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Hello!

I am looking for some advice on getting a new RPG game. I LOVE Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, Planescape Torment (and its successor) and the Fallout series. I'd like to find some new (or old) RPG similar to these games. I DON'T like too open RPGs. I would like a relativity closed RPG with a great story (or stories) to follow while you gain experience. I've briefly tried Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity and Skyrim. However, these are (at least from my limited interaction with these games) too open IMO. I just feel that it's about levelling without any specific deeper purpose. So what could some closed RPGs with great stories in the fashion of my above mentioned favourites be? Would really appreciate your recommendations!

I've thought about KOTOR and The Witcher 1 and 2. Could these be for me? A big hindrance is that I only have a macbook air 2015, so I can't really play the newest games with the highest specs.
If you don't mind graphics too much, Betrayal at Krondor is one of the best RPGs ever. It's fairly open with plenty of secrets to be found. It does have an excellent storyline though. I recommend taking the time to explore every nook and cranny even though the game gives you clear objectives.
I say YES for KOTOR (both of 'em, with their respective patch which add some content removed because of lack of time), but I am pretty sure The Witcher 2 will have some hard time with a Macbook air 2015. But of course I can be wrong. These Witcher games are great anyway.
Fans of the classic Fallout games seem to really enjoy UnderRail, maybe it's worth a look.

For story, though, I highly recommend the Shadowrun Returns trilogy, especially , and, to a lesser extent, the last one, [url=https://www.gog.com/game/shadowrun_hong_kong_extended_edition]Hong Kong.

[EDIT] Just noticed you can only play on macOS, so I guess UnderRail is a no-go. The Shadowrun Returns games all have Mac versions, though.
Post edited August 16, 2017 by groze
Planet Alcatraz similar to the Fallout 1/2 (but with 4 playble charachters). Unfortunately avalaible only in steam.
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Isthmos: ...
I think you're looking for Arcanum, especially if you like how Fallouts look like. It also has great, reactive world and interesting story. Believe me, you'd like it.

Regarding Witcher - if you're okay with more action approach to RPG, it should be great. There is strong story line leading you through the whole adventure and it's interesting. In Witcher it's also nice how it looks and intriguing Slavic setting, which is refreshing in the world of fantasy clones.
The big key to liking KOTOR is being a Star Wars fan.

The games have issues but if you love the subject these are easily overlooked making for two great games.

If you could give a shit about Jedi, Hutts, Droids, Light Sabres then you are going to be let down regardless of how good it is or isn't.
+1 for KotoR and Arcanum.
I have no idea if they can run on a Mac, though.
Post edited August 16, 2017 by Pherim
Icewind Dale is pretty closed (linear) with a pretty nice story.
I was gonna say icewind dale is pretty fun, ZFR hit the nail on the head with the description.
Shadowrun Returns is a really good recommendation, I'd say more so than even Dragonfall if you want to avoid stuff that is too open. In fact, one of the complaints I heard against Returns was that it wasn't open like a Shadowrun game should be.

Personally, I liked the more tightly focused story of Returns, and the appropriate length that let you enjoy the world, the characters and the mechanics for just enough time, but not so long that you'd get bored of them.
Post edited August 16, 2017 by babark
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Isthmos: I've briefly tried Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity and Skyrim. However, these are (at least from my limited interaction with these games) too open IMO. I just feel that it's about levelling without any specific deeper purpose.
That may be a good description for the first Baldur's Gate, but BG2 has more meaningful story and character interaction.

I'd say try out Bakdur's Gate 2... but unfortunately I'd suggest playing Baldur's Gate (1) with its expansion before that. You can certainly start playing BG2 right away, but some characters etc. are more familiar to you in BG2 if you have played BG1 before it, and also you can continue BG2 with the same character you had in BG1.

For me BG1 was mostly quite boring and I liked BG2 more, but I am still happy I had played and finished BG1 before proceeding to BG2.
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Isthmos: Hello!

I am looking for some advice on getting a new RPG game. I LOVE Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, Planescape Torment (and its successor) and the Fallout series. I'd like to find some new (or old) RPG similar to these games. I DON'T like too open RPGs. I would like a relativity closed RPG with a great story (or stories) to follow while you gain experience. I've briefly tried Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity and Skyrim. However, these are (at least from my limited interaction with these games) too open IMO. I just feel that it's about levelling without any specific deeper purpose. So what could some closed RPGs with great stories in the fashion of my above mentioned favourites be? Would really appreciate your recommendations!

I've thought about KOTOR and The Witcher 1 and 2. Could these be for me? A big hindrance is that I only have a macbook air 2015, so I can't really play the newest games with the highest specs.
I recommend Dragon Age: Origins
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Isthmos: I've briefly tried Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity and Skyrim. However, these are (at least from my limited interaction with these games) too open IMO. I just feel that it's about levelling without any specific deeper purpose.
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timppu: That may be a good description for the first Baldur's Gate, but BG2 has more meaningful story and character interaction.

I'd say try out Bakdur's Gate 2... but unfortunately I'd suggest playing Baldur's Gate (1) with its expansion before that. You can certainly start playing BG2 right away, but some characters etc. are more familiar to you in BG2 if you have played BG1 before it, and also you can continue BG2 with the same character you had in BG1.

For me BG1 was mostly quite boring and I liked BG2 more, but I am still happy I had played and finished BG1 before proceeding to BG2.
Thanks for all the replies. Wow, an imposing list has already been compiled. I have a lot of great games to look forward to! :)

Yes I think I was a bit hasty on my judgment on BG and PoE. I only tested the two games for a couple of hours. And yes, it was BG1, and I think that I would enjoy BG2 much more from what I've read of it. I liked the combat system in BG1. Perhaps I should just advance directly to BG2 and then perhaps play the first one later if the second would please me. Thanks for the reply.
Yes, by all means, play BG2! If it means you skip the first for now, so be it. I still have a very special relationship with the first one because it was my first RPG, but while I still love it, I can see by now it is not without its flaws. And the second one improves on every aspect of it, although I must admit, at first I was a bit disappointed just because it was not as open as the first one, where I had loved to just explore the various forest and mountain maps. But if less open is better for you, play the second one. You won't miss that much in terms of story, anyway.

I also like the Icewind Dale games, but they are much more combat-oriented. While they have decent story lines, they don't offer all that much in terms of role-playing, certainly not to the extent of PS:T, Fallout, and the other games you mentioned.