20. South Park: The Fractured But Whole (PS4)
What do you get if you cross Ubisoft, superheroes, and a bunch of foul-mouthed friends made of felt? The answer is South Park: The Fractured But Whole, of course. This sequel to the also brilliant South Park: The Stick of Truth swaps out fantasy for modern vigilante justice, as your custom character joins forces with Cartman's crew to fight evil. Featuring strategic turn-based combat, the titular town to explore, and all the absurd humour you'd expect, this is a highly entertaining game for fans and newcomers.
19. Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir (PS4)
Beautiful to behold, Odin Sphere: Lefithrasir is a top-notch action RPG. It's bursting at the seams with character, and its wonderfully told story is pulled straight from a bedtime book - except most books have never looked this good. Slick controls, some brilliant boss fights, and a luscious world ensure that this overlooked remake sits near the top of the pile when it comes to PS4 RPGs.
18. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition (PS4)
Bethesda's eternal open world RPG got a much needed update on PS4 thanks to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition. The original PS3 version was a technical mess, but the sprawling adventure is, as you'd hope, much improved one generation later. Featuring enhanced visuals (and a steady framerate!), it's still so easy to get lost in the snowy setting of Skyrim. It might be riddled with decade-old jank, but its gameplay systems are still super addictive, constantly rewarding you for exploring what is a lovingly crafted fantasy world.
17. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (PS5)
Disco Elysium stands as a truly great achievement in role-playing. Attempting to crack a dangerously suspicious murder case as an amnesiac cop, you're tasked with interrogating the locals while trying to work out just who the hell you're supposed to be. Engrossing from start to finish, Disco Elysium is built on a foundation of fantastic writing and brilliant characters, as you carve your own unique path through the atmospheric city of Revachol. Its methodical pace won't be for everyone, but if you're looking for a deep and brain-bending RPG, you won't find anything better on PS5.
16. Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice (PS3)
Striving to propel the tactical RPG series to new heights, Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice brought a fresh army of antiheroes to PS3 in 2008. While the property's core gameplay remains intact, this third instalment tries to make some aspects of the experience more approachable, without compromising the crazy amount of depth that the franchise is known for. All in all, it's another solid entry in NIS America's series, complete with over-the-top characters, a suitably daft story, balance-breaking gameplay modifiers, and near infinite content to grind.
15. Undertale (PS4)
Undertale might not look like much, but it tells one of PS4's most memorable stories. You've fallen into the sealed-off land of monsters, and embark on a quest to get home, but you also hold the key to breaking the barrier between worlds. The story is carried by a brilliant supporting cast of characters that help and hinder you on your journey, and the unique combat turns the RPG formula on its head. Subversive, ingenious, and dripping with personality, Undertale is not to be missed.
13. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PS3)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the game that catapulted Bethesda into mainstream popularity. The high fantasy RPG didn't have the uniquely imaginative setting of Morrowind, its predecessor, but it did give players a genre-defining open world to explore, which was absolutely peppered with cities, settlements, and dungeons — an incredible achievement at the time. Objectively speaking, Oblivion hasn't aged especially well — its visuals are far too bloomy, its combat is super-jank, and its voice acting is a meme — but there's simply no denying its wonky charm. Perfect if you're looking for a laugh to go along with your role-playing.
12. South Park: The Stick of Truth (PS4)
With all the humour of a typical South Park TV episode, this short but oh-so-sweet turn-based RPG is well worth playing. Explore South Park, completing quests and meeting characters from the show. With a sequel also available, this roughly 10-hour adventure is a fantastic palette cleanser.
11. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (PS4)
A real high point in what is a consistently solid action RPG series, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a certified Falcom classic. This time around, series protagonist Adol finds himself shipwrecked on a mysterious island — but it's not long before he's recruiting fellow survivors and exploring every inch of this forgotten kingdom. Fast, fluid, and addictive combat is the crux of the experience, but there's also some engaging two-pronged storytelling to keep you invested. Life on an abandoned island has never been so fun.
Comments 34
Bloodborne 4? Should be no1 at this list
Weird list considering Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2 aren't even RPGs. They're beat em ups. If those are RPGs then so is Guardians of the Galaxy, which should be on this list with it's 8.3 rating currently.
Fallout 3 out ranking Fallout New Vegas. That's a hot take
@Milktastrophe I do feel Push square are very liberal with there definitions of games. Division seems a stretch to me. I dont think the Yakuza games are even in the plus tiers well definitely not in Europe and America.
@Milktastrophe
Strange you would take issue with the Yakuza games being called RPGs due to the type of combat employed, yet not something like Fallout New Vegas.
Regardless, the Yakuza series are my favourite story focused games of all time, so my only criticism is they are too far down the list!
@bindiana If they're including Japan and the rest of Asia, there's gonna be plenty of people mighty upset that there's not a single Legend of Heroes better than Greedfall. Actually, reading the article intro again, it seems they're including essential which would explain Kiwami 1's inclusion, but I don't think Kiwami 2 was ever a monthly game. But that would open another can of worms like how did FF7 Remake not make the list.
