CRPGs are a genre that is so old, it stands for "computer role-playing game." As ancient as they are, CRPGs are still alive and well today, and are worth exploring. Whether players want to solve a grand murder mystery, ask questions about life and death, or go on an epic fantasy adventure, there is a CRPG that is right for any of them.

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These epic stories, packed with amazing writing, are waiting to be explored. Why not jump into one of these games and start forging a destiny? Here you'll find some of the CRPGs ever created.

Updated on November 11, 2023, by Jason Wojnar: Though there is more synergy between PC and console gaming than ever before, the CRPG still remains as relevant as ever. After all, the word "computer" in the acronym CRPG could define any gaming console and not just a desktop or a laptop.

Though many still prefer the PC versions of the games on this list, most console ports hold up just fine and developers have found ways to comfortably translate the complicated control schemes onto a traditional gamepad.

The fact so many of these games are on consoles now only means the genre is reaching a wider audience than ever before. With the CRPG showing no signs of slowing down, we thought it necessary to revisit this list, add a couple of titles to it, and update prior entries with new information.

23 Wasteland

We start this with Wasteland because it is perhaps the oldest game here. This game will kick you in the face if you don't know what you're doing. Even if you do, it still makes you work for every victory. Still, the game deserves respect in the genre for breaking so much new ground.

Released in 1988, the game received new life with a remastered version available on modern computers and Xbox One. It updates the graphics and sound while still holding true to the original gameplay of its day. Even if you cannot beat this game, it is absolutely worth playing as a curiosity and to understand where the genre came from.

22 Torment: Tides Of Numenera

Fans of Planescape Torment were delighted to find out that the universe of this game would finally be expanded upon with Torment: Tides of Numenera. It was a source of great news for fans of the classic CRPG title who loved its stellar writing and story.

Of course, given the high standards set by its predecessor, it was only a given that some people considered Torment: Tides of Numenera to miss the mark in terms of its story. However, it's still a great game that fans of story-heavy CRPGs should definitely check out.

21 Age Of Decadence

Age of Decadence is easily one of the uglier games on this list. Its presentation might not be the greatest, but the same can't be said for its gameplay.

Players who look past the dated presentation of Age of Decadence will be more than pleased by the immense quality of its narrative and systems. It's a great game that fans of the genre should definitely check out.

20 UnderRail

The idea of a post-apocalyptic world where you roam around an underground metro network sounds quite interesting indeed. This is precisely why so many people absolutely adore UnderRail.

The game might not be the easiest title on this list, but the same could be said for most CRPGs. It's the amazing gameplay and brilliant world-building of this CRPG that makes it such an underrated masterpiece.

19 Atom RPG

Atom RPG is a game that wears its Fallout inspiration on its sleeve. The idea of a nuclear apocalypse-ravaged USSR is certainly an exciting one that Atom RPG executes with great panache.

Of course, in paying homage to its predecessor, Atom RPG might be too faithful to its roots. However, it's still a great title that fans of classic CRPGs will find to be right up their alley.

18 Wasteland 2

Though the original Wasteland was successful, it did not immediately receive a sequel. It took more than two decades and a crowdfunding campaign to get another game within this particular post-apocalyptic world. Developer InXile Entertainment was founded by Brian Fargo, who was the director of the original Wasteland and executive producer of the sequel.

This direct lineage between the two games shows, since Wasteland 2 feels just as heavy and oppressive as the original. Fortunately, modern gameplay conveniences made its way to this title, making it a good bridge between the old and the new.

17 Baldur's Gate 3

Though many fans of the genre got a taste of what Baldur's Gate 3 could offer in its early access state, few predicted it would have taken the gaming world by storm the way it did. There's a good reason why it attracted so many players who normally do not engage with the CRPG genre. Baldur's Gate 3 manages to be accessible to newcomers without sacrificing the complexity, freedom, and unpredictability that makes Dungeons and Dragons such a hit.

Every menu has an option to provide a detailed explanation of what the systems mean, and the ability to save anywhere makes it more forgiving than most other games. Combine this with great writing and a memorable cast of characters and you can't go wrong recommending this title to any type of gamer.

16 Lionheart: Legacy Of The Crusader

When talking about the best CRPGs ever made, not many people tend to bring up Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader. This is understandable since the latter half of the game takes a massive dip in quality and ultimately ends up bogging down the entire experience.

However, there's no denying the fact that Lionheart has one of the strongest starts to any video game ever. Roaming around the lively city of Barcelona and finding the wealth of secrets that lie within is nothing short of a magical experience, and the other areas of the game also end up being vastly memorable, although sadly the same can't be said for the cities and dungeons in the game's second half.

15 Wasteland 3

Players who wanted a CRPG sequel to the original Fallout duology might find this dream to be a hopeless one. However, the old series Wasteland made a return in the last decade to fill the post-apocalyptic CRPG void left by Fallout's transition into a first-person experience.

Wasteland 3 is especially notable in this regard, establishing itself as one of the best CRPGs in modern times. The gameplay is refined to a T, the plot keeps you at the edge of your seat, and the combat will ensure that gyou can't waste a single action against foes in a savage post-apocalyptic world.

