Between our love for angry Logan himself and how solid Insomniac Games' Spider-Man series has been, Marvel's Wolverine has been high on our new games wishlist for a while even before we saw any gameplay. I know, I know, that's a bit naughty of us – but sometimes our comic book loving brains are just waiting to be scratched just right. Thankfully, Wolverine's claws are reaching all the right places now we've visited the development studio and played the game for ourselves.

In our Marvel's Wolverine hands-on, we've been overjoyed that Logan's adventure doesn't just feel like a Spider-Man reskin, but something that really celebrates the character. Spending two hours with the game through its first act, across two sections, we've had plenty of time to sink our claws into Wolverine's rage-fuelled combat, play with stealth, get a little too invested in its story, and even hang out with Team X.

But what are the best bits? Why get excited? Luckily for you I'll lead you right to the 'X' marking my superhero fandom spot across eight highlights I've pulled together below! Excited? Let us know which features you're looking forward to trying for yourself in the comments.

8. "This is uniquely Logan"

Make no mistake, we love Marvel's Spider-Man, but with three web-slinging games under its belt, we had some reservations about how distinct Insomniac Games' take on Wolverine would be. Thankfully, the studio seems to have been conscious about that themselves. Director Jess Reiner-Reed tells us that "any decision we're making, we're trying to go: 'Is this right for Wolverine? Is this telling a Logan-centric story?" Having played the game ourselves, we agree – this really does feel like a game that could only exist for Wolverine.

7. Feeling the Rage

Claws out, Marvel's Wolverine was always going to need combat that feels excellent – and Insomniac Games have hit on something special with Logan's Rage. A meter that builds up while fighting, it can be unleashed to enable instant kills, and lasts longer the more violence you dish out. It gives scraps an excellent sense of momentum that really highlights the berserker fighter that Wolverine is. It even loops back into his health system, where his Rage will allow him to get back up again, supercharging his regenerative capabilities so he won't stay down. Again – this is a fighting system that would only make sense for Wolverine.

6. PS5 Power

Few PlayStation first-party studios have had the output of Insomanic Games in recent years – Marvel's Wolverine is the team's fifth release on PS5. Both Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 are exclusive to the console, while the cross-gen Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales was one of the console's best PS5 games in its launch window. Quantity hasn't hampered quality either – they've all been excellent. "One thing we're really proud about at the studio is shipping games," says head of technology Mike Fitzgerald. Likewise, Marvel's Wolverine feels like a real technical achievement so far. Stunning to play, this studio really knows how to get the most out of the system this many years deep into the generation.

5. Violence for a reason

Wolverine is an angry man, but he's no caricature in this PS5 game. Respecting the character we know and love from the comics, he has plenty of legitimate reasons fuelling his rage. Marvel's Wolverine tells a dark story from its early hours (we'll avoid spoilers!), and there's some nasty moments of injustice that have Logan rightfully fired up, ready to rail at powerful authority that relishes doing the wrong thing. He might be the best there is at what he does, but, in a way, what he does is nice – just, not if you're on the receiving end of his bloody wrath.

4. Team X gon' give it to us

There's no X-Men in the world of Marvel's Wolverine (at least, not yet), but there is a Team X, Insomniac's own twist on the unit formed as part of the Weapon X programme in the comics. Here, it appears to be assembled by the sinister Nathaniel Essex, and the game's opening revolves around freeing mutants from Trask Industries' clutches while fighting alongside Sabretooth, Mystique, and Jean Grey. Later moments feature downtime where Logan can learn more about his allies-for-the-moment, including a 'never have I ever' drinking game with Mystique at a bar.

3. Moments of wander

Continuing on from those moments of downtime, while Marvel's Wolverine definitely isn't an open world game like Peter Parker's New York adventures, it's not completely linear, either. Getting some time to explore Madripoor before a mission kicks off, we get to have Wolverine sniff around a fairly wide space for optional but engaging conversations, nab collectibles, and take on challenges. All-out, non-stop action could get exhausting across a long journey, so we're glad for some moments to get some time with Logan off the clock. Here's hoping the final balance feels right.

2. Rising to the challenge

Speaking of optional content, we've had time to play some of Wolverine's side challenges and we're impressed so far. Similar in some ways to Spider-Man's challenges in his games, they put Logan through the paces across combat and traversal challenges, dialing up the pressure to ensure we really get familiar with his controls which – while easy to get to grips with – do have a lot of nuance in the right hands. Even the latter has more to it than we expected, and by the time we master them Logan is dashing about with perfect grace, which almost reminds us of Mirror's Edge (really!).

1. Silent, but deadly

Almost like The Last of Us Part 2, Wolverine is full of rage and violence but doesn't need to unleash it all at once in big, straightforward fights. Instead, he can dip in and out of stealth to strike decisively from the shadows. It makes wide sections particularly delicious to play, as we control Logan's angle of approach and can tear groups of guards apart in a sudden ambush in seconds, before moving on to the next. It really helps us feel like Wolverine, who is a scrappy, brutal fighter, not a hack and slash warrior.

Check out our best Marvel games ranking for more comic adventures!

What are the best ways to replay Baldur's Gate 3? I've spent a lot of time thinking about this very question. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.

Having played close to 1,000 hours of Larian's sprawling RPG since it first released on PS5, I've created many different Tavs, role-played as various established origin characters, and taken a host of approaches over the years. And that's the beauty of a game like Baldur's Gate 3; it's an experience that's meant to be replayed by design, with so much freedom of choice and room for experimentation. But there are definitely certain playthroughs I've done that have been more rewarding or downright run han others, and after much deliberation, I've finally come to the conclusion that the five ways I've listed below are truly the best ways to replay Baldur's Gate 3.

I will say that many of these aren't suited to your very first try at Larian's RPG. For that, I'd suggest following your heart and seeing where the Sword Coast leads you. But once you've experienced what is without a doubt one of the best RPGs for the first time, then my suggestions are here for you when you're ready to step back into Faerûn. Whether you're looking for something playful to shake up your journey, a challenge, or you want something narratively satisfying as you set out to rid yourself of the Mind Flayer tadpole, there's something here for you. So, read on as I guide you through the best ways to replay Baldur's Gate 3.

5. Everyone's a bard run

As William Shakespeare famously wrote, "all the world's a stage", and now you can transform Faerûn into one, too. How? Why, by playing as a bard and reclassing or multi-classing every companion to be one, too. If you want the party to maintain their signature fighting styles, I'd opt for the latter, but if you want to go all in by turning Baldur's Gate 3 into a musical of your own making, then outfitting everyone with bardic skills and instruments is the way to do it.

All you need to do is create a custom game and enable multiclassing, and then once a character levels up, ensure you select multiclass and opt for bard. Or, alternatively, get Withers in your party after finding him in the Dank Crypt in Act 1, and bring each member of your party to him to change up classes. Personally, I think the Bard is hands down the best Baldur's Gate 3 class. Not only do they have high charisma, which gives them the gift of the gab, but they also have incredibly entertaining and useful skills. From Bardic Inspiration, which gives your allies a hearty buff, to the useful Song of Rest action that acts like a short rest to recover, I'll never tire of using Vicious Mockery to hurl insults at my foes, or casting Dissonant Whispers to cause some good psychic damage.

But you also can't discount the simple joy of having them play a ditty, busk for coins from a nearby crowd, or play out a battle to the beat of your drum or strum of your lute. And when your entire party can do all of those things, well, you can transform every fight into a musical. Having each character deliver their own unique put-downs with Vicious Mockery never gets old, either. Oh, and if you want some added entertainment, make sure everyone has the ability to talk to animals.

4. No weapons run

When it comes to combat in Baldur's Gate 3, Larian offers up the freedom to mess around and find out what happens. With so many classes that have their own unique fighting styles, you can do everything from dual-wielding two sticks of salami to using cantrips and spells to find workarounds against the toughest of foes. But if you want a different kind of challenge, consider this: a no weapons run.

Yes, as our very own senior staff writer Jasmine Gould-Wilson outlines for GamesRadar+'s RPG club subscribers, going fully weapons-free is no cakewalk. In fact, it can get downright tricky, but it's also incredibly satisfying to work out ways to defeat enemies when weapons are no longer part of the equation. Naturally, to pull off this run, you need to ensure you don't equip or use any melee or ranged weapons.

Of course, with no weapons in hand, that leaves room for you to use your arms as veritable throwing machines, and creating a character who's great at lobbing stuff could be an approach. Magic is also still an option, but you can't have a weapon equipped to give yourself extra abilities or buffs. Doing this run really will make you think outside the box during combat, and if you're looking to experiment more when it comes to battles, then this is the one to consider trying out.

3. Honour Mode

When Baldur's Gate 3's patch 5 landed towards the end of 2023, the Honour Mode difficulty was officially introduced to the fold, and as its description reads you can expect a "fraught and deadly campaign" should you choose it. And trust me, that's no exaggeration. If you're after a challenge with real high stakes, then it's got you written all over it. As the toughest difficulty option for Larian's RPG, Honour mode gives you a single save slot, and ups the ante from Tactician difficulty by introducing permadeath if a party member dies in combat.

Should your entire party fall during a combat scenario, then that's it. Game over. No reload for you, bucko. So, this is me giving you a warning. It's unforgiving and not one to take on until you're well-versed in Baldur's Gate 3's turn-based combat and class builds. With just a 10% success rate among players a year after Honour mode was added, it's certainly no small feat to complete the sprawling RPG and its many challenging encounters in this setting. You never know what might spell your ultimate demise, as is evidenced from this poor soul who lost a 50 hour attempt, or this unlucky adventurer whose 60-hour run came to an end in the most unexpected of ways.

But if you manage to overcome Baldur's Gate 3's Honour mode, you'll not only earn yourself the Foehammer achievement, but you'll also get a Golden D20 dice which you can roll in future playthroughs and wear like a badge of, well, honour.

2. Origin run - Gale or Karlach

Once you've experienced the story as your own customizable character, you should absolutely explore the RPG as one of the established companions. With various origins to choose from, you can play as any one of the core party members who travel alongside you, and each one has their own unique interactions, motivations, and narrative arcs that allow you to experience the Sword Coast from other perspectives.

While you'll likely be drawn to your personal favorites, I'd personally recommend replaying Baldur's Gate 3 as either Gale or Karlach. Both characters bring something different to the table, and I really love how enjoyable it is to play as either from a role-playing perspective. I first played as Gale back in 2024, after a poll dropped revealing he was the most popular origin among players. When I decided to try him out for myself, I quickly understood why.

Thanks to his Netherese orb predicament, there are so many unique dialogue options, interactions, and moments when you're playing as Gale that shake up the experience of the adventure throughout all three acts. Plus, as an added bonus, you have the adorable cat-like Tressym Tara at camp with you. Karlach, on the other hand, is the only origin companion who has an inner monologue, which offers so much insight into her character during certain story beats and encounters. While I have a deep attachment to the fiery tiefling, I think anyone could get invested in her personal story, too.

1. Dark Urge resistance run

If you were to ask me what the quintessential way to play Baldur's Gate 3 is, I'd give you the same answer every time: The Dark Urge resistance run. Alongside the many established companion origins you can play, there's also the unique and decidedly dark option to play as The Dark Urge. Awakening on the Mind Flayer ship with a bout of Amnesia, you feel a sinister urge which seemingly sparks the desire to kill in a very bloody fashion.

This origin is a role-playing dream come true from the get-go. As you try to understand these unexplained urges and reclaim the haunted past you can't remember, it's left up to you to decide how you handle it. Do you confide in your companions, or try to hide the bloodthirsty side of yourself? You're also free to choose if you give in to these urges or you resist them, and I'd recommend the latter every day of the week.

Not only do I consider The Dark Urge the true canon storyline for my customizable Tav, but the resistance run is also easily the most fulfilling and satisfying way to play Baldur's Gate 3, let alone replay. And if you really want some extra plot goodness from a role-playing perspective, I actually think Astarion's romance is very fitting for The Dark Urge if you're going down the resistance path. Both can connect over some similarities in their unfortunate circumstances and past experiences, and it just enriches the whole experience. But of course, that's entirely optional, and no matter if you choose to romance someone or not, you won't regret diving back into one of the best story-driven RPGs all over again in this way.

Look ahead to more role-playing goodness with our roundup of upcoming RPGs.

Something about the best GTA games dig into your brain. Whether it's the gleeful moments of parody that send up American crime classics, the freedom to go on a rampage across an open world urban sandbox, or little cinematic touches that remind you Rockstar's characters go beyond surface level, it's almost impossible to forget. And here, we're snitching on the best GTA moments, from the series' greatest heists to the pettiest robberies.

It's impressive in part because every Grand Theft Auto is huge. Even if you go back to the very first game on PS1, you'll find a sweeping, expansive ambition that remains incredibly moreish, your path through a city very much your own. And yet, so much sticks with you. As we barrel ever-closer to the launch of GTA 6, we've cracked the window on every game in the series in order to rummage through all those shiny memories, and stashed the best of the best in our trunk for you to look at.

With this week's update we've now got the first 60 entries live, spotlighting some great moments across the series as the Top 100 grows larger. Check in below as we continue to look back on one of gaming's greatest series. But, let us know your favorites in the comments!

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100. Taking Chop for a walk

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

Easily the strangest protagonist in GTA history – briefly controllable in single-player, and during a GTA Online Halloween event – Chop is a rottweiler notable for his loyalty in a game full of double-crossings. In fact, the only crossing he does is over the roads near the Clinton Residence should you throw his ball too far. His companionship is welcome when the plot starts blowing up, even if he's behaving badly because you didn't bother to train him via the iFruit app.

But go the other way and you can put plenty of time into building the bond between man and best friend, making sure that Franklin shows love and care to his stalwart companion. Ditch all the crime and take a trip down to Vespucci Beach where you can go for walkies and play fetch.

While some of GTA's detractors will call the series a hedonistic sandbox that brings out the worst in players, it's hard to believe that after we've spent a good hour hanging out with our canine pal. For as sinful as your GTA life can be, it can also be quite mindful. Why not put the weapons away, dutifully park your convertible, and hit the sands with Chop while you take in some digital sun?

99. Getting a call from your cousin Roman

Game: GTA 4
Released: 2008

"Niko! It's Roman. Let's go bowling." The phrase became notorious among Grand Theft Auto fans in the years following the fourth game's release – one of the truly enduring early game memes alongside the arrow to the knee and the cake being a lie. While writer Dan Houser later protested that those calls didn't happen nearly as often as players believed, they were new and significant – a calling card for a relationship system. An important step forward not just for this game, but for many others too. And you'd better enjoy bowling. Strike!

98. Watching an actual comedy set in Liberty City

Game: GTA 4
Released: 2008

Ricky Gervais appears at the Split Sides comedy club in Liberty City. Not someone we'd pay to see, but back on PS3 and Xbox 360 the idea of being able to actually drive to a club and take in a proper show was novel. It's an idea Rockstar has revisited a few times, most recently in Red Dead Redemption 2 where you can watch full theater performances that change every week night. What will we be able to watch in GTA 6?

97. Blasting your ice cream van's jingle

Game: GTA: Vice City
Released: 2002

In Rockstar Games' satirical take on Miami for GTA: Vice City, even the most innocent occupation is a paper-thin veneer concealing rampant corruption and criminality. So it proves when Tommy Vercetti buys the Cherry Popper Ice Cream Company (*sigh*), and discovers a burgeoning drug distribution operation. The juxtaposition of sing-song chimes with the sight of grown adults running from the sidewalks for their favourite white-coloured, tooth-wrecking fix remains one of the most grimly comic scenes in the entire series – which really is saying something.

96. Driving past Deliver Me Timbers

Game: GTA 4
Released: 2008

Just a straight-up great name for a company in the business of logging and logistics. You'll spot it on a passing van, and that's about it. A throwaway line, and funnier for it. If you ever needed proof that beyond the grim depiction of a world rife with crime is some very silly comedy, all you need to do is pay attention to the rich detail. No opportunity is missed for a chortle.

95. Discovering the coral reef

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

The act of hitting the ocean bed near Los Santos in your submersible might be driven purely by greed – as hazardous as it might be, nuclear waste fetches a high price, and that means more moolah to put towards your next field hangar or golf club. But once you're down there, you discover that some of Los Santos' beauty lies there, below sea level, brightly coloured and alien. It's the lone chunk of on-land coral reef, however, found halfway up a mountain, that has bewitched players – for nine years and counting.

94. Sniping the moon to change its size

Game: GTA 3
Released: 2001

Shoot for the moon, so the saying goes. In GTA 3 if you do, you won't land among the stars as the rest of the saying claims, but it will get bigger. It's a bizarre fact of life in Liberty City that presumably has dramatic knock-on tidal effects for the planet as a whole. But don't worry – snipe enough times and it'll return to its usual size. That this bizarre Easter egg was ever discovered is testament to the sheer amount of time bored teenagers spent in GTA 3, taking potshots at the scenery.

93. Taking the Pisswasser

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

Simple gags can be the greatest. 'Wasser' is German for water, and you can work out the rest. Cheap lager made for export, with the slogan 'You're in for a good time'. You're in. Yep. If that's not enough, you can even invest money in the company using Bawsaq (more on that later), and deck out sports cars with the logo like it's a racing sponsor.

92. Turning a GTA Online session into a Frank Ocean listening party thanks to Blonded Los Santos 97.8 FM

Game: GTA Online
Released: 2013

Frank Ocean and friends play spaced-out, soulful music that runs the gamut of contemporary genres, while riffing on the surrealism of GTA's casual ultraviolence between songs. Proof of Rockstar's cool, and evidence that smart curation is still a major part of this online sensation's backbone that makes it a world worth inhabiting and messing around in.

91. Watching Michael's movie at the cinema

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

The premiere of the film Michael 'produces', or rather enforces, over the course of GTA 5 goes awry on the red carpet, when another of its backers orders a hit on his family. That's Hollywood, baby, possibly even more vicious than a life of crime. But you can head back to the cinema at a later date and watch Meltdown in full. What you'll find are 11 and a half minutes of oddly watchable Wall Street pastiche, impossible car physics, and driving monkeys. And who said gaming isn't a storytelling medium?

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90. Attempting to steer in cinematic cam

Game: GTA 3-5
Released: 2001-2013

There are a couple of entertaining yet unusable camera options in GTA. There's the '90s-style top-down view that's a recipe for flipped vehicles, but best of all is the cinematic camera – a favourite feature of Rockstar North's co-founder and president Sam Houser, who was adamant that Grand Theft Auto should look and feel like the crime movies of his childhood. The view periodically switches between various cool and flattering angles, all pretty much guaranteeing a gnarly crash. The cinematic camera is the very definition of style over sense, which is classic GTA.

