The RPG genre is arguably the most immersive and timeless in gaming. Players tend to care more about narrative, exploration, and stats than they do about combat. For many RPG fans, fighting was a necessary evil to raise their character’s strength and fighting stats until they become strong enough to breeze through later battles like a god decked out in armor.RELATED: The Best RPGs Games Ever Made (According To Metacritic)Yet so many RPGs force the player into scenarios where battles can’t be avoided, which is why it is odd that there are very few RPGs with great combat. Thankfully, in recent years there have been open-world RPGs that seem to bring a complete package for gamers to sink their teeth into. These upcoming games have the best combat in the role-playing genre.Updated November 14th, 2021 by Michael Llewellyn: RPGs are often long games that require a lot of commitment from their players. Some of these games in the genre can last anything from 20 hours to 100 plus. Naturally, through the course of playing these games, there is a lot of combat involved especially as it comes to leveling up the player's characters and party. One can be hopeful then that the combat system is worthy of such a huge commitment. That's where a list like this comes in handy for players. This article has been updated with more games that are not only huge but have great combat systems to back them up.

18 Monster Hunter World

Fighting a large monster
  • Released: 2018
  • Developer: Capcom
  • Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Released in 2018, Monster Hunter: World brought the long-running action series into the mainstream and became a massive hit for Capcom. This is thanks to the game's spectacular visuals and a combat system that's more accessible than its predecessors.

The combat with monsters is spectacular as players can work alone or as part of a team to take down gigantic screen-filling monsters. The fights can be lengthy but there's a sense of accomplishment after a long hard-fought battle that many other games can't replicate.

17 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

Skyrim Orc Warrior
  • Released: 2011
  • Developer: Bethesda
  • Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, PSVR, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim never had very polished combat when compared to other action RPGs in the open-world RPG genre. Its execution is fairly simplistic and aside from the addition of brutal finishers Skyrim feels like a very limited hack and slash.

However, Skyrim’s combat feels tailor-made for VR. It is responsive, uncomplicated and on the PlayStation VR doesn’t have any rivals when it comes to medieval sword fighting. In addition, taking the stealthy bow and arrow approach is also very satisfying in VR.

16 Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

The battles in Dragon's Dogma are immense
  • Released: 2012
  • Developer: Capcom
  • Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen was originally released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 but was later remastered and improved for current generation consoles. Sadly, it wasn’t a major hit for Capcom in either gen, but the game has gained a cult following for its character creation tools and the epic boss fights.

Dragon’s Dogma was developed by the same team behind the Devil May Cry series. The combat scenarios with the many monsters in the game are a dynamic and epic experience despite the clumsy camera angles and awkward artificial intelligence.

15 Borderlands 3

  • Released: 2019
  • Developer: Gearbox
  • Platform: macOS, PC, PS5, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

After the disappointing Borderlands: The Prequel, Borderlands 3 is the return to form that series fans were hoping for. The series blend of Diablo­-style looting and chaotic shooting has always been a welcome change of pace from the likes of most open-world RPG shooters.

RELATED Borderlands 3: How to Dupe Weapons and Items

Pulling off headshots is both satisfyingly brutal and amusing. The guns are excellent with varying abilities like transforming weapons that are just as crazy and quirky as the characters that inhabit its world.

14 Tom Clancy's The Division 2

the division 2 weapons update 6
  • Released: 2019
  • Developer: Ubisoft Massive Entertainment
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One

Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is an unusual mix of RPG stat-based combat and a military shooter. In the original game, these mechanics often felt at odds with each other especially players used to other shooters in the Tom Clancy universe opt for a more traditional style of shooting.

There is still a significant learning curve but The Division 2 is better balanced and more realistic with the addition of armored enemies. More ore importantly, the strategic combat was more impactful and satisfying. When bullets connect they feel more punchy and more akin to Ubisoft's other shooters like Ghost Recon. Additionally, players will spend hours upgrading and customizing their guns. The Division 2 is set to release on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2022.

