Key Takeaways
- Playing
Dungeons & Dragons
digitally is a growing trend, with options like play-by-post, Skype, and ROLL20 allowing for convenient roleplaying experiences. - Video games like
Cyberpunk 2077
,
Baldur’s Gate 3
, and
Dragon Age: Inquisition
offer alternative ways to experience the charm and complexity of D&D, with massive stories, intricate combat systems, and imaginative worlds. - Other game options include
The Witcher 3
,
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
, and
Knights of Pen & Paper
, each providing its own unique take on roleplaying and adventure.
The tabletop format of Dungeons & Dragons might seem far removed from the digital medium that is video gaming, but that dividing line becomes thinner and thinner as time goes on. In fact, playing D&D digitally has been a growing trend for quite some time, whether by humble, low-tech methods such as play-by-post or utilizing mediums such as Skype or ROLL20 to get a much-need roleplaying fix without all the hassle of organizing a live, in-person session.
That said, if players are looking for something a little different, find themselves intimidated by D&D‘s complexity, or are simply looking for a graphical analog, there are several video games out there that channel that classical Dungeons & Dragons charm if they aren’t inspired directly from the source material. These games feature massive stories, intricate combat systems, and a wealth of interesting characters in imaginative worlds that encompass everything from classic high fantasy to sci-fi epics and everything in between.
Updated September 26, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Recreating D&D in a video game has always been a fantasy for many fans, but the obvious limitations posed by creating an in-game DM, a story with multiple permutations, and incorporating the famously convoluted ruleset of the universe in a game have always held studios back from fully creating the world setting as a game. With the massive success of Baldur’s Gate 3, this will likely no longer be the case in the near future.
A Massive Open-World Game Where Players Choose Their Dominant Skills Early On
Even after all the strides that Bethesda has taken in the RPG genre, some people still argue that Morrowind is one of their finest and most immersive titles by far. The unwavering focus on role-playing coupled with a massive world that players can get lost in makes for a truly great time.
Navigating the world of Morrowind is far from easy, with players having to follow directions to reach certain areas instead of just relying on a map marker. It’s also important to decide a character’s predominant skills early on so that they can level up efficiently too.
23 Cyberpunk 2077
Pursue A Particular Build And Get Lost In The World Of Night City, Full Of Numerous Quests That Sport Different Endings
The hype for Cyberpunk 2077 was through the roof before its launch, with the marketing push being truly massive. Attaching the name of Keanu Reeves and showing off some truly amazing gameplay led everyone to think that this game would be a true next-gen title that would push the gaming industry to a whole new level. So, it was rather disappointing that a mix of cut content and unfinished development led to the legacy of Cyberpunk 2077 being tarnished for good.
However, CD Projekt Red didn’t give up on a game that they’d put so much time and effort into and decided to ensure that Cyberpunk 2077 would reach the heights that many fans were promised. The studio patched out most of the bugs and added a wealth of content to make the game as enjoyable as ever, and the launch of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners allowed many people to check out this masterpiece once again in a brand new light. As of right now, Cyberpunk 2077 is an excellent game that deserves all its plaudits, and fans can’t wait to see what changes Phantom Liberty brings to the table too.
22 Dragon Age: Inquisition
A Fantasy RPG Where Players Choose Their Class And Rule Over An Inquisition
The Dragon Age series is one of BioWare’s biggest franchises that has gone on to help the studio become a household name. The first game is touted by many as one of the best Western RPGs of all time, while the second game does have its fair share of fans, even if its attempts to cater to a casual player base didn’t resonate with the series’ fans. Thankfully, BioWare learned their mistake and decided to make Dragon Age: Inquisition bigger and grander than ever before.
While the game’s combat was action-oriented, it also allowed players to mess around with various stats and complexities to enhance their combat efficiency even more. Dragon Age: Inquisition may not be the best RPG that fans can check out, but it’s a pretty good one that’s full to the brim with a memorable storyline, fun characters, and some great set pieces where BioWare is flexing its budget.
21 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (& KOTOR 2)
One Of The Best Star Wars RPGs Ever Made
Regarded as one of several crown jewels in BioWare’s catalog, the Knights of the Old Republic games are essentially D&D campaigns set within the Star Wars universe. The rules and mechanics aren’t a direct mirror of D&D, but they’re more than familiar and comfortable for anyone who has played the latter. The saga of Darth Revan provides a gripping narrative for both games, and the characters are incredibly well-written.
20 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A Satisfying End To Geralt’s Journey, Full Of Choices And Consequences
The Witcher 3 was a massive release for CD Projekt Red, showing how far they’d come from their humble roots while working on the first game in the series. The story of Geralt as he hunts down Ciri while trying to take down the Wild Hunt makes for a great time, with the many emotional moments and a wealth of amazing side quests leading to this title being absolutely jam-packed with meaningful content across the board.
