GreedFall

In most fantasy role-playing games (RPGs), differences are usually settled at the point of a sword or through the flash of a fiery spell. While GreedFall certainly has its fair share of action-packed combat and there's plenty of fighting to be done, players are generally encouraged to talk their way through conflicts, relying more on their skills with words than with a sword. Whether you're charming your way out of a jam, bending a character to your will through intimidation, or even pulling off the occasional deception with the silver tongue of a slick con man, GreedFall challenges players to lean more into their role as a diplomat first before ever unsheathing a weapon. But when the fighting does happen, it's surprisingly fluid and responsive, with players able to quickly string moves together and work with party members like a well-oiled war machine. When things get too hectic, the game's "tactical pause" lets players stop the action, catch a breath, and plan out their strategies.

Another high point for GreedFall is its insane amount of customization options. The game sports a massive number of items available for players and their party members to use, each of which can be tweaked for effectiveness and appearance. Some items even allow players to disguise themselves to sneak past guards or build friendships with hostile factions. There are so many ways to change how you interact with the world around you, it can almost seem overwhelming at times. Even side quests are more intricate than they first seem, with multiple paths to reach objectives, and always more than the simple "go here and grab that" mission most RPG games use. GreedFall isn't quite perfect, though. Many characters seem repetitive and lacking variety. Also, over time, your party becomes overpowered, easily wiping out all but the strongest enemies without breaking a sweat. Still, GreedFall does an amazing job of building an epic story with real consequences, and is definitely worth checking out.