Summary
One of the biggest selling points ofthe RPG genreis the high level of control it gives players over their characters. The best RPGs let players not only design their own playstyles and weapon loadouts, they also let players influence how their characters behave. As the name suggests,roleplay is a big partof the history of RPGs, and a lot of fans enjoy having the chance to get in their characters' heads and make their own decisions.
Of course, many fans will see a good RPG dialogue system and decide to push it to its limits. Taking inspiration fromDungeons & Dragons' alignment system, some players enjoy buildingchaotic neutral characters. These characters tend to act largely in their own self-interest, eschewing laws and moral codes in favor of their personal whims. Such an unpredictable character can be a lot of fun to control, and here are ten RPGs that give fans a chance to let the chaos loose.
The infamousSkyrimis a game that needs no introduction. This open-world fantasy quest redefined the genre when it was released in 2011, and became a running gag in the community by continuing to release several times after that. In spite of the jokes,Skyrimremains a solid open-world adventure, and itsextremely permissive approach to playeragency makes it a particularly chaotic game.
Players are free to attack almost any NPC inSkyrim. The game has numerous crimes for fans to commit, from pickpocketing to murder to horse theft, and fans can choose to violently resist arrest if caught, or even leverage their political position to get the local guards to turn away. Players can truly forge their own path in the unforgiving Northern realm of Skyrim.
TheMass Effecttrilogy is famousfor its emphasis on player choice and for its morality dynamic. In their increasingly desperate quest to save the galaxy, Commander Shepard must decide how far they’re willing to go and how many rules they’re willing to bend, embracing the path of either a Paragon or a Renegade.
Mass Effect 2is a particularly strong pick for chaotic neutral players. In this game, Shepard is violently torn away from their ship and crew, and must accept the help of the sinister paramilitary group known as Cerberus. Their work with this dubious organization brings them into some of the seediest corners of the known galaxy, netting fans plenty of chances to indulge their wild side on their quest to save the galaxy.
The Outer Worldstakes place in a solar system colonized by rampant capitalism, where every single aspect of life is governed by profit margins and shareholder incentives. The excessive horrors of such a system become more and more apparent the more one plays, and during the player’s quest to rescue the cryogenically-frozen settlers of the lost colony ship theHope, they’ll have to decide how much they want to work within this capitalist system, and how much they want to tear it down.
In a solar system rife with inequality, exploitation, and resource shortage, there is ample opportunity for deception and treachery. Chaotic neutral players have plenty of chances to act in their own self-interest, often at the expense of their fellow colonists.The Outer Worlds' satirical campaign takes some very dark turns, and it’s up to the player how dark they want to play in response.
Tyrannypresentsa remarkable twist on the classic RPG formula. It takes place in a world that has already been almost completely conquered by a vast and evil empire, ruled by the godlike Kyros. Players control an enforcer tasked with maintaining order in this defeated realm and resolving a potential rebellion. As with many other RPGs made by developer Obsidian, however, things are rarely so simple.
Players can choose how much they want to play into the evil regime they serve. Their choices will let them angle for greater power, tighten Kyros' grasp on the region, or increase the chaos and unrest spreading across the land, and possibly even weaken Kyros' unassailable empire.
The Witcher 3is a major landmark in the open-world genre and a major reason why the franchise is so prominent today. This extensive RPG puts fans in the shoes of the iconic Geralt of Rivia, guiding him through monster hunts, political conflicts, and mystical conundrums alike.
Like any good RPG, players can influence the choices Geralt makes throughout the story. Fans can determine what matters most to him during his journey and how he completes his tense and often brutal work. If fans want to play as a violent Geralt who lets nothing stand in the way of finishing the hunt, they absolutely have that option.
Undertaleis arguably theking of the indie RPG space. Solo developer Toby Fox’sEarthbound-inspired adventure took the world by storm when it launched in 2015, and it’s still frequently discussed and admired to this day.
The main premise ofUndertaleis that every fight can be resolved nonlethally; there isn’t a single character that the player is forced to kill. Deciding who to spare and who to slay can lead to wildly different outcomes from playthrough to playthrough, especially since the characters seem to be aware of whenever the player starts over. Fans are absolutely free to play a chaotic neutral killer in this game, but doing so comes with some very severe consequences.
Divinity: Original Sin 2is often regarded as one of the best modern isometric RPGs on the market, and with good reason. This game puts a huge emphasis on player choice and creativity, giving fans countless methods with which to approach any and all encounters. With the right approach, fans can talk their way out of a lot of fights, but if they crave violence, they can also talk their way into many more.
The potential for chaos inDivinity: Original Sin 2is heightened byits robust co-op support. Fans can journey together through the world of Rivellon, making important choices together and spreading as much chaos as they see fit in their quest to defeat the mysterious Voidwoken by any means necessary.
Obsidian designedPillars of Eternityas a spiritual successor to classic CRPGs likeIcewind Daleandthe originalBaldur’s Gategames, and that influence shines through in every part of the game. The campaign takes place in a realm afflicted by a sinister magical curse that causes infants to be born without souls. When the player awakens to a mysterious power, they set out to discover the source of this curse and put a stop to it.
The game features immersive storytelling and dynamic conversations. As players journey through the cursed realm of Dyrwood, they can build connections with various factions and shape the development of the world around them. As in many other RPGs, this development can be for better or for worse, and players have plenty of opportunities to cause chaos and anarchy.
Few games are as good at giving players roleplay options asFallout: New Vegas.As fans guide the Courier on a quest for revenge through the Mojave Wasteland, they’ll encounter numerous opportunities to demonstrate what sort of person they want to be. Chaotic neutral players can make all sorts of dubious choices, from siding with criminals, to extorting extra money from starving wastelanders, to selling dangerous experimental data to the government.
When it comes to the game’s major factions, players can side with the sinister Caesar’s Legion, a band of slavers, or take an even more chaotic route by co-opting a secret robot army and endeavoring to take over the region themselves. This breadth of storyline choice, coupled with the freedom to murder any NPC in the game, means chaotic neutral players can really run wild.
The idea of a chaotic neutral character has its origins inDungeons & Dragons' alignment system, so it’s only fair that the legendaryBaldur’s Gate 3, an adaptation of 5th EditionD&D, hasits fair share of chaotic options. Players have extensive choices in how they approach creatures and characters, and they are absolutely not bound by propriety or legality in making their decisions.
Players can heighten the chaos by choosing the Dark Urge origin, making their character beholden to a mysterious and sinister supernatural force that influences their actions throughout the game. With or without this dark passenger, though, players have ample opportunity to mess around with characters, lie, cheat, steal, and generally carve their own path through this illustrious RPG.
