One of the most common questions asked on gaming forums is ‘I just finished such and such (and am now having RPG withdrawals), what is a good RPG I can play now?’

So I thought I’d put together a list of games that I enjoyed and that also took a while to complete (so as to put off another more withdrawals as long as possible). This is a list you should also consider consulting if you are new to the RPG genre and want to experience some originals.

So in no particular order, here are 3 games I would recommend playing to fill all those spare hours you now have:

Fallout 2

The first Fallout game was one of the first RPG’s I played. Although young, I loved it. Cool weapons, armor and bad dudes and plenty of ways to kill them. Fallout 2 builds upon that original greatness in a huge game with heaps and heaps of content.

As well as a large storyline, there are plenty of towns, side quests and interesting characters to meet along the way. Don’t be put off by the graphics, this is a seriously fun game. Make sure you save often as every decision you make has an effect on the game.

Neverwinter Nights

If you have read this blog, you know that this is one of my favourite games of all time. Perhaps it is my background of playing D&D as I was growing up that I always found this game interesting and exciting. This game provided me with 100′s of hours of fun over about 8 years.

Neverwinter Nights is based on 3rd Edition Dungeons and Dragons rules. The platinum edition consists of the original game, the two expansions and an official module (like a PDLC these days). There is also a boatload of community made modules that are great fun to play. The first expansion has a few tedious boring bits of just hack and slash but is worth playing as the story line for the second expansions continues on from it.

Diablo II

What better way to prepare yourself for next year’s release of Diablo III than play your way through all 5 Acts of Diablo II on normal, hardcore and hell. The online community is still very active too, so after beefing up your character jump online for some extra gameplay.

For those who don’t know, Diablo II is a hack and slash type RPG. There is a great backing story and an excellent skill tier for each class which will allow you to define your specialization.

Friends recommendations:

While writing this post at university, I also whipped around and asked my friends what games they would recommend. Here they are below:

• Oblivion [read reviews]
• World of Warcraft [read reviews]
• Baldur’s Gate I and II [read reviews]
• Morrowind [read reviews]
• Fallout [read reviews]
• Fallout 3 [read reviews]

Recommendations from around the net:

I also made a list of the games recommended from forums around the internet:

• Dungeons and Dragons: Online [read reviews]
• Final Fantasy XI [read reviews]
• Guild Wars [read reviews]
• The Witcher [read reviews]
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic [read reviews]

Those should keep you busy for the next year or so. Add your recommendations for fellow gamers to play in the comments below. Check out my top lists for more ideas.

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UPDATED: Added point 11.

I was thinking about what makes an RPG a good RPG. On top of all the usual things that apply to games like gameplay, graphics and sound there are several other factors that make a great RPG. I have come up with 11 points that cover mostly what makes a terrific RPG. Below each list item I have listed games that blew away that criteria when the game was released.

1. Can you make decisions that affect future outcomes of the game?

Being able to shift the storyline of a game to produce different outcomes at the end gives the game a new level of depth. Some games do this very subtly like Fallout 3 in which you can make some choices throughout that game that ultimately effects the closing cinematic where as making choices in other games can completely prevent you from following certain pathways (whilst often opening up new ones for you eg. Fallout 3).
Good example: Fallout 2

2. Are you able to physically move in a non linear pattern?

What I mean by this is are you able to stray from the main plot on side quests and adventures or is the plot fairly linear which simply takes you from point A to B. World of Warcraft is an excellent example of this, from level one you can ignore the main plot quests and simply do your own thing. Neverwinter Nights on the other hand, while being an awesome game, followed a fairly linear storyline.
Good example: World of Warcraft

3. Do NPC’s react to you differently depending on previous engagements or proceeding reputation?

This ones is similar to the first criteria; games like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and World of Warcraft include a built in reputation system. Actions you take during the game affect your reputation and will therefore effect how someone reacts to you when you meet them. (The most simple form is if you tend to do good things, evil aligned NPC’s will not want anything to do with you)
Good example: Fallout 3

