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Nowadays, games likeDisco Elysiumtry to bring back the importance of dialogue that branches out into countless, radically different directions, but many classic role-playing games from the early 2000s have managed to do just that much earlier than ZA/UM’s masterpiece. It is mainly a domain of isometric, turn-based titles, but there are quite a few exciting RPGs that manage to incorporate top-tier writing in their dialogue systems, as well.
16 Neurocracy
Platforms: PC
Neurocracy is a game that definitely takes some getting used to. However, the sooner players adjust to the gameplay that resembles clicking through Wikipedia articles, the quicker they’ll be able to enjoy the intricate and incredibly well-written story.
In the words of its developers, Neurocracy is partially an alternate reality single-player game, and partially a hypertext novel. As players follow a trail of hyperlinks to uncover the mystery of the assassination of a prominent businessman, they simultaneously find themselves learning more and more about the dark reality of the game’s version of the year 2049. The game is played entirely in-browser, and its first episode is available for free.
15 Sunless Sea & Sunless Skies
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Failbetter Games crafted something special with Sunless Sea, and then the studio did it again with its sequel, Sunless Skies. Set in a Victorian world, both RPGs provide players with the freedom to select their own goals for their journeys. This could involve pursuing some specific mystery or simply seeking success and riches.
Incorporating roguelike elements and naval (or space) combat, Sunless Sea + Sunless Skies are text-driven adventures that utilize the written word to complement the visual world-building. Similar to Disco Elysium, these games are stacked with unique, quirky characters who will leave a long-lasting impression on players.
14 The Forgotten City
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Initially released as a Skyrim mod, The Forgotten City’s popularity resulted in the developers deciding to turn it into a standalone experience. Thanks to its unique, yet familiar setting, captivating storyline, and cleverly written dialogue, it turned out to be the right choice.
The 2015 version of The Forgotten City was downloaded over 3,000,000 times, but the ties to the Elder Scrolls engine and lore have definitely hampered the creativity of its developer. Releasing it as an independent adventure in 2021 allowed Modern Storyteller to break away from Tamriel and remake the game’s environments to resemble Ancient Rome and expand upon the dialogue trees, turning a mod into a fully-fledged title capable of competing for major accolades.
13 Wasteland 3
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
inXile Entertainment’s third entry in its Wild West RPG series has a memorable storyline, deep turn-based combat, and a whole lot of personality. Set in Colorado, Wasteland 3 starts with two Arizona Rangers who reluctantly join forces with the Patriarch, a powerful figure who proves to be anything but “good.”
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Morally complex characters are at the heart of Wasteland 3, as the game’s post-apocalyptic world is filled with people who will do anything to survive and prosper. The dialogue is clever and consistent, while the battle system provides a lot of room for experimentation and growth.
12 The Outer Worlds
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Tonally, Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds is more lighthearted than Disco Elysium, but they are both RPGs that push their characters to the forefront. Reminiscent of Fallout games, The Outer Worlds blends serviceable first-person shooter gameplay with personality-based customization and sprinkles of social commentary.
Taking plenty of shots at corporations, The Outer Worlds showcases Obsidian’s talent for humorous dialogue and rich storytelling. With a sequel on the way that will hopefully expand upon its predecessor’s ideas and scope, this is the ideal time to pick up The Outer Worlds.
11 Pillars Of Eternity
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Pillars Of Eternity has set out to revitalize the long-forgotten, classic genre of story-focused, tactical RPGs that dominated the PC gaming sphere back in the heyday of titles like Baldur’s Gate or Planescape: Torment. The latter is also a must-play for fans of Disco Elysium.
The team over at Obsidian are role-playing masters who managed to incorporate top-tier stories and dialogue choices even to action-packed titles like Fallout: New Vegas. Pillars Of Eternity is a slower, more text-focused experience that puts players in the driver’s seat as far as advancing the storyline through dialogue is concerned.
10 Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
Platform: PC
Much like some of the other best dialogue-heavy titles are based on the Dungeons & Dragons lore, so is Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines inspired by a cult tabletop RPG. With a unique (for that type of game) setting of early 21st century Los Angeles. With plenty of impactful and engaging dialogue thrown into the mix, this 2004 game can still captivate role-playing enthusiasts for dozens of hours.
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Despite having been released over 15 years ago, Bloodlines’ gameplay still holds up, with players being free to choose between various playstyles and mission approaches, from stealthy, guns-blazing, all the way to a Charisma-based character build that can solve most disputes with witty conversation choices.
9 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Although they might not be as deep and expansive as Disco Elysium’s dialogue trees, the conversations in Kingdom Come: Deliverance do play a significant role in pushing the storyline forward as well as developing Henry’s (the main character) reputation across the kingdom.
Unlike many other class-based RPGs, Kingdom Come: Deliverance allows players to mold the character into a specific profession by raising their corresponding skills. This means that those determined enough to develop their character’s conversational and storytelling skills can play the game out as a bard (although it’s a choice that might make some parts of the game extremely difficult).
