1# JADE EMPIRE
When BioWare decided to jettison the Knights series it seemed like an odd move. The ideas behind the new IP were certainly interesting. Who wouldn’t want to hop into the lead role of a wuxia film? What we weren’t prepared for was the completely revamped combat system and beautiful visual style that put BioWare’s previous work to shame. Instead of the turn based, action hybrid of KOTOR it presented true action, contact based combat. The story is fantastic, with engaging character development and three moral pathways that make playing through the game more than once a must. Jade Empire is such a well composed game that it will cause you to reconsider what elements a classic RPG should posses.

2# STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC

It seems like there is a newStar Wars game released every week. Just today we received Episode III, and LEGO Star Wars is still hot off the presses. The idea of a Star Wars RPG seemed like a no-brainer, but like any product based in this universe, the expectations were huge. KOTOR established the morality scale that will probably turn up in other RPGs for years to come. The combat had a turn based element, but it still felt like gamers were taking on the role of an incredibly powerful Jedi. It also put a huge emphasis on story. Setting the game thousands of years before the movies gave the writers liberties that made an old property feel fresh. Oh, and who can forget the plot twist that left gamers slack jawed with amazement. Even with its slightly dated visuals, many Xbox fans still feel that this is the best RPG to appear on the system.

3# ELDER SCROLLS 111:MORROWIND

Morrowind offered us what few console games had even attempted: freedom. Here is a game that gave the player few guidelines and even less restrictions. Did the shopkeeper make you angry? Wait until he looks away and steal all of his goods. Or better yet, kill him and use his shop as a temporary home. The choice on how to make your way through the world is yours and yours alone. While the story is at times confusing and the game engine more than a little flawed, the sheer size of the world is so impressive that one could easily be sucked into it. With a great character creation system and incentive to explore every bit of the vast world, Morrowind gives you more than enough reasons to keep playing long past your bedtime.

4# FABLE

Considering that Fable was supposed be the greatest RPG of all time it is not surprising that it made this list. While it wasn’t as long or as immersive as some fans had hoped, it did add a new level of immersion to the genre. The NPCs in Fable have lives that include eating, sleeping, and reacting to valiant hero or evil lord that enters their town. After interacting with people in Albion, NPCs in other games feel like little more than cardboard cutouts. The sandbox features and growth of the main character meant that Fable was a joy to play even when players weren’t particularly doing anything. As genres continue to merge in videogames, this RPG took the first step towards giving players a robust alternate life.