When it comes to role-playing games for PC, it is difficult to pin down which is the “best” game. There are many great games in many different genres. So if you are trying to figure out which are the best RPGs for PC, you may not be able to define a particular game as the best. However, there are definitely common attributes that make up the best games out there and they are story, gameplay, and appearance.
Perhaps the most important aspect of any RPG is the story. A great story will have a strong plot, creativity, originality, and will immerse the player in the world. Most modern RPGs are open, non-linear games. This means that a player has many different paths to take as he ventures through the game, rather than going from point A, to point B, to point C, and so on.
Included in the story is also a wealth of content. Are there many missions or tasks that the player must complete? Are there many elements in the game that are unique and fun for the player? Are the locations, such as cities or areas, varied and exciting? And does the player have many options when it comes to building their characters?
The second most important aspect of any RPG is the gameplay. Gameplay refers to the balance of the game, the overall difficulty, and the rules that govern the game. A good balance in the game should give the player a wide variety of options on what to do and when to do it. It won’t pigeonhole them to do the same thing over and over again until the game is over. Also with the balance of the game comes the difficulty. Is the game difficult enough to challenge the gamer, but easy enough for the average gamer to complete? Perhaps the game has a difficulty mode that can be changed to challenge different levels of players.
Within the sphere of gameplay are the rules. A good role-playing game should have rules that are light enough so that they are unobtrusive and don’t get in the way. However, they must be comprehensive enough to give the game a solidity that the player can understand and use. In general, the rules should be kept to the minimum amount possible to maintain discretion, but still be able to run an effective game.
The final attribute is also incredibly important and that is appearance. The graphics of a PC game are usually the first thing that attracts a player to the game. Are the visuals and art of the game modern and exciting to watch? If the game is to be turned into a series of games, are the graphics timeless enough to continue in the series for many years to come?
There is a huge component with graphics on the PC that doesn’t translate to consoles either. Are the graphics good but efficient? What we mean by this is that the graphics are attractive to look at, but not so intense that only top-of-the-line computers can run them. If graphics consume so much memory that the average computer cannot run them, then you are eliminating a large chunk of your player base. The consoles are generally the same across the board, so they don’t suffer from this problem.
In the end, the decision will depend on each individual player. But if you’re trying to judge which are the best RPGs for PC, looking at the story, gameplay, and appearance of each game is a very good place to start. Most likely, if these areas are not good, then the RPG is probably not very good. And on the other hand, if these areas of the game are great, you might have one of the best RPGs out there.
