The Best RPGs Based On Novels

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Summary

  • RPGs often draw inspiration from novels for world-building and lore in games like Dante’s Inferno and Parasite Eve.
  • Games like The Witcher 3 create their own stories within novel-inspired worlds, showcasing moral ambiguity.
  • Black Myth: Wukong and Conan Exiles bring classic literature like Journey to the West and Conan lore into interactive gameplay.

When individuals contemplate role-playing games (RPGs), they frequently envision extended, immersive narratives shaped by the player’s decisions. Crafting an RPG world involves intricate elements such as world development, character progression, and interaction among non-player characters (NPCs) and factions. Consequently, it’s not unexpected that novels are commonly employed as a reference to aid in world-building. It’s much simpler to have a well-established world background when that history has previously been penned down.

In many role-playing games (RPGs), it’s essential that players can weave their own tales within these virtual universes. To achieve this, you’ll often find games that draw inspiration from novels or book series as a foundation, and then develop unique, divergent storylines distinct from the original source material. This approach aims to blend the cherished worlds of readers with the interactive freedom offered by RPGs. Here, we present some outstanding RPGs significantly influenced by or based on existing literature – these are top-tier RPGs inspired (or heavily impacted) by novels.

8. Dante’s Inferno

Based On The Divine Comedy Part 1: Inferno By Dante Alighieri

In simpler terms, “Dante’s Inferno” is an action role-playing game, much like “God of War”. This game was launched in 2010 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It draws loose inspiration from the initial section of Dante Alighieri’s famous poem, “The Divine Comedy”. The story revolves around a Templar Knight who embarks on a quest to rescue his wife’s soul, which has been taken to hell. He is guided by the spirit of the poet Virgil along the nine circles of hell.

The game shares a significant resemblance with its original inspiration through its portrayals of Dante’s nine circles of Hell, which are heavily influenced by the illustrations in Alighieri’s poem. When it comes to gameplay, players are equipped with numerous melee combos and a holy cross that serves for both ranged attacks and to ‘forgive’ vanquished foes, granting them experience points (XP) from their souls.

In simpler terms, the “absolve mechanic” serves as the primary method for enhancing the player’s skills, offering unique abilities that can be unlocked either through game progression or by navigating a skill tree. Additionally, players have an opportunity to reduce the misdeeds of different historical figures they encounter within the narrative, in a mini-game format, which rewards them with extra experience points. The gameplay incorporates elements typical of action RPGs such as movement and environmental challenges, creating a robust action game overall.

7. The Godfather

Based On The Godfather By Mario Puzo

Despite being film adaptations of a famous novel by Mario Puzo published in 1969, titled “The Godfather,” the movies serve as the basis for both the original and its sequel in the game. However, this game tells a unique story that intertwines with events from the book/movie, utilizing beloved characters from the Corleone family to enrich the narrative.

Since its inception in 2006, this game aimed to innovate the open-world genre prevalent at the time. One key feature was the ability to shake down businesses for protection money, eventually leading to ownership and control over them. This action influenced a larger system of district control, where various families owned different sections of the city, with the player’s goal being to seize control of it all.

Advancement for the player encompasses two key aspects: ascending within the family by managing businesses, finishing narrative missions, and enhancing personal attributes through the Respect system. Regrettably, a significant weakness of The Godfather game lies in its scant use of the original material, as the majority of the story revolves around the player character, Aldo Trapani, who is relatively unknown from the source.

6. Conan Exiles

Based On The Hyborian Age By Robert E. Howard

The character of Conan the Barbarian has become so intertwined with general literature that many may not recall Robert E. Howard’s original tales about him. However, those who do are aware that the game Conan Exiles takes its entire world from The Hyborian Age, a fictional setting created by Howard in an essay to accompany his Conan stories.

In this game, the environment and fictional universe created by Howard play a significant role, even if it’s not primarily about the title character. Players have the freedom to embody various religious figures within the world, including Conan’s deity, Crom. The antagonists and mythos players confront are generally in line with Howard’s creation as well.

In the realm of survival RPGs, Conan Exiles has maintained enduring appeal among gamers. The allure of its open-world, sandbox MMO design, where players can construct their own bases and enlist thralls as they advance, has proven to be a successful recipe. This formula has sustained the game’s popularity even six years beyond its initial launch.

5. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chornobyl

Based On Roadside Picnic By Arkady And Boris Strugatsky

The original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy draws significant inspiration from the 1970s sci-fi novel, Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Although the games don’t explicitly reference this, they share the same setting and central story elements, suggesting that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 may also be rooted in this literary source.

