Hey folks, I stopped gaming about 5 years ago but now I’m diving back in with a new Xbox and a Game Pass subscription. I’m a huge fan of RPGs, tactical battles, FPS, and love loot, progression, and deep storylines. Some of my all-time favorites are Fallout series, Pillars of Eternity, Grim Dawn, Borderlands 2, XCOM, Darkest Dungeon, Battle Brothers, and Wasteland 2/3. However, I’m steering clear of primarily online-focused games like Call of Duty. What’s one standout game you’d recommend for someone like me, and that won’t leave me with a huge game pile to annoy the wife?
5 Answers
If you’re looking for something more story-driven with an immersive RPG vibe, definitely check out Avowed. It’s a first-person RPG in the Pillars of Eternity universe and available on Game Pass. It’s a bit shorter but really well done and satisfies that craving for deep lore and exploration.
If you want to try something that matches your tactical and story-driven tastes but with a fresh style, Dungeons of Hinterberg on Game Pass is surprisingly fun and charming. It’s more of a cozy RPG but has great dungeon crawling and a cute art style that might make it easier for the wife to not roll her eyes at your new hobby. Otherwise, The Division 2 is a cover-based shooter with RPG elements and loot if you want a shooter that actually scratches those itches too.
For a mix of RPG and FPS with loot and crazy character builds, Cyberpunk 2077 with the Phantom Liberty expansion is surprisingly solid now. Lots of story, futuristic weapons, and an incredible world to explore. If you want a change of pace, Starfield is also out — a Bethesda space RPG that starts a bit slow but really pays off if you love exploration and oddball side quests.
Honestly, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the perfect pick for you. It’s rich with tactical turn-based battles, deep RPG elements, loot, and a captivating story that you can sink hundreds of hours into. They’ve added tons of content and updates, and if you loved games like Pillars of Eternity, this will blow you away. Plus, the modding community keeps things fresh, so it feels like a game you keep discovering new things in every time you play.
Thanks for the detailed take! BG3 sounds exactly like what I want, and I’m excited about the regular updates and mods keeping it fresh.
Since you’re getting Game Pass, Borderlands 3 just dropped on it with all the DLC included. It’s got the loot, FPS, and progression you love, plus tons of content. It’s basically the natural upgrade from Borderlands 2 and won’t clutter your shelf since it’s digital.
Avowed has been on my radar thanks to PoE connection, will give it a shot once I’m back in the swing of things.