9 Best RPGs for Beginners: Easy Games for New Players in 2026

RPGs are having a moment right now. Collecting champions, building teams, and watching your characters grow stronger gets addictive once you get into it.

If you’re exploring RPGs for the first time, you’ll want games where you learn as you play. We found RPGs where mechanics click naturally and you’re making real progress within your first few sessions.

Our top pick is RAID: Shadow Legends. Turn-based combat gives you time to think through decisions during battles. Champions are labeled Common through Mythical, so you know what’s powerful at a glance. With over 100 million downloads and counting, there’s a huge community of players who started as beginners and can give you valuable advice.

At a Glance: 9 Best RPGs for Beginners

Game	Best For	Platforms
1. RAID: Shadow Legends	Beginners who want strategic turn-based battles and a massive champion collection to explore	iOS, Android, PC (Windows), Mac
2. Marvel Puzzle Quest	Marvel fans who prefer puzzle gameplay over complex combat	iOS, Android, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox
3. Honkai: Star Rail	JRPG newcomers who want a guided experience	Windows, iOS, Android, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
4. Hero Wars	Casual players who want quick daily sessions	iOS, Android, Facebook/Web Browser
5. Watcher of Realms	Strategy learners who like tower defense	iOS, Android
6. King Arthur: Legends Rise	Mythology fans new to tactical RPGs	PC (Steam), iOS, Android
7. AFK Journey	Visual learners wanting minimal daily commitment	Windows, Android, iOS
8. Genshin Impact	Exploration lovers new to action RPGs	PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
9. AFK Arena	Players who want to progress between short play sessions	iOS, Android, Windows PC (via Google Play Games)

How We Chose the Best RPGs for Beginners

We looked at RPG games where you can jump in and start having fun right away. These games have mechanics that click naturally, and you’re making real progress within your first few sessions.

Here’s what makes an RPG great for new players:

• Learning curve: Does the game introduce mechanics at a natural pace?
• Combat clarity: Can you see what’s happening and why it matters?
• Progression structure: Does advancement feel rewarding and make sense?
• Session length: Can you make meaningful progress even in short sessions?
• Experimentation: Does the game give you space to try out different strategies and builds?
• Community support: Is there an active playerbase sharing tips and strategies?
• Free-to-play balance: Can you compete and progress without spending?

The 9 Best RPGs for New Players

1. RAID: Shadow Legends: The Best Beginner-Friendly RPG with Turn-Based Combat

RAID: Shadow Legends Features

• Turn-based combat lets you learn at your own pace during battles
• Six rarity tiers from Common to Mythical create clear progression goals
• Story campaign with 300+ champion backstories builds knowledge gradually
• 10+ game modes unlock as you progress through the tutorial
• Cross-platform sync works between mobile and PC devices
• 15 factions provide structured team-building learning paths

RAID: Shadow Legends Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Detailed 3D champion models look impressive on all devices	Menu system has a lot to explore initially
Deep strategic gameplay rewards careful planning	Energy system limits how much you can practice
Regular content updates add new champions and events	Later progression may require some grinding

RAID: Shadow Legends puts you in control of epic turn-based battles where every decision matters. The story campaign takes you through 12 fully-voiced locations, and each champion has a backstory that adds personality to your collection. With 300+ backstories, you’re building a roster of characters you care about.

The massive champion roster keeps things fresh. You’ve got 900+ champions to collect across 15 factions, each with unique abilities and stunning 3D models. The faction system creates natural team-building paths, so you’re discovering synergies between champions as you expand your collection and earn badges.

Cross-platform play lets you start on mobile during your commute and switch to PC at home. Your progress syncs automatically, so you’re not redoing anything. With 10+ game modes, you’ll have new things to try as you get comfortable with the basics.

