Anon baits people into recommending good RPGs
Fallout, Wasteland, The Elder Scrolls.
Also smaller games come to my mind, like Child of Light or South Park: The Stick Of Truth which are made by Ubisoft Montreal.Yeah, “western RPGs” from a couple decades ago were mostly made in the US. Then Bethesda bought interplay and it all went to shit.
And thanks for reminding me of Child of Light, I’ve had it in my library for ages, installing it to my steam deck right now :)
You’re never gonna believe this friend, but Montreal is actually in Canada.
Still not Europe or Asia, innit?
Fun fact Canada is in North America
Stick of truth was developed by Obsidian
You’re right it was only published by Ubi. The Fractured but Whole was developed by Ubisoft*
well… fallout, wasteland.
pillars of eternity? I don’t know if americans made it, but it was pretty intensely american.
Fallout and TES are “alright” at most, and extremely boring theme parks at worst
Intentionally lists RPGs not made in US
“Why doesn’t my list have RPGs made in the US?!?”
ಠ_ಠ
Elder scrolls, Fallout, Red Dead Redemption, and Mass Effect would all like a word
RDR isn’t an RPG, it’s an action-adventure game.
I concur on the rest.
I don’t think those genres are mutually exclusive. I haven’t played RDR1 but RDR2 is definitely an Action-Adventure RPG. You level up Arthur’s stats throughout the game and can choose different moral paths that affect the ending. That’s playing a role.
Likewise, I haven’t played RDR2 (started, but never got past the first 30 min or so), but RDR1 is pretty much just GTA in the wild west. You can buy stuff (like GTA), but I don’t recall any stats to speak of, it’s very much an action-adventure. Wikipedia claims RDR2 is an action-adventure, so I assume it’s closer to the Yakuza series in terms of character customization than RPGs, and Yakuza games are very much action-adventure (despite having some skills to level up).
I mean, define ‘RPG’ because to me, any time you choose how your character evolves and grows as the game progresses through a story, that’s an RPG.
There isn’t really a single, clear definition of “RPG” because it’s a really big genre, and a lot of games have taken mechanics that used to define RPGs. What defines it for me is whether the development of the character (in terms of stats, equipment, etc) is central to the gameplay.
For example, Elder Scrolls games are absolutely RPGs. You customize a character, assign stats, collect equipment, and game interactions are largely based on stats. The whole focus of the game is on that character development. JRPGs push the limits of an RPG somewhat because there’s a lot less player interaction with the stat systems (i.e. number just goes up), but the gameplay is highly dependent on those stats. As you stray further, we get into ARPGs, which frequently focus more on the action than the role-playing aspects, but the role-playing aspects are still very central to the game (e.g. Diablo, Ys, etc).
RDR, on the other hand, doesn’t really rely on stats for gameplay. You can completely ignore the stats and enjoy the game. There also aren’t really any meaningful choices when it comes to how the player develops the character. Yeah, I guess if you do bad stuff you’ll get a bounty or whatever, but that’s not what I’m talking about, I’m talking about gating off parts of the games because you chose to pursue one stat over another.
A lot of games borrow elements from RPGs (e.g. looting, skill progression, etc), so there’s no clear definition that clearly delineates which ones are or are not part of a given genre. Genre labels are supposed to be informative about what to expect in a game, and me describing RDR as an action-adventure game is a lot more informative than calling it an RPG.
So if your character abilities aren’t just multipliers for a number-based system under the hood, it’s not an RPG?
Generally speaking, yeah.
There are no hard and fast rules about assigning genres, it’s more about which genre is it closest to. And the closer you get to D&D, the more it resembles an RPG.
Both RDRs do have stats though
Stats don’t make a game an RPG tho, but they’re a common element. A game may borrow some aspects of RPGs, but the core of the game needs to be those RPG elements to be an RPG.
RDR is an action-adventure game at its core, any stats or equipment is just tacked on.
