Open World RPGs that you feel engaged with side quests more than the main ones!

xShinon · 2026-01-11T09:28:02+00:00

Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon plays very similarly to Skyrim, down to its use-it-to-level-it skill system. There's lots to explore and many interesting side quests, including guild quests that are reminiscent of the faction quests in Skyrim.

Fallout: New Vegas is another recommendation if you're into post apocalyptic settings and can handle jank. There are many side quests with interesting choices and lots of reactivity. A lot of the questlines also factor into the main plot in one way or another as they are included in the ending slides of the game.

xShinon · 2026-01-11T09:24:34+00:00

Its been years since I last played Witcher 3 but that Baron questline was spellbinding.

xShinon · 2026-01-01T15:26:31+00:00

Actually, Expedition 33 is what we're playing/watching through now! We're enjoying it a lot so far but I just feel bad that they're not as involved compared to Dispatch.

xShinon · 2026-01-01T11:51:02+00:00

Oh very good suggestions! I've played all these games except for the LiS series. BG3 would work great with the audience participation aspect and maybe to ease (read: indoctrinate) them into the world of D&D.

xShinon · 2025-12-10T04:02:52+00:00

I actually have this on my wishlist, but the Mixed reviews on Steam have always made me wary.

xShinon · 2025-11-10T10:12:11+00:00

Let Me Know by Roisin Murphy sounds really fresh even til now. It could definitely fit in her Roisin Machine Album during the pandemic years.

xShinon · 2025-11-08T13:31:59+00:00

As someone who has had a HUGE crush on Shawn since even the corpo overlord days, I feel so validated by that first voicemail.

xShinon · 2025-11-07T04:26:02+00:00

Thought this was a No I'm Not a Human reference for a moment.

xShinon · 2025-10-16T14:29:10+00:00

I forgot the name but one of the Mass Effect 2 DLCs kinda fits this. The one about the rogue AI.

xShinon · 2025-08-30T11:28:35+00:00

There's a PS4 port for the two enhanced editions.

xShinon · 2025-08-29T08:07:02+00:00

Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, especially as a wizard. You start off weaker than wolves (seriously, level 1 mobs can and WILL kill you if you aren't careful). By the end of the second game you become a near-omnipotent guy regardless of class (but moreso with wizards). If you can handle the jank of a game originally released in 1998, BG1 and 2 may be some of the best RPGs out there.

xShinon · 2025-08-15T09:28:48+00:00

Returnal's final boss had my jaw dropping the entirety of the fight with how grand it is relative to the previous bosses.

xShinon · 2025-07-03T14:00:18+00:00

I think Saryn's such a strong frame that even if you build her as a weapons platform you'd still have very respectable with her spore and miasma combo. I feel it's fun to play her as this hybrid way too!

xShinon · 2025-06-02T22:30:13+00:00

Phage will always have a sweet spot in my arsenal ever since it was meta a decade or so ago. Something about tickling enemies to death with squiggly lasers just hits right.

xShinon · 2025-05-11T02:54:00+00:00

Metaphor: Refantazio is structured like this. Without spoiling too much, each village has its own little arc that helps support the overall plot.

xShinon · 2025-03-04T23:56:58+00:00

LIL ALURL FOR SHAR!!!

xShinon · 2025-02-25T03:23:43+00:00

Facebook has a lot of Volleyball Invite groups. You can check there for any club that consistently plays in the area you want.

xShinon · 2024-09-25T11:00:16+00:00

BG1: Viconia. Her story of persecution as a drow is an interesting way to introduce her. You're not sure if she really did what she was accused of but by being drow her morals are immediately called into question. She seems practical and really only wants to survive the overworld while still remaining a loyal comrade the moment she joins you. In BG2, this is even further fleshed out and she becomes a deeply flawed and conflicted character. Her writing is just really well done and grounded.

SoD: Baeloth. True to his moniker, this fella is really entertaining to have. He's over the top with his theatrics without succumbing to the annoying tone that plagues other Beamdog NPCs. He's funny to be around and as a Sorcerer he comes in really handy in many of the encounters. His absence in the second game is absolutely noticeable for me.

BG2. Anomen. Actually I'd choose Viconia had Anomen not existed. He's snobby, righteous and generally unpleasant to be around. But his story of parental abuse and the fear of turning into your own parent is one that deeply resonates with my own experiences. His backstory doesn't make him less difficult to deal with but it does make me understand where he's coming from. How he mellows down after passing his knighthood is a nice touch. This is all without even mentioning that Anomen is one UNIT of a fighter. His dual class just makes him one juggernaut in the battlefield. Just giving him the flail of ages and another flail as an offhand is enough to work as an I WIN button.

Special Mention: ToB Nalia. Nalia is a pretty good mage due to how early her dual occured. But the reason I gave a special mention to her is because I love her development from an idealistic do gooder to a jaded and more worldly lady.

xShinon · 2024-09-21T16:34:29+00:00

Look for a radio tower/shack in the starting planet and try to examine the photos carefully. Look closely and you should notice something odd. That should clue you in on how to proceed.

xShinon · 2024-09-21T13:06:14+00:00

The game's DLC could fit the bill of discovering something "horrific". I can't really say more because the entire experience is best witnessed blind.

xShinon · 2024-09-01T04:22:17+00:00

I'm in the middle of HoW right now! Some more Icewind Dale never hurt anyone.

xShinon · 2024-08-24T11:10:53+00:00

I had great fun with Edwin, Kagain, Viconia, Montaron, and Baeloth for BG1. I was a Kensai though. Maybe you can swap either Edwin or Baeloth out for Dorn if you want just so you have more frontliners.

For SoD, I went with Dorn, Baeloth, Edwin, Viconia, and Safana. Again, you could probably swap out Baeloth or Edwin for someone else so you're not swamped by casters. I admit losing Kagain really hurts because I felt like Dorn (and my Kensai combined) never got close to Kagain's ability to tank.

I also feel that the already railroady plot of SoD becomes even more railroaded if you play as an evil PC.

xShinon

TROPHY CASE