Best Action RPG games: 25 ranked (2026)
39 action rpg games ranked by the GamingPickz Score, a published composite of player sentiment and critic reception. The formula is below in full, and no placement on this page can be bought.
The short version
- Top pick: Elden Ring, GamingPickz Score 9.4/10 from 1,151,628 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 94.
- 13 score 8.5 or above out of 39 ranked action rpg games.
- Price range free to $59.99, median $29.99, with 3 free to play.
- 11 are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing.
- 11 declare six or more accessibility features. Listed per game below.
Why trust this list
Most "best games" lists are either one person's taste presented as fact, or an affiliate feed with the highest commission at the top. This is neither. It is a ranking of 39 action rpg games computed from two third-party signals we did not generate, using a formula printed below.
Our team has played and reviewed games for over twenty years, somewhere around 3,000 titles across every generation since the PS1. A good number of the action rpg games on this page are among them, and that experience is what lets us tell you which of these numbers are worth trusting.
It is not, however, what set the order. The formula did, and we think that is the right way round: a list ordered by one person's memory is a list you have to take on trust, and this one you can check line by line.
The order comes out of the grid. Every game in the catalogue is placed on eighteen measured axes, each one a number read from a named source rather than an opinion: player sentiment and its sample size, the critic aggregate, review volume, Wikipedia language editions, price, install size, Steam Deck rating, accessibility features. A ranked list is that grid collapsed to one dimension. The map further down this page plots these same 25 games on two of those axes, so you can see the position the ranking gave each one and check it against where the game actually sits. If the list and the map ever disagreed, the list would be wrong, and they read the same numbers so they cannot.
2 entries on this page carry a full review of ours, marked as such and linked. For the rest, the score reflects how other people received the game, and we say so rather than implying a verdict we have not written.
Update history 1
- First published with 25 entries ranked.
At a glance
The top 12 side by side. Full entries below.
| # | Game | Best for | Score | Players | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elden Ring | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 9.4 | 93% (1,151,628) | $59.99 |
| 2 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 9.4 | 97% (885,535) | $49.99 |
| 3 | Dark Souls III | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.8 | 94% (439,389) | $59.99 |
| 4 | Fallout: New Vegas | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.8 | 96% (261,194) | $9.99 |
| 5 | Cyberpunk 2077 | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 8.7 | 87% (976,377) | $59.99 |
| 6 | Deus Ex | Playing with other people | 8.7 | 95% (15,619) | $6.99 |
| 7 | Borderlands 2 | The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence | 8.6 | 90% (312,170) | $19.99 |
| 8 | Mount & Blade: Warband | Players who trust other players over critics | 8.6 | 98% (172,005) | $19.99 |
| 9 | Dark Souls | Playing with other people | 8.6 | 92% (154,662) | $39.99 |
| 10 | God of War Ragnarok | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 8.6 | 89% (49,750) | $59.99 |
| 11 | Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | Sinking a long time into one world | 8.5 | 93% (96,948) | $3.99 |
| 12 | The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings | Players who need accessibility options that actually exist | 8.5 | 90% (90,312) | $19.99 |
How we chose these
This ranking is a projection of the same axes the grid plots, not a second scoring system sitting alongside it. The grid answers where a game sits on two chosen measures; a ranked list needs one number, so the axes are collapsed using published weights. A game cannot be high on the grid and low here for a reason nobody can point at, because both read the same values.
Every ranked game gets a GamingPickz Score out of 10. It is a weighted blend of the axes below, and these percentages are read directly from the code that computes the ranking rather than written out separately, so the published formula cannot drift from the applied one.
| Component | Weight | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 55% | The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000. |
| Critics | 25% | Metacritic and OpenCritic aggregate, normalised to 0 to 100. |
| Popularity | 20% | A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it. |
Shrinkage is the part that matters most. Without it a game with nine reviews at 100 percent outranks Half-Life 2 with 278,000 at 98. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 84 using a 400-review prior, in proportion to how thin the evidence is.
Popularity is deliberately a minority weight. At 20 percent it nudges well-known games up without letting fame decide the order. Weight it higher and the list becomes "games you have already heard of", which nobody needs a ranking for. Weight it at zero and a game almost nobody played can top the list on the strength of a few hundred enthusiastic reviews. Neither is useful, so it sits in between. How popularity is measured.
Where a game has no critic aggregate, that 35 percent is redistributed onto player sentiment rather than counted as zero, and the entry says so.
Games with fewer than 50 reviews are excluded outright. Shrinkage is symmetric, so a game sitting at 0 percent on one review would otherwise be pulled up near the average, which flatters something nobody has actually assessed.
