Summary
Western RPGs can keep players engaged for hours on end if everything clicks. Players love the sheer amount of love and work that goes into breathing life into these massive worlds and their characters, making for a riveting experience where players save the world or complete a gargantuan task they were assigned to.
There are times when some Western RPGs can be way more compelling than fans expected. The sheer quality on display in these titles exceeded fan expectations and ensured that they would be absorbed in these role-playing games for a long time without any issues.
The problems surroundingDragon Age: Inquisition’s development led to many fans getting worried about the end product.Dragon Age 2had left a bad taste in the mouths of fans, andMass Effect 3’s ending did nothing to bolster the studio’s reputation.
Thankfully, despite some MMO side quests that are nothing short of an annoying grind,Dragon Age: Inquisitionwas a fitting entry in the series. The plot did justice to the series' history, and the plot twist at the end was received positively, even if players hated the idea of shelling out money for DLC to see the true ending.
The Stick of Truthis one of the best video game adaptationsof an existing IP. Previews were impressive, but players had no idea just how faithfulThe Stick of Truthwould be to the world ofSouth Parkuntil they gave this title a shot.
The hilarious humor, fun combat, wacky scenarios, and gut-busting humor all help elevate this title as one of the best comedy RPGs fans can get their hands on. The fact that this game was responsible for causing new and returning fans to get into modernSouth Parkspeaks volumes when it comes to its success.
Kingdom Come: Deliveranceis one of the best realistic medieval RPGsof all time, an achievement that is made even more impressive when players learn of the new studio that developed this title. Sure, Warhorse Studios had employees experienced in game development, but crafting an epic open-world RPG that took more than a hundred hours to complete was no mean feat.
Certain elements of this restricted budget could be seen in the game’s repetitive animations, but this was a minor complaint. The tough yet rewarding combat, immersive game design, and a riveting story ensured that players would fall in love withKingdom Come: Deliverance, a game they didn’t have the highest expectations for.
With the once-great BioWare losing a ton of its goodwill following the disasters that wereAnthemandMass Effect: Andromeda, there was a void left behind in the Western RPG genre that someone needed to fill. However, fans didn’t expect Spiders, of all developers, to rise to this challenge.
Most of their titles have been entertaining yet janky AA RPG experiences. WithGreedFall, the studio perfected their formula while letting fans enjoy a game that channeled the old energy of BioWare, something that no one felt a Spiders game could achieve. Thankfully, the eurojank ofGreedFalladded to its charm, making it clear why fans are hyped for its sequel.
The hype forThe Witcher 3was through the roof, with the marketing team doing a great job of attracting new eyes toward this franchise. Expectations were high for this title, yet CD Projekt Red managed to shatter everything that fans thought this game could be in the best way possible.
The amazing sandbox design made every region a joy to explore, andthe side quests featured such amazing writingthat it arguably marked a major shift in how developers view side content in their video games. Geralt’s final journey was an epic one full of major highs and sad lows, and the expansions went a step above to surpass fan expectations once again in terms of their quality and length, especially when it comes toBlood & Wine.
While an RPG without combat made for an interesting pitch, fans expectedDisco Elysiumto be little more than a novelty. So, when ZA/UM released their epic title, fans were floored by the sheer oddness and quality of the game’s writing.
Every dialogue exchange had the potential to make fans laugh their heart out without taking away from the seriousness of the situation. Harry Du Bois is an enigma, whose eccentric personality helps every aspect ofDisco Elysiumstand out as one of the best modern story-driven RPGsfans can get their hands on.
WithDivinity: Original Sin 2, Larian Studios had set a high bar for its role-playing gameplay. However,Baldur’s Gate 3would also mark a massive upgrade for the visuals that this studio employed in its games, making for a dazzling RPG that only comes once in a blue moon.
Not only didBaldur’s Gate 3live up to the standards set by its lauded predecessors, but most people would argue that it went above and beyond to become a tour de force of the modern Western RPG landscape. The fact thatplayers can sink a thousand hours in this titleand still find something new is a testament to how incredible this title’s scope is.
It’s hard to believe that a janky game made by Piranha Bytes would end up turning into a cult classic, but there are many reasons whyGothicdeserves this moniker. From the moment players are unceremoniously dumped into an elaborate prison structure, they must scratch and claw their way to reach a camp for the very first time, dying innumerable times in the process.
This just adds to the satisfaction that players feel when they finally figure out how to improve their combat skills and attain the confidence required to challenge some of the game’s harder enemies. Before players even know it,they’ll be thoroughly immersed in an amazing Western RPGthey considered to be little more than a novelty to pass the time with.
