bring forth the swords shields and magic it’s time for some old-fashioned
it’s time for some old-fashioned
it’s time for some old-fashioned role-playing welcome to watchmojo.com
role-playing welcome to watchmojo.com
role-playing welcome to watchmojo.com and she’ll be counting down our picks
and she’ll be counting down our picks
and she’ll be counting down our picks for the top ten classic Western RPGs
for the top ten classic Western RPGs
for the top ten classic Western RPGs here we’ll be taking a look at games
here we’ll be taking a look at games
here we’ll be taking a look at games from the 80s and 90s that best embodied
from the 80s and 90s that best embodied
from the 80s and 90s that best embodied the tropes and style of western
the tropes and style of western
the tropes and style of western role-playing fiction games that were
role-playing fiction games that were
role-playing fiction games that were released from the year 2000 and onward
released from the year 2000 and onward
released from the year 2000 and onward we’ll be getting a list of their own so
we’ll be getting a list of their own so
we’ll be getting a list of their own so sad
sad
sad so sad we’re not including MMORPGs as
so sad we’re not including MMORPGs as
so sad we’re not including MMORPGs as they have their own list and we are
they have their own list and we are
they have their own list and we are placing a limit of one game per
placing a limit of one game per
placing a limit of one game per franchise number 10 the Bard’s Tale with
franchise number 10 the Bard’s Tale with
franchise number 10 the Bard’s Tale with a song to be sung and a tale to be told
a song to be sung and a tale to be told
a song to be sung and a tale to be told there’s more than a few reasons to give
there’s more than a few reasons to give
there’s more than a few reasons to give this game a look the Bard’s Tale follows
this game a look the Bard’s Tale follows
this game a look the Bard’s Tale follows a group of adventurers venturing through
a group of adventurers venturing through
a group of adventurers venturing through the town of skara brae while battling
the town of skara brae while battling
the town of skara brae while battling monsters in its dungeons and catacombs
monsters in its dungeons and catacombs
monsters in its dungeons and catacombs though it’s narrative is certainly
though it’s narrative is certainly
though it’s narrative is certainly respectable the game is more remembered
respectable the game is more remembered
respectable the game is more remembered for its openness and role-playing
for its openness and role-playing
for its openness and role-playing options and high-quality visuals
and that’s without bringing up how bard
and that’s without bringing up how bard party members can both provide helpful
party members can both provide helpful
party members can both provide helpful buffs and play songs that solve in-game
buffs and play songs that solve in-game
buffs and play songs that solve in-game puzzles now that’s a dedication to the
puzzles now that’s a dedication to the
puzzles now that’s a dedication to the theme number 9 dungeon master to The
theme number 9 dungeon master to The
theme number 9 dungeon master to The Legend of skull deep familiar yet
Legend of skull deep familiar yet
Legend of skull deep familiar yet distinct would be a fitting term here
distinct would be a fitting term here
distinct would be a fitting term here dungeon master 2 commences in an
dungeon master 2 commences in an
dungeon master 2 commences in an underground cavern where the player
underground cavern where the player
underground cavern where the player selects their party from a variety of
selects their party from a variety of
selects their party from a variety of cryogenically frozen warriors magic
cryogenically frozen warriors magic
cryogenically frozen warriors magic users and assorted adventurers there our
users and assorted adventurers there our
users and assorted adventurers there our champions are powerful than I expected
champions are powerful than I expected
champions are powerful than I expected on chaos from there it’s a noble quest
on chaos from there it’s a noble quest
on chaos from there it’s a noble quest to lay siege to the fortress of skull
to lay siege to the fortress of skull
to lay siege to the fortress of skull key in order to prevent the arrival of
key in order to prevent the arrival of
key in order to prevent the arrival of an invasion force the game’s focus on
an invasion force the game’s focus on
an invasion force the game’s focus on exploration and experimentation is
exploration and experimentation is
exploration and experimentation is pivotal magic spells are created through
pivotal magic spells are created through
pivotal magic spells are created through mixing items there are secrets and
mixing items there are secrets and
mixing items there are secrets and hidden areas to uncover and the world is
hidden areas to uncover and the world is
hidden areas to uncover and the world is packed with risks and rewards in equal
