Few PC game genres can match the staggering variety found in role-playing games. RPGs fall into various categories and subcategories, each with distinct gameplay styles. Japanese and Western are the big umbrella categories, which are further divided into turn-based, action, strategy, dungeon crawlers, roguelikes, and other sub-genres.
Sometimes your character wields traditional weapons, such as swords and arrows, in a medieval setting like Nihon Falcom's Ys series. In other titles, your character carries big heat in outer space. Think Electronic Arts' Mass Effect games. Even realistic, modern cities can serve as intriguing RPG backdrops in Disco Elysium. Regardless of the game and style, RPGs typically deliver rich narratives combined with character and/or equipment customization. That, in a nutshell, is what makes an RPG an RPG.
The role-playing game genre on PC is just as deep, if not deeper, than what you find on consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series S/X. The aforementioned Ys and Mass Effect series live on PC, as do the Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Final Fantasy, and Xanadu titles. There's a huge PC RPG library, which makes this guide essential.
Are PC RPGs Compatible With Steam Deck?
Valve’s Linux-powered Steam Deck gives you access to your expansive Steam library on a convenient, portable, and surprisingly capable device. Some of the games on this RPG list are not available on Steam, but you should definitely consider downloading those that are to your Deck. There are thousands of Steam Deck Verified and Playable games to choose from, so you are bound to find some quality RPGs to take with you on the go.
Verified games feature a green checkmark on the store page, meaning that the title is assured to run well on the Deck. Playable is denoted with a yellow button, meaning it is playable, but needs some tweaking to get it running smoothly. Please note that games requiring an online connection aren’t ideal for on-the-go play, unless you have a dedicated Wi-Fi-signal in the area.
The RPGs You Need
In this game roundup, you'll find our favorite RPGs. Each title featured here has been thoroughly reviewed by our experts, so you can rest assured that the suggestions are varied and top-notch. However, you won't find massively multiplayer online RPGs in this piece. The sub-genre's unique online requirement, huge raids, and multiplayer components separate it from traditional RPGs. You can check out our roundup of the best MMO games.
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