25 Best RPG Games 2019

Note: This article is based on real 2019 RPG releases, award-season recognition, critic discussion, player reception, and genre analysis from reputable gaming coverage. It is written as an original SEO article for web publication.

2019 was a strange, wonderful year for RPG fans. It was not the loudest year in gaming history, nor was it packed wall-to-wall with billion-dollar fantasy epics arriving every Tuesday. But the best RPG games of 2019 had something better than noise: personality. We got detective existentialism, tactical school drama, corporate space satire, anime vampires, monster hunting, cozy block-building, dungeon crawling, and at least one game where your necktie could practically become your life coach. Honestly, what more could a role-playing fan ask for besides more inventory space?

The phrase 25 Best RPG Games 2019 covers a broad field. Some games on this list are traditional role-playing games with stats, quests, dialogue choices, and character progression. Others lean into action RPG, JRPG, tactical RPG, MMO, roguelite RPG, or RPG-adjacent systems. The common thread is simple: each game gave players a meaningful sense of growth, decision-making, exploration, or character building during one of the most interesting RPG years of the decade.

Whether you were playing on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or even Nintendo 3DS, 2019 offered an impressive RPG buffet. Some dishes were gourmet. Some were messy comfort food. A few were weird experimental casseroles. But almost all of them had flavor.

Why 2019 Was a Memorable Year for RPG Fans

RPGs in 2019 did not move in one straight line. Instead, the genre split into several exciting directions. Disco Elysium proved that a role-playing game could remove traditional combat and still feel intense, dangerous, and mechanically rich. Fire Emblem: Three Houses transformed a strategy RPG into a full-blown social drama with lectures, tea time, battlefield tragedy, and enough character relationships to fuel a semester of gossip. The Outer Worlds brought back classic Obsidian-style decision-making in a colorful sci-fi package full of corporate absurdity.

Meanwhile, JRPG fans were spoiled with Dragon Quest XI S, Kingdom Hearts III, Trails of Cold Steel III, Atelier Ryza, and Persona Q2. Action RPG players had Code Vein, GreedFall, Remnant: From the Ashes, and Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. MMO players received one of the most beloved expansions in the history of the genre with Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers.

In short, 2019 was not just a good year for RPG games. It was a year that reminded players how flexible the genre can be.

25 Best RPG Games 2019 Ranked and Reviewed

1. Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium was the boldest RPG of 2019 and arguably one of the most original role-playing games ever made. Instead of focusing on combat, it built tension through dialogue, dice rolls, psychological skills, political arguments, moral failure, and deeply human writing. You play as a detective with a disastrous memory, a ruined body, and a mind full of arguing inner voices. Somehow, that becomes hilarious, heartbreaking, and brilliant.

Its skill system is the star. Abilities like Inland Empire, Authority, Empathy, and Electrochemistry do not simply raise numbers; they interrupt your thoughts, suggest bad ideas, and occasionally help you stumble into genius. For players who believe RPGs should be about choices, consequences, and identity, Disco Elysium was the year’s masterpiece.

2. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses turned tactical RPG combat into a school-year emotional ambush. At first, you are choosing a class of students, teaching lessons, sharing meals, and building support ranks. Later, you are watching political conflict tear those same students apart. Fun! Also devastating!

The game’s structure gave Nintendo Switch players a strong blend of strategy, character development, replayability, and social simulation. Each house offered a different perspective on the story, making repeat playthroughs feel meaningful rather than obligatory. The combat was approachable but still satisfying, and the monastery sections gave players time to bond with characters before the battlefield started asking uncomfortable questions.

3. The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds felt like a sarcastic postcard from a future where corporations own everything, including your lunch break and possibly your skeleton. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, it delivered a compact but richly reactive sci-fi RPG full of dialogue choices, companion quests, moral dilemmas, and dark humor.

Its strength was not size but density. Planets and space stations were packed with quests that let players talk, sneak, shoot, persuade, lie, or charm their way through trouble. The companion cast brought warmth to the corporate dystopia, while the writing made every advertisement sound like a threat wrapped in a jingle.

4. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition

Dragon Quest XI S was classic JRPG comfort at its finest. The Nintendo Switch version improved an already excellent adventure with orchestral music, extra story content, quality-of-life upgrades, and a charming 2D mode. It was traditional in the best way: turn-based battles, colorful towns, lovable party members, and a heroic journey that knew exactly what kind of game it wanted to be.

For players who wanted a polished, generous, story-rich RPG in 2019, Dragon Quest XI S was essential. It did not reinvent the wheel. It polished the wheel until it sparkled.

5. Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

Shadowbringers was more than a great MMO expansion. It was one of the strongest RPG stories of 2019. With a darker tone, memorable villains, beautiful zones, and emotional character arcs, it helped elevate Final Fantasy XIV from comeback success story to genre heavyweight.

The expansion offered new jobs, new dungeons, major narrative revelations, and a world that felt both alien and tragic. Even players who usually avoid MMOs heard the same message from fans: yes, there is a lot to catch up on, but the story is worth it.

6. Kingdom Hearts III

Kingdom Hearts III finally arrived in 2019 after years of anticipation, memes, lore charts, and fans trying to explain the plot with the confidence of a conspiracy detective standing beside a corkboard. The result was a flashy action RPG with Disney worlds, Square Enix melodrama, fast combat, and emotional closure for long-time fans.

Its best moments came from spectacle. Exploring worlds inspired by Toy Story, Frozen, Monsters, Inc., and Pirates of the Caribbean gave the game a theme-park sense of joy. The story could be wonderfully confusing, but the combat and presentation were full of energy.

7. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Iceborne expanded Monster Hunter World with a frozen region, fierce monsters, new gear, and master rank challenges. It was not a standalone RPG, but as an expansion, it was too important to ignore. Character progression through armor sets, weapon mastery, preparation, crafting, and monster knowledge made it one of 2019’s richest action RPG experiences.

The loop was simple and dangerously addictive: hunt monster, make gear from monster, hunt bigger monster, question your life choices, repeat. Few games made preparation and execution feel so rewarding.

8. Code Vein

Code Vein was often described as anime meets Soulslike, and frankly, that description does a lot of work. It offered challenging action RPG combat, dramatic character backstories, flexible class-style Blood Codes, and a gloomy post-apocalyptic world full of stylish vampires.

The companion system made it more approachable than many similar games, while the customization options gave players plenty of room to experiment. It was not the most elegant RPG of 2019, but it had identity, attitude, and enough giant swords to open a very dangerous furniture store.

9. GreedFall

GreedFall was an ambitious AA RPG that appealed to fans of old BioWare-style adventures. It featured factions, diplomacy, companions, quests, and an island setting shaped by colonization, magic, politics, and conflict. The game had rough edges, but it also had heart.

Its best quality was its willingness to let players negotiate, investigate, fight, and choose sides. If you enjoy RPGs where dialogue matters and faction reputation can shift the experience, GreedFall remains one of 2019’s most interesting picks.

10. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III

Trails of Cold Steel III was not designed for newcomers, and it made almost no apology for that. This was a deep continuation of a long-running JRPG saga full of political intrigue, character history, turn-based combat, and world-building that stretches across multiple games.

For dedicated fans, however, it was a rich and rewarding chapter. Its battle system was polished, its cast was massive, and its story carried the satisfying weight of a series that had spent years building its world brick by brick.

11. Pokémon Sword and Shield

Pokémon Sword and Shield brought the mainline series to Nintendo Switch with the Galar region, new creatures, gym stadium spectacle, Dynamax battles, and a more console-like presentation. The games were controversial among some long-time fans, but they were also accessible, colorful, and widely played.

As RPGs, they kept the core loop strong: catch monsters, build a team, battle rivals, crush gyms, and develop an emotional attachment to a creature that looks like it was designed during a very productive lunch break.

12. Dragon Quest Builders 2

Dragon Quest Builders 2 combined block-building creativity with RPG progression, quests, exploration, combat, and village development. It was cheerful, charming, and surprisingly structured. Unlike many sandbox games, it gave your building a strong narrative purpose.

The game was perfect for players who wanted crafting without feeling abandoned in a field with two sticks and a dream. It guided creativity while still leaving room for imagination.

13. Remnant: From the Ashes

Remnant: From the Ashes mixed third-person shooting, procedural elements, boss fights, co-op play, and action RPG progression. It became a sleeper hit because it understood one simple truth: fighting nightmare monsters is more fun with friends.

The game’s world-hopping structure, weapon upgrades, traits, and gear builds gave it strong replay value. It was tough, scrappy, and memorable in a year full of bigger names.

14. Outward

Outward was an RPG for players who think fast travel is too luxurious and survival should involve real discomfort. It emphasized preparation, exploration, hunger, weather, disease, backpack management, and the terrifying realization that you are not the chosen one. You are just a person with a map and poor odds.

Its roughness was part of the appeal. Outward rewarded patience, planning, and curiosity more than raw power.

15. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout

Atelier Ryza refreshed the long-running crafting JRPG series with a new heroine, a more energetic tone, and an improved alchemy system. It focused on summer adventure, friendship, gathering materials, crafting items, and gradually discovering a larger mystery.

Its cozy rhythm made it stand out from darker RPGs. Not every great role-playing game needs to begin with the world ending. Sometimes it can begin with friends, ingredients, and a suspiciously useful cauldron.

16. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

Persona Q2 gave Nintendo 3DS players one last major dungeon-crawling treat. Combining characters from multiple modern Persona games, it delivered turn-based battles, maze exploration, stylish menus, and fan-service character interactions.

It was especially rewarding for existing Persona fans who wanted a crossover with tactical dungeon design and plenty of personality.

17. Indivisible

Indivisible blended action platforming, RPG progression, hand-drawn art, and party-based combat. Its battle system used character positioning and timing in a way that felt lively and different from standard turn-based design.

The game’s art direction and animation were major strengths, while its hybrid structure made it ideal for players who enjoy RPG mechanics but want more movement and momentum.

18. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was more of a Metroidvania than a pure RPG, but its leveling, equipment, shard abilities, stats, and character growth earned it a place here. It delivered exactly what fans wanted: gothic castles, strange monsters, secret rooms, and that irresistible feeling of becoming absurdly powerful.

It was a love letter to classic exploration-based action RPG design, and it succeeded because it respected the formula without feeling trapped by it.

19. Children of Morta

Children of Morta was a family-centered action RPG roguelite with beautiful pixel art and heartfelt storytelling. Instead of focusing on one hero, it followed the Bergson family, each member offering a different combat style.

The result was warm, challenging, and emotionally grounded. It made dungeon crawling feel personal, which is impressive considering how often dungeon crawling is mostly about smashing barrels and pretending you meant to walk into that trap.

20. Pathologic 2

Pathologic 2 was one of the most unsettling RPG experiences of 2019. Part survival game, part narrative RPG, part fever dream, it placed players in a plague-stricken town where time, resources, trust, and human decency were always running out.

It was not easy to love, but it was difficult to forget. For players who wanted RPGs to be uncomfortable, artistic, and morally stressful, Pathologic 2 delivered.

21. Cat Quest II

Cat Quest II was light, funny, colorful, and surprisingly polished. This action RPG sequel expanded the original formula with two heroes, local co-op, magic, loot, and a pun-heavy fantasy world. Yes, the cat jokes are constant. No, the game is not sorry.

Its accessible combat and cheerful tone made it a great choice for casual RPG fans, families, and anyone needing a break from apocalyptic sadness.

22. Operencia: The Stolen Sun

Operencia: The Stolen Sun revived classic first-person dungeon crawling with modern presentation. It featured grid-based movement, puzzles, turn-based combat, and a fantasy world inspired by Central European folklore.

It was a strong pick for players who missed old-school dungeon RPG design but wanted smoother visuals and friendlier systems.

23. Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark

Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark was a tactical RPG clearly inspired by classics like Final Fantasy Tactics. It offered grid-based battles, job classes, character customization, and a serious fantasy story.

Its greatest strength was mechanical depth. Players who love building units, testing class combinations, and slowly turning a squad into a tiny army of problem-solvers found plenty to enjoy.

24. YIIK: A Postmodern RPG

YIIK: A Postmodern RPG was divisive, strange, and undeniably memorable. Inspired by late-1990s aesthetics, internet culture, surreal storytelling, and turn-based combat, it became one of 2019’s most debated indie RPGs.

Not every player connected with its tone or pacing, but it belongs on this list because it tried something unusual. RPG history needs polished masterpieces, but it also needs odd experiments that swing for the moon and occasionally hit a streetlamp.

25. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey

This Nintendo 3DS remake brought back one of the best entries in the Mario & Luigi RPG series with updated visuals and an added Bowser Jr. side mode. The original adventure remained funny, clever, and mechanically playful.

Timed attacks, puzzle-solving, body-exploration comedy, and Bowser’s starring role made it a charming RPG experience in 2019, especially for players who wanted something lighter and more comedic.

Best RPG Games 2019 by Player Type

Best Story-Driven RPG

Disco Elysium wins for pure writing, role-playing depth, and narrative originality. It is the best choice for players who want dialogue, choices, philosophy, and emotional chaos instead of traditional combat.

Best Tactical RPG

Fire Emblem: Three Houses stands out with its mix of strategy battles, character relationships, multiple routes, and long-term replay value.

Best Sci-Fi RPG

The Outer Worlds is the top pick for fans of choice-driven sci-fi adventures with companions, corporate satire, and flexible quest solutions.