2. Marvel Puzzle Quest: Match-3 Simplicity for Superhero Fans

Marvel Puzzle Quest Features

• Match-3 mechanics anyone can understand immediately
• 250+ Marvel characters provide familiar faces for fans
• Team synergies teach strategic thinking gradually

Marvel Puzzle Quest Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Strategic depth beyond typical puzzle games	Recent updates have caused some performance problems
Over a decade of continuous development and updates	Roster slot costs add up over time
Active community with 20 million players worldwide	Gameplay loop becomes repetitive after extended play

Marvel Puzzle Quest combines match-3 puzzles with superhero collecting. You assemble teams of three Marvel characters and battle through turn-based matches. If you’ve played any match-3 game before, you already understand the basics.

The roster keeps growing with 250+ Marvel characters from comics and the MCU. This means you’re constantly discovering new team combinations as you collect more heroes. The cover system lets you upgrade your favorites by collecting duplicates, and character synergies reveal themselves naturally as you experiment with different lineups.

Daily challenges and limited-time events give you reasons to keep coming back. Alliance features let you join up with other players for cooperative content when you’re ready to tackle bigger challenges together.

3. Honkai: Star Rail: Turn-Based Strategy with Gradual Learning

Honkai: Star Rail Features

• Turn-based combat accommodates all skill levels
• Seven elemental types create variety without overcomplication
• Story-driven progression teaches systems naturally

Honkai: Star Rail Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Beautiful art style and graphics	Gacha system can be frustrating for specific characters
Strong narrative and world-building throughout	Less freedom than open-world action games
Accessible combat suits all skill levels	Stamina system can interrupt learning sessions

Honkai: Star Rail takes you on a space-traveling adventure aboard the Astral Express. Each world you visit has its own story and problems to solve, which keeps things fresh as you’re learning the game. The turn-based combat gives you time to figure out how the seven elemental types interact with each other.

The game introduces the Path system and Light Cone equipment gradually so you’re not juggling too many systems at once. The Unreal Engine makes everything look gorgeous, from the characters to the environments you explore.

The polish shows throughout the game. Voice acting, music, and animation all work together to pull you into the story. The narrative does a good job explaining what’s happening and why you should care.

4. Hero Wars: Idle Gameplay for Hands-Off Learning

Hero Wars Features

• Automatic battles let you learn by observation
• Idle progression continues while you’re offline
• Cross-platform works between mobile and browser

Hero Wars Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Free-to-play friendly progression	Players on different servers can’t interact with each other
Regular events and updates add variety	Gameplay loop becomes repetitive over time
Strong guild community features	Aggressive monetization at higher levels

Hero Wars handles the combat for you, which changes how you interact with the game. Instead of managing abilities in real-time, you’re watching how your positioning choices play out. This lets you learn what works through observation.

The idle mechanics mean you’re making progress even when you’re not actively playing. Building your roster of 80+ heroes across 6 factions becomes the main focus. You’re experimenting with different team compositions and seeing how faction synergies work together.

The Guild system connects you with up to 30 other players who can help you figure out what’s working and what isn’t. Guild Wars add some competitive elements when you want them, pitting your alliance against others to see whose strategies hold up.

5. Watcher of Realms: Tower Defense Meets RPG Collection

Watcher of Realms Features

• Tower defense mechanics simplify tactical learning
• 100+ heroes provide gradual collection goals
• Eight factions structure team-building choices

Watcher of Realms Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Graphics look great on mobile devices	Getting the rarest heroes is difficult
Strategic positioning teaches tactics naturally	Difficulty increases sharply after early content
Voice acting adds personality to heroes	Story content ends after the introduction

Watcher of Realms blends tower defense with hero collecting across the continent of Tya. The tower defense approach teaches you positioning and timing naturally. You place 100+ heroes strategically, and battles unfold based on your setup decisions.

The dark realistic art style sets it apart from typical anime fantasy games. Eight factions with synergy mechanics give you clear team-building goals as you learn which heroes work well together. Guild partnerships let you team up with experienced players to challenge epic dragons together.

Each of the 100+ heroes has a detailed backstory you can discover. PvP Arena lets you test your strategies against other players. Story Campaign and Tower Defense battles give you different ways to use your hero collection.