13 Xuan-Yuan Sword 7

Xuan-Yuan 7 protagonist in combat
  • Released: 2020
  • Developer: DOMO Studio
  • Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One

More semi-open like The Witcher 2 or Dragon Age as opposed to the massive open maps of The Witcher 3, Xuan-Yuan Sword 7 is still an action RPG worthy of a combat fan's attention. The explorable maps are still large enough to warrant a mention on this list.

The fighting system is inspired by Chinese martial arts and the game's historical setting is influenced by Chinese mythology. Xuan-Yuan Sword 7 uses a variety of stances that open up new styles of fighting and is surprisingly accessible. The fights against human enemies and giant monsters are satisfying and it's a system that requires speed and quickness from the player.

12 Final Fantasy 15

the squad from ffxv
  • Released: 2016
  • Developer: Square Enix
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One

First released in 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Final Fantasy 15 is an action RPG that was designed to replicate the combat from the movie Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children. The system combines elements from the ATB system from Final Fantasy games of the past and a turn-based system.

There are indeed areas of Final Fantasy 15 that felt unfinished at the time of its launch. Thanks to some patchwork provided by the developer it's a more user-friendly experience that's adaptable to the user's playstyle.

11 The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

  • Released: 2015
  • Developer: CD Projekt Red
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is, without a doubt, one of the greatest RPGs ever made. For such a huge game with an incredible amount of depth, it would have been almost forgivable if the developers underdeveloped the combat system.

RELATED The Best PlayStation 4 Games (According To Metacritic)

This wasn’t the case, however, because The Witcher 3’s real-time combat is fantastic for those who master it. The parrying system and the ability to repel attacks with magic require skill and timing. Developers CD Projekt Red worked hard to make the player feel like they’re the most dangerous warrior in a hostile land. The Witcher 3 is set to release on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2022.

10 Judgment

judgment yagami
  • Released: 2019
  • Developer: Ryu Go Gotoku Studio
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Released in 2019, Judgment is a spin-off from the acclaimed Yakuza series and is based in the same city streets of Kamurocho. Instead of a gangster, the protagonist is a former lawyer-turned private detective who deals with low-life criminals and members of the Yakuza.

The combat system in Judgment works very similarly to the classic beat-em-ups. It also allows players to switch between different fighting styles like Crane-style and Tiger-style. The Kung-Fu fighting style is much faster and more fluid than the Yakuza games. A sequel titled Lost Judgment was released in 2021 for all major systems.

9 Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 Skippy is a gun that may be too smart for its own good
  • Released: 2020
  • Developer: CD Projekt Red
  • Platform: PC. PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One

Released in time for Christmas in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 is a game that isn’t without its problems and will likely be the recipient of performance patches for a long time to come on base consoles. However, the world is beautifully developed and the variety in combat makes it one of the best in the RPG genre.

There is a huge variety of weapons that range from melee weapons like swords, knives, and modified baseball bats. There are powerful pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles, and Smart Weapons that not only find their target with homing projectiles but even communicate with the protagonist. There are PS5 and Xbox Series X/S is set to release in 2022.

8 Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

  • Released: 2018
  • Developer: FromSoftware
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey's combat system continued and improved on the new system in Assassin’s Creed: Origins. The focus on timing dodges, attacks, and parrying felt weighty and more in line with Bloodborne and the Dark Souls series than it did previous entries like Syndicate.

Where Origins used a more Dark Souls style combat that relied heavily on defense, Odyssey required the player to be far more aggressive by using speed to their advantage similar to FromSoft's Bloodborne. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey was the recipient of a 60fps boost for the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S.

7 Middle Earth: Shadow Of War

Middle-Earth-Shadow-of-War-Talion-stabbing-an-Orc-in-the-middle-of-a-melee-Cropped-1
  • Released: 2017
  • Developer: Monolith Productions
  • Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Despite releasing with some questionable motives when it came to microtransactions, Middle Earth: Shadow of War is still an excellent open-world RPG experience. Eventually, all microtransactions were removed and gamers could just enjoy the experience as it was intended.

The combat system improves on its predecessor's Batman: Arkham-style mechanics, adding in more brutal close-quarters finishing moves. The counter and parry system remains one of the best in an action RPG and secured a win in the 2017 Game Awards for the best combat system.

