Timeless RPG classics that will never be forgotten
Ah, the kings, the Big Kahunas, the chiefs, the <insert generic royal title here>. These are the RPGs that everyone has heard of, almost everyone has played and most of us played more than once - the most played RPGs of all time. Now, before we begin the list, let's get a few things out of the way.
First and foremost, this is a PC website and these are PC titles. Sorry to all the console players, but at least some of these games are multiplatform. Second - no MMOs. If I start listing MMORPGs then they would completely dominate, as it's their goal to keep players playing more and more. These are single player (optional multiplayer) games, that were not made to leech players' time, but are made so well that they do anyway.
Of course, making a list like this is very tough. There are no statistics that can keep track of how many people play said game or have played over the years. We have to take into account how many people have at least tried the game if not bought it, how many have played it more than once, for how long they played it, whether they came back to it after a while and so on. I kept all these factors in mind when drafting the list, but ultimately this is just a rough estimate and guesswork. So, here goes!
10. Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
Baldur's Gate was all the rage with RPG fans back in its day. After Baldur's Gate 2 came out, it had the old players running for it, as well as many new comers too. The expansion, Throne of Bhaal, simply perfected what was already a great game. It was popular enough that if someone asked for a good RPG game on the PC, they will always get at least one "Baldur's Gate" suggestion.
After the entire older generation of gamers lost many hours to this gem, Overhaul Games decided to rerelease the titles for newer systems (including tablets). These Enhanced Editions not only brought many of the old players back, they added another slew of players from the new PC generation, all eager to see what all the fuss was about. Too bad it's not flashy enough to keep the players of today enticed, so it gets a low spot on the list.
9. Final Fantasy VII
Okay, this is not a PC title, I accept that. However, it was later released for the PC and now I can't really ignore it. Why? Well it was the first fully 3D Final Fantasy game that had all the old fans scrambling, as well as anyone who was at least curious about the series jump in. Though it was limited only to the Playstation at first, the game pretty much drew in anyone who owned the console - and that's a huge number!
Over time, a lot of people got curious enough to try the game, either via emulation, rental or at a friend's. Finally, with the release of the PC version, a whole new player base could get a taste and though it wasn't really fresh enough, it still had some of the new generation playing it, just because of its popularity. Though it's still not a true PC title, so I can't put it any higher.
8. Neverwinter Nights
This was the first (and only) successful endeavor to bring the 3rd edition of D&D to PC. It drew in a lot of eager players who were getting tired of the old infinity engines and desperately in need of something fresh. The expansions only served to better the original, as did the sequel. You see, when Neverwinter Nights 2 came out, it was a bit messy and clunky. This had most of the players run back to the older one.
What really got this game it's huge number of plays is the amount of user generated content. Bioware released a level editor for Neverwinter Nights and the community exploded. For a good several years new modules (maps) were being released, even custom campaigns on an epic scale. There were contests for the best modules too! If you stop by on the NWNVault, you can find that there is still new stuff being added, even today.
7. Dragon Age: Origins
There are a lot of Bioware titles on this list and for good reason! Why Origins out of all the Dragon Age games? For reasons similar to the above. It was new, it was fresh and much flashier than anything ever released before. It had tactical combat, a good story, was well balanced and ran smooth, etc. It was exactly what RPG players, old and new, were waiting for.
Then came the sequels. Each sequel not only had a different story, but a different system...and no one liked the new systems. Dragon Age 2, while a great game, had a lot of complaints from the community and most of them we're going back to Origins, giving it more plays. Inquisition promised a lot more and it delivered, but not for PC. That game was clearly made with consoles in mind, hence most PC players went back to Origins, yet again earning it more plays.
6. Mass Effect 3
Crazy impressive visuals for in-game footage!
The fact that the third game is here instead of the first should clue you in on what's going on - the exact opposite of the previous two entries. Similar situation to Baldur's Gate (coincidently, also by Bioware). The first Mass Effect was good, no doubts there. It was a movie in video game form with great gameplay and a cliffhanger ending! You just knew that everyone who played the first title would rush to get the sequels.