89. Knowing why Sex Club 7 is funny because you're a fan of '00s British pop

Game: GTA 3, GTA: Liberty City Stories
Released: 2005

You had to be living in the UK between the years of 1998 and 2003 to know why Liberty City's bunny girl-adorned club was naughty – it's a reference to post-Spice Girls pop group S Club 7. Grand Theft Auto is a pastiche of American pop culture, but plenty of tongue-in-cheek UK references get a look in too. Originally Paulie's Revue Bar, you see the Leones take it over as missions progress and Luigi Goterelli comes in as an owner. Guess he's a 'Bring It All Back' fan.

88. Becoming Ammu-Nation's top customer

Game: GTA 3
Released: 2001

Rockstar North's outsider perspective on the US has served it well, and you can't argue with this simple, damning jab at the country where there are 120 owned guns for every 100 citizens. Frequent visits to the shop over the years have become comfortable and familiar – which is worrying in its own way.

87. Hot Coffee

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

All it took was a fan combing files to find cut content to cause one of gaming's biggest-ever controversies. On the trail of unused animations, 'hot coffee' turned out to be a cartoonish sex minigame, in which CJ has to rhythmically spank his girlfriend to elicit maximum excitement. Chaos ensued as, though the mini-game was inaccessible to the casual player, the incomplete files had been buried on the disc rather than deleted outright. Many fingers were pointed, and Senator Hillary Clinton called for new legislation to ban the sale of violent and sexually explicit games to American children, with a $5,000 fine for retailers in breach of the law.

86. Getting really into talk radio

Game: GTA 3-5
Released: 2001

The nascent Rockstar North dabbled in surrealist comedy radio in GTA 2, but it was only when the series went 3D that it dedicated entire channels to the kind of weird, rambling dialogues you can hear on local phone-in shows in real life. Eventually, the madness seeps in, and you find yourself sitting quietly in a sedan as a mafioso vents about his overbearing mother. "I do a man's job and all," sighs Toni, "but she treats me like a little boy."

85. Any scene with Samuel L Jackson's Officer Tenpenny

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

For those too young for Pulp Fiction, Sam Jackson will always be villainous Officer Tenpenny: a gangster with a badge. He brings his screen presence into the digital role here, crafting a character you love to hate. This is one of the meatiest roles in the series for a celebrity.

84. Walking away from the Chainsaw Masquerade

Game: GTA: Liberty City Stories
Released: 2005

Manhunt was a recent memory when Liberty City Stories came out, and there are a couple of creepy echoes during the latter's runtime. First, a character covertly films you taking out Sindacco goons so that he can use the footage in a snuff film. And second, Rockstar Leeds stages a survival horror showdown in the bowels of a cargo ship. The tension builds in the hollow vessel, until you're ambushed by baddies carrying more power tools than your local hardware store. Brr.

83. Thinking Heavenly Radio is a fantastic joke, then getting weirdly into it

Game: GTA 2
Released: 1999

The home of Hare Krishna conversion, and the only place playing "the sounds of whale love to help Saturn's moon squeeze through Neptune's tight red eye." Strange comedy that really helped to set the tongue-in-cheek comedy tone even before the series fully embraced 3D, classic GTA's radio stations oozed personality even with the generation's limitations.

82. Driving your 'Mini Cooper' wild in Hyde Park

Game: GTA: London
Released: 1999

By setting this early spin-off in a very specific time and place, Rockstar basically promised a playable Italian Job – and it delivered. The Myni, as it's called, may only be 135 pixels from its bonnet to its boot, but offers the best acceleration in the game. That's no small matter when yet another head-on collision takes away all your momentum.

Looking to test drive it? There's ample room at the centrally located Hyde Park, and the pigeons there present little resistance. It might seem quaint now, but the simple rendition of London was a joy to putter around in frenzied style, thanks in part to the design of UK cities, and also the novelty of having a game set in my home country for once. It'd be nice to have the series visit the UK again one day. God knows there isn't a lot more to lampoon now.

81. CJ goes cycling

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

Most series veterans quickly realised they were playing in CJ's backyard during the Hood Safari campaign mission of GTA 5, but few noticed him riding by on his BMX with Sweet and Big Smoke. It might not make sense as a canonically sound crossover, but it's a pretty neat nod to how far the series has come since the PS2 days.

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80. Building a 10x score multiplier

Game: Grand Theft Auto
Released: 1997

The oldest GTA games had a unique, often forgotten scoring system that's reminiscent of those in today's roguelikes. The more successive missions you completed, the higher your cash multiplier – massively increasing your chances of hitting the level goal and opening up a new city.

The twist? If you got arrested, your multiplier was halved. It was an arrangement that meant every high-stakes cop stand-off was navigated with sweaty palms. Get Outta Jail Free Cards were more valuable here than they ever were in Monopoly.

79. Getting fat as CJ

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

San Andreas introduced a surprising number of RPG-style stats that influenced protagonist CJ's abilities, but none was more visible than his weight. Though Carl began the game looking as trim as rapper Young Maylay, upon whose appearance his was based, he'd pile on the pounds if you sent him to Cluckin' Bell too regularly. Before long, running and jumping would become a problem, and life in Las Venturas started to feel like a lesson for those of us who'd spent too much time on the couch, lifting nothing heavier than a controller. As in real life, running and exercise machines would put him right.

78. Firing some rockets at Buckingham Palace

Game: GTA: London
Released: 1999

There was no reward for messing up sacred British establishments in GTA: London – the buildings were no more destructible back then than they are in the series today. But the mere presence of Her Maj's digs in a hedonistic videogame prompted transgressive acts, particularly when that videogame handed you a bazooka.

Sadly, Grand Theft Auto hasn't returned to London in its 3D era, but Watch Dogs: Legion is on standby should you feel the need to launch any more missiles outside the windows of the royals.

77. CJ meets Claude

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

GTA 3's central betrayal is foreshadowed in a race through the woods. Unsurprisingly for a mute protagonist, Claude lets Catalina do the talking during the encounter, then heads for Liberty City. This takes place in the '90s, remember, so the gruelling journey that's to come for Claude is still on the horizon, and provides an extra glimpse into Claude and Catalina's soon-to-be-troubled relationship.

76. Lamar picks you up from the airport

Game: GTA Online
Released: 2013

Those who played GTA Online as a male character missed out on a standout appearance from Los Santos' funniest resident. Should you be playing a female character, Franklin's foil and all-round-clown Lamar Davis shows up at Arrivals to greet you with a single red rose, only to realise within seconds that this online relationship isn't going to go the way he'd hoped. A mute protagonist gives GTA 5's biggest talker more space than ever to run his mouth, and without Franklin to keep him in check, things swiftly get daft. But romance is not on the cards.

75. Drive the bus fast or it'll blow

Game: Grand Theft Auto
Released: 1997

The coach looks innocuous enough, parked in a New Jersey-like area of Liberty City. It could almost be ready for a party of daytripping pensioners. Hop inside, though, and you'll discover a terrifying tribute to Speed, the 1994 Keanu Reeves film in which police desperately try to defuse a bomb on a bus that will detonate if the vehicle's speed drops below 50 miles per hour. Keeping up the pace while your pals work to disable the radio receiver is no mean feat in top-down streets with little warning about the traffic coming up ahead.

74. Finding the ElectroGun

Game: GTA 2
Released: 1999

The second GTA actually falls under the definition of science fiction, being set in a near future when US cities are battlegrounds for ruthless pharmaceutical companies and clone-makers. You could be forgiven for forgetting that fact while carjacking and machine-gunning your way through the game in the usual fashion, but the ElectroGun provides a jolting reminder that this is not the world you know. Aiming is tough in GTA 2, and so chain lightning is a welcome tool… which leaves fizzing, prone skeletons in its wake. Dystopian.

73. Buying a high-end apartment

Game: GTA Online
Released: 2013

While the series has long laughed at the quest for material gain that drives so much of US society, GTA Online has the goods to satisfy your soul if you covet flashy status symbols. And vehicles are not enough. No sports car is more aspirational than the Hollywood Hills mansions for sale on the Dynasty 8 website, and finally buying one after months of small-time crime feels like a real punctuation point. It helps that high-end apartments also unlock heists, the endgame activities that deliver the real meat of GTA Online's story.

72. Iggy Pop welcoming you to the big city

Game: GTA 4
Released: 2008

"Have a nice day sucking the corporate cock," says Iggy on Liberty Rock Radio. A year after GTA 4 he was starring in car insurance ads, but we'll let it slide. Even today, the grounded grime of this PS3 and Xbox 360 entry sticks out, and that includes how radio stations in this take on Liberty City are presented.

71. Getting a respray

Game: GTA (Series)
Released: 1997-2013

There's lots that doesn't make sense about the respray system in GTA. A quick paint job helps you avoid the consequences of your lawbreaking. But hang on, don't you need to change the number plates too? And how did the cops lose you when they saw you enter the garage? Ah, but those are mere details. You can't beat the palpable sense of relief as five stars vanish instantly – nor the sudden improvement in performance when a knackered ride's instantly restored to rude health with a lick of paint.

A bit of trivia for you: while the garages were later called Pay 'n' Spray, in GTA 2 they were named Max Paynt.

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70. Crashing head-first through the windshield

Game: GTA 4
Released: 2008

GTA 4's leap toward greater realism was a shock most deeply felt in its driving model. Less Driver and more Gran Turismo, it punished you for trying to take a corner at breakneck speed – often by, well, breaking your neck. Seeing your car's momentum transferred straight to Niko, who was hurled through the glass and against the scenery, was a traumatic moment for many in their first days with next-gen GTA. The harsh experience certainly taught us a lesson, though.

69. Hearing Billie Jean playing on the radio

Game: GTA: Vice City
Released: 2002

Contrary to popular belief, Vice City wasn't the first GTA game to feature licensed music on its radio – that was GTA: London, whose soundtrack was stuffed with period reggae. But newly flush with cash, Rockstar made a statement by filling Vice City with big-name artists, including MJ. The game introduced teenagers of the early noughties to the king of pop's trademark shuffle, and set the stage for a place where pastel suits weren't just accepted, they were encouraged.

68. Rubbing shoulders with Dr Dre

Game: GTA Online
Released: 2013

San Andreas made g-funk interactive, so it's no surprise Rockstar is into Dre, but it was still a shock to see him crop up in the Cayo Perico Heist. Then, in The Contract, he enlists you to help recover stolen music. Makes a change from stealing Mad Dogg's rap book, that's for sure.

67. Grand Theft Auto is condemned in the House Of Lords

Game: Grand Theft Auto
Released: 1997

Grand Theft Auto was declared a public menace before the series even began, and that's just how its creators planned it. The marketing team at BMG Interactive hired Max Clifford, the notorious publicist later found guilty of indecent assault, who at the time was famous for feeding stories to the UK tabloid press.

The decision was unconventional for a games company, and worried the owner of GTA's developer, David Jones, but future Rockstar head Sam Houser was keen to make a splash and show that Grand Theft Auto was no child's toy.

Clifford whispered in the ear of the elite, and within three months Grand Theft Auto had infiltrated the wood-paneled walls of the British establishment. On 20 May 1997 a former Scottish Secretary spoke in the House Of Lords about a shocking new game made in his country that featured hit-and-runs and police chases. "There would be nothing to stop children from buying it," said Lord Campbell of Croy. "We simply cannot allow children and young people to be given the idea that car crime or joyriding is in any way an acceptable or an enjoyable thing to do." He called on the BBFC to look into whether GTA should be legal to release.

After that, the free promotion rolled in. The Daily Mail claimed GTA would include "illegal alien assassination"; the Scottish Motor Trade Association said the game would "make children think it is okay to rob cars and kill." BMG's marketers, meanwhile, pulled clips from the House Of Lords debate for its radio ad campaign, capitalising on the image of GTA as something illicit, outrageous, and therefore essential.

The BBFC ultimately ruled that although GTA's subject matter was unprecedented, it wouldn't be banned. And ironically, the concern over members of the public getting their hands on the game ensured that they did, to the tune of 500,000 copies sold. GTA cost a million pounds to make, and had soon made £25 million, ensuring a sequel. Though GTA's notoriety would cause more problems later, that controversy was also the making of the series.

66. Becoming a drug lord

Game: GTA: Chinatown Wars
Released: 2009

A young Sam Houser loved to play space trading game Elite as a "space mugger", and thus far, Chinatown Wars comes closest to recreating that formative experience. Though set on terra firma, Rockstar Leeds' handheld classic introduced a deep drug trading economy. The name of the game is buying low and selling high, travelling around top-down Liberty City to find the best bargains, while dodging police busts that could leave just-as-deep holes in your pockets. Proof GTA doesn't need scripted thrills to hold your attention.

65. Jumping across the incomplete Callahan Bridge

Game: GTA: Liberty City Stories
Released: 2005

Liberty City Stories takes place before the bombing of the Callahan Bridge in GTA 3, and so Rockstar needed another reason to block your progress to other islands. In 1998, the bridge is still under construction, and under protest by local ferry workers. You're cut off from Staunton Island until paranoid mafia boss Salvatore Leone decides to evacuate Portland and commands you to vault the gap in a speeding Sentinel. All together now: "Ohhhhh, shiiiiit!"

64. Officer Tenpenny's Grove Street death

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

Frank Tenpenny represented an early portrayal of police brutality against black communities in games – a corrupting force determined to keep the poor of San Andreas down, and to initiate others into his twisted way of thinking. He was also Rockstar's best baddie, and went out in a climactic fire truck crash over Grove Street. "50 of me and this town would be okay," he monologues while coughing up blood. "I took the trash out, and I'd do it all again."

63. Getting your first haircut

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

GTA 3 and Vice City didn't give you much to work with in the style department, their protagonists little more than quiffs on legs. But with San Andreas you could make a statement with your appearance, garnering respect and even sex appeal with a new afro or cornrows. It's one of many ways in which the game celebrated African American culture, during a period when major action game studios were still unwilling to step away from buzzcut white blokes. (And, it's often argued, games are still in need of a decent range of styles for Black hair.)

62. Trevor kills Johnny

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

'Out with the old, in with the new' might be considered a cliché, but not so much when it manifests as a new protagonist caving in the head of an old one. It's a stomach-churning end for Johnny, which also makes for a striking introduction for Trevor, who arrives as a GTA 5 protagonist a fare bit later than Michael and Franklin. There's the sense we've suddenly been thrust into the deep end, and it's all treading dangerous water from here.

61. Phil Cassidy blows his own arm off

Game: GTA: Vice City
Released: 2002

GTA's best one-armed arms dealer finally gets his origin story, a sorry tale of mixing moonshine with homebrew explosives (don't try this at home). Tommy Vercetti drives Phil to the surgeon who saves his life, so don't say he never did anything for anyone. Alongside San Andreas' Claude cameo, the later PS2 games love tipping the cap to GTA 3.

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60. Dominating the stock market on Bawsaq

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

You can buy stocks in Pisswasser (and many other, silly brands) on Bawsaq, the home of GTA 5's stock market. Never has Rockstar's Scottish heritage been more apparent than in this play on the name of New York's own Nasdaq, where you can become more invested in brand name puns than ever before.

59. Michael and Franklin pull down a house

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

The player characters start GTA 5 primed for change. Michael is bored by financial comfort, and Franklin is hungry for more of it. But the story can't kick into gear until the pair get into real trouble, and that comes in the form of Marriage Counseling, the mission in which they tear down a house in the hills in retaliation for Michael's cuckolding. The spectacle is only outdone by the twist: the home belongs to a cartel boss.

This simple act of rage-fuelled vengeance is spectacular to behold, the game asking us to push down the accelerator as we watch it crumble bit by bit, but also a catalyst. Now you owe some very bad people a lot of money, which means there's only one thing for it. The life of crime calls once again. Though, you can't help feeling that one way or another Michael would have found some excuse to spice up his life once again, and dragged Franklin along for the ride all the way.

58. Being introduced to the power of reggae with the Heavy Heavy Monster Sound

Game: GTA: London
Released: 1999

Back in the '90s, each GTA radio station consisted of only two songs – but the uplifting Hammond organ sound of Harry J Allstars' reggae instrumental, Liquidator, sounded perfect on repeat. It just goes to show how vital a well-curated set of songs is to setting the tone of each GTA's setting, which has only deepened with time.

57. Seeing GTA 4's debut trailer

Game: GTA 4
Released: 2008

Following a 28-day countdown, the mere sight of GTA in its new, realistic HD form was breath-taking. Then the choir gave way, time slowed, and the heavy, staccato voice of Niko Bellic was heard for the first time. "Life is complicated," he said. "I killed people, smuggled people, sold people. Perhaps here, things will be different."

It was shocking for two reasons. First, Niko was an immigrant protagonist, and a former Yugoslavian one at that, in a country that still defaulted to Eastern European accents for its villains. Second, although GTA had played with darkness before, it had never adopted a tone as bleak as this. Almost unbelievable at the time, watching it still produces a tingle to this day.

56. Fighting for your patch

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

GTA has rarely given you much freedom in how and where you take the fight to your enemies, which is why San Andreas' gang warfare system stands out even today, nearly two decades after the game's release. The struggle between the Ballas, Los Santos Vagos, and Grove Street Families is one you can influence yourself by stepping into hostile territory and opening fire, triggering waves of opponents and starting a gang war in that location. Expanding the area under Grove Street's influence becomes a personal mission and gives you a stake in the streets, just like CJ.

55. Lindsay Lohan sues Rockstar

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

A bizarre episode in gaming history that took four years to resolve. Judges in New York's Court Of Appeals unanimously rejected actress Lindsay Lohan's claim that two residents of Los Santos – both Lacey Jonas, the actress character harangued by paparazzi in a random event, and the beach-going blonde lady depicted in a GTA 5 loading screen – were based on her. "The ambiguous representations in question are nothing more than cultural comment that is not recognisable as plaintiff," ruled Judge Eugene M Fahey.

54. Realizing the Soulwax FM playlist is perfect sports car music

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

Hosted by the legendary Belgian techno group of the same name, this 42-minute mix constitutes what has to be the best driving playlist ever conceived for stolen sports cars. Boosts your chance of winning races, the feeling of popping Franklin's talent to weave between heavy traffic while this blares is simply transcendent.

53. Niko's final choice

Game: GTA 4
Released: 2008

Can you put a price on principle? That's the surprisingly worthy question at the end of GTA 4, which asks you to make a binary decision about whether to go through with a dirty deal. In some ways, what you're offered is a false choice – Niko loses somebody important to him either way, and finds there's no escaping revenge in a business where bad blood inevitably leads to bad bloodshed. It's a perpetual theme of gangster fiction: in the end, nobody gets to simply walk away.

52. Biking straight off Mount Chiliad

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

By far the highest peak in GTA history at the time San Andreas came out, Mount Chiliad was irresistible to stunt-heads. The ramp at the very top helped, as did the knowledge that it was just about possible to land a dirt bike at the very bottom, if you were good enough. Impossible feats like this laid the groundwork for Just Cause and a whole series of silly sandbox games to follow, and ensured Rockstar would stick Chiliad in GTA 5 too.

