GameRant - RPG

Open-World RPGs With Perfect Loot Systems

Vlad Mazanko — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:43:12 GMT

It’s hard to find players who don’t love loot, and even those who claim they don’t want every open-world game to evolve into a full-fledged RPG probably won’t deny that there have already been some really strong examples of such a transition. Ultimately, it all depends on how well each game embraces loot systems and makes them vital to their gameplay without overcomplicating things. Adding loot is rarely completely out of place; it’s all a matter of balance.

Near-Perfect Strategy RPGs You Forgot Exist

Evan Regan — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:30:12 GMT

Strategy or tactical RPGs are a pretty niche subgenre, all things considered. Sure, there are the heavy-hitters like Fire Emblem that have a pretty broad playerbase, but open-world RPGs these are not. These games appeal to a very particular kind of gamer who enjoys the progression of an RPG, and maybe even the branching narrative aspects, but needs combat to feel more like a brainteaser and less like a slugfest.

Open-World RPGs Everyone Should Play To Completion

Mark Sammut — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:40:12 GMT

Open-world RPGs consume lives. The "short" titles require roughly 15 hours, while the normal-length ones can easily demand 50 hours to reach the end of their stories. As great as they are, nobody really needs to complete Elden Ring or Skyrim, and many of the genre's legendary games shine the brightest when players decide to simply exist within their worlds indefinitely. However, a small handful of open-world RPGs really demand to be completed, at least when it comes to their main content.

Near-Perfect Tactical RPGs With Creative Progression

Nick Rodriguez — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 18:30:12 GMT

A long, beefy tactical RPG is only as good as its progression systems. Role-playing games in general often live or die on the back of how well they handle progression, but it's even more crucial for turn-based titles. Unlike, say, an action RPG, which challenges players' reaction time and quick-thinking skills, a turn-based game has to work with a slower, more methodical moment-to-moment gameplay process.

7 Near-Perfect SNES Action RPGs With More Freedom Than You Get Today

Josh Cotts — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 22:45:12 GMT

Player freedom is one of those things that has become a pretty big selling point for modern action RPGs, whether that means being able to go wherever you want, put together whatever build you can dream up, or make choices that actually change something about the world around you. Bigger worlds and more powerful hardware have obviously given developers plenty of room to make that freedom even more impressive over the years, but what's funny is that plenty of action RPGs were already finding creative ways to hand control over to the player long before any of that was possible. In fact, some SNES games were doing things more than 30 years ago that plenty of games still don't give you much say over today.

Turn-Based RPGs With The Most Unique Leveling Systems

Evan Regan — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:30:12 GMT

As is typical of any RPG, turn-based RPGs often present your character progression through a leveling system. The most traditional version of this system, and the one you'll see in virtually every RPG on the market, is where you gather XP until you reach a threshold, then you get a stat boost, a skill point, or both through which you can improve your character and party members.

New Elden Ring Meets Dishonored Action RPG on Steam Just Sold Me on First-Person Soulslikes

Josh Cotts — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:30:12 GMT

I'll admit, for a while there, I thought I was completely done with soulslikes. To be fair, they just kept showing up, as it seemed developers were only interested in making them and didn't want to make anything else, and as a fan of the subgenre, I couldn't resist playing them—to my own detriment, I guess. That oversaturation left me feeling burnt out on the formula and wanting almost nothing to do with it. However, after a considerable break, I've found myself itching for another great soulslike to play, even after Mortal Shell 2 dug its claws in me and scratched that itch really deep. Fortunately, after spending some time with its demo on Steam, I'm confident there's another soulslike with massive potential lurking around the corner, as One More Level's first-person action RPG, Valor Mortis, is set to launch on October 13, 2026.

Long Action RPGs That Take Forever To Complete, Ranked

Vlad Mazanko — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:31:12 GMT

For action RPG fans who aren’t exactly into the open-world subgenre, campaign length is usually secondary, but it can still be a huge plus. Depending on how great a game’s combat feels and how much depth and variety its skills, weapons, and enemies offer, sometimes you just wish it would never end. While most action RPGs typically take around 30 to 40 hours to finish, which is already quite substantial, a select few pack in so many places to visit, things to do, and bosses to defeat that they can last as long as your average open-world title, albeit within a more curated structure.

Open-World RPGs With Perfect Quest Systems

Ollie Tuscarny — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:45:12 GMT

Open-world RPGs are known for a whole host of different things that all go into creating the most immersive and engaging role-playing experience possible, and one of the most defining features is the quests you encounter on your adventures. It's one thing to grab your attention with a couple of side activities, but it's another entirely to engage you for dozens of hours as you get lost in a world where every interaction and conversation feels like it could lead to a remarkable quest.

Turn-Based RPGs With The Most Perfect Character Customisation

Ollie Tuscarny — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:30:12 GMT

Role-playing games are all about taking on the persona of a fictional character and experiencing a world and an adventure as someone wildly different from yourself. As useful as stats and skills can be, one of the more important factors for character design is the customization options that let you choose how you appear in-game, from the hair on your head to the shape of your entire body.