Who says you need lots of cash to get lost in massive worlds of epic quests and unforgettable characters? There’s a surprisingly massive, but somewhat unexplored universe out there of quirky indie adventures and under-the-radar classics.
Many of these are total RPG gems that bring hours of gameplay without costing a coin.
25. Genshin Impact
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PC, GeForce Now
Imagine waking up in a magical world, Teyvat, and learning that every mountain hides something cool and every river might just take you to adventure.
Stripped of your powers and separated from your sibling by a mysterious god, you set off to unravel this world’s mysteries and maybe even uncover a few friends along the way while you answer the call of the elements.
Teyvat lets you climb every mountain, explore every cave, glide across open skies, and freeze a lake if you feel like it.
Better yet, combat here isn’t your usual hack-and-slash. Set Hydro enemies ablaze, electrocute them with a shock, or freeze them in place with Cryo; it's up to you and your imagination.
24. Limbus Company
PC, Android, iOS
Get to know a gritty, chaotic metropolis where danger lurks at every turn, and your team of “Sinners” are ready to fight for their survival—and maybe some redemption.
In this world, you’re the Manager, guiding a dozen unforgettable characters on a journey to recover the fabled Golden Boughs.
Limbus Company is part turn-based strategy, part real-time chaos. You’ll chain skills and unleash timed moves to outsmart enemies. Plan combinations during nail-biting Clashes and hope your skills (and luck) crush the enemy.
23. The First Descendant
PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, GeForce Now, PC
As a Descendant, you’re humanity’s last line of defense on the war-torn continent of Ingris. Every mission throws you into massive battles against invading forces—and bosses big enough to fill your entire screen (unless you have one of those massive, ultra-wide ones).
You’ll fight with high-powered skills, futuristic weapons, and a whole lot of attitude to uncover ancient secrets. What kind of secrets? You find out!
Think explosive gunfights, colossal boss monsters, fast-paced grappling moves that let you swing into the action like a sci-fi superhero, and so much more—it's up to you to uncover everything.
22. SAS: Zombie Assault 4
PC, macOS, SteamOS, Android, iOS
Picture a distant planet overrun by zombies that evolve faster than you can reload. As one of the elite SAS soldiers, your mission is simple (but far from easy): blast through hordes of undead, save what’s left of humanity...and look cool doing it.
The zombies here don’t just shamble—they sprint, spit acid, mutate into terrifying bosses, and then chase you down in a rage. With up to three friends, you can juggle over 160 epic weapons to mow down everything in sight.
21. WAKFU
PC, macOS, Android
Here’s a world just trying to recover. You’re free to be a hero battling monsters, a crafty merchant controlling the economy, a politician trying to climb the ranks, or something totally different.
WAKFU has something for every player: strategize with friends to tackle enemies in tactical battles or build your very own “Haven World” and craft your heart out.
If monster-slaying isn’t your style, you can run for office or set the economy on fire—just another day in the World of Twelve.
20. Torchlight: Infinite
PC, iOS, Android
In Torchlight: Infinite, you’re creating entire worlds. In the frostbitten “Frozen Canvas” with a host of heroes, including a shapeshifting bard, you’ll paint (literally) your own map and unleash chaos for treasure and glory.
Forget cooldowns or stamina limits; here, it’s fast-paced, non-stop action with endless loot and 24 talent tabs. You can shape your hero to match any playstyle.
Your grind pays off in surprising ways—maybe that sword you didn’t need is exactly what another hunter’s been searching for.
19. Albion Online
PC, GeForce Now, macOS, Android
This medieval world is a place where your armor, weapon, and every gold coin you earn are crafted, traded, and conquered by players like you. There are no classes—only the gear you wear and whatever path you choose—hopefully a nice one (or not).
Today, you’re a sword-wielding warrior, tomorrow a sneaky archer. If you get tired of battle (after all, we all need a break sometimes), be a master crafter who makes a fortune on the marketplace. Each player drives the economy...and the battleground.
18. Shop Titans
PC, Android, iOS
Welcome to the heart of an adventurer’s city. But guess what? You’re not the hero—you’re the one who keeps them suited up with hand-crafted swords, enchanted boots, and everything in between.
Haggle with colorful customers and dress up your shop with cozy rugs or a suspicious number of cat statues. When your heroes aren’t raiding dungeons for supplies, you can join guilds and compete in events to strike it rich.