51. Assembling a sniper rifle

Game: GTA: Chinatown Wars
Released: 2009

This minigame was designed to get the most out of Chinatown Wars' unique Nintendo hardware (the game was originally released on the touchscreen-equipped DS). Before using your rifle, you're required to pop open the suitcase, fasten the grip, twist the silencer, adjust the sights, slot in the ammo, and finally arm the weapon. It's a brilliantly tactile process that ramps up the tension before a mission. Firing the thing is unusual, too, since you view the map from a top-down perspective, as if shooting from the clouds.

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50. The Grand Theft Auto rap

Game: Grand Theft Auto
Released: 1997

Even if you haven't heard the original theme for GTA, you know the beat – its melody plays every time the pager goes off in GTA 3, as well as in the Commodore-64-style opening to Vice City. Titled 'Grand Theft Auto', it's credited to the fictional Da Shootaz. While far too corny to sit beside the West Coast classics in the series today, it still sounds big and baggy in true '90s fashion. "Just when I thought I knew justice, a cop behind me said: you just bin' busted."

49. Pulling a reverse prison breakout

Game: GTA 4: The Lost and Damned
Released: 2010

A novel twist on a crime caper classic, this counterintuitive final mission sees you blow open the doors of a correctional facility and fight through the guards in order to execute an inmate who's supposedly 'safely' behind bars. Ironically, the whole plan is an effort to get rid of a rat so that Johnny Klebitz and co can avoid being locked up themselves. Afterwards, the gang set fire to the Lost MC Clubhouse and eulogise the end of the Alderney Chapter. Aw, these bikers are sentimental.

48. Riding shotgun in multiplayer

Game: GTA: San Andreas
Released: 2004

You couldn't get much more limited than multiplayer as Rockstar first imagined it in San Andreas. Players were stuck together on the same screen, presumably for fear of breaking GTA's world-streaming system. Missions were out of the question; heists a pipe dream. Nonetheless, roaming freely and causing chaos as a duo was exciting. Not only was co-op a glimpse of the future, its tight implementation suited the fraternity feel that defined San Andreas in particular.

47. Flipping a car over onto its roof

Game: GTA 3-5
Released: 2001-2013

The driving physics that powers Rockstar's early 3D games isn't given nearly enough credit – would we have all stuck with the series for so many years if the cars hadn't been a pleasure to drive? Constantly entertaining, it lends even a boring family car a sense of buoyancy, as if the weight of the wheels is the only thing keeping the chassis from taking off. The danger is real: even GTA 3's starting area, Portland Island, is a very hilly environment, and rolling your ride is inevitable. Players quickly find out what happens next, and learn to run. Ka-BOOM.

46. Tense showdown at the dam

Game: GTA 3
Released: 2001

"You have been a busy boy, but you haven't learned," GTA 3 antagonist Catalina tells Claude. "I'm not to be trusted." And so with that inarguable truth she betrays you for the second time, walking away with the ransom money that should have secured Maria's release. The shootout that follows is a tricky one (not least because your arsenal was confiscated beforehand) and made tense by a timer. But when you pull it off, you're rewarded with a suitably explosive helicopter crash. Maria's brief epilogue is awfully misogynistic, mind.

45. Carefully playing the faction system

Game: GTA 2
Released: 1999

GTA games have always aligned you with and against gangs, making certain districts no-go areas for a leisurely walk. But only this first sequel allowed you to influence your reputation with each group, via a point system that was updated when you completed or failed their missions. Brilliantly, rival gangs appreciated you stuffing things up for their enemies – the enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all – so you could go on a killing spree in Russian Mafia territory, and unlock a Hare Krishna job in the process. Player-driven politics.

44. Getting hooked on V-Rock's odd mix of Twisted Sister and Lazlow's musings

Game: GTA: Vice City
Released: 2002

Even Lazlow's egotistical mutterings can't detract from a compilation uniting the cheesy stomp of Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot's wall of sound, and Slayer's apocalyptic arpeggiating. This radio station converted a generation, and has proven just as much a taste-maker as Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. GTA 6, we need you to educate the next one.

43. Going dancing at The Music Locker

Game: GTA Online
Released: 2013

By the time the Cayo Perico Heist came out in December 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic had made nightclubs the stuff of myth. (Yes, we did occasionally venture away from our PlayStations to meet real people). Having an excuse to dress up – so as to reduce the $150 in-game entry fee – and try out Rockstar-designed dance moves on the packed floor of The Music Locker beneath the Diamond Casino was a genuine joy, and a reminder of better times. The extraordinary light show and exclusive, motion-captured DJ sets didn't hurt.

42. Finding Grove Street

Game: GTA 5
Released: 2013

'Grove Street for life' was the refrain of San Andreas, and one fans repeated years later in nostalgic tribute. There was no better way to prove your lifelong devotion than to make a pilgrimage, almost a decade later, to CJ's house in GTA 5.

The crime-ridden cul-de-sac looks just as it did, though the Ballas occupy it now, and are keen to remind you "The Families were kicked out ages ago!" It's not just players who feel nostalgic about the place; Rockstar staged a firefight there, for old time's sake.

41. Facing off against the army with six stars

Game: GTA 2
Released: 1999

The wanted system has always had a dual function in GTA. Both dynamic difficulty level and moral pushback, it's a reminder that actions have consequences. But it undermines the point by making those consequences fun. GTA 2 was the first entry to call in the army, introducing a sixth 'star' – or angry policeman heads, as they were then – and raising the challenge to match. Armoured soldiers carried uzis and didn't attempt arrests, instead shooting to kill. Game over, man.

We'll be updating this list each week as we approach our number one pick as part of our Countdown to GTA 6 coverage!

We may be moving out of the summer Blockbuster season but August has some must-see new movies that you won't want to miss. And the good news is that we are here to help spotlight the greatest hits heading to the big screen for you below.

From sci-fi outings coming from legendary directors to animated comedy adventures featuring iconic characters, August really does have it all. Sure, we may stil have The Odysessy and Spider-Man: Brand New Day on the brain, but as someone who has reported on all things film for over six years, I will say that in terms of fresh new stories and creative risks, this month is one of the best on the calendar and cinephiles should be paying attention.

So, what are you waiting for? Here, the GamesRadar+ team have come together and have picked out the 5 best new movies heading our way. Read on to learn more about these upcoming smashes and find out when and where you can start planning to watch them for yourself.

The best movies coming out in August 2026

One Night Only

Release date: August 7/ August 28 (UK)
Where to watch: Cinemas

Rom-coms are so back this year. But this one has a Black Mirror-style twist. Directed by Will Gluck (from Easy A fame) and set in a dystopian New York, One Night Only follows two singles searching for love on the one night a year when premarital intimacy is legal. It is like The Purge only with a lot less murder and a lot more smiles by the end of the deadline. Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner are also the two lead stars and all of us romance fans will be very excited to see how their on-screen chemistry holds up.

The End of Oak Street

Release date: August 14
Where to watch: Cinemas

What would you do if you woke up one day to find a T.Rex sitting outside of your house? When a cosmic event takes a regular American street and transports it to a Jurassic dimension, one normal family must fight for their survival. The End of Oak Street's logline is wild, I'll say that much, and it'll be interesting to see how the outlandhish plot unfolds. It certainly doesn't look like a boring movie and with Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor starring, there is star power behind the madness as well.

Insidious: Out of the Further

Release date: August 21
Where to watch: Cinemas

Spooky season has come early this year. Insidious: Out of the Further (aka Insidious 6) introduces us to a new family who find that they can travel to a purgatorial realm. But when they leave the dark side, demons travel with them, entering the real world. From the trailers that I have seen already, this upcoming horror movie is going to be packed with plenty of jumpscares and seems like it will be the perfect theatre trip for supernatural fans. Also, what better way to get you into the Halloween spirit before October than with some good old possession and hauntings?

The Dog Stars

Release date: August 28
Where to watch: Cinemas

From the director of Alien and Gladiator comes a tale of endurance. Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi outing is set in a post-apocalyptic world turned upside down by a pandemic. Dog Stars follows a group of survivors desperate to find safety. In typical Scott fashion, the flick is also sporting some top tier talent with the likes of Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley starring. It has all the makings of being a box-office hit, and I'd say it is likely to be one of the biggest movie going events of the month. So, yeah, if you love packed cinemas, mark your calendars folks.

Coyote Vs Acme

Release date: August 28/ August 21 (UK)
Where to watch: Cinemas

After a tricky road to release, the new Looney Tunes movie is finally heading to the big screen this month. The new flick follows our favourite cunning Coyote who goes after the Acme Corporation after its products fail him one too many times. The film mixes animation with live-action, giving it strong Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Looney Tunes: Back in Action vibes. I personally have a soft spot for both of these films, and I'm sure this one will be another family hit once it releases on the big screen.

Want to know what other flicks are on the way? Next read our round-ups of all the upcoming video game movies and upcoming superhero movies that have been confirmed so far.

There's a lot of heated debate when it comes to deciding on the best Spider-Man comics of all time. After all, Spidey is one of the most popular heroes in pop culture, and thanks to his continued presence across movies and TV, he is amassing more fans every day.

First appearing in 1962, Spider-Man taught us all that "with great power comes great responsibility" and also gave web crawlers some positive PR for once. In short, he is memorable as well as unique. However, his history is a vast one, and ahead of the upcoming Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, now is the best time to revisit his past as well as discover sides of the character that you may not have seen before if you've only witnessed the web-slinger on the big screen.

Below you'll find our picks of the best Spider-Man comics that you should read right now. Some are classics, and some of our choices are underrated gems. Either way, ahead of Tom Holland's return as Peter Parker, all these stories are worth your time.

10. The Gift

Published in: Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 1 by J. M. DeMatteis, Terry Kavanagh, and Howard Mackie

Despite taking place right in the middle of the '90s 'Clone Saga,' Amazing Spider-Man #400's 'The Gift' (collected in Amazing Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 1) is a really impressive issue that features the death of Aunt May. That may seem like a bit of a downer, but trust me, it is still worth checking out.

Admittedly, there's not much action in this story, and there are some goofy bits (like Peter and Ben Reilly just standing around in the backyard in broad daylight having a conversation) that take away from the dramatic tone. Still, The Gift contains two particularly heartfelt moments that I personally still think about today: May revealing that she knows Peter's secret identity on the observation deck and a grueling death scene that would make even the strongest among us shed a tear. The emotional pay-off is worth it, and is a great break from the stories featuring non-stop action if the mood ever strikes you.

9. The Death of Captain Stacy

Published in: Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys by Stan Lee, Gerry Conway, and John Romita Sr

Guilt and death follow Peter Parker around something fierce. Numerous times in his career, Peter has promised that he won't let anyone else die as a result of his actions (or inaction), and in the years following his origin, he was able to mostly follow through on that. But the 'Death of Captain Stacy' arc (collected in Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys) that culminates in Amazing Spider-Man #90 was a gut-wrenching reminder that failure is part of Peter's journey as a hero.

And Captain Stacy's last request of Peter - to keep his daughter, Gwen, safe - is a heartbreaker for modern fans with knowledge of her death. Spider-Man may not always trade on the grim and gritty aesthetics that many other heroes are known for, but his career is marked by tragedy. After the death of Uncle Ben, this story stands as a bit of a template for things to come for the wall-crawler.

8. The Conversation

Published in: Amazing Spider-Man by J.M.S. Ultimate Collection Book One by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr., J. Scott Campbell, and John Romita

J. Michael Straczynski's run on Amazing Spider-Man might have gone off the rails eventually (thanks, Spider Totems), but when it was at its best it was really firing on all cylinders. Nowhere in the run is that more evident than in Amazing Spider-Man #38's 'The Conversation' (collected in Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection Book 1).

Peter finally comes clean to Aunt May about being Spider-Man, and in the course of just one issue, JMS is able to solidify what makes Aunt May and her relationship with Peter a core piece of the Spider-Man mythos. It's a big moment, but JMS balances the pathos with humor and reminds us that Peter Parker is not who he is by accident. Aunt May, whether she knew it or not, is essential to what makes Spider-Man a hero. The family dynamic and relationship here is expertly portrayed and gives us a quintessential Spider-Man experience.

7. The Gauntlet

Published in: Spider-Man: The Gauntlet, Vol. 1 - Electro & Sandman by Dan Slott, Fred Van Lente, Mark Waid

For much of the post-'Brand New Day' era, the Spider-Man books were getting a bad rep for moving away from the elements that fans had grown to love over the years. But the soft reboot allowed the collective writing group known as the Webheads to put together a reintroduction to the Sinister Six that built over several months and featured deeper examinations of their motivations.

The result was an epic that had excellent art from Paolo Rivera, Marcos Martin, and others and reestablished Spidey as one of the best books on the stands. These were classic villains given the room to evolve into real threats to Spider-Man and it worked exceptionally well. Shed and Rage of the Rhino, in particular, stand out among the 20 issues of 'The Gauntlet,' making this a definitive Sinister Six story that should not be overlooked.

6. Spider-Man No More

Published in: Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection by Stan Lee, John Romita Sr., Larry Lieber, and Marie Severin

It's the cover that has been homaged a thousand times (as well as the first appearance of the Kingpin!), but 'Spider-Man No More' in Amazing Spider-Man #50 (collected in Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Volume 3) is much more than just the sum of its parts. As we all know, Spider-Man has always personified the world outside your window approach that Marvel has had with so many of their stories. And sometimes being a superhero is just too much to bear.

Steve Ditko may have created the visual language around Spider-Man, but John Romita Sr. would bring his background in romance comic books to the wall-crawler and codify the identity of this book for years to come, elevating it to truly iconic status. Not to be outdone, Stan Lee delivers one of his best scripts, reaffirming the selflessness that is key to Peter Parker's character.

5. The Original Hobgoblin Saga

Published in: Spider-Man: Origin Of The Hobgoblin by Roger Stern, Tom Defalco, and Bill Mantlo

By the time the Hobgoblin came around, fans were already well acquainted with Norman Osborn's villainous Green Goblin, so Roger Stern injected some mystery into the build-up around ol' Hobby. This Goblin wasn't crazy like Norman. He was cunning and calculated, and Stern only had him appear occasionally throughout the story to keep readers from guessing his identity. It was a clever twist that made at least three characters reasonable suspects to be under the mask.

And John Romita Jr. does some truly impressive work as he melds his father's house style with flourishes that would eventually become iconic JRJR touches, evolving his style before the readers' eyes. Ultimately, Stern would leave the book before the culmination of the plot, leading to new writer Tom DeFalco taking the big reveal in a different direction and putting Roderick Kingsley in the role rather than his brother Daniel as was intended. But 'The Original Hobgoblin Saga' still stands as a great reinvention of a classic character.

4. Spider-Man: Blue

Published in: Spider-Man: Blue by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's color books are legendary for a reason. They're basically perfect snapshots of our favorite heroes, recontextualizing some of their greatest triumphs and tragedies without the weight of years and years of continuity. So, yeah, of course their work on Spidey made my ranking.

In fact, their work in Spider-Man: Blue goes a long way to creating a better context for Peter's supporting cast, working especially to understand how MJ feels in the wake of Peter losing his first love. The creative team handles it with aplomb, delivering a story that feels honest and real. It's a study of the idea that these characters are real people, too - that they are more than the adventures we are privy to. By exploring those in-betweens, Loeb and Sale put together a genuinely touching treatise on Spider-Man.

3. The Night Gwen Stacy Died

Published in: The Amazing Spider-Man #121–122 by Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, John Romita Sr., and Tony Mortellaro

'The Night that Gwen Stacy Died' sets Spider-Man apart from so many heroes. In a face-off with one of his greatest villains, Peter is partly responsible for the death of his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, and he flies into a rage unseen from the character before then. He failed himself, Captain Stacy, and Uncle Ben.

But these are the moments where we get to see what Peter Parker is truly made of. Though he could kill Norman Osborn once and for all, he doesn't, because even though he would be justified, it's not his decision to make. Death comes for us all, but Spider-Man does not get to play Grim Reaper. It's a heavy tale and a death that has colored all Spider-Man stories, arguably more than the one that spurred on Peter's origin. Great heroes rise above, and that's something we've gotten to see time and time again in the best Spider-Man comics.

2. Kraven's Last Hunt

Published in: Web of Spider-Man #31–32 by J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck

'Kraven's Last Hunt' is always an interesting addition to any of these lists, and it just misses the top spot because it does lean more towards being a Kraven-focused story instead of a Spider-Man comic. Still, it is outstanding. J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck explore the idea of a villain actually defeating his prey.

Now Kraven might seem to be an odd choice given that, to this point, he's most memorable for his killer fashion sense (quite literally - his vest shoots lasers), but the creative team treats him as a serious foe, and in doing so, forces readers to take him seriously as well. The result is a story that is a challenging exploration of the meaning of heroes and villains and the endless determination that drives both sides of the equation. Follow us on a deep dive of 'Kraven's Last Hunt,' talking with the people involved in the original storyline and industry observers at the time.

1. The Master Planner Saga

Published in: The Amazing Spider-Man #31–38 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

This might be a surprising #1 entry in a list of the best Spider-Man comics, but 'The Master Planner Saga' is really the culmination of everything great about Spidey. The story itself sets Peter up at Empire State University, a setting that would prove fruitful for plenty of new adversaries in the future, and introduces both Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn.

Steve Ditko and Stan Lee craft a classic story, while placing Peter in precarious predicaments that will require him to use his skills as Spidey and Peter Parker to save the day. And the impact of this story is felt even today as Marvel's Spider-Man: Homecoming drew directly from the source material in a scene that features Peter seemingly defeated, with time slipping away from him and Uncle Ben's ghost haunting him. But he doubles down on the resolve to be a hero. And he triumphs. A reminder that, as always, with great power must also come great responsibility.

Keen to know more about everything Marvel? Check out our guide on how to watch all the Marvel movies in order, or for more Spidey, we also have a breakdown of how to watch all the Spider-Man movies in order.

Five years ago, PlayStation threatened to shut down the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita digital storefronts, and backtracked after the negative response. Now, they're back to do it again, as the PS3 and Vita stores are closing as soon as August. Bad news for all the digital-only games out there, but it will also have a knock on effect on physical games as well.

That's because a bunch of cheap games available for download only had limited print runs. DLC, for instance, is rarely available on disc – so many PS3 games may now feel incomplete to play if you only have the base game on disc. Likewise, stone cold retro classics available for the price of a coffee or two to download are already fairly expensive in collector's markets. With legitimate cheaper options axed (some are streamable, which is an imperfect solution for many), these are sure to only rise.

While you can, these are the best physical games to poach while you still can, before prices begin to spiral too far out of control.

9. Grand Theft Auto 4: The Complete Edition

Format: PS3
Developer: Rockstar North
Physical price: Approx. $30

Surely a bestseller like GTA 4 will always be easy to find on PlayStation? Its DLC might not be. Episodes From Liberty City remains Rockstar's only true foray into expanding a game's narrative post-launch. Both The Lost And Damned and The Ballad Of Gay Tony are on disc here. The Complete Edition can be harder to find than the original edition. If you do find it, the price isn't too bad just yet, but when it gets digitally hijacked, the Liberty City saga will be locked behind bars. Red Dead Redemption's complete package faces a similar situation, but is easier to track down.