8 Tyranny
Platform: PC
Since it is another isometric role-playing game developed and published by the Obsidian/Paradox duo, some players may find it a bit too similar to Pillars Of Eternity, and understandably so. After all, the two RPGs use the exact same engine. The fonts in dialogue windows and the game’s graphics, in general, are nearly identical to Pillars, however, Tyranny does introduce some changes that make it an even better title.
With a more lore-focused approach, high-fantasy fans will feel right at home when playing Tyranny. The dialogue choices are closely connected to the history and background of the game’s world, and paying close attention to all conversations is of paramount importance when it comes to completing the game.
7 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
With their third entry into The Witcher series, the developers over at CDPR have managed to strike the perfect balance between creating a lore-rich, dialogue-heavy storyline and action-packed gameplay with multilayered combat. Furthermore, all of that was packed in an astonishingly beautiful world that tested the limits of the PS4 and Xbox One even back in 2015.
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunthas been deservedly praised as one of the best video games of the past decade, and much of this praise can be attributed to an incredibly well-written, multi-faceted dialogue system with seemingly irrelevant choices and romance options that have a ripple effect on the entire narrative and ending of the story.
6 Divinity: Original Sin
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
For a game that started out as a Kickstarter project, Divinity: Original Sin has turned out to be a remarkable success. It does borrow heavily from isometric classics released in the early 2000s, but Larian Studios have also put a lot of creativity and innovative solutions into the title, especially when it comes to NPC interactions and the world’s lore.
Contrary to the games it has been inspired by, Divinity: Original Sin is set in the wider Divinity universe, which only appears in other games from that series, rather than tabletop games or novels. The story and the high-fantasy world have been fully created by the game’s writers, which makes the multitude of conversation options and the level of respect for player choices all the more impressive.
5 Fallout: New Vegas
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
New Vegas is what happens when a game takes Bethesda’s masterfully designed, massive open-world and combines it with the high level of player agency and dialogue writing known from Obsidian’s classics such as Neverwinter Nights 2.
Despite being released all the way back in 2010, Fallout: New Vegasis still considered to be the best entry in the Falloutfranchise by many players, with subsequent titles like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 failing to meet its standards, especially when it comes to dialogue writing and quest design. It holds up very well to this day (especially with the right mods), and it is the perfect title for players who want to experience the genius of Obsidian’s game writing but aren’t really fans of isometric views and tactical combat.
4 The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings
Platforms: Xbox 360, PC
Writing and dialogue choices are perhaps the only areas in which The Witcher 2: Assassin’s Of Kings outdoes its critically acclaimed sequel. The 2011 title really put CD Projekt Red on the map as one of the most exciting game development studios and set the bar really high for Wild Hunt.
The politically charged story and expansive dialogue trees are some of the best in the industry. The best example of this is the fact that the conversation choices made by players in the first two hours of gameplay have the potential to send Geralt on radically different paths, effectively packing two alternate plotlines in a single game.
3 Gothic (1 & 2)
Platform: PC
Unless they are a part of the cult-like community that developed around the Gothic series and is still going strong to this day, many RPG fans remain oblivious of the sheer impact that the Piranha Bytes titles have had on the western RPG scene in the early 2000s.
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With surprisingly advanced open-world systems for games that were released in 2000 and 2002 respectively (players can observe the wildlife food chain in action and NPCs have their very own schedules), Gothic I and 2 implement very interesting conversation mechanics, particularly in the early stages of the games. The things the player character says to NPCs can open up new opportunities, help them get a job and establish a reputation in the cities, and even cause some characters to hold a grudge against them for the remainder of the game!
2 Baldur’s Gate Series
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Many role-playing enthusiasts may have a different opinion on that, but playing the Baldur’s Gate titles is as close as one can get to a true tabletop RPG experience on a PC.
The ambitious title remains faithful to its Dungeons & Dragonsroots while managing to deliver an entirely independent and original story set in the Forgotten Realms. Dice-roll mechanics and incredibly creative NPC encounters and conversations all play a part in establishing one of the most immersive and atmospheric PC titles ever.
1 The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Platforms: Xbox, PC
Fans of the series often argue about which entry in The Elder Scrolls series is the best one to date. While a solid argument can be made for the supremacy of Oblivion and Skyrim, neither of the more recent titles in the saga comes close to the sheer scale and quality of the writing in Morrowind. The topic-based dialogue system is most reminiscent of link-hopping on Wikipedia articles, and it’s still arguably the best way to get familiar with a game’s lore.
Moreover, the island of Vvardenfell is still one of the most unique, awe-inspiring settings out of all of the Bethesda-created worlds. Players who began their adventure with The Elder Scrolls with Skyrim or Oblivion should do themselves a service and play Morrowind. It may be a little dated, but the sheer scale and possibilities presented by this game heavily outweigh its age-related problems.
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