Jonesing for a first person RPG or Im-Sim

[Zombra]

Hi, just throwing a general thread out there in July 2022. I want to play a good or at least decent first-person, single-character game where I can create a character, or at the very least have meaningfully branching skill trees to approach problems in my own way. Deep character building mechanics a plus but I will take what I can get. Big bonus points for good noncombat gameplay of any kind, or objectives that can be completed through mechanics that aren't just "kill stuff". My hope is that since there are so many games out there right now, there are some gems I haven't heard of.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[agris]

Are you looking for something modern?

I think SSI’s catalogue has a lot of first person RPGs, don’t know how many are exclusively 1 pc instead of a party. Menzoberranzan is an example.

Depending on what you’re feeling, interplay’s old Stonekeep or Descent to Undermountain may scratch the itch.

I think the Ishar series is also well regarded.

I haven’t played any of the above tho, I’m just aware of them.

If you haven’t played Deus Ex 1, or haven’t in a long time, that should be your #1. And while more on the action RPG side, I think Alpha Protocol is great.

 

[jdinatale]

System Shock 2
Morrowind
Fallout: New Vegas

Is the trifecta.

 

[POOPERSCOOPER]

Sounds kind of like you are looking for a real RPG. They don't make those anymore.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Brigand: Oaxaca.

 

[Nifft Batuff]

They don't do this kind of games anymore.

 

[CyberWhale]

System Shock 2
Morrowind
Fallout: New Vegas

Is the trifecta.

Yeah, Zombra seems to be asking for FP RPGs. Anyway, if he decreases the requirements for the presence and influence of RPG elements, the list can be extended to the following:

- Deus Ex series
- Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
- Dishonored series
- Prey (2017)

 

[c u in da ballpit ashren]

Hi, just throwing a general thread out there in July 2022. I want to play a good or at least decent first-person, single-character game where I can create a character, or at the very least have meaningfully branching skill trees to approach problems in my own way. Deep character building mechanics a plus but I will take what I can get. Big bonus points for good noncombat gameplay of any kind, or objectives that can be completed through mechanics that aren't just "kill stuff". My hope is that since there are so many games out there right now, there are some gems I haven't heard of.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

The closest to what you are describing that actually exists is Pathologic (2005) and Pathologic 2 (2019). I recently started playing it expecting something trying to be pretentious art with walls of text and loose rpg elements but the story great and you are actively discouraged from killing, with a difference on doing so, and defending yourself. You get 12 days in game to do whatever you want, and make any decisions you like, but there will be many times where you have to put yourself first.

With what you're asking for, beggars can't be choosers and by now, everyone certainly has play Fallout: New Vegas. Pathologic hasn't done well in sales and seriously should, especially with 2 turned out. Don't be shy, give it a whirl. With a game like that, I wouldn't be surprised if the company behind uses that foundation to create an RPG one day, so in way it's like you're helping seeds flourish.

 

[V_K]

Monomyth won't be out for a while, unfortunately. Other than that, Daggerfall Unity is probably your best friend for now.

 

[lukaszek]

not rpg but might still hook you in

 

[Funposter]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance if you can deal with the lack of character creation/customisation. It's pretty slim pickings for first person RPGs.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Have you played Arx Fatalis?

 

[Krivol]

Not exactly Im-Sim but Enderal is quite fine.

 

[Modron]

Just in case you haven't played it:


Dread Delusion possibly I guess.

 

[thesecret1]

I got the perfect game for you.

SPOILER

 

[Wysardry]

Daggerfall Unity?

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Zombra if you haven't played Arx Fatalis it should be first on your list, it's one of the "greats" of the subgenre. It doesn't fit all your requirements, but it's the direct descendant of Ultima Underworld 1 & 2.
Install Arx Libertatis on top of it to fix bugs/modern OS issues, it's a continuation of the source code for the game that was released publicly.

 

[<3sRichardSimmons]

Yeah, you should play Arx, and hopefully Monomyth will be out by the end of the year.

 

[agris]

Thanks guys, idk what Zombra will do but I think I should play Arx next.

 

[Sunsetspawn]

This is currently on sale on gog. I haven't played it, nor even purchased it, and though it absolutely reeks of buggy eurojank I figured I'd throw it out there.

 

[Glop_dweller]

NO, as in you have not played it, or NO, as in you are not open to playing it?
Arx Fatalis is superb (but combat heavy). It's available from GoG, and it is much improved with addition of Arx Libertatis.

https://arx-libertatis.org/

 

[HumanTotemPole]

This is currently on sale on gog. I haven't played it, nor even purchased it, and though it absolutely reeks of buggy eurojank I figured I'd throw it out there.

A personal all timer but does not have what Zombra is looking for re non-combat options. I'd also be extremely suprised if he hasn't played or heard of it already. Divine Cybermancy is nowhere near as obscure as it used to be.

 

[Zombra]

I didn't want to get caught up in conversations in the thread (great suggestions all, thanks and keep them coming if there are more) ......
but I have to let Sunsetspawn know I have indeed played E.Ψ.Ǝ and it is a "must see" in my opinion, not because it's the perfect game (although it is) but because it is absolutely unique.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Counterpoint: E.Y.E. is god awful and borderline incomprehensible unless they altered it significantly since I played it last (2013). I've always been impressed that some people claim to enjoy it. My best guess is that it's akin to how getting kicked in the balls is apparently a type of fetish.

 

[Zombra]

With any other game, these two opinions would be contradictory.