8. Ratchet & Clank Collection

Format: PS3, PS Vita
Developer: Insomniac Games, Idol Minds
Physical price: Approx. $55

This PlayStation mascot duo's original three adventures hold a special place in the hearts of many. Packed with creativity and worlds to explore, the jumping and shooting are still solid. In a lot of ways, these games are more focussed than the PS3 entries in the series. With Rift Apart a fantastic entry on PS5, interest in the pair's early outings is rising. There's never been a better time to get into the series, and these HD ports are the best way to do it. These PS3 versions are streamable on PS4/5, but, to me, they struggle to capture the responsive feeling of the originals in this form. The trilogy is starting to become hard to find.

7. Drakengard 3

Format: PS3
Developer: Access Games
Physical price: Approx. $65

Yoko Taro's debut PS3 game, Drakengard brought the hack-and-slash dragon series to HD (and pushed itself a little too hard as the framerate could get dicey). Since Nier: Automata's release, interest in Taro's earlier work has risen, and Drakengard 3's had a particular boost because one of the bonus endings is the catalyst for Nier's world (and it's a prequel to the other two games, so no reading up needed). Only released digitally in Europe, many North American copies have been available in the UK for some time as an importers' favourite, which does mean there's some competition for fewer existing copies. Over the last few years, this has almost doubled in average price. Now's the time to snag a copy.

6. Silent Hill

Format: PS1
Developer: Konami, Team Silent
Physical price: Approx. $150 ($50 in Japanese)

Honestly, the prices for the original Silent Hill are shocking, having on average more than doubled over the last few years. Just as shocking is the fact this still hasn't been re-released anywhere except on the digital PS3/Vita stores. Even if a remake arrives, if it's anything like Silent Hill 2 remake, it'll be different enough that this original will still be worth playing – and it sure is worth playing. Dripping atmosphere, this remains super creepy, and a definitive PS1 release. I worry you may have already missed the boat on this one in English across NTSC and PAL. JP, however is viable, though with PS1 being region locked you'll need the means to play it – but text in this one is pretty minimal.

5. Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection: Classics HD

Format: PS3
Developer: Sony Japan Studio, Team Ico, Bluepoint Games
Physical price: Approx. $15

The latter half of this collection might have received a remake, but Ico hasn't. A puzzle platformer in which you must escape a castle with a mysterious also-imprisoned girl, it's captivating, and Bluepoint's HD port emphasises the eerie visuals. It deserves a slot in your library, and is currently pretty cheap. The problem? There's not always a lot of stock available. Though, the more readily available EU copies could help you track this down. Once digital is no longer a way to experience this masterpiece, these prices could increase.

4. Persona 4 Golden

Format: PS Vita
Developer: Atlus
Physical price: Approx. $25

Since the third game in the series was released Persona has gained in popularity, but Persona 4 is the instalment that really brought in the crowds. With a small-town murder mystery vibe (people are being found hanging from TV aerials), it combines a captivating whodunnit with an unforgettable cast of teens, all with their own problems. Golden improved on the PS2 version with extra material, and made what is easily an 80-hour adventure portable. Dirt-cheap digitally, the physical edition is already spiking in price, and you can only expect the JRPG behemoth to become harder to find when digital's off the table. Sure, this is also available on Nintendo Switch, but I still prefer it on the sleeker, smaller PS Vita for taking on the go. It'll be a real shame for that option to be off the table for many.

3. Dragon Age: Origins – Ultimate Edition

Format: PS3
Developer: Bioware
Physical price: Approx. $20

We'd advise you get this one physically even if the digital store weren't closing down. Released before the standardisation of season passes, the individual components of the complete Dragon Age: Origins stack up price-wise. But soon this disc version will be the only way to see everything on PlayStation, Awakening included. Awakening is a standout piece of DLC that adds a lot to the first game's story, setting up things for later in the series. It'd be a shame to play the RPG without it, which is why adding everything to your shelf in one package is a great way to go.

2. Fatal Frame

Format: PS2
Developer: Tecmo
Physical price: Approx. $80

Armed with nothing but a camera, you have to take photos of ghosts to survive in these chilling PS2 horror games that are all about exploring creepy Japanese locations – an abandoned mansion in the first game, and a whole lost village in the second. The original three games in the series have become cult classics for a reason, but the fact they were cheaply available via the PlayStation store made them easy to pick up and play. This all changes soon, so horror aficionados would do well to bolster their PS2 pickups with this set before they balloon even more in price.

1. God Of War Origins Collection

Format: PS3
Developer: Ready at Dawn, Santa Monica Studio
Physical price: Approx. $35

This collection brings together both PSP games (Chains Of Olympus – the highest rated PSP game on Metacritic – and Ghost Of Sparta). These spin-offs are surprisingly great Kratoscapades in their own right. Any wrinkles were ironed out in the HD port to PS3, and while the games still feel like they were made for handheld, seeing the action on the big screen from your sofa is just fabulous. You don't want to skip them. Because it's a bit more obscure, this can be a little tougher to find than the other PS3 God Of War outings, but it's worth it.

Unsure what to snag for these older systems? Check out our best PS3 games, best PSP games, and best PS Vita games lists for the top tier selection of each catalog.

Avast me hearties! If like me you've ever found yourself thinking a pirate's life is for you, then you've come to the right place, because I'm here bring you the best pirate games you can play right now.

Whether you're looking to live out all your pirate-shaped dreams in some great swashbuckling adventures, or the prospect of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has put the wind in your sails as it has done for me and you want to see what other adventures await you on the high seas, I've charted a course and found some fantastic pirate games that will help you fulfill all your nautical fantasies.

Of course, Ubisoft's remake is included here, but if you're looking for alternatives, I've brought together a great assortment of options. From some of the best open world RPGs, to one of the best co-op games, and even some old school classics that are still playable today, there's picks across most platforms so you can find something for you. So, if you're ready to find your sea legs and hoist your sails, join me as I take you through the best pirate games to play in 2026.

The best pirate games, starting with...

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

Bringing back the classic point-and-click adventure that first released back in 1990, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is here for any would-be pirate with a penchant for puzzle-solving. Packed with humor, you follow the story of protagonist Guybrush Threepwood as you try to uncover the secret of Monkey Island (hence the name). As you puzzle your way through a swashbuckling plot, you can expect to encounter many pirates, including an evil ghost buccaneer called LeChuck.

Of course, there's always the hope that you'll uncover some riches, too (because where there's pirates, there's usually treasure). It may be a little more dated as pirate adventures go, but with the special edition re-release bringing in a hint system, updated art style, and full voice over, it's still very enjoyable. If you're after a throwback, this is a great one to tuck into. Plus, if you enjoy it, the series made a more recent comeback in 2022 with Return to Monkey Island; that's a real delight.

Sea of Thieves: 2026 Edition

Sea of Thieves: 2026 Edition is the revised version of Rare's open world multiplayer pirate adventure, which brings in all of the permanent updates that have come to the game since it initially launched. When it comes to living your best pirate life, Sea of Thieves has plenty to offer. Whether you want to captain your own ship solo or you want to team up with pals to form your own pirate crew, the many islands and oceans are yours to explore – you can even plumb the depths for treasure with sunken sites below the surface of the sea.

With the freedom to create your own custom pirate and set off on voyages to become a legend of your own making, you can spend your time fishing, taking down a mighty kraken, or burying your most prized spoils (don't worry, you can create a map that will lead you right back to your loot). With lots of optional objects and side quests to keep you busy, I've never had a dull time with this one. Plus, you can also shape your own modes with the Custom Seas feature, which introduces a host of tools so you can be the kind of pirate you want to be.

Windrose

Currently out in Early Access, Windrose draws you into an alternate take on the age of piracy in a survival adventure that blends swashbuckling action and naval combat with crafting and settlement building. Taking on the role of a captain who challenges Blackbeard, an infamous figure of legend, you soon get caught up in the conflicts of the high seas, complete with rival clans and empires.

But how you spend your time in Windrose is up to you. With procedurally generated biomes to explore, you can sail across the seas in search of new locations, weigh anchor and venture onto the shores to delve into dungeons, or try your hand at plundering some treasure (which is, of course, a classic pirate pastime). With resource gathering and crafting at play, you can also work to create your own bases in a place of your choosing, and while it's playable solo, you can also venture across the seas with pals in online co-op. You can get sea-ready with our pick of the best ships in Windrose.

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The Yakuza series has brought us some of the best ARPGs over the years, but it's also home to a character that has all of the traits of a pirate in the making. I'm of course talking about Goro Majima, the eye-patch-wearing, butt-kicking member of the Yakuza who has an on-going rivalry with the leading man, Kiryu. He's always gone his own way with a commanding presence, and that translates perfectly into his distinctly unique and endlessly entertaining spin-off, Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

After finding himself stranded on an island with no memory to speak of, you play as Majima as he takes over his own ship and reinvents himself as a modern-day pirate. Navigating through the Pacific Ocean, you form your own ragtag crew, work to upgrade your ship, and of course, get your hands on some riches. Naturally, there's always criminals and rival pirates trying to take the wind out of your sails, but that's where Majima's fighting skills in the best Yakuza games come in handy here. If you're after an action-packed pirate adventure with plenty of humor, then look no further. For more, check out our Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii review.

Sid Meier's Pirates!

If you're a strategy fan who's also looking to become a pirate legend, then Sid Meier's Pirates! is a classic spin-off that might just be right up your alley. Yes, it's a bit of a throwback, but it's aged very well and is still fun to play to this day. After a marquis your father is indebted to takes your family away during your childhood years, you set out to exact revenge when you're older and get your hands on your very own ship in the process.

From there, you're essentially free to decide what you do and how you want to do it as you set sail across the Caribbean. Whether you decide to raid villages for riches or be a true privateer who hunts down enemy ships and wanted criminals for your chosen allied nation, you can become as famous (or infamous) as you like. With naval combat, treasure hunting, and various activities to get stuck into, you'll also have to be mindful of your crew, as any good pirate captain should be.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

Assassin's Creed Black Flag first made waves back in 2013 thanks to its Caribbean open world setting and its pirate, assassin fantasy. Fast forward to 2026, and one of the best Assassin's Creed protagonists has made a comeback in that very same adventure, only this time, it's been rebuilt on the latest Anvil Engine with a suite of improvements and additions. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sees you play as Edward Kenway, a true buccaneer in the 18th century who captains the Jackdaw.

With appearances from pirates from history and legend, Black Flag is a great way to immerse yourself in the Golden Age of piracy. With improved, action-orientation fighting, naval combat, and plenty of treasures to uncover, it continues to be one of the best pirate games around – even if it isn't always smooth sailing, as we explore in our Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review. But if you've yet to tuck into this stealthy, pirate adventure, or you're looking to experience it all over again, Resynced is worth getting on board with.

Set off on more journeys (on both sea and land) with our pick of the best adventure games.

Valve's big seasonals sales event is coming to a close, but it certainly brought us some excellent Steam Summer Sale games for 2026. With big discounts dropping that took down some best Steam games to historically low prices, we even saw some old favorites go for an absolute steal.

Yes, since going live on June 25, there have been some great bargains, and I brought together the best Steam Summer Sale games we saw this year, which you see below. From some of the best RPGs that you could snap up for less than $5 / £5, to some of the best horror games getting sizeable discounts, we even saw some the most recent new games fall in price.

Yes, the Steam sales date didn't disappoint. And with just a little time left, you can find a roundup of the Steam Summer Sales 206 highlights below in case you want to snap some up while they're still around, or, if you're curious to see what got reduced to ready yourself for the next sales event, you can find our best Steam Summer sales picks right here.

The best Steam Summer Sale games 2026

Resident Evil Requiem

If you've been holding out on playing the latest Resident Evil entry, then now's a great time to consider meeting with Leon and Grace in Racoon City. Having only just been released back in February of this year, the 20% discount it now has in the Steam Summer sale is the lowest price we've seen Resident Evil Requiem's fall so far on Valve's storefront. As we explored in our Resident Evil Requiem review, it's worth having in your library if you're a Resi fan; it dials up the terror, delivers the action, and excellently explores the iconic character that is Leon Kennedy in more depth.

With two protagonists leading the charge who both offer distinctly different perspectives and experiences on its blend of survival horror, Resident Evil Requiem easily earns its place as one of the best Resident Evil games going. And with the recent addition of a roguelike mode, and yet more goodness to come from Capcom with the Resident Evil Veronica remake in 2027, the timing of this discount couldn't be better.

Get Resident Evil Requiem here.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

As someone who's spent over 1000 hours playing CD Projekt Red's dystopian, futuristic RPG, I can't recommend Cyberpunk 2077 enough if you've yet to try it. From shaping your own customizable protagonist in V, to deciding how you want to navigate the many dangers and temptations of the neon-tined streets of Night City, it's a memorable ride from start to finish. I love the way it explores an action-packed story that examines what it means to survive and try to retain your identity in a world where cybernetic technology has taken over, and it's as easy to erase your personality as it is to shove a chip in your head.

V's fight to save themself is well worth your time, and now's a great opportunity to experience it thanks to the hefty discounted price of the Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition. You can snag yourself the base game and one of the best DLCs in the excellent Phantom Liberty expansion for its lowest price yet. The base game by itself is also discounted at just $17.99 / £14.99 (which is certainly worth the Eddies), but I'd absolutely recommend the Ultimate Edition so you don't miss out on Idris Elba, and the morally grey world of Dogtown.

Get Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition here.

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era

Calling all strategy fans! Right now, you can get your hands on Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era for its lowest ever price on Steam. As a triumphant return of the beloved strategy RPG series that first made a name for itself in the '90s, Olden Era blends together RPG mechanics with real-time strategy and grid-based combat to deliver a satisfying tactical loop you'll want to keep coming back to.

First launching back in April, it's worth noting that Olden Era is still in Early Access, but don't let that stop you. As we said in our Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Early Access review, "it's already packed with an essentially endless amount of content", with multiplayer, randomized matches, and a nice chunk of the campaign ready and waiting for you.

Get Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era here.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is one of the best first-person RPGs we've seen arrive in recent years, with a richly realized open world that draws you right into medieval Europe. Playing as intrepid adventurer Henry of Skalitz, who gets caught up in all kinds of ye olde shenanigans with companion (and possible love interest) Hans Capon, War Horse not only delivers a host of fantastic side quests, but it also draws you into a memorable main storyline as you set out to avenge your parents.

Staying true to its role-playing DNA, you can choose to shape Henry however you wish, whether you want to build him out to be a smooth talking sneaky so-and-so or a robust sword-fighting machine. Both myself and Andy have had many memorable experiences with this one, and if you're ready to go medieval, this Steam Summer Sale offer is calling your name: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is going for its lowest ever price right now.

Get Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 here.

Mewgenics

One of the best games of 2026 so far, Mewgenics has been hit with a notable discount which takes it down to the lowest price to date on Steam. From The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen and The End is Nigh's Tyler Glaiel, Mewgencis brings to life a turn-based tactical adventure that's all about breeding and raising your very own army of cats. With different traits that can be passed down to other cats, you can work to make the ultimate mutant felines and send them off on runs in search of loot.

As we explored in our Mewgenics review, it's a "hugely varied" roguelike that has an imaginative and rewarding gameplay loop. With tons of replayability, and an excellent soundtrack, it's also packed with wonderfully whacky humor, and you can sink so many hours into this one if you're after something hearty to tuck into.

Get Mewgenics here.

Two Point Museum

One of the best simulation games has gotten a big discount right now, with the excellent Two Point Museum now down to its lowest price so far on Steam. As someone who loves history, I adored my time bringing to life my own museums. From sending my employees off on expeditions to find more fossils, to putting them on display just how I want, and creating gift shops to bring in more funds, I also enjoyed mapping out my own museum tours.

With a host of fun updates since it first launched in 2025 (including a fitting summer update), this is well worth getting if you enjoy management sims full of charm, humor, and easy-to-use tools. You can find out more of my thoughts in our Two Point Museum review if you're interested to learn more.

Get Two Point Museum here.

Inkonbini: One Store. Many Stories

First released back in April, this is a great 20% discount off the delightful indie game, Inkonbini: One Store. Many Stories – which is well worth having in your library if you're looking for something laidback to play. Set in the '90s in Japan, you play as college student Makoto Hayakawa, who works at a convenience store over the summer.

From stocking and arranging shelves, to preparing displays, and getting the store ready to open, I love the meditative quality of the organizing. But as I first found out by playing the demo ahead of release, part of its charm also comes from the customers you meet. As you help them find what they're looking for, or give them recommendations, you start to learn more about them and hear the stories of the locals. If I hadn't already snapped this game up, I would do so now at this price.

Get Inkonbini: One Store. Many Stories here.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong was years in the making and easily one of the most talked about games in the lead up to its eventual release in 2025. But as Team Cherry's sequel went on to prove, it was well worth the wait. Now considered to be one of the best Metroidvania games of recent years right alongside its predecessor, you can now get 25% shaved off the price tag, taking it down to its lowest price on Steam so far.

As we said in our Hollow Knight: Silksong review, it's a near-perfect follow-up that evolves many of the features of the original to deliver a rewarding world to explore. Playing as Hornet, her various abilities are satisfying to play around with, and there's plenty of challenges to overcome. If you've been holding off or want to give Silksong a try, then this is a good chance to do just that without paying the usual price.

Get Hollow Knight: Silksong here.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade

With the reveal of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation during Summer Game Fest Live 2026, which will conclude Cloud's journey, it feels almost serendipitous that the first part of the RPG series is discounted to its lowest price to date on Steam. Not only that, but the chunky discount is for the Intergrade version, which comes with the additional expansion Episode InterMission starring companion Yuffie. So, if you're looking to catch up before the upcoming RPG arrives in 2027, this could well be your sign to experience the opening of Cloud's adventure in the city of Midgar.

Introducing iconic party members and setting what's to come in the sprawling open world scene of part 2 in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a lovingly reimagined remake of the iconic JRPG on PS1. With an updated and modernized real-time combat system that calls back to the classic turn-based affair through its strategic ATB elements, longtime fans will get a kick out of its recreations of some classic moments, while newcomers get stuck right in with ease.

Get Final Fantasy 7 Intergrade here.

Dead Space Remake

If you've yet to try out Dead Space, or you're on the lookout for a chilling, atmospheric experience, then you can get your hands on the excellent Dead Space Remake for the incredibly low price of just under $6 / £5. As one of the best horror games, the 2023 remake of the classic 2008 survival horror succeeds at being even more unsettling than the original, and that's a huge compliment.

Taking on the role of Issaac Clarke, an engineer who finds himself on a mission to repair the USG Ishimura mining ship, things take a terrifying turn. With the ship's crew brutally killed, and your partner lost onboard, you have to navigate the Ishimura with only your engineering skills at your disposal. But, with horrific creatures known as necromorphs always in pursuit, you can expect plenty of scares in the sci-fi space setting. If you're after some horror goodness, this is worth adding to your library for a lot less.

