Key things
- Players must invest skill points wisely to maximize class abilities for strong hero growth in Western RPGs.
- Baldur's Gate 3 boasts unique class abilities for each character, allowing for different fighting styles.
- Dragon Age: Origins offers replayability with class specializations and distinct origin stories for varied gameplay.
Western RPGs continue to be one of the most dominant genres in the video game industry, with players loving the idea of either controlling a solo hero or giving orders to a party. Dictating the growth of protagonists is important to make players strong enough to deal with enemies in the mid and late game, especially in RPGs that boast complex class systems.
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It's important for players to decide which class they want to master, forcing them to invest points in a way that helps them get the most out of their abilities. It can be overwhelming at times, but players will love the idea of controlling heroes with unique classes as they lay waste to the many hapless enemies that stand in their way.
8 Baldur's Gate 3
Each class is unique and allows players to choose unique dialogue options
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the greatest CRPGs ever created, achieving the impossible goal of living up to the legacy of its predecessors – and even surpassing it in the eyes of many. This beautiful CRPG is filled to the brim with meaningful role-playing options and a class system that will make each party member feel interesting and unique to use in combat.
Players don't have to worry about staying in a class, as they can undo their choices at any time and start dictating the progress of each party member from scratch. Players will love using the multitude of unique class abilities to take down their enemies in style and team up to take on the toughest foes without breaking a sweat.
7 Dragon Age: Origins
Classes and specializations make Gray Warden feel more unique than ever
- Released
- November 3, 2009
To this day, none of Dragon Age games featured the same depth and variety of gameplay as the title that started it all. Dragon Age: Origins was special and catapulted the series to the very top as one of the most engrossing video game IPs of all time.
It helped that the game was loaded with replayability and gameplay variety, with players able to choose one of three classes to further specialize in to gain access to unique movesets. This—coupled with several distinct origin stories tailored to race, class, or caste—ensures that players can play in multiple games. Dragon Age: Origins without getting bored.
6 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Players must be smart with their skill investments to get the most out of their chosen classes
- Released
- September 14, 2017
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
Before Baldur's Gate 3Larian Entertainment wowed CRPG veterans Divinity: Original Sin 2one of the deepest and most complex games in the genre released at the time. The addition of physical and magical armor meant that specialization in certain builds was more important than ever before, making multiclassing less viable in the eyes of many.
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However, this was a small price to pay for players who could take on the role of unique classes and defeat their opposition in style. As the difficulty of this game peaks in the early and late game, it is important to quickly learn how these classes work and retain this information until the very end of an unforgettable adventure.
5 Mass Effect 2
The player's approach to combat will vary depending on the chosen class
- Released
- January 26, 2010
For an action RPG that focuses on frenetic combat scenarios, it's amazing to see how diverse the classes are in Mass Effect 2 they are. A player's approach to combat varies depending on what build they are running, with Shepard being a joy to control regardless of what players choose for their class.
Players can specialize in one of six main classes, each of which is a joy to master. Vanguards can jump into combat and use shotguns to take out enemies up close, while Engineers hack enemy equipment and use special abilities to support the crew in battle.
4 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
Each vampire feels uniquely controlled, especially when it comes to Nosferatu and the Malkavians
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
- Released
- November 16, 2004
- Developers
- Games of threes
That's a shame Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines was released in a broken state on the same day as one of the most revolutionary video games of all time (Half-Life 2). This prevented many players from enjoying the magic of this unique western RPG where each type of vampire felt unique.
Two notable clans here are the Nosferatu and the Malkavian. The latter is so grotesque that it only needs to be seen in public to violate the Masquerade, while the latter is insane and speaks in riddles. It's a great way to enhance the variety of the game and ensure that players have a great time controlling the player character as they navigate the seedy underbelly of the game and get swept up in the battle between the various vampire factions.
3 Kingdom of Amalur: Showdown
Focused and hybrid classes are equally viable and feel different
- Released
- February 7, 2012
- Developers
- 38 Studios, Big Huge Games
at first sight Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning may not seem like a deep western RPG for players who want to play around with different classes. However, it takes several hours for players to see different gameplay options at the player's discretion based on the decisions they make.
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The three trees of the Might, Finesse, and Sorcery classes are quite unique, and most people agree that this is the optimal way to build Fateless One skills. However, there's nothing wrong with multiclassing and getting the best out of each class tree, especially when the game can become a little too easy for players who level up just one tree instead of diversifying.
2 Dragon's Dogma 2
Each class feels battle-ready and unique
- Released
- March 22, 2024
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
Dragon's Dogma 2 may have been developed in Japan, but it's clear that this title will channel the energy of Western RPGs in its gameplay and aesthetic. The sequel may have gotten off to a rough start due to some performance issues, but it has slowly won players over as a great follow-up that expands on the core gameplay mechanics of the first game.
The best Dragon's Dogma 2 is that each Profession is a joy to master in battle, and it finally addresses the struggle of fans who felt that the magically demanding gameplay of such games was too passive for their tastes. Once players get into the game with Advanced Vocations, the gameplay Dragon's Dogma 2 opens up even more and makes every boss a joy to meet.
1 Pillars Of Eternity 2: Deadfire
Players can either stick with their choice or multiclass and make the most of both worlds
First Pillars of Eternity the game is a great modern CRPG that made the most of its Kickstarter support and fans expected more from its sequel. While the story itself may not have been its strongest point, Pillars of Eternity 2 it more than made up for it with improved gameplay options.
Players could finally multiclass and take advantage of the best of both worlds, being able to build Focus as a barbarian before unleashing a powerful cypher ability that would wipe out their enemies in no time. These amazing combinations helped the class system Pillars of Eternity 2 stand out as the best the genre has to offer.
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