30 Best Action RPGs To Play On PC
We all love a good RPG, creating our characters exploring worlds, and getting absorbed by a story. But in between all that good stuff, there’s something we love even more. Dressing up a character is all well and good, but we want to see that perfectly formed person swinging an axe.
We want to fight our way through a story, and the worlds are always more exciting when there’s some danger lurking around every corner. This is where the action RPG comes in and our chance to have our character-rich cake and eat it too by cutting off a slice with a sword.
There are so many great ones to pick from, so forgive us for trying to cram the very genre into just 10, but these are some of our favorites. So, now in no particular order are some of the best action RPGs to play on PC.
Character-rich and full of challenges, here are some of the best action RPGs to play on PC.
Hades
Supergiant Games’ rogue-lite RPG has won over countless hearts and minds with its alluring combination of an exceptional soundtrack, engaging gameplay, and stunning visuals. The charismatic characters, from Zagreus and Megaera to the cantankerous underworld god himself, only add to its wide appeal.
The rogue-lite element makes it ideal for newcomers. As Zagreus perishes, he acquires more boons, weapons, and narrative. Although it might resemble a hack and slash game, the action RPG genre often features such semi-mindless combat. Players will naturally integrate combos as they attempt to flee Hades while also flirting with every character possible.
Outer Worlds
Once upon a time, we were excited for the chance to explore even one planet to go to a sci-fi future and visit slightly varied terrain. But now we’re spoiled, and you know what, a single planet doesn’t cut it anymore.
Now we want a whole solar system to visit, murdering aliens everywhere we go like we’re playing some kind of intergalactic killer bingo. Well, Outer Worlds has plenty of planets waiting for a gunslinging or knife-wielding player to try their luck against the local fauna and the local populace, as marauders are not a welcoming sort.
The Open Worlds are full of quests to follow and good old moral decisions to make. In one quest, a sweet old lady reveals that she’s been using corpses as fertilizer after I help her. Luckily there are other planets to go and make trouble on.
The interplanetary action is crisp first-person shooting that makes crossing off new enemies on your list a delight every time.
Fable
This underappreciated and often overlooked masterpiece, Fable, delivers top-notch gameplay and numerous significant moral choices that affect how other characters view the protagonist.
Indeed, the game’s memorable morality system continuously evaluates your choices. Performing good deeds aligns you with the Light Side of the Force, while committing bad ones gradually turns your character more evil.
This system influences not only the reactions of NPCs but also the appearance of the player’s character. Virtuous characters will be graced with a radiant halo that symbolizes their moral purity, while wrongdoers will develop sinister horns that unmistakably announce, “I’m a bad guy.”
Horizon Zero Dawn
The world of Horizon Zero Dawn is a world like no other, dangerous, beautiful, and drenched in lore. The way that Horizon Zero Dawn was able to arrive on the scene when we were already oversaturated with the sequels prequels and non-canonical spiritual predecessors of other better-known franchises and still fire a rope caster straight around your heart remains impressive to this day.
As the campaign takes you from sun drenched settlements to snowy mountain tops, you might find yourself wondering if an apocalypse would really be that bad. Sure it would mean death and destruction, but afterward, we could all wear cool hats and live by a waterfall.
Horizon Zero Dawn is a beautiful oxymoron, and you play as an outcast with so much to offer everyone. In a world both futuristic and primitive, often peaceful and dangerous. Now is the perfect time to play as the sequel horizon forbidden west is on the way and hopefully also has a PC port in its future.
Diablo 3
Diablo 3, an action RPG that has defined the genre, immerses players in a dark fantasy world where they become heroes, battling the hellish forces invading their realm. While playing with friends is recommended, it also offers a fantastic solo experience.
Don’t let the numeral in the title deter you; the story can be understood even without playing the previous installments. Though the earlier Diablo games are worth exploring, their outdated graphics and mechanics may not appeal to some. Begin with Diablo 3 and, if you enjoy it, consider trying the earlier entries.
