Perhaps more than any other genre, RPGs depend on narrative and characters to draw fans in and support the gameplay. The field of role-playing games has numerous hits and is full of amazing stories and complex settings. Many great games build a compelling world by borrowing from other classic works of fiction. From Knights of the Old Republic to Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s no shortage of RPGs that are based on tabletop games, movies, book series, or other established franchises. Some of the best RPGs of all time, however, managed to offer brilliant gameplay while also creating brand-new worlds, many of which went on to become classic franchises of their own.
Star Wars’ galaxy far, far away, Dungeons and Dragons’ Forgotten Realms, and Vampire: The Masquerades’ World of Darkness are all excellent places to start an epic adventure but, over the past few decades, some developers have taken the extra step of creating their own world upon which to build a story. Some of these settings have grown to become larger franchises in their own right and have expanded into other mediums. Even those that have remained in the realm of video games have proven to be enduring settings with committed fans who love to explore them.
5 Fallout's Wasteland Has Become a TV Hit
Fallout Blends Retrofuturism and Post-Apocalypse
Beginning with a humble isometric RPG in 1997, the Fallout franchise has grown into one of the biggest properties in gaming. Now spanning four mainline titles, numerous spin-offs, and a streaming show on Amazon, the series about surviving a post-apocalyptic wasteland has resonated with fans for nearly three decades. The gameplay of the franchise has certainly changed over the years, but new titles continue to draw fans and earn praise from critics. Much of Fallout’s success can be attributed to its remarkable world-building, which blends dark humor, philosophical musings, action, and pulpy science fiction.
Drawing on retro-futurism, the world of Fallout is set in the future Americans of the 1950s thought might come to be, complete with robot butlers, flying cars, and laser weapons. Of course, all this came to an end with the nuclear war between the United States and China that destroyed the world. In the aftermath, players get to explore the ruins of the old world while encountering colorful characters and influencing region-defining conflicts. For a world crafted from scratch, Fallout remains rich and engrossing nearly thirty years later and, while war never changes, the setting keeps getting more interesting.
6 Images 6 Images
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
Fallout
RPG Systems
Powered by
Expand Collapse
4 Dragon Age's World is Dark and Beautiful
Thedas is Rich, Complex, and Magical
BioWare got its start in RPGs with games set in Dungeons & Dragon’s Forgotten Realms and later the galaxy of Star Wars, but, in the 2000s, it shifted to developing its own original properties and settings. The often forgotten Jade Empire was the first, followed by Mass Effect in 2007.
Dragon Age: Origins, however, gave fans BioWare’s best original world yet. The first game in the series set the stage, establishing a deep cosmology, history, and network of kingdoms and institutions. Since then, Dragon Age’s Thedas has been expanded several times over to become one of the best original settings among RPGs.
Thedas draws on classic fantasy tropes, featuring magic, dragons, demons, and lots of political intrigue and conflict between monarchs and nobles. It’s the unique twists on the formula, however, that set Dragon Age apart. Magic is fundamentally connected to sleep and the dream world in Thedas, and it’s inherently dangerous as a result. The Blight, an event with historical, political, and religious significance, continues to threaten all life in the world. Recent games have introduced even greater threats and helped to build the setting of Dragon Age into a masterpiece of fantasy.
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
Dragon Age
RPG
Powered by
Expand Collapse
3 Deus Ex Features an Original Cyberpunk Dystopia
A Blend of Classic Conspiracy Theories and Punk Aesthetics Set This World Apart
Long before Cyberpunk 2077 popularized the genre it takes its name from, Deus Ex was offering gamers a cyberpunk world that was less stylish but far darker. Released in 2000, the original Deus Ex set new standards for RPGs, featuring massive levels to explore and encouraging players to seek out alternative ways to solve problems or achieve their objectives.
Coming at the end of the 1990s, the franchise was plainly influenced by shows like The X-Files, playing with conspiracy theories and creating a world full of shadowy organizations and secret plots. From the Illuminati and Majestic-12 to aliens at Area 51 and self-aware AI, the world of Deus Ex is perfect for fans of dark science fiction with a cyberpunk edge.
While the original title became an instant classic, the sequel, Deus Ex: Invisible War, proved to be a disappointment and seemingly ended the franchise. Fortunately for fans, Deus Ex: Human Revolution resurrected the series in 2011 with a prequel story that helped to fill out the world before the climactic events of the first game. Sadly, after a couple more entries, it appears that Deus Ex is stagnating again, with no new releases currently planned. Still, the series’ failure to achieve lasting commercial success doesn’t detract from the amazing world that it’s set in.
6 Images 6 Images
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
Deus Ex
Action RPG FPS Stealth
Powered by
Expand Collapse
2 Disco Elysium Draws on Magical Realism
Revachol is Strange and Dangerous
Disco Elysium became a surprise hit that distinguished itself from its competitors in numerous ways. The isometric RPG emphasized dialogue over violence and rejected both the fantasy and science fiction tropes that are common in the genre. Perhaps the most unique element of the game, however, was its setting.
The city of Revachol is rooted in magical realism, a world that looks much like the real one but where supernatural or fantastical elements can suddenly intrude on the narrative without warning or explanation. So much of Disco Elysium’s setting can seem quite mundane, but there are always hints of the strange or bizarre lurking just under the surface, inviting players to delve deeper into the story.
Disco Elysium’s setting also stands out for being so political, philosophical, and introspective. Taking place in a city undergoing economic turmoil and revolutionary change, the story explores the nature of human society and how individuals fit themselves into it. It certainly can be a depressing place to visit, largely devoid of the heroics and adventure of other settings. Still, for fans looking for something new and different, Disco Elysium represents one of the best original settings in gaming.
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
Disco Elysium
RPG
Powered by
Expand Collapse
1 The Elder Scrolls' World is Massive and Keeps Growing
From Tamriel to Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls' Setting is Diverse and Epic
One of the oldest and most enduringly successful fictional worlds in gaming, the setting of The Elder Scrolls is truly massive, encompassing numerous countries, dozens of races and factions, and millennia of history. Beginning with Arena in 1994, the franchise now includes five mainline titles, most with loads of DLC to expand the story, as well as spin-offs and an MMO.
Since the third entry in the series, Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls has been known for featuring truly epic, open worlds full of carefully crafted stories, quests, and characters. With a sixth entry on the way, this world is set to get even bigger and fill in more gaps in the story of this classic fantasy world.
The Elder Scrolls is certainly built on standard fantasy tropes that will feel familiar to fans of Dungeons & Dragons or The Lord of the Rings, but it still retains its own unique flavor that sets it apart. Each entry in the series has focused on a different part of the world that feels distinct, from the Roman Empire-inspired Tamriel to the Nordic tundras of Skyrim. Each title has helped bring the world of The Elder Scrolls to life just a little bit more and made the setting feel more full, diverse, and real. With so many hit games and lore that can rival fantasy novels, this may well be the greatest original RPG setting.
Your Rating
Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
RPG
Powered by
Expand Collapse
