10 Great Non-Japanese RPG's

Remove all ads!

This should by no means be considered an exhaustive list of all the great non-Japanese RPG titles out there, but it is definitely a good start. Some of the games listed are: Elder Scrolls IV, Fallout 3, Mass Effect, and Planescape: Torment.

I don't know about you, but recently I've begun to get a little bored with Japanese role-playing games. Formerly an addict of the genre, the more I played to get my fix, the more it seemed that they're all too similar. The main character will inevitably be a teen boy with an emo fringe and a belligerent attitude. The plot will center around the disappearance of his sister, and it's likely he grew up in an orphanage because the bad guys killed his parents. There'll be a love interest, with each side obviously fancying the other but for some reason not actually doing anything about it until the third disc. At this point, it has usually become obvious that the bad guys are intending to bring about the end the world. Yawn. The west may not mass produce RPGs, but the ones that do make it out tend to be refreshingly different. Here's ten of the best, from the 1980s to the present day.

Follow this link for the list.

 

Finding Dungeon Master in there was rather surprising, considering the list is geared towards more recent games. However, like all such lists, this one leaves so many essential RPGs off that it feels lacking.

 

I definitely do not disagree with you. The mere fact that Fallout was left of the list pains me greatly.

 

I can understand games like Eye of the Beholder, Lands of Lore and some of the other oldies to be off the list, as there's just too many of them to have any kind of list. But Fallout, Arcanum, Baldur's Gate, the Gold Box games... and no mention at all of the Big Three either (Wizardry, Ultima, Might and Magic). I consider these to be VERY serious omissions. It's just impossible to limit it to only 10 games. It doesn't help that half of the list consists of games that are less than 3 years old. That would have been a very good list it it limited itself to "recent great non-jRPGs", but as a list that claims to pick the best from all the way back to the 80s it doesn't work that well.

 

I don't think I have ever played a Japanese RPG. Are they any good?

Is this chick for real?

Where's BG, BG2, IWD, M&M?

 

A ten long list is going to have a load of omissions and newer games do tend to be better than old (I'm not a graphics junkie but the ease of use of newer games is much improved). I think the list was intended as a sample, not as being definitive.

I'd say Japanese RPGs sales are way above Western ones. Maybe not in America but generally PC=Western and console = Japanese. Consoles sell way more games these days. Besides, I don't think this list is aimed at the hardcore.

Depends which one ! There's some great ones but I haven't really played any in a long time. I think they're aimed at a younger audience, I was blown away by the maturity of Baldur's Gate which was the first American RPG I played in ages (I'm now playing the Witcher which really steps this up). The real bugbear for me was the 'grinding.' In many you're encouraged to fight repititive enemies to level up. Think of the battle squares in IWD2. Now think way worse. That's the main reason why I don't play them anymore. I don't spend all day playing games like I used to and when I do I've better things to be doing than that.

 

Anyone played any of the Summoner games?

 

Betrayal at Krondor wasn`t on the list either. Thats arguably one of the best rpgs ever made. No might and magic, and no ultima either. And no BG? This chic doesn`t have a clue. Looks like she just picked a few from a recent bestseller list, and added a couple of oldies.

 

Big surprise, that's the internet man. Anyone can write whatever they want about almost anything. So that "reviewer" knows nothing. Big surprise. Come to think of it I must confess it's funny, quite useless but funny nonetheless.

By the way she doesn't refer to the original "Bard's Tale" but to the remake (which is quite fun) but it seems out of place not to mention the original if you intend to list the best RPGs ever... (should be CRPGs).

 

I have not played them, Vhailor. I have heard that the original is pretty good though (but not great).

 

What, Might and Magic?

You, sir, are dead to me.

Vhailor, I played the first one. It was decent, maybe above average.

 

the article had world of warcraft as an rpg...enough said