New MMORPGs 2023-2024: a review of the brightest novelties in the world of online games

Every new action RPG in 2024 brings something of its own: stunning graphics, exciting gameplay or incredible stories that touch the soul. Our review contains the most interesting projects that deserve the attention of every fan of the genre.

Elden Ring – an open world with mysticism and exciting battles

The world of Elden Ring is an incredible combination of large open spaces, secluded corners, gloomy castles and mysterious ruins. Participants can explore five main regions, each of which has a unique atmosphere: from the dense forests of Liurnia to the abandoned wastelands of Kalid. Locations are filled with enemies, quests and secrets that require attention and various skills. For example, each ruin in Liurnia contains riddles and puzzles, for solving which the user receives powerful artifacts and special spells.

Action RPG Combat and Co-op

Each enemy has its own weakness, and players must choose the right weapons and tactics. In co-op mode, up to three players can connect at the same time to fight together against the strongest bosses, such as Godric the Damned or Malenia, the Sword of Miekella.

Cyberpunk 2077 — a city of night and the future

Night City is a metropolis divided into six large districts: Watson, Westbrook, Pacifica and others. Each area is special. For example, Watson is an industrial zone with dark alleys and underground markets. And Pacifica is an empty area controlled by gangs.

The time of day system and dynamic weather create a unique atmosphere, where day and night affect the gameplay differently. Nightclubs, restaurants and illegal arenas enliven the city, providing an opportunity to interact with Night City, full of corruption and ambition. Action RPG reveals a future world where new opportunities and dangers lurk around every corner.

Character customization and combat skills

In combat, you can combine the use of firearms such as the Executioner revolver and special abilities, such as slowing down time with the cyberdeck. Action RPG allows you to adapt your playstyle, adjust to your individual preferences, be it an aggressive attack or a stealthy elimination of targets.

The Witcher 3 – magic and choice in a dynamic RPG

The Witcher 3 is a huge world consisting of several regions:

1. Novigrad is the largest city, full of intrigue and secret organizations.
2. Velen – endless plains captured by war.
3. Skellige Islands – a harsh and cold land inhabited by Viking-like clans.

Non-linear quests, such as the story of the Bloody Baron, where the participant decides the fate of an entire family, affect the development of the entire plot. This action RPG offers dozens of different endings depending on the user’s actions and the path chosen.

Dark Souls 3 — harsh atmosphere and brutal battles

Dark Souls 3 immerses you in an environment full of dark secrets and epic events. Locations like Lothric Castle or the Ash Cemetery are filled with details that reveal the story through the environment. For example, ruined altars and half-burnt temples speak of former sacred rituals and the fall of civilizations. Every element has a meaning, and only an attentive participant will be able to understand all the intricacies of the plot.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen — freedom and creative solutions

In Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, users can explore an open world consisting of forests, mountains and dungeons, as well as use a unique “pawn” system. These are controllable NPCs that can be hired to create a team of up to four characters. Each hero has their own specialization: a mage, an archer or a warrior. Pawns can learn from the player by copying their combat style and tactics, making the action RPG rewarding with creativity and strategy.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition — space adventures and decisions

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition includes all three parts of the cult series, where the participant’s decisions affect the development of the plot and the fate of the galaxy. Relationships with characters like Liara or Garrus can change the ending of the entire story. There are 20 different endings, each of which depends on the user’s actions throughout the three games.

Teamwork and tactical elements

Players can choose up to two partners from a variety of available figures, such as biotic Jack or engineer Tali. Each mission requires a smart choice of composition, because the abilities of each member can change the outcome of the mission.

Fallout: New Vegas — post-apocalyptic survival and moral dilemmas

Fallout: New Vegas gives the opportunity to influence the fate of the wasteland through choices that concern the fate of the factions of the New California Republic or Caesar’s Legion. Every decision changes the balance of power and determines who will rule the wasteland. The quest “Deadman’s Lair”, for example, allows you to decide the fate of one of the strongest factions. The action RPG is full of moral dilemmas, where every detail matters.

