Best RPGs 2024 - top role-playing games for PC and consoles (2024)

The best RPGs (role-playing games) whisk us away on unforgettable adventures. Whether they're set in the real world, a fantasy reality, or on a far-off planet, these titles use strong characters, stellar storytelling, and immersion to draw you in, offering experiences that stay with you.

RPG is a pretty broad term and encompasses a wide range of different sorts of games. While some RPGs will have you build your own character from the ground up, others have you step into the shoes of an already fleshed-out protagonist. In the same way, some RPGs offer branching narratives while others offer a more bespoke, linear story.

It's this variance, however, that gives RPGs their strength, causing many of them to earn a place on our lists of the best single-player games and best story games. However it's been built, every RPG below is deep, immersive, and rewarding, offering players a brand new universe to explore and make their own. At TechRadar Gaming, we know RPGs and we're ready to use our knowledge to help you find your next big adventure. Read on to find out more.

Best RPGs 2024

Platforms available: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

Dragon’s Dogma 2places players back into the role of the Arisen - a character who has been chosen by the titular Dragon to free the world from its endless cycle of conflict between it and society’s various factions. It's a very particular game, like many of the RPGs on this list, with its own unique approach to classic systems like fast travel and character customization.

The fun of Dragon's Dogma 2 comes mainly from its unique approach to open-world design. You'll likely feel very out of depth at first, before slowly learning how to best the giant and ferocious foes you'll go up against. Whether you want to build a precise archer, or a bulky sword-swinging menace, you'll have more options than you'll ever need. Dragon's Dogma 2 continues the hot streak of fantastic RPGs that we've seen over the last few years, with a sequel/sometimes-remake of a cult classic.

Overall, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is one of the most ambitious games Capcom has ever made. Its myriad systems weave together effortlessly, and its exploration proves so bountiful, that it makes for a game that’s fiendishly difficult to put down.

Platforms available: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC

Platforms available: Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

Disco Elysium is an RPG like no other. Set in a grimy rundown city full of downtrodden characters, you play a hungover, amnesiac detective trying to solve a murder. Thanks to his amnesia this (initially) nameless cop is yours to mold as you play.

What makes Disco Elysium special is its choices. There is rarely a clear 'right' or 'wrong' decision, and you can have wildly different playthroughs by leaning into different possibilities for the character. You can be corrupt as heck or completely dedicated to law enforcement. Usually, you end up as something in between. Disco Elysium's protagonist contains multitudes, making him one of the best roleplaying game characters out there. This is a must-play for fans of the best RPGs.

Platforms available: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the latest title in the Yakuza series. The story-driven drama follows two protagonists: Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu as they search for the former's long-lost mother in Hawaii. Both Kasuga and Kiryu are ex-members of the Yakuza - Japan's infamous (and often romanticized) organized crime families. Despite what might seem like a gritty premise, however, Infinite Wealth has plenty of tongue-in-cheek elements too, offering just as many laugh-out-loud moments as it does somber reflections on human struggle.

With a detailed turn-based combat system that gives many of the best RPGs a run for their money, Infinite Wealth keeps you on your toes. Whether it's deciding how to level your characters, getting swept up in the RPG's gripping storyline, or devoting yourself to one of a myriad of fun mini-games, Infinite Wealth has plenty of tools to draw you into its gritty yet soulful world.

Platforms available: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC

Persona 5 might be the most stylish RPG you’ll ever play. Everything aspect of the game, from the battles to the loading screens, insists upon you with an unerring commitment to slick aesthetics. Before long, you'll find the game's catchy soundtrack and eye-catching visuals living in your head rent-free.

This artistically inclined third-person RPG tells the story of a group of jaded teens who quite literally change the psyches of evildoers, uncovering stories of abuse, breaking free from societal norms, confronting corrupt officials, and much more. There’s a maturity to Persona 5's story, which tackles dark themes through nuanced storytelling. This is a game that belongs on any list of the best RPGs, thanks to its snappy presentation, intriguing story, and loveable characters. If you're looking for another Persona fix, we also recommend Persona 3 Reload - a remake of a classic title from the series' past.

