Diablo IV (Xbox Series X|S)
We all had high hopes for Diablo 4, and fortunately it delivered. Over six years' worth of hard work went into making this the best entry in the series, and in our opinion Blizzard absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.
Here's what we had to say in our Diablo 4 review on Pure Xbox:
"You can see why it’s taken Blizzard over six years to get this one out the gate when you look at the end product. Diablo 4 is a natural evolution of the series with its new open-world design and gameplay, enhanced social and multiplayer experience, and a live service that promises to keep players returning to the world of Sanctuary for years to come.
These strong foundations and scale of the whole experience, combined with the five unique classes and seemingly limitless customisation options for builds, should keep even the most diehard demon slayers busy for a very long time. With all of this in consideration, Diablo 4 is a must-play if you’re a veteran of the series and it's a great starting point for newcomers. We can't wait to jump back in!"
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Xbox One)
ZA/UM's 2019 RPG is a bonafide masterpiece, a deliriously intoxicating existential adventure that drags players into its exquisitely designed world and threatens to never let them go.
What starts out as a fairly straightforward noir detective affair involving a dead body hanging from a tree, soon spirals every which way into a fantastically dark, incredibly well written adventure where nothing is what is seems. There's a chaotic world full of amazing characters here, one that challenges you to forge your own path, to be the version of its central protagonist that you want to be, as you explore the painterly, realist environs of Elysium. This final cut edition also fixes the only problem we had with the original game by adding full voice acting, resulting in one the very best RPGs we've ever played. There's nothing else quite like Disco Elysium.
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Divinity: Original Sin 2 (Xbox One)
Divinity: Original Sin was critically acclaimed for Xbox One when it released in 2015, but its sequel raised the bar even further three years later, becoming known as one of the greatest RPGs of all time. In fact, it's so good, that Metacritic actually classes it as the second best RPG in the entire Xbox One library.
The game is centred around deep, tactical, turn-based combat, and sees you gather your party and develop relationships with your companions as you explore the world of Rivellon, either in single-player or via drop-in/drop-out cooperative play. There's a reason this one is so beloved by fans and critics alike, so give it a try!
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Dragon Age: Inquisition (Xbox One)
Remember what it was like to have a new Dragon Age game? It's been eight long years now since the release of 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition, but even despite its age, it remains a fantastic RPG to sink your teeth into in 2024. And again, it's included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as part of EA Play, which is excellent.
The game's story sees you tasked with saving the world from itself, featuring a ridiculously huge world to explore, strategic combat and a choice-driven narrative. It still looks like it's going to be some time before Dragon Age 4 is finally released on Xbox Series X, but given that Inquisition takes around 50 hours to beat (and much longer if you want to do everything), there's plenty to keep you busy in the meantime.
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes (Game Pass Ultimate)
Dragon Age: The Veilguard (Xbox Series X|S)
We were waiting so long for the next Dragon Age game to arrive in the series after Inquisition, and although it's proved somewhat controversial since its release, we think The Veilguard is another excellent entry that's definitely worth your time. In fact, we even went as far as giving it an "Excellent" 9/10 here at Pure Xbox:
Here's an except from our review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard:
"We were worried, for sure — it's been a long time since the glory of Inquisition — but we've been served a follow-up here that improves on 2014's game in every way - and that's really saying something. How very exciting!"
- Xbox Game Pass? No
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Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Xbox One)
Another excellent addition to Xbox, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is simply put, one of the greatest JRPGs ever made. It manages to retain that title whilst simultaneously doing very little in breaking of genre conventions.
Why it's so well regarded is the fact it perfects those conventions, making each element the best it can possibly be, instead of attempting anything massively new. The combat is easy to learn, but hard to master; the world is a colourful, vibrant joy to explore; and the story lasts a substantial length with many magical twists and turns. With the Definitive Edition, even more inclusions have been added, making one of the best JRPGs about even better.
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Dragon's Dogma 2 (Xbox Series X|S)
We actually didn't include the original Dragon's Dogma on this best Xbox RPGs list originally, but you better believe we're putting the sequel on here! This is a game we awarded a very rare "Outstanding" 10/10 score to here at Pure Xbox (despite some issues with performance across all platforms), so it's safe to say we love it!
What's so good about it? Well, we'll let our Dragon's Dogma 2 review speak for itself:
"You can feel the desire to perfect every aspect of the game that we got in 2012 here, with slicker combat, a more engaging pawn system, an incredible world stuffed full of amazing beasties and a general vibe that just begs you to slow down, take your time, and enjoy the majestic adventure ahead. If you're in the market for a fantastic RPG with the power to fully transport you to a world of gritty fantasy and magical friends, we reckon this might just be right up your street."
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Dungeons Of Hinterberg (Xbox Series X|S)
We were keeping a close eye on Dungeons Of Hinterberg ahead of its arrival in July 2024, and it ended up being exactly what we'd hoped for - a casual action-RPG experience with a wonderful art style and plenty of addictive qualities!
