The Best Action RPG Games to Play on PC

Best action RPG games at a glance

How these action RPGs were selected

An action RPG needs more than a character level and real-time attacks. The strongest games make progression affect how combat feels, whether through weapons, attributes, skills, party roles or loot. This list balances five factors:

• Combat that demands active movement, aiming, timing or positioning
• Character progression that changes available play styles
• A clear reason to replay, explore or try another build
• Strong player reception or lasting influence
• Variety across single-player, co-op, open-world and loot-focused formats

Respected role-playing games in which action is not the main appeal are not included. This keeps the ranking focused on games in which real-time combat and RPG progression work together.

1. ELDEN RING

Best overall action RPG

ELDEN RING combines FromSoftware’s deliberate combat with the freedom of a large open world. The Lands Between rarely forces a single route, so a difficult boss can become a reason to explore, improve a weapon, find a new summon or rebuild a character rather than an immediate progression wall.

Its build range is a major reason it remains such a strong recommendation. Heavy weapons, fast dexterity setups, sorcery, incantations, status effects and hybrid builds all change how encounters are approached. Full controller support suits its timing-heavy combat, while optional co-op and PvP add another layer for players who want it.

Choose ELDEN RING if you want demanding combat without the rigid route of an older Souls game. Avoid it if repeated boss attempts and limited direct quest guidance sound frustrating rather than rewarding.

2. Cyberpunk 2077

Best for story and flexible combat builds

Cyberpunk 2077 treats Night City as both a setting and a toolset. Missions support direct gunfights, stealth, hacking and close-range weapons, while cyberware and perks let a character specialize rather than simply increase damage numbers.

The first-person perspective gives combat a different rhythm from most fantasy action RPGs. Hacking can interrupt enemies and security systems, mobility upgrades open aggressive routes, and weapon choices support anything from silent infiltration to high-speed melee combat. The result is an RPG where build decisions are immediately visible during play.

It is the best fit on this list for players who want a dense narrative, memorable side stories and action that remains customizable. It is strictly single-player, so look elsewhere if co-op is essential.

3. Black Myth: Wukong

Best for cinematic boss battles

Black Myth: Wukong is rooted in Chinese mythology and built around fast third-person combat. Its transformations, staff techniques, spells and stance choices give encounters more flexibility than a straightforward action game, while its bosses provide the clearest measure of how well a build and combat approach are working.

The game is more directed than ELDEN RING, which helps maintain momentum between major fights. That makes Black Myth: Wukong a good choice for players who want challenging encounters without committing to a huge open-ended map or multiplayer systems.

Its PC requirements are comparatively demanding, so check the system-requirements information on the game page before choosing it. Players with suitable hardware get a visually rich single-player action RPG with full controller support.

4. DARK SOULS III

Best focused modern Soulslike

DARK SOULS III offers a more concentrated route through FromSoftware’s dark fantasy formula. Combat is faster than in the original Dark Souls, but stamina, spacing and attack commitment still matter. Its bosses steadily test lessons learned in earlier areas, making progression feel tied to player knowledge as much as character statistics.

The world is less open than ELDEN RING, which is an advantage if you prefer deliberate pacing and fewer distractions. Weapons support distinct movesets, spell schools create alternative builds, and multiplayer includes both co-op and invasions.

Choose DARK SOULS III for a polished Soulslike campaign with strong boss design. If interconnected world structure matters more than combat speed, DARK SOULS: REMASTERED may be the better starting point.

5. Monster Hunter Wilds

Best co-op hunting action RPG

Monster Hunter Wilds builds progression around learning large monsters, crafting equipment from gathered materials and returning with a better plan. Every weapon type has its own rhythm and mechanical demands, so changing weapons can feel closer to changing classes than swapping ordinary gear.

Co-op is central rather than an optional side mode. Hunts support online teams, while solo players can still progress through the story and improve equipment at their own pace. Environments change conditions around the hunt, and preparation remains important when a target’s behavior or elemental weaknesses demand a different loadout.