17. Angel Legion
PC, Android, iOS
Lead a squad of “angels,” as stylish as they’re battle-ready, through the glittering galaxy to uncover cosmic secrets and ancient mysteries. Build a dream team of customized warriors in a universe that’s as vast as it is mysterious.
This is a laid-back RPG where your Angel Squad battles even when you’re offline, earning you treasures as you kick back.
A hundred heroes to summon and a wardrobe overflowing with outfits, it’s a galaxy-sized mix of strategy and style that’ll leave you...dazzled, to say the least.
16. Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
Switch, GeForce Now, PS4, Xbox One, PC, macOS, Android, iOS
In the legendary worlds of Dungeons & Dragons, Champions travel across ancient cities, haunting forests, arcane libraries, the misty roads of Barovia, and even the endless planes of Avernus.
Every corner of the Sword Coast, every dark mist of Barovia, holds new secrets waiting for your party to discover.
Idle Champions combines strategy with a love for D&D lore, letting you assemble a dream team of Champions from novels, games, and shows. You’ll even make progress offline—meaning your heroes are leveling up while you’re doing the life stuff.
15. UNDECEMBER
PC, Android, iOS
Enter UNDECEMBER, where your only path to survival is through obliterating waves of enemies. Darkness descends and the malevolent god Serpens rises. You’ll wield every bit of power you can gather to chart your destiny in a land teetering on the edge.
With no rigid classes, UNDECEMBER lets you go wild: cast fireballs with a sword, summon minions using a bow. Combine it all with unique rune upgrades between the endless chaos dungeons, colossal boss raids, and PvP Crusades.
14. DC Universe™ Online
PC, Android, iOS
Imagine you’re striding through the streets of Gotham, the sky flashes with lights and chaos and you wield powers that can shatter walls or freeze entire streets.
In DC Universe Online, you choose—hero or villain—alongside icons like Batman, Superman, or the mischievous Harley Quinn.
With total character customization, you freely make a hero or villain unlike any other, team up in story-driven missions by legendary DC writers, and explore iconic places from Metropolis’s futuristic skyline to the dark alleyways of Arkham.
13. Sword of Convallaria
PC, Android, iOS
Welcome to a troubled land rich in magic minerals. Tensions are boiling and rival factions close in. As the leader of a band of mercenaries, you’re called to resolve all the overcomplicated political strife and forge alliances to steer the fate of an entire country.
Turn every boulder, cliff, and barricade into a strategic advantage. Your choices shape the story and transform your town and team of allies—each of whom can be outfitted and trained, and then unleashed on legendary quests.
Add in a soundtrack by Final Fantasy Tactics composer Hitoshi Sakimoto, and you’ve got a feast for both the ears and the tactical mind.
12. Action Taimanin
PC, macOS, Android, iOS
In a demon-infested Tokyo, crime syndicates run wild. A group of elite ninjas—the taimanins—is all that stands between humanity and complete chaos. You’ll lead them in a high-stakes mission to stop bioweapons and face off against corrupt foes.
Action Taimanin serves up hack-and-slash combat with simple controls that let you combine skills and supporters for endless playstyles. You can collect stunning characters and unlock special stories. Then, create your own scenes with 3D models.
11. STAR WARS™: The Old Republic™
PC
Thousands of years before the movies, STAR WARS™: The Old Republic™ pulls you into a galaxy of the Jedi, Sith, and bounty hunters. Every choice nudges you closer to the Light or Dark Side of the Force.
The Old Republic gives you room to explore the galaxy exactly how you want—maybe as a lightsaber-wielding Sith who secretly dabbles in Light Side powers or as a Trooper who packs a sniper rifle.
Team up with friends for epic Flashpoints or fly solo. Once you’re tired of fighting, build a luxury Stronghold on a planet you’ve conquered. It’s the Star Wars universe with all the choices, drama, and lightsabers you could ever want.
10. Old School RuneScape
GeForce Now, PC, macOS, Android, iOS
You can spend your days slaying dragons, raiding dungeons, baking the perfect loaf of bread, crafting a thousand daggers, or fishing for hours on end while wondering what “a life” looks like.
The ever-charming land of Gielinor is a world as nostalgic as it is chaotic, and all that at the whims of the players.
In Old School RuneScape, you don’t simply play the game—you build it (not like a dev, of course). Every major update and every glorious piece of loot is decided by in-game polls, so you’ll have a say in whether Gielinor gets more quests or fabulous hats.
