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RPG Ranking Thread
haha a nice day to you all fellas, I'd join you but I'm not a ***
no disrespect of course.
Last edited by jdcp on December 13th, 2025, 08:08, edited 1 time in total.
If the fact that there are people out there dumb enough to push through pain to practice it is enough to make something a sport, then putting things in your butt is a sport.
VAE VICTIS
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maidenhaver
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Prostitution isn't a sport either.Oyster Sauce wrote: ↑ December 13th, 2025, 07:58Jumping is just a thing you can do. It's like making going prone as fast as possible a sport.jdcp wrote: ↑ December 13th, 2025, 07:46Do we live in the same dimension?J1M wrote: ↑ December 13th, 2025, 07:13High jump isn't a sport. It's a contest.
A real sport needs to incorporate more than one dimension, such that in theory three teams could have a rock-paper-scissors relationship.
High Jump is a sport.
@rusty_shackleford I'm trying to grapple the implications of RPG being the ur-genre. Does that mean I can nominate Republic Commando for Adventurer's Guild?
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rusty_shackleford
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It means that Republic Commando needs RPG elements to be a good gameJ1M wrote: ↑ December 14th, 2025, 19:09@rusty_shackleford I'm trying to grapple the implications of RPG being the ur-genre. Does that mean I can nominate Republic Commando for Adventurer's Guild?
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maidenhaver
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It has party management. That's an element.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ December 14th, 2025, 19:10It means that Republic Commando needs RPG elements to be a good gameJ1M wrote: ↑ December 14th, 2025, 19:09@rusty_shackleford I'm trying to grapple the implications of RPG being the ur-genre. Does that mean I can nominate Republic Commando for Adventurer's Guild?
Party size of 4 brothers.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ December 14th, 2025, 19:10It means that Republic Commando needs RPG elements to be a good gameJ1M wrote: ↑ December 14th, 2025, 19:09@rusty_shackleford I'm trying to grapple the implications of RPG being the ur-genre. Does that mean I can nominate Republic Commando for Adventurer's Guild?
Party can be given commands.
Brothers have traits that make them better at certain actions.
Agro/threat mechanic.
Multiple types of damage.
Upgraded weapons obtained over time.
Squad tactics.
Fight dire bugs, ghosts, robots.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Baldur's Gate
Kenshi
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Baldur's Gate
Kenshi
Last edited by DemoGraph on February 3rd, 2026, 13:56, edited 1 time in total.
Iren's PbP - Felix
Surprised Bloodlines is so high. I like it too but the combat is stinky poopy
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- Dark Souls 1 only
- Torment: Tides of Numenera
- Pathfinder: Kingmaker
- Tyranny
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
My spirit will rise from the grave and the world will see i was right.
My spirit will rise from the grave and the world will see i was right.
1. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2. DRAGON AGE ORIGINS
3. World of Warcraft
4. Chrono Trigger
5. Skyrim
2. DRAGON AGE ORIGINS
3. World of Warcraft
4. Chrono Trigger
5. Skyrim
So you want to replace your previous vote?BosanskiSeljak wrote: ↑ February 5th, 2026, 22:281. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2. DRAGON AGE ORIGINS
3. World of Warcraft
4. Chrono Trigger
5. Skyrim
1. Gothic
2. Gothic 2
3. The Witcher
4. Geneforge
5. Fallout
I prefer his older vote.Jordy wrote: ↑ February 5th, 2026, 22:35So you want to replace your previous vote?BosanskiSeljak wrote: ↑ February 5th, 2026, 22:281. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2. DRAGON AGE ORIGINS
3. World of Warcraft
4. Chrono Trigger
5. Skyrim
1. Gothic
2. Gothic 2
3. The Witcher
4. Geneforge
5. Fallout
Jordy wrote: ↑ February 5th, 2026, 22:35So you want to replace your previous vote?BosanskiSeljak wrote: ↑ February 5th, 2026, 22:281. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2. DRAGON AGE ORIGINS
3. World of Warcraft
4. Chrono Trigger
5. Skyrim
1. Gothic
2. Gothic 2
3. The Witcher
4. Geneforge
5. Fallout

Steam friend code: 1525876263
YesJordy wrote: ↑ February 5th, 2026, 22:35So you want to replace your previous vote?BosanskiSeljak wrote: ↑ February 5th, 2026, 22:281. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2. DRAGON AGE ORIGINS
3. World of Warcraft
4. Chrono Trigger
5. Skyrim
1. Gothic
2. Gothic 2
3. The Witcher
4. Geneforge
5. Fallout
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rusty_shackleford
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rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ July 29th, 2024, 05:04
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
- Divinity: Original Sin
- ELEX
- Mass Effect
- ATOM RPG
► OLD
With the passage of time, as well as restricting myself from nominating any game I've played in the last couple years for the first time to prevent recency bias, I've updated my list.
