11. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: EA
From the non-fantasy open world RPG to the “very much fantasy” open world RPG, Dragon Age: Inquisition is the third instalment of the popular Dragon Age franchise. With perhaps one of the richest worlds and lore in gaming, Inquisition is filled with wonderful sights to see, creatures to murder and, perhaps most importantly, people to shag. Can’t spell Bioware without “romance options”, right?
As the Inquisitor, it’s your job to close The Breach, which is unleashing demon hordes upon the world of Thedas, which naturally means getting distracted by the side quests and leaving Thedas to its fate. With the first two Dragon Age games also available via backwards compatibility, you’ve got hundreds of hours of adventuring ahead of you, even if you feel like skipping the second one.
12. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
Developer: Namco Tales Studio
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Everything old is new again (just look at the brilliant Resident Evil 2 remake), and Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition proves that even JRPGs from over a decade ago can still hang tough with modern offerings. As for what Tales of Vesperia offers, you better have a spare 100 hours if you even think about finishing this monster of a game.
With a joyous narrative that touches on themes of self-confidence and finding your place in the world, coupled with accessible and enjoyable combat that offers plenty of hidden depth, this is definitely one for any RPG fan’s list. Even if you’ve already played the original game, the content added in the Definitive Edition ensures there’ll be something new for you to discover.
13. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Capcom took a big risk when deciding to bring Monster Hunter World to the West. Aside from its debut, the series never found itself on home consoles outside of Japan, but its release on 3DS managed to build a solid footing over here. One super successful console launch later and the Monster Hunter fanbase has increased exponentially, and it’s not hard to see why.
Monster Hunter World streamlined the core experience of the series, making it more friendly and approachable for new players, while retaining the same depth and hunt difficulty that the series was known for. For series newcomers, World represented the perfect jumping on point for the game, while veterans could point to it and say “look, we told you Monster Hunter was worth it”. The Iceborne DLC has improved the overall package even further, adding new locations, monsters and abilities, making for the most complete Monster Hunter ever made.
14. Destiny 2
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Bungie
Bungie’s looter shooter often divides opinion, with some swearing by Destiny, its gameplay loop and the notion that it’s one of the most well put together shooters of the current generation. Meanwhile, others decry it as boring, or that it lacks essential content before falling over themselves to buy the next piece of DLC whenever it comes out. You know who you are.
Destiny 2’s current package might not be quite so intimidating, given Bungie’s current strategy of vaulting older content, but there’s still plenty of missions, strikes, raids and loot to sink your teeth into. If you can recruit your friends to join your fireteam, you’ll have a lot of fun with Destiny 2.
15. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: EA
The sci-fi trilogy that couldn’t quite close it out, then added another game in the series just for good measure, Mass Effect has left an indelible mark on the world of videogames, even if that mark is just conversation wheels. In all seriousness though, Mass Effect felt like one of the first real moments where your moral choices had any kind of bearing on the storyline, and it felt great.
But it wasn’t all storyline and choices. Over the course of the series, Mass Effect refined its gameplay mechanics more and more, with the third game offering the best blend of tight cover shooting and RPG levelling in the entire franchise. Of course, you can find this out for yourself, as the whole series is available to play on Xbox One via backwards compatibility, along with Mass Effect: Andromeda. That said, if you want an improved version, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition compiles Mass Effect 1-3 into one handy package.
16. Kingdom Hearts
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Initially, it was weird to see Kingdom Hearts 3 launch onto the Xbox One without any hint of the previous games joining the big green brand, but now Kingdom Hearts – HD 1.5 &+2.5 Remix and Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue are available on Xbox, so you’ve got an entire series ready to play.
The entire series offers a unique but engaging blend between Disney colourful intellectual properties and Square Enix’s penchant for brooding anime protagonists. It’s a bit of a trip, but considering you can finally play through every single experience on the Xbox, it’d be rude not to.
17. Code Vein
Developer: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Bandai Namco
We might have brought up the emergence of the “it’s like Dark Souls” comparison at the top of this article, but play Code Vein and tell me it isn’t “anime Dark Souls”. The gameplay formula and focus on exploration shares a lot of similarities with FromSoftware’s seminal work, but Code Vein has enough bright ideas of its own to warrant an inclusion on this list.
The constant presence of an AI partner (which can be subbed out for a real partner via online co-op) makes for a more forgiving overall experience, and the simplified levelling up and Blood Code system allows Soulslike newcomers to introduce themselves to the genre. On top of that, the character creator alone is versatile enough to make Code Vein worth playing.
