RPG Codex Top 50 cRPGs - Vote thread only

[Jaesun]

LeStryfe79 post your list or just shut the fuck up. You can LOL and troll when we have the final vote news post.

 

[catfood]

Fallout
Fallout 2
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate 2
Icewind Dale
Icewind Dale 2
Geneforge
Might and Magic 3
Might and Magic WOX
Might and Magic 6
Wizardry 8
Temple of Elemental Evil
Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines
Divine Divinity
Divinity 2
Knights of the Chalice
Jagged Alliance 2
Gothic
Gothic 2 NOTR
Gothic 3
Neverwinter Nights 2 Mask of the Betrayer
Legend of Grimrock
Morrowind


EDIT: fuck, I forgot Morrowind

 

[mediocrepoet]

Jaesun: Can you expand a bit on the first rule please? What if a game came out on another home computer like an Apple II first? I think my list may suffer quite badly if this rule is as strict as it sounds.

Cite an exact example and I will consider.

Well, personally I like Phantasie enough to want to put it on my list. It came out on various platforms like the C64 in 1985, but didn't show up on PC until 1987.

 

[Spockrock]

I'll only list the RPGs I played to the end (will exclude Arcanum, because I don't remember enjoying it)

Fallout
Fallout 2
Baldur's Gate 2
Icewind Dale
Planescape: Torment
Morrowind
KOTOR 2
Neverwinter Nights 2
Fallout: New Vegas
Temple of Elemental Evil

 

[MMXI]

Jaesun: Can you expand a bit on the first rule please? What if a game came out on another home computer like an Apple II first? I think my list may suffer quite badly if this rule is as strict as it sounds.

Cite an exact example and I will consider.

There are lots of them. Ultima 1, for example, came out 6 years later for the PC. As for games on my list, Phantasie came out for the PC in 1987 while the Apple II and C64 versions came out in 1985. Dragon Wars came out in 1990 for the PC while the Apple II and C64 versions came out a year earlier in 1989. I don't have it on my list right now, though I may add it at some point, but Might and Magic 1 came out in 1987 for the PC, a year after its original platforms.

I've already avoided putting The Eternal Dagger and Phantasie II in there because they never did come out for the PC. Crooked Bee has put down Deathlord, Centauri Alliance and Captive II: Liberation, none of which managed to get a PC release.

I'm not complaining by the way. I don't mind if you make the rules really restrictive. I'm sure I'll shit out 25 RPGs regardless.

 

[Jaesun]

OK I shall propose the following:

1a. If a game came out within the period of 1980 - 1990 and was eventually ported to the PC you can include it on your list. Due to the fact many games were done on the C64 or Apple II but were later ported to the PC. I am OK with this. Any objections?

 

[octavius]

My top 25 in mostly chronological order:

Dungeon Master
Ultima V
Pool of Radiance
Might and Magic II - Gates to Another World
The Magic Candle
Curse of the Azure Bonds
Chaos Strikes Back
The Dark Heart of Uukrul
Wizardry: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
Death Knights of Krynn
Pools of Darkness
Ultima Underworld
Treasures of the Savage Frontier
Dark Queen of Krynn
Darklands
Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures
Betrayal at Krondor
System Shock
Might and Magic VI - The Mandate of Heaven
Might and Magic VII - For Blood and Honor
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate II - Shadows of Amn
Icewind Dale
Deus Ex
Morrowind

 

[MMXI]

OK I shall propose the following:

1a. If a game came out within the period of 1980 - 1990 and was eventually ported to the PC you can include it on your list. Due to the fact many games were done on the C64 or Apple II but were later ported to the PC. I am OK with this. Any objections?

Sounds good. But you better remove the lower cap just in case anyone wants to put in Temple of Apshai (which came out in 1979 for the TRS-80 before coming out on the PC in 1982/1983).

The upper limit seems okay, but be aware that Captive will fail as it came out for the Amiga in 1990 and the PC in 1992. A number of Spiderweb games also fail as they came out for the Mac first.

 

[Kosmonaut]

Wizardry 6: Crusaders of the Dark Savant
Wizardry 7: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
Wizardry 8
Arcanum
Fallout
Fallout 2
Knights of the Chalice
Might and Magic: World of Xeen
Prelude to Darkness
Fallout: New Vegas
Might and Magic 2
Darklands
Arx Fatalis
Betrayal at Krondor
Planescape: Torment
The Temple of Elemental Evil
Ultima Underworld
Ultima 7
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny
Realms of Arkania 2: Star Trail

 

[sser]

Bookmarked for later editing.


