5 Best Text-Heavy RPGs

Key Takeaways

• RPGs are great when they combine storytelling and world-building through compelling text.
• Roadwarden, Wildermyth, Citizen Sleeper, Suzerain, and Disco Elysium stand out for their text-based experiences.
• These titles offer deep emotional connections, rich character creation, powerful moral dilemmas and captivating political narratives.

Roleplaying games are rooted in the world of text and text-based titles. Who knows where the genre would be today if it weren't for the world of tabletop RPGs that preceded it? If there's one thing the best RPGs have in common, it's the perfect combination of storytelling and world-building to make for a truly engaging and compelling title.

Some games in particular, however, know how to use the written word to enhance their world. One important area of ​​overlap between books and video games is the power of prose to capture imagination and make players feel more connected to their games. For gamers who don't mind a little reading, here are some titles to watch out for.

5 Roadwarden

A journey through the untamed Highlands

Roadwarden is a title that, although full of life, leaves the player alone, in the best way. There is a strong emphasis on the protagonist here, which is built from the ground up based on the first player's choices. This almost contemplative poem is especially interesting considering the story is in line with a larger life story – the Roadwarden must brave the wilderness of the Peninsula to help build settlements and cities and protect the homeless. -blame on the monsters that roam the earth.

It is in line with many great RPGs that have dynamic and dynamic environments that are constantly changing. In Roadwardenthe text is used together with beautiful images with a stunning amber tone. The event descriptions, NPC dialogue, and combat interactions are a fun part of this title, and the focus on player choice puts it right up there with the great branching RPGs out there. now.

4 Wildermyth

An Epic Storybook of Mythical Proportions

Wildermyth is one of those games that will stick with players for a long time. Not only is it a compelling strategy RPG, but it has such an innovative creation system that it does the impossible and combines the kind of passion and depth found with pre-written characters with creative freedom and the narrative options that come with custom built. font. There are a lot of subtle ways that people and events work, but the best way to play it is to just dive in.

There's a strong yet understated sense of wonder to the writing in this game, with each act, and hundreds of character-based variations written in such an artful style that it's unusual to forget the world outside the game. Each campaign is structured like a fairy tale, a story about a band of adventurers fighting a long-forgotten threat.

3 Sleeping citizens

Dystopic Space-Faring RPG

This unique text-based RPG is a masterpiece of cyberpunk aesthetics and themes, perfect for fans of … well, Cyberpunk. There's a lot of passion at work here, incorporating everything from tablet-inspired stats to unique color combinations and graphics that make up the style of this game, with a heavy emphasis on shadows, deep blacks and bright reds. The text itself is novel quality, reading like a mix of passionate DM world-building with pulp sci-fi classics from the 70s and 80s.

This is a game of difficult choices, capitalist dystopia and engaging characters. It's a perfect title for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a space-focused setting with no corners cut.

2 Suzerain

A political RPG that pulls no punches

Suzerain uses text and narrative to immerse players in the deep political intrigue of a single country and a budding democracy trying to find its place in the world. The fictional country of Sordland, in theory, is under the control of the player, but those looking for fantasy power will have to look elsewhere. An old crypto-fascist former president continues to manipulate parliament, the political right and left are trying to lead the country in two different directions, and through it all, the president must trying to get a lot of cooperation from his allies to make his policy. ambition – refined constitution – enter parliament.

There's no other way to say it – this game is brutal. Amazing, absolutely compelling, a near-perfect expression of a good text-based RPG, yes. But also, brutal. There's no promise that everything will work out, there's no promise that what someone tells you is true, but if the player just compromises and begs, they'll end up with a country with nothing to show for it. . this amazing 900k word title.

1 Disco Elysium

One of the greatest RPGs of all time

The BAFTA winner Disco Elysium has a level of quality that speaks for itself. It's one of the greatest CRPGs of the 21st century, and with that comes a lot of written prose. Determining how the characters navigate their way through the world, their political and philosophical leanings, and how they shape the city around them, is one of the most compelling experiences. seen in video games today.

Players would be doing themselves a disservice not to dive into this dark, surreal, highly compelling RPG with dreamy text and world-building that will leave anyone in awe. Like the other titles on this list, the text isn't the only barrier to entry, as it's a difficult title at times and requires a lot of attention to detail, but players who enjoy deep RPGs won't want to miss this one.