6 Underrated RPGs Fans Must Try in 2026

Role-playing games have always been incredibly popular, and for decades, players looking for that traditional Dungeons & Dragons experience have had tons of choices. Developers are constantly trying to innovate, but with so many good games out there, some truly excellent RPGs have been overlooked. I’ve created a short list of six underrated RPGs that you can still easily find and play today. If you enjoy RPGs and haven’t heard of these, they’re definitely worth checking out.

Here are six fantastic role-playing games that are easy to start playing. This list focuses on games available on today’s consoles, so some excellent older titles aren’t included.

6) Lost Odyssey

During the Xbox 360 era, Microsoft tried to attract Japanese gamers with titles like Lost Odyssey. While both Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon didn’t achieve the sales Microsoft hoped for, they remain excellent role-playing games.

I think Lost Odyssey is a little better than Blue Dragon because of its interesting and well-developed characters. The stories about their relationships are really good, and it’s worth experiencing. Luckily, you can still play Lost Odyssey on the Xbox Game Store thanks to backward compatibility.

5) Risen

The Risen games and their sequels haven’t gotten much attention, which is understandable. They were known for having some technical problems, particularly on the Xbox 360. But if you can look past those issues, you’ll find a really good role-playing game underneath.

When you start playing Risen on the island of Faranga, you’ll quickly find yourself immersed in a detailed world with memorable characters and tough opponents. While the original game hasn’t been completely rebuilt, THQ released an updated version in 2023 that improves performance and adds controller support. If you’re looking for a game you can really get lost in for around 60 hours, Risen is an excellent choice.

4) Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

Released in 2001, the game Arcanum is set in a fascinating world experiencing its own version of the Industrial Revolution. The clash between magic and technology creates a compelling story that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.

The game lets you play as a character focused on either magic or technology, giving it good replayability. While it was successful when it came out in 2001, it’s often overlooked when people talk about the most popular games from that era. That’s unfortunate, because it’s a truly excellent game and readily available on Steam.

3) Alpha Protocol

Alpha Protocol isn’t a perfect game, particularly when it first came out. Released in 2010 by Obsidian, it casts you as a secret agent with a lot of freedom. You get to fully customize your agent’s skills and playstyle – you can be a sneaky, stealthy spy, or a more direct, action-oriented operative like Jason Bourne.

While the shooting felt awkward and the enemies weren’t very smart, Alpha Protocol really shined as a role-playing game, offering players a lot of freedom in how they approached situations. The cover system and combat abilities were a bit clunky, but the current version has been patched to address some of these issues. It’s not a perfect game, but beneath its flaws lies a truly enjoyable experience with a lot to offer.

2) Jade Empire

Jade Empire is an interesting case – it likely wasn’t a huge success not because of its quality, but because of when it was released. This 2005 RPG from BioWare was only available on the original Xbox, and it came out right before the Xbox 360 became popular. Many gamers were already planning to buy the new console and weren’t eager to spend money on games for the older system.

It’s a shame if you missed Jade Empire, as it’s considered one of BioWare’s greatest games. The action RPG received a lot of praise, and many people thought it looked even better than Knights of the Old Republic. Luckily, it was later released on PC, so you can easily play it now if you didn’t get a chance before.

1) Resonance of Fate

I still remember when Resonance of Fate came out in 2010 – it instantly gave us one of the most amazing battle systems I’ve ever seen in an RPG. The way it blended real-time action with turn-based strategy just felt right. And honestly, pulling off a Hero Action was always a spectacle! The game really knew how to reward you with these crazy, over-the-top scenes that were genuinely jaw-dropping.

Okay, so the story wasn’t amazing, and honestly, it wasn’t the prettiest game to look at during battles. But man, the battle system was SO good, it almost made up for everything. It’s a shame not a lot of people played it when it first came out. Luckily, the developers re-released it in HD on PC and PS4 in 2018, so you can snag it pretty cheap during the Steam sales now. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into action RPGs!

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2026-03-22 00:10