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Incline RPG Codex's Best RPGs - 2024 - VOTING IS CLOSED

jackofshadows

Arcane
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
4,997
Top RPGs:
*Fallout
*Arcanum
*VtMB
*UnderRail
*The Age of Decadence
*Wizardry 8
*Kingdom Come: Deliverance
*Might and Magic VII
*Grimrock 2
*Diablo

Hidden gems:
*Rage of Mages
*Space Rangers 2
*Black Book
*Konung
*Olympus 2207
*Expedition: Vikings
*Dex
*Neo Scavenger
*Dungeon Rats
*Dragon's Dogma
 

Lhynn

Arcane
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
9,948
Top RPGs
Atom
Atom Trudograd
Fallout
Fallout: New Vegas
BG1
BG2
BG3
City of Heroes
Tale of Wuxia
VtMB

Hidden gems
Heros Adventure: Road to passion
Fate seeker
Ho Tu Lo Shu
Troubleshooter
Alpha Brotocool
Dragons Dongma
Underrail
Shadowrun dragonfall
Karate Master 2: Knock Down Blow!
Heads will roll (And reforged)
 
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KafkaBot

Scholar
Joined
May 4, 2016
Messages
352
Top RPGs (unordered)

Fallout
Fallout: New Vegas
VtMB
Disco Elysium
Deus Ex
Planescape: Torment
Betrayal at Krondor
Arcanum
Gothic
System Shock 2


Hidden gems - I assume these are good games that I don't think have any chance of showing up in the top 100?

West of Loathing
Shadows Over Loathing
Demon's Roots
Virgin Island
Space Wreck
Vendetta: Curse of Raven's Cry
Brigand: Oaxaca
Pathologic 2
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (not "hidden" by any means, but hey, never made it to a top 100 here, as far as I know).
 
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Lhynn

Arcane
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
9,948
This shit is annoying, can you really only think 10 favorite rpgs? Im leaving out so many.

Only 10 hidden gems too? Those are rookie numbers.
 

Fink

Educated
Joined
Nov 9, 2023
Messages
102
This shit is annoying, can you really only think 10 favorite rpgs? Im leaving out so many.

Only 10 hidden gems too? Those are rookie numbers.
Can think of dozens of RPGs that I like, but hard to think of even ten good enough to warrant being called a favourite
 

Serus

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Jul 16, 2005
Messages
6,907
Location
Small but great planet of Potatohole
This divide between two list nonsensical. I see several titles that are already voted in different lists. There is no telling which one is "hidden" and which one isn't by any objective criteria. On Codex a game can be well known, elsewhere be a "hidden gem". Some people might vote for a game only as a hidden gem while others only as a "top rpg". This is BULLSHIT. Similar stuff will happen with several games, old and new alike. This is retarded and OP is a Jewish, sorry, Gnomish hack.
I vote 2 times on many titles, except for the very obvious ones like Fallouts.
I guess Hidden Gems is a category for games that you know are too obscure to enter the top-100. But still deserve time in a spotlight. So the OP probably will present 2 lists: top rpgs (which as we all know will be opened by Fallout, Torment and Arcanum, later have Baldur's Gate 2, Morrowind and Jagged Alliance 2) and hidden gems list which might actually be fresh and interesting to read.
Basically this. My hope is that RPG newbies can refer to the Top RPGs list and find a great game they've never played, and that RPG veterans can get a similar experience from the Hidden Gems list. It might be a recent indie that got buried by the hundreds of other indies, or an obscure Amiga-only game from 1986, or a game from 2002 that never got an English translation, or who knows what.

The two lists will be presented together, but clearly separated. Nobody is going to think that we somehow selected A Legionary's Life as the best RPG of all time.
Reading with comprehension = ZERO. For both of you. Combined.