Meanwhile, Diablo 4 is more than the latest addition to the series. This latest entry offers a more systematic and strategic experience, demanding increased emphasis on build planning and thoughtful consideration of items as you progress through levels. That’s in stark contrast to the more straightforward approach of Diablo 3.
Casuals who have been keeping watch of the series may find the change in playstyle jarring. And they may not have the time or effort to put in more work as dedicated veterans do. Fortunately, they can turn to game boosting services for an easy leg up.
They offer professional aid through skilled D4 boosters dedicated to helping you effortlessly achieve your in-game objectives. These game boosting teams consist of experienced players who have completed numerous boosts in Diablo 3 and Diablo 2 Resurrected.
They provide two services: Diablo 4 Boost (account sharing) and Carry (play with our team). These encompass leveling, builds, item farming, dungeon runs, boss kills, and more, ensuring a comprehensive solution for all your gaming needs. Check out this link to learn more about game boosting services for Diablo 4.
For comparison, Diablo 3 provides a faster and more accessible path to the endgame, making it easier for players to reach that stage. However, it may not leave substantial content for experimentation or further exploration.
Dragon’s Dogma – Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma is a rare and beautiful oddity. It’s probably more famous as a game, and people chastise it for not playing than for its own merits. Maybe it was just too ahead of its time when it first came out in 2012.
Years have passed, and Dragon’s Dogma has become Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen. The janks have been shaken off and what remains is still one of the most compelling role-playing games around, and that’s large because it’s so completely different.
This is the kind of game where you’ll spend three hours in the character creator because your height and weight determine how strong you are or how good at carrying things, or how quickly you can clamber up skyscraper-sized three-headed snake things. Then there are pawns AI followers, designed by you who learn from everything they experience and get smarter as your journey progresses.
Also Read: Best Character in Dungeons and Dragons Dark Alliance
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Prepare yourself for a unique experience in a vast, open world brimming with artifacts and hostile creatures. Are you ready to uncover the grandest secrets that the land of Morrowind fiercely conceals?
While most people are familiar with Skyrim, not everyone is aware of its predecessors, such as the legendary Morrowind. Although somewhat dated, its visuals shouldn’t dissuade you from giving it a try.
In many ways, Morrowind excels beyond Skyrim. It offers a more immersive experience with a stronger emphasis on role-playing. Unlike Skyrim, players cannot master every skill; instead, they must make deliberate choices and focus on the aspects that align with their strategy and character.
Monster Hunter – World
We’re straight back in with another entry from Capcom, albeit and very different one. Monster Hunter World is fantasy slaying at its best. Giant monsters are lurking about the world. You kill them, take the loot, fashion new armor out of their skin and head off to kill the next. Try and tell me you don’t want some mythical being moccasins.
It’s all about the action with tons of weapons to pick from that you gradually master. There are fluid fights that require careful movement rather than mindless hacking and varied monsters that require some research and strategy before you leap headfirst into 1v1 with a dinosaur.
That’s where the intricate crafting system comes in to prepare you for the next big fight. One of the absolute best parts of this game is adorable Palacios. Who wouldn’t want to bring their house cat to a dangerous fight?
Trials of Mana
This Square Enix title, although primarily a Japanese RPG (JRPG), is an excellent choice for beginners who appreciate the genre’s aesthetic. Specifically, this game brings the series’ third installment to life in a stunning 3D world, complete with full controller support and player choices that influence character morality.
Trials of Mana, a single-player game, can be enjoyed by a group who watches or takes turns playing. However, it’s worth noting that the game is more linear than open-world, which may be appealing or constraining for action RPG newcomers.
Dark Souls
They say sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees, and while that’s nonsense in the logging world, I think it’s quite true of dark souls.
Dark souls didn’t change everything because it was hard. It changed everything because it dared to place you in a world without telling you the first thing about it and trusted you to figure everything out for yourself.
