There’s nothing quite like experiencing a good RPG for the very first time, and there are some games that leave such a lasting impression you wish you could capture the feeling of new discovery over and over again.
Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Elden Ring, or classics like Fable were so breathtaking when you first ventured into their worlds that you’ll likely never forget that feeling. The following games were so profound and impactful when I first experienced them that I almost wish I could erase my memory and play them again for the first time.
Chrono Trigger
The RPG That Defined a Generation
Few RPGs capture the magic of a first playthrough quite like Chrono Trigger. From its time-traveling storyline to its unforgettable cast of characters, the game constantly surprises players with twists, meaningful choices, and multiple endings that feel truly ahead of its time.
Experiencing the world for the first time, meeting Frog, uncovering Magus’ secrets, or realizing the scope of Lavos’s threat, is a journey that can’t be replicated once you know what’s coming.
The vibrant art, unmatched storytelling, and groundbreaking combat system all combine to make Chrono Trigger a classic, timeless experience. It’s the kind of RPG that leaves you nostalgic for that first playthrough.
Fallout 3
A Wasteland That Set A New Bar For Open-World RPGs
The first steps out of Vault 101 into the Capital Wasteland remain one of gaming’s most unforgettable moments. Fallout 3 redefined what an open-world RPG could feel like, combining player freedom with a haunting post-apocalyptic setting.
Every decision felt meaningful, whether it was joining factions, saving settlements, or wandering into unexpected danger, the consequences of your actions really felt like they were shaping the world around you.
The game created an unparalleled atmosphere with eerie vibes, the crackle of old-time radio, the distant sounds of a firefight, and immersion unlike anything you’d experienced before. That first playthrough was a mix of awe, fear, and delightful discovery that no amount of replays can truly recapture (believe me, I’ve tried). Fallout 3 is unquestionably an RPG every player wishes they could experience blind again.
Fable
For Every Choice, A Consequence
When Fable first released, I was skeptical about the “for every choice, a consequence” mantra that seemed like a massive over-promise. To my surprise, Fable managed to deliver on that promise, and it’s one of the first games that opened my eyes to how an RPG could make your decisions feel truly meaningful.
From small moral choices to grand acts of heroism or villainy, Albion felt like a place where your actions really mattered. Its whimsical charm, humor, and sense of wonder made that first journey unforgettable.
While later sequels never quite captured the same magic, the upcoming Fable project currently in development gives me hope that we might once again feel the same awe of stepping into Albion for the very first time. For me, Fable remains the quintessential RPG I’d give anything to re-experience again for the first time.
Undertale
An Indie RPG Unlike Any Other
When I first played Undertale, I didn’t expect it to challenge how I thought about RPGs. Its simple, retro-inspired vibes made me think I knew exactly what kind of experience I was in for, but I was pleasantly proven wrong every step of the way. Almost immediately, Undertale shows you that every choice matters, not just in the moment, but in ways that come back to haunt or reward you later.
From sparing monsters to facing the consequences of cruelty, the game constantly surprises, blending humor and heart in a way no RPG had before. That first run was unforgettable, and the game has enormous replay value, but nothing can truly match the sense of wonder in experiencing Undertale for the very first time.
Xenogears
A Cult Classic With Unforgettable Storytelling
When I first played Xenogears, I was incredibly young and had never played a JRPG in my life yet. I didn’t know what to expect or what I was getting into, but within minutes I was absolutely hooked. Its mix of mech battles, addictive gameplay, and incredible storytelling set the bar for me going forward. The characters and themes felt complex, and I remember the twists in the story blowing my mind as a young teenager.
It wasn’t perfect, but that first journey through Xenogears was an unforgettable part of my gaming life. Experiencing those narrative turns and the massive scope for the first time is something that only happens once, and it’s exactly the kind of RPG I wish I could wipe from memory and experience again for the first time as an adult. Unfortunately, a current-gen version still isn’t available on modern consoles, making Xenogears somewhat difficult to replay at all.
NieR: Automata
One Of The Most Original RPG Experiences In Gaming
There’s not much that hasn’t been said already about how great NieR: Automata is or how original its narrative structure and gameplay are. But I distinctly and vividly remember certain moments of this game unlike any other RPG I’ve ever played, largely because of the mix of arcade-style and third-person open-world gameplay.
NieR: Automata’s story was mind-blowing, both in how you experience it as a player and the actual details of each specific plot line and character. You become connected to 3B, 9S, and A2 as if you are right there with them, and the world itself compels you to learn as much as you can about it.
There’s no game that can recreate the same feeling as playing NieR: Automata for the first time, because anything that tries to emulate it feels like a low-grade version of the original. It’s easily one of the best RPGs ever made, and one that most players would happily relive for the first time if they could.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For Those Who Come After
I was fortunate enough to play Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in early access before it became a global phenomenon, and I ended up pouring over 300 hours into the masterpiece after all was said and done. I knew immediately that Clair Obscur was something special and unique, and my first playthrough was somewhat of a reality check.
Clair Obscur is one of the first games in a long time to take me by surprise and show me that there’s still originality in modern gaming. Clair Obscur offers something completely original and moving. It’s rare to experience a sense of such profound loss alongside the characters in an RPG, but that moment with Gustave at the end of Act 1 is one that I’ll never forget.
Playing through Clair Obscur for the first time was a deeply personal experience, as I’m sure it is for everyone that plays. The game connects you with its world and characters in subtle yet extremely effective ways, and even against stiff competition in 2025, it’s likely to be a top contender for GOTY.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt Might Be The Most Iconic RPG Character In Modern Gaming
When you’re first thrown into Geralt’s POV in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it’s like stepping into an exciting new world where you can do just about anything you want. Discovering mysterious beasts and monsters, figuring out how all the various gameplay systems and mechanics work, and interacting with NPCs throughout the Continent were all unforgettable parts of the Witcher experience.
The massive scale of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and how everything feels so intricately connected is part of its novelty, with dozens of side quests and NPCs to interact with in meaningful ways. While it’s an iconic franchise now, experiencing the world of The Witcher 3 for the first time is something every player would do again, and it remains one of the most beloved RPGs of all time.
Elden Ring
The Definitive Open-World Soulsborne RPG
FromSoftware has an iconic lineup of souls RPGs to explore, but Elden Ring is easily the most ambitious and fully realized game from the legendary studio. Whether Elden Ring was your first souls game or you played everything FromSoft put out, playing it for the first time is awe-inspiring.
Exploring the vast reaches of the Lands Between and feeling like you’re about to get attacked around every turn is one of the most exciting and immersive RPG experiences in recent memory. Elden Ring is full of secrets, hidden areas, mysteries, and tells its story through the environment in ways no other game can match.
Humble brag: I’ve played hundreds of hours of Elden Ring, completed every ending and reached NG+7 on multiple save files, collected every weapon and item in the game, etc., but taking down the Elden Lord for the first time was the most accomplished I’ve ever felt from beating a video game.
Baldur’s Gate 3
A World Of Seemingly Endless Possibilities
While Baldur’s Gate 3 offers players endless replay value, I don’t think there’s anything quite like firing the game up, building out your first character, and stepping onto the Nautiloid for the first time.
BG3 will go down in history as one of the greatest RPGs ever made, and after exploring every corner of the game, players become addicted to starting again to experience the sense of a clean slate where anything is possible. But nothing quite compares to your first journey through Baldur’s Gate and seeing the nuances and details of each new area for the first time.