When it comes to iconic RPGs,The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis usually near the top of the list. It’s not the best RPG, and many would argue it’s not even the bestThe Elder Scrollsgame either. So why are players so invested in its lore?
RELATED:Crazy Skyrim Rumors That Turned Out To Actually Be True
Perhaps it was therelaxed difficultythat madeSkyrimappeal to the masses. Players from all walks of life came together to experience this game, leaving no stone unturned. One can easily spend over two-hundred hours playing this game and its DLCs, but which games measure up in terms of difficulty?
10Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars(Easier)
The story ofSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Starsbegins with the classic tale of the damsel in distress.Mario attempts to rescue Princess Peach from the malevolent Bowse, but when things take a turn for the worse, Mario joins forces with Bowser to defeat a greater common enemy, Smithy.
RELATED:Skyrim: 10 Things You Missed In Markarth
As you could imagine,Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Starsis not a difficult RPG. Most first-party Nintendo games appeal to a wide player base, hence their lower difficulty. WithSuper Mario RPGbeing a turn-based game andSkyrimbeing an open-worldaction RPG, the former takes the cake for being easier.
9Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne(Harder)
This RPG is set in a post-apocalyptic modern-day Tokyo where a high school student becomes a demonic Demi-fiend.Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturneis a part of theMegami Tenseiseries known for spawning thePersonasub-series. Released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003,Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturnehasa planned remaster releasein 2021 for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. The two difficulties, Hard and Normal, are considered more difficult thanSkyrim’sAdept and Expert settings.
8Kingdom Hearts (Easier)
When it comes to RPGs, there are few as easy asKingdom Hearts.The game is essentially a cross betweenFinal FantasyandDisney,blending for a seamless experience we wish never ended.
There is astrong possibility that there will be aKingdom Hearts IV,given the popularity of its predecessors, although no formal announcement has been made. As a game with the younger generation as its target demographic, it is much easier thanSkyrim.
7The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Harder)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis widely regarded as the easiest game inThe Elder Scrollsseries. At launch,The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowinddidn’t have difficulty modes, but the game was played at a difficulty that is harder thanSkyrim. Skyrimhas difficulty modes like Master and Legendary that offer a more uncompromising experience. However,Morrowindis a more grueling experienceand is less accommodating for novice players.
6Pokémon (Easier)
What was already known for being an easy RPG series has gotten even more so withPokémon Sword and Shield.The latest additions to thePokémonfranchise are more story intensive, but the gameplay doesn’t stray too far from previous games.
RELATED:The 10 Rarest Shinies In Pokémon GO
Particular trainers might give you trouble, but for the most part, if you choose the right Pokémon lineup, you can breeze through the game without issue. Even an easy to approach game likeSkyrimis harder thanPokémon.
5Divinity: Original Sin II (Harder)
Divinity: Original Sin IIearned acclaim across the board for its smart design and RPG elements. The game is divided into Acts with the second significantly more difficult than the first. This game elevated the RPG genre to a whole new level.Divinity: Original Sin IIwas created by the developers ofBaldur’s Gate 3.Playing as a party of four, it comes abundantly clear that it is way harder thanSkyrim.This robust game will take youapproximately sixty hours to beat,compared to Skyrim’s thirty-three-hour main story.
4Fable (Easier)
AlthoughFableis a jovial experience compared toSkyrim’sbleak atmosphere,that’s part of its appeal.Fable 4will be releasing soon,and we couldn’t be more ecstatic. The announcement ofFable 4at the Xbox Games Showcase 2020 was eye-opening. This newly announced sequel will likely be a more relaxed experience thanSkyrimif it follows the same pattern as pastFablegames.Let’s face it,Fableis a delightful adventure, but it isn’t very hard.
3The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Harder)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunthas a good buildup because it isn’t tough at the beginning. You get a few hours into the game, and the difficulty hits you like a concrete wall. Suddenly, you have to use all of theWitcher’s spells and attacks to survive encounters.
RELATED:The Witcher 3: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Romance Side Quests
The great thing aboutThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntis that the game is not overly difficult. However, it’s nowhere near as easy asSkyrim.If you’re just getting into RPGs for the first time, playSkyrimand thenThe Witcher.
2Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (Easier)
It depends on what part of the game you’re referring to, but generally speaking,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis easier thanSkyrim.The last boss fight against Darth Malak gave a lot of players trouble. Defeating Darth Malak as he absorbs surrounding bodies proves challenging without a stockpile of Life Supports and Advanced Medpacs. Putting this boss fight aside, the rest ofStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis a cakewalk compared to RPGs likeSkyrim.
1Dark Souls (Harder)
When it comes to action role-playing games,Dark Soulsis considered the benchmark of difficulty. Before a game can be regarded as hard or not, it must pass theDark Soulstest.
Dark Soulsis harder thanSkyrim—and it’s not even close. The layers of difficulty put intoDark Soulsplaces it among the most challenging games of all time. They even named a version the “Prepare to Die Edition” because of its painstaking difficulty.Expect to die numerous times, and then some.
