The hallmark of many great RPGs is how they incorporate sophisticated and elaborate systems of skills and attributes into their character and world-building. Franchises like the Elder Scrolls, Mass Effect, and Dark Souls allow players to create and develop a character based on that character's skillset and their own playstyle.
Not only does this add significant replay value to these titles, but it also allows players to really tailor their own gameplay experience into something truly rewarding and satisfying to them. Where one player might develop their character into a powerful warrior, another might opt for a build that relies on stealth tactics and archery. This is a list of some RPGs that feature skills-based progression.
10 Okami
Perhaps one of the strongest games ever made to be inspired by traditional folklore, Okami tells the story of the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu reincarnated in the form of a wolf as she journeys through feudal Japan to save the realm from Orochi, the evil snake demon.
Okami has multiple skill trees, each with their own system of progression. One of the primary gameplay mechanics in Okami is the Celestial Brush techniques that Amaterasu learns; players have to master these in order to complete the title's campaign. Additionally, players can also level up certain combat and jumping techniques that Amaterasu can learn, as well as her base stats like HP, the amount of ink she can carry, how much money she can carry, and so on.
9 Dark Souls
Boasting something of an old-school RPG-style system of stats progression, Dark Souls is somewhat unique on this list in that players don't need to level up any of their stats to actually beat the game. In fact, some players take it upon themselves to beat the game at the same level that their character starts at, which is a feat few can manage.
Still, this isn't the norm, and players have a range of stats and skills that they can improve in their character. Using many of the games items is also contingent on players having a high enough base stat - for example, to wield most of Dark Souls 1's best dexterity weapons, players will need a certain DEX level first.
8 Mass Effect
The beloved Mass Effect franchise features not only skills-based progression, but a set of unique classes for players to choose from when creating a character, too. These classes have their own corresponding skills (which are referred to as 'Talents' in the game), which generally overlap with one or more class.
Players can upgrade Talents related to Combat, Weapons, Armor, Tech, Biotic, First Aid, and Health, as well as certain Miscellaneous Talents (these include the ability to Charm and Intimidate). Additionally, players can also upgrade their squad members' Talents, and, in doing so, tailor their abilities to best fit the needs of their crew overall.
7 Bloodborne
While part of the same Soulsborne franchise as the Dark Souls titles, Bloodborne is its own beast entirely. Not only is it known as one of the hardest hack 'n' slash games of all time, but it has an entirely different set of Stats that can be upgraded.
While appearing perhaps more streamlined than the character attributes that can be upgraded in Dark Souls, Bloodborne stats like Bloodtinge are fairly unique and don't have an equivalent in the Dark Souls titles as such. Having said that, while Bloodborne is a game based on its skill-based progression system, it's entirely possible (though exceedingly difficult) to beat the game without levelling up once, just as it is in Dark Souls.
6 The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls games are renowned for featuring some of the most diverse and expansive sets of character attributes of any RPG franchise. Expanding beyond skills related directly to combat, the Elder Scrolls games also feature attributes like Speechcraft and Smithing, which greatly enhance the sense of immersion that players get from the game.
In addition, these skills make the gameplay experience in general feel far more varied and add considerable depth and replay value. Players can create a stealth-based assassin character, for instance, and their experience of Skyrim will be completely different from another player whose warrior character is adept in melee and hand-to-hand combat. Morrowind is especially renowned for how naturally it incorporates levelling up into its gameplay.
5 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Despite being marred by bugs and glitches upon its release, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a genuinely remarkable RPG for many reasons, with one of them being how faithfully the game has managed to recreate the atmosphere and feel of Medieval Europe as seen through the eyes of a peasant-turned-hero.
Another strength of Kingdom Come: Deliverance is the various skills that Henry can learn and refine as the game goes on. Most of these are based on the game's combat system (Warfare, Axe, Bow, Mace, Unarmed, and so on), but Henry can also learn a number of non-combat skills, too (Herbalism, Drinking, Stealth, Pickpocketing, Reading, Alchemy, and more).
4 Sunless Sea
While Sunless Sea doesn't have a traditional skill tree as such, progression through the game is based heavily on character attributes and passing skill checks as and when they fit into developments in the narrative.
Players in the game have five attributes - Mirrors, Iron, Hearts, Veils, and Pages - and can upgrade these by trading Secrets with the Officers onboard their ship. It's exceedingly difficult to farm for stats in Sunless Sea, as Secrets are hard to come by in-game; this makes the title's skill-based system of progression feel quite organic, if not challenging and, at times, frustrating.
3 Nioh 2
Definitely one of the harder Soulslike games, Nioh 2 was released to largely positive reviews, many of which praised the game for its sophisticated and varied combat system. Basically all the skills in the game revolve around combat (there's not much else to do, to be fair), and players can refine their abilities in using the Tonfa, Onmyo Magic, Switchglaive, Odachi, Hatchets, Spear, and more.
Each of these weapon classes has its own skills tree, which adds plenty of replay value to the game. Players can fairly easily specialise in one particular weapon for one playthrough of Nioh 2, only to take a totally different approach in their next playthrough.
2 Dragon Age
The Dragon Age franchise has achieved considerable popularity among gamers thanks to the epic world building introduced by Dragon Age: Origins, the gritty, hard fantasy storytelling of Dragon Age 2, and strong character-building system of the franchise more generally.
In Dragon Age, players have both Talents and Spells or Skills that they can upgrade. Talents are special abilities that are used outside of combat, including survival skills, stealth skills, skills of persuasion, and so on. Depending on the player's chosen class, they will either be able to upgrade their magical abilities in the form of Spells, or their combat abilities, if they have chosen to play as a warrior or rogue instead.
1 Fallen London
A free browser-based RPG based largely on text stories and minimal visual or auditory cues for players, Fallen London is something of a cult game with a large following worldwide. Players start the game with four base Attributes that they can upgrade - Watchful, Shadowy, Dangerous, and Persuasive - and a further three Reputation Attributes that are unlocked as players progress through the game (Respectable, Dreaded, and Bizarre).
Few games on this list are as tied to skills progression as Fallen London is, as progress through the game is heavily based on passing relevant skill checks.