Summary
When people think about RPGs, they often put narrative as one of the core tenets. While a story and lore have to be there in some way, it is not always the main focus. The games below have a world and a narrative players go through, but it is not what brings players in nor is it what keeps them invested.
It is also important to note that some of these games have deep lore and stories hidden underneath the surface. What makes these particular games so great is how one can enjoy them purely for the gameplay but also get so much more by diving into environmental storytelling.
Diablo’sinfluence on gaming is hard to quantify. Every time players run into loot, skill trees, and big numbers popping out of enemies after giving damage, they can feel the effect of the series.
Four games in and there is a story and recurring characters, but thegameplay loop of continuously going for better gear is what keeps players hooked. The regular updates inDiablo 4and changes throughout the seasons also ensure that players will be there for years to come. The easy-to-access cooperative gameplay makesDiabloa great option for friends to play together.
As the series progressed,the stories inFinal Fantasygames became more mature and experimented with different themes to varying degrees of success. Going back to the firstFinal Fantasymight seem risky, but there is a charm to its simplicity.
Four warriors of light have to defeat a great evil in the land. There is some time travel near the end, but it is ultimately unimportant and does not explore any relevant themes. More than thirty years after its original release, there is still a lot of value in the debut title that launched an epic franchise.
There are countless versions available of the original game. The Pixel Remaster is the easiest to access on modern devices and consoles, but the PSP remake has a gorgeous art style that makes it worth tracking down
Fallout 76boils down the gameplay of the series to crawling through dungeons and looting the shared world either solo or with other players. There is a story and new quests are added in updates, but the real draw is building up one’s character and base.
The community aspect also allows players to help each other out in interesting ways. It is not uncommon to be given free things by complete strangers. If the gameplay was not worth jumping in for, then it would not have built up a community in its early days when the game world did not even have NPCs.
FromSoftware continues to evolve its trademark formulathat it started withDemon’s Souls. Thanks to the 2020 BluePoint remake that launched alongside the PS5,Demon’s Soulsremains perfectly playable more than a decade after it wowed and bedazzled players with its strange and obtuse gameplay.
Most people who beat it probably could not say exactly what it was about, but that is not vital to enjoying the journey through the world. At the same time, it is helpful to know that there is a reason for players being there that adds to the experience.
For as many people who could not say what happened inDemon’s Souls, there are just as many who can go into painstaking detail describing the plot and lore.
For those who thinkDiablo 3and4are too streamlined and take away from a lot of the choices in progression,Path of Exileis here to bring some of the old-school action-RPG sensibilities into the modern day.Path of Exilehas a lot of content and it is all free, supported by cosmetic microtransactions.
There is a story but it is purposefully simple to start. Though some deeper ideas can be detected for those who want to dig deeper, it is never meant to get in the way of the deeper gameplay mechanics.
Ask someone why they likeMonster Hunterand it is unlikely anyone will say “the story” and that is okay. From the start of the series, it has always been about that loop of slaying monsters to get better gear and equipment that will help slay even bigger monsters.
WithMonster Hunter: Worldthe series opened up to a whole new audience while still pleasing hardcore fans. While it is possible to go through the game solo, the multiplayer component is there for friends to take on particularly tough hunts together.
Do not let the lack of focus on the story make it seem like the world is not fully realized, either. The monster designs are awe-inspiring as well as the other creatures that inhabit the environments.
Game Freak struck a goldmine when it madePokemon Red & Blueand still continues to return massive profits to this day. The premise of each game is simple and does not radically change between entries.
Players do not need a lot more incentive to train their best team of Pokemon and take on other trainers other than the inherent fun in doing so. The alluring and varied Pokemon designs also help players create a bond with their creatures, something that is effective even on the original Game Boy with its primitive visuals.
