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Best RPG games of 2004

The 14 best RPG games released in 2004, ranked from 6,256 critic and player ratings.

The best RPG game of 2004 is Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, with a critic score of 87/100 — updated November 2026.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Each game is ranked in one genre only, the one that defines it best, so the same title never tops two different genre charts.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 2004.
  • 14 games are listed on this page, carrying 6,256 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 13 November 2026.

Top 14

Played them? Give your tier with the + next to each game. No account needed to try — create one to keep your tiers.

01 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door 2004 · 567 ratings What sleeps behind the door? Time passes, the pages turn… and a new chapter unfolds in an unfamiliar land! Get ready for a two-dimensional role-playing adventure for the ages as Mario returns to paper form to discover a mystery that sleeps behind an ancient, legendary portal called the Thousand-Year Door. The quest is long, the dangers many, and this time, Mario will have to make full use of his papery qualities just to survive. 87 /100
02 Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King 2004 · 117 ratings Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is the eighth installment in the Dragon Quest series, developed by Level-5 and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was also later released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2015. It is a traditional Japanese-style role-playing game with random enemy encounters, simple turn-based combat mechanics, and management of a party consisting of four characters, each belonging to a clearly defined class. Unlike its predecessors in the series and most Japanese RPGs in general, the game features a continuous world with fairly vast landscapes and integrated towns and dungeons, as opposed to world map traveling and locations represented by icons. The game features full camera rotation and optional first-person view. Like in the previous Dragon Quest games, many objects can be interacted with; for example, barrels can be physically lifted, carried, and broken, to reveal items hidden within. 87 /100
03 World of Warcraft S World of Warcraft 2004 · 904 ratings · 3 Tier votes World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) set in the Warcraft universe. Players assume the roles of Warcraft heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. Being "Massively Multiplayer," World of Warcraft allows thousands of players to interact within the same world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory. 86 /100
04 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords 2004 · 827 ratings · finished by 15% Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is a sequel to the blockbuster RPG Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic. Players continue to enjoy the title's emotionally compelling and story-driven theme, additions to features such as new characters, classes, locations and force powers as well as a deeper look into the founding lore. 86 /100
05 The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 2004 · 83 ratings The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is the first installment in the main Trails series, serving as the beginning to the Liberl arc and the series as a whole. The game follows protagonists Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua, who journey through the country of Liberl to train to become senior Bracers, members of a non-government multinational organization that acts to keep the peace and protect civilians. Nihon Falcom comes a series of RPGs telling a legend of adventure, political intrigue, and mystery, with a tale of growing up at the core. With a mix of turn-based and strategy combat, battles will cause unique builds and plans to handle many different situations and allow for different play styles. Wonderfully detailed characters abound, even to the smallest NPC, and the player will find themself taking the world in at every turn. Trails in the Sky sets a new standard for making an enjoyable and immersive RPG. 85 /100
06 Fable (2004) Fable (2004) 2004 · 340 ratings In Fable, the players' every action determines their character's skills, appearances and moralities. Life stories are created from childhood through adulthood and on to old age. Players may choose the paths of righteousness or dedicate their characters' lives to evil; observing as they transform into reflections of their actions and decisions. As players' characters develop, the world reacts to them and their actions. People comment on their successes, failures, appearances and behaviors. Their many opinions are expressed through applause, mockery, trepidation, panic and even flirtation. With each person characters aid and every creature they slay, the world is changed forever. In Fable, gamers decide: "Who will I be?" 90 /100
07 Pokémon FireRed Version A Pokémon FireRed Version 2004 · 561 ratings · 5 Tier votes Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version are a pair of core series Generation III games that are set in the Kanto region. They were released in Japan on January 29, 2004, in North America on September 9, 2004, in Australia on September 23, 2004 and in Europe on October 1, 2004. As the first remakes in the Pokémon franchise, the games revisit the original pair of Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Green Versions, and so feature all of the characters, plot elements, and challenges of them, but with several important upgrades to bring them up to speed with other Generation III games. The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter was initially included with the games when they were first released, eliminating the need for Game Link Cables when trading between the two games (and later Pokémon Emerald Version). In later copies, it was sold separately. FireRed and LeafGreen went on to become the second best-selling games of the Game Boy Advance, only behind Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions. They also received Nintendo's Player's Choice awards. 100 /100
08 Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen 2004 · 563 ratings 81 /100
09 Pokémon Emerald Version Pokémon Emerald Version 2004 · 635 ratings Pokémon Emerald Version is a sister game to Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Emerald Version provided the main storyline with more depth and length, as well as making small aesthetic changes to the world and adding unique animations for each Pokémon. 76 /100
10 Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald S Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald 2004 · 520 ratings · 1 Tier vote 76 /100
11 Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories 2004 · 128 ratings 76 /100
12 Sacred Sacred 2004 · 107 ratings 74 /100
13 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2004 · 622 ratings · finished by 24% · 23 h to beat 72 /100
14 Pokémon LeafGreen Version Pokémon LeafGreen Version 2004 · 282 ratings 70 /100
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Other years

Best RPG games of 2025Best RPG games of 2024Best RPG games of 2023Best RPG games of 2022Best RPG games of 2021Best RPG games of 2020Best RPG games of 2019Best RPG games of 2018Best RPG games of 2017Best RPG games of 2016Best RPG games of 2015Best RPG games of 2014

Same year, other platforms

Best PC games of 2004Best PlayStation 2 games of 2004Best Xbox games of 2004Best Mac games of 2004Best GameCube games of 2004Best Game Boy Advance games of 2004Best Linux games of 2004

Nearby rankings

Best RPG games of 2003Best RPG games of 2005Best Platformer games of 2004Best Shooter games of 2004

Catalog statistics

Most abandoned gamesMost completed games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best RPG game of 2004?

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door currently tops the ranking with a score of 87/100 across 567 ratings. Ranking updated November 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.