Here's a sample from our Pure Xbox review (a "Good" 7/10) of the game:
"Dungeons of Hinterberg is a hugely stylish and hipster-cool action-RPG that does a fantastic job in building a world that feels worth exploring, replete with dungeons that require effort whilst remaining fittingly chilled out. This is a puzzle-orientated affair more than an action-heavy thing, and that's a wise choice, as the puzzles here easily trump the fairly average fighting."
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (Xbox Series X|S)
It's fantastic that we're able to put Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on this list, because the game that came out before it - Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising - was actually a big disappointment in our eyes. The sequel is just bigger and better in every way, and if you're a fan of the Suikoden games, it should 100% be on your Xbox RPG radar.
Here's what we had to say about Hundred Heroes in our "Great" 8/10 review:
"Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a slick and satisfying spiritual successor that gives Suikoden fans a great big dreamy treat whilst updating, modernising and streamlining its most retro aspects into a brand-new and exciting adventure for newcomers. With a timely tale to tell, excellent battle systems, an amazing cast of characters and plenty of experimentation and puzzling in its dungeons, this is a big win for Game Pass, and a fine farewell for one of the industry's true greats. Now, isn't that a lovely thing."
- Xbox Game Pass? Yes
Elden Ring (Xbox Series X|S)
How does FromSoftware do it? First blowing our collective minds with Demon's Souls all the way back in 2009, they continued their hot streak with the masterful Dark Souls series followed by the absolutely phenomenal Bloodborne and Sekiro.
Now they've returned with Elden Ring and, true to form, this latest outing is not just a great game, it's one of the very best action-RPGs ever made. We had concerns this time around, chiefly with regards to how they'd factor an open world into proceedings, but we needn't have worried as what's here is a glorious meshing of classic Souls combat with an astounding and enormous world full of secrets, challenges and lore to get absolutely lost in. An instant all-timer.
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Everspace 2 (Xbox for PC)
Yes, it's a fast-paced space shooter first and foremost, but Everspace 2 has also got more than enough RPG elements in place to warrant a place on this list as it finally arrives on Xbox Game Pass for consoles.
ROCKFISH Games has managed to improve on every aspect of the original Everspace here with some sublime dogfighting action mixed with the sort of in-depth exploration, looting, resource management and crafting that should see players diving deep for the long-haul. It's one of our favourite space-faring adventures on PC, and we're delighted that it's now available for console players to blast into. Don't miss out on this one!
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Comments 39
I would like Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen to get 60 fps patch .
Dragon Quest XI is a must for anyone that is a fan of old-fashion JRPGs with modernized visuals, voice acting and the like.
Yakuza Like a Dragon, same story, but add that they managed to bring that magic into a contemporary urban setting without getting rid of the amazing turn based systems [yes, I know that is new for the Yakuza series, but this is a whole new series, for what is worth.]
Both games are classic turn based JRPG gold!
So many great games on display, That reminds me i need to get around to playing Final Fantasy 15
Tbh, I'll wait on finishing FFXV, Witcher 3 and Fallout 4. I want to experience them on Series X.
Nice list but I wouldn't say Diablo III or Stardew Valley are RPG.
@Tasuki I have not played Stardew Valley, but Diablo is definitively an Rpg. It just happen to be an Action RPG. RPGs have plenty of sub-genres.
@Tharsman Stardew is a simulation game, while Diablo III is an action adventure game.
It's kind of sad with all the tryouts available on Game Pass, that there aren't any surprises in this list. Why chose Destiny 2 (repeat repeat repeat blergh) and not Jedi Fallen Order, for example?
Also: Ikenfell and CrossCode are amazing old-fashioned RPG's, SO much more inspired than Dragon Quest.
Lost Odyssey and Final Fantasy IX are available on Xbox one as well. As are some classics like Phantasy Star 4.
Nier: Automata is easily my all time favorite game. The combat was fun and fluid, the game was unique and the story was incredible. I can’t recommend it enough.
@Tasuki I haven’t played Stardew either, but I agree with Tharsman about Diablo 3; it is definitely an action RPG.
I wouldn't call The Guardians of the Galaxy an RPG. Great game though
I really can’t wait for The Witcher 3 upgrade! They said 2022 Q2 so am hoping to see some gameplay soon.
@Tasuki "Stardew is a simulation game"
It has some simulation elements like farming but also many RPG elements. Just as Assassin's Creed is now considered an RPG so is Stardew Valley. The developer/publisher even lists it as an RPG.
The lines of genres are blurring nowadays. You rarely get games that fit firmly into one category or another.
@Tasuki lol half the list aren't RPGs
In a couple years this list will be much longer. Avowed, Outer Worlds 2, Fable, Redfall, Starfield... and those are just first party games
Why does it say Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is on Game Pass when it is not at all? I wish it was so I could play it cooperatively with a buddy of mine who never buys games and waits for games to arrive on Game Pass. I have purchased the game on my PS5 and I’m loving the hell out of the game; it’s a real gem. With that said, I never played any other Borderlands games so I don’t have much to judge it on.