18. Black Desert
Developer: Pearl Abyss
Publisher: Pearl Abyss
RPGs are timesinks at the best of times, but MMORPGs can almost feel like a black hole of time. Just a quick go can turn into hours and hours of play, grinding quests for EXP. While console MMOs never quite have the same level of success, the best offering on Xbox One would have to be Black Desert.
With another in-depth character creator, Black Desert boasts a control scheme that feels right at home on the controller, which is an area where most MMORPGs on console fail. As plenty of free updates roll out, with more classes, locations and end-game level content, Black Desert on Xbox One becomes more and more of a tantalising prospect.
19. Nier: Automata: Become As Gods Edition
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: Square Enix
Not only one of the best RPGs ever made, but arguably one of the best games of the current generation, Nier: Automata is nothing short of a triumph. While the narrative can often take a back seat in RPGs, Nier: Automata keeps it front and center, with every event and quest in the game adding something to the overall story, world and characters of Nier.
Without giving away too much for those who haven’t played it yet, you control 2B, an android locked in an endless war with a race of machine lifeforms, but perhaps not all is as it seems. While the story and writing is top-notch, it’d be nothing without the stellar gameplay that Platinum Games is known for, creating a beautiful action RPG blend.
20. Yakuza 0
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: SEGA
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s masterpiece of a series has long be considered to be a PS4 exclusive, but the franchise has made its way to PC already, and now, after a long wait, it’s now available on the Xbox One in the form of prequel entry Yakuza 0.
Playing as both long-time series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, along with the nuisance Goro Majima as another protagonist, it’s up to you to navigate the world of the yakuza during the height of 80s Japan. With fantastic combat and dozens of hours of content, Yakuza 0 is definitely worth checking out, especially considering it’s available on Xbox Game Pass. While Yakuza 0 is the series at its best, the rest of Yakuza, including Like A Dragon, are all available on Xbox too.
21. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Bandai Namco
The Dragon Ball series is one of the most well-known and instantly recognisable anime/manga franchises in the world, so it makes sense that there’d be a series of games to accompany it, though none are arguably as in-depth as Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, which is one of the best Xbox One RPGs you can play.
A faithful recreation of the biggest story arcs and beats from the series, Kakarot’s action-RPG formula might be immediately familar to anyone who’s played fellow games like Xenoverse, but it’s still quite enjoyable. Fans of the series will get a kick out of seeing their favourite moments revisited, while newcomers could consider this to be a “Best Of” cliff notes version.
22. The Outer Worlds
Developer: Obsidian
Publisher: Private Division, Take-Two
For those who played Fallout: New Vegas and screamed “more, please”, The Outer Worlds is Obsidian’s solo outing for a first-person RPG. Taking place in the far-flung star system of Halcyon, you control a colonist awoken from cryosleep to find an oppressive, capitialist corporation making life miserable for all they control.
The key selling point for the The Outer Worlds is that you’re given a large amount of freedom in how you choose to tackle missions, whether that’s with words, threats or force. You’re free to approach problems as you see fit, even if that means putting a bullet between the eyes of everyone you encounter. No one said you have to be a good person.
23. Slay The Spire
Developer: MegaCrit
Publisher: Humble Bundle
Deckbuilding indie games seem to be all the rage at the moment, and there are few which are better than Slay The Spire, a card-based RPG where your job is to, well, Slay The Spire. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. Prepare to get your head caved in over and over again.
Slay The Spire blends deckbuilding with roguelike elements to create a single player experience that’s truly unique every time you play. With a randomly generated Spire that can offer safe or risky paths, coupled with hundreds of cards with which to craft your deck, you’ll be playing this one for a long time.
24. The Division 2 – Warlords of New York
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
While The Division might not have been the most well-received looter shooter, the game certainly improved once more content updates had launched. The Division 2 kicked off right where the first game left off, with a host of content out of the gate and more dropping in the year since its launch.
The most recent expansion, Warlords of New York, takes players back from the streets of Washington D.C. and transports them to New York, setting of the first game, in an effort to capture a rogue agent. With plenty of PvE and PvP modes, and dozens of hours worth of fantastic third-person cover shooting gameplay, The Division 2 – Warlords of New York is absolutely worth your time.
