Top 5 Best Action RPGs To Play On PC In 2022

An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre. These games emphasize real-time combat where the player has direct control over the characters as opposed to turn or menu-based combat while still having a focus on the character's Stats in order to determine relative strength and abilities.

In this article, Gurugamer is going to showcase the 5 best Action RPGs to play on PC in 2022.

1. Elden Ring

Elden Ring, while imperfect, is the best implementation of an open-world action RPG that I've ever played. It feels like the culmination of every iteration of FromSoft's 'Souls' games into one truly amazing experience filled with intrigue, struggle, and eventual triumph.

FromSoft didn't make Dark Souls 4. This game is Dark Souls 4, 5, and 6 all in one. Absolutely massive game and the open world part doesn't feel like an attempt to pad the game (like most open world games do). Elden Ring's open-world game has various mini-dungeons/secrets hidden away in every corner of the map. It is to your advantage to seek out these locations to find rare materials and unique weaponry that may or may not change your play style altogether. The open world feels like there is always something waiting for you to discover, such as powerful enemies that drop unique weapon arts (ashes of war) or an NPC standing around waiting to offer you a quest. With the introduction of a day/night cycle, there are even some bosses that only spawn at nighttime in specific locations waiting to ambush you, but offer unique drops as well.

As with any game, it's not for everyone, but if you love souls games, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by missing this one. If you've never played a souls game, this is the best one to try. The most accessible by far. No crazy hard tutorial bosses, the new ashen summoning bell gives some great support in difficult areas, and the fact you can always leave harder fights and come back to them later makes it so you rarely run into situations where you know booting up the game means you're gonna be brick walling until either the boss dies or you give up.

2. Grim Dawn

Grim Dawn is an ARPG very similar in style to games such as Diablo 2, Torchlight and Titan Quest.

The thing that really separates this game from other ARPGs on the market is the sheer amount of customization available to the player. The class system works by combining two masteries on a single character. Each mastery has its own skill tree and is suited to a particular playstyle. For example, the Nightblade mastery is suited to a dual wield melee playstyle, while Arcanist is suited to a more traditional caster playstyle. If you were to select both classes at once, your class would become a Spellbreaker and you would have access to both Nightblade and Arcanist skill trees at the same time. Each mastery has a certain amount of overlap with others, so it's possible to create a caster character even if one of your masteries is more melee suited. As of the latest expansion, there are 36 class combinations available and all classes have at least one (if not more) viable builds at endgame.

Layered on top of the class system is the Devotion constellation. This is a second character advancement system that is common to all classes and masteries. You earn devotion points by cleansing shrines scattered throughout the world of Grim Dawn. Progression in the devotion system is based on certain constellation affinities. By filling in constellations, further constellations are unlocked based on similar affinities to others.

On top of the class system, players also have access to components and augment to further customize their characters. Components serve the same functions as gems/runes in Diablo 2. They are attached to armor directly and can grant stat boosts, resistances and even skills depending on the component.

3. Tales of ARISE

It feels like Tales of Arise finally got that budget Zestiria and Berseria were lacking. Arise no longer targets PS3 as its main platform, so the overall presentation is mind-blowingly miles away from its predecessors. I'm familiar with all PS1 and PC Tales Of titles, along with recent BANDAI NAMCO action jRPGs like SCARLET NEXUS and CODE VEIN.

Overall, it is an excellent title for those that have never touched the franchise. The game explains all the mechanics and there are no mind-numbing complex systems to ruin your experience. Most of the titles are stand-alone in terms of story, so you won't be spoiling yourself.

The visuals are heavily stylized, the game was advertised to have an "Atmospheric Shader" and I would say that along with image sharpening the results are impressive! All areas of the game have respectable backdrops that are often screenshot-worthy. Gone are the days of running around in 10 reskins of same-looking modular caves! All areas of the game feel like they were hand-crafted, and this level of quality persists throughout most of the game.

Previous games suffered badly from the dungeon design cheapness, and that feeling persisted throughout the whole journey. Combat is polished and feels smooth. The more story is progressed, the more mechanics are unlocked, so I wouldn't recommend grinding in the same spot. Since the mechanics are unlocked gradually, the player gets enough breathing room to practice. Each main party member can be controlled at any time, so you can pick your favorite fighting style.

4. Monster Hunter: World

I’m not a fan of coop games and I really hate grinding but the goal of this game is grinding in co-op. After seeing lots of positive feedback I decided to jump on this game and I was very pleasantly surprised.

For those who don't know what this game is about, it is what the name tells you – a monster hunter game. You hunt monsters, gather resources, and craft new gear to hunt stronger monsters to get better gear. That’s it, very simple formula, but the gameplay is really amazing. Hunting is not as simple as it sounds. First, you need to track the monster by finding its tracks which could take some time if the monster is completely new to you. There are lots of weapons to choose and you need to learn the weapon you choose because they all are different and can change your play style completely.

It plays like an action game where you attack and dodge. But the fun part is different monsters. They have different moves which you need to learn, you need to read their moves and prepare for their attacks. You can’t just run to the monster and mash the attack button to kill it. This tactic would only work on monsters below your level. First, you need to choose the right gear with the right stats for each monster. You need to avoid strong attacks and find a window to hit the monster and use healing items.

You can also use other items like traps to capture the monster, but first, you need to weaken it. You can cut off and break various parts of monsters, like cutting off the tail for example. After you finish the monster you can collect its parts and use them on crafting weapons and armor. Oh, and one more thing – you can use the environment to your advantage, like shooting a huge rock that falls on a monster. Or another monster could wander into the same place and attack the monster you’re fighting.

5. Warframe

Warframe is an MMO, co-op, third-person shooter, taking place in our very own solar system, at an unimaginably distant point in time, where two major factions vie for control in the aftermath of a great war. Players take on the role of the Tenno – ancient warriors now needed more than ever to keep balance within the universe and protect innocents from the new war they find themselves in. The Tenno operate the titular Warframes, battlesuits with exceptional combat prowess, agility, and space magic.

After choosing your Warframe, you’re dropped into a tutorial where you learn the basics of Warframe’s excellent combat and movement systems. You get a primary, secondary, and melee weapon, and can switch between them on the fly. Each Warframe also has four unique abilities, ie. space magic. Although the game doesn’t have a combo meter, it is very evocative of Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and similar hack-n-slash games. The movement is cathartic, as you can glide through the air, run on walls, slide, twirl, and generally parkour all over the place. It’s a lot of fun.

After the tutorial, you get your very own spaceship, from which you’ll be able to fly across the galaxy and participate in the abundant content Warframe offers. You can visit all of the planets in the Solar system, and then some. While some of them have open-world areas, the majority of Warframe’s game modes you’ll get to play will be standalone missions, such as Survival, Defense, Assassination, Excavation, etc. As you do so, you will be awarded crafting resources and blueprints on which to use them, usually for crafting new weapons and Warframes. You’ll also be awarded Mods, which you can equip on your equipment to modify its various stats.

>>> Read more: Top 5 Best Platformer Games To Play On PC In 2022