packed with risks and rewards in equal
packed with risks and rewards in equal measure number 8 Shadowrun cyberpunk and
measure number 8 Shadowrun cyberpunk and
measure number 8 Shadowrun cyberpunk and role-playing a match made in heaven thus
role-playing a match made in heaven thus
role-playing a match made in heaven thus we have the setup for the Sega Genesis
we have the setup for the Sega Genesis
we have the setup for the Sega Genesis and SNES game Shadowrun players take on
and SNES game Shadowrun players take on
and SNES game Shadowrun players take on the role of Joshua a man investigating
the role of Joshua a man investigating
the role of Joshua a man investigating his brother’s death in a technologically
his brother’s death in a technologically
his brother’s death in a technologically advanced Seattle all while being drawn
advanced Seattle all while being drawn
advanced Seattle all while being drawn into a grander mystery
Shadowrun smartly divides into three
Shadowrun smartly divides into three story branches matching with the game’s
story branches matching with the game’s
story branches matching with the game’s sandbox designed to create an open-ended
sandbox designed to create an open-ended
sandbox designed to create an open-ended experience factor in a karma system in
experience factor in a karma system in
experience factor in a karma system in place of experience points and the
place of experience points and the
place of experience points and the ability to change Joshua’s skills over
ability to change Joshua’s skills over
ability to change Joshua’s skills over time you have a game that stands out
time you have a game that stands out
time you have a game that stands out from the pack number seven the elder
from the pack number seven the elder
from the pack number seven the elder scrolls two Daggerfall scope is key here
scrolls two Daggerfall scope is key here
scrolls two Daggerfall scope is key here with ambition as a close second
Daggerfall the sequel to 1994’s the
Daggerfall the sequel to 1994’s the Elder Scrolls arena certainly begins
Elder Scrolls arena certainly begins
Elder Scrolls arena certainly begins with an interesting hook the player is
with an interesting hook the player is
with an interesting hook the player is asked to assist an emperor with two
asked to assist an emperor with two
asked to assist an emperor with two tasks
tasks
tasks freeing a king’s ghost and investigating
freeing a king’s ghost and investigating
freeing a king’s ghost and investigating a letters disappearance
however the game then opens up and its
however the game then opens up and its scope is awe-inspiring
scope is awe-inspiring
scope is awe-inspiring there’s a spell creation system a
there’s a spell creation system a
there’s a spell creation system a complex political system equipment and
complex political system equipment and
complex political system equipment and chant meant and variable melee combat
chant meant and variable melee combat
chant meant and variable melee combat all viable options in a game world said
all viable options in a game world said
all viable options in a game world said to be 160 1,600 square kilometers in
to be 160 1,600 square kilometers in
to be 160 1,600 square kilometers in size
number six System Shock 2 it may not be
number six System Shock 2 it may not be the deepest RPG on this list but it’s
the deepest RPG on this list but it’s
the deepest RPG on this list but it’s definitely the scariest basically
definitely the scariest basically
definitely the scariest basically writing the book on creepy spaceships
writing the book on creepy spaceships
writing the book on creepy spaceships chilling audio logs and sci-fi horror
chilling audio logs and sci-fi horror
chilling audio logs and sci-fi horror games in general the atmosphere that
games in general the atmosphere that
games in general the atmosphere that oozed out of every pore of this game
oozed out of every pore of this game
oozed out of every pore of this game just barely concealed its hardcore RPG
just barely concealed its hardcore RPG
just barely concealed its hardcore RPG roots although at first it appears to be
roots although at first it appears to be
roots although at first it appears to be just another shooter underneath the
just another shooter underneath the
just another shooter underneath the surface you’ll find a punishingly
surface you’ll find a punishingly
surface you’ll find a punishingly restrictive RPG one where you have
restrictive RPG one where you have
restrictive RPG one where you have limited inventory space and a constant
limited inventory space and a constant
limited inventory space and a constant need to upgrade your skills and
need to upgrade your skills and
need to upgrade your skills and abilities in order to even have the
abilities in order to even have the
abilities in order to even have the faintest hope of getting out alive
faintest hope of getting out alive
faintest hope of getting out alive remember
remember