2011 was the age of “press E” to look at the set-piece we spent ages on. So, when FromSoftware brought this out, it was like being transported to a parallel universe games industry. The effect is that you can feel like you’ve earned everything on your own. The slightly bigger health bar, every inch of the map you’ve explored, and every glimmer of plot in a surprisingly deep narrative.
Combat is challenging because it demands that you pay attention and actually block and counter, but we’ve had hard games for decades. Dark Souls is an all-timer for taking that old rule about writing to a new extreme.
Also Read: Dark Souls 3 – Estus Shard Locations
Torchlight II
Hack and slash games share many similarities with the action RPG genre, so let’s explore some of these titles, starting with the incredibly entertaining Torchlight II.
While it takes inspiration from Diablo’s formula, Torchlight II presents a unique, cartoony interpretation.
The game’s charming, low-poly visual style not only ensures smooth performance on older machines but also remains appealing over time, thanks to an art style that ages gracefully.
Torchlight II offers a day and night cycle, a weather system, four distinct character classes, an abundance of valuable loot and equipment, and numerous hidden secrets for players to uncover.
Middle Earth – Shadow of War
What says great action in a story rich universe better than The Lord of The Rings. Middle Earth Shadow of War is hours upon days of orc slaying fun. The orc encounters are procedurally generated, each with unique personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.
They even remember who you are, thanks to the nemesis system. So, if a grunt kills you, they might just become a captain to face later on. This makes the world feel alive and gives your badass action meaning beyond hacking through waves of drones.
The orcs even fight amongst themselves, so you’ll find yourself more invested in the high school drama of petty revenge, gossipy badmouthing, and warring cliques than the main story. But that’s merely a testament to how perfectly the story interweaves with the thrilling action, stealthy rope walking, close-quarters melee, and beast riding.
However you imagined yourself conquering Mordor, you’ll be able to pull it off in Shadow of war.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Some may argue that Divinity: Original Sin 2, with its turn-based combat, doesn’t qualify as an action RPG. However, it shares story and loot elements common to games like Diablo. Additionally, player choices impact gameplay, and there are four difficulty modes to choose from.
These features enable a broader audience to enjoy the game without compromising other players’ experiences. Larian Studios has created a unique world that feels both fresh and familiar. The game’s success has led the studio to work on Baldur’s Gate 3, a title suitable for more experienced action RPG players.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
The sheer badassery of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey should be reason enough to play it. Either that or the fact that we had to come up with a whole new word to describe just how incredible it feels to climb, sail, spart, and kick your way through Ancient Greece as Cassandra.
Although you would be forgiven for avoiding all combat in favor of just hanging around on a small greek island for hours on end, not that the mercenaries have any respect for our desire to laze about eating olives and having someone cool us down with one of those massive fans on a stick.
It’s hands down the most beautiful world we’ve seen in an Assassin’s Creed game. Made all the more beautiful when you nail a parry and kick a spartan warrior twice your size off the side of a tower. It’s just so beautiful.
Titan Quest
While discussing hack and slash games, it’s worth mentioning a few other excellent titles that deserve a spot on such a list. Introducing Titan Quest!
Titan Quest draws inspiration from Greek, Egyptian, and Asian mythologies, incorporating iconic ancient architecture, legendary monsters from myths, and historical characters.
The game’s physics engine sets it apart from other hack and slash titles. There’s a unique satisfaction in sending a satyr flying with a punch and watching them fall off a cliff or bridge. In Titan Quest, creatures typically drop the items they use, so if you encounter a skeleton wielding a glowing sword, defeating it could yield legendary gear.
Dragon Age Inquisition
If you are new to the Dragon Age franchise, we’ll start with a warning. Dragon Age Inquisition will leave you so invested in the lies of the unlikely band of allies that finishing the game feels like moving away from your home and saying goodbye to your childhood friends.
We’re getting ahead of ourselves, of course, because to finish the game, you’ll have to play through hours of exciting combat story lines and side quests with your group of elves, dwarves, and qunari.
Each of the characters has so much personality, and it’ll be impossible only to choose three to accompany you on the many adventures you’ll have on your journey to defeating Corypheus. This will be even more impossible to choose just one to romance. There are so many choices to be made and paths to take.
