There’s nothing quite like an old-fashioned tabletop Dungeons & Dragons session. Sitting down with your friends, your character sheet, and a dragon’s hoard of dice is truly peak gaming. But sometimes, you need to get your RPG fix without the in-person group gathering. That’s where video games come in. And while there are plenty of excellent officially licensed Dungeons & Dragons games on offer, many fans have likely already played them. So, where to turn when you want to scratch that D&D itch with a solid RPG?
Videos by ComicBook.com
That’s where this list of recommendations comes in. I’ve gathered up several solid RPG video games that, for various reasons, can replicate some elements of an in-person Dungeons & Dragons session. Whether it’s taking on impressive monsters, casting spells, or combat upon combat that you’re after, these RPGs for Dungeons & Dragons fans will deliver.
5. Monster Hunter Rise
If your favorite part of Dungeons & Dragons is taking on all the strange and terrible creatures in the Monster Manual, this is the RPG for you. Capcom’s 2021 monster-hunting RPG offers character customization to let you feel like you’re creating your own in-game character sheet. You can choose a weapon to customize your gameplay style, then dive into fast-paced action RPG combat.
Monster Hunter Rise will give you that D&D feel, with an emphasis on combat and hunting down tough monsters. It does have a storyline, but most players agree that it isn’t the game’s strongest suit. That said, if you simply can’t forgo the party format, the game also supports online co-op, so you can play with friends and craft a story all your own.
4. Diablo 4
For the player who is really just waiting to roll to attack, Diablo 4 will offer the steady flow of enemies you crave. This RPG features an open world full of quests to pick up at your leisure, much like playing D&D with a DM who’s happy with a sandbox-style campaign. There’s plenty of loot and tough Nightmare Dungeons to contend with. So, if killing baddies and getting gear from them is your favorite part of the iconic TTRPG, Diablo 4 is the way to go.
Because it offers more of a live service element than the other games on this list, Diablo 4 can stick with you for years to come. Kind of like that campaign you and your friends never finish. The game receives regular updates from Blizzard with new content, letting you take on new adventures and defeat new baddies. And yes, there’s online co-op, if you want to party up.
3. Horizon Zero Dawn
For the player who loves a solid post-apocalyptic campaign, Horizon Zero Dawn will deliver. This game will also scratch the itch to explore an interesting world and uncover a compelling story. Alas, no character creation here, as players step into the role of Aloy from the start. You can change her armor and customize your playstyle via the skill tree, but this element is a bit limited compared to D&D.
Horizon Zero Dawn will scratch the itch for a big, quest-driven adventure. You’ll get that leveling-up feeling throughout your journey, even if the character herself is more set than the other games on this list. This is a single-player focused RPG, so you’ll need to save that co-op feeling for the actual D&D table if you opt for this one.
2. Dragon Age: Origins
For the player who’s always trying to think about how their decisions will impact the story, I recommend Dragon Age: Origins. This iconic start to BioWare’s Dragon Age series still holds up even after all this time as a stellar example of a story-rich RPG where choices matter. Plus, with its party-based combat style, it really mirrors that D&D feeling, especially when using the pause and queue combat method.
For a game that’s around 15 years old, the graphics for Dragon Age: Origins still look pretty solid. It offers character customization, including different classes and races, to give you that sense of owning your role in the story. You’ll level up as you go, meet NPCs, and even romance them if you can’t resist rolling those Charisma checks. This one’s a single-player situation, however, so it’s only NPC companions for Dragon Age: Origins rather than real ones.
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
If you want an epic adventure with a million sidequests and endless opportunities to get yourself hopelessly lost, Skyrim will deliver. This was the game I turned to before I found anyone willing to play D&D with me, and it delivered. You’ve got character customization, the option to choose which skills to focus on, and plenty, plenty of dragons. For a stellar RPG that really puts the dragon in Dungeons & Dragons, you can’t do much better.
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim has aging graphics at this point. Even so, the sheer vastness of the open world and story potential put it at the top of my list. There’s no multiplayer or party mechanics here, but for a solid D&D-style RPG with a “chosen one” narrative, this game wins every time. And if you like those random D&D moments that make you and your friends laugh, well, that Bethesda charm will bring those to you even with a solo playthrough.
Most Viewed
-
Image Courtesy of Ufotable
