Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition – Despite all the negativity from old-school nostalgic players, D&D 4th Edition is a great roleplaying game, especially for new gamers just getting into the hobby. It is the longest running and most popular fantasy RPG ever. D&D 4e dominates the roleplaying market share right now. They’ve mixed elements from classic roleplaying with elements from good MMORPG games to create a great roleplaying game. D&D 4e is widely considered to be the best RPG game out right now.

Shadowrun 4th Edition – Even though this game has a system that can be difficult to play sometimes, the world of Shadowrun is fantastic. You can play a human, elf, dwarf, ork, or troll in a world of magic and cyberware. Corporate espionage abounds and magic flows through the world in both positive and negative ways. Shadowrun is where magic and cyberpunk meet in the years 2050+.

Star Wars Saga Edition – SWSE is definitely one of the good RPG games available out there right now. It is the most recent incarnation of the Star Wars universe in a roleplaying game. Saga Edition is based off of the D20 system with a few rule modifications to fit the Star Wars universe better. The game is a great combination of the most popular sci-fi setting ever with one of the most popular pen and paper gaming systems ever.

World of Darkness – World of Darkness is not specifically its own game, but more of a collection of good RPG games by White Wolf. Vampire, Werewolf, Mage, Changling, Wraith, and a host of other individual games make up the World of Darkness. In these games, the players get to play the types of characters that normal folks would consider to be their worst nightmares.

Call of Cthulhu – There is a host of systems and versions that call themselves a Call of Cthulhu game. Each one is a good example of a good RPG game.  The overriding premise on all of them is that you take the place of mortal characters who often investigates strange and unusual occurrences. During those investigations, you often uncover aliens, monsters, or demons that you could never have imagined. These creates usually cause you to go crazy or kill you, thus ending the game! Sounds dumb, but man it is incredibly fun.

Rifts – Although the Palladium system is widely considered a clunky and archaic system, the actual world of Rifts is a spectacular setting that really contains everything but the kitchen sink. Futuristic cyborgs, aliens, magical creatures, magical spell casters, psychics, and many more unusual creatures makeup this world that is full of literally anything you could think of.

These are just a few good RPG games that for both new and experienced players to try out. I think for newer players that are used to playing good MMORPG games, Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition is the easiest to start out with.  But, there are definitely many more that I haven’t mentioned here. Savage Worlds has a great system overall. Pathfinder is really bringing something old, but new, to the gaming table. And there are a host of other smaller games and gaming companies bringing out great RPG games all the time.

What do you think are good RPG games for pen and paper roleplayers?

Free RPG Online Games
Anarchy Online – A futuristic science fiction MMORPG, Anarchy Online takes place in an age where common surgical implants and microscopic nano-bots can relieve most forms of human suffering. They can even change a person into a weapon of destructive force. AO used to be a pay-to-play MMORPG, but now it is free to play with the option to pay for additional features. AO is now available as one of the best free RPG online games.

Twelve Sky – Over five million players and growing, Twelve Sky is an award-winning game with large scale PvP, thousands of authentic items, an in-depth skill system, and customizable armor and weapons. The game is a fast paced MMORPG based on an oriental fantasy theme of middle-age China. Best of all, Twelve Sky is a free online RPG game.

Fiesta – Fiesta is a free-to-play 3D MMORPG. It currently has more than two million players worldwide. The game is now available for European players in English, Spanish, French, and German. Players can experience exciting adventures in a stunning online fantasy world through the unique character development of four different classes. Fiesta contains both PvE and PvP game play, as well as numerous quests for single adventurers or groups. The game also contains extensive guild support.

Galaxy Online – Galaxy Online is a strategic online game that combines a powerful battle system and abundant expressive battle force. It is set across the vast universe. Players from different forces can kill each other freely. The game attempts to offer a free development space for players so that they can design their own warships, arrange battle teams and recast planets according to their wishes. It is a great game for players who like strategy and challenge.

Cabal Online – Cabal Online is a third person 3D online RPG. The game is based around the continent of Navereth which has been destroyed by the laws of nature. The game play is mixed with teamwork that involves puzzles, battles, and quests. These are key to defeating the second rising of evil and to win the world war. It has over three hundred solo and party dungeons as well as a wide variety of quests and challenges.

There are many other free RPG games available online. Anarchy Online, Twelve Sky, Fiesta, Galaxy Online, and Cabal Online are just a small selection of what free RPG online games are out there. Most of the games require you to download and install the software. Then once you’re fully updated you can log into your account, connect to the game, and start playing.

What free RPG games do you recommend playing?

The Best RPG PC Games
I’ve played a lot of PC RPGs and MMORPGs in my day. So I wanted to develop a list of the best RPG PC games that I’ve played. In general, I really enjoy playing MMORPGs, traditional PC RPGs, and any popular RPG series. Here are some examples of each category that I’ve enjoyed playing over the years.

MMORPGs
World of Warcraft – This is the MMORPG of all MMORPGs. I can honestly say I disliked World of Warcraft when I started playing it. But the fact that everyone I knew was playing it kept me interested. So I gutted it out and stuck with the game for a couple years and really grew to like it. It has like ten bazillion subscribers and is firmly entrenched as the number one MMORPG in the world. It is definitely one of the best RPG games out there, if not THE game.

Warhammer Online – War was marketed as a potential WoW killer when it came out. It definitely was not that, but it delivered a new MMORPG that was more PvP-focused. The game is alive and kicking and is probably the best alternative to World of Warcraft if you are looking for a newer fantasy MMORPG that is PvP-focused.

