What to play if… you can’t play Dungeons and Dragons?

written by Nicky juli 18, 2023

I’ve recently started playing Dungeons and Dragons with a group of my friends. Since then, I’ve been wanting to play all day, every day. Just the fact that I can create, or actually, be, my own character, truly embodying them, is really appealing to me. I can say things I would never say in real life. Explore parts of my personality through someone else. Be someone who I’m not in real life (yet). But I crave the high that gives me when I’m not playing. I crave the mystery, the adventure. The never knowing when a group of Wolves will jump out of the forest to attack you. But of course, my friends can’t always play and I can’t either. So what games can I play as a substitute?

Basically Dungeons and Dragons: RPGs

There are tons of RPG’s that can give you the Dungeons and Dragons experience. With a game like Baldur’s Gate, you’re basically playing Dungeons and Dragons on your computer. So no need to stress over not being able to play with friends, there are enough substitutes. That being said, however, a lot of these games are solo games. And part of Dungeons and Dragons is the interaction with other living beings. Sure, NPC’s can be well programmed and quests can be really fun. Hoewever questing with friends, or a guild, feels a lot more natural. However, if you are an introvert like me, that might also come with its own difficulties. Let’s dive into a few solo RPG’s and a few MMORPGs that you can play to scratch that ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ itch.

Solo RPG’s

Baldur’s Gate III

The first game I have to name on this list is of course Baldur’s Gate. With Baldur’s Gate, you’re practically playing Dungeons and Dragons, but at home, on your PC or PlayStation. You can play solo, controlling all your party members, but it’s possible to invite your friends for a session as well and have them manage their own character. Baldur’s Gate III is currently in early access and is said to release later this year. The early access is already pretty complete and A LOT OF FUN to play. With over 100 hours of gameplay in the main story alone (so not including the countless hours of sidequest) it will for sure be a good substitute for your weekly DnD session.

Skyrim

Within the fantasy genre, there are a lot of RPG’s that you can play. The Elder Scrolls series, with Skyrim being one of the more well-known. While you are the Dovakin, and the main quest line evolves around that fact, there are tons of sidequests you can embark on. You can become the hero you want to be. Of course, you don’t need to finish all those side quests. You can also get some kids for one of your mansions and just play house. There are a lot of roleplay options within this game. So if you haven’t played it and are looking for a good Dungeons and Dragons substitute, this will be it.

Fable II

Fable II, even though it’s an older game, would be another solo RPG that will maybe scratch the Dungeons and Dragons itch. What Fable does well, is incorporate the good vs evil mechanic. Some choices you make are good, other choices you make are evil, and that influences your game. And some NPC’s don’t want to talk to you if you’re too evil, they’ll scream and run away. Other NPC’s won’t talk to you if you’re too good. Even though it’s an older game with maybe outdated graphics, for roleplaying this game is very suitable.

Minecraft

Minecraft is of course the ultimate sandbox adventure. There are NPC’s in the form of villagers that you can meet. They can even give you ‘quests’, in that they will sell you special items if you give them special stuff. Being a sandbox means that you have to create your own adventure and your own experience. Minecraft is really the RPG where you can be whoever you want to be. You can play it with friends to make it more social. However, alone can be a really fun experience as well. And if you want to continue your Minecraft roleplay outside of the game, you can make this recipe. It’s been consistently one of our most-read articles on this blog, so you probably aren’t alone.

Fallout

The Fallout Series, while not fantasy but more sci-fi, is also a great RPG series for roleplay. The options to roleplay are limited to the story of the game, however. But especially in Fallout New Vegas with all the factions you can join, there are plenty of options to make it a unique experience. In the latest version of the game, Fallout Vault 76, there are more options to roleplay even, as this is more of an open-world game. Technically not a solo game since you will meet other players, but it’s rare people are working together to accomplish something.

Mass Effect

And in line with the Fallout series, but with the gameplay options Fable II offers, we have the Mass Effect series. Also a sci-fi setting and limited choices in who you want to be and what your game will be like. However, everything you do or say matters in this game, and will influence the endgame. That makes for an interesting game in which you can definitely roleplay. Although you do it as commander Sheppard and live your roleplay life through their eyes.

MMORPG’s

The Elder Scrolls Online

Keeping in line with the solo-RPG game Skyrim, but adding the fun of meeting other people there is The Elder Scrolls Online. Basically set in the Skyrim universe, you can choose whichever race and class you want to be. It’s very similar to the other Elder Scrolls games, so I won’t explain much more. If you read this article before July 27th 2023, you can get this game for FREE if you have an EPIC Games account. Check this link for more info.

World of Warcraft

Still one of the most well-known MMORPGs is of course World of Warcraft. In World of Warcraft you enter a world where two factions keep fighting each other: the Horde and the Alliance. Within these factions you can choose which race and class you want to play. There is not much freedom after that tough; with the races and classes you are pretty fixed in playstyle. So the boundaries in which you can roleplay are limited. However, within those boundaries, there are lots of people roleplaying in WoW. There are even roleplay servers if you want to meet up with other roleplayers. Or roleplay guilds if you feel a little more social.

Guildwars 2

Another MMORPG is Guildwars 2. With the level cap at an easy-to-reach level 80, it’s quite easy to reach the max-level content and enjoy roleplaying in the world. With events scaling as you reach level 80, even the lower-level area’s are still challenging enough to keep things interesting. The same as with WoW you choose a race and a class, and you can roleplay within those limits. It has a lot more weapon options than World of Warcraft. It even has costumes and emotes to roleplay with. That makes it a bit more flexible and you have more opportunities to truly create your roleplaying adventure.

There aren’t that many people roleplaying in this game, however, there are roleplay guilds and it can be done. And if you want to continue the roleplay at home, you can make this recipe. Heck, I even created my Dungeons and Dragons character Baeloron in Guildwars because I wanted to keep roleplaying this guy <3

Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy is the final MMORPG in the fantasy genre that we’ll mention. The great thing about Final Fantasy is, that while you choose a race, you can keep switching classes. So you can practically play all classes available and switch as needed. The downside to that is that you need to level them individually. So you can be a really great fighter, but still a beginner mage. With the world being ginormous and tons of added quests and minigames, there are plenty of options for roleplaying. A lot of people roleplay their Final Fantasy character, in and outside of the game (in cosplay).

Technically not MMORPGs

No Man’s Sky

I’m not sure No Man’s Sky technically is an MMORPG. Because while you are in the game with all the other players, because it’s so big, chances are you’ll never meet someone else. Unless of course you go to the Hub, or travel to some better know worlds. The fact that it’s so huge and chances are slim you’ll meet another player outside of the Hub, it’s extra fun to find player-build structures around the universe. It’s a different genre than the previous games.

If you are into space travel and sci-fi there are actually a lot of roleplay options. You can be the hero of your own smuggling enterprise, a friend to the aliens, or just an explorer who catalogs all living beings in the universe. It does get a bit lonely out in space sometimes. So don’t forget to sometimes team up with other players.

Valheim

Another game that for sure is not an MMORPG, but can be played on (private) servers with up to 30 people, is Valheim. In Valheim you are a Viking. Being a sandbox game with no quests, it’s really up to you what you want to do in the game. You have to beat the bosses however to progress in the game. Generally, in those large servers, you don’t really need to. Your server buddies will have killed them long before you ever get the chance. Same as with No Man’s Sky, when playing on one of those large servers it’s really fun to find the player-build structures in the game, or meet up and drink ale. Roleplay options are limited only to your and your friends’ imagination.