4. Can you switch out nearly every item of clothing and weapons (swords, shields, guns, boots, helmet, body armor)?

The best example I can give of this is Oblivion. Being able to fully customize your gear and change your appearance is not only fun but allows more progressions throughout the game which are key to any RPG. It also adds variety as you don’t get bored looking at the same character running around all the time.
Good example: Oblivion

5. Are loading times between areas too excessive or frequent?

It’s bad enough that some RPG’s include a huge amount of text to read let alone having to wait for a loading screen every single time you move more than one screen across. Loading times should be short and infrequent to allow maximum gameplay time.
Good example: World of Warcraft

6. Can you perform illegal activities? And are there consequences?

This is more a fun item then completely necessary. Being able to attack any NPC gives the game real depth because just like in real life, you can really attack anyone. The Elder Scrolls games do this great, although if you attack a shop keeper you better be ready to run from the law.
Good example: Any Elder Scrolls game [Daggerfall II, Morrowind, Oblivion]

7. Does the game have online capabilities (or uploadable community content)?

While most RPG’s have a rather large amount of single player content, we never want a good game to end there. Having either online gameplay or extra community created content allows us to keep adventuring with the hero we have grown so fond of.
Good example: Neverwinter Nights [has both]

8. Are the NPC’s believable and engaging? Is the storyline also believable and engaging?

Any game should be interesting to play for more than a few hours. Misplaced or uninteresting NPC’s will ruin the flow of the game. A great story line is also important as RPG’s are traditionally known for having a great story.
Good example: Dragon Age: Origins

9. Is the combat interesting and fun?

Combat should be simple to follow, yet evolved enough to allow for plenty of special attacks and spells. Typically spell casting classes should require more thought and tactics than hand to hand combat. This gives people the option of hack and slash or strategy. Combat should look good and there should be plenty of variety in movement. For example spell casting should not always be the exact same movement.
Good example: Baldur’s Gate II (best in it’s time)

10. Is all of the other stuff good?

By other stuff I mean sound, graphics and the overall feel of the game. While we have been playing crappy looking RPG’s for decades there is something to be said for one that looks fantastic.
Good example: Diablo II

11. Are there multi-layered feats and skills?

Most great RPGs have some sort of skill tree (see Diablo or WoW) or at least feats that are governed by specific pre-requisites (see any D&D based RPG). Blizzard and Bioware usually do this very well in all their games.
Thanks to Rocka for reminding me of this one.

12. Can your character improve over time by gaining experience or skills?

The last point I make here is by far the key factor of an RPG. You really need to be able to gain levels, if not by experience points then by gaining skills and attributes as you progress through the game.
Good example: Basically every RPG

Other things that while not important add good flavour to the game:

• Does your race effect your choices?
• Are there even multiple races to choose from?
• Can you use melee combat and/or ranged combat?
• Is there magic or psychic powers?
• Can you get a trade or a job skill and improve it to make money in game?

Ultimately, it’s options that make an RPG great. From now on in my reviews I’m going to use points 1 to 11 to rate any new games from now on. Remember that a game does not need 11 out of 11 to still be a great game to play.

Is there anything you look for in an RPG? Share with us below in the comments.

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Take a trip down memory lane with these old school RPG games.

I found most of them on Amazon.com for under $10. Click each one to find 100′s of reviews and the best prices. Don’t forget to leave your comments at the bottom.

1. Diablo
2. Baldur’s Gate
3. Might and Magic IV: Mandate of Heaven
4. Planescape: Torment
5. Fallout 2
6. Fallout
7. Darkstone
8. The Elder Scrolls Chapter II: Daggerfall
9. Might and Magic VII: For Blood & Honor
10. Final Fantasy VII

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Take a trip into the future, a future in which everything has changed.

After the nuclear wars that nearly destroyed the planet, mankind is left barely alive. The planet is a barren wasteland in which barely anything survives anymore.

Fallout 2 is set about 80 years after the conclusion of Fallout 1. Your character is an ancestor of the Chosen One who saved Vault 13 in the first story. This time the world is a lot bigger with about 30 times more side quests.
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