10 Best RPGs Of 2023

The RPG genre is responsible for some of the greatest stories ever told. When you’re looking to sink into a game for hours on end, look no further than the RPG. From the classic computer games of the 90s to the modern-day masterpieces on every platform, RPGs have a long and storied history in the gaming world.

2023 has been, perhaps, the best year we’ve ever seen in gaming. Just a glance at this list will show you that the year was filled with hit after hit. You could hardly go one month without something enormous dropping. It’s no wonder that the end of the year has left us with so many titles worth the time they require to play.

10 Honkai Star Rail

A Journey Through The Stars

Honkai Star Rail is one of the friendlier free-to-play games, providing players with over 50 hours of fantastic content without ever having to spend a dime. The art style is gorgeous, with combat often looking like a top-tier anime. While your decisions may not influence the main plot, there are plenty of choices to be made during side quests that can impact the lives of side characters.

The onboarding for Honkai Star Rail is also fantastic, with systems and subsystems introduced at a digestible pace. The turn-based combat demands satisfying strategy without ever becoming too frustrating. In fact, when you fail, the game will make suggestions about how you can do better next time in helpful ways. Honkai Star Rail isn’t just great because it’s free — but that certainly doesn’t hurt.

9 Diablo 4

A Sinful Delight

Lillith is one of the best villains of the year, and Diablo 4 is one of the best RPGs. Whether you’re enjoying the main story or seasonal content, Diablo 4 is a joy to play. Classes feel distinct, with plenty of options to try different builds. Locations are memorable. The story is engaging. Crossplay means you can play with friends on every platform. Diablo 4 is the best the franchise has ever been.

When you finish the main story, it feels like the game really kicks off. Taking part in Helltides and fighting World Bosses is an essential part of the Diablo 4 experience. When you hit max level, that’s just the beginning of another tier of content. Whether you’re a casual or hardcore player, there are dozens and dozens of hours of blissful play in Diablo 4.

8 Darkest Dungeon 2

The Roadtrip From Hell

Darkest Dungeon 2 isn’t a predictable retread of the first game. It’s a reimagining of everything from front to back. It’s a hauntingly beautiful dark fantasy game that oozes style in its art design and drips with severity through its narration. Nothing hits home quite like the overwritten, dramatic tone that adds to the charm of Darkest Dungeon 2 at every turn.

While the beginning hours are punishing, the game opens up to be a masterclass in character customization and satisfying progression.

Instead of spending your time at a base, the player will find themselves journeying in a stagecoach through dread-inspiring locations. Characters and classes feel evolved and more distinct from one another. While the beginning hours are punishing, the game opens up to be a masterclass in character customization and satisfying progression.

7 Sea Of Stars

Retro Is Rad

Sea of Stars is more than just a tribute to the games of the 90s that clearly inspired it. The story is original and engaging. The soundtrack is beautiful, varied, and captivating. The puzzles within the game strike the right balance between thoughtful and simple. Once you get into the rhythm, boss fights themselves feel like puzzles waiting to be unraveled.

It’s easy to say that Sea of Stars is one of the best RPGs of the year because it delivers a 16-bit experience that feels like more than just a walk down the beaten path. Playing as powerful protagonists who embody powers of the sun and moon is just plain cool, and the nearly 30-hour story is one filled with twists and turns you won’t soon forget.

6 Hogwarts Legacy

Revelio!

The Wizarding World comes to life in Hogwarts Legacy. For fans of the Harry Potter series, this game is a dream come true. Hogwarts is beautifully recreated with such attention to detail that it’s, well, magical. The main story isn’t exactly unpredictable, but it remains enjoyable nonetheless. Flying around the grounds of Hogwarts is an experience unlike any other.

Whether you’re walking around the streets of Hogsmeade or sitting under the sorting hat, there has never been a better representation of the Wizarding World in gaming.