I find it very hard to actually make a list of 5 because there are games I want to put there but then I think and they're a top 5 but only if I'm in the right mood.
For example, if I'm up for playing DOS games with all the quirks that brings, then Albion and Ultima Underworld are there among any other game. But I have to be in a very specific mood for it. So I guess I need to pick games that I'd be up for playing any time…
I'd also like to pick five that I'd be fine being restricted to playing for a long period of time, so gotta pick ones that aren't too samey…
- Arcanum, Everyone who was around during the 'RPG renaissance era' has their own favorite from the pack(one of Fallout/2, IE games, etc.,) Mine's Arcanum. Wish I kept my original copy/box.
- Divinity: Original Sin, I played it for hours at release, I was heavily engrossed in it. Fairytale-esque setting, lots of immershun, good combat/AI. Just fun. Lots of stuff you can do that I didn't really see much at all prior.
- ELEX could be a stand-in for any of the good PB games, but I'd say ELEX is their best. Risen 2 & 3 are underrated imo.
- Mass Effect almost purely for setting. Being able to explore a well-executed and interesting setting can turn an average game into one of the best.
- ATOM RPG, it's pretty much Fallout with a lot of improvements. One of the very few nostalgia-bait era RPGs that delivered, fitting that it came from a bunch of nobodies instead of washed up devs.
The last 3 are completely interchangeable in my personal ranking.
Also, I excluded online-only RPGs.
Nobody else mentioned Divinity: Original Sin? Really?
@Jordy
If a developer wanted to take anything away from the RPG ranking list, it's that balance barely matters, most of the top games are incredibly unbalanced.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Steam friend code: 40552640 https://steamcommunity.com/friends/add | email: [email protected]
Having trouble running an old Windows game?
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I was going to nominate Divinity: Original Sin for next month's AG. I've played BG3 multiple times now, but have yet to touch Larian's previous games that laid out the groundwork for it.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ February 13th, 2026, 13:33rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ July 29th, 2024, 05:04
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
- Divinity: Original Sin
- ELEX
- Mass Effect
- ATOM RPG
► OLD
With the passage of time, as well as restricting myself from nominating any game I've played in the last couple years for the first time to prevent recency bias, I've updated my list.
![]()
I find it very hard to actually make a list of 5 because there are games I want to put there but then I think and they're a top 5 but only if I'm in the right mood.![]()
For example, if I'm up for playing DOS games with all the quirks that brings, then Albion and Ultima Underworld are there among any other game. But I have to be in a very specific mood for it. So I guess I need to pick games that I'd be up for playing any time…![]()
I'd also like to pick five that I'd be fine being restricted to playing for a long period of time, so gotta pick ones that aren't too samey…
- Arcanum, Everyone who was around during the 'RPG renaissance era' has their own favorite from the pack(one of Fallout/2, IE games, etc.,) Mine's Arcanum. Wish I kept my original copy/box.
- Divinity: Original Sin, I played it for hours at release, I was heavily engrossed in it. Fairytale-esque setting, lots of immershun, good combat/AI. Just fun. Lots of stuff you can do that I didn't really see much at all prior.
- ELEX could be a stand-in for any of the good PB games, but I'd say ELEX is their best. Risen 2 & 3 are underrated imo.
- Mass Effect almost purely for setting. Being able to explore a well-executed and interesting setting can turn an average game into one of the best.
- ATOM RPG, it's pretty much Fallout with a lot of improvements. One of the very few nostalgia-bait era RPGs that delivered, fitting that it came from a bunch of nobodies instead of washed up devs.
The last 3 are completely interchangeable in my personal ranking.
Also, I excluded online-only RPGs.
Nobody else mentioned Divinity: Original Sin? Really?
@Jordy
If a developer wanted to take anything away from the RPG ranking list, it's that balance barely matters, most of the top games are incredibly unbalanced.
I hate them.
Appreciate the amount of thought you put into this but I'm going to deny you this change.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ February 13th, 2026, 13:33rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ July 29th, 2024, 05:04
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
- Divinity: Original Sin
- ELEX
- Mass Effect
- ATOM RPG
► OLD
With the passage of time, as well as restricting myself from nominating any game I've played in the last couple years for the first time to prevent recency bias, I've updated my list.
![]()
I find it very hard to actually make a list of 5 because there are games I want to put there but then I think and they're a top 5 but only if I'm in the right mood.![]()
For example, if I'm up for playing DOS games with all the quirks that brings, then Albion and Ultima Underworld are there among any other game. But I have to be in a very specific mood for it. So I guess I need to pick games that I'd be up for playing any time…![]()
I'd also like to pick five that I'd be fine being restricted to playing for a long period of time, so gotta pick ones that aren't too samey…
- Arcanum, Everyone who was around during the 'RPG renaissance era' has their own favorite from the pack(one of Fallout/2, IE games, etc.,) Mine's Arcanum. Wish I kept my original copy/box.
