
2004’s The Bard’s Tale is a product of inXile Entertainment, who would later go on to create ambitious and beloved RPGs like Wasteland 2 and the soon-to-be-released Torment: Tides of Numenera. And this reboot didn’t come from just any old developer.
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The series received a proper reboot in 2004, and updated its mechanics for the modern age while still keeping its unique identity and sense of humor. RPG veterans may remember The Bard’s Tale for being incredibly complex and entertaining RPGs in an era with few others to speak of. (Especially since part one exists only on the PC.) Granted, The Witcher’s debut isn’t as elegant as 3’s masterful open world, but if you dig the vibe and the characters of the series, going back to its roots could make for a worthwhile experience. The Witcher 3 might have set the world on fire and won just about every award, but I’m willing to bet most of its audience didn’t have a chance to play the first two games. Also, Star Wars! The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director’s Cut

Plus, BioWare didn’t lean into making Knights of the Old Republic a sorta-shooter as they did with Mass Effect, so if you prefer your RPGs to be more… RPG-y, you’re in for a good time. Think of these Star Wars RPGs as the prototype for what Mass Effect would eventually become: a grand adventure in a sci-fi setting with tons of moral decisions that affect your character and the world around him. In an era when the prequels were assaulting the senses of Star Wars fans, Knights of the Old Republic existed as our savior. Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic I and II And if you’ve never dipped a toe into this post-apocalyptic RPG series, these massive, deep, and incredibly fun games make for an absolute steal at their current, cheap price. Whether you’re a veteran of old-school computer RPGs, or a recent fan of the genre, Steam has a Fallout game to match your preferences. Currently, you can grab every Fallout game to date-outside of 2015’s Fallout 4-for 10 dollars or less. If you’re in the mood for Fallout on the cheap, Steam’s got you covered.

With an action-based battle system that never gets stale, Undertale stands as a must-play RPG for anyone looking for something slightly different. And playing through a second time almost feels mandatory, since Undertale plays with past choices and your mind in endlessly inventive ways. This quirky take-off on Nintendo’s cult RPG provides a refreshingly short experience with a new, unexpected idea around every corner. Inspired by the RPG classic EarthBound, Undertale essentially emerged from nowhere in late 2015 and immediately found an audience. While it’s a bit rougher than BioWare’s sci-fi RPG series, Alpha Protocol still provides a deep RPG experience and plenty of reasons to give it a replay. So, if you want to go around being the biggest jerk the future has ever seen, no one’s really going to put up with you. And with good reason: This sci-fi RPG takes the same decision-making hooks from Mass Effect, but makes them much more important. While reviews around the game’s release weren’t all that positive, Alpha Protocol has gone on to become a real cult hit with the RPG crowd. Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with a game that bowled over PC gamers at the dawn of Y2K.

And if you’ve enjoyed the two most recent, modernized sequels, why not consider giving the original a shot? While its 2000-era graphics might take some getting used to, it still carries the same level of depth that continues to impress us with its recent installments. This past year saw Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, but this FPS/RPG hybrid series has actually been kicking around for more than 15 years. (Which we’ll get around to playing one day, we swear.) But if Steam isn’t offering any specials, and you’ve got 10 dollars burning a hole in your bank account, what to do? Check out our list of 10 great RPGs on Steam for under 10 dollars, and you’ll soon find yourself with a whole lot of game on your hands for the price of your average value meal. Their legendary sales may empty our wallets, but, at the same time, Steam also allows us to collect a boatload of games on the cheap. If you own a gaming PC, Steam comes as both a blessing and curse.
