I just finished Bloodlines, the previous RPG I finished was The Witcher. Some of my favorite things in this two games was I didn't feel like I made a bad choice. I could I didn't feel forced to pick a side just to get the "good ending". Sure there were though choices, but even when it wasn't the perfect choice it felt like the best or right choice.

But anyway, I like good stories that grip me. Currently I prefer western RPG's. Mostly because I hate grinding and while JRPG's have great stories, the grinding part means I'll usually give up in the middle of the game, because to get that ultimate weapon so I can kill the boss that will let me get the other ultimate best weapon that I need to finish the game, I will need to spend hours and hours doing the same thing.

I've played KOTOR 1, Shadowrun Returns, Borderlands 1 and 2, Torchlight 2, and The Witcher 1.

I've tried KOTOR 2, but it failed to hook me so far. I also tried Jade Empire and was enjoying t well enough, but then something didn't clicked or I started to get bored, not sure. (Also disappointed with the Open palm/close fist system, because in master in the school explained that if you were too open palm you could end up doing more bad that good, and if you were too close fist it didn't mean you were total evil, and yet the game played exactly like that. What was the point of that explanation, when then it just felt like Light Side/Dark side system in KOTOR?)

I also tried Morrowind, but I get overwhelmed and feel lost. Maybe I'm not used to old difficult games, but to me it feels a bit unintuitive.

I've started playing Planescape: Torment but was scared off by the walls of text and the difficulty. It's not off my to play list, but not sure I can invest the necessary time for such a game.

I've started playing Dragonfall on my iPad, but can't remember why I stop playing it in the middle of the game.

I currently have Mass Effect 2 on Origin (got it in that free sale), but wanted to played it after I played the first. However I'm not sure how well my laptop can handle Mass Effect series. I can probably play ME1, maybe 2, but definitely not 3.

I was a bit on the fence on FFXIII, I read people putting it down because it's so linear (but that doesn't bother as long as I'm interested in the story), but also read it can be too repetitive especially in the first 20 or so hours, is that true? Being an JRPG, how easy is it to understand and master (or at least be competent enough) the rpg/battle system to enjoy the game?

Dragon Age Origins is on my to play list I was going to get it on sale, but ended up going for Bloodlines. How much do I have to care (battle wise) for the team characters? I don't mind some managing, but having to micromanage each character in the party is something that is a bit off putting for me :S

First person, third person, isometric is all good, as long as the game pulls/hooks me. I like challenge, as long as it doesn't frustrate me to the point of quitting.

I do enjoy cyberpunk. I confess I have both disc and digital version of Deus EX and have yet to play it. I look at the game and have been put of by the graphics/feel of the game. But I'm sure once I get into it, I'll forget about it. Would you recommend playing vanilla, or some mods to improve/bug correct/modernize the game? I also have System Shock 2 and Bioshock 1 on my to play list, but the horror elements have kept me from playing them. Don't mind some horror, but don't like horror as a main attraction.

I tried the Witcher 2, but my laptop barely runs it (or I just didn't know how to work the settings to have a good experience. And The Witcher 3 is simply to demanding for my laptop

So after Bloodlines, what do you suggest might be my next RPG?

Bare in mind, it has to play on my laptop, specs below:

Windows 8.1 64bit

Intel Core i3-4005U

NVidia GeForce 820m 2GB VRAM

4GB DDR3 RAM

You tried the Gothic games? Their in a way similar to Witcher but not as good, not bad at all but not as good as Witcher.

No I haven't. I have bothe Risen 1 and 2 (which I believe are from the same developers).

Two Worlds, they are both good.
Oblivion is easier to get into than Morrowind and is lovely:)

Yes, oblivion, but need a ton of mods - search oblivion mod 2017 nexus
Two worlds is totally action focused, so not the depth of vtm.
Risen 1 is pretty hard to get int but good, 2 is more a fun action adventure, 3 more of same.
Da: origins is a great game, not so much like vtm though. You can focus on different parties, skills and have different adventures.
You could try the first vampire game bloodlines.
Or the drakensang games.

Maybe try giving Shadowrun Dragonfall another opportunity, play it on your computer though as it'll probably be a more enjoyable/immersive experience. The storytelling is really well paced and mostly delivered through short dialogues between characters instead of exposition, there's no unnecessary bloated text with confusing terminology, the quests and side quests make sense and contribute to plot or character development and overall it's a smart and fun rpg with a thriller-like setting. It's a pity I can't say the same for Shadowrun Hong Kong but Dragonfall is quite good.

Divinity Original Sin and (although not as much but almost) Tyranny, are also great recent games, and as for good old ones you can't go wrong with Arcanum and Fallout 1 and 2. Also, even though it's not technically an rpg, you might also enjoy The Banner Saga.

Finally, Lisa and Undertale on the Mother 3/subversive-jrpg side of things, those ones are really masterpieces on its own terms, especially Lisa and Lisa the Joyful.

Sorry, first game is redemption.

As for Deus Ex, I highly recommend using GMDX (http://www.moddb.com/mods/gmdx).

It's a MUCH better mod than the other one on GOG.

Gothic is way better then the Risen series. Actually has quite a following in Germany and other parts of central Europe. Lots of free mods and fan fix packs as well for all of the Gothic games so you can get them to run on just about any modern system.

Expeditions: Viking might be up your alley. It's predecessor Expeditions: Conquisdator was a strategy RPG, but Viking leans more towards being a traditional RPG.

I haven't noticed grinding being a problem with non-ancient JRPGs; that's really only a problem with early RPGs in general. Final Fantasy games, for example, can generally be beaten without having to stop and grind; just play through the game, kill the enemies you encounter, and maybe do some sidequests (especially in FF6's late game, where the developers expect you to do them, though perhaps also FF5's endgame), and you should be strong enough to finish the game. The only exceptions might be the first 2 or 3 and, of course, the online ones (11 and 14).

As an example, Grandia 2, from what I have heard, is generally considered to be *too* easy. I don't know anything about how balanced the Trails and Hyperdimension games are in this respect, but I wouldn't expect them to require you to stop and level up.

(Even Disgaea can be beaten without stopping or going into the Item World more than the one time the game requires you to; it's only the post game, where enemy levels reach 3 or 4 digits, where "grinding" (I really don't like that term) becomes necessary.)

Avoid the Mount and Blade games then. They are a slow grind to get stronger, then grinding the enemies into the ground.

they're also kind of confusing. First few hours I was never quite sure what the hell I was supposed to be doing.

Raise stats, hire companions, get better gear. Much later: join a faction of your choice. Very much later: Paint all of Calradia in the colours of your faction :-) To reach that point, you will have to fight A LOT. I might have achieved that four times in the first game but never got far in Warband.

Bioshock is awesome. Bioshock Infinite is my favourite ever game. Both have to be experienced - you will not be disappointed.