Deus Ex
The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
Fallout 2
Fallout: New Vegas
Freedom Force
Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich
Jagged Alliance 2
Lands of Lore
Master of Magic
Mount & Blade: Warband
Planescape: Torment
Ultima Underworld

 

[made]

Well what about Amiga exclusives? Ambermoon was never ported to PC afaik, Black Crypt only half-way. Not like anyone but me will vote for them, but still...

 

[wormix]

The Bard's Tale
Pool of Radiance
Ultima V
Wasteland
Curse of the Azure Bonds
Wizardry VI
Wizardry VII
Darklands
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail
Ultima Underworld
Betrayal at Krondor
Daggerfall
Fallout
Fallout 2
Planescape: Torment
System Shock 2
Deus Ex
Baldur's Gate 2
Icewind Dale II
Morrowind
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Mask of the Betrayer
Knights of the Chalice
Fallout: New Vegas

 

[Excidium]

Fallout
Fallout 2

I have another question. FPS/RPG hybrids (Deus Ex, Bloodlines, New Vegas) are commonly featured in such lists, also here. Does that mean other hybrids (strategy/rpg) are allowed as well? Would seem consistent to allow both or neither, imo. Assuming that it will count, I added Age of Wonders to my list.

I say it should count, a top 50 list with only TRVE CRPGs would have way too many shitty games.

 

[suejak]

Fallout: New Vegas

The rest of this list will be padded by the same boring series of "old"/indie/unpopular games, but this one isn't on enough lists. Easily the best CRPG released in about a decade.

 

[TalesfromtheCrypt]

Realms of Arkania 1: Blades of Destiny
Realms of Arkania 2: Star Trail
Realms of Arkania 3: Shadows over Riva
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
Ultima Underworld 2: Labyrinth of Worlds
Ultima VII: The Black Gate
Ultima VII: Serpent Isle
Betrayal at Krondor
Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant
Wizardry VIII
Daggerfall
Fallout
Fallout 2
Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows over Amn
Planescape: Torment
Icewind Dale 1
Arcanum
Divine Divinity
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer

will expand this list later

 

[Kersey]

Arcanum
Betrayal at Krondor
Curse of the Azure Bonds
Deus Ex
The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Eye of the Beholder
Eye of the Beholder II
Fallout
Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures
Pool of Radiance
Pools of Darkness
System Shock
System Shock 2
The Temple of Elemental Evil
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Ultima VII: The Black Gate
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

 

[evdk]

Dungeon Master
Fallout
Fallout 2
Fallout: New Vegas
Arcanum
TES Daggerfall
TES Morrowind
Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
Temple of Elemental Evil
Ultima VI
Ultima Underground
Planescape Torment
Icewind Dale 1
Baldur's Gate 2
NWN2: MotB
Wizardry VII
Wizardry 8
Gothic 2/Night of the Raven
Risen
System Shock 2
Brány Skeldalu
Arx Fatalis
Stonekeep
Anachronox
KOTOR2

 

[Gregz]

What 25 cRPG's are your favorites?

My favorite 25 cRPGs, in accordance with Jaesun's rules and having any RPG elements (Master of Magic has heroes which level and acquire artifacts etc.)

The below is subject to change before the poll closes:

Wasteland
The Bard's Tale
Wizardry VIII
Might and Magic VII
Jagged Alliance 2
System Shock 2
Zangband
Nethack
Diablo
Diablo II
Baldur's Gate II
Everquest
World of Warcraft
Borderlands
Daggerfall
Deus Ex
Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
Divine Divinity
Ultima V
Dungeon Master
Knights of the Chalice
Mount and Blade: Warband
Temple of Elemental Evil
Master of Magic
KOTOR

 

[Regvard]

Arcanum
Planescape: Torment
Fallout
Fallout 2
Fallout: New Vegas
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate II
Icewind Dale
Icewind Dale II
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer
Gothic II
Morrowind
Knights of the Chalice
Ultima Online
Temple of Elemental Evil
KotoR 2
Divine Divinity
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

 

[Xzar]

Daggerfall
Might & Magic VI
Menzoberranzan
Light Crusader
Syndicate(1993)
Lands of Lore
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate 2
NWN : Hordes of Underdark
SW : KOTOR
SW : KOTOR 2
Legend of Grimrock
Witcher
Fallout 2
Fallout : New Vegas
Deus Ex : Human Revolution

 

[Marquess Cornwallis]

Jaesun I'll assume Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga can be seen as a single game, too, for similar reasons as World of Xeen (which you need to replay, the second game is Darkside, not Swords).