Each sequel only improved on the previous one. There was no radical difference in any systems. It was just more of the same with improvement. The only love/hate this game got was related to the story progression and characters, but if you're playing it for the story, you're playing it anyway. By the time Mass Effect 3 came out, the previous two games drew in a huge fanbase and this game drew in even more. The fiasco over its ending only helped to increase interest and gave it more plays (though it could hurt some future titles).
5. Dark Souls
Dark Souls is another game that wasn't made for PC initially, but they changed that in the end and quickly enough to maintain interest. The first game, Demon's Souls, received a lot of interest, but it wasn't until Dark Souls that the series really took off. In fact, the previous game was kind of pushed off to the side with the arrival of this titan.
Dark Souls quickly had everyone screaming at the boards, "you have to play this!", whenever an RPG was mentioned. After a lot of success on the consoles, From Software ported the thing to PC and it was quite a success. A big enough success that they released the sequel parallel to the console versions! Add to it the fact that the sequel had a mixed reception, which got fans reverting back to the original, and you have a very much played RPG.
4. Deus Ex
Is that an AT-ST, or are you just a Star Wars fan?
Deus Ex was a real breath of fresh air when it came out. It was a FPS, RPG, stealth, and whatever else you care to throw in, hybrid with a great story too. The initial success of the game drew in a huge crowd of players. Almost everyone who was on PC at the time had to take a shot at it and they played it for a good while.
It was ported to Playstation as well to draw in even more players, plus it had a double success with following titles. On the one hand the sequel, Invisible War, wasn't too well received. This spawned the usual "running back to play the first game". Then came the prequel, which was a huge success! After which, everyone wanted to play the original Deus Ex.
3. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
When the first Witcher came out, it was like a PC revolution. It was a high-end title made exclusively for the PC in a time when consoles were dominating. CD Projekt got a huge amount of support thanks to this little stunt. It literally pulled all PC fans in who wanted to say "nyah, nyah" to console players, while it had said console users secretly begging for a shot at the game.
Then came The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, a superior, better polished title...on multiple platforms. I needn't say anymore, you can imagine the rest.
2. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Let's be fair. Every Elder Scrolls game ever had a lot of support that only grew with each title. What helped them the most is the community. Each game ever released had a truckload of truckloads of mods made for it. The engine just let it happen. Bethesda could make something decent, then sit back and watch the community "awesomezie" their games, adding lots of replay value. It's genius.
Morrowind already had the majority of RPG players engrossed, even with it's very serious atmosphere. Oblivion gave it some light and attracted a lot of new blood, while moving to consoles as well. Finally, Skyrim promised the world, added dragons, cool new systems and simplified much of the game while building it more for consoles and got the best of both worlds. Both long-time RPG fans and new-comers eager to see what it's all about.
1. Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction
Thanks to the modders for keeping the game current!
Some might question my labeling Diablo 2 as "the most played RPG of all time", but let me explain. Keep in mind, this is not for MMOs and Diablo 2 is not an MMO, but it's on the same level really. This is a game that came out in 2000 and was the RPG to play in multiplayer, until World of Warcraft in 2004. That means that the majority of PC gamers we're playing this for four years straight.
Even after World of Warcraft came in, most of the fans did not make the transition. Instead, they opted to turn to the modding community (and there was a huge modding community for this game) to enhance their gameplay. Thanks to that, this game had a massive player base for almost a decade, until finally dying down.
Then came Diablo 3, which was love-or-hate and had certain players rewind and go back to previous titles. Seriously, for a single player game, this is insanely impressive staying power (matched only by MMOs)!
All time is a long time. Some games have stood that test, some were dominated by newer releases, while others were completely forgotten. Though the titles listed here are the most played RPG games in general, that doesn't mean they are the ones each of us played the most. Everyone has a favorite right? What's that one game you always kept coming back to, or never put down?