6. King Arthur: Legends Rise: Tactical Combat with Familiar Mythology

King Arthur: Legends Rise Features

• Turn-based combat allows strategic planning
• Six familiar RPG classes provide clear roles
• Cross-platform play supports learning on preferred devices

King Arthur: Legends Rise Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Strong narrative helps with engagement	Loading times can disrupt learning flow
Unreal Engine 5 creates appealing visuals	Limited endgame content currently available
Balanced monetization feels fair early on	Some PC optimization issues reported

King Arthur: Legends Rise takes the Round Table mythology and makes it dark. This isn’t the sanitized Disney version—it’s pulling from the horror and brutality that’s always been lurking in these legends. The turn-based combat uses physics and environmental mechanics, so you’re thinking about how to use the battlefield itself.

Pushing enemies off cliffs or into each other adds a satisfying tactical layer beyond just picking the right abilities. The Unreal Engine 5 graphics help sell the dark fantasy atmosphere. Everything looks appropriately moody and detailed, which matters when you’re trying to get invested in the story.

The game offers six RPG classes: Tank, Warrior, Marksman, Mage, Rogue, and Support. Each plays differently and has clear strengths. Story Mode and Adventure Mode offer different ways to experience the campaign content, while the Colosseum gives you PvP when you want to test your builds against other players.

7. AFK Journey: Award-Winning Idle Gameplay with Beautiful Art

AFK Journey Features

• Canvas art style creates clear, storybook-like visuals
• Leveling up five heroes upgrades your entire roster
• Idle progression earns resources while you’re offline

AFK Journey Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Beautiful storybook art style throughout	Needs more active play than other idle games
Simplified progression system helps new players	Getting specific characters through gacha can be difficult
Free-to-play progression stays competitive	Less complex than some players eventually want

AFK Journey simplifies progression for newer players with its canvas art style that looks like a storybook. Idle progression means you’re earning resources even when you’re not actively playing. The simplified system levels up your entire roster when you upgrade five heroes, so you’re not grinding individual characters forever.

The simplified progression system levels up your entire roster when you upgrade five heroes. You’re not grinding individual characters forever, which keeps things manageable when you’re still figuring out team composition.

Tile-based combat adds environmental mechanisms like flamethrowers that create interesting tactical choices. Open world exploration includes puzzles that introduce new mechanics as you discover different regions.

8. Genshin Impact: Open-World Exploration with Action Combat

Genshin Impact Features

• Large open world across seven unique nations
• Elemental reaction system encourages trying different team combinations
• Four-player co-op for playing with friends

Genshin Impact Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Console-quality graphics on mobile devices	Gacha monetization can be frustrating
High-quality voice acting and orchestral music	Resin system limits daily playtime
Regular content updates add new regions	Storage requirements exceed 100GB

Genshin Impact throws you into the open world of Teyvat with seven nations to explore. Each nation ties to a different element and has its own visual style and culture, which keeps things interesting as you move between regions.

The elemental reaction system teaches you to think about team composition. For example, pairing a Hydro character with an Electro one triggers different effects than pairing Hydro with Pyro. High-quality voice acting in multiple languages, a full orchestral soundtrack, and anime-style visuals create an immersive experience throughout your journey.

Four-player co-op lets you bring friends into your world to tackle content together. Regular updates keep adding new regions and storylines to discover.

9. AFK Arena: Classic Idle RPG for Minimal Commitment

AFK Arena Features

• Earns resources while you’re offline
• Battles run automatically after you set up your team
• Eight factions with different hero types

AFK Arena Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Works great for quick daily check-ins	Newer sequel AFK Journey gets more updates now
Beautiful hand-drawn artwork throughout	Becomes expensive to progress at higher levels
Free-to-play progression works well early on	Many similar idle RPGs compete for attention

AFK Arena pioneered the idle RPG genre with nearly 200 heroes across 8 factions. The away-from-keyboard system means you’re earning resources even when the app is closed. This makes it work for people who want to check in a few times a day rather than playing for hours straight.

