We are living in an era of endless role-Playing games and open-world RPGs. Everywhere I look a new mystical realm of might and magic or a first-person shooter appears out of thin air. And as much as I am loving every minute of it, too many options can leave me feeling over-encumbered with choices.

Luckily, I’ve played enough games to know what makes an RPG worth playing for me. While I do often use reviews to narrow down my choices, there are 5 key things I always look for in a good RPG.

1. A great storyline

Whether it’s a golf RPG or a well-crafted Elder Scrolls game, a good storyline is essential. There are plenty of games out there that focus too much on the mechanics and forget to perfect the small details. Without a decent plot to draw me in and hold me there, my attention can easily waver.

While the graphics and gameplay can also be used to hold my attention, a good story can be told with fewer pixels and accomplish the same thing. One of the main reasons so many indie games on the Switch have been so successful is exactly this.

2. Rewarding upgrades

Is there any greater satisfaction than improving yourself in an imaginary world? I think not. Upgrades are essential to any RPG. That being said, I do think there is a fine line between too many options and not enough. If a game can hit that sweet spot of rewarding me for improving without burdening me with too many choices, I consider it a success.

A good example of a game that toes the line well is Elder Scrolls Online. You get to choose your race, class, and then get a series of basic skills that gain experience as you use them. It’s a simple, yet engaging system to keep you playing.

3. Endless items and loot

I try to live pretty minimally in my real life, but in a game environment, you better believe I’m grabbing everything I see. Monster parts? Spare cash? Some weird ooze I just found on the ground? All of that is going into storage until I figure out what it’s for. So if an RPG doesn’t have enough things for me to pick up or interact with, It’s usually not worth my time.

That being said, there is such a thing as too much stuff. Loot dilution starts to occur for me as soon as I start finding a chest around every corner filled with the same basic things.

4. Excellent dialogue

Similar to a good plot, the Dialogue can make a decent game great. Whether it’s my character, NPC interactions, or a whacky companion that won’t shut up, well-timed writing is key. The dialogue is how you interact with a story and start to feel a part of it.

Of course, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. If a game is over-burdened with dialogue, it can feel like you’re watching a movie or reading a book. There has to be a balance of gameplay to remind you that you aren’t just an observer.

5. A good soundtrack

Is there anything more glorious than fighting an enemy as the war drums play? Every good RPG needs a good video game soundtrack to make everything better. Not every game needs a personal orchestra or an award-winning theme song to have good music, all it takes is the right music at the right time.

No matter what the game is, if the music perfectly matches the emotion and timing of gameplay, I will likely get sucked in.

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