The RPG genre is thriving in the mainstream, with heavy hitters like Starfield proving to be one of the industry's most highly-anticipated titles, but the medieval fantasy setting fits the genre just as well. These kinds of role-playing experiences have come to define many of the best games in the genre, as well as fitting in more specifically subgenres -- like JRPGs.

Several of the titles rated on the review aggregator Metacritic fit those parameters when taking into account their respective place in the rankings and which versions allocated the most scores. Metacritic's rankings compile an impressive catalog, with expected recent greats like Elden Ring to acclaimed cult classics like the JRPG Vagrant Story.

10 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - 92 (PS4, 79 Reviews)

Geralt from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt unsheathing one of his swords.

So far, CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains the team's highest-rated achievement, lovingly bringing to life author Andrzej Sapkowski's rich dark fantasy world to close out the titular monster hunter's story. Geralt of Rivia's story in the main questline is nuanced and emotionally gripping, populated by a compelling supporting cast.

But what makes it one of the greatest open-world games is how immersive and packed with meaningful content it is. From its side quests to praised DLC expansions, The Witcher 3 is filled to the brim with a substance that sometimes even outshines the main story.

9 Vagrant Story - 92 (PS1, 19 Reviews)

Vagrant Story key art featuring protagonist Ashley Riot.

While publisher/developer Square Enix is primarily known for its juggernaut Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises, the '90s and early '00s saw the company experiment with several smaller-scale RPGs. Some of them went on to become classics in their own right, with the original PlayStation's Vagrant Story among them.

The game's a curious case, as it was initially its entity, but when Final Fantasy XII was released six years later, it retroactively became a spin-off game due to sharing the world of Ivalice. Regardless, what made Vagrant Story stand on its own was its engrossing dark medieval world, breaking of narrative JRPG tropes, its focus on action-based combat, and its creative implementation of puzzle-solving and strategy.

8 World Of Warcraft - 93 (PC, 57 Reviews)

World of Warcraft promo art featuring a party of characters battling a dragon.

Back in 2004, then-Blizzard made a behemoth of the gaming industry with World of Warcraft. The game revolutionized the MMORPG subgenre, and it spent many years in the MMO space as its top performer. Since then, though, the game has slacked, and Final Fantasy XIV has taken its place.

Nonetheless, what it achieved cannot be understated, as it brought gaming a vibrant medieval high-fantasy world with an incredible degree of gameplay depth and expansions that added to that factor. Its role-playing mechanics and myriad of statistical combinations gave players a rewarding level of character customization.

7 Divinity: Original Sin II - 93 (PC, 72 Reviews)

Divinity: Original Sin II promo art featuring the unique party of characters.

Mainstream JRPGs and action RPGs certainly get the most attention, but since the genre was adapted into video games from the classic tabletop format, the CRPG subgenre made for some excellent medieval fantasies. And when it comes to modern CRPGs, Larian Studios' Divinity: Original Sin II might be the best of the bunch.

Taking place in a colorful fantasy world, players could play solo or co-op managing a party of unique characters, each with something unique to offer the story and gameplay. Divinity: Original Sin II is arguably one of the most rewarding high-fantasy RPGs in terms of player choice and attention to detail in its world.

6 Diablo - 94 (PC, 12 Reviews)

Diablo promo art featuring the logo and titular demonic villain.

Another game from Blizzard's strongest era in the medium, the original Diablo was a game-changer when it came to action RPGs. It especially helped popularize the isometric viewpoint for such games, as well as the addictingly fun and fast-paced combat. As the name would suggest, Diablo takes place in a bleak medieval dark fantasy where players can choose from a variety of classes.

Each has its distinct gameplay style that, in conjunction with the engaging dungeon-crawling loop, makes for a replayable experience. It undoubtedly shows its age today, but it's a nostalgic classic, with many hoping that the upcoming Diablo IV succeeds on its terms.

5 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - 94 (Xbox 360, 90 Reviews)

Promo art of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion featuring an armored knight with the fires of Oblivion behind him.

Though it's partly due to still being the most recent mainline entry in the series, many longtime fans still stand by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as the best the franchise has to offer. Bethesda's fourth mainline entry in the blockbuster western RPG series was a revelation for the time, contributing toward the evolution of open-world game design.

Taking on the role of an unlikely hero preventing the invasion of a demonic cult, Oblivion gave players an incredible sense of freedom in exploration, with the dynamic NPC interactions and quest designs being especially praised. Likewise, many veteran fans believe it to have the best-written side quests of The Elder Scrolls games.

4 Final Fantasy IX - 94 (PS1, 22 Reviews)

Final Fantasy IX key art featuring the game's main cast of characters lined up.

Asking the Final Fantasy community which is the best game will yield a variety of results, but a respectable amount of those devoted fans will likely cite IX as the most compelling. The high medieval fantasy setting is perhaps one part of why it was so acclaimed, as many were longing for it after the last three games opted for a more sci-fi-like setting.

For those players, Final Fantasy IX was something of a return to the series' roots, providing one of the most emotionally resonating stories in the franchise. It was also welcomed for being a simple game to learn mechanically while not sacrificing its depth.

3 Baldur's Gate II: Shadows Of Amn - 95 (PC, 30 Reviews)

A group of adventurers fighting the Beholder in Baldur's Gate II art.

During BioWare's golden years -- and before its new rise to fame with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect -- the studio was credited for making one of the greatest Dungeons & Dragons video game adaptations to date. It adapts the ruleset of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition, with the player controlling a party of up to six characters from an isometric perspective.

The story continues from its predecessors, now telling a tale of how the protagonist's heritage draws the attention of an evil mage. It's perhaps the most influential CRPG series, with Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn being lauded for its sprawling story and pausable, strategic real-time combat.

2 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 96 (Xbox 360, 89 Reviews)

The Dragonborn from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim shouting into the air.

Fans are still in the middle of an agonizing wait for The Elder Scrolls VI, but one cannot help but be impressed with how enduring Skyrim has been. In a similarly zero-to-hero story, players take on the role of the prophetic Dragonborn as they fight the Smaug-like Alduin to stop him from ushering in a dragon-infested apocalypse on the titular lands.

Skyrim might be the most replayable modern western RPG, with its fluid build-focused character progression system instead of the usual class system letting players run wild with how they want to build their protagonist. The game also features some of the most expansive side quests in the open-world genre.

1 Elden Ring - 96 (PS5, 84 Reviews)

Elden Ring key art featuring the Tarnished kneeling with his sword under the titular ring.

The latest medieval fantasy success, FromSoftware's Elden Ring has firmly proven to be another landmark game in the industry. FromSoft propelled its name into the mainstream gaming arena with the team's PS3 cult classic Demon's Souls, which fleshed out into greater success with the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

However, Elden Ring arguably made its mark in the medium in similar ways that Skyrim and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did in the open-world format. The game has a breathtaking sense of scope and freedom to find something of substance in any direction. And as fans would expect, it has that vintage brand of gritty challenge, enticingly subtle storytelling, and meticulously detailed dark fantasy worldbuilding.

NEXT: 10 Best Games To Play This Month (December 2022)