There are a lot of great ARPG games available right now.
There aren’t many things in the world of games that are more satisfying than a good Action Role-Playing Game (ARPG). Filled with fast-paced action, swarms of enemies to defeat and the addictive loop of finding better loot, ARPG games can take up hours that end up feeling like minutes. With an emphasis on the action part of action RPG, combat is some of the most fun you’ll ever experience, with the best ARPG titles often being more about the fun of fighting rather than a deep story to follow. From old classics to new contenders for the ARPG throne, there is a lot of variety to choose from, some of which even combine other genres within the ARPG formula. But if you are looking for the best ARPG games, these are the ones you need to try out.
What Is ARPG?
ARPG stands for Action Role Playing Game. A subset of the RPG genre, ARPGs have a focus on real-time combat, hence the action part of the name. They also typically feature an isometric or top-down view along with hordes of enemies to kill, some of which will drop loot.
The 1984 game Dragon Slayer is credited as the first action RPG game, but for many the genre really started with the release of Diablo in 1996. This also represented a bit of a split for the genre and its terminology, which is still a little unclear today. Most people consider an ARPG to be Diablo-like, for want of a better phrase, with the isometric view, dungeons to explore and loot to grab. However, the early ARPGs, and many games that still use the tag on platforms like Steam, sit more within the action-adventure genre.
You can find ARPG games on almost any platform, with the biggest titles being ported almost everywhere. There are even some solid mobile options for players who want to get their ARPG fix on the move.
Top ARPG Games
With ARPGs being available on almost every platform and there being a wide variety of titles to pick up, it can be difficult to find the best ARPG to play. However, these are some of the best games the genre currently has to offer, based on critical reception, longevity and originality.
10. Minecraft Dungeons
ARPGs are rarely aimed at a younger audience, but Minecraft Dungeons is one of the few exceptions. Released in 2020 and co-developed by Double Eleven and Minecraft creators Mojang, it’s a limited and kid-friendly ARPG that is still fun for older players to experience — just don’t expect the depth of other titles.
You’ll spend all your time running around Minecraft landscapes taking down recognisable foes from the series while trying to track down the Arch-Illager and liberate villages he has oppressed. It’s not the most engaging story in the world, but for the younger target audience, it does its job in an understandable way and gives you a reason to blast through the enemies. Minecraft Dungeons is the most simplistic ARPG on this list, and if you enjoy some of the others it might not be for you, but as an entry into the genre or an option for younger players it’s perfect, and helped by the fact it’s available on lots of platforms such as PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Switch.
9. Diablo III
Diablo III is the forgotten child of the Diablo series. When it launched in 2012 as an online-only game with a real money auction house you could use to buy and sell loot, developers Blizzard were heavily criticised by fans of Diablo II saying this was too far away from what the series should be.
But years of updates, the removal of the auction house and some great downloadable content (DLC) additions turned Diablo III into a strong ARPG and one that is certainly worth playing if you’ve already done everything Diablo IV has to offer. It follows the traditional Diablo format and the final act of the game where you head to the High Heavens is a brilliant change of pace from the darkness of other Diablo games. It’s also available on a range of platforms, from PC to Switch, and even the older generations of consoles including the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 and PS4.
8. Grim Dawn
Grim Dawn is an ARPG that got good review scores and has sold a ton of copies but is often forgotten when talking about the best ARPGs. Having been released in 2016, it is starting to show its age, especially visually, but the combat is as fun as it ever was and worth playing.
Developed by Crate Entertainment and available on both PC and Xbox One, Grim Dawn is another game that is more about combat than story. There’s a loose plot about the world being taken over by otherworldly beings and a group of human survivors trying to take them down, but it’s not all that memorable. However, the combat and the well-designed locations you fight in are both outstanding once you get a build you like and feels good. It can take a while to get into, with a reasonably slow start to the game, but if you are prepared to put in a few hours, this is a great ARPG experience.
7. Lost Ark
Lost Ark is an ARPG-MMO (action role playing game-massively multiplayer online) but retains more elements of the former with loads of others running around with you. It’s massively popular in South Korea, where it was developed by Smilegate and initially released in 2019, before Amazon picked up the Western publishing rights to launch it in Europe and North America in 2022.
It’s a great combination of the two genres, but if you aren’t an MMO fan it might be one to skip, thanks to the grinding and limited story that is not really the focus of the game. The good news is that the combat and generally running around and killing things is good — really good in fact — so if you are looking for a fun ARPG experience that doesn’t require too much attention, Lost Ark is great and perfect for those wanting to be in the same world as your friends. It is, however a PC-only experience so you won’t be able to play with any console buddies.