Horizon Zero Dawn – nature and technology in the fight for survival

Horizon Zero Dawn invites you to explore a world where nature and technology coexist. Players can explore the Great Eastern Forest, the Lifeless Wastes and the Forgotten Ruins, where machines that imitate animal behavior live. For example, “Shepherds” herd “Leapers”, and “Toothtooths” patrol the territory. The open-world action RPG allows you to hunt machines using different approaches.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Vikings and conquests

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes participants to the Viking Age to explore 9th century England and Scandinavia. Users can visit famous historical locations such as Jorvik (modern York) and London, which was the center of trade and the fight against invaders. The open world is full of activities: fishing, hunting, participation in festivals, which makes this action RPG interesting and varied.

Battles and sieges of fortresses

The main mechanics of Valhalla are sieges of fortresses and combat battles. Players can participate in large-scale attacks on fortresses, where they need to operate battering rams, climb walls and break through enemy lines. Here you can use Viking weapons: axes and shields, and also use the help of allies to win.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 – tactical magic and team decisions

Divinity: Original Sin 2 offers a unique cooperative experience, where the interaction between users determines the success of the entire campaign. Each hero in the team has his own abilities: magic, stealth or combat skills. Participants can discuss tactics before each battle and combine abilities to create powerful effects, such as setting a poison field on fire, damaging enemies.

Conclusion

Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3, Dark Souls 3, Dragon’s Dogma, Mass Effect, Fallout: New Vegas, Horizon Zero Dawn, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Divinity: Original Sin 2 – each of these games is unique and offers an unforgettable experience. In 2024, action RPGs confirmed their status as the best, reminding everyone that the genre never stands still and is always ready to offer something new.

The Action-RPG genre consistently holds a position in the list of the most sought-after formats in the industry. It combines rich combat mechanics with a deep role-playing component, allowing players not only to engage in combat but also to experience the story, make decisions, and explore the world. Every year, the top Action-RPG titles are enriched with more ambitious projects. Some focus on visual grandeur, while others emphasize philosophical undertones or the scale of role-playing mechanics. This compilation systematically covers the best examples, encompassing both dark post-apocalyptic worlds and fantasy settings, as well as technocratic cyberpunk cities.

Elden Ring: Open World and Mythology in Action

The Souls-like format has reached a new peak. Elden Ring has taken the genre to a whole new level, while maintaining its hardcore combat system and emphasizing exploration. The game offers freedom not only in movement but also in the choice of progression paths. The expansive world, created under the guidance of Hidetaka Miyazaki, combines elements of classic fantasy with an authorial dark aesthetic. The difficulty level encourages players to strive for self-improvement. The world’s design, hidden locations, unexpected bosses, and lack of a clear route make this project the foundation of any top-rated Action-RPG.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (series): Zone atmosphere and free survival

Post-Soviet mysticism, dark philosophy, and an open gameplay structure have made S.T.A.L.K.E.R. a cult series. The developers have incorporated survival, trade, non-linear progression, and the freedom to choose allies into the shooter. The player faces not just enemies, but a world that feels alive. Anomalies, factions, radiation, and moral dilemmas create an experience that cannot be replicated. In terms of gameplay and atmosphere, the series consistently remains on the top lists of Action-RPGs on PC.

Gothic (series): a classic of the German RPG school

Severity, conciseness, and maximum internal logic are the main differences between Gothic and most Western RPGs. The series has gained cult status due to its respect for the player’s choices: the world reacts to actions, NPCs remember actions, and quests influence factions. The limited but lively world makes every walk meaningful.

Dark Souls III: Combat Mastery and Destruction Aesthetics

If the task is to choose a reference for the combat system in the Action-RPG genre, Dark Souls III will remain one of the main candidates. The combination of animations, weapon weight, dodge mechanics, and timing studies has formed a game core that requires not only reaction, but also analysis from the player. Each battle becomes a micro-scenario. The minimal interface, lack of pausing, and rare hints all contribute to the tension. The well-designed level design, dark visuals, and non-linear level structure support Dark Souls III’s reputation as one of the most fundamental games in the genre.

