Top 16 AAA & Indie Action RPGs Worth Checking Out In 2022 

Grim Dawn is a HUGE must if u play ARPGs, that game is amazing.

I'd love to see Crate make a WH40K ARPG, or Grim Dawn 2 with a much more modern game engine. Another thing I'd love to see is a scifi ARPG where you're a transformable mech.

Amazing list! Probably the Perfect gateway for the ARPG goodness. I have been playing so many ARPGs and I would recommend a couple of mods to enhanced the experience even more so. NO need to go back to Vanilla after these mods. Grim Dawn - Dawn of Masteries Mod - The BEST mod ever. Almost 90+ combination of classes (ranging from Diablo 1 to Titan Quest and original classes like Cataclysm/NCFF) thanks to the dual class system, new monsters, new masteries/abilities, new armor that changes looks (I look like a bloody warrior that has burning feet!). Seriously, it puts D3 to shame. Titan Quest - Loot Plus XMAX FTW - Increase Loot and Enemy density (Can be 1x/2x/3x the enemies on screen etc). Soulvizier AERA - Rework some of the classes, adds new masteries (There are dark type class etc), still being updated since it's not yet compatible with Eternal Embers (latest expansion). Diablo 1 The Hell 2 - I'm surprised you didn't mentioned the original D1, but this mod adds so much QOL to the game. Widescreen support, Restore quests/voice dialogue from Hellfire, New classes (a couple of Japanese classes like Samurai/Kensei/Shinobi, New class archetype like Savage/Executioner/Gladiator etc), NPCs are now all close proximity in town (No longer have to go outskirts of the map to talk to Pepin, auto run when in town and not in combat which is HUGE QOL due to how slow D1 vanilla is) and still getting updates from Mordor thanks to the patreon support. Project Diablo II - The Ultimate Diablo II experience. I would take off Resurrected in the list and instead put this version even if it's your first time playing D2. Retains the essence of D2, adds QOL changes that doesn't disrupt the flow and mechanics (much improved stash). No censorship from resurrected, supports widescreen and a more fluid experience. Even Resurrected devs have started copying some of its QOL back to the game (That's how you know the mod is freaking good). If only we had true offline and custom server support for Resurrected. It would have change the landscape of D2 forever. Diablo II Median XL - D2 in STEROIDS. Ultra Fast pace gameplay with tons of new monsters not from the game. The game a lot of times looks like one of those SHUMP Bullet Hell games. Not recommended for first time players, but if you are bored playing D2 and looking for something crazy using the D2 engine/gameplay/system. Then this mod if for you. ALL of these mods are FREE and playable OFFLINE (not sure about Median XL, but I do know the old version is playable offline). This is why we need mods and Offline mod. To preserve these games FOREVER.

Dont forget about Sacred 1-2(unique diablo2like with openworld) and Inquisitor 2009(diablo1like slowpaced, more tactical, heavy atmosphere).

I've been waiting for a video like this, thanks Vulkan!!

More than 300 hours into Grim Dawn. More than amazing. I don't care for the mods. Original content is enough to keep you going. Devs are some of the best I've seen.

this is by far the most review vid that i really respected and subbed for that reason not about the games but its streight to the point no propaganda or over reactions or all that kind of nonsense you see now days from content creators, neutral and streight to the point and gives the players that dont know this game the basic impression to check the games out , GJ dude

Great stuff as usual. Thanks!

You gotta turn up your settings if you think Grim Dawn is bad looking.

Anima is super simple and the game is tough to replay… but it’s amazing. It’s a fun play and great to check out their seasons. Though very long.

