Summary
While independently developed role-playing games are in abundance, there are fewer that choose to tackle the first-person perspective.Indie RPGs such asDisco Elysium,Undertale, andKenshiare shining examples of the work that can be done when developers are left to their own devices, but may not be in line with the taste of, for example,Skyrimfans.
Fans offirst-person RPGson the lookout for the creative, imaginative designs of indie games may be hard-pressed to find a large variety of titles, but there are a handful of stand-out experiences. It’s worth noting that larger-budget titles such asDark And DarkerandKingdom Come: Deliverance, while great, have been intentionally excluded in favor of those with fewer resources.
1Monomyth
An Interactive, Immersive, Old-School Dungeon-Crawler
Despite bringing the imperfections that come with an Early Access launch, this combination of immersive-sim and dungeon-crawling RPG is already a worthwhile experience for fans of old-school gameplay. The interactive systems provide a great deal of emergent gameplay, immersing the player in the interconnected world, more than making up for the game’s rough edges.
Fans of games such as Arcane Studios' classic,Arx Fatalis, with its focus on first-person dungeon-crawling, are sure to find the fun inMonomythwith little effort. Despite its old-school influences, however, the immersive elements of the game’s design and the classless character progression result in a unique experience that emphasizes player agency and encourages experimentation.
Baronyisan action roguelikedungeon-crawler with a first-person perspective, a unique art style, and diverse but frequently challenging gameplay. In keeping with traditional roguelikes,Baronyfeatures RPG character progression which is permanently lost when the player dies, and the variety of classes keeps things fresh over multiple runs.
Baronytakes ample inspiration from first-person RPG classics such asDaggerfall,Ultima Underworld, and evenSystem Shock, which is immediately apparent, but the roguelike structure and, more notably, the addition offour-player co-op(online and local), allows it to stand on its own two feet.
3The Bloodline
A First-Person Sandbox RPG To Get Lost In
The Bloodlineis a first-person sandbox RPG withan open worldpacked with things to do. Weighty first-person combat, exploration, crafting, cooking, and RPG character progression make for a well-rounded experience that’s frequently rewarding. The game’s visuals may be relatively basic, butThe Bloodlineisn’t without awe, and the fun-first gameplay makes up for it in spades.
Fans ofgames such asThe Elder Scrolls,Runescape, andMount And Blade: Warbandare sure to have a good time wandering the lands ofThe Bloodline, but it’s worth having a go for any fan of open-world RPGs and first-person combat.The Bloodlineis an ambitious, expansive title, but only time will tell if it makes it through Early Access.
Wild, vibrant, and utterly imaginative,Dread Delusionis a bright and colorful journey through a strange, fantastical open world. The game takes clear inspiration from classics such asThe Elder Scrolls, butDread Delusionis entirely its own beast, and the odds are that any fan of first-person RPGs with a penchant for old-school visuals will enjoy exploring it.
WhileDread Delusiondoes feature combat and a variety of enemies, exploring its world and meeting its quirky characters is where its gameplay shines. In fact, in order to level up inDread Delusion, players must actively collect delusions, blue skulls that allow the player to improve their attributes. This encourages exploration, rather than grinding, resulting in a refreshing loop that rewards curiosity.
This first-person RPG features a weird-west theme andstealth-focused gameplay. Stealth isn’t just an option, as the world is harsh and unforgiving, and the enemies within are frequently hard-hitting, encouraging players to get creative and systematically take down their foe, rather than run in guns-blazing.
Blood Westfeatures retro 3D visuals, but its pixelated textures remain detailed. Furthermore, its various character designs are frequently memorable and, in the case of the enemies, often disturbing. The weapons are particularly great, with punchy animations and solid sound design supporting their chunky silhouettes. Fans of first-person RPGs, stealth-based gameplay, and the Wild West are sure to get a kick out ofBlood West, especially if they don’t mind a little eldritch horror thrown in.
Taking great inspiration from old-school FromSoftware games such asShadow TowerandKing’s Field, this first-person dungeon-crawling RPG features simple but intuitive combat and, more importantly, a brilliantly executed, gloomy atmosphere. The game’s immersive low-poly environments and creative enemy and character designs are the true highlights, but the tranquil exploration and slow, methodical combat make for a rewarding gameplay loop.
Lunacidis not the most challenging game, and its labyrinthine level designs may irk some players on occasion, but its sense of style and almost cozy atmosphere alone make it worth playing. For players who also enjoy the slower pace and dungeon-crawling loop of games such asKing’s Field,Lunacidis practically made for them.