Battles happen automatically once you set up your team of five heroes. The merge system lets you combine duplicate heroes to make them stronger, so you’re never stuck with useless extras cluttering your collection. Hand-drawn artwork gives everything a distinctive look compared to the typical 3D character models you see everywhere else.

The game brings in characters from other franchises through crossovers. Assassin’s Creed, Persona, and The Witcher heroes show up as special Dimensional characters you can add to your roster.

How Does RAID’s Champion Collection System Help New Players?

RAID gives you 900+ champions to collect, and the Artifacts and Accessories make sense immediately. Every champion you pull is labeled Common through Mythical. You know right away if you got something powerful or just fodder for leveling up other champions.

The 15 faction system creates natural learning paths. You’ll start noticing certain factions work better together, like Banner Lords tanks paired with Sacred Order healers. The game rewards you for experimenting with these combinations through faction bonuses and special content.

Each champion comes with a backstory too. You’re building a roster of characters with personalities and lore, not just collecting stats. This keeps the collection side interesting while you’re learning how combat works.

What Game Modes Should Beginners Start With in RAID: Shadow Legends?

Start with the Campaign. The 12 locations introduce mechanics one at a time while you’re collecting your first batch of champions. You’ll learn turn-based combat basics, figure out which champion types click with your playstyle, and earn resources for upgrading your roster.

Arena comes next once you’ve built a solid team of four. The PvP teaches you real team composition since you’re facing actual player strategies instead of predictable AI patterns. Each match shows you what works and what doesn’t against human opponents.

Dungeons and Clan Boss open up after you’ve got the fundamentals down. These modes need you to understand champion roles, gear systems, and faction synergies. Jump in too early and you’ll just get frustrated, but wait until Campaign and Arena feel comfortable and they become the next fun challenge.

Why RAID: Shadow Legends Is the Best RPG for Beginners

RAID gives you clear signals about what matters. Pull a Legendary champion and you know immediately you got something powerful. Pull a Common and you know it’s leveling fodder. The color coding and star ratings remove all the guesswork, so you’re spending time playing instead of researching guides.

Turn-based combat gives you breathing room. You can read what each ability does mid-battle, think through your options, and make smart decisions. Compare that to action RPGs where you’re getting hammered while trying to figure out your skill rotation.

The 15 factions create natural goals as you play. You’ll notice Banner Lords and Sacred Order champions working well together, which teaches you team building through rewards instead of tutorials. Campaign introduces one mechanic at a time across 12 locations. Arena shows you real player strategies. Dungeons and Clan Boss wait until you’re ready for the challenge.

If you want an RPG that teaches you as you play instead of throwing you into the deep end, RAID is where to start. Download RAID right now and start building your champion collection.

FAQs About RPGs for Beginners

What’s a good first RPG?

RAID: Shadow Legends works great as your first RPG. Turn-based combat gives you time to think through each move instead of panicking under pressure. The game shows you clearly which champions are powerful and which ones aren’t, so you’re never confused about what to keep. Plus there’s a huge community of players who can help you learn.

What is the simplest RPG?

RAID: Shadow Legends keeps things simple with turn-based combat where you have all the time you need to make decisions. Battles pause and wait for your input, so you’re never overwhelmed by real-time action. The progression is straightforward too: collect champions, level them up, build better teams.

What is the golden rule of RPG games?

The golden rule is to have fun and not stress about making perfect decisions. In RAID: Shadow Legends, you can experiment with different champions and team combinations. The turn-based combat lets you try things out and see what works. Don’t worry about following meta guides early on—just play with champions you enjoy.

Who is the best champion for beginners in RAID: Shadow Legends?

The starter champions from the tutorial all work well for beginners. They’re solid enough to carry you through early content while you learn the game. Focus on understanding what each champion does instead of hunting for specific names right away.

How do you get started as a beginner with RAID: Shadow Legends?

Start by completing the tutorial campaign to learn turn-based combat. Pay attention to the 6 rarity tiers so you know what’s worth keeping. Join a clan early for advice from experienced players, and don’t stress about making perfect decisions while you’re still figuring everything out.