


Whereas the small worlds in the original often felt mind-numbingly difficult to navigate, the sequel boasts beautiful level design that feels more legible while still being expansive. Kingdom Hearts 2, released three years after the original, expands on the brilliant Kingdom Hearts concept (a young boy named Sora gains the power of a mysterious keyblade and must travel through Disney worlds to stop the evil Heartless from spreading) while polishing rough edges and expanding outwards with gusto. Kingdom Hearts 3 might have fourteen years of dev time under its belt, but the second installment in the trilogy (excluding all the other games in the franchise, looking at you Re:Coded) is still superior. So no matter your preference - sci-fi or fantasy, monsters or magic, or maybe something completely different - we've got the 25 best RPGs you can play right now. You can easily spend hours embroiled in the drama of Mass Effect's space opera or days trying to help an amnesiac detective in Disco Elysium - there are so many options, you're spoiled for choice. RPGs can pull you out of your daily life and immerse you in an entirely new one, one with new worlds, new characters, and new conflicts that offer a respite from the real world. Some of these top RPGs can also be found on our best MMORPGs list, so make sure to head there after to see more ways to fill up your free time. This list contains the 25 best RPGs you can play right now on various platforms, from Nintendo Switch and PC to Xbox Series X and PS5 (and their last-generation consoles, as well).


Before summer comes and we all flock to spend time outside to combat seasonal depressive disorder or get some space from your loved ones, why not spend your spare time with an RPG? No matter what you're interested in - be it monsters, space wars, murder, or the intricacies of high school - we've got something on this list for you.
