RPGs For A Guy That Doesn't Like RPGs?

OK so I have gone on record multiple times saying that I don't like 'pure' RPGs. I can't really find enjoyment in JRPGs and things like Mass Effect and Elder Scrolls as I generally get bored of them really fast.
But it's a new year and I want to at least try some of the type of game I've dismissed for as long as I can remember so I've come here to humbly ask one simple question;

What game RPGs should I play to break myself into the genre?

 

Many of the RPG's these days are mixed with either: Action or First-Person Shooter genres, so they're not traditional like some of the classics where battles were turn-based like Final Fantasy 1 - 6.

Final Fnatasy 7: Crisis Core is an example of an Action RPG. The fight continues whether you're ready to make a move or not and has no "wait mode" except the pause game feature. Final Fantasy 15 further extends this and used the mechanics used in Final Fantasy 12 when you activate the "wait time" option (unless you applied points into the Wait Timer ability, the bar would decrease over time the longer you were in "wait mode" or not actively moving, guarding, attacking, using items, or using the menu and would not regenerate until you left the battle area, received a game over, or won the battle). I barely played Final Fantasy 13, but I think the mechanics of Final Fantasy 12 were also used there. It's been a while.

Mass Effect is an Third-Person Shooter RPG. I'm not sure you can call it a pure RPG.

Fallout 4 is a First/Third Person Shooter with small RPG elements, which was the pretty much the biggest disappointment in many fans. The lack of RPG is what caused Fallout 4 to have the worst user rating in the Fallout franchise.

Dragon Quest Builders is a good example of a Sandbox RPG game mixing Minecraft and Dragon Quest (aka Dragon Warriors). I think it's fair to say this is what Minecraft should have looked like (not the Dragon Quest theme, but the building feature with actual goals to fulfill).

The best bet to break into RPGs, is to find something that shares a genre you like then gradually explore other RPG mixed games. What genre(s) do you enjoy the most?

 

The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess.
Yes it's an rpg, just rename Link to The7thSeal and pretend it's you on the adventure

Since Mass Effect and Skyrim are off the board that wipes away the "loot based" games. Fallout included.

No jrpgs then...
How about Fire Emblem? It's not a jrpg in the turnbased combat sense, this falls under the subgenre of strategic roleplaying games (srpg). You order a large group of characters around a map grid and coordinate attacks to win whatever objectives the level calls for. You can upgrade equipment and level up characters much like an rpg.
New to the series (well not new anymore, it's becoming popular) is something called a support system. You unlock special scenes and dialogue between characters based on how often they work together on the maps. This allows special bonuses and stuff.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic I & II (KOTOR). I'm not talking about that online game, this is a genuine Star Wars experience. The battle system seems to function on some kind of automated D&D dice system. Normally I would hate stuff like that but it's completely integrated and hands off. It's very newbie friendly, I don't know what some terms are (what's a +2 attack modifier?), but under no circumstance did things like that bother me. It was fun figuring out character setups without really knowing what's supposed to be "good". The games weren't frustrating. The story is a good Star Wars tale and the choice to be good or evil gives it replayability.
Definitely try these games if you haven't. Both the first and second are similar in gameplay but tell different stories. I played out of order but wasn't lost or anything.

 

@Vashnik That's the problem honestly. My taste in games is eclectic to say the least. And they only genres I tend to revisit are Hack & Slash, Platformers and Stealth games. And I'm actually looking into as pure of an RPG as I can get my hands on. Like, JRPG kind of things.

@Doomguy As above, I'm not averse to trying some JRPGs. However, I would say Bethesda style RPGs are off the table, simply because, ironically, when give than much choice, I can't be asked to do anything.
I will definitely have to look into some FE games though.

 

Well, although it's not pure RPG, it does focus on actual RP and some of the newer ones actually have a lot more stealth mechanics added to it to make it more realistic. You can try the Assassin's Creed games if you haven't already. For JRPG, you'll mostly want to stick with games similar to the first 6 Final Fantasy games, which can include some of the games developed using RPG Maker by other users. The newer Final Fantasy ones have added more action and strategy. I'm not sure of any other pure RPGs that aren't using the standards similar to Final Fantasy 1 - 6.

 

Phantasy Star Portable and God Eater are possible candidates for testing. Action RPGs.
Also, perhaps Star Ocean.

 

Great game!!!! Did not know what I was getting myself into when I bought it but I was blown away at how fun it was.....


@The7thSeal

Hmmmm

These would be my suggestions

The Witcher 3: Great Story and is a hack and slash RPG... You dont really need to play 1&2 to play 3..... World is big and open though but the side quests are clearly marked and you can do them while doing main quest as well...... the whole questing of the game I found was very fluent witch is what I found different from Skyrim and fallout games. Its a long game doh but still was one of my Fav RPG...

