In many RPGs, the world is simple: you pick a class and stick to it like the law. But not all games follow that well-worn path.
Some encourage you to experiment – blending combat styles, magic, and abilities into hybrid builds that don’t fit into rigid class boxes.
Game | Release | Genre | Developer | Video | |
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| Elden Ring | 2022-02-22 | Adventure & Role-playing (RPG) | FromSoftware | |
| The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Anniversary Edition | 2021-11-11 | Adventure & Role-playing (RPG) | Bethesda Game Studios | |
| Divinity Original Sin 2 | 2017-09-14 | Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure | Larian Studios | |
| Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition | 2010-10-21 | Shooter & Role-playing (RPG) | Obsidian Entertainment | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 2020-12-10 | Shooter & Adventure | CD PROJEKT RED | |
| Dark Souls III | 2016-04-11 | Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure | FromSoftware, Inc. | |
| Borderlands 3 | 2020-04 | Role-playing (RPG) & Shooter | Gearbox Software | |
| World Of Warcraft Shadowlands | 2020-11-23 | Role-playing (RPG) | Blizzard Entertainment | |
| Diablo 3 | Role-playing (RPG) & Hack and slash/Beat 'em up | Blizzard Entertainment | ||
| Bloodborne | Role-playing (RPG) | FromSoftware |
This list is for the rule-breakers – the RPGs that throw away class-based conservatism in favour of true character freedom. Occasionally, that means more tactical options. Every so often, it just feels good to play your way…
Elden Ring
Release date: | 2022-02-22 |
Genre: | Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure |
Developer: | FromSoftware |
Elden Ring is a dark and sprawling action RPG set in the haunting world of the Lands Between. You play as one of the Tarnished, journeying through a cursed land searching for power and meaning – with the ultimate goal of becoming the next Elden Lord.
At the start, you pick from eight different classes that shape your initial stats and gear. But that’s just the beginning. As you explore the open world and gather weapons, gear, and spells, you can gradually move away from your starting archetype.
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Skyrim
Release date: | 2016-10-27 |
Genre: | Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure |
Developer: | Bethesda Game Studios |
Skyrim is a timeless classic and easily the most beloved entry in The Elder Scrolls series. You begin as a nameless prisoner and gradually discover that you’re the legendary Dragonborn, fated to save the world from Alduin.
Unlike many traditional RPGs, Skyrim doesn’t lock you into a class. Instead, your chosen race gives you some initial stat bonuses and a few unique traits, but beyond that, your character can become whatever you want. You can master every skill just by using it, which opens the door to hybrid builds, mixed roles, and total character freedom.
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Divinity: Original Sin 2
Release date: | 2017-09-14 |
Genre: | Role-playing (RPG) & Strategy & Turn-based strategy (TBS) & Adventure |
Developer: | Larian Studios |
Divinity: Original Sin 2 takes place in the fantasy world of Rivellon, a thousand years after the events of the first game. You play as a Sourcerer (also called Godwoken), chosen to fight back against the dark forces of the Void and challenge the oppressive Divine Order.
At the start, you can either create your own protagonist or choose from a cast of pre-made origin characters. Your race and background affect certain interactions and grant passive bonuses, but the real magic lies in how you build your character. With over 200 skills to learn and combine, the game offers a deep multi-class system.
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World of Warcraft
Release date: | 2020-11-23 |
Genre: | Role-playing (RPG) |
Developer: | Blizzard Entertainment |
World of Warcraft is the ultimate MMORPG juggernaut, thriving for over two decades. Set in the high-fantasy world of Azeroth, it continues the saga of Warcraft, focusing on the eternal clash between the Alliance and the Horde.
Character creation starts with picking a race and one of many available classes. Some of these are hybrid classes, like Druids, Paladins, Shamans, and Evokers. These flexible characters can fluidly switch between tanking, healing, and dealing damage depending on gear, build, and group needs.
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Fallout: New Vegas
Release date: | 2010-10-21 |
Genre: | Shooter & Role-playing (RPG) |
Developer: | Obsidian Entertainment |
Fallout: New Vegas is a cult-favourite in the post-apocalyptic RPG scene. Set in the Mojave Wasteland, it follows the journey of a courier left for dead, who’s now out to retrieve a mysterious chip — an item far more valuable than it seems.
Unlike traditional class-based RPGs, New Vegas uses the SPECIAL stat system (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, Luck) to shape your character. From there, you customize perks and skills to your liking. The game encourages flexible characters and mixed roles through its open-ended RPG mechanics.
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Diablo III
Release date: | 2012-05-15 |
Genre: | Role-playing (RPG) & Hack and slash/Beat 'em up |
Developer: | Blizzard Entertainment |
Diablo III is the third instalment in the iconic dungeon-crawling, hack’n’slash series. Set in the dark fantasy world of Sanctuary, it picks up 20 years after Diablo II, with the forces of Hell once again threatening humanity.
The game features distinct classes with unique skill sets – you won’t mix skills across classes, but within each class, there’s profound customization. Thanks to skill runes and gear sets, you can create hybrid builds that drastically change how your character plays. For instance, a Wizard can focus on fire magic, cold magic, or blend both for a flexible, elemental-heavy play style.
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Borderlands series
Release date: | 2020-04 |
Genre: | Shooter & Role-playing (RPG) |
Developer: | Gearbox Software |
Borderlands is a beloved series of loot-driven “role-playing shooters” known for its comic book aesthetic, offbeat humour, and chaotic gun play. Set mainly on the lawless planet Pandora, you play as one of several Vault Hunters searching for technology, treasure, and trouble.
Each game starts with selecting a character tied to a specific class. But Borderlands shines when it comes to flexible characters and skills customization. By mixing skills from different branches of your character’s skill tree — and pairing them with thousands of guns and gear mods — you can create hybrid builds that break the mould.
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Cyberpunk 2077
Release date: | 2020-12-10 |
Genre: | Shooter & Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure |
Developer: | CD PROJEKT RED |
Cyberpunk 2077 is a gritty, narrative-driven RPG based on the tabletop system Cyberpunk 2020. Set in the sprawling Night City of the near future, you play as V, a merc with a haunted brain: a chip implant has fused your mind with the engram of rocker-turned-terrorist Johnny Silverhand.
At first, you choose a life path (Nomad, Corpo, or Streetkid), which affects your background and early story options. But from there, the game hands you complete character freedom. With attribute points and perks spread across combat, hacking, stealth, and social abilities, you can shape a hybrid build that blends tech skills with brute force or agility.
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Dark Souls
Release date: | 2016-04-11 |
Genre: | Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure |
Developer: | FromSoftware, Inc. |
Dark Souls is a (well…) dark, punishing action RPG and the spiritual successor to Demon’s Souls. Set in the haunting kingdom of Lordran, you play as an undead, slowly unravelling your fate.
At the start, you pick a class, but much like in Elden Ring, that choice mostly impacts your early gear and stats. From there, the world is your forge. You can mould your play style freely by distributing stat points, acquiring new gear, and adapting your strategy.
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While many RPGs still revolve around fixed class systems, a growing number have embraced player creativity with hybrid builds, multi-class systems, and skills customization that allow for real character freedom.
So if you’re tired of rigid roles and crave mixed styles or flexible characters, any of these titles will let you bend the rules — and maybe even rewrite them entirely.