25. Disco Elysium
Developer: ZA/UM
Publisher: ZA/UM
The most recent addition on this list, Disco Elysium has been available for some time on PC and PlayStation, but after a lengthy period, the subversive RPG is finally available on the Xbox as The Final Cut, which includes a host of new content and quality of life improvements to make the experience better for console players.
As an amnesiac detective living in a city suffering from the aftereffects of war, you investigate a murder that’s related to an ongoing the dispute. Along the way, your character amasses a Thought Cabinet that represents the disparate aspects of your fractured personality, which determine how you respond and interact with characters and the world at large. As an RPG, it’s one of the meatiest, but also one of the most innovative.
26. The Forgotten City
Developer: Modern Storyteller
Publisher: Dear Villagers
For a game that began its life as an ambitious Skyrim mod, The Forgotten City has sure come a long way, arguably now recognised as one of the top games of 2021. Set in a small, hidden Roman city, you control a time traveller who has to solve a mystery surrounding why everyone keeps dying.
With the ability to exploit time to create a time loop, you’ll use various means with which to solve the mystery surrounding this city. Sure, there’s combat, but that’ll only get you so far, meaning you’ll have to use social skills, wits and a bit of subterfuge to reach your answers, leading to a unique experience and one of the best best Xbox One RPGs.
27. Hades
Developer: Supergiant Games
Publisher: Supergiant Games
Alright, so Hades is a roguelike by nature, so its appearance on this list might raise a few eyebrows, but Hades is undoubtedly the most RPG of all the roguelikes, thanks to its focus on permanent upgrades between runs encouraging progression. Sure, there’s an element of randomness between runs, but those additional upgrades make the world of difference.
Hades sees players take on the role of Zagreus, son of the titular Greek god of the dead, trying to escape from the Underworld by venturing through various regions and chambers. After each attempt, players can upgrade their abilities and weapons to make the next run that much easier, and it’s that repetition that makes Hades one of the best best Xbox One RPGs out there.
28. Cyberpunk 2077
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Publisher: CD Projekt Red
It’s not unknown that Cyberpunk 2077 was a bit of a mess upon launch, but it’s also been improved and updated since then, making the game actually enjoyable now. Sure, it might not be the world-conquering open-world RPG that it was hyped up to be before launch, but there’s plenty to love here.
Playing as created character V, you explore the sprawling metropolis that is Night City, completing questlines and establishing relationships with different criminal elements and other factions that call this dystopia home. Also, Keanu Reeves is in it. Enough said.
29. Yes, Your Grace
Developer: Brave At Night
Publisher: No More Robots
RPGs don’t have to be world-conquering adventures where you play as badass heroes. Sometimes, the role-playing is a lot more subdued, yet still incredibly enjoyable. Yes, Your Grace fills that second gap, offering a core gameplay loop that’s incredibly simplistic and utterly compelling.
You control a king who is holding an open court to listen to his subjects, but with resources limited and a huge battle looming, you have to manage the expectations of your kingdom alongside your relationship with your family and the other lords that occupy the land. Keeping everyone happy certainly won’t be easy.
30. Elden Ring
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco
It’s no secret at this point that FromSoftware create some of the greatest RPGs in history. Sure, they might be incredibly hard, but the satisfaction that comes with finally achieving victory against the various overwhelming odds is unmatched, which is why Elden Ring stands as one of the best RPGs on Xbox One.
Elden Ring sees you controlling an adventurer of your own creation who must explore the Lands Between and take down the various demi-gods that are rampaging across the land. As a soulslike RPG, Elden Ring is the culmination of everything that FromSoftware have been working towards over the past decade and a half, making it damn near unmissable.
31. All The Free Xbox One RPGs
If you have somewhat of a reputation of pinching pennies but you’re still looking for an expansive experience while gaming, you should definitely check out the free-to-play section of the Xbox Store. The selection of games, specifically RPGs, are incredibly diverse, so you should find something that’ll meet your needs.
Those who prefer to play MMO style Xbox One games can look to the likes of Phantasy Star Online 2, Skyforge, DC Universe Online and Neverwinter, whereas players who favour the top-down style of Diablo can find solace in Path of Exile. Sci-fi shooter fans will get some enjoyment from Warframe, while those who see the appeal of Monster Hunter but want something more accessible can check out Dauntless.
Still, if you prefer doing nothing at all, there’s always Clicker Heroes. Even achievement hunters could get their jollies by downloading Korgan and earning every single achievement in about an hour.
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