The new aRPG (Action Role Playing Game) Lost Ark release has been a long time in the making. Originally, this lengthy MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) was released in Korea in 2019 and if players in the West wanted to play, they would have to download it through a VPN (Virtual Private Network), which they did in droves. Lost Ark quickly became a holy grail to many Western gamers speculating when an English version would port over to their region.
After almost four years of waiting, six for those who were there for early access, their dreams became reality. Lost Ark is now one of the most popular games on Steam with almost 600,000 concurrent players. While gamers are now fully sunk into the game's sprawling world, beautiful environments and intense endgame, there is actually an entire genre of games that play just like the hit release from Smilegate RPG. In fact, if gamers are new to the aRPG genre, they will no doubt be floored by the sheer number of games that play similarly to one of the biggest MMO launches in recent history.
Grim Dawn (2016)
There's a reason that Grim Dawn has sold over 7-million copies. It left early access on PC in 2016 and has seen such commercial success among gamers that in 2021 it released the Definitive Edition on consoles. Multiple expansions and constant support from the development team has made Grim Dawn a contender for best aRPG against powerhouses like Diablo II.
Following in the same formula of other games in this genre, Grim Dawn provides players with a plethora of classes, both melee and magic based, that takes you through different biomes where RNG (Random Number Generators) decides the quality, and type, of loot that can drop. The perfect time-sink for any gamers looking for the endless pursuit of power.
Tribes of Midgard (2019)
While most aRPG games follow a similar formula of create a class, level, equip, improve, Tribes of Midgard manages to put a survival spin on top of the regular gameplay loop. Following the same loop as most other aRPG games, Tribes of Midgard introduces a survival and base-building element to the game that pushes it into a genre all its own. Combined with unique graphics and a colorful art design.
Even though it is not an MMO like Lost Ark you can still team up with friends and face this Viking-themed world together. With only a year since its initial release, Tribes of Midgard has been a success with critics and gamers alike. Scoring a "Mostly Positive" review on Steam and a pleasant pallet cleanser for any fans of the genre who are looking for something different and more casual.
Torchlight II (2012)
Developed by Runic Games, Torchlight II was released almost a decade ago, but that long shelf life shouldn't deter any gamers from trying this expansive, randomly generated, action role-playing game. Advertised as a dungeon crawler, this cross-platform multiplayer game is definitely one that fans of the genre should check out.
One of the best features to come from this title is the randomly generated dungeons. While some games suffer from repetition when defeating trash-mobs or farming bosses, Torchlight II keeps the feeling fresh as no two dungeons players enter will be laid out the same. Fans of any loot-grid game can appreciate this decision for a truly refreshing gameplay loop.
Albion Online (2017)
There are few online games that do MMO, survival, role playing and relaxing so well. Albion Online is one of those games. Developed by Sandbox Interactive out of Berlin Germany, Albion Online is truly a game that can be considered a "second life."
Want to become the most powerful mage or warrior in all of Albion? Do it. Maybe farming, crafting and trade more of the experience a player is searching for. That's possible too. The biggest allure of Albion Online is, not only the free-to-play price tag, but the level of choice of gameplay that it offers. A new player could find themselves at max level without ever defeating a foe and it's that level of choice that has contributed to its decade long success.
Diablo Franchise (1997-Present)
Diablo is one of the most formative video games to have ever been released. Spanning three separate games, with a fourth currently in development, it is one of the flagship IPs from developer Blizzard Entertainment. In fact, the franchise is so overall loved by fans of the aRPG genre, that Blizzard recently released a remastered version of the smash-hit second installment to the franchise with Diablo II: Resurrected.
The franchise is showing no signs of slowing down and while Diablo III was not the most unanimously loved game at launch, the "Loot 2.0" patch completely rebalanced the game's item drop system. That made it a greater success and even set the precedent for other game systems almost 10 years after its initial release.
Path of Exile (2013)
Since games like Fortnite were released, the free-to-play genre is becoming the business model for many subsequent game releases. Path of Exile is no exception. Releasing in 2013, "PoE" as superfans refer to it has been a perfect marriage of breathtaking graphics, extensive endgame, and constant support from the development team with constant updates and expansions still being released.
While Path of Exile will keep lovers of the genre engaged for hours upon hours, there will hit a certain point where "Free to Play" becomes more of a suggestion than a possibility. Leading to gamers having to spend money on additional slots to push their endgame characters to the next level with each expansion release. Many don't mind the fees, however, because the game offers a consistent performance-to-fun ratio that hasn't waned in its nine year run.
Hades (2018)
This single player, roguelike, RPG from Supergiant Games has been a smash hit among gamers and critics alike. It features Zagreus, the son of Hades, as player battle their way across mythical locations to unlock more and more power. The only catch is if Zagreus is killed the player is sent back to the beginning, with gear intact, where they must push further than the last attempt.
Fans who love any Soulsborune style video game will know this loop all too well. While it offers a high risk for gamers looking to slay endless hordes of unique enemies with the impending doom of starting from square one, the reward of completing an area unscathed is something comparable to Returnal on the PlayStation 5.
Last Epoch (2019)
While Diablo IV is still years away from release, players looking to scratch the itch left by the title can look no further than Last Epoch. While the game is still in early access, developer Eleventh Hour Games has remained diligent in keeping their community informed through constant community posts within the game's official discord.
The game currently offers five classes to choose from, with promises of more being added upon full release and while it does not feature multiplayer, recent posts on the game's official Steam page have stated that adding it is the team's top priority. A beautiful world, flashy combat and a fulfilling endgame - comparable to Diablo III's Rifts - means that Last Epoch could very well be the best aRPG on the market right now.