The best way I can describe backlogs is a cursed land where games go to die. And as dramatic as that sounds, my backlog is the void where games like Night in the Woods and Oxenfree have disappeared into.
Like me, I’m sure you’ve got your own sad, tragic list of backlogged games. Many of them are probably very popular, even iconic, games. It’s a very common tale.
And one genre that often gets tossed into backlogs is the RPG. There are countless incredible RPGs that a lot of folks have intentions and desires to play, but have not got around to.
Unfortunately, there’s only so many hours in a day. So, let’s take a look at some RPGs that you’ve probably got backlogged, but should remedy ASAP.
This list has been compiled based on my personal experiences, from what I’ve heard from friends and folks online over the years.
10 Dark Messiah Of Might & Magic
Kick, Stab, It’s All In The Mind
There’s a long-standing trend in the indie scene where developers will take influence from a classic game to inform their own, which has led to some remarkable projects.
That said, Dark Messiah of Might & Magic is an RPG that every developer, be it indie or AAA, should take notes from.
It’s easily one of the best RPGs that I’ve ever played, thanks in large part to its slick, physics-based combat system. There just aren’t a lot of RPGs like Dark Messiah on the market, which is a shame considering how unique it is.
Slicing an enemy up with a sword, then kicking them into a spike wall, or using a bow to drop a stack of crates onto a group of baddies is immensely satisfying. It also has a glorious kick button, and any game that has one of those is worth playing.
9 Disco Elysium
Bad Life Simulator
It took me a long time to finally jump into Disco Elysium. Unfortunately, it’s still stuck in my backlog after roughly seven hours of playtime.
But don’t follow my bad example, because this innovative CRPG is one that you should play and finish immediately.
It’s one of those rare games that feels complete, and without compromise. The developers of this game used their personal experiences growing up in Estonia, as well as a real-life revolution attempt that happened in France.
The amount of player choice and freedom to complete the game with non-violence is astounding. It’s also oozing with cool, unfettered swagger. This is a confident developer, and one that should be watched intently moving forward.
8 Planescape: Torment
The Citizen Kane Of CRPGs
I’ve played a lot of CRPGs over the years, but I don’t think there’s one that I would recommend more than Planescape: Torment.
It’s one of those games that I think is in everyone’s backlog. But I’m not here to shame you, I’m just here to inform you that it’s absolutely worth pushing to the front of the line.
When you’re making a game like this, it’s important that the writing is on point. Not only is Planescape’s writing excellent, it’s some of the best dialogue and storytelling I’ve ever experienced in a video game.
I understand that some people find these older CRPGs harder to get into, but Planescape: Torment is one that I’d recommend above all others. It’s genuinely one of the finest pieces of video game art ever made.
7 Fallout 3
Backlogging Never Changes
Fallout 3 is one of the most important RPGs ever made. It catapulted the Fallout series into superstardom after it had toiled away in hardcore circles for years, and introduced an entire generation to the apocalyptic wasteland.
But even in the face of all that, Fallout 3 is still powerless to the grip of backlogs. As sad as it is to believe, not everyone has finished the quest to find their father and put their unique stamp on the fate of the Capital Wasteland.
The main game itself isn’t even the biggest part of Fallout 3, as it has a huge list of outstanding DLC available. There is a staggering amount of content available for Fallout 3, and despite how big of a commitment it is, there’s still insane value to be had in seeing it through to the end.
6 Mass Effect Trilogy
This Is My Favorite RPG In The Citadel
I still find it hard to believe when someone tells me they’ve never finished the Mass Effect trilogy. This trilogy was an unhealthy obsession for me back during the 2010s.
The Mass Effect trilogy began almost twenty years ago, and in that time, it’s become a global phenomenon. Even still, Mass Effect remains in the backlogs of many a player.
It’s understandable in a way, as these games require quite a bit of time to commit to. They really have to be the only games you’re playing at any given time.
But if you put the time in, you’ll find a story and cast of characters that will stick with you forever. The trilogy is also lovingly preserved via the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, so it’s rather easy to acquire these days.
5 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Live Out Your Sith Lord Fantasy
As we all continue to collectively mourn the cancellation of Knights of the Old Republic 3, it’s important to remember just why that game getting axed hurt so hard.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is still the best game based on the space saga that I’ve ever played. I haven’t experienced the raw thrill and joy of existing in the Star Wars universe the way that this game does it.
Traveling from planet to planet, uncovering the mystery of Darth Revan and forging your own path to either the dark or light side of the force is so much fun.
If you’ve ever enjoyed Star Wars at any level, this is a game that has to be expelled from your backlog immediately.
Be Seeing You
After watching my brother play hours upon hours of Morrowind for years, the next entry in The Elder Scrolls series was on the way. That game soon enveloped my life in every single capacity.
Waiting an entire year for the PS3 version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was painful, but it was the only game I played on that system for years after that.
At this rate, everyone has probably finished Skyrim multiple times with a host of different builds, but Oblivion remains in the backlog of many.
There’s something about the unusual characters, surreal voice acting and goofball tone to it that makes me keep coming back to it more than any other Elder Scrolls game. The grip it’s had on me since 2007 has not lessened one bit.
3 Deus Ex
The Birth Of The Immersive Sim In Media
Deus Ex may be the textbook definition of a backlogged game. Everyone knows it, everyone has intentions of playing it, but it just feels like no one actually has.
I myself have not finished it, but I’ve put a decent amount of time into it. And what I did play felt so odd and dated, that it almost snapped back to feeling contemporary again.
Deus Ex is a fascinating game, as this was the title that led to Warren Spector coining the term ‘immersive sim’, which has become a genre that no one can really define in a way that satisfies everyone.
It’s the kind of game where you know it when you see it, and Deus Ex is one that I think is well worth finishing. It’s also due for a remaster in 2026 courtesy of Aspyr, so now is the time for all of us to jump in and see JC Denton’s story to its conclusion.
2 Fable
For Every Choice, A Consequence
If you grew up during the mid-2000s, chances are that you were like me and became hopelessly infatuated with Fable after seeing that train commercial a dozen times during MTV music video marathons.
It was one of the best games available on the original Xbox back then, and was a key part of Microsoft’s strategy to dominate each genre. While that plan has had mixed results ever since, Fable is still an absolutely stellar RPG.
Fable’s universe is fun because it isn’t just an epic fantasy world steeped in melodrama. The humor and offbeat tone are what made the game so unique at the time.
If you’re looking to play it today, I can’t recommend Fable Anniversary enough. It includes The Lost Chapters, a crucial revision to the original game, and plays brilliantly on PC.
1 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
What A Scene, Man!
As we inch closer to the apparent release date of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, it’s hard to believe that the game may actually come out. In the meantime, it’s important to discuss just how many people have the original game in their backlog.
Even back when the original Bloodlines came out, you could tell this was going to be one of those games that people would make plans to play, even if they never did.
I myself have played through it roughly four times, and I can’t get enough of just how unusual it is. It also has some of my favorite world designs, utilizing a small space with lots of detail to create familiarity.
The world of LA in Bloodlines feels lived in, like a place that you could actually visit. The pulsing sound of distant nightclubs and quirky NPCs creates a world that is so unlike any game environment you can find today.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
