My favourite genre of video game, RPGs. A true genre of the traditional nerd. Original RPGs were not video games, the first one published being a tabletop game, Dungeons & Dragons. Such is the way of pop-culture franchises, such as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Pokémon, that RPGs have become some of the most popular core video games out there.
While I have my shortlist, even in writing this right now I’m not sure which one I am going to rank as the best. What I think would be good place to start is to set some assessment criteria. Each piece of criteria carries roughly equal weight. Innovation, replayability, freedom of choice & consequence, commercial success, influence and quality of writing. So, the games that have made the shortlist are:
The best RPG franchise – The shortlist
KOTOR – Knights of the Old Republic.
Knights of the Old Republic – The hugely popular and commercially successful Star Wars is steeped in deep lore. Fans of the franchise, including myself in that number, are very passionate about the lore, and how all content comes together and improves your appreciation for the movies and the other more mainstream content. While a lot of the Star Wars content was removed from canon by Disney when they purchased Lucas Film, a Knights of the Old Republic remake has indeed been announced. When this game first came out though, it was revolutionary and certainly helped put the OG Xbox on the map. It’s key strengths were in the quality of writing, freedom of choice & consequence and therefore replayablility. A true RPG fans kryptonite. Obviously it has been missing from gaming catalogues for quite some time, but make no mistake, this is one of THE heavyweight RPGs. It does help too, the popularity of Star Wars.
The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls – It’s influence on video games has been monumental. Each time a new Elder Scrolls has released, there has been a notable influence on other games in the RPG genre. Further to this point, Elder Scrolls games since Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, have been games that transcend the genre. They regularly ‘raise the game’ and have shown off what is possible on the hardware it is released on. Elder Scrolls also has some of the best writing in all of video games (especially Oblivion). Their open-ended nature and freedom of choice is something many games try and replicate, with no one quite able to do this as well as Bethesda Game Studios. Although the choice and consequence in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim was massively reduced over that of Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, and even more so over that of Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, the game still offered massive replayability. It still has incredibly high player counts to this day. Despite many attempts to topple it, It’s world building and player interation in-game has still not been beaten (and this is a game 2 generations old). The addition of Elder Scrolls online has only strengthened the franchise and allowed for a tonne of cool lore to be added in.
Fallout
Fallout – Another Bethesda Game Studios game. Although it wasn’t always. Actually, it is argued in many gaming circles that the best Fallout game was made by Obsidian Entertainment. Nonetheless, it is a much-loved game series and is probably the best post-apocalyptic RPG out there. Fallout, like all Bethesda Game Studios games, has a deep level of interactions players can have with the world. It’s hand-crafted quests, voice acting quality and storytelling are rivalled by almost none in the industry bar other Bethesda Game Studios games. Fallout 3 was seen as a huge innovation on the Xbox 360 and PS3. Both Fallout 3 and New Vegas offered brilliant replayability and choice and consequence, and I would argue that despite Fallout 4 and 76 not being as well received as prior Fallout games, it’s influence in more recent games is quite apparent.
Dark Souls
Dark Souls – Some more hardcore circles of RPG fans say that ‘every game is Dark Souls’. That quote alone lets people know what a heavyweight you are dealing with. Maybe not as accessible as it’s Elder Scrolls rival, Dark Souls too brags some of the deepest and most thrilling in game lore. Quest writing and game play is fantastic, and the combat mechanics really do shine through in Dark Souls. Maybe it’s short-comings for me personally is its lack of open world. That however is a personal thing and I can tell you what it lacks in open world, it makes up for in almost all other areas. (Something I am super hype for in Elden Ring). Some may also complain of it not being as accessible as other big RPG franchises out there, due to the fact that Dark Souls is a difficult franchise. Dark Souls (and From Software games in general) are famed for being a challenge… Dark Souls’ influence on modern video games quite stunning. There is even a sub-genre of ‘Souls-like’. And if you want consistency in a series, look no further than this right here. Speaking of consistancy…
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda – One of the longest running RPGs out there. The legend of Zelda is also one of the most well-known franchises out there too, due to the insane nostalgia factor there is for Nintendo games. Another game steeped in lore that all RPGs worth playing boast. The writing and storytelling in Zelda is brilliant and it is probably the most accessible massive RPG out there, in terms of its appeal to multiple demographics. It is a massive commercial success, and it’s influence on other games throughout it’s life-span is massive. Even to the modern day, Breath of the Wild has a clear influence on many games to release since or planned to release in the coming year or so. All this influence from a game on a piece of hardware less powerful than an Xbox One. It’s one true weakness against my assessment criteria is the lack of choice and consequence. This is a recruring theme throughout the games. It is not a fault, much like the open world within Dark Souls, it is a design choice. Nevertheless, The Legend of Zelda has shown it’s strength most by it’s ability to mix up the formula to grow and improve the games.
Pokémon
Pokémon – This is the first RPG I remember playing! Pokémon’s success was blown up by the anime releasing with the mainline Pokémon games. Coupled with a highly successful trading card game. Every child in the mid/late 90s knew what it was, everyone played it, collected their favourite Pokémon/Pokémon cards. Over the years I have regularly dipped into the Pokémon game market, and while I can say a lot of the magic for me now is in the nostalgia, I still can’t help but love them. Before you go throwing your Pokéballs at me… Along comes Pokémon Legends: Arceus. This has done a great job mixing up the formula! Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see more RPG mechanics come into Pokémon. But wow did Legends: Arceus do them proud! Honestly, for me Pokémon is in here because of consistency and size of the franchise (although I am aware not all of this comes from the games).
In conclusion…
So, has all that thinking made this decision any easier. No, no it hasn’t. I am sure some will agree but I imagine I will upset quite a few others but regardless of this I do want to hear all your opinions in the comments! But just because it ticks all of my personal boxes, coupled with my man Godd Howard saying how they will be implementing heavier role-play mechanics, I have to go with Elder Scrolls. It honestly was a close call between this and Zelda. I am thinking I am going to have people crying ‘Witch’er at me but in my opinion Witcher 3 was the only really good one in the series so far, and that is why it never made the cut.
Congratualtions Elder Scrolls
Congratulations The Elder Scrolls, the best RPG Franchise to date! Everyone please lower your Wabbajacks. Any complaints can be left in the comments or sent to my address in the Shivering Isles. 1 No Street, I don’t know how I got here, The Shivering Isles, Oblivion, SI*%&£.
