CRPGs That Feel More Like TTRPGs Even Though Technically They're Still CRPGs Not TTRPGs Since You Play Them On a C and Not a TT

Being VERY loose with my definitions here, I know. What I'm looking for is games with the story-rich, character-centric, relationship-oriented, open-ended ("choices matter") nature of classic tabletop RPGs or gamebooks, but that unlike straight visual novels, interactive fiction or adventure games, also have robust RPG-style gameplay mechanics involving stats/exp/levels, builds, skill checks, gear, survival, etc. (and which ideally "show their hand" more than the typical CRPG, i.e. through visualizing dice rolls, card play, etc). This is kind of a nebulous category, so I'm including things that fall outside the usual "CRPG" label.

Definitely eager for some recommendations for this one!

Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium
Pentiment
Pentiment
Citizen Sleeper
Citizen Sleeper
Pathologic 2
Pathologic 2
World of Horror
World of Horror
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Cultist Simulator
Cultist Simulator
Sunless Sea
Sunless Sea
Gnosia
Gnosia
Wildermyth
Wildermyth
Pathologic
Pathologic
Griftlands
Griftlands
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
The Council
The Council
Caves of Qud
Caves of Qud
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
Suzerain
Suzerain
Roadwarden
Roadwarden
Signs of the Sojourner
Signs of the Sojourner
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Solasta: Crown of the Magister
Solasta: Crown of the Magister
Sunless Skies
Sunless Skies
Betrayal At Club Low
Betrayal At Club Low
Crimson Shroud
Crimson Shroud
Sorcery!
Sorcery!
King of Dragon Pass
King of Dragon Pass
Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong
Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong
Fallen London
Fallen London
Tharsis
Tharsis
Gamedec
Gamedec
Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest
Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest
RPG Time: The Legend of Wright
RPG Time: The Legend of Wright
Sorcery! 2
Sorcery! 2
The Pale Beyond
The Pale Beyond
Book of Hours
Book of Hours
Book of Travels
Book of Travels
Sorcery! Part 3
Sorcery! Part 3
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Sorcery! Part 4
Sorcery! Part 4
Children of Zodiarcs
Children of Zodiarcs
A House of Many Doors
A House of Many Doors
Six Ages: Ride like the Wind
Six Ages: Ride like the Wind
Vagrus: The Riven Realms
Vagrus: The Riven Realms
Sovereign Syndicate
Sovereign Syndicate
Clam Man 2: Open Mic
Clam Man 2: Open Mic
Dark Egg
Dark Egg
Academagia: The Making of Mages
Academagia: The Making of Mages
Fighting Fantasy Classics
Fighting Fantasy Classics
Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Basements n' Basilisks: Storms of Sorcery
Basements n' Basilisks: Storms of Sorcery
Sacred Fire
Sacred Fire
Voice of Cards Trilogy
Voice of Cards Trilogy
Glasshouse
Glasshouse
Esoteric Ebb
Esoteric Ebb
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Tales of Fablecraft
Tales of Fablecraft

6 Comments


10 months ago

i would almost certainly put roadwarden here based on many of these entries

10 months ago

Cool list! From your description I feel like KotOR would qualify. According to wikipedia:

The game's system is based on Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars Roleplaying Game, which is based on the d20 role-playing game system derived from the Third Edition Dungeons & Dragons rules ... the full breakdown for each action (including die rolls and modifiers) is accessible from a menu.

10 months ago

@poyfuh: It's on there! Probably next on my list of games to play after I finish Citizen Sleeper :)

@cowboyjosh: I didn't know about the die roll breakdown feature of KotOR!! That's cool. I've thought about including this one, but then it feels like I should also include stuff like Divinity: Original Sin, Pillars of Eternity, Pathfinder: Kingmaker, etc and then if I do that I might as well include all the Baldur's Gate games and the Fallout games and the Elder Scrolls games and then before I know it 50% of all CRPGs ever made are included, ya know? Idk I think I'm realizing I actually need to play more of these classic CRPGs if I want to make this list less vague! And KotOR is one I definitely want to check out so thanks for the reminder :)

10 months ago

lmao i went through the list literally like 3 times and i missed it being the fourth game huge L for ina

7 months ago

i have found my genre

7 months ago

@xaien 🙌


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