Starting from the minute, you choose your character’s race. You’ll already be planning a second playthrough as you play your first to see how the life of a duel wielding dwarf differs from that of an Elven Mage.
The Legend of Zelda – Breath of the Wild
While there’s no doubt that Breath of the Wild is an action game, whether it qualifies as an RPG is a matter of debate. Regardless of your stance, most agree that it’s the most RPG-like entry in the Legend of Zelda series. What makes this game ideal for beginners?
First, its uniqueness encourages players to think creatively, devising original solutions to challenges they may have created themselves. Although not every game provides such a wide array of tools for innovative problem-solving, learning this skill can be beneficial in other games.
Second, Breath of the Wild caters to various interests. If you enjoy battling monsters, hunt them down, sell their loot for better armor, and continue the cycle. If you’re interested in the characters, numerous side quests will keep you engaged. If exploration is your passion, the vast Hyrule offers diverse biomes and new friends to discover.
The Witcher 3 – The Wild Hunt
If you’ve yet to venture into the world of The Witcher 3 to step into the weathered boots of Geralt and explore one of the most realized enticing open worlds in gaming history, well, we could be jealous of you. But given that The Witcher 3 has so much to see and do that even on a third or fourth playthrough, you’ll still be discovering new characters and side quests.
Exploring the world of The Witcher 3 is like diving headfirst into a twisted fairy tale. Of course, the games have Andre Sapkowski’s books to thank for that. But The Witcher 3 takes the strange tales of its source material and asks you to make its narrative choices yourself to make definitive decisions about morally grey issues and decide the fate of characters who may have done wrong but for a good reason.
Let’s just say we’re glad to have Gwent (cards game) to take our mind off some of the impossible choices we’ve had to make in the side quests alone.
Grim Dawn
Grim Dawn is more than just a reimagining of Titan Quest set in a “dark fantasy meets the Victorian era” world; it also enhances many aspects of its esteemed predecessor, making it more accessible.
It would be unwise to overhaul mechanics that already work well, so Grim Dawn instead introduces a larger stash for your hard-earned items, multiple factions to ally with or oppose, and the potential for creating an almost limitless number of character builds thanks to an intricate skill tree.
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim
The inclusion of Skyrim on this list will come as a surprise to literally no one because you can’t have a list of the best RPGs and not include an elder scrolls game. That’s like having a list of the best ice cream flavors and not including mint choc chip, unthinkable!
In Skyrim, you can be whoever you want to be, go wherever you want to go, and pickpocket whoever you wish to pickpocket. I can’t say that it would be successful, but you could always give it a good go. It may not be the most polished game on this list, but that just makes us love it more.
From unexpected bandit attacks to a night of seemingly innocent drinking with a new friend that lands you in some trouble. The World of Skyrim is always surprising, with each random encounter feeling like you’re the first person ever to experience it. Skyrim manages to make each and every adventure feel like yours and yours alone.
Borderlands Games
Any entry in this franchise provides an effortless gateway into the looter shooter aRPG genre. However, starting with the first game is highly recommended for those seeking story continuity. For the best overall experience, a majority of fans point towards Borderlands 2.
The gameplay is fast-paced, with distinct and captivating abilities, and players can customize their builds through a skill tree system. While player choice doesn’t have a significant impact, there’s an abundance of loot and an engaging storyline that captures even the most jaded gamers’ attention.
The game is best enjoyed with friends, forming an ideal party of four beginners.
Bloodborne
Fans frequently praise Bloodborne’s fluid combat system and unforgettable cast of characters, claiming these features make it vastly superior to Dark Souls.
In addition to its combat and characters, Bloodborne has been lauded for its level design and narrative. Among FromSoftware’s creations, its lore is regarded as the finest.
The high difficulty level and challenging bosses ensure that hardcore players’ needs are met while they strategize to defeat seemingly unbeatable adversaries.