The point is - people are putting several games in either category. They don't know which one belongs where. This is not about Fallouts but about titles that are not obvious. Are small, modern, known on Codex indies "hidden" or not? I saw KotC and other indies popular on Codex put in either category in several lists. That will screw the results badly. KotCs are known on Codex but are obscure indie games otherwise. Same with Grimoire, ATOM, Underrail and many more... Where should they go? People do not know and neither do I. They put such games in both categories. Same with old non-indie games that aren't Wizardry or Ultima. Some of those games are somewhat(-ish) known on the Dex but what does it mean in the context of "hidden" vs "top"? Who knows. Except, apparently, the author.
TL;DR: There are no objective criteria by which to divide games, it will screw the results. And no, saying "Fallout goes to top" is not cutting it.

End of the (autistic) rant.
 

conan_edw

Arbiter
Patron
Joined
Dec 3, 2017
Messages
854
Grab the Codex by the pussy Pathfinder: Wrath
Top RPGs:

Fallout
Arcanum
Planescape Torment
Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
Fallout: New Vegas
Age of Decadence
Underrail
Dark Souls
Baldur's Gate 3
Dragon's Dogma

Hidden Gems:

Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children
Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion
 

Gandalf

Arbiter
Joined
Sep 1, 2020
Messages
727
Top I remember and remember I like despite being shiet:

Fallout, Arcanum, Dark Sun 1, Darklands, M&B: Warband, Age of Decadance, Morrowind, Wizardry 6, Geneforge 2, Jagged Alliance 2 (what a list, haha).

Hidden games gems I remember and I like despite being shiet:

Legionary's Life, Realms of Antiquity, Realms of Arkania 2, Grimoire, Kenshi, NoX, Neo Scavenger, Dark Heart of Uukrul, Dungeon Rats, Forgotten Realms Unlimited Adventures.

Honorable mentions:

REDAXIUM 2.
 

Woran

Novice
Joined
Dec 22, 2022
Messages
2
Top RPGs:
* Disco Elysium
* Planescape: Torment
* Baldur's Gate
* Fallout 2

Hidden gems:
* ATOM RPG

NB: while my account is >1 year old, this is my first post. Feel free to ignore my vote if you feel it's against the spirit of the rules.
 

MpuMngwana

Arbiter
Joined
Sep 23, 2016
Messages
342
Making random lists of things you like is always a neat distraction. Here's a semi-arbitrary list of 20 games, semi-arbitrarily split between regular and hidden gem categories.

Top RPGs:
Wizardry 8
Deus Ex
Gothic
The Witcher
Fallout New Vegas
The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Dark Souls
Underrail
Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Hidden gems:
Voidspire Tactics
Quest for Glory
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
West of Loathing
Valkyria Chronicles 4
Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children
Dark Sun: Shattered Land
Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession
Kingsvein
Jagged Alliance 3
 
Joined
May 31, 2018
Messages
2,849
Location
The Present
Create a top 10 list far more challenging than I remember. Without spending an exhaustive evaluation, this is what I've got.

Top 10 RPGs
  • Baldur's Gate
  • Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
  • Betrayal at Krondor
  • Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
  • Deus Ex
  • Diablo II
  • Neverwinter Nights
  • Mass Effect
  • Pathfinder: Kingmaker
  • Prey
Hidden Gems
  • Alpha Protocol
  • Examina
  • Freedom Force
  • Gedonia
  • Satellite Reign
  • Serpents in the Staglands
  • Tyranny
 
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Blutwurstritter

Scholar
Joined
Sep 18, 2021
Messages
1,056
Location
Germany
Top 10:
  1. Baldur's Gate
  2. Baldur's Gate 2
  3. Baldur's Gate 3
  4. Deus Ex
  5. Fallout
  6. Fallout 2
  7. Gothic
  8. Gothic II
  9. Icewind Dale
  10. The Witcher 3
Hidden gems:
  1. Blackguards
  2. Divinity 2
  3. Drakensang: The River of Time
  4. Freedom Force
  5. Grandia II
  6. Magic and Mayhem
  7. Nox
  8. Shadowrun Returns
  9. Spellforce 3: Fallen God
  10. Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption
 

