As a genre veteran I love to be surprised, so here are the 10 best RPGs where you can expect the unexpected
The best unique RPGs where you can expect the unexpected are all about the unpredictable scenarios you can find yourself in. From open worlds that have plenty of surprises in store, to stories full of twists and turns, many of the picks I've included here also afford you lots of freedom to experiment in any given situation. But of course, with lots of freedom comes lots of possible outcomes, and you can't always anticipate where your choices will lead you, but that's what makes these RPGs so worthwhile.
Expect the Unexpected is one of our RPG Vibes (which you can learn more about in our FAQ sections) that we use as a shorthand way to describe the kind of experience these games offer up. As a longtime player and fan of role-playing games, I've considered a broad range of unique RPGs that capture this idea, and with more upcoming RPGs set to arrive this year, this ranking may well change in the future.
The best Expect the Unexpected RPGs, starting with...
10. Cyberpunk 2077
Release date: December 10, 2020
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X
The life of a mercenary is nothing if not unpredictable, and that certainly applies for protagonist V in Cyberpunk 2077. The neon-tinted streets of Night City aren't afraid to throw plenty of chaos and danger in your path, be it during exploration or in the overarching storyline. Not only do you have to contend with the various gangs who rule over the different districts, but you also have the engram of an unruly rockerboy by the name of Johnny Silverhand in your head.
With the threat of your very sense of self being replaced by Silverhand, you're thrown into an action-packed journey you ultimately decide the outcome of. With almost 1000 hours in the RPG, I've replayed the best Cyberpunk 2077 gigs several times over, and I can confidently say that you can expect things to take a turn, keep you guessing, and throw you into unusual and unique scenarios outside of the main missions, too.
9. Dragon's Dogma 2
Release date: March 22, 2024
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
Dragon's Dogma 2 more than fits the bill of an action RPG where you can expect the unexpected, and the open world it draws you into takes a lot of credit for that. As the Arisen, you're joined by NPC companions known as Pawns who often add to the unpredictable factor as you venture out into the sprawling high fantasy landscapes of Capcom's adventure. One minute you'll be making your way to a quest objective, and the next you'll be heading off the beaten path because a pawn pointed out something worth investigating on the horizon.
Things can escalate quickly, too, from getting attacked while camping in the wilderness to encountering large and unique foes on the road who will immediately put up a fight if you get close. As we said in Dragon's Dogma 2 review, "embrace the chaos" of it all, and "there's nothing quite like it".
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter8. Metaphor: ReFantazio
Release date: October 11, 2024
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X
Metaphor: ReFantazio may tread some familiar Persona ground through some of its systems and ideas, but it still successfully manages to feel novel by drawing you into a unique fantasy setting with its own distinct look and feel. You can absolutely expect to face some unexpected twists and turns in the story, too, with ReFantazio beautifully blending together its own brand of strangeness with more serious themes through its prejudice-filled society.
Taking on the role of a protagonist from the rare, shunned Elda tribe, you set out to break the curse of a prince, bring equality back, and stop a growing threat (pretty heavy duty tasks). As we explored in our Metaphor: Refantanzio review, the rich worldbuilding, memorable characters, and expansive dungeons bring so much depth to the experience, but you can also get ready for the story to lead you in a lot of surprising and unexpected directions.
7. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Release date: November 10, 2020
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Yakuza: Like a Dragon successfully shakes up combat in the Yakuza series by tapping into protagonist Ichiban's love for Dragon Quest. Yes, you're essentially drawn into a world of seen directly through the eyes of Ichiban's imagination, transforming scraps against enemies on the streets into turn-based battles infused with silly, over-the-top attacks that just make the experience all the more unique and enjoyable.
As we highlight in our Yakuza: Like a Dragon review, there's a memorable main storyline pulling you through Ichi's quest, but just like many entries in the long-running action RPG series, Like A Dragon can also often throw you into wonderfully weird situations with all kinds of quirky characters in a myriad of side substories. And even when you're not doing quests, you can just enjoy the chaos of combat, or get stuck into one of many different activities in Yokohama.
6. Divinity Original Sin 2
Release date: September 14, 2017
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch
Divinity Original Sin 2's setting of Rivellon lets you take free reign as a character of your own making, with various classes and races to choose from. With the ability to speak to anyone and interact with just about anything you can see, Larian's RPG is teeming with possibilities, and affords you plenty of room to experiment both in and out of combat. With so much freedom to not only explore, but also seek out opportunities and use the environment to your advantage to make it through all manner of scenarios, things can take unexpected turns as you follow the journey of the Godwoken.
