There are some RPGs out there that have some of the darkest story lines ever. Even though there are some really strong RPGs and JRPGs out there that can stand on it’s own gameplay design merits, some of the games require an intriguing plot so that people stick around.
In the list below, we will take a look at some of the RPGs with the darkest story lines ever.
Darkest Story Lines in RPGs
Parasite Eve
It is a real shame that Parasite Eve has not seen a new entry in years now. Square Enix dug up a diamond mine, combining the PlayStation 1 era horror games with RPG. This was truly a unique experience that is still missing the modern era of gaming.
You follow Aya Brea, a New York City Police officer who is caught in the middle of a bioterrorism that’s not of the regular kind. The story takes an interesting turn by the end, with some of the darkest revelations in any RPG ever.
The game is remembered for using fixed camera gameplay with turn-based combat, which blended really well. Unfortunately, Square decided to change the game’s genre with sequels, which eventually killed the reception.
Bloodborne
It can be argued that Bloodborne does not have the essential design that would make it an RPG. But it is also true that it has more in common with RPGs as a genre rather than being just a character action game.
Regardless, the main topic is talking about RPGs with the darkest story lines, and Bloodborne does check that box. Moving away from Fromsoftware’s medieval fantasy titles, Blooborne broke new ground, taking players to Victorian era horror.
The player is caught in the middle of a dangerous night at Yarhnam, where everyone has gone mad. You join the hunt for the night to uncover something even darker and more cosmic design.
Baroque
Now is a good time to talk about Baroque, which will definitely be the least-known dark RPGs on this list. It is a game that was originally released for the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in Japan. Later localized remakes for other regions were released on PS2 and Wii.
If you are still reading this, then we recommend that you not play the remake game, as it changes the gameplay a lot. The good thing is that Baroque still seems to be a popular game in Japan; it has just had a re-release on the Switch.
But the thing is that the re-release has not been localized. Other than that, Baroque is one of the darkest RPGs out there that you can play. It is set in a post-apocalyptic universe with elements from angel-punk and vague but eerie narratives.
Dark Souls
Can’t have a darkest RPG storylines list without Dark Souls, of course. This is the game trilogy that put FromSoftware on the map and created a whole new action game sub-genre. Dark Souls is definitely the most regular example of a bleak game story.
Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, Dark Souls, in design, was a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Demon’s Souls. Over time, the game has become one of the most important releases in the history of video games.
It tells the story of a bleak fantasy world that is plagued by a curse that turns residents hollow. You, as a brave undead, must keep rising up to fight this curse and decide the fate of the flames.
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Realistically, we can put almost all the Shin Megami Tensei games in the franchise on this list. But we particularly chose the third mainline game in the franchise is for this purpose. Because the game is definitely one of the darkest RPGs out there.
The storyline of the game literally starts with the world being destroyed in an event called the conception. Tokyo gets enclosed in a spherical prison with iconic demons manifesting into reality.
It is now up to the player character, who is newly turned demi-fiend, to decide a reason for what’s to come of the world.
Fear & Hunger
If this list placed the games based on ranking, then Fear & Hunger would probably be at the top. It is an indie game, but it is also one of the darkest RPGs ever made for the medium, with some really twisted and sick ideas.
Completely made on RPG Maker by an individual from Finland, Fear & Hunger shocked the indie RPG scene. It was a game that looked straightforward at first. Players get to choose from a roster of base characters to traverse a dungeon.
But things start getting brutal when just entering the dungeon premise gets you mauled by monstrous dogs. The more you play, the more you uncover some mind-numbing and dark secrets.
Nier series
We were debating which of the Nier games to put on this list. Eventually, we ended up putting both of them in here, as both of them deserve an equal amount of attention. This is the series to check out if bleak philosophies and existential themes are dark enough for you.
The Nier series is a sort of spinoff of the Drakengard series, which has its share of fanbase, enthusiastic about its own dark themes. It was created by the legendary video game director, Yoko Taro, but the series did not really take off until Nier Automata came into being.
Aside from the blatant fan service aspects in the game, this series, with its replays, will hit you like a truck. If you are looking for some of the darkest story lines in RPGs from the recent decade, then Nier is what you should check out.
Drakengard series
Yeah, we already brushed over the Drakengard series in the last pointer. We also talked about how it has its own share of fanbase who stick around for the darker themes. Well, no point leaving it out of this list then?
Drakengard flips the switch from Nier, taking players to a medieval fantasy setting with dragons. You, the player, in fact actually get to ride and fight with one as it is ingrained in the main gameplay design of the franchise.
If you have already played through Nier and want a whiff of some more of those darkest RPG story lines of all time, then definitely check out Drakengard.
Koudleka
It’s a shame, but we may never see a rerelease of Koudleka or its successors, the Shadow Hearts series, ever. It was created by the developers at Sacnoth, especially Hiroki Kikuta, who is known for RPGs such as the Secrets of Mana.
In Koudleka, you get to follow the stories of a bunch of characters who step into the haunted Nemeton Monastery in Wales. The gameplay design in interesting for its time as it blends puzzle solving with tile-based turn-based combat.
Koudleka has one of the darkest story lines for an RPG if you are looking for something akin to gothic horror with actual supernatural elements.
LISA: The Painful
Another indie RPG on this list, LISA: The Painful, was released in 2014 by Dingaling Productions. We are going to drag you into another post-apocalyptic world where things look bleak and disturbing.
Players step into the shoes of Bard Armstrong, a middle-aged man who is balding. Throughout the game, you are in search of your adaptive daughter. You traverse through wastelands making some tough decisions which may alter the experience of the game.
If dark comedy is your thing that LISA: The Painful should definitely be on your list of RPGs that you should check out.
