Alpan
Arcane
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2018
- Messages
- 1,340
I'm interested in compiling the Codex's suggestions for role-playing games where the main plot does not involve the player responding to a world-threatening event or antagonist. Generally speaking, the more personal or locally contained the plot, the better. PS: T is the obvious flagship of this category, and it's an important reason why it's so revered in the first place.
Both Western RPGs and Japanese RPGs are welcome, though you won't find JRPGs in the list below. For obvious reasons hack-and-slash action RPGs and roguelikes are more or less entirely outside this consideration. Open-world games that let the player do whatever they want, but where the main quest involves saving the world are also not included (i.e. The Elder Scrolls) Exceptions are made for games that superficially involve saving the world, but with Pyrrhic victories or an overriding despairing tone (i.e. Dark Souls).
Apologies if this list already exists somewhere. I searched for threads with some different keyword combinations but couldn't find anything.
Here are some games that come to mind, top of my head (editing to add more as I remember):
Planescape: Torment
KOTOR 2
VtM: Bloodlines
Age of Decadence
The Witcher series -- TW3 does involve saving the world, but not through Geralt. I am less sure about including TW1.
The Krondor games
King of Dragon Pass
Fallout 1/2/NV
Tyranny
Underrail
NWN2: MoTB
Dragon Age II -- just about the only thing that game did right.
Spiderweb Software games, such as the Avadon series
Pyre -- to the extent that it could be called an RPG.
EDIT: Kingdom Come: Deliverance -- obviously!
The upcoming Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones and Disco Elysium look to belong in this list.
Of course, these are all household names. I would be happy to have the Codex's more knowledgeable members chip in with ideas.
Both Western RPGs and Japanese RPGs are welcome, though you won't find JRPGs in the list below. For obvious reasons hack-and-slash action RPGs and roguelikes are more or less entirely outside this consideration. Open-world games that let the player do whatever they want, but where the main quest involves saving the world are also not included (i.e. The Elder Scrolls) Exceptions are made for games that superficially involve saving the world, but with Pyrrhic victories or an overriding despairing tone (i.e. Dark Souls).
Apologies if this list already exists somewhere. I searched for threads with some different keyword combinations but couldn't find anything.
Here are some games that come to mind, top of my head (editing to add more as I remember):
Planescape: Torment
KOTOR 2
VtM: Bloodlines
Age of Decadence
The Witcher series -- TW3 does involve saving the world, but not through Geralt. I am less sure about including TW1.
The Krondor games
King of Dragon Pass
Fallout 1/2/NV
Tyranny
Underrail
NWN2: MoTB
Dragon Age II -- just about the only thing that game did right.
Spiderweb Software games, such as the Avadon series
Pyre -- to the extent that it could be called an RPG.
EDIT: Kingdom Come: Deliverance -- obviously!
The upcoming Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones and Disco Elysium look to belong in this list.
Of course, these are all household names. I would be happy to have the Codex's more knowledgeable members chip in with ideas.
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