This feature originally appeared in issue 290 of Game Informer magazine. Some of the entries have historical influence, some embody an entire era, and some are just really fun – but all of them have played major roles in shaping the identity of this entertaining and ever-expanding genre. Each title strikes a unique balance among those elements, occasionally even pushing the boundaries of what we would traditionally call an RPG. This list is a celebration of the genre’s incredible impact these are the best 100 games that exist at the intersection of narrative, combat, exploration, and progression. Today, you can hardly find any release – from strategy games to side-scrollers – without a trace of the RPG genetic code. That includes levelling up, upgrading abilities, equipping gear, forming relationships, fighting through dungeons, and more. The genre’s core concepts incubated and evolved, while other types of games borrowed and applied the mechanics that made RPGs successful. Over the years, the borders defining RPGs eroded.
These qualities earned RPGs a reputation as the longest, most immersive, and most complex experiences available.
The focus on story, exploration, and character progression was distinct from the platformers and action titles that dominated the industry. In the early days of gaming, identifying role-playing games was easy.