Hogwarts Legacy allows you to walk the path of a dark wizard if that’s your desire, which can be quite satisfying. Whether you’re walking around the streets of Hogsmeade or sitting under the sorting hat, there has never been a better representation of the Wizarding World in gaming. While it’s certainly one of the best RPGs of the year, it might just be one of the best games of 2023 overall.

5 Final Fantasy 16

A Song Of Fire & Fire

Few games have combat that reaches the thrilling heights of Final Fantasy 16. Mixing powers makes every encounter a lightshow. However, make no mistake, the combat is far from simple. Combining powers calls for strategy. Your favorite powers may not always be the best for every situation. The setting of the game is stunning, and the soundtrack enhances every cutscene and encounter.

Clive is an endearing protagonist with a lot of heart. The supporting characters help bring the story and setting to life. Everyone has a role to play, and the Game-of-Thrones-inspired intrigue makes for a compelling tale. It’s a different kind of Final Fantasy game, eschewing turn-based combat for something more action-oriented. While it was a bold change from the norm, it worked on just about every level.

4 Starfield

Ground Control To Major Tom

Don’t be swayed by the memes and online chatter — Starfield is a fun and imaginative game. It’s one of the best RPGs of the year, even with a few bumps in the road along the way. While the main quest is ultimately rather short, the side quests and branching threads are enthralling. Engaging with major factions provides some of the best storytelling in any Bethesda game to date.

While the subsystems can feel a bit overwhelming at first, they all serve to enhance your experience if you’re buckled in for the full tour of the galaxy. Customizing your ship is a thoughtful process, and making so many choices makes your ship feel, well, your own. New Game Plus adds even more to the story, and there’s a constant push and pull between finishing the main quest or jumping into just one more side story. Go ahead, indulge yourself.

3 Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

The Dogs Of War

It’s no secret that Cyberpunk 2077 had a rocky launch. The 2.0 update changed everything for the better, with Phantom Liberty delivered on pretty much every promise CD Projekt Red ever made. Idris Elba gives a memorable performance as Solomon Reed, and Keanu Reeves is back as the haunting Johnny Silverhand.

Whether you’re a veteran player looking to jump into the new expansion or a new player coming to the game for the first time, this is the perfect moment to jump into Cyberpunk 2077.

Phantom Liberty’s Dogtown is complex, and the challenging moral dilemmas in the main story are often just as present in the side stories. The DLC even adds a new ending to the base game that feels significant and true to the Cyberpunk 2077 experience. Whether you’re a veteran player looking to jump into the new expansion or a new player coming to the game for the first time, this is the perfect moment to jump into Cyberpunk 2077.

2 Lies Of P

No Strings Attached

Lies of P isn’t just another Soulslike; it’s the Soulslike to beat. While the level design may be a bit more linear than most Souls games, the environments are often as beautiful as they are haunting. The boss designs are fantastic, and the most challenging ones may bring you to your knees dozens of times before you claim victory.

Unlike many Souls games, it wears it story on its sleeve, and it’s an incredibly captivating tale. The choices you’ll make when prompted to lie or tell the truth impact your story in mysterious ways, which just happens to be a twisted take on the children’s fairy tale, Pinocchio. When it’s all said and done, Lies of P isn’t just one of the hardest games of the year; it’s nearly the best RPG of the year. That’s why it easily took our second spot with 31% of the vote.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

From Tadpole To Triumph

Larian set out to make a game that honored D&D, and it has become cliché to call the result a critical success. But we’re saying it anyway, because Larian has earned it. From the start of character creation to the final encounter, every choice counts in Baldur’s Gate 3. Larian wove a web of threads that players will be untangling for months and years to come. This isn’t just one of the best games of the year — it’s one of the best games of all time.

The companions of this story often steal the show with their character growth and, yes, their horny antics.

Throughout your time with the game, the main story and side quests will take you through twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. The combat will keep you engaged, and the lore will keep you digging. The companions of this story often steal the show with their character growth and, yes, their horny antics. That’s just part of why Baldur’s Gate 3 took first place with 69% of the vote. Nice.