Character customization is a blessing when it comes to creatinga beyond-immersive experiencein a role-playing game. Even though how our character looks might not matter in the long run, getting the chance to create the character of our dreams is a desirable opportunity. That isn’t to say that elements of our customization don’t make an impact, however, as the races or classes we pick can influence everyone’s perception of us.
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It isn’t easy to create compelling character customization in an RPG. While some sprinkle in bits of unique personalization here and there, several RPGs do it infinitely better compared to others. Giving us a variety of classes and abilities to choose from to having in-depth physical appearance options, here are the RPGs that have the most impressive character customizations.
10The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrimhas been a beloved Bethesda game for years on end. Through its remarkable number of different ports since its release a decade ago, its character creation has improved. As the game sets you up with the story before character customization, you’re subtly introduced to Skyrim’s memorable fantasy atmosphere that gets you prepared for the journey ahead before you’ve even laid eyes on your potential character.
Although the classic general aesthetic of your Dragonborn will always be the same no matter what version you’re playing, the improvements made over time are far from small. While PC players can use mods to enhance your characters' look, creating your character in Skyrim’s style is magical.
9Mass Effect Legendary Edition
A lot of veteranMass Effectfans will well remember how goofy the character creation was in the first two Mass Effect games. Besides the graphics, the options for how you can make Commander Shepard look were very limited at the time.Mass Effect 3certainly showed how much BioWare worked hard to improve the series' character creation. However, theLegendary Editionwas the one to knock it out of the park.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition is an amazing example of a video game remaster done right. When it comes to character customization, it features improved aspects like hairstyles and makeup. Not to mention that the textures have been improved as well, making everything appear a lot smoother than before.
8Bloodborne
Traversing through the sickly Victorian town of Yharnam is best done in style.Bloodborneis a beautiful addition toFromSoftware’s soulsborne collection, and it’s a fan-favorite for many fans of theDark Soulsseries. And it’s for this reason that character presets are a beautiful thing shared among the Bloodborne community.
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Getting your character to look just the way you want them can definitely be a tedious task. As a Hunter, you’re immediately sent on a treacherous journey into unknown horrors. So, of course, it’s fun to take a second and get your character to represent how you decide to approach your blood-drunken adventure. With so many doll-like options to choose from, it’s aesthetically pleasing to make your Hunter.
7Fallout 4
The jump fromFallout 3toFallout 4was magnificent. When it came to the story and exciting new protagonist, everyone was looking forward to what Bethesda had in store for the future of the series. One of the most notable changes in Fallout 4 was how interactive the character customization had become compared to the rest of the games in the series.
Constructing your sole survivor in Fallout 4 definitely caters well to those with a knack for paying attention to even the smallest details. From charming hairstyles that fit the game’s atmosphere to unique facial construction options, having your protagonist looking good is an entertaining use of trial and error in Fallout 4.
6Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s long-awaited RPG more than lived up to audiences' expectations. By taking our breaths away from its vast open worldto ruthless enemiesthat blend in with the dark fantasy environment,Elden Ringhas quickly become one of the greatest games of all time.
The character customization is gorgeous with the game’s enchanting graphics and improved slider options. There’s also an impressive variety of aspects to choose from that revolve around more than just your physical look, such as classes and keepsakes. Through all of this, Elden Ring is a prime example of FromSoftware’s ever-growing improvements in its character customization. In other words, we get the chance to achieve our creative vision for our protagonist.
5Dragon Age: Inquisition
Much like Mass Effect,Dragon Ageis anotherone of BioWare’s masterpiecesthat didn’t exactly start out with the best-looking character customization. But, with their third installment, BioWare showed that they had more tricks up their sleeves when it came to making their character customization even better than before.
Dragon Age as a series has always had a one-of-a-kind look to it. However,Dragon Age: Inquisition’scustomization includes so many more details that your protagonist could easily be the very face of the game. With races and classes that impact how others perceive you, you’ll want to replay Inquisition because of its intricate personalization that spans farther than the creation screen.
4Black Desert Online
Although an online RPG, this sandbox-oriented adventure is a gorgeous visual experience. Because of this,Black Desert Onlinehas considerably one of the best character creations seen in an RPG. In fact, many players find themselves spending hours making a character rather than playing the actual game.
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Black Desert Online has a myriad of classes to choose from, all of them specifically gendered. At first, it does seem a bit intimidating to tackle creating your character head-on. You’re sure to get the hang of it in no time once you take that first leap and quickly get into the groove of things.
3Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter World’scharacter creation is so detailed that it’s good to plan your character beforehand. Admittedly, your character might not always look how you want them to head-on initially. But checking every angle and following your artistic intuition is the best route to take when making the character of your dreams.
In quite a few ways, one could find that Monster Hunter World’s character creation showcases the foundational realm of possibilities when it comes to creating an RPG protagonist. Many players tend to create themselves in the game and spend hours upon hours doing every little thing to authentically represent them. Monster Hunter World in itself is a gem, but its character personalization is all the more so.
2Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous
For how enthralling and detailedPathfinder: Wrath of the Righteousis as a cRPG, it’s no surprise its character creation also has much to unfold for us. At times, it’s a tad overwhelming with all that there is to pick from right off the bat. There are around twenty-five classes and twelve races to pick from, on top of the thousands of spells, making it easy to spend considerable time trying to figure out your character.
On the other hand, having a lot to choose from feels like a very personal experience rather than just a one-and-done situation. Taking the time to read the information available to form your character brings about an authentic D&D experience.
1Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gateis no stranger to having the best and most visually creative options in their character creations. They’re a masterful representation of a customizable role-playing experience done right. For a video game series based onDungeons & Dragons, how could we expect anything less from completely personalized character creation?
Baldur’s Gate 3is the latest example of how well the series pulls off an exciting character creation. With the number of spells and special attributes in each class, creating your character is thrilling just like it is in D&D. In short, you’ll be entranced by all the customizable origins and races.