Best JRPG

Dragon Quest XI S earns the crown for traditional JRPG fans, while Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers deserves special recognition for MMO storytelling.

Best Action RPG

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, Code Vein, and Remnant: From the Ashes all make strong cases, depending on whether you prefer monster hunting, anime Soulslike combat, or co-op shooting.

What Made the Best RPG Games of 2019 Stand Out?

The biggest lesson from the best RPG games 2019 lineup is that role-playing does not need one fixed formula. Some games used deep dialogue trees. Others used character builds, tactical positioning, party bonds, survival systems, or loot progression. A few barely looked like traditional RPGs at first glance, yet still gave players the power to shape identity, strategy, and story.

Another major trend was the importance of personality. The most memorable RPGs of 2019 did not simply offer bigger maps or longer quest logs. They offered stronger voices. Disco Elysium had literary weirdness. The Outer Worlds had biting satire. Fire Emblem: Three Houses had tragic school-year drama. Dragon Quest XI S had timeless fairy-tale warmth. Pathologic 2 had nightmares wearing a doctor’s coat.

That variety is why 2019 remains such a fun year to revisit. You can recommend five different 2019 RPGs to five different players and be completely right every time.

Personal Experience: Playing the 25 Best RPG Games 2019 Lineup

Playing through the best RPG games of 2019 feels like walking through a gaming convention where every booth is trying to sell you a different version of adventure. One booth asks you to solve a murder while arguing with your own personality. Another hands you a sword, a lesson plan, and several students who are absolutely not emotionally prepared for war. A third says, “Welcome to space capitalism; please enjoy your mandatory loyalty slogan.” It is chaotic, but in the best possible way.

The most striking experience comes from how different these games feel from one another. After spending hours in Disco Elysium, where a single conversation can feel like a boss fight, switching to Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is like leaving a philosophy seminar and being immediately body-slammed by a dragon. Both are RPG experiences, but they use completely different muscles. One asks you to read the room. The other asks you to dodge before the room eats you.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses creates another kind of emotional rhythm. At first, it feels cozy. You teach students, share meals, return lost items, and pretend you are a responsible professor instead of someone min-maxing teenagers for tactical advantage. Then the story shifts, and the same characters you trained become part of a much larger conflict. That emotional whiplash is what makes the game memorable. It turns menu management into attachment, and attachment into tension.

The Outer Worlds is enjoyable in a different way because it lets you feel clever. You can talk your way past problems, make selfish choices, support workers, betray corporations, or behave like a morally confused space raccoon. The game is not enormous, but its quests are designed to make choices feel visible. That is one of the great pleasures of RPGs: seeing the world bend, even slightly, because of what you decided.

The JRPG side of 2019 offers comfort and craft. Dragon Quest XI S feels like sitting down with a beautifully illustrated fantasy novel that also lets you hit monsters with boomerangs. Atelier Ryza is slower and sunnier, turning gathering and crafting into a relaxing loop. Trails of Cold Steel III rewards long-term fans with layered continuity, while Kingdom Hearts III delivers spectacle so bright and strange that you may need a lore dictionary and sunglasses.

The smaller RPGs are just as important. Outward makes every trip outside town feel risky. Children of Morta adds family warmth to roguelite combat. Cat Quest II proves that simple does not mean shallow. Operencia and Fell Seal show that old-school design still has an audience when handled with care.

What stays with you after exploring this list is not one single winner, even though Disco Elysium deserves its flowers. What stays with you is the range. The best RPG games of 2019 gave players detective work, tactical war, sci-fi comedy, fantasy comfort, MMO tragedy, monster hunts, dungeon crawls, survival stress, and co-op chaos. That is the beauty of role-playing games: sometimes you save the world, sometimes you save a village, and sometimes you are just trying to survive a conversation with your own necktie.

Conclusion: Which 2019 RPG Should You Play First?

If you want the most original RPG of 2019, start with Disco Elysium. If you want tactics and replayability, choose Fire Emblem: Three Houses. If you want classic JRPG comfort, play Dragon Quest XI S. If you want sci-fi choices, go with The Outer Worlds. If you want an MMO story that feels like a full fantasy epic, Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers deserves your time.

The best part is that there is no wrong door here. The 25 Best RPG Games 2019 lineup proves that role-playing games can be thoughtful, funny, brutal, relaxing, tactical, dramatic, or completely bizarre. In 2019, RPG fans did not just get more games. They got more ways to become someone else for a whileand occasionally make terrible dialogue choices with confidence.