Chromebooks are some of the most open-ended machines in 2022, known for their unrivaled simplicity across the spectrum. As it turns out, Chromebooks are quite adept when it boils down to entertaining potential players with a swath of games and apps, namely the likes of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered and Risk of Rain.
With that said, you’re free to explore a vast array of different video game genres on your Chromebook, such as adventure and strategy. Corroborating those write-ups is this guide, detailing the top 10 RPGs that you can play on ChromeOS without breaking a sweat. Let’s dive right into the listicle with no further ado.
- Recommended read for some lightweight gaming: The 20 best Google Doodle games to play in 2022.
10 of the best RPGs to play on ChromeOS
The following is our round-up of the best RPGs you can enjoy on your Chromebook, as many others are as we speak. Make sure to read until the end for the best results.
It’s worth noting that the games outlined ahead have been picked up from two different sources: The Google Play Store and Steam alpha. To begin, make sure that the Play Store feature on your Chromebook is activated and ready to go to make things proceed smoothly.
As for Steam alpha, the latter only arrived at the forefront of ChromeOS’ gaming handle last year. It’s currently in a developmental stage, so do expect hiccups here and there. Our guide on downloading Steam alpha on Chromebooks will walk you through the necessary details that you need to be caught up on.
The gist of it is that the Steam alpha app is only compatible with a select number of Chromebooks at the moment, so all of you might not be able to run this gaming-centric software on your end.
You can check out the interlinked guide for an in-depth account of these particular devices along with the rest of the essentials required to download and install Steam alpha on ChromeOS. Once you’ve gotten these prerequisites right, you’ll be able to get going with the best Steam games that have been tested to work with Chromebooks.
With all that said, let’s now dive into the RPGs that you should certainly be playing on your Chromebook.
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
To talk about RPGs and not mention The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt would be nothing but a disservice to the icon that this game has shaped up to be. One of CD Projekt Red’s best works is highlighted by what we have here at our disposal, showcasing a brilliant open world that is loaded to the brim with content to discover and other-worldly creatures to slay.
Although the RPG came out about 7 years ago, it still holds its ground to this day in an excellent fashion, boasting insane replayability value and deep-dyed lore to partake in. Geralt of Rivia is the protagonist that you’ll be setting foot into the Continent as, which is the in-game world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
From the moment you dive into the prologue of the game to the very finishing chapter that has Geralt rising above his foes, this RPG is a joyride to embark on, made only better with the bustling amount of side quests and points of interest popping up in-game every now and then.
Since the installation of the game can be quite daunting, given the perplexity of installing Steam alpha, we’ve already written a guide on how to install The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on ChromeOS. Make sure to refer to it for step-by-step instructions.
2. Risk of Rain 2
Next up, we have yet another Steam game making headlines for its gripping gameplay. Risk of Rain 2 is a third-person shooter, played from a camera perspective that’s vastly similar to the aforementioned The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
However, the subgenre of Risk of Rain 2 differs from the latter is multiple ways, starting with the fact that the game in question is a roguelike shooter. This means that the title features characteristic roguelike elements, such as permanent death and procedurally generated levels. Moreover, there’s the flexibility of gathering hoot and looting dead monsters too.
All of these gameplay mechanics come together to pave the way to a fantastic user experience at the end of the day, not to mention the competitive pricing of the game that lets you purchase it for less than $5. That is to say, Risk of Rain 2 is currently sporting a terrific discounted deal on Steam at the time of writing.
Risk of Rain 2 is one of the most versatile RPGs on this list. The in-game locales that you’ll be exploring and trying to get through are all handcrafted, so you’ll certainly notice the attention to detail paid by the developers in that regard. You’ll also enjoy unlocking different survivors and learning their skills to heighten your chances of survival.
If you’d like a detailed write-up on how to install Risk of Rain 2 on a Chromebook, please feel free to dive into the interlinked guide.