Players who love the intricate and elaborate stories told in a session of D&D will love playing through The Wild Hunt. The stories are intriguing, the gameplay is fun, and the world is absolutely beautiful to behold. With the next-gen upgrade, players can enjoy an even better-looking version of the game that is improved via a mix of ray tracing and community-made mods.
A Massive Open-World RPG That Elevated Bethesda’s Status To The Stratosphere
Skyrim is a game that took the world by storm when it was announced, and the game itself captured the hearts of players for hundreds of hours, if not more. Becoming the Dragonborn and laying waste to their enemies made for an amazing power fantasy, with players starting out very weak before slowly enhancing their power and becoming so powerful that even towering giants couldn’t take them out.
For what it’s worth, the story of Skyrim is pretty generic, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, just like D&D, it’s the journey that matters the most. Given the sheer number of interesting locales and unique quests that players will find in the game, it’s easy to see why players can be positively enraptured for hours on end.
18 Tyranny
One Of The Rare RPGs That Lets Players Take Over The Role Of A Villain
A great part about a D&D campaign is that the stories can be whatever players want, unlike video games that need to adhere to certain algorithms and get as many players hooked as possible to avoid having poor sales and the like. So, it’s refreshing to see video games like Tyranny where the player doesn’t need to necessarily take on the role of a good guy.
Instead, the game focuses on the Fatebinder, a high-ranking member in a tyrant’s legion who has to restore order and balance to the world after this evil emperor has conquered the world this game is based on. This makes for an interesting moral dilemma, with players essentially being villains who are enforcing the demands of a heinous leader.
17 Planescape: Torment
A Thought-Provoking CRPG With Incredible Writing
A big part of what made D&D such a runaway success was the fact that players could craft wondrous stories that would stick with them long after their campaigns were over and done with. In this regard, Planescape: Torment is perfect for fans of these rich and beautiful tales.
Planescape: Torment features a rich story that more than makes up for its rudimentary combat. The story of the Nameless One is quite intriguing, and the fact that this game is set in locations from an established Dungeons & Dragons fantasy setting makes it a perfect recommendation in every way.
16 Dragon Age: Origins
Features Numerous Origin Stories For The Legendary Grey Warden Who Saves The World
Prior to the release of Dragon Age: Origins, BioWare was a reputed developer who dabbled in creating beloved CRPGs, but the studio wasn’t exactly mainstream after games evolved to become more action-packed. In a bid to modernize itself, the studio overhauled its mechanics and created the legendary Dragon Age: Origins.
The inspired fantasy setting and the riveting story made this game a smash hit for BioWare. Given how much hype there is for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, now’s a good time as any to get into this rich fantasy series.
15 Pathfinder: Kingmaker
A Fantasy RPG Based On The Revised 3rd Edition Of Dungeons & Dragons
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a great CRPG that continues to push forth the excellence of modern games in this genre after it was deemed dead by many. Kingmaker is an excellent title that combines the best of both classic CRPG goodness with modern gameplay innovations.
The result is a riveting title that fans will have a great time with. Given that Pathfinder itself was based on the systems set by D&D, it’s easy to see why this game is a perfect fit for fans of the latter.
14 Knights Of Pen & Paper
A Great Comedic Homage To Everything D&D Stands For
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Knights of Pen & Paper is a game that parodies most of the elements seen in traditional role-playing games. This might compel many people to write this game off as nothing more than a joke title, but the depth of this title is quite deceptive.
Featuring several campaigns that players can embark on with a party of adventurers, the charming writing and fun combat make Knights of Pen & Paper an underrated gem. Fans looking for a casual and engaging RPG in the same vein as D&D will be more than happy with this title.
13 Solasta: Crown of the Magister
A Faithful Recreation Of D&D’s Combat
Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a lesser-known CRPG title developed by Tactical Adventures that’s a supremely faithful recreation of the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition ruleset in a video game setting. Combat is the first focus of Solasta, and for players who enjoy min-maxing builds in D&D, there are few games that do it better.
The story is not Solasta’s strong suit, and that is the main thing that holds it back. At times, it feels like playing D&D without a Dungeon Master, just mindless battles after battles with little reason to engage in anything other than optimizing builds to hit harder. Still, Solasta serves as an excellent entry point for players, both D&D veterans and complete newbies, and it is worth trying for its excellent combat alone.
12 Arcanum: Of Steamworks And Magick Obscura
A Highly Underrated RPG Set In A Unique World That Combines Technology And Magic
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is an excellent game that mixes both fantasy and steampunk settings to great effect, allowing players to experience a wonderful title that is full to the brim with creative writing and unique scenarios.
Each and every corner of Arcanum hides an amazing secret or a memorable character who will cause players to either reel at their revelations or laugh at their comedic writing. The title is easily one of the most underrated classic CRPGs that more people need to check out.