However, the game does have its shortcomings. Bloodborne’s most significant drawback is its exclusivity to the PlayStation 4, requiring players to purchase the console to experience this masterpiece. Nevertheless, it’s an investment well worth it!
Victor Vran ARPG
Victor Vran stands apart from other vampire hunter games (such as The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing) as a unique experience. In this otherwise traditional aRPG title, players can engage in some degree of jumping and platforming while navigating the overworld, battling foes, collecting loot, and advancing through the story.
Victor Vran offers streamlined progression coupled with intuitive controller mechanics, making it an excellent choice for those more comfortable with a controller than a keyboard and mouse. This game provides a smooth transition from console to PC gaming while still utilizing a familiar controller setup.
Pokemon Legends – Arceus
Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes you on a fantastic journey to the enchanting world of the Hisui region. As you embark on this captivating adventure, you’ll unravel the mysteries surrounding the mythical Pokemon, Arceus.
With its innovative open-world design, this game lets you explore lush environments, encounter diverse Pokemon species, and experience a whole new twist on the classic Pokemon formula.
Be prepared to make friends, face challenges, and shape the future of the Pokemon world as you know it!
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is a thrilling, action-packed sci-fi RPG that invites you to step into the boots of Commander Shepard once more. This time, the stakes are higher as you assemble an elite team to undertake a perilous mission against an enigmatic and deadly foe.
Prepare to be immersed in a gripping narrative, where your choices shape not only your story but the fate of the entire galaxy. With its unforgettable characters, epic space battles, and moral dilemmas, Mass Effect 2 will leave you craving for more interstellar adventures!
Kingdoms of Amalur – Reckoning
Embark on an epic journey in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, a mesmerizing action RPG set in a vast and magical world. With its intricate character customization, deep combat system, and engrossing storyline, this game will keep you hooked for hours on end.
Traverse enchanted forests, battle fearsome creatures, and uncover the secrets of Amalur as you defy fate and shape the destiny of a world teetering on the edge of chaos.
Adventure awaits, so grab your sword and prepare to leave your mark in the annals of history!
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 plunges you into the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the Capital Wasteland, where danger and intrigue lurk around every corner. As the Lone Wanderer, you’ll navigate a harsh and unforgiving world, encountering bizarre characters and deadly adversaries along the way.
With its compelling narrative, vast open-world exploration, and engaging gameplay, Fallout 3 offers an unforgettable gaming experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
So, gear up, grab your trusty Pip-Boy, and prepare to venture into the radioactive ruins of what was once America!
Ghost Of A Tale
Ghost of a Tale whisks you away to a charming and enchanting world, where you’ll assume the role of Tilo, a courageous and resourceful minstrel mouse. In this captivating action-adventure game, you’ll navigate a breathtaking medieval world filled with intricate puzzles, stealth challenges, and endearing characters.
As you unravel the tale of Tilo’s quest to reunite with his beloved, you’ll discover the true power of friendship and perseverance. So, don your lute and let your heart be your guide in this heartwarming adventure that’s sure to leave you spellbound!
Warframe
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Warframe, a free-to-play, action-packed sci-fi game that deftly blends elements of third-person shooters and role-playing games.
As a member of the ancient Tenno warriors, you’ll don your powerful exoskeleton, the Warframe, and embark on a thrilling journey through a sprawling universe teeming with danger and mystery.
With its breathtaking visuals, engaging gameplay, and rich cooperative multiplayer experience, Warframe offers countless hours of high-octane fun. So, gear up, join forces with your friends, and prepare to unleash your inner space ninja!
Bastion
Venture into the beautifully hand-painted world of Bastion, an action-packed, isometric action RPG that will tug at your heartstrings. As the Kid, you’ll navigate a post-apocalyptic landscape filled with fascinating characters, fearsome foes, and hidden secrets.
With its dynamic narration that responds to your every move, Bastion weaves an immersive and emotional tale that will keep you engaged from start to finish.
So, grab your trusty hammer, and embark on a breathtaking adventure to restore the Bastion and reclaim your shattered world!