I looked at Hero Siege and thought "what a neat game, I should check that out" just to found out that it has been in my steam library this whole time 😆 must be from one of the humble bundle that I totally forgot about. would totally miss it if wasn't for u so thanks ❤

sunk collectively thousands of hours across most of the games you mentioned! looks like ive got some others to try out :) great video

epic list , lots of games to check back in on the updates ! would love to hear more of your favorite mods for the various games . some that i have enjoyed : Diablo2 - Path of Diablo and MedianXL , Torchlight2 - Synergies , Grim Dawn - Dawn of Masteries , the modding community added so much to these i wish more games enabled mods

Love Grim Dawn. Have not tried mods but finished it 4 times with different characters and still playing

Grim Dawn will always be my top shelf pick. I pray for the day we get a sequel

last epoch is one I really want to get into more :> I love the concept and such. for ones I love, titan quest. Still love that if a enemy has a powerful item you see them use it *outside of boses of course* and such. Plus I was so stoked when I saw they had added more stuff. path of exile is great too, it has some issues, and really sucks that they focus on the top 1% of players and nerf everyone else, but still fun to play. grim dawn yeah that one is amazing and want to get into it more, plus all the mods and things hehe.

victor vran is a MUST for all players that love solo playing and do 100%. amazing amazing game! beautiful music! BEEEAAAAAAAAAUtiful ambience...

I had great expectations for Wolcen but haven't even had it installed in over a year and half. I would be willing to give it a go again, but I'm not interested in theorycrafting a build until I know I want to stick with it. Are there any cookie cutter builds out there to follow just to see if I even want to play again? I'd like to try something that at least works if I am going to do that.

That was a really cool looking build for Wolcen, made me want to reinstall.

Now this is why I am subbed. Nice list, played and owned most of these games and actually discovered 2 games I overlooked.

Amazing list bro

The Slormancer is one that I think deserves more attention

Inquisitor is one of my favorites. I liked that they tried something different with cover, but I understood why veteran ARPG players would be frustrated with having to make tactical decisions instead of just Leroy Jenkins everything. In a way, the game's a lot easier and faster now with good high DPS build choices. Lots of very satisfactory judgments coming down on heretics.

Great List and enough to do till D4!

I'd like to have Wolcen with Last epoch depth... last epoch with Wolcen graphics engine and art style...

thanks for the list! two games I’d add are The Ascent and Minecraft dungeons

Who remembers the arcade game gauntlet legends? That was a great old school arpg

I got into the genre through path of exile, found out I really like arpgs, bought grim dawn and played that for over 20 hours, got the dlc ext. very good game I also got chronicon, but man I want more despite not beating either

As someone who has played POE since 2013 and have 10k plus hours in (as a casual player) I do need to disclaimer that only certain builds make it to true end game and byt that meaning only certain skills really work. The game is also very hard for new players to get into because there is so much content and systems in place that most people will get overwhelmed before finishing the story acts. This is sad because the story act are like less than 10% of the game. The tru game starts afterwards and it can be harsh if you mess up your build. It's easy to mess up btw.

Warhammer 40k Inquisitor Martyr and Path of Exile are straight gangster

The grim dawn community league will have it's newest season starting later this summer.

One of the most consistent marks of quality I've been able to find is when it never goes on sale

Anyone know where I can buy a copy of ANIMA? ...been looking and just cannot findit at STEAM, GOG.

I’m curious as to what platform(PC or console) each game is available on. Also, are these single player campaign or multiple games? Are they buy-once games, subscription, or free-to-play? Otherwise, great video.

It’s pretty amazing how many game interfaces Diablo inspired.

Would have been interesting to hear about Silverfall or Throne of Darkness. But anyway good video.

Chronicon sounds like an absolute blast, buying it now!

Just watched this video and first time I ever saw Anima, so I bought it and it’s really really good! Just like u said! THANK YOU!!

I had alot of fun with Vikings: Wolves of Midgard, and Nobody Saves the World. (Some VERY interesting character builds and mechanics in the latter) Looking forward to The Ascent, Grim Dawn, and Diablo 4…though my expectations of the latter are low

the starting sub classes in martyr i think only dictate your first two perks and starting weapons

I really like wolcen. Haven’t hit any bugs yet, and they’re in the “fix all the bugs” phase they’ve said, so hopefully, it will be dope by the time I get to end game

T2 And Grim Dawn Modding communities are fantastic folks. breathing life into games that would have been long forgotten. When titan Quest dropped that DLC I scooped it up and the newer stuff is very fun. I agree Van Helsing is a hidden gem.

