9. Ultima
Ultima 7is generally held up by fans as the pinnacle of the series, but that doesn’t mean that older games in the series aren’t worth playing as well.
While the control schemes may be dated, it’s worth coming to grips with them in order to see just how much theUltimaseries influenced modern RPGs. You can find the first three games in the series packaged together on GOG.
8. Final Fantasy
Undoubtedly one of the biggest names in RPG-dom, to some people theFinal Fantasyname is synonymous with RPGs.
While games fromFinal Fantasy VIIonward are available on the vast majority of systems, you’ll need to turn to mobile games to get some of the earlier titles. Fortunately, the first game plays well both on iOS and Android.
Related:The best mobile game RPGs
7. Shining Force
When people think of tactical strategy RPGs, they tend to think ofFinal Fantasy TacticsorOgre Battle. TheShining Forceseries for the Sega Genesis also belongs in this company, as they were great games for the time and they still hold up today.
Shining Force,Shining Force IIand the dungeon crawler prequelShining in the Darknessare all available in various Sega Genesis Collections.
Related:Is Humble Store Legit? Why I Buy My Games There Now
6. Baldur’s Gate (Enhanced Edition)
There is an entire class of games from BioWare that use the studio’s Infinity Engine, butBaldur’s Gatewas the first. Other games includeBaldur’s Gate 2,Icewind Daleand its sequel, and the frequently talked aboutPlanescape: Torment.
Most of these games are available in Enhanced Editions these days, which bring higher resolutions and additional content.
5. Fallout
LikeDiablothe originalFalloutwas a great game that is talked about less because it was completely outclassed by its sequel,Fallout 2. Still the original is well worth playing, and bothFalloutandFallout 2are available on GOG.
4. Secret of Mana
For a more console-oriented take on a third-person action RPG, it doesn’t get much better thanSecret of Mana.
Even better, you can play this game on the Switch via theCollection of Mana, which also includesFinal Fantasy Adventurefor the Game Boy as well asTrials of Mana(akaSeiken Densetsu 3) which was previously unreleased in the US.
Related:The Best Nintendo Switch RPGs
3. Breath of Fire
TheBreath of Fireseries isn’t as well known as many of its SNES-era RPG counterparts, but those who know the series love it. The series usually focused on the main character Ryu, who more often than not can transform into a dragon.
That tradition started with the very first game. Now, bothBreath of FireandBreath of Fire 2are available via Nintendo’s Switch Online service.
2. Phantasy Star
For most people these days, if they recognize the namePhantasy Star, it’s probably fromPhantasy Star Online. That game wouldn’t exist without this classic punishing RPG for the Sega Master System.
The sequels are also excellent, especiallyPhantasy Star IV. All of the sequels are available in Sega’s various Genesis collections.
1. Diablo
There were hack and slash games beforeDiablo, but this game would change things forever.
Granted, this is a smaller game thanDiablo 2, which is what really set the standard for third-person, mouse-driven hack and slash games, but it’s still great fun. The sequels are both available via Blizzard’s Battle.net service.
Newer but Still Classic RPGs!
While plenty of people think of the games we’ve looked at here as classic, to some people they’re just dated. If you have tastes that tend toward newer games, we can still help you out.
Just take a look at our list of the best PlayStation 2 RPGs, most of which are far newer than anything here.
Read next:The best RPGs on PlayStation 2
