MediaKick: Being the stalwart supporter of western RPGs for a couple of decades, Bethesda have grown in stature since the series began with The Elder Scrolls: Arena. Each new game in the core series showcases a new engine that not only looks stunning, but makes the experience last far longer than ever before. Bethesda provided us with the ambitious The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion several years back, alongside the highs of the Shivering Isles and lows of the infamous Horse Armour as paid downloadable content. One thing was mostly missing from the series though, as what good is a fantasy RPG without Dragons? When the trailers for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim first hit, it was clear that it was fully intentional as a plot device, and after three years of development, Skyrim is finally here. Should you take up the arms as Dovahkiin, or should you shirk your Dragonborn responsibilities?"
Replaying Skyrim after 13 years is a reminder of the progress made in western RPGs over the last decade, but also what's been lost.
RPGs are often huge, sprawling endeavours. With limited playtime, we have to choose wisely, so here's the best western RPGs available today.
"I started playing games yesterday" the List... Meh!
How about a few RPGs that deserve some love instead?
1 - Alpha Protocol - Now on GOG
2 - else Heart.Break()
3 - Shadowrun Trilogy
4 - Wasteland 2
5 - UnderRail
6 - Tyranny
7 - Torment: Tides of Numenera
And for a bonus game that flew under the radar:
8 - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Not only glorious jank, but the idea that the story can completely change depending on what you do, or say, or side with, makes it one of the most forward thinking games ever. The amount of story permutation is the equivalent of a Hitman level but in Story Form. And it wasn't just that the story changed, no, it was that you met completely new characters, or missed them, depending on your choices. Made Mass Effect feel static in comparison.
Alpha Protocol was absolutely glorious, indeed. And it was, and still is, more Next Gen than most anything out there these days. In this regard at least.
Pity.
A new Partner Spotlight Sale is now live on the Switch eShop, including Skyrim, lowest price ever for Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and more.
Been playing it so far and it is absolutely amazing.