Get Dead Space here.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has made a name for itself as one of the best open world RPGs of the last decade, and you can now experience Geralt's sprawling adventure for an absolute steal if you've yet to snap up CD Projekt Red's gripping fantasy on Steam. Honestly, it's also the perfect excuse to replay The Witcher 3 on another platform if you've already experienced it elsewhere… because it's just that cheap.

Following Geralt, a mutant monster slayer known as a witcher, you set out across sprawling locations in search of your ward, Ciri, who's being pursued by the Wild Hunt. Delivering some of the most memorable side quests and a story that will keep you gripped, replaying or tucking into it for the first time will no doubt help set up the next game to come with The Witcher 4. And at a historically low price tag, the fact that it's set to get a new expansion next year in the Songs of the Past just gives you more reasons to grab this.

Get the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt here.

Honorable mentions

If you have smashed through all our top picks above, then worry not; here are 10 more deals for you to check out below. For these honorable mentions, I've focused on historically low prices, meaning that the majority of these have never gone for cheaper than they are right now. So, be sure to check them out as well as our best picks above to maximize your bargain hunting.

• Balatro (Get it here)
• The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Get it here)
• Hotline Miami (Get it here)
• SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS (Get it here)
• Planet Zoo (Get it here)
• A Plague Tale: Innocence (Get it here)
• Resident Evil 2 (Get it here)
• Borderlands 4 (Get it here)
• Persona 3 Reloaded (Get it here)
• Metaphor: ReFantazio (Get it here)

Keep track of future demo events with our Steam Next Fest guide. Or find some more recommendations with our pick of the best PC games.

The number of free demos included in Steam Next Fest has been getting higher and higher through each event, and with only so much time to play them, finding what's worth your time can be tough. We offer some tips in our Steam Next Fest guide, but if you just want some pure recommendations, then stick around. Even running alongside Summer Game Fest, I've still made the time to check out some great demos, and below I highlight the ones I really think you shouldn't miss.

Ranging from blockbuster demos you can finally try at home for yourself like Onimusha, to a Lovecraft adaptation you play from the perspective of a penguin, the great thing about Steam Next Fest is how so many unique experiences of any size and scale can stand alongside one another. It's the perfect time to try something new. Ending on Monday, there's still time to dip into some potential new favorites before it's over.

Read on, and allow me to run through the best Steam Next Fest demos from this June 2026 event that you should be downloading, playing, and wishlisting!

12. Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Developer: Capcom
Release date: September 25, 2026

The GamesRadar+ team are massive fans of all the best ARPGs, so Onimusha: Way of the Sword has been on our list as one of our most anticipated games for quite some time now. And, the good news is that, after playing through its demo, Capcom's latest entry to the beloved historic fantasy series doesn't disappoint. Playing as Miyamoto Musashi in a fictional version of Edo-era Kyoto, in Onimusha: Way of the Sword you are charged with defeating monsters (known as Genma), slicing through them with your blade. The demo really does give you a great window into the atmosphere of the title, lets you face a boss fight, and the combat also gives us God of War vibes during our time playing. Basically, it's an adrenaline-filled marvel, and ahead of its September release, I highly recommend downloading this one before Steam Next Fest ends.

Play the Onimusha: Way of the Sword demo here

11. Valor Mortis

Developer: One More Level
Release date: October 13, 2026

Out of all the demos currently available at Steam Next Fest, Valor Mortis is the best Soulslike that I've played so far. From the creators of Ghostrunner, this first-person action game has you taking on the role of an undead soldier, now a member of Napoleon Bonaparte's new supernatural army. The game is set in an alternate version of 19th century France with a zombie virus running rampant, forcing you to slay your brothers in arms. Along the way you'll see plenty of gore, unsettling but oddly pretty environments, and even get some story hints around Napoleon's true intentions. Personally, I was always a fan of that supernatural concept, but the demo fully sold me to add this game to my wishlist after experiencing its slick combat. In fact, we mentioned how the demo gave us flashbacks to the first time playing Dark Souls 3 and Shadow of Mordor, high praise indeed.

Play the Valor Mortis demo here

10. Virtue and a Sledgehammer

Developer: Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour
Release date: TBC 2026

"Most people resort to therapy. But you chose the brave option. A sledgehammer." Virtue and a Sledgehammer's anger isn't subtle, entirely based around using the controller's trigger to lift and strike with a massive sledgehammer to smash apart your woodland hometown and the machines that now populate it. Somehow sporting the personalities of those you grew up alongside, you're taking revenge for the deaths of everyone you knew. With an abstracted and strikingly told story told through fragmented flashbacks, the satisfaction of going ham on robots, objects, and houses is sold through the crunchy feel. This generous demo allows you to play from the beginning, through a sizable starting area that you can wreck to your heart's content.

Play the Virtue and a Sledgehammer demo here

9. Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?!

Developer: Strange Scaffold
Release date: July 29, 2026

When Carissa is struck down by a delivery truck days before her big promotion in Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World's opening, she's actually transported to a fantasy world of swords and sorcery instead of dying, in typical isekai anime fashion. But, you play as the hapless delivery driver accidentally did the deed, and she's able to guilt-trip you into helping her revive back to the real world by causing even more havoc, wrecking the city with outlandish stunts to 'isekai' even more people as low level monsters so she can cheat through her experience and resurrect. The result is an oddball mix of Crazy Taxi and Grand Theft Auto as you juggle police chases, deliveries, and monster combat, all within a colorful world. This demo lets you off the leash to try out some timed, arcade-style runs for yourself.

Play the Truck-Kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! demo here

8. Screenbound

Developer(s): Crescent Moon Games, Radical Forge
Release date: September 10, 2026

Screenbound is an upcoming puzzle platformer that will no doubt capture the hearts of any retro fans out there. Brilliantly combining a 2D and 3D world, you as the player are tasked with navigating and beating levels with the help of a very Game Boy Advance SP looking device called a Qboy. The world is reflected in 2D via your Qboy screen and you need to alternate between using your handheld and moving through the 3D world to progress. I won't lie to you, juggling the changing perspectives is a lot at first, but it does soon become second nature, especially once you surrender to the fact that Screenbound is all about timing, logic, and just a little bit of luck as well. From what I've played so far, the game is super comfortable to play and easy to get into too. It's also one of those titles that will have you itching for more.

Play the Screenbound demo here

7. Mistfall Hunter

Developer: Bellring Games
Release date: July 29, 2026

If you like Elden Ring Nightreign but wish the Soulslike formula was more of a pure Extraction experience, then Mistfall Hunter is aimed squarely at you. With considered, dangerous combat against monsters and rival players alike, this is a fantasy twist on the Extraction Shooter genre where you take up sword and shield, magic, bows, or other weapons instead of guns. Starting out weak, you have to team up in co-op or go solo to enter deadly Gyldenmist-afflicted lands, extracting before you become corrupted in order to bank gear or precious Gyldenblood. Even surviving an excursion requires you to kill a bell creature in order to magically return. If the genre isn't usually your thing but you're a Dark Souls diehard, you may find the loop compelling here anyway, so it's well worth giving this demo a try before its full launch to see if you like it.

Play the Mistfall Hunter demo here

6. About Fishing

Developer: The Water Museum
Release date: TBC 2026

Ever since the release of Dredge we have seen an influx of fishing games with a dark twist. However, even with a bunch of titles in the genre, About Fishing's demo had me hooked (pun intended) thanks to its tactile fishing gameplay and the promise of a creepy mystery linked to our discovery of a dead body and, um, a mermaid? Sporting some very nostalgic visuals, the game follows a woman in a yellow raincoat who ends up uncovering secrets via the powers of fishing. The demo is very simple, and only gives us the opening chapter, however, it's still very effective in keeping us intrigued about the story. I also love how the meditative act of fishing is paired with such a sinister undertone, giving me big David Lynch vibes. I do wish that there was a release date for the game, but for now I highly recommend checking out this demo, especially if you are a Twin Peaks fan.

Play the About Fishing demo here

5. Tanuki: Pon's Summer

Developer: Denkiworks
Release date: TBC

The Tanuki Festival is one month away and it's up to the lazy tanuki, Pon, to fix up the shrine before time runs out. Tanuki: Pon's Summer is an adorable game that follows Pon working in his part-time post-office job. Speed around on his BMX, develop friendships with residents, and decorate the shrine – all the ingredients are there for a new cozy game icon. During this demo you get the chance to play through multiple days in-game, letting you experience some odd jobs and giving you a charming introduction to the characters. Since our goal is to get as much cash as we can for the shrine, mini-games are the star here. I'm expecting that we'll probably see more at the full release, but so far the gameplay loop has me in a chokehold. Tanuki: Pon's Summer may not have a release date but its demo is already hilarious, fun, and also runs pretty great on the Steam Deck as well (always a bonus in my book).

Play the Tanuki: Pon's Summer demo here

4. Penguin Colony

Developer: ORIGAME DIGITAL
Release date: TBC 2026

2026 has seen a ton of Lovecraftian horror games, however, something that we haven't seen is Lovecraftian horror through the eyes of a penguin. That is until now. Penguin Colony is a strange but also faithful adaptation of HP Lovecraft's novellas, At The Mountains of Madness and The Shadow Out of Time, but in this version you are a cute low-poly penguin belly sliding around Antarctica. In this take on At The Mountains of Madness, it's Nazis who are trying to uncover something buried in the ice, while the Kaitiaki work to stop them. But, our job is to waddle through the story, doing some light platforming and watching humans in horror whenever we encounter them. And, trust me horror is still very much present even in the demo. While playing through it ourselves we got to see someone's head explode next to our cute penguin, and I'm sure that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the virtual trauma that is in store for us.

Play the Penguin Colony demo here

3. Vampire: The Masquerade – Oaths and Ashes

Developer: Revive the Spark
Release date: TBC 2026

Vampire: The Masquerade – Oaths & Ashes' Steam Next Fest demo is a prologue to their visual novel RPG, so it's a breezy narrative adventure that sets the stage and doesn't fully showcase all the mechanics on offer. But, like any good vampire tale, the blood has me itching to taste more already. Playing as powerful Ventrue vampire Alice as she's on the cusp of getting her fangs into her dream job as Archon serving under the Parisian Justicar, she's sent on the unenviable task of sowing discord in Berlin, controlled by a rival vampire network. While the action has yet to really get going, the politicking as the prologue progresses has compelled me, and I like the idea of this narrative-heavy game still having you manage spending blood to use your powers, hunger, and the keeping up the titular masquerade in front of mortals. The full game promises deeper systems and a second thinblood protagonist. Now my appetite has been whetted, I hope it can pack a punch beyond this prologue – but I'll be patient as I stalk this particular quarry.

Play the Vampire: The Masquerade – Oaths and Ashes demo here

2. Fractured Blooms

Developer: Serenity Forge
Release date: TBC

From Doki Doki Literature Club publisher Serenity Forge, Fractured Blooms has been on my radar for ages, and thankfully the Steam Next Fest demo doesn't disappoint. In fact our senior writer and fellow horror fan Ashley Bardhan, has stated that it is "better than anything you'll play" during Valve's event, and if you love psychological horror, I fully support that stance too. Stuck in a timeloop, you follow the teenage Angie in a world brimming with Appalachian mysticism. During said loop you'll need to manage Angie's resources and get her to perfect her chores from farming, cooking, and cleaning to the point of pain. Each day something will shift and slowly you'll begin to remember and see things that will put your hair on end. Fractured Blooms seems like it will be a narrative goldmine and its demo will stick with you long after this Next Fest ends, trust us.

Play the Fractured Blooms demo here

1. Mortal Shell 2

Developer: Cold Symmetry
Release date: TBC 2026

Mortal Shell 2 follows the Soulslike playbook, but isn't afraid to scribble in the margins, either. One such doodle – a granite-like cuboid shotgun, is one of a number of new tools your 'Shells' can wield that make this feel like a metal album cover come to life as much as it is a challenging combat gauntlet. Slick and reactive in a way few in the genre manage to be, clashes with deadly foes – ranging from hulking, caged brutes to weird witchy women with accordions that actually make music – feels incredible. While the fundamentals are nailed throughout what becomes at least a semi-open-world quest, there's a lot of customization on offer, even in this generous demo. That includes Seals, gear that can alter your parry button to become, say, a petrification block that freezes you mid-animation, or allows your gun to break enemy stun meters. And, of course, Shells themselves, class-like roles that are actually the bodies of named, specific undead characters. This is the most excited I've been for a Soulslike in a long time.

Play the Mortal Shell 2 demo here

One of the best VR games is finally getting a non-VR port with Moss: The Forgotten Relic, and it's some of the most fun I've had this Steam Next Fest

Separating the goods from the greats is never easy, and the best DLCs prove why that is. This list began as a humble collection of five must-play video game expansions, but after careful (see: impassioned) deliberation with my colleagues here at GamesRadar+, we've expanded our rankings to seven.

If you're here off the back of the new Witcher 3 DLC announcement, you're in the right place. There's something magical about the transformative power of an excellent DLC, whether it sees a glorious journey come to a well-rounded conclusion (as per one of the best Witcher games) or a beloved FPS shown in a whole new light. Many games on this list count among the best RPGs, but rest assured: we're thinking broadly for this one, meaning no genre has been ruled out.

We'll be keeping this list updated as more new games deliver post-launch offerings, but for now, join us as we crown the best DLC of all-time.

7. Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser

Base game: Dragon Age: Inquisition
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: September 8, 2015

Serving as an essential epilogue to Dragon Age: Inquisition, the Trespasser DLC was the final major expansion to come to BioWare's third fantasy RPG. With so many narrative threads still to wrap up in the main story – which left us with a major revelation regarding companion Solas' identity and motivations – the Trespasser DLC allows you to confront the complex elf and perfectly sets up what's to come in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Set against the backdrop of Thedas' political tensions, you also get caught up in a curious plot, and eventually determine the fate of the Inquisition in a satisfying conclusion. It's as necessary as it is enjoyable, with the bonus of being given the chance to spend more time with the loveable companions (and your chosen paramour).

6. Lies of P: Overture

Base game: Lies of P
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Release date: June 6, 2025

Lies of P charmed me as one of the most impressive and best action-RPGs of 2023, and Overture somehow managed to top it. Introducing difficulty levels in what has to be a first for the Soulslike subgenre, Lies of P: Overture sees our steel-armed hero sent back in time to the moment the city of Krat fell apart. The new map areas breathe life and dimension to the otherwise Belle-Epoque gothic vibe of the base game – think snow-capped mountains, mutated zoo animals in a deviation from all those puppets, new status effects, and brand new weapons to craft. It's a beautiful, engaging DLC that adds plenty of narrative backstory to the events of the base experience, and it really should be top of every Souls fan's list to try out.

5. Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwell

Base game: Dishonored
Platform(s): PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release date: April 16, 2013

Casting you as one of Dishonored's antagonists, assassin leader Daud, Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall manages to both complement the main adventure and stand relatively alone. In fact, with three dense missions that the superpowered stealth assassin can complete in a variety of ways, the greater focus lends this side-tale more replayability – I've probably zipped through this one twice as much as the main game. This expansion allowed developer Arkane room to experiment as well, many of Daud's powers having their own twists on Corvo's moveset, like how Blink actually pauses time while you aim, allowing for ultra-precise assassin moves (can comes with its own charms, for further refining abilities, too). In fact, I'm redownloading it right now.

4. Mass Effect 3: Citadel

Base game: Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Release date: May 14, 2021

Saying goodbye is never easy, particularly when it comes to an RPG trilogy that made you fall in love with its characters so deeply. So, when Mass Effect 3 first came around, it was hard to let go of Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew. Thankfully, a year later, BioWare dropped the Citadel DLC to round off the adventure. Not only did it serve as a fond love letter to the series and its fans, but it also delivered the perfect, bittersweet way to bid farewell to the RPG's beating heart: the companions.

Centered around putting on a party on the Citadel during a much-needed spell of shore leave, you get caught up in an incredibly wild conspiracy involving your own clone (because Shepard can never catch a real break). Packed full of self-aware jokes, meaningful moments, and incredibly entertaining scenarios, it has everything you could ever want from an expansion.

3. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Base game: Cyberpunk 2077
Platform(s): PC, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X
Release date: September 26, 2023

How CD Projekt Red managed to turn one of the best first-person RPGs into a spy thriller is a feat in and of itself, but Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is proof of how well it works. As both a polished-up "do-over" of sorts that saw multiple in-game systems and processes reworked as part of the major 2.0 update it released with, Phantom Liberty has become essential material that no playthrough would be complete without.

There's new weapons, new characters, and a whole new district of Night City to explore – oh, and a couple of new endings, if collecting 'em all is your thing – and it's more than deserving of being one of the best DLCs ever made for the sheer magic of how it makes Cyberpunk feel the way it was always meant to.

2. Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Base game: Elden Ring
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Release date: June 21, 2024

A long two-year wait separated the base game from Shadow of the Erdtree, but the Elden Ring DLC was more than worth it. It offers a uniquely narrative-driven approach, offering a glimpse into the Land of Shadow and how Queen Marika rose to power – and yes, you need to touch a withered arm to make that temporal jump.

It's a suitably gruesome, fascinating expansion that peppers the already rich tapestry of Elden Ring with even more lore-bites, a new host of weapons, a reworked magic system, and some of the cleverest open world design among any of the other best DLCs on this list. It's easy to see why fans call it a vital part of the overall experience, so you don't want to miss this one.

1. The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine

Base game: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Release date: May 21, 2016

Geralt's journey to Toussaint is an unmissable experience that truly completes the base game, and a decade later, I think our Witcher 3: Blood and Wine review was a little harsh on the best DLC of all-time. The lush expansion sees Geralt taking up the moniker of wine baron in a picturesque land – one with a vampire problem on its hands.

It stands out not only for its thrilling storytelling and worldbuilding, as is par for the course for CDPR, but for how beautifully it ties things up for our monster slayer (though you can still engage with the open world and clean up those side quests once the credits roll). Blood and Wine is everything a DLC should be, the definition of a must-play RPG expansion, and I won't hear a word against it.

The best Dragon Quest games should be on every JRPG fan's radar. After all, not only are we still getting great remakes over 20 years after its original worldwide release, but some of the outings in this iconic fantasy franchise still make up the best RPGs to play today as well. However, deciding where to start your journey as a hero of light can be tricky, and that's why I've done a Dragon Quest deep dive and ranked the top 10 games to help you choose your next adventure.

Now, before you judge my thoughts on some of the best JRPGs around, I do need to clarify some rules in this list. For this ranking, I've stuck primarily to the main entries in the franchise. However, since Dragon Quest 10 isn't accessible worldwide, you won't find it on our list. In its place, I've instead chosen to highlight the spin-off game that I'd recommend checking out along with the mainline titles. I've also made sure to include a vibe section for each entry (read more on those in our FAQ section) to give you an overview of the experience you can expect from each.