Arvennios

Educated
Joined
Jan 17, 2017
Messages
64
Top RPGs
The Witcher III : Wild Hunt
Pathfinder Kingmaker
Planescape Torment
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Mass Effect
Dragon Age Origins
Pillars of Eternity
Deus Ex
Fallout

Hidden Gems
Alpha Protocol
ATOM RPG
Eschalon: Book I
Expeditions: Viking
Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game
Avernum: Escape From The Pit
Avadon: The Black Fortress
Inquisitor
Divine Divinity
Serpent in the Staglands
 

430am

Educated
Joined
Apr 11, 2023
Messages
236
Location
divine_cybermancy
Top RPGs (in no particular order):
Arx Fatalis
Gothic 2 Archolos
Might and Magic 6: The Mandate of Heaven
Valkyrie Profile
Path of Exile (If D2 is on there, why not?)
Neverwinter Nights 2
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Fallout: New Vegas
Deus Ex
Knights of the Old Republic 2

Hidden Gems:
Brigand: Oaxaca
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
The Legend Of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
Space Rangers HD: A War Apart
ASTLIBRA
Atom RPG
Tales of Maj'Eyal
Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Sengoku Rance
 
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Lhynn

Arcane
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
9,948
This shit is annoying, can you really only think 10 favorite rpgs? Im leaving out so many.

Only 10 hidden gems too? Those are rookie numbers.
Can think of dozens of RPGs that I like, but hard to think of even ten good enough to warrant being called a favourite
Id replay any of the ones Ive listed, which i believe is a sign of a good rpg.

Except new vegas, Ive played it enough that thinking about it makes me ill.
 

Desiderius

Found your egg, Robinett, you sneaky bastard
Patron
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
14,826
Insert Title Here Pathfinder: Wrath
Top RPGs:
* Atari Adventure
* Baldur's Gate
* Wizardry 8
* Diablo
* Pathfinder: Kingmaker
* Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
* Eye of the Beholder
* Death Knights of Krynn
* Might and Magic 7: For Blood and Honor
* Knights of the Chalice 2

Hidden Gems:
* BG3
* D:OS2
* Witcher III
* Pillars of Eternity
* Skyrim
* Candy Crush
* Worlds of Warcraft
* Leisure Suit Larry
* Excel
* Sex
 

agris

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Apr 16, 2004
Messages
6,925
this is harder than it seems. there's some games I want to list because I played them and they hold a special place in my heart, like Morrowind, but I haven't replayed Morrowind in over 15 years. Can I really claim then that it's a top 10 if I haven't actually played it since 2009? I don't think I can, as it's the nostalgia - the memory - of the game that is special. All wrapped up with the time in my life when I played it.

Top 10:
  1. Baldur's Gate
  2. Deus Ex
  3. Diablo
  4. Dungeon Rats
  5. Fallout
  6. Gothic
  7. Icewind Dale
  8. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
  9. Silent Storm
  10. Underrail

Hidden gems:
  1. Age of Decadence
  2. Colony Ship
  3. Islands of the Caliph
  4. Kenshi
  5. Lands of Lore
  6. Legend of Grimrock
  7. Might & Magic X
  8. Neo Scavenger
  9. Omikron the Nomad Soul
  10. Serpent in the Staglands

Special mention to ARCHAELUND, which is in early access right now. All the skepticism of and vitriol towards EA is warranted, yet Archaelund has the makings of a modern classic. I don't say that lightly, but DavidBVal has a record of releasing games, has a strong vision and doesn't appear captured by the idea of greater sales for watered down mechanics. The game as it exists now is essentially an alpha - 4 or so months since the launch of EA and at least 18 months before full release - and stands heads and shoulders above most already.
 
