00:00Expect the unexpected. That's a motto we love to live by when it comes to RPGs.
00:06Sure, it's sometimes nice to play something straightforward,
00:09but the most unique games always find a way of keeping you on your toes.
00:14With lots of freedom comes lots of possible outcomes,
00:18and you can't always anticipate where your choices will lead you,
00:21but that's what makes them so worthwhile. From open worlds that have plenty of surprises in store,
00:28to stories full of twists and turns, we're here to tell you 10 of our favourite unique RPGs.
00:35The life of a mercenary is nothing if not unpredictable,
00:39and that certainly applies for Protagonist V in Cyberpunk 2077.
00:44This game had a rocky start when it first released in 2020,
00:48but it's since flourished into a game with a hardcore cult fanbase. The neon-tinted streets
00:53of Night City aren't afraid to throw plenty of chaos and danger in your path,
00:58be it during exploration or in the overarching storyline. And you never know what is around the
01:03corner. Is it a preacher ranting about the Alpha Centauri, a sentient vending machine,
01:09or my favourite washed up rockstar wanting your help to threaten a group of J-pop stars?
01:15You never know what's coming next. On top of that, you have the engram of an unruly rockerboy in the
01:20name of Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves, in your head. And despite the vast array of kooky
01:27questlines and side missions, this game genuinely got to me a few times. I have personally played this
01:34game through several times, and I still laugh out loud and cry hard at the same quests over and over
01:40again. This game will keep you guessing and coming back time and time again.
01:46Dragon's Dogma 2 more than fits the bill of an action RPG where you can expect the unexpected,
01:52and the open world it draws you into takes a lot of credit for that. As the Arisen,
01:58you're joined by NPC companions known as Pawns, who often add to the unpredictable factor as you
02:04venture out into the sprawling high fantasy landscapes of Capcom's adventure. One minute you'll
02:09be making your way to a quest objective, and the next you'll be heading off the beaten path because
02:14a Pawn pointed out something worth investigating on the horizon. When we reviewed the game back in 2024,
02:21we said to embrace the chaos of it all, and we still stand by that statement.
02:27Metaphor Re Fantasio may tread familiar persona ground through some of its systems and ideas,
02:33but it still successfully manages to feel novel by drawing you into a unique fantasy setting with its
02:39own distinct feel and look. You can absolutely expect to face some unexpected twists and turns in the
02:45story too, with Re Fantasio beautifully blending together its own brand of strangeness with more
02:51serious themes through its prejudice-filled society. Taking on the role of a protagonist from the rare,
02:57shunned Elder Tribe, you set out to break the curse of a prince, bring equality back and stop a growing
03:03threat. Phew, those are some pretty heavy duty tasks. Metaphor Re Fantasio is full to the brim with rich
03:11worldbuilding, memorable characters and expansive dungeons. Get ready for this story to take you in
03:17lots of surprising and unexpected directions.
03:21Yakuza Like a Dragon successfully shakes up the combat in the Yakuza series by tapping into protagonist
03:27Ichiban's love for Dragon Quest. Yes, you're essentially drawn into a world seen directly
03:33through the eyes of Ichiban's imagination, transforming scraps against enemies on the
03:38streets into turn-based battles infused with silly, over-the-top attacks that just make the
03:43experience all the more unique and enjoyable. Like so many of the Yakuza games, there's a memorable
03:48story that can often throw you into wonderfully weird situations, with all kinds of quirky characters
03:54in a myriad of side sub-stories. And even when you're not doing quests, you can just enjoy the
04:00chaos of combat, or get stuck into one of the many different activities in Yokohama.
04:05Divinity Original Sin 2's setting of Rivelon lets you take free reign as a character of your own
04:11making, with various classes and races to choose from. With the ability to speak to anyone and interact
04:17with just about anything you can see, Larian's RPG is teeming with possibilities, and affords
04:24you plenty of room to experiment both in and out of combat. With so much freedom not only to explore,
04:31but to also seek out opportunity and use the environment to your advantage to make it through
04:35all matter of scenarios, things can take unexpected turns as you follow the journey of the Godwoken.