@Xiovanni I think AC Unity is possibly the last game that has the older style gameplay before they switched it to RPG. I've played the first and the Ezio trilogy and they're not RPGs, but currently playing AC Odyssey and it most definitely is an RPG.
Apart from a couple that are still relevant
Like ACV and Destiny 2, it’s like the old games collection has been rolled out yet again.
Hades is a rogue lite… Not really an RPG. You generally aren’t meant to die.
@Dezzy70 Omori rust came out, something tells me you haven’t played it.
half these games are not RPG's. A good chunk are action games, adventure games, shooters, dungeon crawlers with RPG elements, might as well throw in fifa, 2k, madden, ring fit as well as they also have just as much rpg elements if not more then some of the games on this list.
Oh I see, we're still playing the "let's use a term liberally" game! My favourite
Citizen Sleeper sounds cool and I didn't knew about it!
Judgment/Lost Judgment should have been put here
@rhyno_888 I'm still just making my way through Judgment and I LOVE it so far. It will definitely make the list soon 💪
@FraserG good to know you also like it! anyway you should try Valkyria Chronicles 4 too. it's great
I hope by next year Xbox will get Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Complete Edition, especially with the rumors of a sequel in the Bandai leaks and other RPGs formerly only on Switch or PS coming to it recently.
Most of these games aren't really role-playing games. An RPG needs, a degree of choice and decision making which shapes the story, and for those choices to be informed by a characters attributes. Without that you aren't really playing a role.
As AC Valhalla is on the list then I suppose Odyssey, Origins and Immortals Fenix Rising should be on there too? All have RPG elements and all decent games too.
wolcen lords of mayhem release tommorrow, i'm glad pure xbox staff decided to write this article on rpgs without them i would have stop gaming they are the cream and butter of why i play videogames they fuffil you like no other genre on the market and when they are well done they can be addictive 😊✌️❤️ my first rpg was chapion on norrath on ps2 but my real first encounter with a true rpg in his essence was oblivion on 360 back to 2006 👍
Valhalla shouldn’t be listed as it’s a really bad game , not an assassins creed game but a mediocre Viking rpg(not any good)
Will be awesome when this list includes Starfield, Elder Scrolls VI, Avowed, Fable, Outer Worlds 2, Fallout 5, Fallout New Vegas 2 and of course.....Alpha Protocol 2!
@Benjamin sorry Ben I'm replying to a comment you made ages ago.
I disagree with your comment, although philosophically you are correct and it should be the case.
RPGs are catchall genre for a multitude of gameplay and story types. Compare FF7 to The Witcher 3 to Mass Effect 2. The only similar aspects are they have indepth menus and grand stories. Most early RPGs gave no choice really. A lot of the 'build' meta we see in more recent games are completely absent in many earlier games. Take Persona 5, it has as many similarities with a deck building game than it does with Disco Elysium which has more in common with a visual novel. I've been playing this idea around since turn based combat (which I assumed was integral) was swapped out for live action.
The only similarities with anything placed in the RPG camp are indepth menus. From linear RPGs to open world. From turnbased to action. From grandiose to mundane. It's all included. And now we have modern 3rd person action games with rpg elements. And all that means are upgrade paths and indepth menus.
RPG = game with essential menus
@themcnoisy I agree with your summary of RPGs but I don't think the right reaction is to keep using an inaccurate term. How far do we extend its meaning? - Microsoft Word has essential menus! (half joking)
Some might say, this mistake is so widespread we may as well adopt it. However, language is a communicative tool, which does evolve but sometimes it evolves in the wrong direction and regresses. I think any change that erodes communication should be remedied rather than accommodated.
The term "RPG" is now so unspecific that when used in reference to a game, further information is needed to clarify what "RPG" means, making the term pretty useless.
Also, your Profile Image gif is tremendous and I salute it.
@PJOReilly Nice additions, although Guardians of tbe Galaxy is no longer on Gamepass, and in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands you said that Bunkers and Badasses is a fictional game. It's a real TTRPG.
@FraserG I've been playing RPGs since the SSI gold box games and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is the best CRPG I've ever played. It's insulting that it isn't on this list while a bunch of action and FPS games are. Please fix this injustice ASAP!
@ActionPanther Yes and before I die would be nice.... I appreciate the new IP that is Starfield but I'm not so sure that it'll be worth the cost. The cost being at least a decade before ever seeing 1 of those Bethesda titles. Sure we can all jump to their defence and make predictions that'll it'll be 5 years but I myself doubt it. Maybe not a full decade but it'll be close. Plus I'm curious what happens to Fallout after Todd leaves? He has stated the next Elder Scrolls will be his last game. Fable, yes we finally saw something but again no real date. The only things I trust to see soon is OW2 and Avowed. New Vegas 2 would make my day (life) but I'd like a full high production Remake first. For one the game deserves it we could munch on it while we wait for 2. Also it will introduce it to the new age of gamers who expect a more modern experience. If they can fix the clipping issues to them great if not I still don't care, make it happen.
Mr. Fantastic levels of stretching for what's considered an RPG. IDK why 360 & OG Xbox titles are excluded, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, & Gladius would be good choices.
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