RPGs can sometimes have some of the most amazing and addictive combat loop, but end up with the dumbest plot. It is one of the hardest game genres to get right for a developer because there are so many check boxes to tick off.
In the list below, we take a look at some of these RPGs that have really good gameplay, but all of these falter when it comes to the narrative.
Top RPGs with good gameplay, but have the dumbest plot
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG
When Atlus released Persona 5, it brought a renewed interest in turn-based combat games. The style and visual representation of the game were revolutionary. Square Enix was actively trying to move to real-time action games. Atlus single-handedly brought everyone back to their roots.
This gave rise to a lot of indie RPGs that would take heavy inspiration from Persona 5. One of these games was YIIK: A Postmodern RPG. The game was created by Ackk Studios and follows a young guy who is on an adventure mystery, trying to figure out the disappearance of a woman.
It might sound like a decent story for an indie RPG with really good-looking combat on paper. But the game was diabolically bad, with a really unlikable protagonist and a convoluted plot. You won’t find a single person who has played this game praising its story and characters.
Fallout 76
There are a lot of games out there that have really bad releases; Fallout 76 is one of them. Fallout is an RPG series that was created by Interplay Interactive. The games are set in a post-apocalyptic alternative history world. Bethesda came in and transformed the IP into a first-person RPG, with lots of games in the series that were highly praised.
Bethesda was having a terrific run with its Elder Scrolls games, especially Skyrim. Fallout 4 was moderately appreciated among fans, but then Fallout 76 destroyed their reputation. It took the Fallout gameplay, setting and turned it into a multiplayer RPG experience.
Even though the game has recovered a lot from its previous state, which was horrible. Fallout 76 is still a game which lackluster plot points with uninteresting interactions between characters. The gameplay might be addictive for Fallout and Bethesda fans, but there are still better options out there if one is looking for multiplayer alternatives.
Rise of the Ronin
Koei Tecmo is one of the few important Japanese developers known for their action games, such as Nioh and the Ninja Gaiden Franchise. Recently, they showcased their take on the RPG genre with the Release of Rise of the Ronin.
The game was developed in collaboration with PlayStation and was also released for PC. When it comes to action combat gameplay, Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja knocks it out of the park. This is seen in Rise of the Ronin as it can get pretty addictive at times.
But the game has a lot to be desired for on the RPG side of things. Koei Tecmo didn’t really reinvent the wheel, and it turned out to be a game bloated with quests we have seen a lot of times. These also lead to players losing track of the main story, which is already not that interesting to begin with.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
The Dragon Age franchise is not a new and upcoming RPG series. It has had a long history of some amazing titles that had incredible writing and memorable character interactions. The series had stopped receiving new installments, that is, until it returned with Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024
The game was in development hell as it went through name changes as well as staff changes. It was almost looking like the game would not be released anytime soon. But all of that changed when BioWare finally delivered it in October of 2024.
The gameplay systems went through some changes compared to the previous entries. But the developers had done a stellar job at creating a Dragon Age RPG with stellar gameplay once again. But what lacked this time around was in the story department.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an incredible game, plagued with some of the weakest writing behind the characters. This results in unsatisfying story pacing, disconnecting the audience from the narrative.
Tales of Arise
Bandai Namco’s ‘Tales of’ JRPG series is one of the most popular action RPGs in the world, with a long history. The games never really were headturners, but had their own niche fan following. Tales of Berseria, which was released in 2016, was really important because of its likeable characters and story.
The game showed that the franchise can have really good writing, and things were looking positive with high hopes for the next game. In 2021, Tales of Arise was released, which is currently the latest entry in the franchise. It reinvented the combat experience, making it arguably the best entry in the whole franchise.
But while Tales of Arise made up for its incredible gameplay, it lacked severely in the story department. The heart of the game was at the right place, depicting a story about slavery for centuries. But the way it was handled is really the sad part about this game.
Dragon’s Dogma
Dragon’s Dogma is a title that was conceived by one of the best developers at Capcom, Hideaki Itsuno. He is known for the famous hack-and-slash franchise, Devil May Cry, and some iconic fighting games. Itsuno wanted a shot at something new, an action RPG where he could explore new mechanics.
Enter Dragon’s Dogma, one of the most iconic IPs that modern Capcom ever made. It featured characters in a medieval open-world setting where you get to take on large mythological creatures. The combat was addictive and introduced some interesting mechanics, such as climbing on the monsters to fight and commanding your party.
But incredible gameplay alone doesn’t warrant a quality video game. Storytelling and characters are equally important for a good video game.
Unfortunately, Dragon’s Dogma has a lot left to desire in that department. It suffers from a lot of the same problems that Koei Tecmo’s Rise of the Ronin RPG gets accused of.
Scarlet Nexus
Scarlet Nexus is an action RPG and an original game that was created by Bandai Namco. It is a really good title if anyone is looking for a hack-and-slash game with RPG elements. Sadly, the game has not received a new entry yet.
The gameplay utilizes regular mechanics we usually find in action games. The characters use slashing weapons such as swords and other melee weapons. Beyond that, the game also makes itself really interesting by throwing psychic powers into the system. These, combined with the RPG elements, make for a really addictive gameplay cycle.
But Scarlet Nexus really falters in terms of storytelling. Providing players with a largely forgettable narrative that is commonly seen in most popular anime. This is one of the main reasons why this game is also not talked about much.
Pokémon: Sword & Shield
Pokémon games are not really the biggest benchmark for exceptional storytelling among JRPGs. Most people play these titles because they are addicted to the monster collection aspect of the franchise.
With the release of Nintendo Switch, people were keeping their eyes wide open for a new mainline title. The Switch hardware would make for an exceptional platform to elevate the game to a higher technical level.
Pokémon: Sword & Shield was released in 2019 and was an instant best seller. People were hooked on the game and kept playing it for weeks.
You would expect that with the improved game, the narrative would take things up a notch. But unfortunately, the story, like most of the games in the series, was forgettable at best.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
The Mass Effect franchise is EA BioWare’s crowning jewel. The original trilogy is still considered one of the best sci-fi RPGs one can play. Expectations were really high for the next saga in the franchise.
In 2017, Mass Effect: Andromeda was released and had everyone stunned because it didn’t have a kind reception. That is a story for another time; presently, the game can be fully played and enjoyed without problems.
It already had the groundworks for a good gameplay system from the previous games. Some might find the mechanics even addictive if this is their first Mass Effect game. But the game dropped the ball in terms of the narrative.
The story had large shoes to fill, coming from a reputable trilogy. Mass Effect: Andromeda turned out to be a largely forgettable experience due to a predictable story and uninteresting characters.
Shin Megami Tensei V
Atlus is well known for the Persona game series, but most don’t know that the games are a spinoff of one of the oldest games, Shin Megami Tensei. This franchise was being overshadowed for the longest time until Shin Megami Tensei V was released for Nintendo Switch.
It turned out to be one of the best-selling games in the whole franchise. Fans even claim it is the best monster collector one can play on the Nintendo Switch hardware. The game has an incredibly addictive loop, which makes one pour an enormous amount of hours into it.
But the plot of Shin Megami Tensei V is its biggest demerit. The franchise generally has really good storytelling that delves into philosophical themes with alignment systems. But this game trivializes all of those elements, visibly disappointing the long-time fans.
Thankfully, a re-released version of the game fixed a lot of the issues. This makes it the definitive version of the game everyone should check out.
