The 7 Best RPG Game Series to Play on Consoles and PC

RPGs are role-playing games that transform players into the architects of grand legends. The RPG genre is one of the biggest in the gaming industry today, with some expansive role-playing franchises dating back decades. All the best RPGs place players in character roles within fictional settings in which they can influence story outcomes. Storytelling, character development, and exploration are three essential ingredients of the best RPG game franchises. These are some of the best RPG game series to play on consoles and PC.

Witcher

The Witcher franchise has been one of the most compelling RPG game series because of its terrific narratives, meaningful choices and consequences, great quest design, and immersive worlds. This is an RPG franchise based on the exploits of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter for hire who isn’t always necessarily that interested in saving the world. His monster-slaying antics have enthralled players across a trilogy of games. However, Ciri will be the star of the show in the confirmed Witcher 4 game currently in the works.

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the biggest highlight of this RPG game series. That game perfected the Witcher formula with its refined combat system and more open world for players to explore. Witcher 3 is also packed with meaningful side quests that are somewhat more than mere filler content.

Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy is an RPG game series that dates back to the 1980s, with numerous FF instalments raising the bar for role-playing titles. This is an RPG game franchise that blends traditional Japanese role-playing elements with cinematic storytelling flair. The Final Fantasy franchise is renowned for its innovative combat systems, which have shifted from turn-based to more real-time action, iconic soundtracks, and high-stakes narratives that explore deep themes. It is also a game series that pushes the boundaries of graphical and artistic design across generations of consoles.

With 16 primary instalments, it’s hard to say what the best game of the Final Fantasy series is. However, Final Fantasy VII and IX from the PlayStation era are two of the most highly rated additions to the FF series. Final Fantasy VII was an especially significant FF game because of its groundbreaking 3D presentation, Materia combat system, and compelling storyline themes.

The Elder Scrolls

The Elder Scrolls games have raised the bar for RPGs because of their unprecedented gameplay freedom, action consequences, and immersive open worlds. This is a game series in which players can walk in many different directions to find stories. It enables players to select various character classes, such as warrior, thief, and mage, or set custom ones. For emergent gameplay, The Elder Scrolls is one of the best RPG game series to play on PC and consoles.

Most fans debate whether Skyrim or Oblivion is the best game in the Elder Scrolls series. Skyrim is one of the most highly-rated RPGs because of its stunningly diverse world, massive modding community, and polished gameplay mechanics. Yet, many players also love Oblivion because of its charming fantasy atmosphere and creative quest lines.

Zelda

There is some debate about Zelda being a true RPG series because its games lack traditional EXP-based levelling (except for Adventure of Link). However, Zelda is the most enthralling action-adventure RPG game series, which incorporates many of the essential role-playing elements like inventory management, open-world map exploration, optional side quests, and equipment upgrades. Zelda games are renowned for their wondrous worlds, exploration, ingenious dungeon designs, art diversity, gameplay twists, and legendary musical scores.

Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild are the greatest additions to the Zelda series, rated by many to be two of the best games ever. Ocarina of Time blew players away because of its thrilling new 3D perspective, immersive world design, and groundbreaking pacing. However, Breath of the Wild was a landmark RPG because of its unprecedented map exploration freedom and physics-based gameplay systems.

Baldur’s Gate

Baldur’s Gate is an RPG franchise that faithfully incorporates combat from the Dungeons and Dragons tabletop game. It is a great RPG game series because of its intense Dungeons and Dragons tactical combat, player freedom, and deep narrative. The immense choice of Baldur’s Gate games, with multiple ways to complete quests, is the real hallmark of this RPG series that sets it apart from others.

The Badur’s Gate RPG game series is a trilogy, and the third instalment is widely rated to be the best. Players love Baldur’s Gate III because of its cinematic storytelling and deep turn-based combat. However, the average Metacritic rating of 96 for Baldur’s Gate III is only one higher than BG II: Shadows of Amn, which remains a nostalgic classic.

Fallout

The Fallout RPG game series is one with a post-apocalyptic America setting for players to explore. Fallout games are renowned for their masterful world-building and environmental storytelling. This game series has always offered a nice blend of post-nuclear war horror and dark humor for a captivating atmosphere. The unmatched player agency of creating special characters and branching narratives in Fallout games makes them all the more engrossing RPGs to play.

Fallout is an expansive RPG game series that has been extended across decades. The most distinguished addition to this franchise is Fallout: New Vegas. Although that game looks a little dated now, players love Fallout: New Vegas because of its deep RPG choices and intriguing faction politics.

Dark Souls

Dark Souls is a series of tough, dark fantasy action RPG games for players to get stuck into. This RPG game series stands out because of its rewarding combat system, brilliantly interconnected world designs, and environmental storytelling, which delivers the game lore with item descriptions and environmental clues. Although a little intimidating for newcomers, Dark Souls games offer considerable challenge and immense accomplishment value.

There are three primary games in the Dark Souls series, and the third instalment is the most highly rated. Dark Souls III is the highlight of the trilogy for many players because of its higher-quality graphics, enthralling boss fights, and faster, more responsive gameplay. However, some players prefer the deep atmosphere and interconnected map design in the original, remastered Dark Souls.

Each of the best RPG game series above offers players a chance to experience a new kind of life. Jumping into those RPGs will enable you to become a master swordsman, vault dweller, monster hunter, and more besides. Those role-playing franchises have consistently raised the bar for RPG gaming across decades with some of the best games in history, such as Final Fantasy VII, Ocarina of Time, Baldur’s Gate III, The Witcher 3, etc.