3. Genshin Impact
If there’s any RPG out there that has made a boom in the mobile space alone, it’s Genshin Impact—no questions asked. This title decorates itself as one of the most established RPGs out there, featuring a massive open world that’s loaded with content to get into.
It’s a title that lets you meet new people, interact with and befriend them, and then go on missions together. The storyline of Genshin Impact is fairly involved as well, so you’re sure to be drawn into its lore right from the get-go. Another noteworthy part is that the game is free to play, so no need to open up your wallet for this one.
The game is available to play on a variety of different consoles, including PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Among them include mobile operating systems too, such as Android and iOS. Therefore, thanks to the availability of the Google Play Store on Chromebooks, users do not need a Steam alpha-supported device to play Genshin Impact.
In lieu of that, all you have to do is head over to the Google Play Store app on your Chromebook, search for the RPG, and grab it from there afterward. For a step-by-step guide, check out our article on how to install Genshin Impact on ChromeOS.
4. Marvel Future Fight
When it comes down to a hand-picked selection of terrific action RPGs, Marvel Future Fight doesn’t take long to become an instant personal favorite. The title in question is utterly addictive; once you get the hang of things and start racking up powerful heroes, there’s just no shutting your Chromebook down.
Future Fight is optimized for ChromeOS but is best enjoyed when you have something along the lines of the ever-capable Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook. That’s because the title prioritizes the use of touch controls, so if you happen to have a touch-enabled Chromebook with a high-quality display, waste no time in trying out this epic action role-playing game.
If you’re a fan of Marvel comics, and you’ve watched every single Marvel Cinematic Universe movie like us, you’ll grow fond of unlocking your favorite characters in-game and then utilizing their powers to save the world as you know it.
To date, the title has accumulated more than 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store alone, so it certainly has something going for it to garner such fame. From the competitive multiplayer mechanics to the way the story missions are laid out, Marvel Future Fight is one of the top RPGs you should be playing on your Chromebook.
5. Stardew Valley
If you’re tired of playing the same type of RPGs time and time again, it’s imperative that you try a simulator RPG for a change. Thankfully, Stardew Valley is the perfect pick for you in this regard, coming across as a smash-hit farming simulator that’s available to play on a wide variety of different consoles, including mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS.
Stardew Valley, as an RPG, is multi-faceted. One moment it has you customizing your farm and home all the while breeding your farm animals whereas, in the other, you’ll be selecting a potential marriage candidate. There’s just so much to do in this hearty farming simulator that you’ll lose track of time trying to get through the end of the day.
However, what makes Stardew Valley one of the top RPGs to experience on a Chromebook doesn’t just revolve around farming and marrying and livestock breeding. Apart from all of that, this RPG lets you explore your surroundings and take part in a bustling community. That way, you become a valuable member of your society.
Please note that Stardew Valley is a paid game and cannot be downloaded for free. If you’d still like step-by-step instructions on how to proceed with the installation of the title, check out our in-depth guide on how to install Stardew Valley on ChromeOS.
6. Dislyte
Dislyte is one of the freshest releases on the list so far, coming out in May 2022 and packing quite the RPG punch. The title in question is a mythological pop-fantasy RPG that features a futuristic setting with fast-paced music. It’s a free-to-play game, albeit with numerous in-game purchases or microtransactions.
However, even at that, Dislyte is quite well-balanced and does not force players a lot to spend money on purchasing in-game virtual items. These types of games are also called “gacha” games.
It’s one of the reasons why Dislyte cannot be regarded as a regular gacha game since most of these have a particularly high interest in pushing micro-transactions or in other words, in-game purchases to the forefront of the playability scenario.
Games like Dislyte are built with an opposite strategy in mind, but the same cannot be said for this one though. We highly recommend giving this title a shot on your end and visualizing how things turn out.
Oh, and it’s important to know that Dislyte on ChromeOS is best enjoyed on a touchscreen Chromebook that sports a 2-in-1 convertible design. If you have one of the latter, you’re in for a toothsome treat.
