When RPGs Get Weird: Embracing the Bizarre and Unconventional

14 July 2025

Role-playing games (RPGs) have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for decades. From tabletop adventures to immersive open-world digital epics, these games offer an escape into richly woven worlds full of danger, magic, and intrigue. While many RPGs follow familiar templates—knights and dragons, dystopian futures, or gritty urban landscapes—some go completely off the rails, embracing the weird, the bizarre, and the downright unconventional. And you know what? We love them for it.

In a time when originality can seem scarce, weird RPGs remind us why we fell in love with gaming in the first place. They break the rules, challenge expectations, and linger in your mind—often in the most delightfully strange ways. Let’s dive into why embracing the bizarre in RPGs is not just entertaining but essential for the evolution of the genre.

The Beauty of Weird RPGs: Why the Strange Works

Ever heard the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? Well, the creators of unconventional RPGs clearly didn’t get that memo—and that’s a good thing. While classic RPG formulas (think Final Fantasy, Dragon Age, or The Elder Scrolls) continue to thrive, there’s arguably nothing more refreshing than when a game challenges these norms.

Weird RPGs take chances that mainstream games avoid. They might feature off-the-wall humor, nonsensical mechanics, or lore so strange it feels like it’s been cooked up by an alien. But instead of falling apart, these games work because they tap into the most fundamental element of gaming: fun.

And let’s face it—sometimes we just need a break from gritty realism. Weird RPGs embrace the absurd and lean into what makes gaming uniquely interactive. They surprise us, make us laugh, and keep us guessing. They’re a breath of fresh air in an industry that can often feel weighed down by overused tropes.

Unpacking the Weirdness: Quirky Worlds and Crazy Mechanics

1. Stranger-than-Strange Settings

The heart of a great RPG is its world, and bizarre RPGs know how to turn the dial to eleven. Take Disco Elysium, for instance, a game set in a crumbling, surreal city that’s equal parts noir detective story and existential crisis simulator. The setting feels alive, maddening, and weirdly relatable all at once.

Or how about Undertale, where you traverse a monster-filled underworld where spaghetti-loving skeletons and dog-themed knights are just part of the landscape? It’s whimsical, heartfelt, and topped off with layers of absurdity. The world-building in these games doesn’t just ask you to suspend disbelief—it practically throws disbelief out the window.

2. Outlandish Character Concepts

We’ve all grown accustomed to playing as a brooding hero or a valiant warrior, but weird RPGs like to shake things up. Ever wanted to play as a talking piece of toast? No? Well, in some strange RPGs, you probably could.

Look at EarthBound, the cult classic RPG where your party includes a boy with psychic powers, a kung-fu prince, and a kid who literally builds rocket launchers out of trash. Then there’s LISA: The Painful, where one of your companions is a chicken-man hybrid who fights with the power of dance. Weird, right? But also unforgettable.

3. Gameplay That Breaks All the Rules

Weird RPGs often bring equally unconventional gameplay mechanics. Take Katamari Damacy, which isn’t strictly an RPG but is bizarre enough to sit on the edge of the genre. Rolling a sticky ball around to collect everything from paperclips to skyscrapers? Absurd, yet addictive.

Or recall The Stanley Parable, a meta-narrative trip where gameplay revolves around making increasingly stranger choices as a voice narrates your every move. Games like these flip expectations upside down, combining bizarre concepts with innovative mechanics that leave players fascinated.

Why Weirdness Matters in RPGs

Still not sold on the beauty of the bizarre? Let’s break it down further. Weird RPGs aren’t just novelty experiences; they’re cultural artifacts that challenge us to think differently about gaming as a medium.

1. They Inspire Creativity

Weird RPGs often serve as a sandbox for innovation. Developers of these games throw caution to the wind, tossing out conventions in favor of experimentation. What comes out the other side might not please everyone, but it often sparks ideas for future games. Without titles like EarthBound or Undertale, would we see the same level of indie creativity thriving today? Doubtful.

2. They Stick with You

Let me ask you this: How many times do you remember the third generic dragon you killed in a fantasy RPG? Compare that with the first time you hugged a death-loving ghost in Undertale or debated whether to let a sentient AI toaster join your party in Fallout: New Vegas. Weirdness sticks. It creates stories worth retelling, memories worth cherishing, and moments you can’t wait to share with friends.

3. They Attract Niche (but Passionate) Audiences

Let’s be real—bizarre games aren’t for everyone. They’re polarizing, and that’s okay! Some people adore them for their charm, while others bounce off their eccentricity. But when these games do find their audience, the connection runs deep. This passion fuels fan communities, inspires fan art, and occasionally leads to Kickstarter-funded sequels or spin-offs.

Examples of Weird RPGs You Shouldn’t Miss

With the theory out of the way, let’s highlight some must-play weird RPGs. Whether you’re new to the genre or a seasoned adventurer looking for something different, these games deserve a spot on your radar.

1. EarthBound

Arguably the granddaddy of strange RPGs, EarthBound introduced us to a quirky, modern-day setting where kids wield baseball bats and psychic powers against aliens. From its offbeat humor to its unconventional narrative beats, it’s an absolute masterpiece.

2. Undertale

What starts as a charming homage to classic RPGs quickly spirals into a meta, fourth-wall-breaking journey through morality, friendship, and spaghetti. Its humor and heart make it unforgettable.

3. Disco Elysium

More grounded but no less unconventional, Disco Elysium pulls players into an alcohol-fueled detective story filled with philosophical dilemmas and absurd internal monologues. Think of it as an RPG on hallucinogens.

4. The World Ends with You

A stylish mix of street culture, JRPG mechanics, and existential storytelling, this DS classic (and its Switch sequel) combine innovative gameplay with a surreal plot.

5. Persona 5

It’s hard not to include Persona 5 here. While it’s more mainstream than others on this list, its mix of teenage life simulation, dungeon crawling, and bizarre celestial beings lands it firmly in the weird-but-wonderful category.

Embracing the Weird as a Gamer

At the end of the day, playing weird RPGs isn’t just about experiencing odd worlds or unconventional mechanics—it's about keeping an open mind. These games remind us that not everything has to make perfect sense or fit neatly into a genre box. Sometimes, being a little weird is exactly what gaming needs.

If you haven’t given a bizarre RPG a shot yet, maybe it’s time to step out of your comfort zone. Who knows? You might find your next favorite game lurking in the bizarre corners of the gaming universe. After all, isn’t life itself pretty weird sometimes?