Finally, I know that Dragon Quest means a lot to different people and no matter their number in this ranking, I do genuinely love all these games. If your favorite didn't make the cut, feel free to share them in the comments section below. But, for now, read on for a curated list of the greatest games in the franchise so far.

The best Dragon Quest games of all time, starting with…

10. Dragon Quest Builders 2

In terms of the best spin-off game in the Dragon Quest franchise, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is top dog. We gave it a perfect five-star rating in our Dragon Quest Builders 2 review and called it "a beautiful mashup of iconic games with a quirky sense of humor." The game essentially answers the question: What if Dragon Quest and Minecraft had a baby? Well, it turns out that we'd get a great RPG and construction game that's very easy to put tons of hours into.

Taking place after the events of Dragon Quest 2, the game follows a Hero who is captured by the Children of Hargon. After escaping, you'll need to travel to different towns, fighting monsters, building, and leveling up your powers. The great thing about this game is that it feels like a full JRPG, with crafting and exploration thrown into the mix. Nothing feels cheap or compromised, and characters and story are also very enduring. If you loved the Switch 2 game Pokemon Pokopia (which Omega Force also had a hand in developing), this will be a great entry into Dragon Quest for you.

9. Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies

Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies is a proper DS banger, and one I'm personally dying to see a remake of. However, if you have the old Nintendo handheld, then it's still very much worth your time. In this story, you create a custom character who is a Celestrian (aka a cool-looking angelic being) who ends up stuck as a mortal after certain events. You'll need to adventure around the world, collecting the scattered Fyggs from the World Tree Yggdrasil in order to get back home.

Now, multiplayer was a big gameplay factor in this game, which is why it's not ranked higher, but it can still be played solo if you are the only one with a DS still on hand. The game also does show its age and can be grindy at times, especially since changing classes reverts your base level back to one. As our Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies review points out, "if you're a traditionalist just like the developers seem to be, you'll really appreciate this fresher spin on the tried-and-true method."

8. Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D

Thanks to this remake, you can now essentially get two games in one, and honestly, after playing the Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D remake, this really is the best way to experience the start of the iconic franchise today. Just to get the visuals out of the way, the new HD-2D visuals are a marvel and left me kicking my feet with glee when I first saw it. However, modern art style aside, what makes this remake really stand out is all the expanded content that beefs up the plot and gives characters some more spotlight as well.

I also love how the story is simple: you are a hero who has been tasked to defeat the dragon lord. It's your typical good versus evil set-up, but sometimes that's all you need, especially if you're after a straightforward experience that doesn't bug you down with a ton of plot twists. Random encounters mean that you are in the hands of the RNG gods, who sometimes throw you some annoying battles that aren't super fine-tuned with your level, but otherwise, this is a great pick-up for RPG fans.

7. Dragon Quest 6: Realms of Revelation

OK, so disclaimer, while I do love the DS remake of Dragon Quest 6, it is considered the weakest of the Zenithian Trilogy. This criticism is largely because the story just isn't as strong as Dragon Quest 4 or 5. However, you shouldn't write it off because it still has some of the best party dialogue in the series and is also very charming in its own right.

The game has you playing as a hero set to save the world, standard stuff. However, there are two worlds you'll need to navigate to do so. The plot is a bit nonsensical at times but what Dragon Quest 6 does very well is how it treats vocations. It's a ton of fun spending time learning multiple classes and specing characters to deal some juicy damage. It's easy to see how this game influenced the likes of Dragon Quest 7, as it's very simple to create a malleable party and play around with builds.

6. Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined

Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined is a remake of the 2000 RPG, and unlike most of the more linear storytelling that the series is known for, this game gives us more of an omnibus of short stories as we follow a globe-spanning adventure that ties together tales from multiple towns in the land of Estard. There are also time-travelling antics put into play here, and it's uber satisfying to see how your actions in the past affect the present time in the story.

Not only does Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined look great, but in this new remake, the pacing of the story has been improved, and I did find myself being pushed through the plot in a more engaging way than I ever had before. I also love the combat changes in this remake, as you strike down enemies in the overworld, and the Moonlighting system, which lets characters have two vocations at the same time. This is a great entry point for newcomers, and one of the best Switch 2 RPG games you can pick up as well.

5. Dragon Quest 4: Chapters Of The Chosen

While the original NES version of this game didn't have the best launch, Dragon Quest 4: Chapters Of The Chosen Remake for the DS is a masterpiece and one that I happily would recommend to any complete Dragon Quest newbies. The story is broken up into five chapters, where you'll follow your own hero as well as a distinct cast of other protagonists with their own stories. In the final chapter, all the characters come together and set out to save the world (classic Dragon Quest stuff).

There are no classes in this entry, so if you are a complete Dragon Quest beginner and are unfamiliar with specing characters and party synergy, then this is a great starting point. Characters can also easily be switched in and out of your party with the wagon, which takes off pressure for forward planning encounters, and grinding isn't a massive issue with this title as long as you are willing to explore here and there. If you have a DS, it's worth picking up.

4. Dragon Quest 5: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

Dragon Quest 5: Hand of the Heavenly Bride's narrative really does feel the most like a coming-of-age story as it follows your hero from the moment of their birth and a few decades after. Of course, this is a Dragon Quest game, so you'll also need to save the world; however, its charm is in the intimacy of character dynamics and how dang attached you'll soon be to all the friendships you rekindle during your adventure.

In this game, you can also get married and have kids (who can grow up and become playable characters as well). There's something super wholesome about playing with a family you created, and it makes Dragon Quest 5: Hand of the Heavenly Bride a great cozy option, too. And, if you are a Pokemon fiend, Dragon Quest 5 was the first title to allow you to tame monsters who can then join your party. There are some annoying quirks, but it's a really distinct JRPG all in all.

3. Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King

Dragon Quest 8 has one of my favorite stories in the whole series, and was a firm 3DS staple of mine back in the day as well. In this one, you play as a hero who has to help out a couple of cursed royals track down the jester Dhoulmagus (the guy who cursed them and their kingdom in the first place). On your journey, you'll discover locations all affected by Dhoulmagus, as well as meet some characters to join your party.

The game is charming, the dialogue is genuinely funny, and the turn-based gameplay is also surprisingly cozy. I will say, if you have a 3DS pick up that version of the game since it is different from the PS2 one, complete with a new ending. The 3DS version also lets you see monsters as you are walking around, instead of just pulling you into battle randomly. The speed of battles and the alchemy pot have also gotten a needed boost, and all of these features make a great game even more enjoyable.

2. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D

Dragon Quest 3 initially released back in 1988 on the NES, however, it got a sparkly remake a few years ago, and all veterans of the series should check it out. You play as the child of the legendary warrior Ortega, who is tasked to get rid of an evil villain who's hellbent on destroying the world.

Besides giving the game some stunning HD 2D visuals, the remake also adds the Monster Wrangler class. Basically, it's the best version of Dragon Quest 3 currently out there. But, something to keep in mind, I agree with our Games Editor's opinion about this title not being super welcoming to newbies of the franchise. The gameplay is still very much old JRPG coded in the fact that it's slower-paced, and battles will pop up constantly. Things can get time-consuming and perhaps a bit frustrating to newer JRPG fans who expect less invasive encounters in general. However, if you are a retro lover and want something nostalgic, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D will be right up your street.

1. Dragon Quest 11 S – Definitive Edition

Our near-perfect Dragon Quest 11 S – Definitive Edition review calls the game "today's quintessential JRPG", so yeah, in terms of the best entry in the series out right now, this is it, folks. In this stand-alone story, you follow the journey of a young hero of light who is basically framed to be a Dark Spawn and has to save the world from an ancient evil, too…no pressure. The story is straightforward, but what really makes it stand out is how expertly paced it is, as well as how well-written all the characters are.

Its simplicity is what makes it one of the best turn-based RPGs ever made, as all the systems in Dragon Quest 11 S are focused and perform incredibly well. World-building here is also a treat, as you'll often discover side-narratives as you progress the main quest. These bring life to areas and also offer enough diversity in the game that time will fly by without you even realising it while playing. This is a masterpiece for both Dragon Quest veterans and newbies alike.

Best Dragon Quest games FAQs

The best games like World of Warcraft are always here to scratch that MMORPG itch whenever it comes a-knockin'. However, with the massive sea of the best RPGs and greatest online games of all-time, it can be tricky to find titles that truly capture the magic that is Blizzard Entertainment's WoW. That's why I decided it was time to create a handy round-up for all my fellow grinding fantasy gamers.

Below are the top 10 RPGs that I'd recommend to World of Warcraft players. I've made sure to give you a mix of the best MMORPGs as well as some solo experience alternatives. All my picks give the same level of wonder from exploring open worlds, and the sense of freedom from creating your own adventure with your choices and custom character. I've also made sure to include what "vibe" (check out our FAQ section for a description of all of those) each of my picks has, so that you know what kind of experience you'll be getting at a quick glance.

So, if you are ready to take a break from WoW and find a new game to put thousands of hours into, read on, adventurers.

The best games like World of Warcraft, starting with…

10. The Lord of the Rings Online

I'm a massive JRR Tolkien nerd, so let's be honest, The Lord of the Rings Online was always going to make this list. After all, Tolkien helped define modern fantasy as we know it, and World of Warcraft owes a lot to Middle-earth's influence on the genre. Packed with various fantastical races and some stunning locations from Tolkien's world, The Lord of the Rings Online is incredibly faithful to its source material, and it's easy to get swept up in all the adventures and exploration offered here.

Even if I weren't a fangirl, as an MMORPG, it is a top-tier fantasy game for World of Warcraft lovers, which is also still receiving updates and love today. From co-op skirmishes you can take on with friends to even the chance to play as one of Sauron's servants (if you feel like being a monster), this is a Tolkien dream come true and also one of the best Lord of the Rings games currently available to boot.

9. Path of Exile

Ok, so Path of Exile is not an MMORPG, but that is part of the reason it works so well as a World of Warcraft alternative. It's instead one of the best action RPGs that ticks that WoW grinding itch, and also offers an extra level of complexity when it comes to builds. Set in a dark fantasy world, this free-to-play online title has you taking on the role of Exile on a revenge quest.

World of Warcraft does sometimes rely on wrangling together a large party of other players to progress through certain story beats, and while Path of Exile does have multiplayer, it's also a nice change of pace to have a single-player option that doesn't feel like it's punishing you too harshly for wanting to play solo. Sure, the skill tree will give you a headache, but if you're looking for something harder and less socially reliant than WoW, this is the one. Also, Path of Exile 2 is pretty neat if you have time to check it out, even if it is still in Early Access.

8. Albion Online

The sandbox nature of Albion Online is a great alternative to WoW players who may be getting a bit tired of putting hundreds of hours into long quest lines. Instead, here you forge your own path in a similar bright and cartoony fantasy world. Freedom really is a key factor in this WoW alternative; you aren't bound by a specific class. Instead, the only thing holding you back is the gear you are wearing, which is what gives you abilities.

It's up to you and all your stuff to refine your playstyle and determine how far you progress in open-world battles, dungeons, exploration, or even claiming a little piece of virtual land to call your own. Personally, I'm also a fan of the player-driven economy in this one, as the fact that there are also plenty of things to grind towards as you level up your skills in weapons or gather resources. Albion Online is a sleeper hit when it comes to the best fantasy RPGs, and one that WoW fans won't regret checking out.

7. Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic is an MMORPG that will grip every World of Warcraft fan who loves playing the best RPGs where choices really matter. Set in the Star Wars universe, Star Wars: The Old Republic's story is a lot more focused and impactful than WoW's from a character level, with a "light side" versus "dark side" morality system that (similar to Fable) can change the appearance of your character as well.

Besides WoW, Star Wars: The Old Republic is the only MMORPG that made me excited about building new characters, anxious to work through their origin stories and see what ending I would get based on my choices. There are multiple planets to explore, new updates still coming out, and seeing Jedi, Sith, and other iconic roles come to life is a hoot. But what keeps me returning to this one is the focus on its story. Star Wars: The Old Republic is also super friendly to new players, so if you've only played World of Warcraft, don't worry, you'll be embraced here, too.

6. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Ok, this isn't an MMORPG, online or otherwise. However, Dragon Age: Inquisition is still one of the best single-player RPGs that also has a ton of MMO-leaning features and content that, at times, makes it feel akin to a World of Warcraft expansion. Besides a very serious fantasy story that WoW players are all too familiar with, Dragon Age: Inquisition is very quest-focused, and its semi-open-world is filled with possibilities that will have you hooked for hours.

Playing as the Inquisitor, it's up to you to strengthen your forces and bring about peace. Oh, and there's also a pesky demonic invasion to deal with, too. You'll need to gather power in order to progress the main story, and that means doing side-quests. Dragon Age: Inquisition's approach to questing is combat-focused (and fast-paced just like WoW's), and has some fun writing, too. So, if you are looking for a solo game that you can wrap up in 80-ish hours, this is a great MMO break. If you want to know more about this gem, check out our glowing Dragon Age: Inquisition review next.

5. Old School RuneScape

World of Warcraft fans who appreciate classic MMORPG titles that really make you work for progression will absolutely love Old School Runescape. However, be warned, the gameplay here is different, as it's a sandbox, slow-paced fantasy title. Leveling up takes a long time, and veterans of "end game" content will likely be turned off by RuneScape's approach to leveling in general. The max level is in the two thousands, each level can go up to 99, and the end game has taken some players years to reach.

However, our Features Editor still dubs this the best MMO that he has ever played for a reason: once you get into RuneScape's grindy rhythm, it's near impossible to put it down. There is a ton to do in the world, you constantly feel like you are making progress, and the game really does respect your time. There's no reason not to try this one out, especially if you loved leveling up characters in WoW. Old School RuneScape is the grind in its truest form.

4. The Elder Scrolls Online

I've played all the best Elder Scrolls games, and to be honest, while it technically isn't the greatest out of the pack, The Elder Scrolls Online is still the best way to experience Tamriel. It's also another great fantasy MMORPG that World of Warcraft fans will enjoy, especially if you're after a more relaxed time. Systems from the previous Elder Scrolls games are here, and they work really well in giving you the freedom to craft your own story and experience.

Something else to take note of is that The Elder Scrolls Online is one of my top World of Warcraft alternatives for console players, as it's one of the more intuitive MMORPGs to play with a controller. It's a great pick to curl up on the couch with and just chill. However, I will say that end game content here will likely frustrate some WoW veterans as progression does start to feel more stagnant at higher levels. Keep that in mind before you spend all your time on this one, folks.

3. Diablo 4

Diablo 4 is another non-MMORPG pick, but it's a game that feels as much like a glorious theme park as World of Warcraft does. In fact, in our five-star Diablo 4 review, we called it a triumph that will decimate your free time, and personally, it is what sucked my partner and me out of WoW for a bit as our go-to couple game for a good few months. Set in the dark fantasy world of Sanctuary, the forces of Hell have waged war, and it's up to you to stop them.

Diablo 4's authored open-world overworld really does have MMO vibes as well, and it's easy to wander around on a main quest and then accidentally stumble on an event, side quest, or other online players battling an enemy. In this way, Sanctuary feels immersive and constantly alive, just like the one in WoW. It doesn't have all the same social capabilities, but Blizzard's ability to get you sucked in and feeling constantly surprised is on full display yet again.

2. Final Fantasy 14

Final Fantasy 14 has come a long way, and if you are a World of Warcraft veteran looking for a new MMORPG that has the best solo gaming experience, then you need to check it out. Despite a rocky launch, Final Fantasy 14 has become one of the best Final Fantasy games of all time, giving players some amazing expansions, some great storytelling, and an intriguing approach to class structure.

Pick between 10 different classes here and level them all up as you make your way through the visually stunning world and amazing plot, too. All the mechanics, and how the narrative is expertly woven into moments, is perfect in this game, and I can't emphasize enough how satisfying it is to jump into them all right now, either. And, while I prefer the solo content, for WoW players looking for connection, there are plenty of raids and trials to still link up with together to smash through, too. It's the complete package.

1. Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 is like World of Warcraft in the sense that they are both MMORPGs, and they are both set in a fantasy world where you pick a race and embark on a series of quests based on your choices – before being set out into the wilder open-world and bigger storylines. However, Guild Wars 2 has better fashion (dress-up fans unite) and is a lot more relaxed than World of Warcraft.

While WoW is subscription-based and makes you feel like you should be logging in each day to get your money's worth, Guild Wars 2 is free-to-play, and its expansions need to be bought separately. That model does take the pressure off, and it's a nice change of pace to not have the feeling of obligation hanging over you. Guild Wars 2 was also the MMORPG that I personally started with, and got me into World of Warcraft later. I love both, and chances are you'll probably feel the same once you give it a shot.

Games like World of Warcraft FAQs

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best multiplayer RPGs that you should play today. Or look ahead with our round-up of all the upcoming RPGs still on the way.

I've brought together the best RPGs for beginners looking to explore the wonderful world of roleplaying games.

Whether you've got a little experience under your belt and you're looking for some more recommendations, or you're a complete newbie who wants to give an RPG a shot for the first time, I've brought together some options so you can find something to suit you. As a veteran player for almost three decades, I'm so excited for you to experience the magic of my favorite genre, and I relish the chance to help you on your path to discovering some of the best RPGs around.

After all, RPGs can offer up some of the most memorable gaming experiences. But with lots of different systems at play – from intricate combat to skill trees and dialogue – it can be tricky to know where to start. That's why I've put a lot of thought into it and carefully cherry-picked RPGs that are more approachable. With some also acting as great entry points to some of the most iconic series, I've also included the kind of general vibe you can expect from each experience (which you can find out more about in our FAQ section). So, if you're ready to get started, read on to discover the best RPGs for beginners.

The best beginner RPGs to get started with...

10. Yakuza 0

Yakuza 0 packs satisfying beat 'em up combat that's easy to pick up, a memorable storyline, two protagonists in Kiryu and Majima that you'll love spending time with, and a host of entertaining side activities to get stuck into in the neon-tinted streets of Tokyo and Osaka. Set in the 1980's, you step into the role of the two leads as you explore how they rose through the ranks and get embroiled in a conflict which sees their stories converge.

With Kiryu and Majima both adopting different fighting styles that you're guided through and can switch between, you're sure to find one you enjoy. Not only is it one of the best ARPGs that I'd heartily recommend to beginners because of its mix of styles, but it also serves as an excellent entry point into the long-running Yakuza series – setting you up perfectly to explore the later games with ease.

9. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

In many ways, Skyrim is a more casual RPG that's fantastic for anyone looking to step into a fantasy role-playing experience for the first time. You'll begin by creating your own custom protagonist. The beauty of it is, rather than having set classes that lock you into styles of combat, Skyrim offers up various races to choose from, and their inherent strengths are detailed – so you can get an idea of what style they're best suited for right away.