6 Dark Souls 3

  • Released: 2016
  • Developer: FromSoftware
  • Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One

The Dark Souls series helped popularise the kind of difficulty one could only in old-school games. The tough but fair battle system inspired several games in the sub-genre that would become lovingly referred to as the Soulslike.

All games in the Souls play and feel great but it's Dark Souls 3 that is the most polished experience until the remade Demon's Souls hit the PS5 in 2020. The emphasis on timing blocks, parries, and attacks is vital for success and incredibly satisfying once the player has grown accustomed to its playing style. So successful is the series fighting system that it has inspired combat improvements in Assassin’s Creed series from Assassin’s Creed: Origins onward.

5 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

yakuza like a dragon combat
  • Released: 2020
  • Developer: Ryu Go Gotoku
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Even though Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the seventh entry in the series, it is the beginning of a new saga in the franchise. With the Kiryu Saga complete, the game follows a new protagonist in Ichiban Kasuga who is a very different lead.

RELATED: Pro Tips For Yakuza: Like A Dragon You Need To Know

Like a Dragon also introduces a brand new combat system that is more akin to the classic Dragon Quest games. What separates the two games, however, is Yakuza’s implementation of street fighting, and gang warfare into an incredibly creative turn-based combat system.

4 Demon’s Souls (2020)

Vault Demon fighting knight
  • Released: 2020
  • Developer: Bluepoint Games
  • Platform: PS5

As a predecessor to the Dark Souls series, Demon’s Souls plays and feels like it’s a game in the same series. So, as one would expect, the combat system is every bit as good as the more popular Dark Souls trilogy.

However, the 2020 remake was released exclusively on the PlayStation 5 and is a faster and more fluid game than the PS3 original. There are quality-of-life improvements that refine the experience, new features, and the dynamic 4K resolution at 60FPS contributes to a smooth and fluid combat system worthy of the series’ accolades.

3 Divinity: Original Sin 2

  • Released: 2017
  • Developer: Larian Studios
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and iPadOS

Developed by Larian Studios and further expanding upon their Divine Divinity universe Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the most complete and flexible RPGs ever created. It is one of the few games where the player is given choice in everything they do in the world and that extends to the combat too.

However, the combat in Divinity: Original Sin 2 is just as deep and complex as the rest of the game. The strategic turn-based battle system plays very similarly to X-COM where positioning, terrain, and the elements all play an important role in achieving success in enemy encounters. The next game in the franchise Divinity: Fallen Heroes is a pure tactical RPG using Divinity: Original Sin 2's combat system but will have more in common with XCOM.

2 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning

  • Released: 2012
  • Developer: Big Huge Games and 38 Studio
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

It says a lot for a game when it is still considered to have one of the best and most accessible combat systems in an RPG across two generations and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning certainly lives up to its reputation.

RELATED: The Xbox 360 Hidden Gems Everyone Missed

Its arcade-style gameplay is accessible and easy to pick up, so much so that even non-RPG fans and can dive right in have fun with this game. Reckoning's combat is as good as action titles like God of War and Darksiders. It’s also totally customizable and the player can craft and arrange their character’s skill sets and load-outs to their liking.

1 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

  • Released: 2018
  • Developer: Warhorse Studios
  • Platform: Amazon Luna, PC, PS4, and Xbox One

If Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is easy to pick up play for virtually any player then Kingdom Come Deliverance could be accused of being less accessible and difficult for those who are just used to swinging aimlessly with a sword. However, gamers willing to learn the game’s combat mechanics will find one of the deepest and technical medieval sword fighting games ever made.

Players that love the timing-based parry, counter, and deflect fighting system seen in For Honor should feel right at home with Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The player needs to work on creating openings with a physics-based system where the player can target 30 openings on the body. Deliverance was developed to be as close to a medieval RPG life simulator as possible and this extends to the combat too, but with enough practice, players will be surprised by just how flexible it is. A Nintendo Switch version is expected to release at an unannounced date.

MORE: The Best Evolving Games Of 2020