Wolcen fell off for me when the DEV team failed to fix the bleed bug and the "stack all DR mitigation and do ungodly damage" issues...

My king, is there any ARPG that happens to be in our modern world? With classes and stuff according to the military aspects?

sad i didn't learn about any new ARPG for me to play. still good to see this video. you should take a look at The Slormancer, I supported it but it's not a full recommendation yet for this year, I hope to see it on next year's list.

Thumbs up for Torchlight 2 making the list. Still my favorite ARPG.

feel the same way about victor vran. Not for me, but then again it has Geralt. Actually love ARPG's there is some games I never heard about like the pixel art ones I'm gonna check those out.

I got super excited play hero siege on switch when I saw this but, unfortunately your information is incorrect, It’s not available on the switch. They seem to have abandoned the idea years ago. This video is new?

That's a good list

TQ already came back in 2016 with the Anniversary Edition, but the 3 addons since were a nice bonus.

Love GD. Pitty it's janky and lagging on my new PC. Any tips would be welcome! RTX3060 12gb 32gb ram I9-10900F

For wolcen what bothered me most was the constant crashing and monsters spawning out of bounds. If those two are fixed I'd give it a go.

I can't find Hero Siege on the switch. Did they remove it?

Playing a lot of D2R recently. Still amazing. Martyr looks good but the online requirement worries me.

Sacred 2. One of the best. Big open world, lots of loot, enemies and interesting skills. Try it

I can't find Hero Siege on switch

We wait for TQ 2 now ;)

Last Epoch is number one in this list for me. Awesome ARPG, it's like Diablo 2. Titan quest, Grim Dawn, Torchlight 2 and Wolcen are also great games. However I am waiting for the final release of Last Epoch, but this will probably still take a few years from now.

Hero Siege isn't on Switch. Unless it was on this video's release and then removed or it's only available in certain countries.

Project Diablo 2 (PD2) is my go to arpg nowadays. It takes the base model everyone loves from Diablo 2 and adds rotating seasons, new Uber fights, maps and dungeons, and insanely rare and powerful loot that keeps players on their toes. For a mod of a 22 year old game, it has a decent player base and people in the community are very kind and helpful. Definitely worth a look if you can get over the graphics.

Can u make a similar list just with third/first person action rpg’s?

I love grim dawn!

For a moment, I thought you were gonna call CB “Shallow and Pedantic”

Dang, I've played them all

These are probably a bit too old for today but I gotta mention Dungeon Siege 1 and 2. The special thing about them is that they're party based, and the leveling is pretty special too, because you don't pick a class, you just level up based on what combat style you are using. The more you use melee, the better you'll get at melee, the more you use ranged, the better you'll get at ranged etc. And also Sacred 1 and 2. They are like combining Diablo and Elder Scrolls. They play like Diablo but they have a proper open world with side quests and stuff. I think that's actually what Diablo 4 tried to rip off? I haven't played Diablo 4.

People seem to have forgotten about Dungeon Siege 2. I loved the game although Dungeon Siege 3 was total crap. Maybe it's time to remaster DS2.

Chaosbane was my lockdown game, I got the platinum 🙂👌

Not sure why you think Grim Dawn looks bad. Looks crisp and sharp on my computer. Holds up pretty well besides the faces on the characters. Also, my steam deck arrives today. I can’t wait to play it on that.

GD recreated D2 and D1 now too.

I highly recommend Chronicon - great indie that gets rid of a lot of the AAA arpg gate keeping bs.

Wish more were on switch.

Ghostlore is great though the pixel art graphics and it being early access might turn some away. I'd still recommend checking it out, kind of a hidden gem :)

Grim Dawn is awesome

How on earth did you miss The Ascent ? The Ascent is a cyberpunk-themed action role-playing video game developed by Swedish indie game studio Neon Giant and published by Curve Digital for Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One on 29 July 2021. It was developed using Unreal Engine 4..