Dragon Age - Origin: Great story and fun if your into Dragon's and mideval stuff.

Borderlands Series: its a FPS action RPG super fun and they take themselves lightly..... I LOVE THIS SERIES... Borderlands 1 & 2 are fantastic presequel was ok.....

as @Doomguy said earlier


KOTOR (Knights of the old republic) 1 & 2: these games were super fun specially if your a star wars fan boy!

like the post above:
Valkyria Chronicles is an other good one....


Also you can maybe try Final Fantasy 15 its not turn based like the older ones and is actually a pretty fun JRPG.

I have 80 hours put in and still playing it! but you can actually finish the game in like 30 hours if you wanted to rush through....

 

Well... I was going to suggest Dragon Age, but Cpt_K3nny beat me to it.
Maybe the Fable franchise?

 

@The7thSeal

Pokemon - (any version)
Star Ocean: The Second Story
Grandia
Grandia II
Breath of Fire IV
Golden Sun
Final Fantasy (VI, VII, IX, X, XV)
Kingdom Hearts

 

Final Fantasy XIII (series) - some of my favorite games of all time (my favorite of the 360/PS3 generation) and I don't like RPGS. The story, characters, soundtrack, and graphics are fantastic. The gameplay isn't great but its not bad either.

 

Mass Effect Series, Borderlands and The Witcher 3 says Hello

But I will agree a good turn base RPG now a days is hard to find....

 

Fallout 1 & 2.

 

hahah You win this round with your darn sleek retort!!! but mark my words one day I shall have my revenge and you will learn to love the Witcher 3!!!!

 

Dark Souls games may not be traditional RPGS, but they definitely fit under "RPGs for a guy who doesn't like RPGS"

 

Right, time have a nice little review of this thread;
@Vashnik I have played the AC games up to Brotherhood, that's enough for me. Will have a look into the older FF games, though I'm not sure if they'll grab my attention all that much.

@Core I'm assuming God Easter is kind of in the same vein as Monster Hunter? Might had to see about that. I've heard about Phantasy Star and Star Ocean, but they don't really grab me.

@ShadowLinks The Tales series is definitely on my radar. Actually looking into getting Beseria at some point. I have played Valkyria Chronicles and actually really liked it, shame the games after 2 never left Japan.
Eternal Sonata's gameplay sounds really interesting. On the list.
Now, I was going to dismiss Radiata Stories, until I read this line in the wiki article;

And now it's on the list.
I have never really gotten into SAO.

@Cpt_K3nny I feel like Witcher 3 will be like Bethesda games for me. Tonnes of things to do, no motivation to do anything.
I played a bit of DA:O and lost interest after a while. I may try to pick it up again, but right now it's heavily on the back burner.
Now, I liked Borderlands, problem is I played it so much the gameplay loop lost all entertainment value for me.
OK, this is probably going to get me shot, but I have seen FF15 being played for a good long while and good God did it look boring. I just could not understand where the enjoyment comes from with that thing.

@Dylanar Now, Fable is one of those weird RPGs I love.The only one in the series that I haven't finished is 1, and that's currently on the list.

@VeritasOdiumParit Actually currently playing Pokemon Sun and really enjoying it.
As said above, I'll be looking into the FF games.
Kingdom Hearts...I don't know, something has always irked me about those games. Not entirely sure what, but maybe the weird 'friendship' stuff and the mixed franchises.
Others don't really jump out to me, but thanks for the suggestions.

@KnowMeFrom I have tried FFXIII. It was actually my first foray into FF. I hated it. The combat was pretty bad and maybe one character stood out to me.
Also, the Dark Souls series is probably my favourite franchise. And while it's an RPG, it never really felt that way to me, if that makes sense.

@Sporadic Good Lord that list. You're gonna have to give me a bit to work through that monster.

That's for all the suggestions guys. Anymore spring to mind, you know where to find me.

 

It is a big open world game not going to lie, The big difference I find between Skyrim lets say and the Witcher 3 is the side Questing/Story Questing.

All side quest are mainly found at each villages bulletin board so you don't have to talk to every single Character to try to find out if they are quest givers.....

Also there are mini side quest marked all over your world map identified as a question mark beauty of it you show up there kill a monster/find a treasure and your done you don't need to travel endlessly to finish it... you show up boom done move on and you can complete these while doing main quest.

That to me is what I found very different from the Bethesda games was the questing was done very fluently and easy to access all of them from one spot per village...

Anyways on to the next one......

Have you tried Bloodborne yet? it falls in the same type of Category as darksouls and was pretty fun


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Also Going to throw a curve ball and suggest

Kingdom Of Amalur: Reckoning

Its one of those games that was pretty fun but no one ever played it.....