Uncover the Top 7 Mind-Blowing RPGs Set in the Future You Need to Play Now!

Summary

Starfield immerses players in a fractured future with rich storytelling, factions, and moral dilemmas.
The Outer Worlds satirizes corporate space colonization with dark humor and impactful choices.
Phantasy Star IV combines sci-fi and mysticism in a 16-bit masterpiece with emotional storytelling.

As a gamer, I’m constantly drawn to forward-looking RPGs, maybe it’s the futuristic technology, the exotic worlds, or the thought-provoking exploration of what our species could evolve into in future centuries.

Are future-set role-playing games (RPGs) ever fascinating? Regardless if it’s a power struggle across galaxies, a grim corporate reality, or the last flicker before a star system fades away, these games provide a stage for some of the most daring narratives in gaming. The exceptional ones don’t merely replace swords with lasers; instead, they create rich cultures, institutions, and moral complexities that challenge players to ponder their identity and the kind of world they aspire to inhabit.

7. Starfield

“Ad Victoriam” Is More Than A Battle Cry — It’s A Philosophy

In the year 2330, the game Starfield places players in the role of Constellation explorers navigating the Settled Systems, a region of colonized space where Earth’s major problems did not disappear but were instead transported to the cargo hold. From the bureaucratic military structure of UC to Freestar’s frontier spirit, the game depicts a divided future that is both inspiring and unsettlingly realistic.

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6. The Outer Worlds

Capitalism In Space, With A Smile

In a different turn of events, Obsidian Entertainment’s game titled “The Outer Worlds” might have been yet another grim dystopia, but instead it gave corporate-controlled space colonization a witty smirk and embraced its absurdity. This narrative is set in a future where megacorporations bought the stars, transforming the Halcyon system into less of an unexplored frontier and more into a corporate showroom, where even death serves as a marketing strategy.

The game mechanics of “The Outer Worlds” are classic Obsidian style, featuring multiple story paths, characters with personal issues, and decisions that affect events hours down the line. Yet what truly sets this game apart is its use of wit. Every dialogue is filled with dark comedy, more so when players opt for the ‘Dumb’ trait and play as a buffoonish captain. The humor is backed by sharp writing and world-building that satirizes late-stage capitalism, subtly mocking it through vending machine slogans, corporate funeral services, and so on. This isn’t an expansive space odyssey, but instead, it presents a future where dreams are mass-produced, come with a limited warranty, and are more modest in scale.

5. Phantasy Star 4: The End of the Millennium

The Year Is 2284, And Magic Still Lives Among The Stars

Published in 1993 but taking place over a millennium after the initial storyline, “Phantasy Star 4” stands out among Japanese RPGs as one that didn’t merely adopt a sci-fi motif for flair; it fully embraced the style and mythology. Space stations, android companions, laser weapons, and interplanetary travel coexist with spells and ancient curses, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of “Star Wars” and “Final Fantasy” raising their 16-bit offspring together.

On the planet Motavia within the Algol star system, players are plunged into a world that bears the scars of past calamities. Monstrous sandworms traverse the barren wastelands, toxic substances seep from abandoned research facilities, and societies have risen on top of the debris left by forgotten technology. Remarkably, even after all these years, the game’s turn-based combat and manga-inspired cinematics remain compelling. The narrative delivers impactful emotional moments that feel genuine rather than contrived. If you enjoy a future with a touch of mysticism and dungeons adorned with satellites, Phantasy Star 4 is a hidden gem deserving of rediscovery.

4. Cyberpunk 2077

The Only Thing More Dangerous Than Chrome Is Hope

Following a challenging debut in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 remarkably resurrected itself, complete with shiny cybernetic enhancements. In the sparkling ruin of Night City, a metropolis steeped in more trauma than insurance policies, this role-playing game explores the consequences when technology evolves at a faster pace than human ethics.