14 Pathfinder: Kingmaker

While the release of Pathfinder: Kingmaker might've been a rocky start to the game's legacy, patches and fixes have ensured that this game ended up gaining the deserving reputation of being one of the more competent CRPG games around.

The world is beautiful, the lore is vast, and the combat is excellent. With these three pillars, Pathfinder: Kingmaker serves up a delicious CRPG that fans will relish for hundreds of hours.

13 Disco Elysium

As CRPGs go, there is no better one to begin with than Disco Elysium. It's a game that's equally approachable for CRPG veterans and newbies alike. So, what makes it worth playing? The game's plot deals with political strife and moral issues at a level that has never been seen before in gaming.

Couple this story with the incredible skills system, where each one has its own voice in your character's internal monologue, as well as the innovative thought cabinet system, and you've got a game that takes RPGs to a whole new level.

What's more, the Final Cut version packs in even more content. It's a great day for disco.

12 Planescape Torment

Before Disco Elysium came along, the high watermark of CRPG gaming was Planescape Torment. This game dared to explore the question "what can change the nature of a man?" From the very start, you take on the role of The Nameless One, an undead immortal with a shady past.

Planescape's writing is almost peerless and explores heady questions in a bold and interesting setting. While it may look a little long in the tooth now, the Enhanced Edition solves many of these issues. Though originally released in 1999, a remastered version allows you to enjoy this adventure on most modern consoles.

11 Tyranny

Tyranny is a game that is about evil. There's no one evil person corrupting the world: evil is aided through bureaucracy. You are a single cog in the gears of an utterly evil machine, and it's up to you to judge people.

The game's bronze age setting is the perfect place for exploring timeless questions of evil, good, and guilt. How good can you be in a world where evil has won?

10 Neverwinter Nights

A BioWare game through and through, Neverwinter Nights explored some complex themes, tasking you with stopping a plague that was ravaging the city of Neverwinter. The gameplay is an extension of what developer BioWare had already accomplished in Baldur's Gate one and two.

Yet, the most interesting part of the game is its community, its modding scene, and its multiplayer. This mode's offerings are so robust that one player can actually act as a dungeon master for the rest of the players going through a journey. Going back to it now, there is an almost incomprehensible number of mods and modules for everyone to enjoy.

9 Baldur's Gate

Before games like Skyrim, there was Baldur's Gate, though the gameplay differs greatly. This is a game where choice matters, and you are given a massive amount of freedom to be the kind of character you want to be. While there have been a fair few Baldur's Gate games over the years, the original is still what new players should start with. The game's story is epic and offers around 40-60 hours of gameplay.

Length isn't the only thing that these games have going for them. The art is beautiful, the writing is incredible, and Baldur's Gate gives you freedom similar to a tabletop RPG. It's an essential game for any fans of RPGs. Fortunately, both of the two original Baldur's Gate games are playable on modern consoles thanks to the enhanced editions.

8 Baldur's Gate II: Shadow Of Amn

If fans were pleased by the quality of the original Baldur's Gate, then the sequel completely knocked their socks off. Pretty much each and every aspect of the game was improved upon and seasoned with a heap of content that could easily keep you occupied for hours upon hours.

There's a reason why so many people consider Baldur's Gate II to be one of the greatest CRPGs of all time - the game's writing, story, characters, and setting are in a class of its own. Shadow of Amn was a perfect sequel, and its brilliant expansion packs helped cement the title's legacy of being the best CRPG around.

7 Arcanum: Of Steamworks And Magick Obscura

Arcanum is quite unlike most other games in the CRPG genre for one key reason: setting. The game's steampunk backdrop is a breath of fresh air, and Arcanum absolutely nails it.

The game begins with your player character aboard a luxury airship before it is attacked and downed by biplane-flying ogre bandits. From there, the story only gets better and better, an element enhanced by Arcanum's gameplay and world.

6 Fallout

The original Fallout is easily one of the most influential games ever made. It throws you into an irradiated post-apocalypse and asks you to survive, yet you know that already. What makes it worth playing today is that Fallout is incredibly well-written and has a sense of place that is unlike anything else. It's also worth playing to catch the countless references the modern Fallout games make to it.

Other than the obvious genre shift, this title and its sequel also separate itself from Bethesda's entries into the franchise with dark humor and an even greater focus on decision-making impacting the narrative and the world around you.

5 Fallout 2

Fallout 2 was a sequel that cranked everything up from the original title to the very max. The game heaped oodles of satire into its supposedly serious plot - this combination worked so well that this penchant for not taking itself seriously is why most people consider Fallout 2 to be infinitely better than its predecessor.

Sure, the game itself has made major improvements over the first title. However, it was the game's unique approach to storytelling - coupled with Fallout's sprawling narrative for each and every questline - that made it one of the best CRPGs of all time.

4 Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins feels like the last game in BioWare's lineage of hardcore CRPGs. The systems are complex, the effects you have on the story are not always clear, and it can be quite challenging at times. It also came out on consoles at the same time as PC, reaching a wider audience than the developer's other high fantasy titles.

The franchise's sequels received mixed reception, with some complaining that systems were simplified to make it easier for newcomers, but the original remains one of the most celebrated RPGs of its era.