Dungeon Master
Wasteland
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Darklands
Gateway to the Savage Frontier
Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra
Betrayal at Krondor
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos
Superhero League of Hoboken
Walls of Bratock
Ancient Domains of Mystery
Fallout
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Planescape: Torment
Deus Ex
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Divine Divinity
Gothic
Arx Fatalis
Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
Fallout: New Vegas
Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga
Legend of Grimrock

 

[Stainless Veteran]

Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse
Albion
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Betrayal at Krondor
Darklands
Dark Sun I: Shattered Lands
Dark Sun II: Wake of the Ravager
Deus Ex
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Fallout 2
Fallout: New Vegas
Gothic II + NOTR
Jagged Alliance 2
Might and Magic VI
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer
Planescape: Torment
Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II
TES II: Daggerfall
TES III: Morrowind
The Witcher
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Wizardry 8

 

[felipepepe]

Final Fantasy Tactics

Bro, while I definetly agree with you (and that is really holding back my list), you'll nbe ignored & lose your newfag of the year award for not reading the rules...

 

[Caribbean Druid]

Codex lurker doing his duty:
Lands of Lore
Ultima VII: Serpent Isle
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinths of Worlds
Baldur's Gate
Fallout
Baldur's Gate 2
Planescape: Torment
Deus Ex
Icewind Dale
Gothic
Arcanum
Wizardry 8
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Arx Fatalis
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark
The Temple of Elemental Evil
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
KotOR II: The Sith Lords
Icewind Dale 2
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer
Fallout: New Vegas
The Witcher
Drakensang: The River of Time
Knights of the Chalice
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail

 

[skuphundaku]

About rule 1, I assume Jaesun means "computer" (as opposed to console) instead of PC?

Well, PC means "personal computer" and the origins of the term are "IBM PC" and "IBM PC compatible". The orignal PC was Apple's "Apple Computer" (1976), retroactively known as "Apple I". Then IBM, which was THE computing giant at the time, scrambled to come up with something to compete against this newfangled Apple thingie. They paired with Intel, which were the first ones to create a commercial microprocessor (Intel 4004 in 1971) and, in 1981, they launched the IBM PC. Clones of the IBM PC started to appeare and we got the "IBM PC compatible" term. MS-DOS was the most popular OS for the IBM PC and then IBM PC compatible machines in the wild, so, this IBM architecture+Intel processoricrosoft OS grew larger and larger and people straed talking about "Wintel" instead of "IBM PC compatible". One of the reasons for that was that IBM retreated step by step from the consumer market, leaving Microsoft and Intel to keep the flame alight.

Now, I consider a classic PC (personal computer) any computing device that allows me to install and run any OS that I like on it and has the means to accept standard PC peripherals (stand-alone monitor, mouse, keyboard, any other USB devices). For an untrained eye, there would be no visible difference between a 10-years old white-box IBM PC compatible and an ARM-based Pandaboard if you stick both of them under a desk and all that you see are two monitors, two keyboards, two mice and Ubuntu running on both of them.

The difference between personal computers and consoles is that the computer is an open system (even if the hardware has high or low modularity, this hardware's architecture is well known so that, in order to develop for it, you just need to read the hardware specs, and the hardware allows any software to run on it, as long as the software is correctly built for that hardware) and a closed system (the hardware's architecture is kept secret so that, in order to develop for it, you have to sign an NDA with the device manufacturer and pay for access to the hardware specs, and to publish the software you developed you need the device manufacturer's approval because the hardware has in-built DRM that won't let third party developed, unapproved, software run, even if it is correctly built for the hardware).

With that out of the way, my list is:

Fallout
Fallout 2
Fallout: New Vegas
Arcanum
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
KotOR
KotOR 2
Mask of the Betrayer
Baldur's Gate + TotSC
Baldur's Gate 2 + ToB
Planescape: Torment
Jagged Alliance 2
System Shock 2
Deus Ex
Deus Ex: HR
Pathologic
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Anachronox
Space Rangers 2 + Reboot
Witcher
Gothic
Gothic 2 + NotR
Gothic 3
Alpha Protocol