Isn’t RDR exactly as much of an RPG as Mass Effect. Neither gives you any real control over the main story, though I guess Mass Effect makes you think you do better. The sidequests are about as open, and neither do you get to choose your character.
I don’t know if I do actually think RDR is an RPG, but that opinion is shared for Mass Effect, The Witcher, and so many others. They’ve taken the ability point systems from RPGs, but they’re still action adventure games with RPG mechanics.
I consider Mass Effect and The Witcher to be action RPGs, more similar to games like Ys and Diablo than games like Elder Scrolls or Final Fantasy. The focus of those games are less on your character development (stats and whatnot) and more on the action, but the character development does matter quite a bit.
However, in RDR, your character development really doesn’t matter at all, at least in the first, and I’m guessing the second as well.
So:
- Mass Effect - ARPG
- The Witcher - ARPG
- RDR - action-adventure
There’s more in 2 than 1 had. Most of it isn’t magic, like The Witcher or Mass Effect (though Dead Eye I’d say is magic), but there are a bunch of skills to learn, as well as weapons to purchase that give essentially Stat upgrades and unlocks to find. They’re more diegetic in RDR2 than the other games listed, but I’d say that’s better for an RPG, not worse.
They are not ARPGs though. That’s Diablo type games. They’re Action Adventure games, with RPG elements. I don’t think they should be classified with the RPGs because they have very different goals, even though they use similar mechanics.
You don’t need magic or even combat to be an RPG, you need the systems in the games to be dependent on stats/dice rolls. Disco Elysium, for example, is absolutely an RPG, and there’s no magic or combat in that game. One of the big giveaways that a game is an RPG is if there’s something you cannot do because your character’s abilities aren’t high enough. And not a combat move or something, but actual progression in some sense (dialog options, areas you can’t enter, bosses you can’t defeat, etc).
What makes Diablo an ARPG is that it’s an even mix of action and RPG. It’s unfair to call it an RPG because so much of the gameplay depends on player maneuvering, but it’s unfair to call it an action game because there’s so much depth to the skill tree. Other examples of ARPG are:
- Ys - basically, Zelda with JRPG-style stats
- Dark Souls - they have their own genre now, but I still think ARPG fits to a T
- Hogwarts Legacy - lots of RPG elements, but gameplay is action first
I think Diablo might be different enough from core ARPGs to define its own subgenre: loot-based, ARPG dungeon crawler. ARPG is perhaps my favorite genre, but I honestly don’t like Diablo that much. My favorite game series is Ys, which I think strikes a perfect balance between JRPG elements and action; I find myself taking the “if I can’t beat the boss, I need to grind a bit” approach, but I can also just “git gud” if I really don’t want to grind out a couple levels (might double the length of the boss battle though). In a game like FF, you just can’t make up for being under-leveled after a certain point, whereas with action/action-adventure games, levels either don’t exist or don’t really impact progression (they may add cool abilities though).
So that’s why I think RDR isn’t an RPG. Even if it has abilities, they’re really not central to the game in the same way they are with other RPGs. You’re not going to lose a boss battle because you’re low on some stat, nor will you be barred from some content, you’ll just have to do more minigames to increase it. So it’s more of an immersive action-adventure, where you need to interact with the games systems to continue the adventure (eat, wear the right clothes, etc), and if you get it wrong, just sleep and continue. It’s similar to Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is absolutely an action-adventure game, and it borrows some elements from the survival genre.
I know you don’t need magic to be an RPG. I was pointing out that the thing that makes the other two different from RDR is that they have magic, and not much else, so RDR is an RPG if they are. You will absolutely lose a boss fight if your stats are too low (and you aren’t skillful enough). Those stats are largely gun/equipment related though, not just stats on a stat block. The stats are largely diegetic, but they still exist.
Every modern game has stats though. They’re in everything, even things like Doom. I’m pretty sure no one is going to argue Doom is an RPG despite this though, so obviously stats are not the thing that makes something and RPG. They’re a key mechanic all RPGs must have, but they are not the factor that makes something and RPG. I would argue being able to define your character is the thing that makes an RPG, but I think the conversation is lost. I don’t think there can be a “proper” definition anymore with how it’s been applied to so many things.
