Top 3 action RPGs you can't get enough of

Elden Ring was a crucial turning point for action RPGs. It combined FromSoftware’s signature combat style with an endless
open world. It challenged the idea that
Dark Souls’s difficulty could not mix with

the freedom of open-world games. Oh boy, were we wrong. This game trusts the player to explore, die, and overcome any obstacle. Which then reshaped the expectations held for modern RPG designers.

The world of Elden Ring reshaped a main aspect of open-world design for targeting curiosity rather than direction. It is a game that rarely tells you what to do or where to go in the story. 

Everything comes so organically because of how the landmarks and enemy placement tie in well with an environment that guides you.

This gives the players freedom on how they want to progress. Making hard encounters, which there are plenty of, either avoidable or approachable creatively, like stun locking
the boss the whole fight. 

This, in turn, creates a world that is reactive to the player’s actions and rewards him for his curiosity.

Combat still remains the main highlight of the game. Where every encounter activates
the neurons in the player’s tiny head that are responsible for pattern & attack recognition,  prompting the player to analyze the enemy’s moves and attacks like they are in an action anime. Not to mention stamina being one of the signature pains that FromSoftware cursed us with.

Monster Hunter World is similar to Elden Ring, where the core pillar of the game is combat. Although the combat in Monster Hunter is much more forgiving than Elden Ring, it still has its own sort of challenges that require mastery and skill. 

And that is exactly where the game shines.
It is an RPG built on repetition & preparation by learning and refining your play style.

Every encounter you face is a testament to your skill. The probability of success in any of the fights in this game is determined by how much you understand the monster’s behavior and its environmental advantages. 

With each weapon having its own distinct playstyle, it encourages the player to stick
to one and master it. Rewarding players who are willing to put in the hours to master it.

The game loop revolves around progression driven by gear, but good gear is not enough to win you fights. Although good gear makes life easier, it will not carry you far. And if your positioning and dodge timings are nothing to be proud of. You will not really progress.

This produces a game loop that both makes improvement feel rewarding and earned. Then you have DLCs that introduce more monsters with more complex mechanics, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the type
of game that is very literal. It rejects the idea that a player can become overpowered just like that. You role-play as an ordinary fellow with nothing to his name in a medieval world where conflict is resolved in a medieval way.

The game empowers you to earn your skill and hone your craft. It ensures that you actually understand that you are not special and that if you want to achieve something,
you will have to work for it.

The combat in this game is one of the most methodical combats there is. It is slow but deliberate, punishing yet rewarding at
the same time. 

It comprises directional attacks similar to those found in games like Chivalry and For Honor, with a mix of stamina management. This type of combat style results in more controlled and cinematic fights where button-mashing just gets you killed.

On the other hand, the game provides
a progression system that is so refined it mirrors real-world learning. Every skill you refine through repetition feels enjoyable.

From potion making to blacksmithing, 
it creates a deeply satisfying journey
in the long run.

Everything in KCD is interconnected. Things, all the way from your choices of dialogue to the way you look at NPCs in the streets, influence how the world reacts to you.

In KCD 2, the systems were refined upon to
the point of extreme immersion and realism without even sacrificing a shred of depth and engagement.

Elden Ring, Monster Hunter, and Kingdom Come all represent a distinct approach to
the genre, whether it be through themes
or playstyles, yet all had a role to play in pushing the genre forward.

Together they continue to innovate on what action RPGs are and how it’s a genre that is ever-evolving, filled with exciting shifts that we just can’t wait to see what is next.