- Divinity: Original Sin, I played it for hours at release, I was heavily engrossed in it. Fairytale-esque setting, lots of immershun, good combat/AI. Just fun. Lots of stuff you can do that I didn't really see much at all prior.
- ELEX could be a stand-in for any of the good PB games, but I'd say ELEX is their best. Risen 2 & 3 are underrated imo.
- Mass Effect almost purely for setting. Being able to explore a well-executed and interesting setting can turn an average game into one of the best.
- ATOM RPG, it's pretty much Fallout with a lot of improvements. One of the very few nostalgia-bait era RPGs that delivered, fitting that it came from a bunch of nobodies instead of washed up devs.
The last 3 are completely interchangeable in my personal ranking.
Also, I excluded online-only RPGs.
Nobody else mentioned Divinity: Original Sin? Really?
@Jordy
If a developer wanted to take anything away from the RPG ranking list, it's that balance barely matters, most of the top games are incredibly unbalanced.
Updated
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rusty_shackleford
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Their older games are underrated. Divine Divinity and Divinity II (not DOS2), they have a lot of obvious bowing to publisher demands for what was popular at the time but the charm still shines thru.Bhaalspawn Jr wrote: ↑ February 13th, 2026, 13:43I was going to nominate Divinity: Original Sin for next month's AG. I've played BG3 multiple times now, but have yet to touch Larian's previous games that laid out the groundwork for it.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ February 13th, 2026, 13:33rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ July 29th, 2024, 05:04
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
- Divinity: Original Sin
- ELEX
- Mass Effect
- ATOM RPG
► OLD
With the passage of time, as well as restricting myself from nominating any game I've played in the last couple years for the first time to prevent recency bias, I've updated my list.
![]()
I find it very hard to actually make a list of 5 because there are games I want to put there but then I think and they're a top 5 but only if I'm in the right mood.![]()
For example, if I'm up for playing DOS games with all the quirks that brings, then Albion and Ultima Underworld are there among any other game. But I have to be in a very specific mood for it. So I guess I need to pick games that I'd be up for playing any time…![]()
I'd also like to pick five that I'd be fine being restricted to playing for a long period of time, so gotta pick ones that aren't too samey…
- Arcanum, Everyone who was around during the 'RPG renaissance era' has their own favorite from the pack(one of Fallout/2, IE games, etc.,) Mine's Arcanum. Wish I kept my original copy/box.
- Divinity: Original Sin, I played it for hours at release, I was heavily engrossed in it. Fairytale-esque setting, lots of immershun, good combat/AI. Just fun. Lots of stuff you can do that I didn't really see much at all prior.
- ELEX could be a stand-in for any of the good PB games, but I'd say ELEX is their best. Risen 2 & 3 are underrated imo.
- Mass Effect almost purely for setting. Being able to explore a well-executed and interesting setting can turn an average game into one of the best.
- ATOM RPG, it's pretty much Fallout with a lot of improvements. One of the very few nostalgia-bait era RPGs that delivered, fitting that it came from a bunch of nobodies instead of washed up devs.
The last 3 are completely interchangeable in my personal ranking.
Also, I excluded online-only RPGs.
Nobody else mentioned Divinity: Original Sin? Really?
@Jordy
If a developer wanted to take anything away from the RPG ranking list, it's that balance barely matters, most of the top games are incredibly unbalanced.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Steam friend code: 40552640 https://steamcommunity.com/friends/add | email: [email protected]
Having trouble running an old Windows game?
Rusty's Stuff Collection
Steam friend code: 40552640 https://steamcommunity.com/friends/add | email: [email protected]
Having trouble running an old Windows game?
Rusty's Stuff Collection
I've got about 80 hours in the first game but never finished it. The story completely lost me at some point.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ February 13th, 2026, 13:33rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ July 29th, 2024, 05:04
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
- Divinity: Original Sin
- ELEX
- Mass Effect
- ATOM RPG
► OLD
With the passage of time, as well as restricting myself from nominating any game I've played in the last couple years for the first time to prevent recency bias, I've updated my list.
![]()
I find it very hard to actually make a list of 5 because there are games I want to put there but then I think and they're a top 5 but only if I'm in the right mood.![]()
For example, if I'm up for playing DOS games with all the quirks that brings, then Albion and Ultima Underworld are there among any other game. But I have to be in a very specific mood for it. So I guess I need to pick games that I'd be up for playing any time…![]()
I'd also like to pick five that I'd be fine being restricted to playing for a long period of time, so gotta pick ones that aren't too samey…
- Arcanum, Everyone who was around during the 'RPG renaissance era' has their own favorite from the pack(one of Fallout/2, IE games, etc.,) Mine's Arcanum. Wish I kept my original copy/box.
