20. Cyberpunk 2077 PS5

Following a disastrous PS4 launch, Cyberpunk 2077 might as well have been a brand new game on PS5 over a year later. CD Projekt Red stuck to its guns, delivering a much improved version of the open world RPG on Sony's current-gen console, free of the game-breaking bugs and crashing issues that plagued the initial release. The result is memorable and often engrossing dark future title, peppered with great characters, punchy combat, and some excellent freeform mission design. Better late than never!

19. South Park: The Stick of Truth PS4

With all the humour of a typical South Park TV episode, this short but oh-so-sweet turn-based RPG is well worth playing. Explore South Park, completing quests and meeting characters from the show. With a sequel also available, this roughly 10-hour adventure is a fantastic palette cleanser.

18. Final Fantasy XVI PS5

The Final Fantasy series has never been one to sit still, and with Final Fantasy 16, it's moved away from its turn-based traditions entirely. The first true action RPG in the mainline games, it's quite the departure from the norm, but it's an excellent entry nonetheless. Featuring a gripping story delivered by brilliant performances, incredibly fun combat, and some of the most spectacular scenes imaginable, this is a fantastic game that pulls out all the stops.

17. Yakuza: Like a Dragon PS5

Yakuza: Like a Dragon barely feels next-gen as it’s very much rooted by Ryu ga Gotoku Studio’s dated engine and game design principles, but it’s bursting with personality and one of the most varied releases on this list. At its core, it’s a traditional, turn-based (a first for the franchise) role-playing game built around an engaging and relatable party of core characters, but it’s so much more: this small but densely populated open world harbours go-karts, an entire business management minigame, and more wacky side-quests than you can shake a massage wand at. This is one of the most unique and time consuming titles on PS5.

16. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana PS4

A real high point in what is a consistently solid action RPG series, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a certified Falcom classic. This time around, series protagonist Adol finds himself shipwrecked on a mysterious island — but it's not long before he's recruiting fellow survivors and exploring every inch of this forgotten kingdom. Fast, fluid, and addictive combat is the crux of the experience, but there's also some engaging two-pronged storytelling to keep you invested. Life on an abandoned island has never been so fun.

15. Wild Arms PS1

Whenever the topic of classic 90s JRPGs comes up, Wild Arms should always be mentioned. A quintessential PS1 title, it's a fairly straightforward adventure in terms of structure — traditional to a fault, at times — but overall, it's a timeless formula. Fusing fantastical story elements with Wild West aesthetics, Wild Arms is quite unique in its overall tone, and although its storytelling is direct, it's well paced and strings you along on a memorable adventure.

14. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth PS5

With the best turn-based gameplay, the biggest and best cast of characters, and the most gripping story in the series so far, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is comfortably the greatest Yakuza game to date. Ichican and Kiryu hit up the new destination of Hawaii in search of the former's long-lost mother, but their quest really is just the tip of the iceberg. Improved combat makes fights more engaging than ever, upgraded graphics bring new life to classic locations like Kamurocho, and deep and fascinating characters both new and old mean you won't want to stop playing until the credits roll. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth really is RGG Studio at its peak.

13. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II PS5

The first Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a demanding historical RPG that slowly became a cult classic over the course of years — and this sequel sticks rather rigidly to its predecessor's blueprint. Having said that, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 improves on just about everything; it's a bigger, much more dynamic open world adventure, stuffed with captivating side quests and fantastic characters. It's also a deeply immersive experience, forcing players to survive and eventually thrive within a punishing recreation of 15th century Europe. If you can gel with it, Deliverance 2 is easily one of the most engrossing role-playing experiences that you'll find on PS5.

12. Hogwarts Legacy PS5

Taking place hundreds of years before the events of Harry Potter, Hogwarts Legacy finally lets fans live out their dream of attending the eponymous school. While there's an intriguing story to follow that takes you far beyond the castle itself, this RPG's strengths are all in the smaller things. The school is a joy to explore, as are the surrounding grounds, because of an obsessive attention to detail that really does imbue the open world with magic. Layer on top solid spell-based combat, flying on your broom, and even rearing magical creatures, and the result is a real crowd-pleaser — and definitely the best game in the franchise.

11. Fallout 3 PS3

Fallout 3 is a buggy but often brilliantly entertaining, post-apocalyptic RPG. Bethesda's first crack at the series transformed the property into a juggernaut franchise, peppered with player choice and intriguing questlines. In Fallout 3, you play as a young man or woman fresh from Vault 101 — thrown out into the Capital Wasteland in search of your runaway father. The gunplay's beyond janky (thank god for V.A.T.S!) and the dialogue can feel a bit stunted, but Bethesda's engaging open world design and focus on character progression makes Fallout 3 an incredibly addictive adventure.