Most of these great ActionRPGs, for whatever reason, kind of flew under the radar. These games had big names and talent behind them, too, but they just didn’t get as much attention. Maybe it was bad timing, lack of proper marketing, or pre-conceived notions about the franchise and how these games were different from what came before.
But if you ended up missing out on these games, you missed out on some cool worlds, amazing characters, and fun gameplay. Here’s a list of some of the most underrated action RPGs that you should check out if you haven’t already. Let’s dive in!
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel does feel more like a really big Borderlands 2 expansion, but that’s not really a negative, especially if you loved Borderlands 2. That’s probably why it kind of flew under the radar, comparatively.
The game takes place on Pandora’s moon, Elpis, which makes for some fun low-gravity action. It tells the story of Handsome Jack’s rise, giving a lot more depth to the series’ best villain. It also includes and expands on a few characters from both of the first two Borderlands games, and has some interesting storytelling for fans of that world.
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Tyranny was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and can be somewhat compared to the Pillars of Eternity games in its design, but it feels very different to play. What makes Tyranny special is that this time, you’re not the hero.
You’re working for the evil overlord who’s in power. The world’s dark and broken, and a lot of the choices you make feel heavy. It’s not as long or expansive as Pillars, but it’s still packed with some of the coolest lore Obsidian has made. The writing’s pretty sharp, too,like you’d expect from the studio.
Lost Odyssey has now become a beloved hidden gem, although that wasn’t always the case. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi was behind the game, and you can see some similarities with that series, but it has a very different tone with its industrial revolution themes.
The narrative is strong and emotional, and follows this immortal character named Kaim. The turn-based combat feels classic but polished. It’s not 3D like Final Fantasy 12, which came a year before it, but the old-school JRPG design works well here.
Astral Chain is one of themost stylish action gameson the Nintendo Switch. PlatinumGames developed the game, and their DNA shines in the game’s fast and flashy combat, which feels amazing.
Even though it was a Switch exclusive, and great games like this from renowned studios usually do well on the console, it didn’t blow up like some others did. In the game, you play as a police officer in a futuristic city, and it looks stunning with neon city vibes and great creature designs.
Tales of Arise is one of the finest, most polished, and thought-outgames in the Tales series. It still keeps that charm and heart that the series is known for, while focusing even more on character relations that really work.
The lore of the game’s world is interesting, with some great plot twists in the third act. The combat is also super fast and flashy, and the world just looks beautiful everywhere you go. Compared to older games like Symphonia or Vesperia, Arise feels way bigger and more modern without losing its soul.
The 2023 reboot of Lords of the Fallen is a big step up from the 2014 original. It looks stunning, with this dark fantasy world that’s full of massive, creepy enemies. It might not play as smoothly as some other Soulsllike games, but it still feels good enough.
It has some new and unique gameplay mechanics within this subgenre, like how you can travel between the living world and the land of the dead. The 2.0 update drastically improved upon the base game by adding plenty of quality-of-life changes that ended up making the game much smoother.
Rise of the Ronin has some of the usual open-world stuff, but the setting and the gameplay make it something very worthwhile. Set in Japan during the Bakumatsu period, you play as a ronin who gets caught up in the country’s messy transition from old samurai ways to more modern times.
The world feels alive and a little bit dangerous. Plus, the combat mixes swordplay and gunplay in a way that feels satisfying. It’s more open-ended and not as punishing as the Nioh games, and it’s a great game to lose yourself in for a while.
Final Fantasy 13 was more than a little divisive when it first came out. A lot of fans didn’t love how different it felt from the older games, but they’ve opened up to it now. Looking back at it for what it is, it’s a pretty good game.
The world is interesting and different from the usual medieval fantasy stuff. The Paradigm Shift system keeps combat feeling fresh, and compared to the rest of the Final Fantasy series, it stands out as doing its own thing.