Platforms available: Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S and PC

The Witcher 3 sees you stepping into the well-trodden boots of Geralt, a gruff and gray-haired monster hunter who is trying to hunt down his adopted daughter Ciri before the ghostly Wild Hunt does. His quest leads him on a sprawling adventure through a massive open world full of dark fantasy wonders. On your travels, you'll encounter bizarre and terrifying creatures, oddball NPCs, and even some opportunities for romance.

If you're after a medieval fantasy RPG with detailed world-building, quality storytelling, and enticing sidequests, then you can't go wrong with The Witcher 3 – even if you've not played the other games in the series. What's more, thanks to The Witcher 3 next-gen upgrade that was released in late 2022, this top-notch RPG looks and performs better than ever. It's definitely worth playing ahead of The Witcher 4's release and remains one of the best RPGs ever made to this day.

Platforms available: PS5 and PC

Baldur's Gate 3 brings Dungeons & Dragons to life, offering a roleplaying game experience that provides a mind-boggling degree of freedom. Not only is character customization open and full of possibility but the game's fleshed-out companion characters and massive fantasy story offer a masterclass in immersion.

Larian Studios' latest RPG is a creature of contrasts. On one hand, it asks you to make tough narrative decisions weighing up moral complexities as you attempt to navigate its harsh and unforgiving world. On the other, it lets you talk to animals and push enemy necromancers off of cliffs. Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the best RPGs when it comes to playfulness and creativity, capturing the improvisational spirit of Dungeons & Dragons with panache.

Platforms available: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Platforms available: PS5

From many of the big names behind the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy 14, this gritty, dark fantasy tale is bursting with heart and soul. Final Fantasy 16 follows Clive Rosfield, on his quest to unravel a dark conspiracy that threatens his world. Set against an intricate backdrop of political tension and interpersonal drama, Square Enix's latest is a masterclass in storytelling and dialogue.

Contrary to many previous entries in the series, Final Fantasy 16 opts for an action-oriented approach to combat, more in the tradition of Devil May Cry 5 than a turn-based game. The result is a thrilling and rewarding combat system, which allows for fully-realized cinematic engagements. In Final Fantasy 16, the setpiece battles are almost characters in themselves, providing heart-stopping action that had us at the edge of our seats.

Platforms available: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass.

This remastered sci-fi trilogy follows the adventures of Commander Shephard as they traverse the cosmos with their ragtag crew. Their mission is simple: to stop a race of machines, known as the Reapers, from taking over the galaxy.The original trilogy is one of the best RPG series ever made, and, fortunately, this remaster does its predecessors justice.

Released during the Xbox 360 era, the Mass Effect trilogy was beloved by gamers the world over thanks to its immersive role-playing gameplay, deep science fiction lore, and, if we're being honest, charming romanceable aliens. Mass Effect Legendary Edition makes these games even better by significantly cleaning up all three titles with visual, audio, and gameplay enhancements, bringing the series into the modern age while keeping our rose-colored memories completely intact.

Platforms available: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC

Not just one of the best RPGs of last year, In Stars and Time is also one of the best indie games of its kind. With a charming retro soundtrack and gorgeous monochrome visuals, the title turns convention on its head by having you play out the last part of a traditional fantasy story over and over again. You play as Siffrin, a plucky adventurer who must save the world of Vaugarde from being frozen in time.

The story takes place at the House of Change, the final dungeon in the characters' ongoing adventure. Full of lethal twists, turns, and traps, you'll soon find yourself looped back to the start, forced to try again. What makes the game so special is how, over many time loops, you start to understand Siffrin's struggle. While frustrating at times, it's as if you and Siffrin share that frustration as you adventure onwards. making for a powerful and engrossing tale.

Best RPGs: FAQs

How we made our best RPGs list

Our best RPGs list is the product of fierce debate amongst the TRG team. What we settled on, however, was that the list should accommodate as wide an audience as possible. For instance, while the intense melodrama of Final Fantasy 16 might appeal to some, others might find it a bit too theatrical, and prefer the more grounded stories of the Mass Effect series.We aim to serve gamers of as many tastes as possible with this list.

Each of these games faithfully delivers on the role-playing fantasy and stands as some of the most immersive experiences in all of video games. These are all titles that will transport you to other worlds with their writing and visuals. The choice of destination is up to you.

If you're looking forward to future RPG releases, check out our list of the best upcoming games for everything you need to know about what's on the horizon.