Best RPG Games on Steam: 13 Picks for Every Playstyle

The best RPG games on Steam let you become someone else for a few dozen hours: build a character, make choices that stick, and watch a world respond. Some do it with huge parties and dice-roll tactics, some with sprawling open maps, and some with a tight, story-first journey you finish in a single sitting of obsession.

This list covers 13 role-playing games, grouped by the kind of fit they offer, so you can jump to the section that matches your mood. Each one comes with its player modes and its Steam review summary.

Quick picks: the best RPG games on Steam at a glance

What makes an RPG, and how should you choose?

RPG stands for role-playing game. You take on a character, grow their abilities over time, and make choices that shape the story or how you play. Beyond that, the label covers a lot of ground, which is why the best RPG games on Steam feel so different from each other.

A few terms come up below:

• Party-based RPG: you lead a group of characters rather than one hero, and companions have their own opinions and personal stories.
• Turn-based: you and your enemies take turns acting, so you can stop and think about each move.
• Action RPG: combat happens in real time, and your own reflexes matter as much as your stats.
• Open-world: you choose where to go, and the map is largely open from early on.

Pick by the thing you want most. If it is a story you can steer, start with the party-based section. If it is wandering, start with open worlds. If you want a compact narrative with strong characters, the last group is for you.

Which party-based RPGs are the best on Steam?

These are the RPGs where you assemble a crew, read a lot of dialogue and make tactical decisions. They reward patience and curiosity.

Baldur’s Gate 3

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This is the obvious first pick. It is a story-rich, party-based RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, which is a tabletop role-playing setting built on classes, races and dice rolls. A mind flayer parasite in your brain gives you strange new abilities, and you decide whether to resist the darkness or embrace it.

You can choose from 12 classes and 11 races, or play an Origin hero with a hand-crafted background. Larian Studios released it on Aug 3, 2023, and Steam rates it Overwhelmingly Positive from more than 862,000 reviews. It suits anyone who likes companions with their own agendas and choices that carry weight. Steam lists single-player, online co-op, LAN co-op, cross-platform multiplayer and Remote Play Together, so you can also take the adventure with friends.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition

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From the same studio as Baldur’s Gate 3, this one is the pick if the combat is what draws you in. Its store page promises deep, tactical, turn-based fights where you use height, the environment and the elements to beat your opponents. You lead a party of up to four, and the story deliberately sets you against each other, since only one of you can become a god.

The character you pick changes how the world reacts, from a flesh-eating Elf to an Undead risen from the grave. Steam lists single-player, online co-op, shared or split-screen co-op and PvP, plus Steam Workshop and a level editor. It is rated Overwhelmingly Positive across more than 206,000 reviews. It suits players who enjoy planning each turn like a puzzle, and couples or friends who want to share a screen.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition

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Owlcat Games sets this one in the Worldwound, where a rift to the Abyss has unleashed demons across the land. You rise as a Mythic Hero, and the store page asks whether you will become a shining angel with noble paladins or a necromancer commanding undead. You also lead an army and face demon lords.

It is single-player, has full controller support, and sits at Very Positive from over 44,000 reviews. It suits players who love building a character and want a long campaign with plenty of ways to specialise.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

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You captain a ship across the Deadfire archipelago while chasing a rogue god. Obsidian Entertainment promises detailed character customisation, freedom of exploration and meaningful choices. Its store description notes that Patch 5.0 added a turn-based mode, which is good news if you prefer taking your time in fights.

It is single-player, supports Steam Workshop, and also runs on Linux. Steam rates it Very Positive from just over 20,000 reviews. It suits players who like sea voyages and a world that feels like a map to explore.

What are the best open world RPG games on Steam?

If you would rather pick a direction and walk, these are the open-world picks. They are also some of the best single player RPG games on Steam, with most listed as single-player only.

ELDEN RING

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FromSoftware’s fantasy action RPG sends you across the Lands Between, a vast continent where open fields connect seamlessly to large, multi-layered dungeons. Its store page says combat is simple to learn but offers depth, and that knowing the terrain helps you beat formidable bosses.

It is a good fit if you want exploration with a real sense of danger. Steam lists single-player, online co-op and online PvP, and rates it Very Positive from more than 1.1 million reviews. Expect to be challenged, which is part of the appeal.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

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Bethesda Game Studios’ epic fantasy is about going where you like and making your own stories. The Special Edition includes the original game and its add-ons, remastered art and effects, and access to Creations, which bring new quests, characters, armor and weapons. It is single-player and rated Very Positive from over 381,000 reviews.

It suits players who want a lived-in fantasy world to get lost in. If you finish it and want more in the same spirit, our list of games like Skyrim is a natural next stop.

Fallout: New Vegas

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Obsidian Entertainment’s desert RPG drops you into a town of dreamers and desperados, with warring factions fighting for control. You make a name for yourself, and a few enemies along the way. It is single-player only and sits at Overwhelmingly Positive from nearly 263,000 reviews, despite being released on Oct 19, 2010.

It suits players who like role-playing in the dialogue sense: picking sides, talking your way through situations and living with the fallout.

Cyberpunk 2077

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CD PROJEKT RED describes this as an open-world, action-adventure RPG set in Night City, a dangerous megalopolis obsessed with power, glamor and body modification. Steam lists it as single-player with full controller support and subtitle options, and rates it Very Positive from almost 989,000 reviews.