04:41There's so much potential to go in different directions through multiple runs and see where
04:46your choices lead you. If you're after a reactive RPG that can keep surprising you, look no further
04:52than Larian's turn-based RPG. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the World is unique in a way that it's
04:58a veritable playground that invites you to experiment and explore to your heart's content. From the moment
05:03you step out into the vast plains of Hyrule, it's yours to discover, and with that level of freedom
05:08comes many unexpected occurrences. From messing around with Link's weapons to see how many ways you can
05:14take down enemies, which can go very wrong if you're not careful, to paragliding across the open expanses
05:21and seeing where the wind takes you. You never quite know what awaits you next, but that's the beauty
05:27of the experience. Sure, its sequel Tears of the Kingdom is similar, but Breath of the Wild is where
05:32this new brand of Zelda games began, so it still counts as a unique title. The post-apocalyptic setting of
05:40Wasteland 3 delivers a comical, silly edge that's packed with unexpected situations. Taking command
05:47of a group of desert rangers in a post-nuclear world, you set out to try and rebuild society in
05:52Colorado
05:53by promising to help a leader known as the Patriarch rescue his land from his wayward children.
05:59But with warring factions in the mix, things escalate quickly. With a story that's full of twists and
06:05turns, you can absolutely expect to face unexpected choices that can alter your path. Whether you
06:10want to follow your own morals or help feed the Patriarch's power is entirely up to you, but the
06:16world will react to what you do. What is there left to say about Baldur's Gate 3 that hasn't already
06:23been said? Larian's masterpiece is so filled with twists and turns that you never know what's coming
06:29next. Not only that, but the game is so replayable that no two runs are ever the same. You can
06:36play as
06:36your own character or even one of the origin characters like Gale or Karlak, meaning the story
06:42can be unique every single time. From collecting a dismembered clown's body parts in a circus,
06:48finding a cellar filled with rats and tackling the gauntlet of Sha, you never know what is about
06:53to happen. The world is expansive and the characters are some of the best written in a video game ever.
07:00Not only that, but you can even play the story online with your friends. Who knows where your
07:05choices will lead you, but you'll have a great time finding out.
07:10One of the reasons Persona 5 Royal is one of the best story driven RPGs is thanks to the way
07:15it
07:15mixes meaningful moments with lighthearted scenarios and story beats that can even get quite silly and
07:22weird. Juxtaposed against the day-to-day trials of school life as a teen, you're also thrown into a
07:28series of distorted mind palaces that reflect the corrupt desires of individuals. In the role of
07:33protagonist Joker, who fights back against this corruption as a member of the Phantom Thieves,
07:38you can certainly expect to find yourself in some out there situations. Battling against foes of your
07:44Personas, which are manifestations of your inner self, you'll never quite know what you'll encounter or
07:50where the story will lead you next, but the experience of playing Persona 5 Royal for the first time
07:55is made all the more memorable because of it.
08:00As one of the best RPGs where choices really matter, Disco Elysium is another unique role
08:06playing game that offers up so much freedom to decide how you want to handle any given
08:10scenario as Detective Harrier Dubois. As such, things can take many unexpected turns, and with a
08:17dialogue system that can lead conversations down many paths, you never quite know what you'll discover,
08:22do or see next. Whether you want to get violent, use your silver tongue to sweet talk your way into
08:28getting answers, and more, there's all kinds of ways to carry out your investigations, and things can
08:35get quite weird and existential as you decide how to roleplay as Harrier. In short, Disco Elysium is one
08:42RPG you'll have a hard time forgetting. But what about you? Are there any unique RPGs you think we missed
08:49off
08:49this list? Let us know in the comments, and stick with GamesRadar for all the latest gaming news.
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