10 Best Western RPGs Of The Noughties
This was the decade when RPGs entered the mainstream and consoles saw some great RPG releases.
The new millennium saw changes across the board when it came to video games. 3D efforts started to look good and the sixth generation of consoles was on the way, as gaming was becoming much more mainstream. There were big changes to the RPG genre as well. Increasing computer power allowed for large, interesting landscapes and lots of quality voice acting. These factors really helped to catapult the genre forward.
This decade would also see many RPGs become available on home consoles and not just computers. While this was the case with many JRPGs already, it was a new age for the western RPG. With these changes also came loss. Many great RPG series were left in the ‘90s, and though there were classic series that did resist this, very few managed to keep relevant.
However you felt about these changes, you have to agree this was a great time for the genre. In this list, we will examine just a few of the many classic RPGs that came out this decade. These are the games that were influenced by the golden age of the '90s and would set the scene for the blockbusters to come.
10. Arcanum: Of Steamworks And Magick Obscura
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is an isometric RPG developed by Troika Games. Released in 2001, this game sees the player explore a world of magic and fantasy currently undergoing its own industrial revolution. In this world, magic and technology cannot exist side by side. One can cause the other to either not work or have violent reactions.
The game's main plot is your usual fantasy fun, full of different races, wars, and villains. This game, however, is non-linear. Your choices can cause different paths to open or be locked off entirely. Even the game's sidequests allow the player to solve them in multiple ways.
As previously mentioned, the setting of this game is what really makes it stand out. The juxtaposition of the purity of magic with the dirt and filth of early technology divides the races of the land. Elves and some humans believe in magic, whereas the majority of other races enjoy the accessibility of technology. This causes tensions in communities that show throughout the game.
There were many other games that may be more streamlined than this one, but few have such a unique and interesting setting.