Capcom has continued to update the game with major additions, balance adjustments and PC fixes. The official update history should be checked before troubleshooting performance or returning after a long break. Monster Hunter Wilds is the right choice if repeated mastery and equipment crafting appeal more than dialogue choices.

6. Path of Exile 2

Best for complex builds and loot

Path of Exile 2 is the deepest build-crafting choice on the list. Skill Gems, Support Gems, equipment bases and a large passive system let players shape attacks and defenses in ways that go far beyond selecting a predefined class role.

Combat is more active than in many traditional isometric ARPGs. Positioning, dodging and attack timing matter, especially during bosses, while loot and crafting support long-term experimentation. Online co-op allows a group to progress together, although the number of mechanics can be overwhelming without a focused build plan.

The game remains in Early Access as of this article’s preparation, so systems and balance can continue to change. Choose it if learning complicated interactions is part of the fun. Players wanting a more settled and approachable build system may prefer Last Epoch.

For more loot-focused options, see our ARPG games like Diablo guide and our games like Path of Exile list.

7. Hades II

Best run-based action RPG

Hades II turns character growth into a cycle of short, repeatable runs. Melinoë’s weapons, Magick and divine Boons create different combinations each time, while persistent upgrades provide direction between failed attempts.

The combat is immediate and readable, but choosing upgrades remains an RPG decision. A successful build may focus on rapid attacks, Cast control, Magick-heavy abilities or a specific Olympian interaction. Because each run changes the available choices, experimentation happens naturally rather than through repeated menu resets.

Hades II is ideal when you want responsive action and steady story progression without maintaining a large open-world quest log. It is single-player and more structured than the exploration-heavy games near the top of this list.

8. Last Epoch

Best accessible build crafting

Last Epoch sits between straightforward loot games and the complexity of Path of Exile 2. Its mastery classes and transformative skill trees allow meaningful specialization, but the relationship between a skill and its upgrades is generally easier to follow.

The time-travel structure gives the campaign a distinct identity, while the endgame focuses on repeatable progression, equipment and build refinement. It supports single-player and online co-op, making it useful for players who want to alternate between solo experimentation and group sessions.

Choose Last Epoch if build depth matters but extensive external research does not sound appealing. Grim Dawn is a better alternative if offline play and a darker, more traditional ARPG structure are priorities.

9. Dragon’s Dogma 2

Best party-based open-world combat

Dragon’s Dogma 2 uses AI-controlled Pawns to create a party without turning into a conventional tactical RPG. The Arisen’s vocation defines the player’s active combat role, while Pawns provide support, knowledge and additional abilities.

Its most memorable encounters come from how combat interacts with large creatures and terrain. Characters can climb monsters, target vulnerable areas and use the environment rather than relying only on damage rotations. Changing vocation alters weapons and skills, giving progression a strong mechanical effect.

This is a single-player game, despite the connected Pawn system. Pick it for emergent travel, physical combat and party composition. Players who want direct co-op should choose Monster Hunter Wilds or one of the loot-focused ARPGs instead.

10. Grim Dawn

Best classic isometric action RPG

Grim Dawn remains one of the strongest choices for players who want a complete, traditional loot RPG with extensive character building. Its dual-class system allows two masteries to be combined, creating a wide range of damage, defense and utility setups.

The campaign supports single-player, online co-op and LAN co-op. Crafting, factions, devotion choices and equipment provide several progression layers, but the game can still be enjoyed without treating every build as a competitive optimization project.

Its modest system requirements also make it accessible on older PCs. Choose Grim Dawn if you want a dark setting, flexible builds and the ability to play at your own pace without depending on a live seasonal structure.

11. WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers

Best Chinese dark-fantasy Soulslike

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers places Soulslike combat in a late-Ming-inspired setting affected by conflict and a supernatural disease. Weapon choices, skills and progression support different approaches, while single-player exploration connects historical influence with dark fantasy creatures.

Its appeal is narrower than the open freedom of ELDEN RING. The focus is on deliberate combat, difficult encounters and discovering a specific world rather than co-op or endless loot progression. That makes it a useful choice for players who have already finished the better-known FromSoftware games and want another recent single-player challenge.

Choose it for atmosphere and demanding third-person combat. Players primarily looking for multiplayer or build-crafting depth should start elsewhere on this list.

12. Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Best cinematic action RPG saga

Mass Effect Legendary Edition combines the single-player campaigns and much of the additional content from the original trilogy. The collection follows one protagonist across three games, allowing important choices, relationships and consequences to carry through the larger story.

Combat develops across the trilogy, mixing third-person shooting with squad powers and class abilities. The RPG strength comes from decisions, companion relationships and character continuity rather than loot. It is also one of the largest installs on this list, so check available storage first.

Choose Mass Effect Legendary Edition when narrative continuity and party relationships matter more than open-world freedom. It is a complete single-player package and does not include the original multiplayer component.

13. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Best for freedom and modding

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition remains an easy action RPG to recommend because it lets players decide what kind of adventure to pursue. A character can focus on melee combat, archery, stealth, magic, crafting or a hybrid build while ignoring large parts of the main quest.

Its combat is simpler than the Soulslikes on this list, but the freedom to explore and develop a character makes it approachable. Mod support also gives the PC version exceptional longevity, from interface improvements to large new quest areas.

Skyrim is strictly single-player. Choose it if exploration and role-playing freedom matter more than precise combat or co-op. New players should also distinguish Special Edition from other Skyrim packages before choosing an offer.

14. The Outer Worlds

Best action RPG for dialogue and dark humor

The Outer Worlds is a compact first-person RPG built around choices, companions and competing interests in the Halcyon colony. Dialogue skills and character attributes can alter how quests unfold, while ranged weapons, melee combat and tactical time effects shape encounters.

Its areas are smaller and more directed than Night City or Skyrim, which helps the story maintain momentum. Companion abilities support combat, but the game remains entirely single-player.

Choose The Outer Worlds if you want an RPG that can be finished without committing to an enormous open world. Cyberpunk 2077 offers more action and scale, while Fallout: New Vegas provides a rougher but broader version of Obsidian’s choice-driven design.

15. DARK SOULS: REMASTERED

Best for understanding the Soulslike foundation

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED preserves the game that established much of the modern Soulslike vocabulary. Its combat is slower than DARK SOULS III, but stamina control, equipment weight, shortcuts and enemy placement remain central to every area.

The interconnected world is the main reason to return. Paths loop back into earlier locations, locked doors become major shortcuts, and progress often comes from learning how spaces connect rather than following a map marker. Multiplayer adds invasions and cooperative elements, but the campaign remains fully playable alone.

Start here if genre history and level design are more important than modern speed. Players wanting smoother movement and a larger world should begin with ELDEN RING or DARK SOULS III.

Which action RPG should you play first?

Use the kind of progression you enjoy most:

• For a difficult open world: ELDEN RING
• For story and modern first-person combat: Cyberpunk 2077
• For co-op hunts: Monster Hunter Wilds
• For complex loot and builds: Path of Exile 2
• For approachable loot-based builds: Last Epoch
• For short replayable runs: Hades II
• For cinematic choices and companions: Mass Effect Legendary Edition
• For exploration and mods: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
• For traditional isometric ARPG play: Grim Dawn
• For classic Soulslike level design: DARK SOULS: REMASTERED

Other action RPG lists

Players who prefer loot-heavy games can continue with 15 ARPG Games Like Diablo. For deeper build systems, see the best games like Path of Exile. For a broader mix of turn-based, gacha and action RPG ideas, see games like Brave Frontier.