Plenty of RPGs allow you to travel around with a party. Yet, most of them are classic RPGs - typically turn-based ones. In contrast, action RPGs typically have you fighting alone. For example, the likes of The Witcher, Skyrim, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are allhighly-regarded action RPGs that lack a party system.
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However, there is no rule that states ARPGs aren’t allowed to include party members. After all, why would a stronger focus on combat mean you can’t have NPC friends along for the ride? In fact, the following games prove that not only do party-based ARPGs exist, but they can also be brilliant.
7The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is set in a completely new star system called Halcyon. Humanity colonized the place by sending two large ships filled with people. The ship the protagonist was on didn’t quite make it, though. But a mad scientist manages to wake them up from cryo sleep anyway and tasks them with retrieving the items required to wake up the rest.
As them, you go all around Halycon, making decisions and meeting people. Some of the folk you encounter can even join your crew, allowing you to take them on missions where you can use their abilities and perks.
6Scarlet Nexus
Scarlet Nexus takes place in a unique universe where a psionic hormone is found in the human brain that can grant people special powers. That is a pretty cool thing to happen, but what’s not cool are the wild creatures that drop from the sky to invade.
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Naturally, the two protagonists are among the few capable of holding them back. Yet, neither character has to stop them alone. There are several companions in the game that you can get to join you on your escapade. Each of them varies in usefulness and likability, but they can all add something to your team.
5Final Fantasy 7 Remake
The originalFinal Fantasy 7was more of a classic RPG than an action one. The same can’t be said about the 2020 remake, which puts a heavier emphasis on combat.
Yet, it’s still a tale about anincredibly talented soldierknown as Cloud Strife joining forces with an eco-terrorist organization to take on the evil corporation known as Shinra. A couple of members of that eco group, along with a few more allies, serve as your party members. You get to customize and organize their gear as well as completely control them at times.
4Dragon Age: Inquisition
The world is in trouble right from the start ofDragon Age Inquisitionas a breach in the sky is allowing demons to come through and cause chaos. Because of a special mark, the protagonist is the world’s only hope of fixing the situation.
You don’t do it alone, though. Not only do you re-construct the Inquisition and make allies all around the lands, but you also recruit various talented friends to join you on missions. They each have different classes, powers, and attributes. You can level them up how you see fit and even order them around in battle.
3Fallout: New Vegas
Your journey in Fallout: New Vegas begins with you being shot and left for dead. You somehow survive, get patched up, and then embark on a revenge mission. However, things quickly get more complicated than that as you gain a significant influence over what happens to the entire post-apocalyptic wasteland where the game is set.
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Along the way, you meet and work with different factions. Their appreciation of you is mostly conditional, as they tend to require your help. You can also find more loyal allies who serve as companions and will join you on your travels. You don’t get significant control over them, but they’re handy to have around.
2Kingdom Hearts 2
The third entry - albeit the second to be numbered - in the Kingdom Hearts series sees the iconic Sora go on a dangerous journey to save his friends. Along the way, he goes to all sorts of wonderful worlds and interacts with many classic Disney characters.
Some of them serve as his party members. The main two are Goofy and Donald, but others join his crew at times, too. They all have their own weapons and abilities to differentiate them. And you get to dictate how they behave in combat. This is essential, as Sora can’t just rely on the Keyblade to get him out of all situations, even though it’s amongthe best swords in gaming history.
1Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2revolves around your customizable Commander Shepard building a team to stop a mysterious force that’s threatening human colonies. While humans are the primary victims, Shepard doesn’t just recruit them to the team. They go after specialists from all races with varying beliefs and personalities to make a sort-of supergroup.
During missions, they serve as your party members. You get to dictate their positioning on the battlefield and what powers they use. The better strategist you are, the more likely you are to survive every combat scenario. Outside of missions, they are simply friends you can talk to and get to know better.
