First timer cRPGs (2024 edition)

[Spike]

Baldur's Gate 3. But everything else after will look worse (with the exception of Underrail)

We need a giant ? button

Alas, I can't use the koala yet

 

[Ol' Willy]

Realms of Arkania HD

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Realms of Arkania HD

Now the most recommended game on RPGCodex

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Which titles would you recommend for a first timer?

Thanks in advance.

If that person is already interested in CRPGs and wants to learn more about specific types he likes or dislikes, then you should encourage that person to experience every major CRPG subgenre, via at least 1 or 2 quality games that fit well into that subgenre, e.g.

1. Rogue-likes: Rogue (1980), Telengard (1982), Nethack (1987), Ancient Domains of Mystery (1994)
2. Turn-Based Blobbers: Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981), The Bard’s Tale (1985), Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge (1990), Might & Magic: World of Xeen (1994)
3. Garriott-likes: Ultima III: Exodus (1983), Ultima IV: The Quest of the Avatar (1985), Ultima VII: The Black Gate (1992)
4. Real-Time Blobbers: Dungeon Master (1987) & Chaos Strikes Back (1989), Legend of Grimrock (2012) & Legend of Grimrock II (2014), Eye of the Beholder (1991), Black Crypt (1992)
5. Tactical RPGs: Pool of Radiance (1988), Death Knights of Krynn (1991), and other Gold Box games, Perihelion (1993), Temple of Elemental Evil (2003)
6. Underworld-likes: Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (1992), UU II: The Labyrinth of Worlds (1993), The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (1996), King’s Field IV: The Ancient City (2002)
7. JRPGs: Final Fantasy VI (1994), Final Fantasy IV (1991), Final Fantasy IX (2000), Planescape: Torment (1999)
8. Diablo-likes: Diablo (1997), Diablo II (2000), Divine Divinity (2002)
9. Choice & Consequences RPGs: Fallout (1997), Fallout 2 (1998), Arcanum (2001), Age of Decadence (2015)
10. Open World RPGs: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002), The Faery Tale Adventure (1986), Fallout: New Vegas (2010), Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018)
11. Action RPGs: Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen (2012/2013), Demon’s Souls (2009), Dark Souls (2011), Salt & Sanctuary (2016)

If you're trying to interest that person in CRPGs, then you need to provide us with some detail about that person's prior experience with RPGs and other types of games. Someone who has little experience with gaming in general should be recommended games that aren't too difficult and that have good explanations of their mechanics at the beginning (not necessarily through tutorials), someone who enjoys tactics games should be recommended Tactical RPGs, someone who enjoys action games should be recommended Action RPGs, someone who enjoys Rogue-lites should be recommended Rogue-likes, someone who focuses on story-telling should be recommended a story-focused subgenre (Garriot-likes, JRPGs, or C&C RPGs), someone who enjoys exploration should be recommended an exploration-focused subgenre (Real-Time Blobbers, Underworld-likes, or Open World RPGs), et cetera.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Play with Plato!

 

[Nifft Batuff]

Baldur's Gate 3. But everything else after will look worse (with the exception of Underrail)

We need a giant ? button

What I mean is that if you start playing a very good one as your first RPG, then everything else you play after that will look bad by comparison, and you have fucked your enjoyment. This is basically what happened to people that played their first RPG in the '90s.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Oh! A map from worst to best?

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Play with Plato!

I'd rather run a game with Archimedes. That dude could run a decent siege.