s Gate II:Shadows of Amn
If you’ve played Pillars of Eternity but you haven't played Baldur’s gate, well you have a treat ahead for you. Actually scratch that, if you have any interest in video games at all, clear your schedule for the next 80 hours or so, you’re about to have a blast!
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a classic Dungeons and Dragons style RPG in that it has complex stat tables, classes, and “rolls” for randomized damage or buffs during combat, but you won’t feel bogged down by these details because the environment, the characters, and the story are so compelling. Many people don’t realize they really would like the table-top version of D&D until they go to learn the rules and realize it’s exactly like the RPGs they’ve been playing for years on their PCs....
Originally a Bioware title, but recently “enhanced” by different developers, you’ll see so much of what makes other AAA Bioware titles so popular and successful in Baldur’s gate--but in a much more...refined way. At the heart of your journey in Baldur’s Gate II is the decision you’ll make to either resist the evil that you discover is in your very nature, or embrace it instead, and become an all-powerful Lord of Murder.
So if you’re interested in Pillars of Eternity, or just complex isometric RPGs in general, you’ve got to check out Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn.
Gary no! Why, Gary!!
Did I mention there are dragons involved?
RPGs are a lot like Mexican food. Tacos, enchiladas, burritos, tostadas… they’re all basically the same ingredients, but their individual tastes and experiences are totally unique.
Many of the titles in this list have similar mechanics, similar themes, similar tropes, but they are all excellent titles that are enjoyable in different ways. So whether you’re a fan of Pillars of Eternity looking for a new game, or are just a fan of classic RPGs in general, you can’t go wrong with any of the games on this list.
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