Let's Name The Top 100 Action-RPG/Adventure Video Games

[BurningDoom]

And I thought Skyrim was supposed to be the game of the decade.

Just looking at my collection and seeing what might qualify:

Willy Beamish sega cd
Star Tropics
Zoda's Revenge
Castlevania (the ones that apply to the genre)
Ultimate Alliance series
X-Men Legends series
...

Man. I see so many games that could be action-rpg/adventure games. Did anyone agree on strict rules for game classification?

I started the thread, and gave it the title. I just wanted to see games where your character progresses, grows, levels-up, or has some sort of RPG elements to it; but not JRPGs with menu-based battle systems, random encounters, and turn-based battles. That would include hack-n-slash dungeon crawlers, western RPGs, action-RPGs, etc.

I've seen it argued here on Racketboy on more than one occasion that The Legend of Zelda was an adventure game, while others argued it being an action-RPG. So to get both into the thread, I put them both in there.

I still maintain that Zelda is an adventure series that just happens to have a few rpg elements in it, but we're talking like bare minimum rpg elements. I mean Link doesn't even level. I think people who consider Zelda an rpg just don't know much about rpgs. It's a dead giveaway. I never met anyone who plays a lot of rpgs and calls Zelda games rpgs. If you even suggest it they just look at you like you're stupid

I also know a lot of gamers who ONLY consider JRPGs to be "true" RPGs. It's all a matter of opinion.

[Erik_Twice]

You will probably notice that "RPG elements" never includes roleplaying. Just to show how much of a misnomer they are. No need to get angry over something as silly.

[Gamerforlife]

Not angry, I just find it interesting how technical people get with the term. Truth is, when a typical fan of rpgs, whether it's japanese rpgs, western rpgs or MMORPGs hears the term, I guarantee that a Zelda game is the last thing that pops into their minds. No one ever announces a new Zelda game as a new rpg. They just call it a new Zelda game. That's just the reality, but I'm going to leave it alone. It's just my opinion(even if I do think it's a fact) and I don't want to derail the thread with a topic that has already been on the forum a million times

[Gamerforlife]

This may seem an odd choice, but I don't know how else to classify this game other than to call it an adventure game. It's similar to point and click adventure games in some ways

[MrEco]

I saved the best for last as this is my personal favourite game of all time.

[Retrogamer0001]

The term "adventure game" is extremely broad, so it's not surprising that people argue over whether certain games should be included in the category or not. I personally consider most games to be "adventure" games, and that includes all RPGS. Side-scrollers, platformers, first-person shooters - anything not a puzzle, racing, or fighting game is an adventure game in my opinion. Even most strategy games like Starcraft are games I would consider an adventure, though a shooter like Call of Duty wouldn't be. I think it really depends on personal interpretation.

[Razzmatazz]

Shenmue 2!! Body Harvest and Shadowman were good ones too.

[Luke]

This may seem an odd choice, but I don't know how else to classify this game other than to call it an adventure game. It's similar to point and click adventure games in some ways

Indigo Prophecy as well.

[pakopako]

So, would the console versions of ShadowRun (there are many, but I'm only experienced with the SNES version) fall into here?

They are actually technically pure-RPG (explore, meet people, level up), but the SNES version at least is peppered with Action elements (though not as fast-paced as the Tales of.. series) as well as Adventure elements (puzzle-solving through cyberspace).

Or what about Action/Adventure games with RPG elements like River City Ransom. Or Spike McFang. Or the Ninja Bros. series. And no one's mentioned Golden Axe Warrior yet?

[MrNash]

No Diablo II? For shame!