Obsidian Entertainment is considered by many to be one of the best western RPG developers around, with most players in the industry expecting them to pick up the torch that BioWare dropped when it came to crafting player-driven experiences that are wholly brilliant and unique in every sense of the word.
The Outer Worlds was just one step in the right direction, but it's an impressive step indeed. While the scope of the game might not have been as massive as one might've expected, there's no denying the fact that The Outer Worlds is a masterfully crafted RPG that truly makes players feel like they're role-playing exactly as the character they want to play as.
So, it only goes without saying that fans who get a whiff of the brilliance that Obsidian has in store for them would want to figure out the best course of action that can be taken to enjoy games that elicit the same role-playing goodness as The Outer Worlds. Thankfully, these players are in luck — there are ten such games that elicit most (if not all) of the feelings that one might experience while playing The Outer Worlds.
10 Dragon Age: Origins
It would be impossible to talk about western role-playing games similar that have the same in-depth mechanics as present in most Obsidian Entertainment games without mentioning the golden age of BioWare. Previously steeped in developing top-down classic role-playing experiences, it took a while for BioWare to modernize its systems... but it managed to do so in resounding fashion.
Dragon Age: Origins was more than just a groundbreaking title — it was a technical marvel that showed the heights that only video game storytelling could reach and is undoubtedly the most complex game in the entire series.
9 Mass Effect 2
Of course, one simply can't talk about BioWare's accomplishments without talking about the masterpiece that is Mass Effect 2. This game was BioWare on its A-game — a compelling narrative, enthralling gameplay, and a cast of memorable characters who are fondly remembered by the majority of gamers who had the pleasure of trying this title out.
While the franchise definitely dipped in the coming years, there's no denying that Mass Effect 2 was a gaming phenomenon when it was released, and is still fondly talked about to this day... even after the massive goof-ups of BioWare and EA.
8 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
There was a time when BioWare was still testing the waters when it came to third-person western RPGs, and even during this period, they managed to release a title that is considered by many to be one of the finest games in the history of the Star Wars franchise.
Knights Of The Old Republic features one of the best stories ever told in the Star Wars canon and is an absolute must-play for both fans of this popular franchise and connoisseurs of excellent role-playing titles.
7 No Man's Sky
The disastrous launch of No Man's Sky is undoubtedly one of the biggest failures in gaming history... which is what makes Hello Games' turnaround all the more heartwarming. Forced into a corner by its publisher, the studio decided to roll with the punches and never give up on their original vision of the game.
This resulted in the modern version of No Man's Sky being one of the better space exploration games around, and players who are interested in exploring deep sci-fi worlds and systems should definitely try out the modern version of this game.
6 Divinity: Original Sin II
The conversation around role-playing games would be incomplete without mentioning the modern RPG masterpiece that is Divinity: Original Sin II. Easily one of the most hardcore experiences that fans can expose themselves to, Divinity: Original Sin II is a marked improvement over its predecessor in every way, and easily one of the best video games of all time.
And speaking of excellent top-down role-playing games that have been released in the modern era...
5 Disco Elysium
One of the most unique facets of Disco Elysium is the fact that the entire game features absolutely no combat whatsoever. This might sound like a downside at first glance... until players realize the brilliant nature of this title.
Disco Elysium arguably has the best writing out of all the games on this list and is an underrated masterpiece that any fan of role-playing games should definitely get their hands on.
4 Baldur's Gate II
It would be remiss to talk about the best role-playing games without mentioning the CRPG that started it all. Even now, the role-playing aspect of Baldur's Gate II is still impressive and interconnected in a manner that most modern games seldom tend to replicate without any glaring faults.
It's a classic that any fan of modern role-playing games would definitely find intriguing... even though the gameplay might be somewhat dated. However, that's a minor nitpick in an otherwise brilliant title.
3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
It was only a given that one of the greatest role-playing games would be making an appearance on this list in some way or the other.
The discussion surrounding The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is already extensive enough as is, and no words need to be used to convince people to try this masterpiece out — most people already know the greatness of this game and are sitting on an absolute goldmine of content if they haven't played this masterpiece.
2 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Speaking of masterpieces, it would be a huge oversight to not mention Bethesda's magnum opus — Skyrim. People might joke about how the game is being ported to pretty much any platform possible, but there's a reason why that's the case — the game is just that good.
Players who love a degree of freedom and exploration would do well to give this game a shot since they definitely won't regret the 100+ hours they invest in it as a result.
1 Fallout: New Vegas
Talking about Obsidian Entertainment's newest title without mentioning the game that arguably put them on the map would be a massive oversight. If The Outer Worlds impressed people with its RPG mechanics, then Fallout: New Vegas would definitely blow them out of the water.
While the game might need some mods to actually prove a great experience, there's no denying that players who invest the extra time will be treated to what might just be the greatest game in the Fallout series, and one of the deepest role-playing experiences that gamers can expose themselves to.