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HumanMech

Literate
Joined
Dec 22, 2023
Messages
43
Top RGPs
Fallout 1
Arcanum
Wizardry 7

Hidden Gems
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
Might & Magic 6, 7, 8
 

Abu Antar

Turn-based Poster
Patron
Joined
Jan 19, 2014
Messages
14,159
Enjoy the Revolution! Another revolution around the sun that is. Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Wrath I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
Top 10 RPGs. Trying to restrict myself to one game per series, and different types of RPGs.

1. Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
2. Fallout 2
3. Gothic 2
4. Jagged Alliance 2
5. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
6. Alpha Protocol
7. Divinity: Original Sin
8. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
9. Betrayal At Krondor
10. Baldur's Gate II

Top 10 hidden gems.

1. Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children
2. Ho Tu Lo Shu: The Books of Dragon
3. Tale of Wuxia: The Pre-Sequel
4. Underrail
5. Knights of the Chalice II
6. Blackguards
7. Grimoire: Heralds of the Winged Exemplar
8. The Age of Decadence
9. Expeditions: Conquistador
10. Albion

So many games missing. While I did add a couple of Chinese games, and a Korean game in the hidden gems sector, I feel that they offer enough to be suitable to add in such a list. Otherwise, I kept my list JRPG free for the purpose of RPGCodex purposes. So many games could have gone up on both lists, but if you have to choose, you have to choose.
 

DavidBVal

4 Dimension Games
Patron
Developer
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
3,037
Location
Madrid
PC RPG Website of the Year, 2015 Codex 2016 - The Age of Grimoire Make the Codex Great Again! Grab the Codex by the pussy Insert Title Here RPG Wokedex Strap Yourselves In Codex Year of the Donut Codex+ Now Streaming! Enjoy the Revolution! Another revolution around the sun that is. Pathfinder: Wrath
Top RPGs:

-Pool of Radiance (Gold Box)
-Darklands
-Fallout
-Arcanum
-Planescape:Torment
-Wizardry V : Heart of the Maelstrom
-Might & Magic III - Isles of Terra
-Vampire: Bloodlines
-Baldur's Gate
-The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind

(if I was allowed an 11th, it would of course be Betrayal at Krondor)

Hidden gems:

-Albion
-Dark Heart of Uukrul
-AoD
 

Kliwer

Savant
Joined
Oct 19, 2018
Messages
216
Top RPGs:
*Baldur’s Gate 1
*Baldur’s Gate 2
*The Chronicles Of Myrtana: Archolos
*Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra
*Might and Magic X: Legacy
*Dragon Age: Origins
*Drakensang: River of Time
*Wizards & Warriors
*Deus Ex
*Dark Messiah of Might & Magic



Hidden gems:
*The Last Days of the Third Age (Mount & Blade: Warband mod)
*Anvil of Dawn
*Divine Divinity
*Divinity 2: Developer's Cut (Ego Draconis)
*Drakensang: The Dark Eye
*Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
*Arx Fatalis
*Realms of Arkania 2: Star Trail
*Two Worlds
*Summoner
 

Shin

Cipher
Joined
Jan 5, 2015
Messages
694
It'd be nice if this ( or the next similar) thread would also include the number of times people have played the games on their top RPG list. It'd be interesting to see which games float to the top (older games obviously have an advantage here, but who's complaining?).
 

DavidBVal

4 Dimension Games
Patron
Developer
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
3,037
Location
Madrid
PC RPG Website of the Year, 2015 Codex 2016 - The Age of Grimoire Make the Codex Great Again! Grab the Codex by the pussy Insert Title Here RPG Wokedex Strap Yourselves In Codex Year of the Donut Codex+ Now Streaming! Enjoy the Revolution! Another revolution around the sun that is. Pathfinder: Wrath
It'd be nice if this ( or the next similar) thread would also include the number of times people have played the games on their top RPG list. It'd be interesting to see which games float to the top (older games obviously have an advantage here, but who's complaining?).
older... and shorter. Not the same thing to replay Fallout than M&M III.
 

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