Summary
People think of role-playing games as slow affairs. They gradually construct a character over several hours and immerse themselves in the fictional world. This stands in stark contrast to shooters, which rely on quick reflexes amid chaotic firefights. At first glance, these two genres are like night and day. What if that wasn’t the case, though?
Some titles mix these genres, producing RPGs with gameplay akin to a shoot ‘em up. Oftentimes, they tie the role-playing directly into the weapons and the character’s ability to wield them. It’s the same principle as medieval RPGs, except translated to more modern tools. To facilitate that mixture, the developers usually opt for a sci-fi setting. However, they achieve it, though, the finished product is a breath of fresh air for both audiences.
Updated on June 08, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:Most people associate role-playing games with melee combat or tactical battles in some form. The shooter genre has usually been reserved for action-packed experiences where players follow a mostly linear path. So, it’s nice to see some RPGs try and combine elements of FPS gameplay to great effect. In fact, some of the very best RPGs around are shooters that feel great to play and let players enjoy some epic player-driven adventures in the process. There can never be too many RPG shooters, and with that in mind, more have been added to this list.
Obsidian may have a great reputation for developing RPGs, but the studio has also had a bad history with stable releases. Most of their beloved games were rightfully criticized for being broken at launch, to the point where players sometimes found it impossible to even complete the game.
Alpha Protocolis one such title that most people didn’t even bother to check out because of numerous reports claiming that the game was broken to a fault. It was only after both official and unofficial patches that the game became somewhat playable. Today, players can enjoy a one-of-a-kind espionage RPG that lets them assume the personalities of the three major JBs of the spy world (Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne, and James Bond) by creating a character as one of three preset classes - Soldier, Tech Specialist, or Field Agent - or as one of three customizable classes - Freelancer, Recruit, or Veteran - for their version of secret agent protagonist Michael Thornton.
A lot of great RPGs were lost in the shuffle because of numerous glitches, unsatisfying gameplay, or a combination of both. Unfortunately, forVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, both of these aspects ended up killing any hype for the title at launch. The fact that it launched on the same day asHalf-Life 2didn’t help things.
It’s a shame that the game was a commercial failure, sinceVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlinesis genuinely one of the best RPGs ever made. Despite a rushed latter half,Bloodlinesis excellent when everything clicks into place. After a point, even the act of shooting a gun becomes satisfying with the many vampiric powers that the player has at their disposal.
System Shock 2is one of the greatest video games ever made. Even after the many years since its release, the muted horror and engaging gameplay loop of this title is something that enraptures fans to this day. It has inspired countless immersive sims, including everything made by Arkane Studios, theBioShockseries, and many, many more.
The best part is that players can approach this game in whatever way they see fit. Sure, firing guns is relatively simple, but there’s something wildly fun about using Psi powers that players can experiment with to manoevre their way through enemies.
An underground gem of recent years, Teyon’sTerminator: Resistancequickly emerged asthe best game to ever come from the seminal sci-fi films. The success stems from a simple concept: take theFalloutgameplay and set it in theTerminatoruniverse. Many mechanics–lockpicking, crafting, skill trees, dialogue options–come straight from the former series. Not to mention, both franchises take place in a nuclear hellscape. Players even fight their way through it with guns. All of that comes with a caveat, however.
Terminator: Resistancehas a significantly smaller budget, which means the experience isn’t as vast. It has fewer quests, smaller sandboxes, and less depth in character progression. That said, the game still invites enough customization to fill its short length, and the core gunplay remains reliable. Because of that, it retains enough substance to sustain itself. Bigger isn’t always better.
After hitting it big withStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the developers at BioWare sought to make their own space opera more action-based. As such, most gameplay in theMass Effecttrilogy is that of a third-person shooter. It’s floaty and awkward at first, but subsequent entries tighten the controls and physics to be far more intuitive. In these firefights, the heroes wield assault rifles, snipers, and pistols. This arsenal isn’t much on the surface. However, the true strategy comes in how the game uses its setting.