What we deliberately do not do. No paid placement, no sponsored slots dressed as editorial, no hidden weighting. If sponsorship is ever introduced it will be labelled and will sit outside the ranking. The formula above is the whole formula.
The action rpg games on a map
Compare the whole catalogueThe same 25 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.
25 games have both
Axes are fitted to these 25 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.
Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.
Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.
- Mobile
- Multi-platform
- PC
- PlayStation
- Xbox
Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.
How positions are decided
No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
- Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
- Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
- No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
- A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
- Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.
How to choose between these
25 entries, six things that separate them
The ranking answers "which is best received". It cannot answer "which is best for you", because that depends on things no formula knows. Here is what actually separates these 25 action rpg games, in the order worth thinking about it.
Check the sample size before the score
A score is only as good as the evidence under it. 16 of these have more than 50,000 player reviews, which makes their number very hard to move.
Look at where critics and players disagree
The widest gap here is Mount & Blade: Warband, where players sit above critics by 20 points. A gap that size usually means the game changed after launch, or that it does something critics undervalue. It is worth reading why before deciding which number you trust. The disagreement map plots this across the catalogue.
Decide what you are actually willing to spend
The median here is $19.99, and the cheapest paid entry is Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor at $3.99. Prices move constantly, so a game a place or two down the list is often the better buy this week. Filter by price below rather than assuming the top pick is the right purchase.
Match it to the hardware you own
8 of these are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing, and install sizes vary by more than an order of magnitude. If you are choosing for a handheld or a drive that is nearly full, that narrows the field faster than any score.
Check it supports how you want to play
Solo, with a friend online, or two people on one sofa are different requirements, and a well-reviewed game that does not support yours is the wrong game. The filters below answer this directly.
Look for the things a score hides
7 declare six or more accessibility features, and 2 carry in-game purchases. Neither shows up in a review score, and both change the experience substantially. Each entry lists its own.
Choose one if…
Tick what matters to you. This filters the ranking above rather than reordering it, so the order you see is still the order the formula produced, minus the games that do not fit. Every filter reads a field from the game's own store listing.
Nothing selected, so all 25 action rpg games are shown below. Pick one or more above to narrow it.
25 best action rpg games, ranked
Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.
- 1
Elden RingWe reviewed this
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
9.4GamingPickz ScoreOur review: 9.5/10high confidenceElden Ring at a glance Released 2022 Studio fromsoftware Player sentiment 93% positive of 1,151,628 Critics 94/100 Price $59.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 60 GB Accessibility 7 declared features Raw 93% shrinks to 93.0 on 1,151,628 reviews, then blends with the 94 critic aggregate, giving 9.4.
What the data supports- 93% positive across 1,151,628 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PlayStation 5PlayStation 4Xbox Series X and Series SXbox OnePC
- 2
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
9.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at a glance Released 2015 Studio CD Projekt RED Player sentiment 97% positive of 885,535 Critics 93/100 Price $49.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 50 GB Accessibility 9 declared features Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 885,535 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 9.4.
What the data supports- 97% positive across 885,535 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PCPlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SNintendo Switch
- 3
Dark Souls III
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceDark Souls III at a glance Released 2016 Studio FromSoftware Player sentiment 94% positive of 439,389 Critics 89/100 Price $59.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 25 GB Accessibility 7 declared features Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 439,389 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 94% positive across 439,389 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 4
Fallout: New Vegas
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceFallout: New Vegas at a glance Released 2010 Studio Obsidian Entertainment Player sentiment 96% positive of 261,194 Critics 84/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 261,194 reviews, then blends with the 84 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.
What the data supports- 96% positive across 261,194 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- 5
Cyberpunk 2077
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceCyberpunk 2077 at a glance Released 2020 Studio CD Projekt RED Player sentiment 87% positive of 976,377 Critics 86/100 Price $59.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 70 GB Accessibility 10 declared features Raw 87% shrinks to 87.0 on 976,377 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 10 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PCPlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SSteam Deck
Deus Ex at a glance Released 2000 Studio Ion Storm Player sentiment 95% positive of 15,619 Critics 90/100 Price $6.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 95% shrinks to 94.7 on 15,619 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 7
Borderlands 2
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceBorderlands 2 at a glance Released 2012 Studio Gearbox Software Player sentiment 90% positive of 312,170 Critics 89/100 Price $19.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 90% shrinks to 90.0 on 312,170 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.