remember legatus my will that guy did you hear
legatus my will that guy did you hear
legatus my will that guy did you hear number 5 wasteland venture into the post
number 5 wasteland venture into the post
number 5 wasteland venture into the post nuclear wastes if you dare
nuclear wastes if you dare
nuclear wastes if you dare wasteland puts gamers in the role of a
wasteland puts gamers in the role of a
wasteland puts gamers in the role of a party of desert Rangers exploring the
party of desert Rangers exploring the
party of desert Rangers exploring the radioactive ruins of America as part of
radioactive ruins of America as part of
radioactive ruins of America as part of an investigation said premise gives way
an investigation said premise gives way
an investigation said premise gives way to a nonlinear and persistent game world
to a nonlinear and persistent game world
to a nonlinear and persistent game world wherein challenges could be deadly and
wherein challenges could be deadly and
wherein challenges could be deadly and problems can be solved through a variety
problems can be solved through a variety
problems can be solved through a variety of skills though remembered most for its
of skills though remembered most for its
of skills though remembered most for its impressive difficulty wasteland also
impressive difficulty wasteland also
impressive difficulty wasteland also stood out for its statistic based
stood out for its statistic based
stood out for its statistic based experience system permitting players to
experience system permitting players to
experience system permitting players to develop whatever skills they desired
developed by origin systems this
developed by origin systems this remarkable RPG stands the test of time
remarkable RPG stands the test of time
remarkable RPG stands the test of time as the seventh installment of the Ultima
as the seventh installment of the Ultima
as the seventh installment of the Ultima series the Black Gate served to inject
series the Black Gate served to inject
series the Black Gate served to inject the game’s formula with new features
the game’s formula with new features
the game’s formula with new features ranging from real-time gameplay to party
ranging from real-time gameplay to party
ranging from real-time gameplay to party members being controlled by AI to the
members being controlled by AI to the
members being controlled by AI to the introduction of a dialogue treat
matched by a darker take on the land of
matched by a darker take on the land of Britannia a vast number of objects with
Britannia a vast number of objects with
Britannia a vast number of objects with which to interact and a subtle morality
which to interact and a subtle morality
which to interact and a subtle morality system Ultima 7 was something to respect
system Ultima 7 was something to respect
system Ultima 7 was something to respect and adore in equal measure know that my
and adore in equal measure know that my
and adore in equal measure know that my tanya has entered into a new way of
tanya has entered into a new way of
tanya has entered into a new way of enlightenment number three Planescape
enlightenment number three Planescape
enlightenment number three Planescape torment the multiverse can be a sick and
torment the multiverse can be a sick and
torment the multiverse can be a sick and twisted place but it also seems really
twisted place but it also seems really
twisted place but it also seems really awesome that’s the odd charm of
awesome that’s the odd charm of
awesome that’s the odd charm of Planescape torment an isometric RPG
Planescape torment an isometric RPG
Planescape torment an isometric RPG based on the Planescape campaign setting
based on the Planescape campaign setting
based on the Planescape campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons like its worst
of Dungeons & Dragons like its worst
of Dungeons & Dragons like its worst material the game focuses on strategic
material the game focuses on strategic
material the game focuses on strategic combat and a dense collection of quirky
combat and a dense collection of quirky
combat and a dense collection of quirky characters and locales all of which
characters and locales all of which
characters and locales all of which circulate around the nameless one the
circulate around the nameless one the
circulate around the nameless one the player’s avatar and a fascinating
player’s avatar and a fascinating
player’s avatar and a fascinating antihero driven by his own lost identity
antihero driven by his own lost identity
antihero driven by his own lost identity truly this is role-playing at its finest
number two fallout 2 war war never
number two fallout 2 war war never changes as much as we love the original
changes as much as we love the original
changes as much as we love the original fallout it’s follow-up brings much more
fallout it’s follow-up brings much more
fallout it’s follow-up brings much more to the table 80 years after the first
to the table 80 years after the first