Defining your character also isn’t core, since most JRPGs have a fixed character you play as.
But yeah, it’s a matter of “which genre is this closest to.” RDR is closest to an action-adventure game, because the core gameplay loop is on a mix of action (skill-based gunfights) and adventure (interaction with set pieces). RPGs tend to have a core gameplay loop based on character progression (leveling up, ability unlocks, etc) and interaction is generally with character abilities.
RDR’s abilities generally fall under the survival/management end of things, they’re interesting from an immersion aspect, but you’re not actively looking to level up some ability to solve some problem or unlock some content. In BotW, you also have “levels” (hearts and stamina containers), but increasing those aren’t really necessary to do anything, they just make the game a bit easier. Likewise with equipment, you don’t need the master sword, but it makes things a bit easier if you have it. The OG Zelda was a bit closer to an ARPG with equipment acting as “levels” (blue and later red rings to reduce damage, white and magical sword to increase attack, etc, each of which marks a stage of progression in the game), but it’s still an action-adventure because the game doesn’t revolve around that character progression.
So I’d call RDR2 an action-adventure with survival/RPG mechanics, because the core loop is around action and adventure.
I’m gonna defend the Americans on this one.
Fallout and Elder Scrolls are two of the most obvious examples that could have been listed, but they weren’t.
Last mainline TES game is a decade old and Fallout 4 is also nearing that decade. Meanwhile almost all games in OPs list have released in the last decade.
There’s Obsidian but besides them I really can’t come up with another good RPG studio from the US that has released a game in the last decade.
So what you’re saying is that Bethesda are RPG hipsters.
Anything ever made by black isle studios. This includes fallout 1 + 2.
also GTA
GTA and RDR have zero decision making or conversation options or skill trees. They are open world action games that took some design notes from open world RPGs. But Rockstar is a British studio anyway.
Yet another English L. USA number 1
It gets even worse when you know Europe and Asia are the same continent.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Mass Effect yet. Or Dragon Age, even with a picture of a cosplay of Morrigan in the OP.
BioWare is Canadian
If Elden Ring is Canadian, and Witcher is European, then we can just call Bioware games North American
Of course, it makes perfect sense to describe Canadian products as North American, but OP asks about “American” RPGs. It would be strange to call Canadian Bacon “American food”.
Idk, Canadian Bacon is pretty essential for Hawaiian pizza, and last I checked, that’s absolutely an American thing.
Hawaiian Pizza was invented in Canada
Dang. Well, at least it has an American state in the name. :)
Nope, still Canada, made by a Greek though.
I thought that was the joke.
Pathfinder - Asia
Uhh, no? Paizo is an American company. Based in Redmond, Washington, according to Wikipedia.
I think they meant Owlcat Games, creators of Pahtfinder Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous video games. They are based in Cyprus but their developers are all over the place from what I know (so it’s more Europe-Asia kind of thing but I may be wrong)
Honestly, everyone’s developers are all over the place. Almost every studio hires contractors from wherever to do things as basic as spell checking to pathfinding to artwork. Hell, sometimes they outsource story writing too.
pathfinding
Pathfinders, you could say
The post is clearly talking about video games. It is reasonable to conclude they are talking about the Pathfinder video games, which were not made by Paizo, but by Owlcat Games. Whether or not Cyprus is part of Asia is kind of debatable, but they are certainly not American.
Not including FF, Dragon Quest or Persona in Asian RPGs?? Blasphemy!
Yeah that’s like saying “great Nintendo games like Splatoon”. I mean i don’t disagree, it’s an imaginative game, but hello? Mario? Zelda?
Well, the Diablo series was quite good
was
I blissfully remember getting my hands on the Hellfire expansion for the first one; I didn’t even know it existed until my uncle gave it to me.
wasn’t blizzard north canadian, though?
