In the many years since its 1979 inception, Capcom has developed a wide range of exciting RPGs. Many of their finest efforts in the genre have showcased their innovation and creativity. Capcom’s finest RPGs have featured compelling plot lines, colorful characters, and engaging gameplay mechanics.

The company’s RPG portfolio has covered action, traditional turn-based gameplay, and tactical gaming, ensuring it has a bit of something for everyone along the way. With plenty of layered world-building, strategic combat, and immersive exploration for players to discover, it’s hardly surprising that Capcom has enjoyed a glowing reputation on the RPG front over the years.

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8 Dragon's Dogma

Metacritic: 75

This wild hack-and-slash epic takes players to a fantasy world inspired by Sicilian history and culture. Dragon's Dogma sees players take on one of several potential roles, including a Mystic Knight, a Strider, or an Assassin. Dragon's Dogma is quick to immerse players in a rich, complicated fantasy realm chock-full of both engaging quests and intimidating creatures. The diverse selection of character classes is one of several factors in the game's memorable, highly detailed combat system.

Focusing heavily on strategy, the variety of skills and powers to discover and use makes the often-unpredictable action encounters exhilarating for players. In an innovative feature, players get to make use of the Pawn system. With it, players get to recruit and customize their very own AI companions, providing another layer of complexity for gamers to get the hang of. With its engaging adventure narrative and creative gameplay, Dragon's Dogma is an underrated Capcom gem that enjoyed new life under its expanded Dark Arisen version.

7 Mega Man Battle Network

Metacritic: 79

Mega Man Battle Network stands out as an extremely influential RPG because of its neat combination of real-time action and function-playing elements. The game's effective combat devices, which mix grid-based motion with tactical card-based combat, provided a fresh and dynamic gameplay experience for GameBoy Advanced users.

Fusing conventional RPG mechanics with real-time gameplay succeeds in setting up an immersive and rapid-paced environment. Set in a futuristic, high-tech world reliant on the internet above all else, the imaginative plot provides a fascinating backdrop for the gamers’ adventures to have high stakes and meaning. With its inventive gameplay, compelling story, and memorable characters, Mega Man Battle Network provided a surprisingly effective RPG by handheld device standards of its time.

6 Monster Hunter Stories

Metacritic: 79

This well-regarded spin-off of the main series completely overhauled many of the standard Monster Hunter gameplay tropes. Players assume the role of The Rider, forming bonds with the majestic monsters of the world on offer along the way. As has come to be expected from the classic Monster Hunter series, Storiesprovides players with vibrant visuals, diverse and dangerous environments, and plenty of strategic, turn-based battles.

This impressive combination adds depth to the action-packed gameplay, bringing great energy and immersion to the proceedings. The bond-building mechanic, which allows players to hatch, raise, and train their very own monsters, proves to be one of the game's defining features, providing a unique and rewarding experience for games to enjoy. Overall, the bond with the monsters allows this colorful RPG to shine in a series full of high points.

5 Monster Hunter Rise

Metacritic: 88

The sixth mainline chapter in the iconic series delivers the goods when it comes to both engaging gameplay and an engrossingly deep progression system. Players have the chance to build their character from the ground up, developing various skills to flesh out their play style.

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As is to be expected, the game provides players with all manner of difficult monsters to hunt down. In a neat change-up for companions, players can now work with creatures called Palamutes. The Palamutes provide a quicker way to travel across the map, as players can ride them over the game's diverse, detailed terrain. Better still, the introduction of Wirebugs allows additional, more fearsome creatures to be tamed and potentially ridden as well. With its impressive combat mechanics, fun co-operative gameplay, and two rewarding story arcs to play through, Rise is a superb entry in the beloved Monster Hunter franchise.

4 Breath Of Fire 3

Metacritic user score: 8.7

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This warmly-regarded PS1 and PSP favorite introduces gamers to Ryu, a young dragon who mysteriously shapeshifts into a human. From there, adventures, intrigue, world-building, and plot twists become all too commonplace as the narrative takes form.

Ryu's adventure grows increasingly captivating and emotionally engaging as players move through the game. Better still, the development of character relationships and general character progression provide further depth to both the plot and the gameplay. Along with the rewarding lore and diverse, colorful environments on offer, the game's combat also stands out. Emphasizing strategic wits and timing, the action fits the fantastical setting and various threats flawlessly. Between its storytelling, combat mechanics, and world-building, Breath of Fire 3 is an excellent piece of RPG fun.

2 Monster Hunter: World

Metascore: 90

The fifth installment in the main Monster Hunter series takes players into a dynamic, immersive hunting experience. On top of the rewarding action and intensity, the game's immersion factor is greatly enhanced by the living, breathing ecosystem setting. Monster Hunter: World succeeds in delivering a worthwhile RPG thanks to its deep progression systems, challenging monster encounters, and emphasis on co-operative multiplayer action.

The game sees players assume the role of The Hunter, who is tasked with the dangerous objective of scouting and analyzing the immensely powerful Elder Dragons. On top of eyeing up the habits and behaviors of the Elder Dragons, The Hunter also lives up to their name, frequently colliding with fearsome beasts that need to be taken down. Overall, this entry encompassed everything fans have come to love about Monster Hunter and took it further, providing a seminal RPG in the process.

1 Okami

Metacritic: 93

While Okami is an action/adventure game, it does have light RPG elements in it, which is why it is considered here. Players take control of a Shinto goddess to protect the world from a demonic threat. Richly steeped in Japanese folklore and mythology, Okami maps out a rich complex plot that encompasses everything from apocalyptic disasters to the disturbing genocide of the gods.

Widely praised for its thought-provoking subject matter and colorful visuals, the game sees players level up and interact in the way one has come to expect from an RPG experience. At the time of its release, the game received widespread praise for its originality, design, and storytelling. All these years later, it still remains a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.

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