Bloodborne: A Worthy Representative of the Top Action-RPGs

If Dark Souls appeals to medieval horror, Bloodborne turns its gaze towards Lovecraftian madness. By replacing shields with speed, the developers have made combat aggressive, encouraging attack rather than defense. The atmosphere of Victorian Gothic with a touch of cosmic horror creates a unique visual style. Each location tells a story through its architecture and enemies. The absence of traditional difficulty levels is replaced by a constant increase in pressure and unexpected twists.

Cyberpunk 2077: The Cyberpunk That Spoke

The cyberpunk genre has long been in need of a full-scale Action-RPG, and Cyberpunk 2077 has filled this gap. The city of Night City lives by its own laws, with its towering skyscrapers, slums, neon signs, and moral degradation. The game is based on variability, with branching storylines, decisions that affect the characters’ fates, and customization options that allow players to adapt the gameplay to their playstyle.

The world encompasses everything from high-tech neighborhoods to psychedelic quests. It combines the philosophy of a post-human future, dynamic shooter combat, and deep role-playing. Cyberpunk 2077 has earned a well-deserved place in any Action-RPG top, confirming its status as a competitive AAA project.

Fallout (series): A post-apocalyptic story that became a legend

The Fallout series began as an isometric RPG, but with the release of the third installment, it evolved into a full-fledged Action-RPG. The unique combination of shooting, the V.A.T.S. system, a vast world, and dark humor created a distinctive gameplay experience. Fallout not only focuses on survival after a nuclear war, but also presents players with ethical dilemmas, often without clear-cut solutions. Each installment offers a unique story set in different parts of the devastated world, from Washington to the wastelands of Nevada.

The Elder Scrolls (series): Time-tested freedom

Open worlds and non-linearity have always been at the heart of The Elder Scrolls. The series allows you to forget about the main quest and delve into the world, engaging in crafting, becoming a guild master, or exploring. Skill progression is based on actions rather than levels, allowing for organic development of archery, alchemy, and sorcery. TES does not require you to follow a script, but rather allows you to shape your own journey. The world reacts to your actions, and your actions in one city can influence the attitudes of others.

Path of Exile: Dark Hardcore and Depth of Builds

One of the top Action-RPGs is based on isometric presentation, but it surpasses many competitors in terms of the richness and customization of builds. Path of Exile features a grandiose skill tree, combined with a system of gems and an unconventional approach to loot. The mechanics are deep, reaching the level of mathematical formulas, while the atmosphere is at the dark fantasy stage, immersing players in a world of darkness. Path of Exile is not a game for quick decisions. It is a long journey of fine-tuning your character, constantly experimenting, and engaging in competitive economics. It maintains a loyal audience through its fair model, lack of Pay-to-Win, and timely updates.

Diablo (series): a prominent representative of the top ranking and the founder of the Action-RPG genre

Every generation of players has played at least one part of Diablo. The game sets the rhythm: battles are fast, loot drops in the right dosage, bosses create pressure. Combat mechanics work like a clock: muscle memory remembers attack rotations, the sounds of picking up items trigger a dopamine response. Diablo remains the standard for hack’n’slash mechanics in Action-RPGs. The setting, a dark fantasy with angelology, demons, and doom, completes the gameplay with a finished aesthetic frame. Each new release in the series doesn’t just repeat the formula; it improves it.

Conclusion

The top Action-RPG list is not a static list. It reflects the development of the genre, its adaptation to new generations of players, technological advancements, and changes in audience expectations. All the projects included in this list not only meet the genre’s criteria but also challenge them, setting new standards and inspiring followers. The common thread among these games is their focus on the player, their decisions, their style, their emotions, and their journey. This is the power of the genre, which continues to shape the face of the gaming industry.