What the data supports- 90% positive across 312,170 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 8
Mount & Blade: Warband
Best for: Players who trust other players over critics
8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceMount & Blade: Warband at a glance Released 2010 Studio TaleWorlds Player sentiment 98% positive of 172,005 Critics 78/100 Price $19.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 0 declared features Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 172,005 reviews, then blends with the 78 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.
What the data supports- 98% positive across 172,005 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
Worth checking first- Players rate it well above critics, 98 against 78. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
Dark Souls at a glance Released 2011 Studio FromSoftware Player sentiment 92% positive of 154,662 Critics 84/100 Price $39.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 8 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 92% shrinks to 92.0 on 154,662 reviews, then blends with the 84 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.
What the data supports- 92% positive across 154,662 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
- Small install at 8 GB.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 10
God of War RagnarokWe reviewed this
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
8.6GamingPickz ScoreOur review: 9.2/10high confidenceGod of War Ragnarok at a glance Released 2022 Studio santa-monica-studio Player sentiment 89% positive of 49,750 Critics 90/100 Price $59.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 190 GB Accessibility 11 declared features Raw 89% shrinks to 89.0 on 49,750 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 11 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 11
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Best for: Sinking a long time into one world
8.5GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor at a glance Released 2014 Studio Feral Interactive Player sentiment 93% positive of 96,948 Critics 84/100 Price $3.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 44 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 93% shrinks to 93.0 on 96,948 reviews, then blends with the 84 critic aggregate, giving 8.5.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- 12
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
8.5GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceThe Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings at a glance Released 2011 Studio CD Projekt RED Player sentiment 90% positive of 90,312 Critics 88/100 Price $19.99 Steam Deck unsupported Install size Not stated Accessibility 9 declared features Raw 90% shrinks to 90.0 on 90,312 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 8.5.
What the data supports- Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.
- 13
The Witcher
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.5GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceThe Witcher at a glance Released 2007 Studio CD Projekt RED Player sentiment 89% positive of 87,344 Critics 86/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 8 declared features Raw 89% shrinks to 89.0 on 87,344 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.5.
What the data supports- Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- 14
Bastion
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceBastion at a glance Released 2011 Studio Supergiant Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 38,181 Critics 86/100 Price $14.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 95% shrinks to 94.9 on 38,181 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.4.
- 15
Dark Souls II
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
8.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceDark Souls II at a glance Released 2014 Studio FromSoftware Player sentiment 88% positive of 46,773 Critics 91/100 Price $39.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 12 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 88% shrinks to 88.0 on 46,773 reviews, then blends with the 91 critic aggregate, giving 8.3.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 12 GB.
NieR: Automata at a glance Released 2017 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 87% positive of 153,070 Critics 84/100 Price $39.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 50 GB Accessibility 5 declared features Raw 87% shrinks to 87.0 on 153,070 reviews, then blends with the 84 critic aggregate, giving 8.2.
- 17
Minecraft Dungeons
Best for: Playing through with a friend online
8.2GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceMinecraft Dungeons at a glance Released 2020 Studio Mojang Studios Player sentiment 90% positive of 19,205 Critics No aggregate Price $9.99 Steam Deck unsupported Install size 6 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 90% shrinks to 89.9 on 19,205 reviews, giving 8.2. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Small install at 6 GB.
Worth checking first- Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.
- 18
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence
8.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceMount & Blade II: Bannerlord at a glance Released 2020 Studio TaleWorlds Player sentiment 88% positive of 296,754 Critics 77/100 Price $49.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 60 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 88% shrinks to 88.0 on 296,754 reviews, then blends with the 77 critic aggregate, giving 8.1.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
Titan Quest at a glance Released 2006 Studio Iron Lore Entertainment Player sentiment 90% positive of 37,891 Critics No aggregate Price $19.99 Steam Deck unsupported Install size 5 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 90% shrinks to 89.9 on 37,891 reviews, giving 8.1. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Small install at 5 GB.
Worth checking first- Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.
- 20
Mount & Blade
Best for: Players who trust other players over critics
8.0GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceMount & Blade at a glance Released 2008 Studio TaleWorlds Player sentiment 92% positive of 6,718 Critics 72/100 Price $9.99 Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 0 declared features Raw 92% shrinks to 91.5 on 6,718 reviews, then blends with the 72 critic aggregate, giving 8.0.
Worth checking first- Players rate it well above critics, 92 against 72. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.