Mass Effectleans into its sci-fi roots in building its characters.The galaxy houses countless pieces of advanced technology and biotic powers. One might instantly overload a shield while another could levitate enemies straight out of cover. Players can invest in these themselves depending on how they build their galactic savior. They can do the same for their party members, who can then assume positions and take commands in battle. Captains are only as good as their crews, and that philosophy is perhapsMass Effect’s greatest asset.
Standing besideElder Scrollsas Bethesda’s other claim to fame,Falloutrevolves around the post-apocalyptic United States.Nuclear war has decimated most of the population and left some as irradiated monsters. Players must scrounge what meager resources are left to bolster their characters. This means that crafting is where most of the role-playing lies, but the games also include a handful of perks and attributes to aid in navigation and conversation. Fans must adapt to the desperate times to gradually work their way up. At first, these RPG aspects are separate from the first-person shooting, which feels largely incidental.
LaterFalloutentries innovate this formula through the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System. This device slows down gameplay and lets players target specific body parts on their enemies. It potentially ends a gunfight in one or two shots. The upgradeable traits partially determine how often fans can use this tool, and they’ll be glad for it. In a world this barren, every bullet counts.
From acclaimedWitcherdeveloper CD Projekt Red,Cyberpunk 2077sends players to the futuristic metropolis of Night City. They then strive to make their mark on this urban cesspool, dealing withthe resident crooks and cyberpsychosalong the way. Doing so requires a handful of guns, all wielded from a first-person perspective. Any veteran of crime games likeGrand Theft Autoshould know the formula well, but there’s a twist.
InCyberpunk’s world, people have enhanced themselves with various bits of tech. These implants grant a plethora of perks and abilities. Not only do they boost people’s physical prowess, but they directly impact how well they handle firearms. Shock absorption, reload speed, and other traits affect how they wield their weapons. Alternatively, they could apply their technical know-how to the gun itself,installing mods and attachments to increase performance. By the end, they’re more machine than man, but they’re virtually unstoppable as a result.
Developed by Ion Storm and Eidos-Montreal, theDeus Exgames stem from the same neo-noire roots asCyberpunk 2077. The difference is the size, as they don’t have as many bells and whistles. The areas are nowhere near as large, and fewer quests are available. In addition, the first-person shooting is as standard as it comes. That’s easily forgivable, though, as these games aren’t heavy on action.
Deus Exis mainly a detective drama. Keeping with its film noir foundation, it focuses more on story and atmosphere. Players can approach each scenario in a multitude of ways, few of which are readily obvious. They canstealthily dispatch the enemies with melee takedowns,use clever platforming to go around them, hack into the security system, shoot them with lethal/nonlethal rounds, or discover some other solution. The various augments facilitate those approaches.Deus Exasks players to truly step into Adam Jensen’s shoes and help him develop as a detective. Doing so is a more rewarding experience than simply shooting their way through.
People viewThe Outer Worldsas a superior successor toFallout. That’s a valid view since it comes from Obsidian: the studio behindFallout: New Vegas. These developers are famous for their rock-solid role-playing, which remains the case here. Amid a galaxy ruled by megacorporations, class warfare is rampant. This leads to moral and ethical dilemmas with no clear answer.Players navigate these dilemmas with speechcraft and ingenuity. That’s where most of the immersion emerges. They might use their technical skills to reroute a power grid toward a group of refugees, or they may upgrade their persuasion to bend others to their will. They have countless methods to manipulate the status quo. Unfortunately, some scenarios inevitably turn to violence.
Thankfully,The Outer Worldsmaintains its role-playing depth in combat. Fans can modify regular guns with different types of ammo to suit the various enemy types. They may also access unique tools and abilities depending on how they build their characters. For example, developing science skills lets them construct specialized weapons for shrinking, mind control, and other unorthodox effects. In addition, the game boasts the slow-motion targeting fromFalloutand party mechanics fromMass Effect. Captains can coordinate their crewmates in combat, ordering them to assume specific positions or activate special attacks. Using all of these elements in tandem leads to a profitable venture worthy of the biggest business.