Dark Age of Camelot – DAoC was the game that got me into MMORPGs. It had decent PvE but was completely PvP-focused end-game, which is my big focus with MMORPGs. The one thing they did better than any other game so far was their realm vs. realm PvP using a three-side system. Using three different sides for players allowed for much easier and better balance on each server. It also allowed for a ton of different and fun classes and group make-ups for people to play. Even as old as it is, DAoC is still a great MMORPG.

Best RPG Games for PC
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – I love the Star Wars universe and KotOR was a groundbreaking game for LucasArts. It allowed you to really play a Jedi the way you wanted to play them. It also gave you the choice of whether you wanted to go towards the light side or the dark side, and you paid the consequence for either. It spawned a sequel game as well as games that were created for that era. BioWare and LucasArts are currently working on an MMORPG based on this original game which will be called, Star Wars: The Old Republic (TOR). I predict it will be one of the best online RPG games ever.

Diablo – Some people may not consider Diablo a true RPG. I definitely think it has all the elements of an RPG, but at its core it probably feels and looks a lot more action-based. Diablo could be played solo on your PC or online with a small group of friends. So it wasn’t a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, but it had a lot of the same essentials that an MMORPG does.

Final Fantasy – This game series is probably the most successful and best RPG game series of all-time. Final Fantasy has always been both a huge hit in Japan and the United States. They’ve created tons of games not only for the PC but for consoles as well. Final Fantasy XI is also a very popular MMORPG that has been out for several years now and is still going strong.

Might & Magic – I’ll always have a soft spot for the Might & Magic series. I first played Might & Magic on my Apple IIe when I was a little kid. Since then, I can’t say I’ve played every single game in the series and spin-off series, but I’ve played a lot of them. This is the one of the best RPG games for the PC that I grew up playing. Unfortunately it didn’t keep that same following that it had many years ago, but it has been a steady seller since its inception. I get a little nostalgic every time I see this game title.

Overall – Best RPG PC Games
Choosing the best RPG game for the PC is going to drastically depend on what type of player you are and what type of game you like. I know a lot of my choices are what other people consider to be some of the best RPG games ever. World of Warcraft and the Final Fantasy series are some of the best-selling and most iconic games of all-time. There are also a lot of other great RPGs that didn’t make my short list.

What do you think are the best RPG PC games ever?

There are three things that make an RPG truly memorable. When these aspects effectively work together, a game will easily stir the players’ imaginations and carve a solid place in their gaming hearts. These aspects include the storyline, the characters and the game-play. Chrono Trigger is one of the best RPGs in existence because it excels in all these aspects. The characters are memorable and vivid, the storyline is absolutely epic and engaging, and the gameplay is rather unique and meticulous. But there’s another thing that allows me to confidently refer to Chrono Trigger as the single best RPG ever: its technical limitations. This is a game that delivers so much out from a system that is nowadays absolutely primitive and crude when compared to the latest generations of videogame systems. To think that something like Chrono Trigger would be possible in a system such as the SNES… it’s truly unbelievable. Almost two decades past, this is a game that still stands quite proudly when compared to the latest iterations in the realm of the RPG.

Chrono Trigger is a huge game spanning different worlds and time-lines. Its approach is rather unique an original. Never before or after there was a game that was capable of conveying the same feeling. It’s the kind of game that can be played dozens of times without losing interest. There are several different possible endings and there’s an insane amount of side-quests. The story is told is such a masterful way that you cannot help but to get sucked into the adventures of Chrono and his crew. If you’ve never played Chrono Trigger, just do yourself a favor and try it out. I’m confident it won’t take long before you realize why there are so many people who think this is the best RPG ever.

The Dark Sun campaign moves away from more traditional fantasy settings like Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, and Greyhawk. Instead of the traditional fantasy world, you have bleak desert wastelands. The world of Athas is a world largely considered to be more post-apocalyptic than fantasy.

One of the biggest differences in Dark Sun over the other settings is magic, or the lack there-of. Athas is a world that has been ravaged by a magical backlash. As such, magic is much less common in this world, where psionics are decidedly more common. Just like magic has become a part of everyday life in most other fantasy settings, so too has psionics become a part of daily life in Athas.

Although the Dark Sun campaign setting has many of the traditional races you’ll see in a fantasy setting, it does have a lot of unique races as well. The setting has the traditional Human, Elf, Dwarf, Half-Elf, and Halfling make-up that you will see in other D&D games. But they also have Half-Giants, Muls (half Dwarf Half Human), and Thri-Kreen (Mantis men).

There is some variation between the classes in Dark Sun and the classes from traditional fantasy settings. First, there really isn’t any equivalent for Paladins, Monks, and Sorcerers in the Dark Sun world. As stated earlier, psionics are much more commonplace so the traditional ‘magic classes’ are either not represented or are drastically altered in this setting.

There are many Dark Sun books that have been in print which can give players or the dungeon master a ‘heads up’ on the world before it comes out. The Prism Pentad series by Troy Denning is very good five book series on the world of Dark Sun. Also, the Tribe of One series by Simon Hawke is a three book series with a great background of the world as well.

There are also other resources online that are available to those interested in studying the world of Dark Sun before it comes out. There is the Unofficial Dark Sun Wiki, the Official Dark Sun Discussion Forum, and an interactive Dark Sun Atlas for the World of Athas, and Official D&D 3.5e products released for Dark Sun. All of these provide great information for those that are interested and can’t wait till the campaign guide comes out.

I, and many other fans, am ecstatic about the choice of Dark Sun as the next setting for Dungeon & Dragons 4e. It is a fan pleasing choice that gives more variety to the D&D 4e settings. Look for the Dark Sun Campaign Guide in 2010 from Wizards of the Coast.