The classification of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. as a Role-Playing Game (RPG) could be debatable, yet it undeniably offers a substantial scope for player autonomy in managing side quests, influencing faction interactions, and dealing with Non-Player Characters (NPCs). This flexibility enables players to assume roles within the game, despite the absence of traditional skill trees; instead, abilities are derived from the equipment they acquire.

In comparison to its predecessors, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a contemporary update that sets it apart, showcasing an impressive modernization of the franchise’s core elements. While there’s room for some further refinement and polish, given potential future improvements, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 might eventually be considered the pinnacle of the series.

4. BioShock

Based On Atlas Shrugged By Ayn Rand

BioShock draws significant inspiration from Ayn Rand’s philosophical novel Atlas Shrugged, particularly through the ideologies exhibited by the character Andrew Ryan. The game’s setting, Rapture, can be seen as a manifestation of a Randian utopia, although it also reflects influences from other novels like those of Aldus Huxley and George Orwell.

BioShock, even to this day, continues to be a timeless example of a First-Person Shooter Role-Playing Game (FPS RPG), and its gameplay remains just as engaging as it was upon release. Players obtain new abilities through plasmids – essentially superpowers administered via injection – allowing for diverse strategies during combat. Additionally, the narrative offers opportunities for moral choices, albeit with primarily black-and-white options.

Re-visiting Rapture in its initial form often carries a sense of uniqueness. This is due in part to the strong, consistent philosophy that served as the foundation for this fictional underwater metropolis. By skillfully weaving narrative and environment design, players are given insights into Rapture’s evolution and decay.

3. Black Myth: Wukong

Based On Journey To The West By Wu Cheng’en

For those intrigued about the origin of the fantastical Chinese philosophy, enchanting language, and various mythological adversaries in the game Black Myth: Wukong, it draws inspiration from the renowned Chinese epic, “Journey To The West” by Wu Cheng’en. This timeless literary work is recognized as one of the masterpieces from early Chinese literature and recounts the tale of Sun Wukong, the monkey king.

In this game, the action unfolds following Sun Wukong’s defeat and petrification. The objective for the player is to gather the artifacts symbolizing Wukong’s six senses, with the ultimate goal of revitalizing him.

In Black Myth Wukong, many players might recognize the gameplay style and progression reminiscent of soulslike games. What may not immediately be clear, however, is that numerous characters and weapons in the game are directly inspired by Journey To The West. For instance, the moment when the player receives the Plantain Fan from Rakshasi mirrors one of Wukong’s actions in the novel, where he uses the same fan to put out the fires of the flaming mountains.

2. Parasite Eve

Based On Parasite Eve By Hideaki Sena

Parasite Eve may seem like an original tale, but it’s actually a sequel to the 1995 novel of the same name written by Hideaki Sena. This novel was a massive success that revitalized the Japanese horror genre, and the Parasite Eve game came out around the time of both the movie and comic book adaptations based on the same source material.

The game is a groundbreaking Role-Playing Game, pushing boundaries even for Square at that time, with an Action Turn-Based (ATB) third-person shooting system enhanced by abilities resembling magic, powered by Parasite Energy. Players traverse different areas on the map of New York City, pursuing the main villain, Eve.

The game is structured following the novel’s conclusion and incorporates some allusions and narrative elements that are reminiscent of the source material. For instance, Aya’s mother in the game is unveiled as Mariko Anzai, who was Eve’s chosen host in the book. The storyline for the game was crafted by Hironobu Sakaguchi and Takashi Tokita from Square, even though it didn’t involve the original author directly.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Based On The Witcher Novels By Andrey Sapkowski

Initially, many fans discovered Andrey Sapkowski’s novels, which led to the creation of the Witcher games, due to the author’s initial dislike for the franchise and disagreements with publisher CD Projekt Red. Fortunately, their relationship has improved over time. Although the Witcher games deviate from the novels in numerous aspects, they draw heavily on the world and characters developed by Sapkowski.

The Witcher 3 stands out as both the title most acclaimed within the series and the one that strays furthest from its original content. Instead of diminishing its quality, these creative choices enabled CDPR to establish a unique bond between Ciri and Geralt, thereby paving the way for future adaptations of the franchise.

One engaging aspect of this franchise lies in the fact that the games and the novels share a similar progression from one to the next. Just as the first Witcher book comprises a series of almost fable-like stories, the initial game centers around Geralt and his immediate challenges. The subsequent games delve into political intrigue and complex relationships, mirroring the development found in the novels. In both the games and the books, problems that Geralt or the player cannot control but must navigate form the basis of a morally ambiguous universe.

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2025-01-09 09:05