It suits players who want a dense, dark sci-fi city to explore rather than a vast stretch of wilderness.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

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Here you are Henry, a blacksmith’s son whose village is destroyed by invaders in medieval Bohemia. The store page frames it as a story-driven open-world RPG with realistic castles, forests and villages, and a civil war tearing the region apart. You avenge your parents and make influential choices.

It is single-player, rated Very Positive from 187,000 reviews, and suits players who want history-flavoured realism instead of dragons and magic.

Which story-driven RPGs are worth playing?

These four put characters and narrative first. They include some of the best turn-based RPG games on Steam, plus one that leans on tabletop storytelling.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

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Each year the Paintress wakes and paints a number, and everyone of that age turns to smoke. Next year it is 33, and you lead Expedition 33 on a final mission to stop her. The world is inspired by Belle Époque France, and the store page calls it a turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics.

That mix is the draw: you take turns, but you stay involved moment to moment. Sandfall Interactive released it on Apr 24, 2025, and it is rated Overwhelmingly Positive from over 281,000 reviews. It is single-player with a recommendation to use a gamepad. It is the strongest pick here if you want turn-based combat that feels fresh.

Persona 3 Reload

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ATLUS reimagines a pivotal entry in its series. You play a transfer student who discovers the Dark Hour, a hidden hour between one day and the next, and awakens a power to fight for friends. The store page highlights modernised quality-of-life features, a stylish interface, and new scenes and character interactions.

It is single-player and rated Very Positive from about 66,000 reviews. It suits players who love a character-driven story where relationships matter as much as battles.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

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This bundles Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 with over 40 DLC, remastered for 4K. You follow Commander Shepard in a story where your decisions have profound consequences. It mixes action with interactive storytelling, and BioWare’s trilogy remains a benchmark for space-opera role-playing.

It is single-player with full controller support, and Steam rates it Very Positive from nearly 68,000 reviews. Pick it if you want a complete story across three games in one purchase.

Citizen Sleeper

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A smaller, quieter pick. You are a digitised human consciousness in an artificial body, stranded on a ruined space station called Erlin’s Eye. Inspired by tabletop RPGs, it is about building friendships, earning your keep and navigating factions in a strange metropolis.

It is single-player, rated Very Positive from over 10,000 reviews, and suits anyone who prefers reading and decision-making to fast combat. If you like gentler, life-shaped games, you might also enjoy our list of games like Stardew Valley.

How do you pick the right RPG from this list?

Here is a short way to narrow it down:

• Want to play with a friend? Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 both list co-op. Elden Ring lists online co-op as well.
• Want turn-based tactics? Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are the clearest matches. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire has a turn-based mode too.
• Want to roam freely? Start with Skyrim, Elden Ring or Fallout: New Vegas.
• Want a self-contained story? Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Persona 3 Reload and Citizen Sleeper are good fits.
• Want something realistic instead of magical? Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

If you tend to stop playing games once they turn into a grind, you may also like our broader best games on Steam hub, and our best roguelike games list covers a close cousin of the RPG with shorter runs.

What mistakes do people make when choosing an RPG?

A few traps are worth avoiding:

• Judging by age alone. Fallout: New Vegas came out in 2010, yet Steam still rates it Overwhelmingly Positive. Older does not mean worse.
• Confusing genre labels. “RPG” on Steam also covers action games like Elden Ring. If you want slower, more thoughtful play, check for turn-based or party-based descriptions.
• Starting with the biggest game. A huge RPG is a big commitment. If you only have a few evenings free, a compact story such as Citizen Sleeper may fit better.
• Ignoring the player modes. Several of the best RPG games on Steam are single-player only. If you want co-op, check the Steam features first.

Where should you start?

If you want one answer, start with Baldur’s Gate 3: it has the biggest review pool among party-based picks, and it supports co-op. If you want an open map and a challenge, choose Elden Ring. If you want turn-based combat with a strong story, choose Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Whichever you pick, the best RPG games on Steam share one thing: they reward you for caring about your character. For more ideas by taste, browse our games-like collection and keep the list above handy for your next run.

Questions and answers

What is the world's #1 RPG game?

There is no single agreed answer, because it depends on what you want from an RPG. On Steam, Baldur's Gate 3 has an Overwhelmingly Positive rating from more than 862,000 reviews, and Elden Ring has over 1.1 million reviews. Both are strong starting points for different tastes.

What are the top 10 RPG games for PC?

A strong top ten from this list would be Baldur's Gate 3, Elden Ring, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Skyrim Special Edition, Cyberpunk 2077, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Persona 3 Reload and Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Pathfinder, Pillars of Eternity II and Citizen Sleeper suit more specific tastes.

What are the best turn-based RPGs on Steam?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG with real-time mechanics, and Divinity: Original Sin 2 is built on deep turn-based tactical combat. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire also lists a turn-based mode added in its Patch 5.0, according to its store description.

Which RPGs on Steam are best for playing alone?

Fallout: New Vegas, Skyrim Special Edition, Cyberpunk 2077, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Persona 3 Reload, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Pillars of Eternity II and Citizen Sleeper are all listed as single-player on Steam. Baldur's Gate 3 and Elden Ring also play well solo.

Which RPGs on Steam can you play with friends?

Baldur's Gate 3 lists online co-op, LAN co-op and Remote Play Together. Divinity: Original Sin 2 adds shared or split-screen co-op. Elden Ring lists online co-op and PvP, meaning player-versus-player fights, so it also works if you want company.