7. Diablo Immortal
Next up on the list, we’ve got ourselves an entry from one of the most established RPG franchises in the world—Diablo. Now that this epic series has had a mobile installment in recent times, fans can’t get enough of the addiction and flavor posed by Diablo Immortal, a highly gripping Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game that’s even free-to-play.
The game can be grabbed from the Google Play Store without paying a single dime, although micro-transactions do not count in this equation. The developers advertise this title as the “ground-breaking Diablo experience” and playing through the mobile iteration of the popular RPG series, one might find it hard to say otherwise.
Diablo Immortal features a heavy focus on loot, meaning that your character is made to scavenge the in-game world — whether from chests or the corpses of your foes — to upgrade gear and become a better warrior.
8. Tower of Fantasy
As we near the end of the guide, it’s certainly worth talking about another high-quality RPG that was released quite recently. Tower of Fantasy is often called a Genshin Impact clone, but there are several differences that set these two titles apart. At the end of the day though, you’ll have a ton of fun trying out both games—that’s for sure
Although there is a number of similarities that the duo of these games shares, one major contrast that has surfaced is that of socialization. Tower of Fantasy, at its core, is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) whereas Genshin Impact is a game with a heavy focus on a single-player campaign.
That means one will find tons of more ways to socialize in Tower of Fantasy as compared to its counterpart. The co-op feature is utilized well in Genshin Impact, but not on the same level as the latter. Nevertheless, we’re of the opinion that you should experiment and play both games to decide which one bakes the cake for you.
If you’re after more details, such as an in-depth analysis of the game’s features and its installation steps, check out our write-up on how to play Tower of Fantasy on a Chromebook.
9. Shadow Fight 4: Arena
Developed as the next mainline entry in the iconic Shadow Fight series, Shadow Fight 4: Arena brings the thrill of fighting games to the forefront of Chromebooks. It’s a title that sports appreciable gameplay mechanics with moments of satisfaction embedded in each round.
If you’ve played the previous Shadow Fight games, then you already know what’s coming. Shadow Fight 4: Arena, however, also sports a story mode that you can play through and get closer to the backstory of every playable warrior. In case you’re after sheer combat in your RPG games, Shadow Fight 4 is the title to play, and that’s a sure-fire fact.
10. Final Fantasy VII
Topping this list off with style and substance is Final Fantasy VII—a paid Google Play Store RPG that will have you on the edge of your seat as you play it and experience a highly engaging storyline based around multiple characters. The protagonist of the title is called Cloud Strife, a high-class warrior and an ex-member of an elite “Soldier” unit.
This particular iteration of the Final Fantasy series has sold more than 11 million copies, thereby gesturing the developers to release a mobile port and let Android and iOS users get a taste of this visual brilliance. Final Fantasy VII is a completely 3D game with real-time action combat.
The title features a distinct “material” system too that makes it possible to customize and upgrade your character with a truckload of tweaks and enhancements. One of the major benefits that you can enjoy playing Final Fantasy VII on your Chromebook is a “Max Stats” command that will let your character’s stats go all the way up.
In doing so, you can get a taste of what maxing out your powers feels like and what it does for the character. Another extra option available in the Android version is the ability to toggle off encounters with your enemies anytime, so if you’re in the mood to roam around and explore different areas, this functionality is probably going to come in handy.
- The game isn’t free to play but does cost less than $10. Feel free to grab it from the Google Play Store.
Conclusion
At Chrome Ready, we have a firm belief that ChromeOS is great for gaming. Thanks to the arrival of Steam alpha on these minimalistic devices, things are only going to tread uphill from this point on. Even if you’re not a huge fan of hardcore gaming, the Google Play Store is always available to set the mood and help you engage in some lightweight comical fun.
In this guide, we’ve enlisted the top 10 role-playing games that you should be playing on your Chromebook at all costs if you happen to be a hearty RPG aficionado. Do let us know in the comments section ahead whether you picked up your next favorite game from the listicle.
As always, Chrome Ready wishes you happy gaming!
- Before you go: Top 10 cool Chromebook usage tips and tricks you should know.