The Best Xbox 360 RPGs
Mass Effect 2
Possibly one of the best Western RPGs to date, Mass Effect 2 perfectly mixes engaging gameplay and an immersive story to create one of the best gaming experiences on the console. Players will once again assume the role of Commander Shepherd for even more tough choices, political turmoil, and exciting gunplay in a new adventure.
The main antagonists of this entry are the Collectors, aliens who are attacking human colonies and abducting the inhabitants. So, take to the stars, choose your teammates, and blast off to crush another threat to peace in the universe.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
A lot has happened since the Oblivion Crisis, such as a brutal civil war and the return of the dragons. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim drops the player into this new, hero-worthy level of chaos as the Dragonborn. Aside from the typical casting, slashing, and cheese wheel eating of the previous entries in the series, players now have the powers of a dragon.
The player character is able to use shouts to help them traverse the frost-bitten land of Skyrim, fight enemies, or even slay dragons. Bring peace back to a land riddled with violent conflict and ancient magic in one of the best RPGs of the last 10 years.
Fallout 3
Another massive hit by Bethesda, Fallout 3 reimagines the PC exclusive Fallout series in a 3D world full of mutants, radiation, and 50’s Americana. Players wake up in Vault 101, after being in cryosleep since the nukes dropped, to an irradiated and dilapidated Washington D.C. known as the Capital Wasteland.
Similar to Skyrim, players will level up their characters by completing various quests, side-quests, and taking out bands of raiders. Players will never run out of stuff to do in this massive RPG. The shooting feels awesome, especially with the use of V.A.T.S. targeting which allows for awesome criticals in cool slow-mo fashion. Fallout 3 is an exciting, stylized RPG with 100+ hours of content for players to enjoy.
Fable II
The awesome choose your own adventure RPG Fable finally received a sequel that matches the beauty and immersion of the previous entry. This title works to iron out all of the issues that bothered players in the first title while expanding upon the gameplay elements that made Fable stand out.
Set 500 years after the events of the first game, Fable II drops the player in the beautiful land of Albion where the player will begin making choices. From beginning to end, the player’s choices matter. Based upon these decisions, the game will decide whether the player is benevolent or evil, changing the outcome of the story altogether. Fable II is a fantastic throwback to the old choose your own adventure books with beautiful scenery and great characters as icing on the cake.
Diablo III
The latest entry in Blizzard’s dark fantasy RPG, Diablo III returns players to the world of Sanctuary for even more monster killing and dungeon crawling. In typical Diablo fashion, players will choose from a selection of character classes and begin their journey warding off the forces of the Burning Hells and picking up some valuable items along the way.
There are plenty of familiar faces for fans of the previous entries, but Diablo III is just as enjoyable for new players. Despite Diablo being a PC exclusive usually, Diablo III has been ported to accommodate a controller rather than a mouse and keyboard, introducing an entirely new demographic to this awesome series.
Dragon Age: Origins
Another awesome RPG from the developers at BioWare, Dragon Age: Origins is a dark fantasy RPG in their vast library of great RPGs. Called the spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate, players must once again save the world by whatever means necessary. Players can complete the game and defeat evil even if they are evil themselves.
The open-ended nature of this title adds another level of excitement and immersion to an already deep title. Players can also enlist NPCs to do their bidding, relaxing while a collection of peasants does your work for you. Dragon Age: Origins is a fantastic RPG with an almost endless amount of content.
Bastion
Released in 2011 by indie developers Supergiant Games, Bastion is an innovative take on the RPG genre. Dropping players into a strange, yet beautiful, world that builds around them, the player must take their trusty hammer and destroy the forces of evil that have corrupted the world.
One awesome feature that makes Bastion stand out against other titles is the dynamic narrator who narrates “The Kid’s” actions as players explore and defeat monsters. Bastion features a wide array of environments, monsters, and mechanics that makes this game not only dynamic, but increasingly exciting. Bastion unfolds like a picture book, giving players a unique and memorable experience that is hard to replicate.
Fallout: New Vegas
Developed by Obsidian rather than Bethesda, Fallout: New Vegas takes players to the nuclear wasteland of New Vegas for an awesome, western styled adventure. Instead of waking up in a vault and beginning your journey in a new world, players will assume the role of a delivery boy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After getting shot in the head, the player miraculously survives, is patched up, and begins their journey of revenge with plenty of new allies and enemies along the way.
In the Mojave Wasteland, players will encounter multiple strange factions all fighting for control of New Vegas, giving the player the option to side with one of them if they want. Fallout: New Vegas is still held as the best Fallout title to date, and a must play for new fans of the franchise.
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
A new title in the Might & Magic franchise, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes takes a puzzle spin on the long-standing fantasy series. Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes mixes the fantasy elements of the Might & Magic franchise with turn-based combat elements similar to Fire Emblem and puzzle elements like Puzzle Quest. While this may seem like a melting pot of genres, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes executes this perfectly giving the player fun progression, exciting battles, and intuitive troop management.
Easily one of the best strategy games available on the Xbox Live Arcade, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is a must-play for fans of exciting strategy, combat, and story.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The second entry into the critically acclaimed Witcher franchise, CD Projekt Red teamed up with Namco Bandai to create The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. This entry removes much of the clunkiness that players did not enjoy from the first title, overhauling the combat to freshen things up.
The Witcher 2 is completely non-linear allowing players to take a break from the main story and enjoy some good monster hunting or cave exploring. The world of The Witcher is vast, giving players plenty to explore with easter eggs hidden around every corner. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is absolutely one of the best fantasy RPGs ever with a fantastic story, great characters, beautiful environments, and plenty of quests to keep players addicted.