With the option to also play as one of the pre-established origin characters who all have their own unique arcs to explore, there's so much potential to go in different directions through multiple runs and see what your choices lead you. If you're after a reactive RPG that can keep surprising you, look no further than Larian's turn-based RPG.
5. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Release date: March 3, 2017
Platform(s): Switch, Switch 2
Tapping into the magic of some of the best open world RPGs, Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is unique in the way that it's a veritable playground that invites you to experiment and explore to your heart's content. From the moment you step out into the vast plains of Hyrule, it's yours to discover, and with that level of freedom comes many unexpected occurrences.
From messing around with Link's weapons to see how many ways you can take down enemies (which can go very wrong if you're not careful), to paragliding across the open expanses and seeing where the wind takes you, you never quite know what awaits you next, but that's the beauty of the experience. Our glowing Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review digs into what makes Link's adventure so worthwhile and unforgettable. And with plenty of memorable characters to encounter along the way, it can even get a little silly at times in the most endearing kind of way.
4. Wasteland 3
Release date: August 28, 2020
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Also counted among our pick of the best CRPGs, the post-apocalyptic setting of Wasteland 3 delivers a comical, silly edge that's packed with unexpected situations. Taking command of a group of Desert Rangers in a post-nuclear world, you set out to try and rebuild society in Colorado by promising to help a leader known as the Patriarch rescue his land from his wayward children. But with warring factions in the mix, things escalate quickly.
With a story that's full of twists and turns, you can absolutely expect to face unexpected choices that can alter your path. Whether you want to follow your own morals, or help feed the Patriarch's power is entirely up to you, but the world will react to what you do. You just have to read our very own features editor Andy Brown's experience with Wasteland 3 to get an idea of the kind of things that can play out based on your choices.
3 . Baldur's Gate 3
Release date: August 3, 2023
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
Baldur's Gate 3 invites you into the Sword Coast as your own customized character or one of the playable origins, and then asks you to shape your entire journey. From making decisions that directly impact the storyline, to deciding how you want to handle every turn-based combat encounter, there's so much freedom to experiment and get creative with its D&D-infused systems.
Of course, with so much possibility at your fingertips, things can also get quite chaotic and escalate in unexpected ways as you venture to remove the tadpole taking up residence in your head. While it's incredibly entertaining to experience solo, as one of the best multiplayer RPGs that's also Better with Friends, having pals play with you only makes it all the more unpredictable. Who knows where your choices will lead you, but you'll have the best time finding out.
2. Persona 5 Royal
Release date: October 20, 2022
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch
One of the reasons Persona 5 Royal is one of the best story-driven RPGs is thanks to the way it mixes together meaningful moments with light-hearted scenarios and story beats that can even get quite silly and weird. Juxtaposed against the day-to-day trials of school life as a teen, you're also thrown into a distorted kind of mind palace that reflects the corrupt desires of individuals.
In the role of protagonist Ren who fights back against this corruption as a member of the Phantom Thieves, you can certainly expect to find yourself in some out there situations. From battling against foes with your Persona, which is a manifestation of your inner self, the Palaces act like dungeons, and you'll never quite know what you'll encounter or where the story will lead you next, but the experiencing of playing Persona 5 Royal for the first time is made all the more memorable because of it.
1. Disco Elysium
Release date: October 15, 2019
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Switch
As one of the best RPGs where choices really matter, Disco Elysium is another unique role-playing game that offers up so much freedom to decide how you want to handle any given scenario as detective Harrier Du Bois. As such, things can take many unexpected turns, and with a dialogue system that can lead conversations down many paths, you never quite know what you'll discover, do, or see next.
Whether you want to get violent, use your silver tongue to sweet-talk your way to getting answers, and more, there's all kinds of ways to carry out your investigations, and things can get quite weird and existential as you decide how to role-play as a Harrier. With a host of different skills to invest in that can unlock unique opportunities, various tools to interact with, and with thoughts that can even develop the kind of character you can become, Disco Elysium is one RPG that you'll have a hard time forgetting.
Best Expect the Unexpected FAQs
How do we decide on the ranking for Expect the Unexpected RPGs?
As a lifelong fan of the RPG genre, I've brought together a selection of role-playing games that capture the Expect the Unexpected vibe. These are games that aren't afraid to get silly, draw you into unusual situations, and throw you into scenarios that escalate quickly based on your actions or choices. Paying attention to RPGs with lots of player freedom and choice, as well as those with novel settings and stories, I've also worked with fellow veteran fans here at GamesRadar+ to bring a varied selection.
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