@thefourfoldroot1 it's not the combat system but the lack of RPG mechanics being core to the gameplay. There's nothing preventing an action RPG from having a Yakuza-style battle system The Fallout games are RPG's with FPS combat, you go around earning exp and leveling up, like Borderlands, also surprisingly missing from this list (didn't check the score though). I'd be more wary about the Division being and RPG before Fallout, like bindiana mentioned. I've heard the Division called an RPG before, but I don't know much about it (is it not just a looter shooter?).
To be honest, we could argue about what is and isn't an RPG forever. There's weirdos that think the pre-Breath of the Wild Zelda games are RPGs.
Yakuza's got upgrading skills, but that alone doesn't make it an RPG. I agree though they are fantastic games, just not RPGs (well, until Like a Dragon came along).
@Milktastrophe Yeah, same about AC Valhalla.
@Milktastrophe
Fair enough opinion, and you are right, arguing the details takes us down an impossible to escape rabbit hole. But, why do you not feel you can level up in Yakuza? As you say, you level up and unlock the ability to use all skills. You also unlock health upgrades etc. you do this with points earned through beating enemies and completing tasks. I fail to see how this is different from most RPGs…
Terrible list. Several of the games are not even RPGs. Whereas several true RPGs are missing. Where is Witcher? Where is Dragon Age or Mass Effect? Persona 5? IMO an RPG is a game where you get to play the role of the protagonist by choosing how to explore, build your character or squad members, craft builds by choosing specific skills/gear, and make decisions that impact the story or game world. Of course, some games miss one or more of those qualities such as JRPGs rarely features decisions that impact the story or world but those qualities are what generally define an RPG.
Yakuza 7 like a dragon should be here instead of kiwami 🤔🤔
Ermmm FF8 > FF10
Vampyr is a good game but my word it takes dedication to finish. Toward the end, it crashed almost hourly. Almost a sense of relief seeing the credits.
Nice. I like this list! PSOne, PS3, PS4 and PS5 games in the top 10; Demons Souls and Bloodborne up there. FF7 number 1 (as it should be).
It showcases PS Plus (and it’s depth of catalogues quite well). Bring on Legend of Dragoon and Vagrant Story.
@bindiana Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2 are on PS Plus in Europe.
@OneWingedAngel None of those games are on PS Plus for a start.
@LiamCroft
Oh my bad. I saw the headline as Best RPGs on PS. Never saw the Plus at the end and read the whole article.
@LiamCroft I think you need to check that as I am in the UK and yakuza is not on ps plus extra they were removed hours into the service
Yakuza not on this list https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/ps-plus/games/
why is YS IX not on the list? its better and more rpg than many of these titles
@Irae "Please note that a game must have at least 20 ratings for it to appear on this list."
@LiamCroft pardon my bluntness but thats stupid. the ys franchise has been going on for decades, it deserves better. horizon zero dawn being in this list at all already makes it worthless anyway
@Irae Then get people to vote for it. This list is entirely based on the user scores of the community; it's not our fault if something doesn't appear.
Not evidence that my opinions differ vastly from the community. I mean, I’d never ever put New Vegas below Fallout 3.
I miss the days where RPG's were actually RPGs and not just action games with experience points.
@LiamCroft is there any reason the push square team overlooks the south park games in rpg lists? They dont appear in any RPG lists. They meet your criteria. Fractured But Whole has 33 ratings and is rated 8 while stick of truth has 92 ratings and rated 8.4 and both on PS plus. Yakuza 1 and 2 definitely aren't on PS plus extra in any region they were in the Europe list for a day before they were removed.
@bindiana Hi! So your comment made me curious about those South Park games. I've made some changes and now Fractured But Whole has populated this list as it should! Stick of Truth is trickier, because the version you mention is actually the PS3 version; the PS4 version (the one on Plus) has zero user ratings!
As for the Yakuza games, they are indeed not on Plus anymore, and so aren't in this list.
Appreciate the feedback!
Removed - unconstructive
Removed - unconstructive
@Quintumply Well the Ps4 game is basically the ps3 game but will concede to the technicality! Thanks for looking into it did seem like the south park games were being overlooked for RPG lists. Just need a few more user ratings to get Ys VIII on the list
These community rated lists seem to cause so much confusion. Every single one I look at has a bunch of comments from people that clearly didn't read the description, and are mad at PushSquare staff for their supposed bad taste.
Nope.. cant seem to find The Witcher 3 at no 1(or at all) for some reason...
Final Fantasy VIII was one of the most important games of my childhood. I wish it would get a remake.
Weird that this had the same games multiple times even if they are PS4/PS5 version that doesn't make any since.
@Saitama117 My first Final Fantasy was 8 I loved it so much i bought my favorite Final Fantasy thats 7 still my favorite protagonist Cloud.
The remake made it less special it takes way to long it really made me lose interest. How great would it have been if FF7R was a remake with just updated graphics and controls that would have been a dream.
Maybe a few extras maybe a new weapon the rumored final Sword of Cloud or some summons. Jessie Raspberry is awsome though.
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