11 Icewind Dale
A Combat-Heavy Take On The Baldur’s Gate Formula
Icewind Dale, like the other Black Isle-developed or published games featured on this list, is practically a digitized Dungeons & Dragons campaign. The mechanics hinge on an adapted version of the AD&D 2nd Edition ruleset, carrying across all their satisfyingly immersive complexity while ingeniously gelling with the game’s real-time, pause-and-play format.
Humbly beginning with up to six player-generated adventurers catching a breath between trips at a tavern, Icewind Dale‘s storytelling is top-notch as they slowly unravel the greater evils at work in the lands of Icewind Dale. An Enhanced Edition of this CRPG classic was also released for every major modern platform and console, so now’s the perfect time to experience it.
10 Dungeons & Dragons Online
One Of The Rare RPGs That Lets Players Take Over The Role Of A Villain
Though this MMORPG will soon pass into its fourteenth year online, it’s still definitely worth looking into for D&D fanatics wishing for an MMO time sink. Dungeons & Dragons Online works off of a very loosely translated adaptation of D&D 3.5 rules and borrows primarily from the Eberron campaign setting, with some of the Forgotten Realms sprinkled in.
DDO is still very much active and continues to receive content updates to this very day. It operates off of a free-to-play model and is primarily driven by in-game transactions, so it’s easy to try out before making any sort of serious financial commitment to play.
9 Neverwinter Nights
A Highly Moddable CRPG That Continues To Be Talked About To This Day
Neverwinter Nights is a classic CRPG that takes place in the much-beloved Forgotten Realms setting and is one of the better-known D&D-based RPGs alongside Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale. It works off of an adapted version of the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules.
At the time of its initial release, Neverwinter Nights was praised for its smooth multiplayer functionality. Although the original is well-aged at this point, 2018’s Enhanced Edition provided a modernized version.
8 Divinity: Original Sin (& Original Sin 2)
Larian Entertainment’s Claim To Fame In An Illustrious Modern CRPG
The Divinity: Original Sin titles are an entirely original property by Larian Studios, although they definitely take their cues from classical D&D-related RPGs like Baldur’s Gate. One of Divinity‘s biggest draws is its smooth and intuitive method of instituting multiplayer, allowing players to adventure side by side in seamless, local, drop-in-style cooperative sessions.
Taking the role of Source Hunters, members of a guild dedicated to rooting out and destroying a particularly dangerous form of magic, players will venture through the extensive and colorfully imaginative original fantasy setting of Rivellon and beyond. It’s not an adaptation of existing D&D rules by any stretch, but the mechanics should be familiar and comfortable for fans of the tabletop RPG.
7 Neverwinter
An MMORPG That Takes Some Liberties With The D&D Rules That’s For The Best
Though it shares its name and setting with the original CRPG Neverwinter Nights, MMORPG Neverwinter is an entirely different beast. Out of the selection of video games that adapt D&D rules, Neverwinter‘s rendition is possibly the loosest, but it’s still worth a crack due to the setting and lore.
Neverwinter is free and available across the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, so it’s easy to check out if a contemporary MMO rooted in D&D lore has piqued their interest. There’s a lot of hot debate as to how “free” its free-to-play model is, but chances are that if they dig it enough to dump a significant amount of time into the campaign, they won’t mind dropping a few dollars to enjoy the full experience.
6 Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
A Fully Fledged Out CRPG Campaign In Pathfinder 1e
The Pathfinder tabletop game is a direct competitor to Dungeons & Dragons and offers players an alternative. The Pathfinder ruleset also shares many tropes with D&D, and players will find most mechanics intuitive and easy to understand, even if there are new classes and the balance is different. Developed by Owlcat Games, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is the sequel to Pathfinder: Kingmaker, both faithful recreations of the Pathfinder’s tabletop version. What Baldur’s Gate 3 is to D&D, Owlcat’s games are to Pathfinder.
Compared to the first game, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a more complete package, with many more class and subclass options, a bigger and better storyline, and a cast of brand-new characters and races to journey with. A key feature that makes the Pathfinder games stand out is that they both have the option to be played without turn-based combat, though there is an option to use turn-based mode in WotR. Players can freely pause combat at any time with the press of a button to issue commands to their units and all combatants will move in real-time when combat is not paused. This results in much more fast-paced combat while still allowing for tactical pauses whenever the need arises.
5 Pillars Of Eternity (& Pillars Of Eternity 2)
Obsidian Entertainment Was Saved By This Beloved CRPG Series
Developed by the RPG wizards at Obsidian Entertainment, the Pillars of Eternity games were developed as spiritual successors to games like Baldur’s Gate. Taking place in the original setting of Eora, players will pursue their destiny as a “Watcher,” a person gifted with the supernatural ability to see into the past and divine knowledge from ethereal spirits.
It carries all the hallmarks of the golden age of CRPGs: A beautifully detailed and immersive world and vibrant, lovingly designed characters to interact with and journey alongside. The mechanics are original but very clearly inspired by Dungeons & Dragons rules.