Regardless of what race you choose, though, you're completely free to play around and see what weapons and style of combat you prefer. It's very easy to get into the swing of things once you begin, with an opening quest establishing the controls and guiding you into the open world at large. While you're also free to get lost in exploration shortly after, Skyrim does a great job of setting up the RPG, with a quest log that's easy to follow, and map markers that will help you navigate the world. Plus, if you want to ease yourself in, there's also difficulty settings to choose from.

8. Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal is another RPG that's pretty easy to get stuck into with no prior knowledge of the series. Set in Tokyo, you take on the role of a high schooler who's falsely accused after trying to do the right thing. Transferred to a new school in the city and taken under the care of a cafe owner, you soon awaken to the powers of a Persona, and in the name of fighting for justice against corrupt adults, you form the Phantom Thieves with your fellow students.

The RPG lets you choose how you spend your time during your school days, with different skills to increase, which can unlock new opportunities. On the flip side, as a Phantom Thief, you take on dungeon-like areas born from the distorted desires of individuals up to no good. The entire game is linear and effectively guides you through everything, so you can easily pick up its gameplay features. As one of the best turn-based RPGs, its combat isn't too demanding, and it has difficulty settings – including one that lets you revive an unlimited number of times if you want to ease into it.

7. Avowed

Avowed is a very welcoming RPG that offers up a myriad of options and useful features that make it approachable. You play as a custom character of your own making. Assuming the role of the Envoy of Aedyr, you're tasked with setting out to investigate a mysterious plague that's spreading. The opening area of the adventure acts as a very effective tutorial, which guides you through all of the controls and introduces you to Avowed's flexible combat system.

With so many equipable weapons to find and try out, you're free to experiment with all kinds of loadout combinations to find a fighting style you enjoy, and changing it up is very easy to do. Plus, Avowed also features a lore tab, which acts as a glossary that explains all of its fantasy terms and references, so you can easily get a handle on the story and its world. For more, check out our Avowed review.

6. Pokemon Sword and Shield

Newcomers can comfortably get stuck into any of the best Pokemon games that you can easily get your hands on today, but if you're after one of the more modern releases, I'd personally recommend Pokemon Sword and Shield. Set in the Galar region, which is inspired by the UK, the RPG cleanly guides you into the ways of being a Pokemon trainer with ease, so you can happily get stuck in without ever feeling like you're at a loss as to what to do.

With a more linear design than the open world direction of later entries (Pokemon Scarlet and Violet), Sword and Shield makes it very easy to figure out where you need to go and how you need to progress. If you're unsure about which version to pick up, we also have a handy dandy Pokemon Sword and Shield differences guide, so you can see what Pokemon are available and what sets them apart from each other to help you decide.

5. Costume Quest

If you're after something very entry-level in the world of RPGs that's packed full of charm and humor, then Costume Quest could be your answer. With simple gameplay that's easy to pick up, Costume Quest sees you play as either Wren or Reynold, twins who go out trick-or-treating on Halloween. Whoever you don't play as will get kidnapped by a monster, and it's up to you to venture through the neighbourhood and rescue your sibling.

As you go, you'll meet other kids who team up with you, as you'll get stuck into the little turn-based battles with your party. You'll also find costumes that let you transform into different heroes so you can take on any monsters known as Repugians you encounter. The battles are never very demanding, and it's a short and sweet experience that will give you a delightful beginner's taste of a party-based RPG. It also has a sequel in Costume Quest 2 that's also worth giving a go if you enjoy this one.

4. Final Fantasy 10 HD Remaster

Final Fantasy 10 is a wonderful RPG that's actually a great option to start with if you're looking to try out a slightly more involved experience that's still approachable. And don't let the 10 in the name put you off either, because it's also a fantastic pick if you've been wanting to step into the Final Fantasy series for the first time, too. Following the adventure of Tidus, a Blitzball player who finds himself swept up on a journey to put a stop to a force known as Sin, which threatens the setting of Spira.

Working together with a summoner called Yuna and a cast of loveable characters, Final Fantasy 10's plot is actually quite easy to follow as games in the series go – but it's no less impactful because of it, and still succeeds at delivering one of the best story-driven RPGs. Taking you on a memorable adventure with some twists and turns in store, this entry also uses a turn-based combat system that's not difficult to get to grips with.

3. Super Mario RPG

Not only is Super Mario RPG one of the best short RPGs, but it's also a wonderful option for newcomers. As the famous plumber's first foray into the world of RPGs after delivering lots of his signature platformers, Super Mario RPG is a classic role-playing experience that got a shiny remake in 2022 – making it even easier to get stuck in. Following Mario as he sets out to put a stop to the Smithy gang, you team up with a host of adorable companions – such as the cloud-like Mallow and puppet Geno – as well as some familiar faces.

As a party-based experience with turn-based combat, it's a welcoming game that sets up how you do everything very well. The story is also a joy to experience, and you'll have a blast meeting all of the RPG's colorful characters. With plenty of humor and heart, this is a great one to tuck into if you're after something with some Nintendo flavor.

2. Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Mass Effect Legendary Edition brings together the entire Mass Effect trilogy in one place, and each RPG is absolutely worth trying out if you're a genre newbie. The first Mass Effect sets up the sci-fi universe brilliantly, establishing the lore, history, and tensions between humans and alien races over the course of the story. Taking on the role of Commander Shepard, you pick their military profile, which sets up their past and class, with bionic sci-fi powers, tech-based skills, and weapon-heavy builds to choose from.

With more action-oriented combat that plays like a third-person shooter, it's very easy to pick up and get to grips with. The story will have you hooked, too, and with Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 carrying on Shepard's journey to put a stop to a galactic threat in the Reapers, you won't regret the time you spend with this trilogy. What I wouldn't give to experience Mass Effect for the first time again myself. Check our Mass Effect Legendary Edition review for more.

1. Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition

When I started thinking about the best RPGs for beginners, Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age instantly came to mind, which is why it's my number one pick. Despite the 11 in its title, this is a standalone adventure with new characters that you can easily jump into and get swept up in, even if you've never played a Dragon Quest game before – and I'm talking from experience here, since this was the very first game in the series I played.

Taking on the role of a young man who finds out he's the reincarnation of a legendary hero known as the Luminary, you find yourself caught up in a grand adventure to get to the bottom of a mystery and a threat that looms over the world. Alongside your childhood friend and a cast of loveable characters you meet along the way, Dragon Quest 11 brings you into an inviting land, a gripping story that's easy to follow, and enjoyable turn-based combat that's not hard to pick up. Our glowing Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age review says it all.

Best RPGs for beginners FAQs

For more easy-going reccomendations check out our list of the best relaxing RPGs, or for a more casual time, we also have a ranking of the best RPGs for busy adults to play as well.

I'm always on the hunt for the best RPGs on the Switch and Switch 2. After all, I was raised as a handheld console gamer and it's still my preferred mode of playing anything, especially when it comes to my favorite genre of all time: roleplaying games. Luckily, Nintendo's hybrid consoles are packed with some of the best RPGs around, and I've decided to round-up the top 10 that still have me in a chokehold.

From Zelda appearances to JRPG goodness I've waded through the best Switch 2 games to recommend both first-party Nintendo hits, as well as third-party gems. Since it's the new console and what all future new games will be released on, all my picks here are playable on the Switch 2, be that through backwards compatibility or by the fact that they have dedicated Switch 2 editions. I've made sure to include which consoles all these RPGs are available on so that you can make the right purchase for your setup. You'll also find a "Vibe" descriptor where I indicated what kind of experience you can expect from each, as well (for more on those, read our FAQ section).

But, with all that out the way, grab your golden coins and get ready to explore the very best RPGs on the Switch and Switch 2 to pick up and play today.

The best Switch and Switch 2 RPGs, starting with...

10. Octopath Traveler 0

Our glowing Octopath Traveler 0 review calls the latest entry in the JRPG series "the strongest" yet. And, despite being a massive Octopath Traveler 2 fan, I'll admit that in terms of the top pick for Switch 2 and Switch players, that statement is correct. This is due to performance, as well as refined tactical gameplay that runs like a dream in handheld mode. If you are unfamiliar with the series, Octopath Traveler 0 is a prequel to the first game and is set on the continent of Osterra.

However, unlike previous titles that follow a group of heroes there is only one protagonist here, your own character who is on a revenge quest. You'll still be recruiting other characters but the story is a lot more streamlined and focused. There's also polished turn-based battles to enjoy and some building elements, too. If you are looking for something to easily get into, Octopath Traveler 0 is super approachable and hopefully it will also get you to explore the rest of the games in the series after.

9. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster

I love Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, and honestly, it deserves way more recognition as being one of the best JRPGs for Nintendo's latest-gen consoles. In fact, back when the Switch 2 first released in 2025 we wrote an article explaining why Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster was the hidden must-play RPG of the system. So yeah, big fans over here and trust me, you'll be as well once you take a crack at it.

The game follows four heroes who must reclaim elemental crystals from the forces of darkness to save their world. Every character is well written and there are plenty of ways to catch-up with lore when you need to. This is one of Bravely Default's charms as it respects your time, and its story is one that you can easily dip in and out of. The turn-based combat is also very fun here thanks to the "Brave points" system that allows you to use multiple actions against an enemy. This is an all-rounder folks.

8. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

As someone who also owns a Steam Deck, I can confidently say that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on the Switch 2 is the best handheld experience of the game, and it runs like a dream. In this futuristic RPG, you are a mercenary called V who is stuck with the consciousness of the rocker terrorist, Johnny Silverhand. You'll need to work together to survive and that means exploring neon streets, shooting plenty of bad guys, and navigating a dystopian urban landscape.

In our Cyberpunk 2077 review, we mention how the title is a "paragon of open-world gaming", giving you endless freedom and opportunities to build up your character and explore. It's also one of the best relaxing RPGs, and curling up to cruise around Night City with your Switch 2 on the couch is a top-tier cozy experience that I 100% recommend.

7. Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined

While Nintendo has some of the best Dragon Quest games around (and I debated adding a few on here, especially the masterpiece Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age), Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined on the Switch 2 took my breath away. If you have Ninty's new console it's currently the best experience of the iconic bunch. In this fantasy RPG, you follow a young fisherman's son on a journey to sail away from home and discover the wide world. However, to add some peril to the situation, you end up uncovering some secrets that put the fate of the world in your hands, classic stuff.

There are some time-travelling mechanics here too, which I personally love, as your actions affect the present day. So if you are looking for RPGs with meaningful consequences, this is another to add to your pile. Combat also feels snappy and never too grueling, and Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined's story will also shock you by how well it's put together. All in all, it's a cute, extremely polished JRPG.

6. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade has no business looking as good as it does on the Switch 2. But hey, I'm not complaining about getting high definition Cloud as he slashes up enemies on my console. In this RPG, you play as the mercenary Cloud, who joins an eco-terrorist group that is trying to stop an evil corporation from basically using the planet's life essence.

The great thing about this Remake is that you don't need to have played any of the best Final Fantasy games before to enjoy it. It's the start of a contained trilogy, which is perfect for any RPG fans who have been scared to dive into the FF franchise for a while now. As I mentioned above, the game runs and looks great on Nintendo's new console, and the real-time combat feels fluid and natural, too. Both as a docked or handheld experience, this is an easy Switch RPG to recommend.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Ever since it was released in 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been the main system seller for the Switch, and for good reason, it's a masterpiece. Giving us the most freedom that any Zelda game has ever had, it's an open-world action RPG that has you stepping into the shoes of the hero Link, who has to save Hyrule from calamity. As you discover towers, solve puzzles, fight roaming robots, and more, it's easy to get swept up in the Nintendo magic.

I still fully agree with our five-star The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review years later. And if you have a Switch 2, I will also mention that the upgrade to the Switch 2 edition of the game is stunning and very much worth it. So, if you love taking things at your own pace, exploring, and a cartoony art style, this has to be your next Nintendo-related purchase.

4. Pokemon Legends Arceus

I could have put a ton of Pokemon games on this list, but Pokemon Legends Arceus earns a place as one of the most unique RPGs in the series. Capturing the freedom of exploration that all of us trainers have been waiting for, you play as a kid sent back in time before the events of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, and are tasked with encountering all Pokemon in the Hisui region.

The game is easy to dip in and out of if you are strapped for time, and it puts the emphasis on catching critters instead of battling gyms. In our Pokemon Legends Arceus review, our Brand Director pointed out how this shift in focus was the stuff of her childhood dreams, and honestly, it still holds up today. I will say that performance-wise, Arceus is a bit rough. Thanks to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Switch 2 upgrade, their open worlds run a whole lot better than Pokemon Legends Arceus. However, Arceus still beats them in storytelling and its original setting, so its space on this list is safe for now.

3. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

The Switch and Switch 2 are a haven for some of the best JRPGs, but Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter still manages to stand out from the crowd. In fact, our Games Editor believes that it's a "masterclass in how remakes should be done". And I happen to firmly agree with that opinion. The game follows Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua, who are determined to become senior Bracers. However, on their journey, they end up uncovering a conspiracy and have to work with their allies to thwart a coup. Despite the dark themes, though, this is one of my new go-to comfort games that's packed with charm.

The game's writing really draws you in to care about each character, and I especially loved getting to see Estelle's development. Exploring new towns and experiencing the real-time and turn-based combat system are also a treat. Fans of the original will love it, and I'd also recommend this to JRPG newbies who want something new for their Switch 2 system. It's a great introduction to the genre and feels like a welcoming hug, too.

2. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is one of the best turn-based RPGs on the Switch, as well as a glorious tactical outing for the more strategy-minded gamers out there. Playing as Byleth, a former mercenary turned professor of one of the three houses that you'll choose from at the start of the game, you'll need to lead units into battle and decide the very fate of the continent of Fódlan in the process. Each house has its own route and story to follow, and you'll also have to piece together your mysterious past.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses still looks stunning on the Switch despite its age. Since the game has social-sim elements (romance fans rejoice) alongside its tactical gameplay, you'll see many stunning cutscenes and a very clean UI, too. I also can't recommend its story enough, and if you are after replayability, well, between all of us on the GamesRadar+ team, we've put thousands of hours into this one. For more information, check out our five-star Fire Emblem: Three Houses review.

1. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

When the Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 upgrade was announced, I squealed. Sure, it's still playable on the original Switch, but on Nintendo's newest machine, this RPG runs super smoothly, even if visuals can be a bit finicky. This is an expanded remaster of the original Wii U game and has you playing as a character who joins a group called BLADE. Together, you work to protect human survivors after crash landing on the mysterious planet known as Mira.

Xenoblade Chronicles X has a great story that will tickle any sci-fi fan pink with the fate of humanity at stake and a bunch of angry mechanized aliens out for blood. However, it's open world mechanics and auto-attack based gameplay I really love and is what makes it uber satisfying to play. It does take a while until you get your own Mech, but you'll want to make your way through all the side quests here, and take in the brilliant world-building along the way too – trust me. Oh, also prepare to wave goodbye to hundreds of hours with this one, friends.

Best Switch 2 RPGs FAQs

Next, check out our round-up of all the upcoming Switch 2 games still on the way and all of the upcoming RPGs on the horizon as well.

If you find yourself looking for the best Steam RPGs to play right now in 2026, then we're here to bring you our top recommendations.

Valve's PC gaming platform has a vast library of games to explore. So, to help you easily discover the best RPGs on Steam, I've put together this list. As a longtime fan of the genre who's spent countless hours tucking into many of the best RPGs over the years, I've tried to bring you a varied selection of the best Steam games within the genre, from those that really shine on PC, to highly rated experiences I keep coming back to, and some of the latest new games. I've also include a vibe for each entry, so you can get a general idea of the kind of experience you can expect at a glance (find out more about that in our FAQ section).

As our Steam sales guide shows, there's currently some big summer discounts going on right now too, with some of the picks included here counted among the offers, so it's well worth seeing if you snag something for less (and you can check out my pick of the best Steam Summer sale games if you're after some savings). But without further ado, read on to explore the best Steam RPGs you can play right now in 2026.

Best Steam RPGs, starting with...

10. Fallout: New Vegas

If you're after a role-playing experience you can comfortably sink lots of hours into on Steam, Fallout: New Vegas is absolutely your answer. As one of the best RPGs where choices really matter, Obsidian gives you the freedom to carve out your very own post-apocalyptic adventure, and the Mojave Wasteland will pay attention to what you do. With a karma system that gives tangible feedback whenever you misbehave or do good, it constantly feels like your presence has an impact.

Following one of the most memorable RPG openings that sees you get unceremoniously shot in the head, you create your courier protagonist, choose your starting skills and perks, and step out into the vast open-world to confront your attacker and find out what put you in a short-lived grave. You'll find it all too easy to get swept up in the many quests awaiting you, and there's always something to discover or encounter as you explore.

9. Wildermyth

Wildermyth is the kind of RPG that demands to be replayed, and it's just one of the many reasons why it rightfully has over 11,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam currently. Reminiscent of some of the best tabletop RPGs around, Worldwalker Games' blends procedural generation, tactics, and character-driven role-playing goodness to bring us a reactive RPG that's satisfyingly shaped by your choices.

Set in a papercraft-style world, you bring to life a group of heroes with their own unique histories and personalities. As you shape their journey from their humble beginnings to their heroic lifestyle, your characters can also form bonds and relationships with one another. Along the way, you'll have to navigate your way through mysteries and challenges across your heroes' lifetime. Wildermyth is filled with so much possibility, meaning no playthrough will be the same – even if you decide to reintroduce your hero in another run.

8. Caves of Qud

Not unlike some of the best CRPGs in recent years, Caves of Qud delivers a rich RPG roguelike experience that houses some deep simulation within its pixelated sci-fi setting. To give you an idea of the kind of in-depth experience you're in for, it had been in development for well over a decade before finally leaving Early Access in 2024, and boasts 15 years of worldbuilding to its name.

While there's a roguelike mode with permadeath that means you'll lose your character should you die, there's also a role-play mode that plays more like a standard RPG, allowing you to resume your run if your character falls in combat. Drawing inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons, you can build your own highly customizable character, and as a turn-based experience, the world will react after you take an action. With quests, all kinds of NPCs, and many different factions to align yourself with, Caves of Qud offers a unique and creative RPG experience.

7. Persona 5 Royal

If you want to snap up one of the best turn-based RPGs on Steam that packs a memorable story and toe-tapping soundtrack, then I can't recommend Persona 5 Royal enough. With some social sim elements at play as you choose how to spend your school days and who you bond with across calendar months, you also live out the life of a Phantom Thief who fights in the name of justice.

As protagonist Ren, who works together with his friends and peers, you delve into dungeons known as Palaces to combat the distorted desires of corrupt individuals and try to influence them to have a change of heart. By channeling the powers of different Personas, who all have their own unique styles and skills, the combat system is as stylish as it is satisfying to play with, and with an expanded story, Persona 5 Royal is well worth checking out.

6. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Taking inspiration from some of the best JRPGs over the years, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws you into an original story and setting you won't soon forget. Following a group who set out on a dangerous mission full of unexpected twists and turns, your objective is at once clear: put a stop to a mysterious figure known as the Paintress, who decides at what age people should die.

What's less clear is what's really going on in this world, or who this Paintress is or how she came to have power over life and death. But that's what makes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 so compelling. Developer Sandfall Interactive immediately impresses upon you the high stakes of the task you're trying to accomplish, and it's so easy to get invested from a role-playing perspective because of it. If you don't have this on Steam yet, then this is your sign to pick it up and give it a go.

5. Undertale

Undertale is the kind of RPG that will stay on your mind long after you've finished your first run. Taking on the role of a human who finds themselves falling into a world of monsters, you set out to find your way back out. As you do, you'll encounter all kinds of critters and creatures, and how you navigate past them is up to you. With a battle system that allows you to avoid hurting or killing anything if you so choose, you can do a full pacifist run, or take a more violent route.

Whatever you choose to do will determine the direction of the story and its outcome, and if you decide to see the other side of things in a new playthrough… Well, the RPG will recognize that in the most memorable way. With meaningful moments, surprises, and so much depth hidden beneath the surface of its pixelated art style, Undertale is one of the most memorable story-driven RPGs on Steam.

4. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

As one of the best first-person RPGs to land in 2025, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a must-play on Steam for anyone who's looking for an engrossing, rich role-playing experience. Set during the 15th-century in Europe, Warhorse throws you into a sweeping journey across a medieval open-world as Henry of Skalitz. Setting out to seek revenge for his murdered parents, you'll get caught up in intriguing machinations, have to help your companion Hans Capon out of more than one bind, and decide how you take every step through the story.

Of course, there are so many ways to spend your time outside of the main questlines, with so many discoveries to make, memorable characters to meet, and locations to explore. Heck, you could even spend your time blacksmithing or brewing potions if you so desire. While progress can feel quite slow at first, stick with it, and you'll be in for a grand old time on Steam.

3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

It's hard to believe The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt first released over 10 years ago, but that speaks to just how effectively it continues to capture longtime players and newcomers alike. As one of the best open world RPGs to this day, the sweeping story of Geralt of Rivia, who sets out to find his ward Ciri, is hard to forget. But so are the many side quests the game draws you into, with moral dilemmas that aren't so cut and dry often presented to you as you navigate through the sprawling landscapes of Novigrad, or the Skellige Isles.

Going off the beaten path could lead you to a cave with some curiosity, or a local who needs a monster slayer like you to help them out. And with some incredible expansions that round off Geralt's adventure (and a new one that's dropping in 2027), The Witcher 3 continues to be one RPG you absolutely need in your collection if you're a role-playing fan.

2. Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium is another standout RPG on Steam that absolutely deserves to take up residence in your library. Following detective Harrier Du Bois, you go from trying to root out what the heck happened the night before, to having an identity crisis, and then getting swept up in a bigger, broader mystery. With a deep and unique skill system that lets you shape the kind of person and detective you want to become, you can decide to be the heroic type, or, in the words of ZA/UM, "a bit of a disaster".

And that's the real beauty of Disco Elysium, with so many possibilities presented to you as you navigate the city and try to solve murders, it really feels like you can role-play your way. From making the most of the game's dialogue system to ask questions, make observations, or cause a bit of chaos, to using tools to open up new avenues, you won't forget your time with this hard-boiled detective.

1. Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the best fantasy RPGs with consequences, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone who's yet to pick it up on Steam and step into Larian's engrossing adventure. Not only can you role-play your way with so much freedom to shape your own customizable character and decide how they handle any given situation, but the game also directly recognizes and reacts to your every choice.

This kind of tangible feedback makes it feel like you're directly impacting the world around you and the people within it. Not to mention that you'll also entirely shape how the story plays out and ultimately ends when you reach the conclusion of the third and final act of the RPG. Many upcoming RPGs will no doubt be measured against Baldur's Gate 3's level of possibility and role-playing depth for years to come, and after you discover this memorable adventure for yourself, you'll understand why.

Best Steam RPGS FAQs

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best tactical RPGs. Or if you want more Valve goodness, we also have a ranking of the best Steam Deck games that you should check out right now as well.

One thing the best real-time combat RPGs have in common is a taste for the extravagant. All the games on this list offer something unique, where combat is more exciting and complex than simply bonking enemies over the head. Some are shooters that do something different to expand upon the series' DNA, while others go the extra mile in delivering realistic melee action.

My favorites are those that shine for their broader approaches, enabling you to craft combat and character builds that best reflect your personal strengths as you tailor-made your specifications accordingly. If you want some of the best action-RPGs interspersed with flavors of the best turn-based RPGs (only hold the turns), you've come to the right place. I've scoured the digital shelves to bring you the most iconic real-time combat experiences in RPG history, as well as ascribing each with a specific "vibe" (which you can read more about in our FAQ section) to help you match the game to your current cravings.

We have a lot of ground to cover, so put those dice away and let's get stuck into the best real-time combat RPGs to play right now in 2026!

The best real time combat RPGs, starting with...

10. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

It's one of the more obscure Final Fantasy games out there, but Team Ninja brings its A-game to deliver what's considered some of the best real-time RPG combat in a third-person action game yet. Set in a dark fantasy reimagining of the iconic Atlus series, Stranger of Paradise sees hero Jack go to various locations that might be familiar to long-time FF fans to go head-to-head with its biggest, baddest bad guys.

Switching between assigned "jobs" (aka playstyles) lets you chop and change between magic and melee playstyles, with the majority of combat encounters involving wearing down an enemy's "break" bar to perform devastating finishers. Be warned: this game is pretty out there. Our tepid Stranger of Paradise review proves that it's definitely an acquired taste among the best Final Fantasy games, but if you're hankering for something both silly and brooding with excellent real-time combat, you should make your mind up yourself.

9. Mass Effect 3

The final instalment of BioWare's gripping trilogy has the best real-time RPG combat of the bunch. By refining the once-clunky cover shooter to emphasize gunplay, improve companion AI, and let you actually move properly, Mass Effect 3 delivers an epic narrative-led journey where combat encounters feel fun rather than a drag.

Still, the original is pretty clunky now that it's almost 15 years old. You can play it in the remastered bundle, though, and it's one of the reasons our Mass Effect Legendary Edition review rightly points out the series' "unmissable" charm. With just the right amount of old-meets-new-school for the narrative RPG superfans out there who, like me, never got a chance to play the original titles, I'd forgive you for speeding through the first couple of games just to experience how satisfying Mass Effect 3 delivers on the action this shooter series promised us from the start.

8. Assassin's Creed Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows perfected the dual protagonist notion that developer Ubisoft Quebec first put forward in Syndicate. Naoe and Yasuke are like yin and yang; one is a stealthy shinobi, flitting through the trees, crawling in the undercroft, a hidden blade in the darkness. Yasuke, meanwhile, is our tanky samurai hero. This balance means that Shadows offers the best real-time combat in an Assassin's Creed RPG by a long shot.

Our Assassin's Creed Shadows review can testify that this is the "best-in-class combat" in AC history. Each protagonist fights uniquely, meaning their tools of the trade also differ. Naoe's arsenal gives you a choice between Tanto blades, flail-like kusarigama, or the trusty katana, while Yasuke has bows, guns, swords, clubs… the list goes on. Experimenting with weapons means you never feel locked out of changing things up, though it's just as easy to find and stick to a playstyle you love.

7. Path of Exile 2

All about isometric experiences? Path of Exile 2 is the RPG for you. Don't be fooled by the top-down elements; this gorgeous fantasy adventure is as immersive as any of the best third-person RPGS. Each of its 12 character classes specializes in any two of special stats, from dexterity to strength and beyond, making it one of the most nuanced of the best real-time combat RPGs on this list.

It's still in Early Access, meaning much of it is liable to change, but developer Grinding Gear Games has already impressed me with its smart improvements on the blueprint set out by the first game and its many updates. Our Path of Exile 2 early access review is right in calling it "a stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure," and if you want to get in on the ground floor to experience the action for yourself, you know what to do.

6. Hades 2

Supergiant's narrative roguelike-meets-RPG has never been more satisfying. Praised in our Hades 2 review for its "impeccable" action, Hades 2 expands the first game's real-time combat to lean into Princess of Hell Melinoe's skills as a young witch. Each of the Nocturnal Arms speaks to a different playstyle, from the missile-launching Black Coat to the twin-dagger Sister Blades, Moonstone Axe, and more.

Each weapon has a set of unique Aspects to unlock, changing its movesets and adding special abilities. Switching up your Arcana deck also helps augment your playstyle to the needs of each weapon, and paired with the wealth of boons you'll be picking up on your quest to kill Time, every little customization tweak comes in handy. This is one godly little RPG you absolutely need in your real-time toolbox, and now that it's launched on console as well as PC, your list of viable excuses has officially run out.

5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Hyper-realism is the name of the game when it comes to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. It's by far one of the most impressive and best real-time RPG combat systems out there, with developer Warhorse Studios going out of its way to emphasize historical accuracy when it comes to portraying the real heft of an old-timey sword fight.

The first-person framework makes it all the more immersive, as our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 review attests to. As Henry of Skalitz, you'll be getting into all sorts of trouble, especially in those first grueling opening hours, but pushing through the tough times makes it all the more worthwhile to see Henry come out on top in battle. It's a vast improvement on the last Kingdom Come: Deliverance, with better graphical fidelity, more narrative and system density, and a far more refined combat system than ever before, so it's well worth your time.

4. Dragon's Dogma 2

If there's more to Dragon's Dogma 2 than climbing huge monsters, plunging a spear into them, and getting backup from your band of trusty Pawns, I don't want to know. Capcom's gorgeous medieval fantasy RPG has some of the most entertaining real-time combat in recent memory, spanning a range of vocations with specific special skills to master on your Arisen's quest to defeat their winged nemesis.

The caveat here is that the story isn't terrible, but it's not all that great either. It's far more comprehensible than Crimson Desert's, though; enough to make adventuring across its two massive open worlds feel purposeful. The focus on environmental reactivity here means that a peaceful cart ride can turn into an ogre attack, or a spot of resource farming leading you into a nest of harpies. If a taste of adventure is what you're after, put it this way: "embrace the chaos" is literally the name of our Dragon's Dogma 2 review.

3. SpellForce: The Order of Dawn

SpellForce is iconic for a very good reason. Taking elements from RTS games and merging them with third-person exploration, SpellForce: The Order of Dawn still stands as one of the most inventive and best real-time combat RPGs more than two decades later since it launched in 2003. Don't worry about hunting down your ancient PC tower, though. Thanks to 2009's SpellForce Platinum collection, now on Steam, you can enjoy the high fantasy adventure on your modern-day hardware.

The Order of Dawn uses a skills-based character-building system rather than having specific classes (much like Divinity: Original Sin 2), meaning you're free to invest points in whichever traits and skills speak to you. It's a fun and flexible way to tailor-make your character to your specific tastes, and few games measure up to its breadth to this day.

2. Elden Ring

If brutal dark fantasy is your vibe, then Elden Ring should be your top priority when it comes to the best real-time combat RPGs to play next. It managed to unseat even the likes of Dark Souls as the de facto best FromSoftware game of all time, riffing off the developer's Soulsborne ARPG format and planting it in a vast open world.

I'll be honest here: Elden Ring is not for everyone. It's one of the most humbling video games I've ever played, with speccing out your build to perfection making the difference between victory and defeat. Still, the way you go about it is up to you. High-DPS rapid attacks? Slow yet powerful Greatswords? Magic? The choice is yours in the Lands Between, and as long as you have sharp reflexes, it's the recipe for an RPG that's "the best of its brethren" according to our Elden Ring review.

1. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Just when you think you've seen the dizzying heights of V's abilities, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty doubles down on them. CD Projekt Red's stunning romp through Night City is without a doubt one of the best real-time RPGs of all-time, blending high-stakes narrative choice with frenetic FPS action to deliver a thrilling sandbox you'll want to experience over and over again. So much so, I played it four times back-to-back.

As our Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review explains, its customizable combat system is a huge part of what makes each replay feel unique. With four different operating systems – from stealthy hacking with a cyberdeck to slowing time with a Sandevistan for some melee moves – and a huge branching skill tree that expands with the DLC, it's pretty impossible to get bored in Night City. The sheer breadth of its real-time combat makes Cyberpunk 2077 one of the most exciting, dynamic RPGs I've ever played.

Best real-time combat RPGs FAQs

For more recommendations, read our lists of the best soulslike games and the best single-player RPGs.

Games like Persona 5 don't come around too often. The 2016 RPG has remained iconic for a decade for good reason, blending together an epically scoped modern-day-set story with incredibly slick and stylish turn-based combat, and a cast of unforgettable characters to boot.

But, like leveling up in order to battle a mythological god, I'm up for the challenge. Persona 5 remains a very special game to me, but it's still part of a larger gaming conversation. Throughout the best JRPGs, plenty have attempted and succeeded at similar goals to Persona. Even outside of that genre, the sheer style of Persona 5 has some other contemporaries, whether that's pure aesthetic joy or similarly exploring modern-day Tokyo street culture.

Join me below as I count down my ten best picks for games like Persona 5. Some may surprise you, some may be obvious, but I'm sure you'll find something new to fall in love among them. I've also made sure to include what kind of vibe each title offers (which you can learn about in our FAQ section), so that you know what you are in for straight away. Also, to keep the recommendations going, I'd love to know what else you think Persona 5 fans should try in the comments below.

The best games like Persona 5 to play, starting with...

10. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

I'm often asked where to start with The Legend of Heroes: Trails. For Persona 5 fans, I always have the same answer: start with The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel. These might not be the most modern entries in the series (it launched on PS Vita, after all), but they remain immensely playable, and recent ports mean the whole quadrilogy is readily available on current consoles.

Following a familiar calendar system, and revolving around a special military school class of capable young adventurers, there's plenty of options to grow closer to your classmates as the school year takes you through a series of field trip quests. Battles are fast-paced, with an in-depth system that means you can get pretty detailed with customizing your party's abilities. It might not have the level of stylish polish Persona 5 boasts, but Trails of Cold Steel still has plenty of heart, and if you're looking for character dynamics you can care about and a similar epic structure, this is a trip well worth taking.

9. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

Simply put, if you like Persona 5, I think you'll like Danganronpa. Despite this being a mystery adventure game with loads of visual novel-style reading instead of, you know, a battling RPG, there's a lot of crossover appeal. Just look at the larger-than-life, colorful character designs, or those bopping tunes as you pick apart testimonies to get to the bottom of intricate murder mysteries. The "dark blend of macabre and comedic dialogue" we loved in our Danganronpa review has aged well enough to return to even today.

Just like Persona 5, Danganronpa also has a dense narrative centering on young adults in a school environment, with the murders you have to investigate also delving into the depths of the human psyche. Visually, it's devoted to being downright stylish at all times, especially during play. Danganronpa's bullet-based arguments that have you blasting evidence to shatter words that appear on screen have a similar vibe to Persona 5's slick action and battle menus that are consistently a thrill to interact with. I rest my case.

8. Demonschool

Demonschool's retro-inspired pixel aesthetic and grid-based battles more immediately calls back to the classic stylings of Persona and Persona 2, but the modern approach to storytelling still tips a cap towards the likes of Persona 5. In any case, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that this supernatural RPG that has a huge cast of young adults kicking the heck out of grisly undead should be very much of interest to Persona fans.

In fact, in our Demonschool review, we said that "this Persona-inspired RPG is full of fun, flair, and ready to chomp away at your free time". Working through a school year means that Faye's quest to unravel the paranormal conspiracy of Hemsk College is hefty, but it also has a bite-sized structure that makes it easy to play through a bit at a time. Rather than lengthy dungeons, each major event has its own distinct battle that's as much a puzzle as it is a fight, having you work through character combos and plan out turns in advance in order to seal the demonic portal at the end of each map. You absolutely need to try this one.

7. Jet Set Radio

What do you mean Jet Set Radio isn't an RPG? In this stylish adventure, you're role-playing as a graffiti artist crew on a mission to tag up Tokyo-To and fight back against an oppressive government and, eventually, a bizarre mafia crew. Even over a decade on, we noted that "it's still got it" in our Jet Set Radio HD review. It's still true.

OK, OK, it's not really an RPG. Both this and sequel Jet Set Radio Future have an arcadey flair, challenging you to grind, leap, and trick across chunks of level in order to lay down your own, customizable artwork in each cyberpunk-tinged area of the city while avoiding rival gangs. But, not only is Jet Set Radio set in fictionalized versions of several locations that also appear in Persona 5, it embraces that flavor of modern Japanese street culture. If what really appealed to you about Persona 5 was its setting and sense of style, you'll find it in spades in Jet Set Radio.

6. Neo: The World Ends With You

Neo: The World Ends With You (or, equally, its predecessor, The World Ends With You) will appeal to any Persona 5 fans who are enamored with that game's presentation of modern day Tokyo. Just as, if not more, engaged with Japanese street culture than Persona 5, this has you questing across a colorfully presented version of Shibuya, Japan.

Thrust into the mysterious Reaper's Game, Rindo is forced to team up with classmates Fret and Nagi in order to survive against rival teams, running about Shibuya in order to clear each day's challenge. Each party member has special abilities that can help out in fast-paced battles, with special pin badges and even outfits providing bonuses. Abilities can also be used outside of battle, with Persona 5-like reality warping natures, like being able to supernaturally remind NPCs of certain topics.

5. Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the seventh game in the long-running crime series, but also acts as a soft reboot, shifting the action from brawler Kazuma Kiryu to the charming Ichiban Kasuga. While he's also handy in a fight, a devotion to Dragon Quest means that playing as him shifts the action from real-time combat to turn-based brawls, a job system having his party transform to use silly and over-the-top abilities. It's a switch we called "a confident step in a different direction" in our Yakuza: Like a Dragon review.

This set-up nods explicitly to Square Enix's famous RPG series, but Sega are also able to bring a lot of Persona 5 inspiration as well. Drink links, for instance, are a humorous nod to Persona 5's social links, and are a way of improving your party bonds over a cold one at your favorite bar. On top of that, set in the modern day, the urban backdrop is a close match to Persona's settings, and with just as stylishly presented combat, this is an easy recommendation for any Persona 5 fan.

4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is so much like Persona 5 that it almost feels like a direct response. While modern entries in this tactical RPG series have always played with bonding systems between named units, Three Houses saw that come front and center, revolving around students attached to a particular house at a school – with you choosing which of the three you want to teach.

Not only does that give Fire Emblem: Three Houses a more young adult entrypoint to the RPG's epic narrative, similar to Persona 5, but also means you juggle setting out for battle with school activities, and with a calendar system to boot – a completely new element to this long-running RPG series. It's a combination so good that we called it "a masterclass in emotionally gripping tactics" in our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review. For any Persona 5 fan looking to check out Fire Emblem for the first time, this is an absolute must-play.

3. Metaphor ReFantazio