When Canada makes good shit we just claim it as American. People rarely call us on it.
oh. okay then, yeah, diablo, fav game as a young kid, local california studio, whoo!
I thought Canada’s pride and glory was Eidos Montreal and now you’re telling me Blizzard North was here too? Oh goodie!
California IIRC.
I know blizzard (main) was in anaheim. just south (and sprawling with, but in orange county so nobody sane would ever go there) of los angeles. might be what you’re thinking of? but also you could be right, and it was in, like, glendale or some shit.
Blizzard North (formerly known as Condor) was an American video game development studio based in San Mateo, California. The studio was the Bay Area division of Blizzard Entertainment, known for its Diablo series. The company was originally based in Redwood City, California, before moving a short distance away to San Mateo, with Blizzard proper being based in Irvine, southern California.
shit. okay, close on half.
?? DIsneyland is in Anaheim. Not sure why you imply it’s an armpit.
its in orange county.
Yes, Anaheim is in Orange County, I’m not sure what you’re getting at. Orange County certainly has some nasty sprawl, but it also has some nice beaches.
the problem with OC is not geography.
WoW was pretty good, too. Maybe too good. It had my hyper focus for like 4 years. I wish I could get a tenth as into games now as I was into WoW about 20 years ago.
Dungeons and Dragons
The OG RPG.
yes but they said good.
Exactly. All RPGs can trace their lineage back to Gygax.
(☝◞‸◟)☞
there are some pretty cool people with some pretty terrible ancestors. I don’t think you want to apply this logic; it gets real gross real quick.
Wants good RPGs
lists Solasta, one of the mid-dest games I’ve have the neutrality of playing
Is Rockstar US? I considered the red dead series a quite hellacious RPG. Is GTA an RPG?
Rockstar is a US company, but the developers of GTA are Rockstar North in the UK. They used to be their own company developing GTA, when they were bought by Rockstar.
Red Dead is definetly an american game though.
I have not played Red Dead but GTA is definitely not an RPG. It’s an action adventure and at least from what I’ve seen from the former I’d expect it to be the same.
Red Dead is just GTA with horses and a way better story. Calling it an RPG is a massive stretch.
What elements that you consider core to the genre is it missing?
Generally, RPGs involve character progression through stats, and RDR really doesn’t have that. It’s an action adventure game with an emphasis on storytelling.
For an Action RPG, decision making, conversation options, and of course a skill trees are necessary. Basically you need to be able to shape your character to “play a role”.
The publisher is but the studio that makes GTA games is in Scotland. Not sure about Red Dead. Probably a collaborative effort between their studios, most of which are in the UK.
Wasn’t Gary Gygax American?
Yeah, Americans created the RPG genre…
I was going to say Horizon Zero Dawn, but Guerilla Games is Dutch.
hzd isn’t an rpg
I’d say it’s just barely an Action RPG. But there’s no real decision making in the story, or even an attempt at it like Mass Effect, The Witcher, Cyberpunk.
Other than the fact that it is. It’s even got a skill tree and experience points…
and you can get all those skills and will before you even finish the game there’s no choices in the story or even how the character fights really everyone playing hzd gets the same experience those are rpg elements but rpg elements doesn’t make a game an rpg it’s just triple a game design needing to have everything from every game ever
Bro, you’re wrong, cope.
mirrors edge is in first person and you can shoot a gun is it an fps
Blocked, stupid or trolling.
inb4 someone assumes First Person Shooter is defined specifically as a first person game where you can shoot
The name of the genre is the same as the definition, right?
Doesn’t this definition exclude the first dragon quest from being an RPG?
Role playing game just means it’s a game where you play a role, right?
Ameritards can’t even handle being a country, let alone creating decent content.
The job market is such that we’re too busy fighting over scrap metal and food like it’s the aftermath of an apocalypse. We don’t time for fucking game development
Yeah game devs get paid so little here, they’re the ones fighting the hardest over the scrap metal and food
