Since the beginning of video game history, Role-playing Games (RPGs) have been one of the biggest and most popular genres. While there are many RPG sub-genres, RPGs are generally categorized as either Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) or Western RPGs (WRPGs).
Although the main difference between these two categories is the countries' of origin with many of the gameplay and style differences fading over the years due to globalization, WRPGs still have their own specific charm and character. As a major genre that has existed from the beginning, there are many overlooked WRPGs that are worth checking out.
Dungeon Master II: The Legend of Skullkeep
Back in 1987, the first-person WRPG Dungeon Master was released on the Atari ST and became the best-selling game on the personal computer. A couple of years later, the success led to the creation of a sequel titled Dungeon Master II: The Legend of Skullkeep. The game follows a young man named Torham who has traveled to the Skullkeep Dungeon to assemble a party of champions, fix a broken machine deep within the place, and stop an evil being from invading the world.
Since this game is a "blobber," the player and their selected companions all move as one entity in-game, and some of the difficulty comes from having to control all four in real-time. Even though this game is not as well known as its predecessor, it has better graphics, a reworked spell system, actual shops, and some of the best intelligent enemy A.I.
Arx Fatalis
Created by Arkane Studios who also made the Dishonored games, Arx Fatalis is a 2002 action RPG that was also the first game released by the company. Taking place in a world where all living creatures had to move into underground caverns after the sun seemingly died, the main character is an amnesiac man whose destiny is to forge a special sword and defeat a god.
The game is mostly known for its magic system, which requires players to draw runes in the air, and the fact that missions can be completed in many different ways. Despite being critically acclaimed, the game didn't sell well and has remained simply a cult classic rather than a major RPG title.
Gorky 17
Released in 1999 and known as Odium in North America, Gorky 17 is a survival horror tactical RPG where a group of NATO officers must explore a destroyed Soviet military base in order to figure out why strange creatures are emerging from a secret lab underneath. Similarly to the influential horror game Parasite Eve, the monsters are revealed to be created from a certain dormant gene in humans coming to life.
During this game, the player switches between point-and-click adventure segments and turn-based tactical combat that creates a unique gameplay experience. With detailed graphics and an actual lack of available items, this game will succeed in making the player feel unnerved.
Sacred
Sacred is an award-winning 2004 action RPG that is similar to the Diablo series and has spawned several expansion packs and sequels. At the start of the game, a necromancer accidentally lets a powerful demon loose on the continent of Ancaria. Because of this, the player must explore the vast continent and collect the five elements in order to defeat the demon.
Similarly to the obscure JRPG The 7th Saga, the player picks one of several characters at the start, and each of these characters has their own backstory, quests, items, and abilities. This gives the game plenty of replay value because the player will need to explore the large map with each character to see everything in the game.
Gothic
With modern RPGs like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it has become a norm to see detailed open-worlds where the main character can interact with almost everything in realistic ways. However, the 2001 award-winning action RPG Gothic did all of that and more way before everyone else. In this game, the player controls a convict who is forced into a large magical prison where all the prisoners must mine magical ores for the king.
Despite being released in 2001, the enormous prison is extremely detailed with all the NPCs having their own schedules and they also react in real-time to the player's actions. Players can realistically interact with most items, which means that players can actually cook food and play instruments while learning magic or other weapons.
Anachronox
Created by Tom Hall, the game designer who made the original Doom, and Ion Storm, who were the developers behind Deus Ex, Anachronox is a 2001 cyberpunk RPG. The game follows a private investigator named Sylvester "Sly Boots" Bucelli as he travels across multiple planets, gathers a unique group of companions, and attempts to solve a mystery that will determine the fate of the universe.
Inspired by JRPGs such as Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger, the game has turn-based combat and mostly focuses on developing the characters and story. All of these characters are memorable and have their own abilities, and one of the companions is literally an entire planet that has shrunk itself so it could join the party.
Neo Scavenger
Released in 2014, Neo Scavenger is a post-apocalyptic survival game where the main character wakes up after being in cryosleep for many years. Now, the player must explore the new world and scavenge for items in order to survive. This world, however, is extremely dangerous with many people and strange creatures who will try to kill the player.
Like in many other survival games, players will need to find clothes, food, water, and other necessities, and they can get sick and die if they don't have the proper items. Also, the player has a set number of actions they can take in a row before the NPCs get to move and vice versa, which means the player must strategically move across the map.
Silverfall
Inspired by the Diablo series, Silverfall is a 2007 action RPG that takes place in the Kingdom of Nelwë where there is a major battle between nature and technology. After the city called Silverfall is destroyed by an undead army and the archmage disappears, the player character, the archmage's child, and other survivors are forced to leave the city and figure out what to do. The player must create their own character, decide which side to join, and eventually defeat the evil force that destroyed the city.
Unlike many games which have different sides to choose from, the nature and technology sides are neither good or bad, and the player will be asked to do both good and bad things regardless. Depending on how a character was customized, what players choose to do, and how they choose to level up, the player will have different plot and gameplay experiences.
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
Based on the Dungeons and Dragons campaign setting Dark Sun, Dark Sun: Shattered Lands is a 1993 turn-based RPG where the player controls a party of four gladiators that are forced to battle until they die by an evil sorcerer king who controls the Draj city-state within the dying desert world known as Athas. After the group escapes, they go on a journey to unite the areas not controlled by the king so that they can defeat him.
While the gameplay itself is not particularly innovative, the dark setting and large amount of interesting NPCs make the game a worthwhile experience. As the player explores the world, they will meet many unique characters that are hard to forget.
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Created by Leonard Boyarsky and Timothy Cain who both are known for creating the original Fallout, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is a 2001 RPG that takes place in a fantasy world that is currently going through an industrial revolution, which has led to a conflict between magic and technology. After surviving a zeppelin crash, the main character gets caught in a conspiracy that reveals the truth behind the new technology.
This game contains an extremely long story that will easily immerse players into the universe because it actually reacts and changes based on the choices made. With all the customization options and ways to complete missions, this game is a must-play for all RPG fans.