The best independent first-person role-playing games

Key foods

• Indie RPGs like Disco Elysium offer unique experiences for fans of first-person RPGs.
• Monomyth is an immersive dungeon crawler with immersive gameplay for fans of vintage RPGs.
• Blood West combines wild western themes, stealth gameplay, and immersive visuals for a unique RPG experience.

While indie RPGs abound, there are fewer that choose a first-person perspective. Indie RPGs like Disco Elysium, Undertaleand action There are some great examples of what can be done when developers are left to their own devices, but it may not be to your taste, for example, Skyrim fans

Fans of first-person RPGs looking for creative and imaginative indie game designs may be hard-pressed to find diverse titles, but there are a handful of standout experiences. It's worth noting that titles with bigger budgets like Darker and darker and Kingdom Come: Deliverancewhile great, are deliberately left out in favor of those with fewer resources.

1 monotony

An interactive, immersive, vintage dungeon-crawler

• Platform(s): PC
• Release date: 2024
• Developer: Rat Tower
• Genre: RPG

Despite presenting flaws in its early access launch, this mix of immersive sim RPG and dungeon crawler is already a worthwhile experience for fans of the old gameplay. The interactive systems provide great gameplay and immerse the player in an interconnected world, more than making up for the game's rough edges.

Fans of games like the classic Arcane Studios, Arx fatalisWith a focus on first-person dungeon crawling, you're sure to find fun in it monotony With little effort, despite its vintage influences, the immersive elements of game design and classless character progression result in a unique experience that emphasizes player agency and encourages experimentation.

2 barony

A roguelike first-person RPG inspired by the classics

barony A rogue-like action dungeon crawler with a first-person perspective, unique art style, and varied but often challenging gameplay. According to traditional rogues, barony It has RPG character progression that is lost forever when the player dies, and the varied classes keep things fresh over multiple playthroughs.

barony It draws inspiration from classic first-person RPG games dagger, Ultima Underworldand even System shockThat's immediately obvious, but the rebellious structure, and more importantly, the addition of four players (online and local), allows it to stand on its own two feet.

3 bloodline

A first person sandbox RPG to get lost in

• Platform(s): PC
• Release date: 2023
• Developers: Shieldbearer Studios
• Genre: RPG

bloodline A first-person sandbox RPG with an open world full of things to do. Heavy first-person combat, exploration, crafting, cooking, and character progression RPGs make for a complete experience that is often continuous. The appearance of the game may be rather basic, but bloodline It's not without its surprises, and the first fun gameplay makes up for it.

Fans of games like Larger scrolls, Runescapeand Mount And Blade: Warband You are sure to have a great time wandering its lands bloodlinebut it's worth picking up for fans of open-world RPGs and first-person combat. bloodline It's an ambitious and expansive title, but only time will tell if it makes it through Early Access.

4 scary illusion

A colorful journey through a fully imaginative open world

Wild, vibrant and completely imaginative, scary illusion A bright and colorful journey through a strange and fantastical open world. This game is one of the classics like Larger scrollsbut scary illusion It's quite its own beast, and chances are any fan of first-person RPGs with a penchant for vintage visuals will enjoy exploring it.

While scary illusion Featuring combat and a variety of enemies, exploring its world and meeting its quirky characters is where its gameplay shines. In fact, to upgrade the level scary illusionplayers must actively collect delusions, blue skulls that allow the player to improve their attributes. This encourages exploration rather than crushing, creating a refreshing loop that rewards curiosity.

5 West Blood

An immersive western fantasy RPG with a focus on stealth

This first-person RPG has a wild western theme and stealth-focused gameplay. Stealth just isn't an option, as the world is harsh and unforgiving, and the enemies within are often hard to hit, encouraging players to be creative and systematically take out their enemies rather than just shooting guns. run

West Blood The retro 3D visual features, but its pixelated textures remain detailed. In addition, the design of its various characters is often memorable and, in the case of enemies, often annoying. Weapons are especially great, with tight animations and solid sound design supporting their chunky silhouettes. Fans of first-person RPGs, stealth-based gameplay, and the wild west are sure to enjoy this game. West Bloodespecially if they don't mind a little eldritch horror thrown in.

6 Lunacid

A sad adventure that goes back to the old school of software

Taking inspiration from old FromSoftware games like Shadow Tower and King's Squarethis first-person dungeon crawler RPG features simple but intuitive combat and, more importantly, a dark atmosphere with brilliant execution. The immersive low-poly environments and creative enemy and character designs are the game's highlights, but the leisurely exploration and slow, methodical combat make for a rewarding gameplay loop.

Lunacid It's not the most challenging game, and its labyrinthine level designs may irritate some players at times, but its sense of style and almost cozy atmosphere is worth playing alone. For players who are slower than speed and loop crawling in dungeon games like King's Square, Lunacid It's practically made for them.