Video games are as diverse as the people who play them. While many games focus on skill to see what will happen during the game, some also look to luck as a way to influence the game.
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There are few better ways to use luck as a game mechanic than through rolling dice. A staple of the tabletop gaming community, dice are the perfect way to allow luck to play a part in any game. Popularized by games like Dungeons & Dragons, the 20-sided dice, or d20, is a staple of games everywhere. But, which of the games that choose to rely on d20s make for the best experience?
10 Temple Of Elemental Evil
If you're a fan of older D&D adventures and CRPGs, then Temple Of Elemental Evil may be of interest to you.
It runs on D&D 3.5 rules, which are a bit rule-heavy, but work surprisingly well in this CRPG setting. While it may be a bit harder than your average role-playing game to get familiar with, if you have the time to read the manual that comes with it (coming in at 175 pages), then you'll be rewarded with a grand and unique adventure.
9 Low Magic Age
For those who want a more strategic mix of skill and luck, Low Magic Age is a game that should be on your radar.
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It boasts simplified graphics that are very reminiscent of early CRPGs. Where the game shines is its simple approach to exploration and turn-based combat. It can be a real treat once you get into the game and the world itself, but for new players it may take some time to really find out if it's your niche.
8 Knights Of The Chalice 2
There are a lot of fun ways to experience CRPGs, and while the luck of a die roll can be scary, missing out on games like Knights of the Chalice 2 is scarier.
Form your own adventuring party and take out on a quest that will show you a world of wonder and excitement, as well as more than a few monsters too. It runs on the 3.5 D&D rules, but it does so pretty well. It isn't as smooth as a lot of other games that are similar, but it isn't rough enough to avoid either.
7 Pool Of Radiance
If you want a fond look at the beginnings of CRPGs and their use of d20s in the genre, few games will be as fun an experience as Pool of Radiance.
It is a classic text-based game, but with the cutting-edge '90s graphics of a small screen that shows the world through your adventurer's point-of-view. As you dive into this fantasy world, luck and skill mesh together in a way that will either see you as a champion of the realms or restarting from square one.
6 Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Another big name in the fantasy tabletop game world is Pathfinder. It makes sense then that the series saw success in bridging the gap between tabletop and video games with Pathfinder: Kingmaker.
If you're in the mood for a fantasy d20-based CRPG that feels like a classic but is surprisingly modern, then this may be the game to look into. Form a party and set off on an unforgettable fantasy adventure set in the Pathfinder universe. Just hope that luck is on your side while you face off against monsters big and small.
5 Planescape Torment
Planescape: Torment is a classic fantasy RPG game, and even now looking back on it, it's easy to see why.
Set in the planescape setting found in D&D, the adventure in this game is dark and often perilous, which only becomes more so as you add in the luck of dice rolls. It plays like a mix of a solid dark D&D campaign and any classic CRPG from the '90s. If you have the urge to dive into something a bit older, then check this out.
4 Neverwinter Nights
A game based on so many of the early D&D tabletop adventures, Neverwinter Nights is a cult classic of a game that has wowed so many over the years.
In true D&D fashion, everything from attack rolls to saving throws all require a die roll. You would think that this would be a hassle, and for some it may not be the kind of game they enjoy, but for the most part it feels natural. It adds well to the overall tabletop and heavy-fantasy feel of the game, but you'd expect nothing less from a game that brought D&D to the screen.
3 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Anyone who is a fan of RPGs has heard of, or more likely has fond memories of, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. You don't have to be a Star Wars fan to want to dive into this classic space adventure.
It's one of the best-received and best-rated Star Wars games out there, and for good reason. The d20 rolls may not be visible upon starting the game, but they definitely alter your experience in the game, whether you're talking your way out of the problem or flexing your Jedi skills.
2 Disco Elysium
A game that feels so unlike any other. Disco Elysium is a seemingly simple story about a detective suffering from a rather odd bout of amnesia.
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The addition of a d20 system fueled by different ability checks means no two playthroughs are alike. What follows is a story full of twists, turns, and disappointments as your own choices and luck mix together into an unforgettable adventure. It's one of those games that you can't imagine being made any different.
1 Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate is a big name in the world of bridging the gap between D&D and video games, so it's no wonder these games use the d20 system so well.
Baldur's Gate 3 is the culmination of a lot of different tabletop and video game mechanics, but they all run together seamlessly. The feeling of watching the dice roll and waiting on the results is such a thrilling experience and one that adds to the game instead of taking or distracting from it. If you want a d20 game, this is the one.
Next: The Best Fantasy CRPGs
