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Best Sci-Fi RPGs

Sci-fi RPGs are an increasingly popular genre. If this genre interests you, these are the games for you.

By Patricia SarkarPublished 7 years ago 5 min read
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Sci-fi RPGs are quite a popular genre for videogames right now, especially as a result of such hit games as Final Fantasy, Star Wars, and BioShock. With all of the options on the market today, you likely want to know which are the best sci-fi RPGs so you know which games to invest in.

Released for the PlayStation console, Xenogears is centered around Fei Fong Wong and other heroes that are trying to learn about the mysterious entities that are in control of their world. It is a game that was greatly influenced by the philosophies of such great minds as Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, and Friedrich Nietzsche. It features a battle to save the planet that the protagonists live on from these evil entities that want to do it harm while also taking a close look at other themes that are religious and philosophical in nature.

This 1994 Sci-Fi RPG features a nameless hacker from the future in 2072. After trying to hack into files associated with a space station known as the Citadel Station, you are taken to this location. The game moves forward from here as you wake up from a coma to see that the space station is nothing like it was when you were put to sleep for your surgery. You get to travel into cyberspace in order to save the day.

Similar to Final Fantasy, Anachronox is a turn-based RPG where you have a party of 3 characters that fight in various space vessels, outdoor areas, and futuristic cities. Anachronox is the name of the small planet that this videogame takes place. The main protagonist of the game is Sylvester “Sly Boots” Bucelli, a human who was once a private detective. The story is about this group fighting the Virulent Hive, insectoid invaders that mean to do harm to the planet.

Featuring protagonist JC Denton, this is a sci-fi RPG that takes place in 2052. The main character was an anti-terrorist agent that ended up with superhuman powers as a result of nanotechnologies. The world around him in this cyberpunk dystopian game shows him defeating hostile forces that exist in this world that has been destroyed by a deadly plague and inequality. It has received quite a bit of critical acclaim after it was released, including consistently appearing on “Best PC Game of All Time” lists.

In this highly-stylized videogame, the player can choose one of a few different classes as their character: Lilith the Siren, Mordecai the Hunter, Brick the Berserker, and Roland the Soldier. Borderlands is about a planet that is facing invasion but only the richest of the residents are able to escape. As it often happens, things did not go quite as planned for these residents and the protagonists must do what they can to survive. It spawned a few more games that were highly-anticipated by fans of this series.

Released in 1996, this sci-fi RPG took place in 2434 on the planet of Roak. This is a battle of the planets where residents have to fight against an alien race that is infecting the planet as a way to defeat this planet. Not only do the main protagonists need to fight the Lezonians but they also need to rush to find a cure for this deadly disease that they are using on the people of Roak. It is a race against time.

Star Wars is one of the most popular sci-fi movie series so it was only a matter of time before they created a videogame to appease their biggest fans. The story of this game takes place around 4000 years prior to the Galactic Empire forming. You will play a Jedi as you travel around the galaxy to destroy the Star Forge, which is the name for Darth Malak’s military resources. Every choice that you make within this game will align you with the dark or the light side of the force, adding an interesting element to the game.

You may not be familiar with this sci-fi RPG but it is an interesting choice where you can opt for a variety of different races and classes for a truly customizable experience. Featuring sci-fi elements such as traveling through a virtual world, you can gather data and gain an advantage so that you can defeat the enemy that has been causing problems within your city known as the Emerald City Ripper. This journey continues through expansions that open up new adventures for your hero.

BioShock takes place in 1960 and centers around a protagonist by the name of Jack. Jack finds himself near the terminus that allows him to enter Rapture. This place was created by Andrew Ryan as an isolated utopia though this plan backfired when ADAM was discovered here. This critically acclaimed videogame has you fighting the ADAM-dependent creatures and each of your decisions will impact just how the story ends. This very popular game spawned a few more sequels that also went on to be successful.

Much like Star Wars, Star Trek is a series that has quite the fan following. Cryptic Studios created this Sci-Fi RPG, which took place around 30 years after Star Trek: Nemesis and its events. It is an MMORPG that was released in 2010. Each player gets to become the captain of their own ship and you get to choose your faction to customize your experience. Creators also added some references for a lot of the famous storylines and characters from the television series.

With the protagonist Cloud, this game was released on the original PlayStation. It takes place on the planet of Gaia, which is primarily referred to as “Planet”. The Lifestream of this planet is being drained, which is not only weakening the planet but also causing a threat to the life and existence of the planet and its residents. It is Cloud and his friend’s job to work together in order to save this planet by defeating the people responsible for this problem.

Fallout 4 was the highly anticipated sci-fi RPG sequel. This most recent addition to the franchise takes place in the city of Boston in the year 2287. It takes place about 10 years after Fallout 3 and those events and around 210 years after the Great War that caused all of this nuclear devastation. Your play a character that is only known as “Sole Survivor”. The story starts when the bombs originally drop in 2077 though everything in the game is reminiscent of the 40s and 50s eras.

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About the Creator

Patricia Sarkar

Raised on a steady diet of makeup and games. Eager to share my experiences with the world and make a difference, article by article! :)

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