Many of the finest RPGs are about lone, roaming adventurers, but few, if any, do it as well as The Witcher 3. That craftsmanship is most seen in the landscape, which is filled with gorgeous sunsets and wind-tossed tree groves. But The Witcher 3's great brilliance is that it populates these unforgettable locations with NPCs doling out simple but memorable tasks (by the dozen) that contribute to one of the most human RPG experiences on the market. Geralt of Rivia may come across destitute elves fighting against local bigotry in fading roadside settlements; elsewhere, he may assist a self-styled baron in reuniting with his long-estranged daughter. These adventures address moral topics expertly without being preachy or presenting apparent solutions.

Throughout, much as in The Witcher 2, Geralt is frequently simply another figure on the stage of this chaotic world. This story of monster killing and inter-dimensional raiding becomes curiously and poignantly relevant in the process. The Witcher 3 is still amazing after a few years, but if you're like that, you can spice it up with some Witcher 3 modifications.

Series: The Witcher
Developers: CD Projekt

Link to buy: amzn.to/38f7AUI

Outside of tabletop games, few RPGs can match Larian's massive quest for godhood in terms of freeing openness. If you think you should be able to accomplish anything, you probably can, even if it's kidnapping a merchant and then lighting fire to him with his own blood. Almost every talent has an unexpected and alternate usage, often more than one, whether in or out of battle.

You may play this game of madcap experimentation and tactical fighting with up to three players, which is where things become really intriguing because you are not required to work together or even stay in the same region of the planet. Indeed, there are several reasons to oppose each other. The player is constantly in control, and with four players, collisions are certain. Just remember to apologize if you freeze your buddies and then start poisoning them.

Publishers: Bandai Namco Entertainment, Larian Studios
Developer: Larian Studios

Link to buy: amzn.to/3wI0wrZ

Disco Elysium returns to the roots of tabletop roleplaying games. It's all about playing a part, becoming your character, and accepting whatever success or failure brings. Your predefined protagonist is a detective who wakes up without a badge, gun, or a name after an amnesia-inducing bender. As the investigator, you'll try to investigate a murder in Revachol while simultaneously unraveling the mysteries of your background and identity.

There is no battle, at least not in the traditional sense of the term. Instead, the majority of Disco Elysium is spent in dialogue, either with persons you need to interrogate about the murder or with your own thinking. In Disco Elysium, each of your talents is a part of your personality, with thoughts on what to say and do throughout your investigation. Empathy will help you grasp the sentiments of the individuals you talk to, whilst logic will help you punch holes in a bad alibi or analyze a clue you uncover. Investing in skills allows you to pass dice roll skill checks for anything from busting down a door to hitting on a woman at the hotel throughout the game. It's a large RPG with smart storytelling in which each game is drastically different depending on the type of investigator you play.

Publishers: ZA, UM
Developers: UM, ZA

Link to buy: amzn.to/3lCuVTu

Pillars of Eternity isn't very new; in fact, its whole Kickstarter-funded existence is dependent on appealing to nostalgia for ancient Infinity Engine CRPGs like Baldur's Gate II. That typically doesn't matter since Pillars of Eternity does it so darn brilliantly.

The visuals are a touch too reminiscent of the 1990s, but the content is superb. Obsidian Entertainment employs it to craft a great (though grim and often humorless) story that skillfully touches on everything from religious disputes to societal challenges. It doesn't hurt that Obsidian imbued practically every step of the world with its own tale and tidbit of mythology, and a fresh patch added hours of additional voice work that enhances the experience even more.

It's also brutally challenging in places, and even its milder settings need a dance of halting and yelling instructions to several party members that many of today's greatest RPGs avoid. That's not necessarily a negative thing, because Pillars of Eternity demonstrates that such severe ideas still have widespread appeal in this age of accessibility.

Publishers: Paradox Interactive, Obsidian Entertainment, Versus Evil
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Link to buy: amzn.to/3MFHVn5

Outward quickly eliminates the self-centered rescuer mindset that they've grown accustomed to in so many action RPGs. While other heroes deal with bandit camps before lunch and save the world before supper, Outward sits you down and tells you that you can't just go out and slaughter wolves without any training. In Outward, fights that are generally treated as instructional chaff are legitimate achievements.

Outward, to make matters worse or better in your perspective, continuously auto-saves your game. Your mistakes are irreversible, and death cannot be avoided by loading a recent save. You're likely to be knocked down a peg every time you die in a harsh marriage of Dark Souls and Minecraft, frequently leaving retracing your travels to retrieve lost stuff and missing progress you'd so closely treasured.

Outward's magic system is another treat, requiring you to irrevocably sell part of your overall health points for magical ability. Spells are hard-won and expensive investments, making even firing a basic fireball a luxury. Outward's split-screen co-op, especially when played online, adds fresh difficulties and humor to the premise of becoming a hero.

Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: Nine Dots

Link to buy: amzn.to/3MJ15Z5

Now for something really different. Like a Dragon is the sixth core Yakuza game in the Yakuza series, a collection of wacky Japanese crime epics. However, it's an excellent place for a new player to begin, recounting an entirely fresh tale and introducing a new hero, the endearing Ichiban Kasuga. Yakuza games have always had RPG aspects, but Like a Dragon amps them up. Traditional real-time combat is replaced by a turn-based system inspired by Dragon Quest, and you can battle alongside a group of similarly bizarre characters, each with their own odd skills and abilities.

The narrative is set in Yokohama and follows Ichiban as he attempts to climb out of the gutter and establish a name for himself in the metropolis. Along the journey, he makes acquaintances, including Namba, a gruff but kind-hearted homeless guy. Like every Yakuza game, Like a Dragon is a wonderful blend of brutal violence, passionate melodrama, and silly comedy. The plot is fantastic, the characters are fantastic, and the battle has a good amount of complexity. It's more simplified than some of the other games on this list, but it's still a terrific RPG.

Publisher: SEGA
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

Link to buy: amzn.to/3lHntpO