Have played most games on your list. Grim Dawn and/or the D2 mod for GD remain my favorites, but starting to get a little bored with the game. I wish it was easier to find multiplayer games ala D2/D3. Any news on D4?

You missed Divinity Original Sins, PathFinders, Pillars of eternity, Spellforce, etc.

Absolutely loved Victor Vran for being very original and really detested Van Helsing for being so technically flawed.

A channel all about action RPG's? Where do I subscribe???

I enjoy lost ark but the limited grind per day its a no good. Wish we could've a remaster of Sacred 2 too

you have add d3 and d2r but you you have forget project diablo 2 who crush both of them

Hero Siege Wahooo!!

You ain't making your own build in poe and getting anywhere if you are a new player js. You should've said that you need to look up a build guide and possibly download path of building to get anywhere...

i completely agree with all youve said...i am a big fan of GRIM DAWN and VAN Helsing.i had thousands of hours on these games and i had enough on all other games on that list...i dont see why Path of Exile is sooo overrated,but its true that every time i log in theres a lot of people online...i have all types of characters in it...played it a lot,but i like GD a lot more...Van Helsing deserves a sequel or a new second game with new more modern graphics..this game is sooo awesome and i will buy the number 2 right away :) p.s. i hate Blizzard for what they do to Diablo...i hate all gaming developers for they try to make the games so complicated and hard but in a stupid way...VAN Helsing is the hardest game i know,but its easy to understand...i love hard games when you can find what to do yourself...i am not into forums and wiki shit...in VH and GD i had none to little help from forums and thats the number one thing i love in them..

Grim Dawn has a new DLC coming out

Your forgetting the most important thing about Victor Vran...Motorhead!

O M G Diablo 3 has been a decade?Where has the time gone

You missed undecember ;)

D2 > Grim Dawn > Titan Quest. Best 3 of the list XD.

Grim Dawn is grim, that's why it''s not "flashy" dark fantasy games not suppose to be flashy

I am looking forward to the Upcoming "UNDECEMBER"

I gave minecraft Dungeons a second chance and it does have a pretty good gameplay loop. Simple enough to get friends or family to play. It can also be as challenging as you want it to be.

Grim Dawn was my favorite until i played Last Epoch, i have about 2000 hours playing it now.

Grim Dawn is amazing.

Still no official release date for Last Epoch?

Most of those games should not be called RPGs because there's really little chance to roleplay in them.

Path of Exile only caters to an established player base, which is leaving because of changes by the developers, new players are seemingly unwelcome, the game is very unforgiving players are expected to play for far too many hours before understanding the game, it's a time expensive game.

Where is the Ascent ? Game's phenomenal

I really want to like Hero Siege, but it seems like it's been in a perpetual bad place since I picked it up a little over a year ago.. Ongoing nerfs to drop rates and constant server issues. So you have to play online because loot is balanced around trade, but you can't half the time. There's almost a great game in there, but not quite. 😐

I spent over 1500 hours in lost ark; i'm on break now maybe burnt out. But i'll tell you if you like ARPG looting lost ark isn't it. Lost Ark has so many walls basically weekly or daily content you can finish most of your daily stuff within less than an hour with 1 char. I ended up with 9 freaking character cause i had nothing to do but was addicted learning the classes etc. Now here i am bored as shit realizing this is almost like how MS2 was where i had nothing to do except keep playing alts just to extend my time in the game. It has alot of gambling system when upgrading gear so it definite pulls in people who are addicts. Even though i spent under 60$ i always kept asking myself to spend more to keep up with everyone glad i didn't.

I’ll be the odd old guy in the room Sacred Gold Sacred 2 Gold (Fck sacred 3 its not a game) But yea, right now the top 3 are Grim Dawn Titan quest Last epoch (If you don’t count Poe which is the🐐 right now)