9. GWENT: The Witcher Card Game
PS4, iOS, GeForce Now, Xbox One, PC, macOS, Android
Now you can play the Witcher’s favorite pastime—GWENT, bluffing your way to victory, stacking your deck with Geralt’s fiercest allies, and laughing as your opponent realizes they’ve fallen for your latest trick.
Luck is optional; it’s your strategy that makes or breaks you (or maybe a bit of bravado, of course).
With gorgeous, hand-drawn cards and no scripted tutorials holding your hand, you’re free to open with your heaviest hitter or save it for the perfect moment to shatter their last hope.
8. Realm of the Mad God Exalt
PC, macOS
Welcome to the Realm of the Mad God. Survival here takes dodging more bullets than you thought possible, and the Mad God’s minions want you dead yesterday. You and a massive crowd of heroes throw yourselves into battle to survive long enough to swipe some shiny loot.
You get one life per character—so every dodge and face-off with a screen-filling boss feels like you’re walking a high-wire. But guess what? There are pets that go from cute to absolute tanks, so you won’t feel alone while you laugh at your close calls (and die a lot).
7. Idling to Rule the Gods
PC, macOS, Android
In Idling to Rule the Gods, you’re the last human standing in a universe ruled by smug, overpowered gods. And your secret weapon is pure laziness, you read that right.
With an army of shadow clones doing all the work, you’ll get stronger without breaking a sweat. You’ll rebirth, build monuments, train bizarre pets—all while barely lifting a finger.
6. Warframe
PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, iOS
Warframe lets you slip into a bio-metal suit with powers and enough weapons to make a battleship blush.
You’ll follow the mysterious Lotus’s orders, do some planet-hopping, obliterate warring factions, and leap around like a parkour pro who happens to have a rocket launcher.
Just imagine: you mow down hordes of enemies while somersaulting through the air and casually fire laser cannons from your shoulder—now multiply that thrill by 40 because you can unlock dozens of unique Warframes.
5. BLEACH Brave Souls
PS4, Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Android, PC
Every swing of your sword could unleash a devastating special move and Ichigo might just be fighting alongside his greatest foes. In BLEACH Brave Souls, you’re in charge of assembling teams of heroes and villains for fast-paced hack-and-slash.
Teams break the rules of the original story, so you can finally pair up enemies, heroes, or a mix of both—just for the sheer chaos. Level up with the flexible Soul Tree and take on other players’ teams in PvP or team up in co-op raids.
4. Honkai: Star Rail
PS5, GeForce Now, PC, Android, iOS
Hop aboard the Astral Express and every stop will unveil a bizarre new world—one moment you’re exploring a snow-locked planet, and the next, you’re dodging abominations on a starship.
With an eccentric crew at your side, like amnesiac misfits or secretive beauties, you’ll face down the galaxy’s mysteries and laugh, cry, and possibly question your life choices along the way. No encounter is predictable and no character is entirely sane.
3. Reverse: 1999
PC, Android, iOS
In Reverse: 1999, you’re a Timekeeper who witnesses the bizarre effects of a mysterious “Storm” that rewinds eras and distorts reality.
You’ve got magic, an ally named Sonetto, and a knack for time travel from the roaring ’20s to the edge of the millennium, searching for mages who could vanish from history with each Storm.
It's a wild mix of retro aesthetics, oil painting vibes, and vibrant Pop Art, Reverse: 1999 is an interactive art museum full of accents from all over the world.
2. Fallout Shelter
iOS, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Android, PC
Be the mastermind behind a high-tech Vault, 2,000 feet underground, where you manage everything from power grids to romance drama. Keep the Dwellers safe and happy, and occasionally send them into the wasteland for loot or a run-in with a mutant or two.
From matchmaker to overseer to wasteland tour guide, you’ll wear every hat to keep your Vault thriving. Build rooms, level up skills, craft gear out of junk, and watch your quirky community grow (hopefully without being eaten by radroaches).
1.Palia
PC, Switch
Welcome to Palia, a place where you can fish, farm, scavenge, cook, catch rare bugs, and befriend your way to the cozy life of your dreams. Uncover ancient mysteries, and settle into a community where everyone’s got a story (and a few secrets) to share.
Play solo or with friends to roam Kilima Valley and Bahari Bay. It’s a warm world where each day can be as laid-back or as adventurous as you want—no epic battles, just epic vibes.