6. Torchlight II
Torchlight II is not the most recent game in its series, having launched back in 2012, but it is by far the best. Built by Runic Games, a team largely made up of former Blizzard devs, Torchlight II was one of the few legitimate competitors to Diablo III back when it launched.
With a much brighter colour pallet than a lot of other games, Torchlight II still looks great today as you go on a quest to stop the big baddie. Like many other ARPGs the story isn’t all that great, but the combat and addictive quest for better loot very much is. Even after 12 years, it is still one of the best examples of combat in an ARPG, and it can be picked up for just a few bucks if you know where to look or wait for a sale, so it is perfect for anyone on a budget. It’s also available on PC, Switch, Xbox One and PS4 making it easy to access for a lot of players.
5. V Rising
V Rising is very losely within the ARPG genre, combining the moment-to-moment action and fights you would expect with a survival and crafting open-world adventure game which somehow works well as a combination. Its early access launch on PC proved massively popular in 2022, with a full release also coming to PS5 this year.
If you are looking for a change of pace from the traditional ARPG format then V Rising is a great option. With developers Stunlock Studios bringing in the survival aspect and making it open world, it has a very different feel to most ARPGs, including the option to build your own castle anywhere on the map and upgrade it throughout the game. Of course, vampire fans will also love the idea of hunting down Dracula and his cronies. However, if you are all about combat and stories this might be one to skip, as there’s a lack of both compared to the likes of Diablo.
4. Last Epoch
Last Epoch is the new challenger to the ARPG throne, and it has a lot of good ideas. After years in early access, it finally launched in early 2024 and has proven massively popular, with developers Eleventh Hour Games revealing it sold over two million copies in a month.
Last Epoch’s unique idea is that it is set across multiple time periods in the world of Eterra, with the story and your character jumping between them as you try to stop the world turning to ruin, which you see in one of the future versions. But it’s the combat and sheer variety of builds that really make Last Epoch great. There’s a lot to experiment with and almost all of it is great fun to play with, making this one for people who want to experiment with lots of different styles and sink in lots of hours playing through with different characters or builds. It’s only available on PC, but is one to check out if you can.
3. Diablo II: Resurrected
There is a very compelling argument that Diablo II is the best ARPG of all time. Initially released in 2000 by Blizzard, a remastered version was released in 2021 making the game easier to access on PC and also available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4 and PS5.
But the remaster was a faithful update to the original, changing very little from the game that practically perfected the genre all those years ago. As a result, over 20 years later it definitely shows its age, even with a new coat of paint, and it might be jarring to anyone expecting a similar experience to more modern titles. However, if you want a pure ARPG experience and know what you are in for, this is a must for serious fans of the genre, as the later stages battling demons in hell is an iconic gaming moment that deserves to be experienced.
2. Path of Exile
For years Path of Exile has been the competitor to Diablo, and despite launching in 2013 it still holds up today. While developer Grinding Gear Games is hard at work on a sequel, there is currently no release date in sight, so if you want to experience PoE, the original is still your only option.
PoE is very similar to Diablo, even down to the general story beats. Instead of demonic villains you are fighting against ancient gods and trying to get back to the island of Oriath, but the real highlight of the game is the combat. While similar to Diablo, there’s a slightly different feel to fighting in PoE and a good amount of variety in the builds you can go for, making each of your characters feel very different. It’s the perfect alternative to Diablo if Blizzard’s franchise doesn’t do it for you or you are looking for more ARPG goodness. These days PoE is best experienced on PC, but Xbox One and PS4 versions also exist.
1. Diablo IV
While some purists may disagree, 2023’s Diablo IV from Blizzard Software is the genre-defining ARPG and there aren’t many games that come close to it. As the series that practically invented the genre, Diablo games set the precedent for what an ARPG should be, and Diablo IV is no different.
Set 50 years after the last Diablo game, the demon Lilith has been summoned and is wreaking havoc on the world. It is up to you to bring her down, travelling around the world and even to hell to make that happen. You’ll need to build up your character with stronger gear and skills while progressing through the story, which heavily features actor Ralph Ineson as Lorath Nahr who gives an excellent performance. Diablo IV is available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4 and PS5, and if you want the ultimate ARPG experience it’s one that you need to check out.
Bottom Line
ARPG games are some of the most satisfying to play with fun and rapid combat and lots of loot to grab. With a lot of the classics still holding up today there’s a long history you can still experience, and the more modern options are continuing to push the genre forward.