- 21
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Best for: Sinking a long time into one world
7.9GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceKingdom Come: Deliverance at a glance Released 2018 Studio Warhorse Studios Player sentiment 84% positive of 185,163 Critics 76/100 Price $29.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 70 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 84% shrinks to 84.0 on 185,163 reviews, then blends with the 76 critic aggregate, giving 7.9.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
PCPlayStation 4PlayStation 5Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SNintendo Switch
- 22
Fable
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
7.9GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFable at a glance Released 2007 Studio Lionhead Studios Player sentiment 86% positive of 16,533 Critics No aggregate Price $10.49 Steam Deck verified Install size 10 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 86% shrinks to 85.9 on 16,533 reviews, giving 7.9. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 10 GB.
Destiny 2 at a glance Released 2017 Studio Bungie Player sentiment 79% positive of 661,549 Critics 83/100 Price Free Steam Deck unsupported Install size 105 GB Accessibility 4 declared features Raw 79% shrinks to 79.0 on 661,549 reviews, then blends with the 83 critic aggregate, giving 7.8.
What the data supports- Free to download, so trying it costs only time.
Worth checking first- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
- Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.
- 24
Zenless Zone Zero
Best for: Trying the genre without spending anything
7.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceZenless Zone Zero at a glance Released 2024 Studio miHoYo Player sentiment 88% positive of 15,034 Critics No aggregate Price Free Steam Deck playable Install size 75 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 88% shrinks to 87.9 on 15,034 reviews, giving 7.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Free to download, so trying it costs only time.
Worth checking first- Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
Borderlands 3 at a glance Released 2019 Studio Gearbox Software Player sentiment 81% positive of 163,776 Critics 81/100 Price $59.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 75 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 81% shrinks to 81.0 on 163,776 reviews, then blends with the 81 critic aggregate, giving 7.7.
What the data supports- Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
Action RPG games by the numbers
The figures below describe all 39 entries on this page together, not the top pick. They are recomputed on every build, most recently on 2 September 2026, from 6,888,699 player reviews.
What the pricing looks like
36 of the 39 carry a listed US price, with a median of $34.99 and a mean of $33.59. The mean sitting at or below the median tells you the field is evenly priced. The cheapest is Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor at $3.99, the most expensive Elden Ring at $59.99. 3 are free to download. 6 carry in-game purchases on top of whatever they cost. Prices are read hourly from the US Steam storefront and move constantly.
How much this field agrees with itself
Player sentiment spans 35 points across these 39 entries. That is a wide band, which means the position of an entry here genuinely matters rather than splitting hairs. 24 carry a critic aggregate, averaging 83 out of 100. Players rate this field 5 points higher than critics on average, which is worth knowing before you weigh either number. See where the two diverge.
Who makes them, and what they overlap with
The studios appearing most often here are CD Projekt RED (4), FromSoftware (3), Square Enix (3), TaleWorlds (3) and Bethesda Game Studios (2). The genres these entries also sit in are action-rpg (39), rpg (7), fps (5), action-adventure (3), gacha (1) and horror (1), which is a fair map of what you are actually choosing between.
Which way attention is moving
We track Wikipedia pageviews over 28 days for 37 of these. 17 are gaining attention and 13 are losing it, with the rest flat. Attention is not quality, and we do not feed it into the ranking. The full monitor shows the movements across the catalogue.
Common questions
What is the best action rpg game?
Elden Ring ranks first, with a GamingPickz Score of 9.4 out of 10 drawn from 1,151,628 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 94. That is a statement about how it was received, not a claim that it is the one you personally will enjoy most.
How is this ranking calculated?
The GamingPickz Score is 55% player sentiment adjusted for sample size, 25% the critic aggregate published on the game store page, 20% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 83.8% using a 400-review prior, so a game with a handful of reviews cannot outrank one with hundreds of thousands. Nothing on this page is paid for and no placement can be bought.
How many action rpg games are ranked here?
39 of them qualify. A game needs at least 50 player reviews to be scored, which excludes titles with too little evidence to place fairly.
Why is a game I love missing?
Three likely reasons. It has fewer than 50 player reviews, so it is excluded rather than ranked on noise. It has no Steam listing at all, which is normal for console and Nintendo exclusives. Or it is not in the catalogue yet.
Do you get paid for these placements?
No. Positions are computed from the formula above and nothing else. The site carries advertising, and advertisers can neither see nor influence this page. A position is not an endorsement, it is a measurement of reception.
How current is this?
Recomputed on every build from source data read on a stated date. This page was last rebuilt on 2 September 2026. Player review counts move daily, so positions in the middle of the list shift more than those at the top or bottom.
Reader comments
Comments are not switched on yet. When they are, they will be moderated before they appear: an unmoderated thread on a page carrying advertising is a policy problem as well as a reading problem.