Best RPGs for Players Who Enjoy Deep Lore and World-Building?

[San Goku]

I've been really getting into games that offer rich lore and immersive world-building, like The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring. Are there any RPGs out there that you think excel in these areas, particularly in terms of storytelling and the depth of their worlds? I'm looking for recommendations that might have flown under the radar or are less mainstream. Thanks!

 

[DarkProject]

While The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring certainly have their moments, they can be a bit overrated in terms of depth and lore when compared to some lesser-known titles. Have you ever tried "Planescape: Torment"? It's a classic that not only boasts an incredibly rich narrative but also weaves its world-building directly into the gameplay mechanics. The dialogues and choices genuinely shape your experience, offering layers of lore that are just waiting to be uncovered. It's a stark contrast to the sometimes cookie-cutter lore found in bigger RPGs, where the focus often shifts to expansive maps rather than meaningful, immersive storytelling. If you're looking for something truly deep, give that a shot.

 

[Fallen Funkybutts]

I'd push back a bit on "cookie-cutter" for Elden Ring specifically - it's just a completely different philosophy to Planescape's dialogue-driven approach. Miyazaki's been doing this since Dark Souls: nothing is explained directly, it's all item descriptions, environmental placement and contradictory NPC accounts, and you have to piece it together yourself (or let someone like Vaatividya do it for you). It rewards digging rather than handing you a plot, which is a different kind of depth, not a lack of it.

For genuinely under-the-radar recommendations though: Morrowind is criminally overlooked next to Skyrim - the whole setting is built on a genuinely alien philosophy and religion that most RPGs wouldn't touch. Disco Elysium if you want the dialogue-driven, choice-shapes-everything style without much combat. And if you like FromSoft's approach specifically, Bloodborne's lore is even more obtuse and cosmic-horror-flavoured than Elden Ring's.