Ok, I'm looking for recommendations. I just logged about 70 hours into Vampire The Masquerade:Bloodlines and I have been having a blast. I'm looking for more games like this, I've already played the Witcher series and Dragon age. Not just story based RPGs but stuff that either is from the 2000/2010's or has that same feeling. I don't care about story genre that much, just RPG-ness and charm.
If you liked Bloodlines, you could try the earlier VtM game, Redemption.
It plays more like a Diablo styled rpg instead of Bloodlines, and has it's issues (your team AI is completely exceptional, always play manually) but it's still fun, has a good story and you get more into the old World of Darkness lore.
VtM:B has much of the same kind of charm as Deus Ex. They're largely very different games but I like them both for similar reasons. I dare say if you liked one you should like the other.
Two Worlds was a fucking mess when it first came out, (it lagged every time you hit enemies, froze constantly, crashed etc.) and remained virtually unplayable for years after its release. Then, out of the blue, it was patched.
The Epic Edition is £6.99 on Steam right now, and it's a really fun, underrated rpg in my opinion. You could watch some recent(ish) videos on YT to see what it's like post-patch, most being people who bought it expecting it to be shit, only to end up enjoying it.
The dialogue is funny as all fuck (everyone speaks like Shakespeare with brain damage), the open world is really impressive for its time (reminds me of the Witcher series) and it has a ton of items, quests and general pisstaking to be had.
I've also never played an RPG that has so many cheats and console commands to play around with.
VtM:B has much of the same kind of charm as Deus Ex. They're largely very different games but I like them both for similar reasons. I dare say if you liked one you should like the other.
...and if you like that, it might be worth trying both System Shock 2 and Jedi Knight. Both are more strongly shooters, but there's a good RPG element and a strong "play your own way" element with some character progression and item management.
I strongly recommend Dragon's Dogma if you care little about story and more about gameplay and character customization, getting loot, getting geared, and killing ferocious monsters.
Personally, I think it's one of the best ARPGs ever made, even if it was rushed toward the end of its development in order to compete with Skyrim.
This is probably a normie answer, but I loved Morrowind when it came out. Very unique atmosphere. The combat is shit, but I really enjoyed everything else in it.
I strongly recommend Dragon's Dogma if you care little about story and more about gameplay and character customization, getting loot, getting geared, and killing ferocious monsters.
Personally, I think it's one of the best ARPGs ever made, even if it was rushed toward the end of its development in order to compete with Skyrim.
Especially if there's a mod the restores the Berserk content
I also hear Metal Max is very much a JRPG series where you can bypass the story and just have fun
And I’m shocked nobody’s mentioned Soulsbornes, none of them really require you to interact with story either (except maybe Sekiro and Demon’s Souls) and aside from Bloodborne and Demon’s Souls, they’re all on PC, including Nioh
Wizardry 8 and Temple of Elementary Evil have some pretty great battle\character progression mechanics if you can stomach turn-based battle systems:
The award of most excitement I've had with battles in and RPG in recent memory goes to Darkest Dungeon, though.
Oh, and if you don't mind the fairy tale feel of it, Child of Light is great too with its Grandiaesque battle system, creating a great balance of speed and tactics:
This is probably a normie answer, but I loved Morrowind when it came out. Very unique atmosphere. The combat is shit, but I really enjoyed everything else in it.
The funnest part was burning and purging Vvardenfell of all life to make Thanos look like a fucking joke. The only rule is to save that hermaphroditic poet god Vivec for last.
I'm assuming you've played the 90's era stuff, but if you haven't you gotta try Ravenfall.
Not truly an RPG but an FPS adventure hybrid from the mid 90's - Quarantine. You're a cabdriver in a dystopian future. Good shit.
Closer to the oughts you should give Vagrant Story a playthrough. It's obtuse as fack, I used a guide after failing it for a while and I suggest you read into the mechanics of it before you start.
Dragon's Dogma was underrated & from the 2010s.
Baldur's Gate, ofc.
Recettear, it's weeb shit but it's an interesting take on the RPG genre. You run an item shop.
My all time favorite from the era is Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on the GBA. Exquisite pixel art and flawless squad based combat. Beautiful to see and play.
I'm assuming you've played the 90's era stuff, but if you haven't you gotta try Ravenfall.
Not truly an RPG but an FPS adventure hybrid from the mid 90's - Quarantine. You're a cabdriver in a dystopian future. Good shit.
Closer to the oughts you should give Vagrant Story a playthrough. It's obtuse as fack, I used a guide after failing it for a while and I suggest you read into the mechanics of it before you start.
Dragon's Dogma was underrated & from the 2010s.
Baldur's Gate, ofc.
Recettear, it's weeb shit but it's an interesting take on the RPG genre. You run an item shop.
My all time favorite from the era is Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on the GBA. Exquisite pixel art and flawless squad based combat. Beautiful to see and play.
FFTA is a good game but a game very easily broken by just keeping a field of archers and black mages with Marche serving as a blocker to make sure the enemy doesnt reach your long range units. What are your views on Disgaea?
This, and Tales of Eternia is one of the best classic JRPGs on the system. If you're looking for something harder try Final Fantasy Tactics on the PSP (a revamp of the PS1 original). The Silver Lunar Star Story Revamp on PSP is also pretty cool. The early Final Fantasy remakes on PSP are also worth checking out.
FFTA is a good game but a game very easily broken by just keeping a field of archers and black mages with Marche serving as a blocker to make sure the enemy doesnt reach your long range units. What are your views on Disgaea?
