What is CRPG? 15 Best CRPGs on PC

Hello fellow adventurer. If you are familiar with CRPG then you surely are a very interesting person. Congrats on that! But if you don’t know much about them don’t stress it. Because we will get you up to speed about the general idea by the end of this article.

We will cover its definition, history, future and everything in between. Who knows, by the end of it you might even want to try one out for yourselves. So without much ado let us begin.

What is a CRPG?

To define it technically, a computer role-playing game is one where the player controls every action and speech of character in a well-made environment. Moreover, the entire activity often revolves around a definite and finely crafted plot.

There is a lot of variation in themes of these games. They range from action to adventure to romance. And of course there also some graphic content and graphic-based CRPGs. But I don’t really want to talk about them much.

It is a deeper level to which we perceive computer games. No longer is it just driving around a car or shooting a random guy walking on the street. In order to know true CRPG meaning, let me walk you in the past.

Ancestry

Well, these games are actually kind of a hybrid between old fashioned D&D and modern computer games. Hence, bringing the best in both worlds. If you have not played Dungeons and Dragons then you might have at least seen some nerds on a sitcom play it.

People pretending to be wizards, dwarfs, and healers; being amused by it and losing themselves in the story. While D&D required you to imagine a world of its own, most video games showed you one. Adding a visual perspective to the already existing fantasy made things even more splendid.

Add a good story to that and you got something that can keep anyone encapsulated for days and months at a time. That is what made it so popular. And hence began the age of CRPG.

Introduction of Computer Role-Playing Game

What’s better than having fun? Well, having fun with your friends. Obviously. Consequently, the development of multiplayer games took place and they were quite a hit. Finally, you could go out to the virtual world with your squad and have an epic adventure.

But due to the limit of the number of people who could play on your PC, some of your buddies kind of missed out on the adventure. So, how to deal with that? Cue, the power of the internet. As soon as role-playing games took to online, you could play with all your friends. Even if you were not physically not in the same room. But beyond that, now you could also make new friends in a new world.

Why CRPG?

So, why should you play? Why pretend to be someone and go fake it when you could go out and meet people and have fun, right? First of all, going out and having fun is not everyone’s cup of tea. There are people who like to have fun in the comfort of their homes. And these role-playing games appeal well to this need.

Secondly, are people going out not faking it? If not then why is the same stigma applied to people cramping before their computers? It is true that there are unhealthy levels of spending time with your computer but role-playing games may not be the kind of bad influence you think it might be. It is not too different from reading a book or watching your favourite show.

People have fun id different ways and that’s all you need to understand. For some, the idea of fun is exploring a mythical world with magic and fire, while overcoming obstacles that require their skill as well as their brains.

Public opinion

Speaking of misconceptions, there are a lot of things that the general public is blind to. But instead of admitting that, they often just spread their personal opinion over facts.

Remember how people acted when they heard about the kid who won 3 million from fortnight? Unlike public opinion, he really did earn that money and it does require a lot of effort and skill to be on such a level.

Even back when kids playing D&D chanted spells and talked about cursed spirits, people just decided that it was a bad influence and non-players of the same age group plain out thought it was lame. And the trend still continues. The world of dragons and warriors is yet to acquire public morale. But recent events do suggest that things are taking a turn for the better.

Newfound popularity

Social media can sometimes be a curse but most often it is a boon. But recently they have really helped CRPG gain some respect and love. Kind of like how the MCU movies shattered people’s preconceived notions about comics. New Netflix series such as “The Witcher” popularised the storylines of already awesome CRPG. And shows like The Big Bang Theory showed people what D&D and The World Of Warcraft really meant to people.

This combined with the continuous shares and re-shares about video game love further supported this cause. Needless to say, CRPG is at a pretty good place now and its popularity will rise even more in the future. With games like CyberPunk (one of the best modern CRPGs) well in the way, all I see is a steady upward trajectory.

The Best CRPGs Games List

If you are already into games of this genre or you are trying to test your hands, here are some of the best crpgs of all time you can begin with.

1. The Witcher series

A journey through the land with beasts and dark magic where our protagonist follows a journey containing moral ambiguity, challenging obstacles, and a lot more. You should really try these 3 games.

2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The game has managed to stay relevant till now, almost a decade after its inception. With the greatest background music and battlegrounds, this game is surely one that you can’t afford to miss.

3. Dark Souls 

It might probably be the toughest game out there to beat. Dark soul as the name suggests lets you walk through a world that will ultimately darken your soul.

4. Disco Elysium

It’s cool being a detective right? But what if you are drunk, depressed and do not even remember who you are? That is the kind of story this game goes through.

5. Divinity: Original Sin 2

Imagine an adventure game where not only the plot is awesome. But you have to learn the terrain like the back of your hand in order to gain the upper hand in battle.

6. Fallout: New Vegas

You really do feel like making your own way through a barren land. Being one of the last survivors of that world.

7. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 

Being new to the vampire game is not as glamorous as the movies show it. So, set yourselves up for a mature vampire game.

8. Baldur’s Gate ll: Shadows of Amn

Finally a video game version of Dungeons and Dragon. DnD is certainly what this game will remind you of. And just like the board, you have to finish a series of quests to bring home the gold.

9. Mass Effect 2

Space and aliens are much cooler outside the Hollywood community. In Mass Effect 2, you get to step into a world where humans have to show their worth to the other fellow beings of the galaxy.

10. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic ll

I know that you can already hear the soundtrack in your mind. No one blames you. This game brings many elements that get you attached to the original movies.

11. Deus Ex: Human Revolution

A cyberpunk CRPG where technological advancements are paralleled with chaos and conspiracies. And you need to hunt down ones pulling the strings to something really bad.

12. South Park: The Stick of Truth

The game is incredibly funny and pushes you to the ends of what you might call a fantasy. You can learn any skill that you want and be the kind of hero that you imagine to be.

13. Monster Hunter: World

A pretty straightforward game title. Just as it says, you will be hunting down monsters and the thrill of the hunt is something you definitely get addicted to.

14. Shadowrun: Hong Kong

It is a classic role-playing game. A 90’s version of Hong Kong with a lot of magic and fantasy elements. It also needs you to be good at strategy and combat.

15. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This list would never be truly complete without a Zelda game. Finally, you get all the adventures, the arsenal of items, and the storyline on your PC.

Wrapping up,

With that, you have got a good idea about what CRPG is all about. And I’m betting that you now want to play one. So, I will leave you to that. Enjoy! (Let me know your best pick in the comment section!)