- Divinity: Original Sin, I played it for hours at release, I was heavily engrossed in it. Fairytale-esque setting, lots of immershun, good combat/AI. Just fun. Lots of stuff you can do that I didn't really see much at all prior.
- ELEX could be a stand-in for any of the good PB games, but I'd say ELEX is their best. Risen 2 & 3 are underrated imo.
- Mass Effect almost purely for setting. Being able to explore a well-executed and interesting setting can turn an average game into one of the best.
- ATOM RPG, it's pretty much Fallout with a lot of improvements. One of the very few nostalgia-bait era RPGs that delivered, fitting that it came from a bunch of nobodies instead of washed up devs.
The last 3 are completely interchangeable in my personal ranking.
Also, I excluded online-only RPGs.
Nobody else mentioned Divinity: Original Sin? Really?
@Jordy
If a developer wanted to take anything away from the RPG ranking list, it's that balance barely matters, most of the top games are incredibly unbalanced.
What did you think of Divinity: Original Sin 2?
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rusty_shackleford
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DOS2 is very good but I prefer the first one solely because the story is more lighthearted. But yes, the plot does fall apart after act 1 which is alone longer than most RPGs. When you beat the final boss of the first act you remember that the entire thing was just a detour for the reason you were even there.Jordy wrote: ↑ February 13th, 2026, 13:53I've got about 80 hours in the first game but never finished it. The story completely lost me at some point.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ February 13th, 2026, 13:33rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ July 29th, 2024, 05:04
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
- Divinity: Original Sin
- ELEX
- Mass Effect
- ATOM RPG
► OLD
With the passage of time, as well as restricting myself from nominating any game I've played in the last couple years for the first time to prevent recency bias, I've updated my list.
![]()
I find it very hard to actually make a list of 5 because there are games I want to put there but then I think and they're a top 5 but only if I'm in the right mood.![]()
For example, if I'm up for playing DOS games with all the quirks that brings, then Albion and Ultima Underworld are there among any other game. But I have to be in a very specific mood for it. So I guess I need to pick games that I'd be up for playing any time…![]()
I'd also like to pick five that I'd be fine being restricted to playing for a long period of time, so gotta pick ones that aren't too samey…
- Arcanum, Everyone who was around during the 'RPG renaissance era' has their own favorite from the pack(one of Fallout/2, IE games, etc.,) Mine's Arcanum. Wish I kept my original copy/box.
- Divinity: Original Sin, I played it for hours at release, I was heavily engrossed in it. Fairytale-esque setting, lots of immershun, good combat/AI. Just fun. Lots of stuff you can do that I didn't really see much at all prior.
- ELEX could be a stand-in for any of the good PB games, but I'd say ELEX is their best. Risen 2 & 3 are underrated imo.
- Mass Effect almost purely for setting. Being able to explore a well-executed and interesting setting can turn an average game into one of the best.
- ATOM RPG, it's pretty much Fallout with a lot of improvements. One of the very few nostalgia-bait era RPGs that delivered, fitting that it came from a bunch of nobodies instead of washed up devs.
The last 3 are completely interchangeable in my personal ranking.
Also, I excluded online-only RPGs.
Nobody else mentioned Divinity: Original Sin? Really?
@Jordy
If a developer wanted to take anything away from the RPG ranking list, it's that balance barely matters, most of the top games are incredibly unbalanced.
What did you think of Divinity: Original Sin 2?
Last edited by rusty_shackleford on February 13th, 2026, 13:56, edited 1 time in total.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Steam friend code: 40552640 https://steamcommunity.com/friends/add | email: [email protected]
Having trouble running an old Windows game?
Rusty's Stuff Collection
Steam friend code: 40552640 https://steamcommunity.com/friends/add | email: [email protected]
Having trouble running an old Windows game?
Rusty's Stuff Collection
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rusty_shackleford
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Both games would be greatly improved with another enhanced edition that just adds hand placed loot. Swen did an interview recently about how much better it is than rng loot so at least he learned.
Last edited by rusty_shackleford on February 13th, 2026, 14:01, edited 1 time in total.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Steam friend code: 40552640 https://steamcommunity.com/friends/add | email: [email protected]
Having trouble running an old Windows game?
Rusty's Stuff Collection
Steam friend code: 40552640 https://steamcommunity.com/friends/add | email: [email protected]
Having trouble running an old Windows game?
Rusty's Stuff Collection
Also, to prevent trolling, I'm going to put a 1 month cooldown per person on changing votes.
1. Gothic 2
2. Dragon Age Origins
3. Mass Effect
4. Warband mostly because mods and specifically Anno Domini 1257
5. the Witcher 2
2. Dragon Age Origins
3. Mass Effect
4. Warband mostly because mods and specifically Anno Domini 1257
5. the Witcher 2