to the table 80 years after the first game our fabled hero the chosen one
game our fabled hero the chosen one
game our fabled hero the chosen one ventures into the post nuclear wastes in
ventures into the post nuclear wastes in
ventures into the post nuclear wastes in search of a means to save his village
search of a means to save his village
search of a means to save his village chosen one huh well pardon me for not
chosen one huh well pardon me for not
chosen one huh well pardon me for not blowing sunshine up your ass but I’m a
blowing sunshine up your ass but I’m a
blowing sunshine up your ass but I’m a little too busy for this your highness
little too busy for this your highness
little too busy for this your highness fallout 2 takes the skill system and
fallout 2 takes the skill system and
fallout 2 takes the skill system and action point combat of the first game
action point combat of the first game
action point combat of the first game meshing both with a large open world
meshing both with a large open world
meshing both with a large open world setting and a narrative rich with
setting and a narrative rich with
setting and a narrative rich with engaging characters and quests to create
engaging characters and quests to create
engaging characters and quests to create a role-playing game that balances scope
a role-playing game that balances scope
a role-playing game that balances scope and depth war may never change but the
and depth war may never change but the
and depth war may never change but the Fallout series does and it did for the
Fallout series does and it did for the
Fallout series does and it did for the better it is said it can be life to the
better it is said it can be life to the
better it is said it can be life to the wasteland before we unveil our top pick
wasteland before we unveil our top pick
wasteland before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
number one Diablo hello my friend stay a
number one Diablo hello my friend stay a while and listen developed by Blizzard
while and listen developed by Blizzard
while and listen developed by Blizzard North Diablo is the resulting brilliance
North Diablo is the resulting brilliance
North Diablo is the resulting brilliance that came effusing real-time action a 3d
that came effusing real-time action a 3d
that came effusing real-time action a 3d isometric style and precious precious
isometric style and precious precious
isometric style and precious precious loot its narrative is relatively simple
loot its narrative is relatively simple
loot its narrative is relatively simple you are a lone hero sent to save a small
you are a lone hero sent to save a small
you are a lone hero sent to save a small town from the unspeakable evil that
town from the unspeakable evil that
town from the unspeakable evil that plagues them but it’s really the
plagues them but it’s really the
plagues them but it’s really the gameplay that’s so key here the game
gameplay that’s so key here the game
gameplay that’s so key here the game finds a healthy balance between hack and
finds a healthy balance between hack and
finds a healthy balance between hack and slash combat and classic role-playing
slash combat and classic role-playing
slash combat and classic role-playing item management creating an incredibly
item management creating an incredibly
item management creating an incredibly addictive gameplay loop with remarkably
addictive gameplay loop with remarkably
addictive gameplay loop with remarkably punchy satisfying combat it’s dark
punchy satisfying combat it’s dark
punchy satisfying combat it’s dark intense atmospheric and an absolute
intense atmospheric and an absolute
intense atmospheric and an absolute classic through and through I’m still
classic through and through I’m still
classic through and through I’m still waiting for you to bring me that storm
waiting for you to bring me that storm
waiting for you to bring me that storm from the heavens I know that I can make
from the heavens I know that I can make
from the heavens I know that I can make something powerful out of it do you
something powerful out of it do you
something powerful out of it do you agree with our list
agree with our list
agree with our list oh yeah wise guy huh look I’m tracing
oh yeah wise guy huh look I’m tracing
oh yeah wise guy huh look I’m tracing you right now pal
you right now pal
you right now pal we’ll see how smart you feel with
we’ll see how smart you feel with
we’ll see how smart you feel with internal security all over your freaking
internal security all over your freaking
internal security all over your freaking ass dickhead what’s your favorite
ass dickhead what’s your favorite
ass dickhead what’s your favorite classic western RPG for more nostalgic
classic western RPG for more nostalgic
classic western RPG for more nostalgic Tom 10s published every day be sure to
Tom 10s published every day be sure to
Tom 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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