Western role-playing games are vast and epic experiences, emphasizing player choice and character customization. These games often take place in massive worlds that allow players to explore and interact with their environment in a variety of ways. The combination of immersive storytelling and complex characters makes for a great time, giving players the opportunity to shape the narrative through their decisions and actions.
In fact, most Western RPGs are so massive in scope that multiple playthroughs are a necessity to explore everything the game has to offer. This is achieved through various means, such as offering branching storylines that are dependent on player choices, allowing for different builds that feel completely different, and including hidden quests or secrets that are only accessible through specific actions. By encouraging players to replay the game, developers can provide a more diverse and engaging experience that keeps fans coming back for more.
10 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Skyrim is a game that needs no introduction. The immense player freedom afforded by this game makes it a prime candidate for repeated playthroughs. This vast open world features a main questline and numerous side quests that can be tackled in any order, with different dialogue options and outcomes depending on player choices.
With a multitude of races, classes, and playstyles to choose from, it's easy to see why Skyrim is such a perfect example of a replayable game. Finally, the game's amazing modding community means that players can download a wealth of mods to turn every playthrough into a totally unique one!
9 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an amazing game with several permutations and combinations. Players can either make Geralt a traditional swordsman, a Sign-wielding nightmare, an alchemy genius, or a combination of all three...but achieving all builds in a single playthrough is almost impossible.
Then there's the story, which has several branching narrative paths and choices that affect the game's events. Players can also choose to side with different people and make moral decisions that impact the final outcome, making a new playthrough feel brand new...especially if players use mods as well!
8 Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games ever made. Obsidian Entertainment went all out to accommodate player choice, making every build viable in truly impressive ways.
This game offers multiple factions to align with, each with its own storylines and questlines that can be completed in different ways. Players can also choose to have different companions, unlocking their unique quests in the process. As always, the player's build can also be radically different, adding another reason for people to replay this masterpiece.
7 Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is one of the best games BioWare has ever made and is considered to be their magnum opus by many. With several romance options and classes, Mass Effect 2 can feel like a genuinely fresh and engaging experience on repeated playthroughs.
This title's branching story has various outcomes depending on a player's choice. Then there's the Paragon-Renegade system, not to mention that players can play as both a male and female version of Shepard too!
6 Dragon Age: Origins
Speaking of BioWare, another great title that comes to mind is Dragon Age: Origins. The amazing world-building and narrative of this title are still quite amazing to this day, and the replayability of the game is quite impressive in its own right.
This game offers multiple origin stories for the player character, which can drastically change the game's narrative in the early going. The game also has numerous side quests and different companions with their own storylines and dialogue options, allowing players to choose different outcomes through the story and shape the narrative as they see fit.
5 Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 has successfully salvaged its reputation and become a great open-world game. The narrative has more than enough variations to warrant a different playthrough, with V's gender and Lifepath making for a unique experience in its own right.
There are various different builds that V can opt for too, with Netrunning being extremely powerful yet neglected on a first playthrough for many players. All these reasons make Cyberpunk 2077 one of the most replayable games on this list.
4 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is a game that sold really poorly upon launch but slowly amassed a cult reputation. The smooth voice acting and fun storyline are pretty amazing in their own right.
The biggest reason to replay this title is to check out one of the many different and unique clans that have their own abilities and dialogue options. Playing as a Malkavian or Nosferatu completely changes the experience in new and meaningful ways that is genuinely impressive to this day.
3 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a brilliant video game that needs no introduction. This CRPG's unique combat and memorable narrative have turned it into a modern masterpiece that is considered to be a mandatory experience for players who call themselves RPG fans.
The game's many notable areas feature unique localized storylines and questlines that can be completed in different ways, affecting the game's ending. Players can also choose to either play as a custom or origin character, which adds a lot to this title's replayability as well.
2 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Another BioWare game makes this list in the form of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. As is the case with most other games on this list, different builds and genders make this game worth a second playthrough in every way.
The choice between the Dark and Light Sides of the Force affects gameplay in many unique and interesting ways. Players can lean into their background as Darth Revan or traverse the path of good instead.
1 Kenshi
Kenshi is a game with a vast open world that has no set storyline. Instead, players are encouraged to create their own narrative through exploration and interactions with different factions.
Players can also build their own base, recruit followers, and engage in various activities such as trading, crafting, and combat. No playthrough of Kenshi is the same, and players are actively encouraged to check out multiple playthroughs of this game to try out everything they can possibly accomplish in this one-of-a-kind experience.