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Ready to feel old? It’s been 20 years since the action roleplaying game Nox released on computers. Yes, two decades!

Think about how much has changed in that time. We didn’t have iPhones, people were actually nice to each other on the internet (for the most part), and only about 360 million of us had internet.

Even so, Nox holds up today as a classic action/RPG hybrid with an engaging story and fun gameplay. If action RPGs are your style, definitely keep reading to learn more about Nox and other similar games that have released throughout the years.



Looking back at Nox
Developed by Westwood Pacific, Nox introduced players to a high fantasy parallel universe where you could choose between three unique classes and, in turn, stories. Its three different stories helped the title stand out, as did the title’s unique fog-of-war system called TrueSight. To this day, games are still using variations of the same system!

Framed as one of the most anticipated games at E3 in 1999, it was well-received by critics and gamers alike. It even got a free update in August 2000 that introduced multiplayer.

Nox helped define 20 years of hack’n'slash action RPGs
Even today, we still see elements that were introduced or improved upon in games like Nox and the original Diablo. To this day, these games have stood the test of time and continue to evolve and become bigger in scope than ever before. People love action RPGs and hack’n'slash titles so we thought it would be fun to look at some of the great offerings in the genre to help celebrate Nox’s 20th anniversary.

Check them out below!



Grim Dawn
One of the newer titles on the list, Grim Dawn is a heavily atmospheric action RPG (ARPG) with six classes to choose from. While six may not seem like a lot, Grim Dawn does something interesting by allowing you to multiclass into two different ones to create unique builds that are perfect for you.



Transistor
If you are looking for something with an amazing art style and fun gameplay, then Transistor should definitely be on your radar. Unlike many on the list that deals with doom and gloom and medieval-style fantasy, Transistor is set in a sci-fi universe and features a rich story and unique gameplay.



The Bard’s Tale IV
If you are looking for something a little less action, a little more RPG, then The Bard’s Tale IV: Director's Cut might be worth looking into. While previous games in the series were more focused on the dungeon crawling, the fourth brings more story and gives players the option to create parties with NPCs that fit your play style.



Soldak Entertainment
In case you didn’t realize, is not a game, but a game studio. Why include it on the list? For the team’s dedication to the genre! If zombies are your style, then definitely take the time to check out . If fantasy and strategy are more your speed, then [url=https://www.gog.com/game/depths_of_peril]Depths of Peril, Din’s Curse, and Din's Legacy definitely deserve your attention.



Gauntlet
Looking for a four-player action RPG game to enjoy? Enjoy battling darkness and building the perfect class? Gauntlet Slayer Edition is sure to impress! Gauntlet combines both fully-built levels and randomly-generated dungeons to create a unique game world to explore by yourself or with your friends.



Victor Vran
Another pretty deep title on the list, Victor Vran takes place in an atmospheric medieval world and allows players to play the game exactly how they want. Players build out their characters through powerful weapons, outfits that change your stats, demonic powers that are at your disposal, and destiny cards that can change the flow of battle in an instance.



Titan Quest
Titan Quest Anniversary Edition is a game about the battle of good versus evil and if Greek mythology is something you enjoy, this action RPG is definitely worth checking out. It allows you to explore the ancient world, including places like the Parthenon, Great Pyramids, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and more.



Sacred Gold
What do you do when Orcish hordes and Undead legions are running wild and must be stopped? Well, in Sacred Gold, you choose from one of eight classes (included Dwarf, Gladiator, Wood Elf, and more) to combat the evil forces that have fallen on the kingdom. With hundreds of weapons, items, and more to collect, there is plenty here to keep you busy.

If you are looking for a new action RPG to enjoy and don’t know where to start - together with Nox, these 10 titles are all solid choices. Whether it is medieval, sci-fi, or mythology, there is something here for everyone.

What are your favorite action RPGs? Let us know in the comments below!
I can't believe Nox is 20 years old. it still holds up and fun to play.
Nox is <3! Are there other ARPGs that feel like a fairy tale adventure? Sacred, especially first one, Dungeon Siege 1, maaaybe Divine/Beyond Divinity. What else?
Nox is for hack and slash games what Gothic is for third person role playing games and Dune 2 is for RTS games. These three games are probably the most influential ones that will ever exist in video gaming, probably more so than super famous games like Mario or Zelda. While these two examples are way more famous you didn't see these games "branching out" in ways similar to Nox.

One may even say that games such as Nox, Gothic and Dune 2 are true expressions of art as they also characterized and reshaped the modern video games landscape as we now understand it.
Nox is pretty good.

Titan Quest is still the best Isometric ARPG that I have played. Grim Dawn is close second.

A good selection of games for this event.
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idbeholdME: Titan Quest is still the best Isometric ARPG that I have played.
+1
Titan Quest, Transistor, Victor Vran, Gauntlet and Nox are five games that I really enjoyed playing.
I have to try Grim Dawn briefly because I’ve heard it’s very good.
My impression is that Bard's Take IV isn't action at all and therefore doesn't really belong on this list.
Hey hey people! ;P
PoE is quite good, too.
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victorchopin: Hey hey people! ;P
PoE is quite good, too.
That´s not Hack and Slash :P
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victorchopin: Hey hey people! ;P
PoE is quite good, too.
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Tarhiel: That´s not Hack and Slash :P
"Nox helped define 20 years of hack’n'slash action RPGs"


(...)
ACHTUALLY

"action RPGs"
;P
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Tarhiel: That´s not Hack and Slash :P
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victorchopin: "Nox helped define 20 years of hack’n'slash action RPGs"

(...)
ACHTUALLY

"action RPGs"
;P
You were talking about Pillars of Eternity in that post :P
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idbeholdME: Titan Quest is still the best Isometric ARPG that I have played.
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mw.834515: +1
Yes, there was something special about Titan Quest. I really liked that it (especially the original game) was a "heroic fantasy" rather than a "dark fantasy". Between the Diablo Series and Path of Exile, I don't see how the market can support any more ARPGs "in a dark, gritty fantasy world". Yet Wolcen, Last Epoch and Grim Dawn are all trying to cram into that space.

I'd really like to find a modern game that is going for heroic rather than disgusting (D3 temple of the firstborn, i'm looking at you). Path of Exile is evolving away from what I enjoy, and I'm getting tired of having my progress in standard wiped away every three months.

Viking: Wolves of Midgard (at least for the parts that I played) managed to set a tone that was harsh and grim but not gross for the sake of being gross. I wish they had looked at it as the start of something long-term rather than a one-off.

Any suggestions?

Also Chris Wilson of Grinding Gear gave a talk at GDC called "Designing Path of Exile to Be Played Forever". It raises some interesting points.
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victorchopin: "Nox helped define 20 years of hack’n'slash action RPGs"

(...)
ACHTUALLY

"action RPGs"
;P
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Tarhiel: You were talking about Pillars of Eternity in that post :P
HAH!
I was talking about Path of Exile! :P
+1 dude for sure
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Dray2k: Nox is for hack and slash games what Gothic is for third person role playing games and Dune 2 is for RTS games.
Wow, is Gothic really the oldest 3rd person RPG?