In the game, characters assume the character of V, a mercenary finding themselves entangled in an impossible predicament as their mind gets gradually taken over by Johnny Silverhand, a digitally manifested ghost portrayed with smoldering fury by Keanu Reeves. The narrative that ensues is a profoundly personal tale cloaked in intense neon-lit corruption, corporate conflicts, and chilling side missions. The 2023 expansion, Phantom Liberty, takes it to another level, integrating an espionage-themed plotline, which many agree is one of the most finely crafted stories by CD Projekt Red yet.

1. By version 2.0, combat became responsive, perks had significance, and the city truly embodied its initial promise. Night City isn’t merely a backdrop; it’s a snare, a symbol, and a cautionary tale. Despite its shattered aspirations, people continue to pursue it relentlessly.

3. Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Sarif Industries: Building A Better Tomorrow, Today

2027 seems nearly touchable with the narrative of “Human Revolution”. As we edge towards a world where technological augmentation is chic rather than unusual, the boundaries between improvement and abuse become increasingly indistinct. Enter Adam Jensen: a blend of man and machine, embodying determination more than anything else.

Eidos Montreal’s concept of the future is polished, tinted with gold, and precariously balanced on the brink of ruin. Each level, whether it’s the neon-lit gutters of Detroit or the multi-tiered cityscape of Hengsha, underscores a reality where the wealthy possess technology, and the less fortunate are left behind. What makes Human Revolution captivating isn’t merely its cyberpunk aesthetic, but its intricate structure. Players can choose to sneak, hack, negotiate, or fight their way through most scenarios, and these choices matter. Although the boss fights were initially problematic at launch, the Director’s Cut rectified this issue, enabling players to remain consistent with their character build. Every locked door, every computer terminal, every optional side room seems like a thread waiting to be pulled – and the tapestry hidden behind it is worth exploring.

2. Fallout: New Vegas

A Vegas Strip Built On Radiation And Regret

In the year 2281, in a post-apocalyptic Mojave that miraculously hosts both genetically altered geckos and a thriving casino culture, Fallout: New Vegas stands out as the epitome of roleplaying liberty in a desolate world. The storyline commences with a courier getting ambushed and left for dead. Subsequently, players embark on one of the most versatile RPG journeys ever crafted. Factions such as Caesar’s Legion and the New California Republic compete for dominance, giving players the opportunity to align with any of them or choose to destroy all factions and forge their own path.

The setting appears authentically inhabited, with secrets waiting to be discovered tucked away in each dilapidated structure and vending machine. Characters such as Yes Man, Veronica, and Arcade Gannon provide contrasting ethical perspectives and emotional depth that transform the narrative from a quest for revenge into a contemplation on power, loyalty, and the ideal way to rebuild. It’s worth noting that this is a future where the Hoover Dam holds significant importance as the cornerstone of the American wasteland. This isn’t merely world-building; it’s a demonstration of dedication to crafting a compelling environment.

1. Mass Effect 2

The Galaxy Didn’t Need A Savior, But It Got One Anyway

People continue to debate their Shepard character builds as if it were a test of their personalities. Mass Effect 2 has a futuristic feel, with interstellar travel, ethical dilemmas regarding AI, extinct species with inflated egos, and a galaxy filled with politics, ancient perils, and fragile alliances. Yet, it’s also brimming with emotion.

Starting off with an unexpected twist that claims Commander Shepard’s life within the first few minutes, the game transforms into a perilous journey on the brink of despair. As a player, I gather an eclectic team from across the cosmos, consisting of a biotic outlaw, a righteous enforcer, and a battle-hardened soldier genetically engineered in tanks. Each loyalty mission, each decision I make, propels us towards the climactic struggle. The fate of my Normandy crew isn’t just about numbers; it’s about leadership, compassion, and perseverance.

The game’s atmosphere seamlessly blends deep emotion with intense action, and no other RPG has quite managed to evoke the “putting together a team and praying that it all works out” feeling as effectively as Mass Effect 2 does. It offers science fiction at its most intimate level, and even after all these years, the consequences of those final choices continue to pack a powerful punch, similar to a bolt of plasma right to the heart.

2025-05-07 06:54