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Best RPG games of 2009

The 22 best RPG games released in 2009, ranked from 7,145 critic and player ratings.

The best RPG game of 2009 is Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, with a critic score of 96/100 — 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: 2009.
  • 22 games are listed on this page, carrying 7,145 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 13 November 2026.

Top 22

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

01 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story S Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 2009 · 149 ratings · 1 Tier vote Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is the third game in the Mario & Luigi series of games. Players control Mario and Luigi simultaneously in the side-scrolling platform environment of Bowser's body, while also controlling the Koopa King himself in the top-down world of the Mushroom Kingdom. Similar to games like Earthbound, enemy encounters are seen as actual enemies that players can avoid or attempt to strike early. The actual battles are a combination of turn-based menu attacks, and timed reactions to enemies during battle. By watching the way an enemy reacts, you can anticipate their attack and avoid it or counterattack. 96 /100
02 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition 2009 · 682 ratings · finished by 15% 94 /100
03 Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition 2009 · 953 ratings · finished by 20% 91 /100
04 Dragon Age: Origins S Dragon Age: Origins 2009 · 1,749 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 30% Dragon Age: Origins is a third-person role-playing game described as a spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights franchises. Players create their own character by customizing gender and appearance as well as choosing a race and class. Combat is in real time with the ability to pause at any moment: tactical options include an editor which allows the player to give the AI detailed instructions on how to behave in every possible situation. Although the main storyline is the same for every character created, the game features six unique prologues, two for each race. Dragon Age: Origins received critical acclaim upon release, with praise mostly directed at its story, setting, characters, music and combat system. 90 /100
05 Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 2009 · 98 ratings 90 /100
06 Demon's Souls Demon's Souls 2009 · 403 ratings · finished by 16% A third-person action RPG with cooperative and competitive multiplayer elements in which the player enters the kingdom of Boletaria as it is being ravaged by a fog that spawns murderous demons. The player has to hunt down the arch demons situated in five disparate areas within the kingdom and partake in punishing combat to reach the Old One, the vengeful being that brought the fog to Boletaria. 88 /100
07 Persona 3 Portable Persona 3 Portable 2009 · 130 ratings Persona 3 Portable is an enhanced remake of Persona 3 for the PlayStation Portable. The game features an option to play as a female character, which alters some aspects of the story. In addition to the new playable character, there are two new difficulty levels to select from alongside the original game's three. The game also features some other story related changes regardless of the player character gender. The battle system is also updated to be closer that of Persona 4. 88 /100
08 Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver S Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver 2009 · 357 ratings · 1 Tier vote Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version are paired Generation IV remakes of the Generation II games Pokémon Gold and Silver. Much like how Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen revisited the Generation I story of Kanto, HeartGold and SoulSilver retell the story of Johto, with the player's starting town being New Bark Town. While the games feature several expansions in key areas, the overall plot follows the same direction as the original Gold and Silver. Some aspects exclusive to Crystal are also included. Like how FireRed and LeafGreen could link up with Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to complete the Pokédex by trading regionally exclusive Pokémon, HeartGold and SoulSilver can link up with Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum to obtain Pokémon unavailable in Johto and Kanto (such as the Sinnoh starters) and vice versa. Kris, despite being the female counterpart of Crystal's player character, is not included as the female player character, with a new character instead taking her place. Whether she is chosen to be the player character or not, this new character will still appear in the game. The unselected protagonist will take a pseudo-rival role similar to the unselected characters of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. The games were released on September 12, 2009 in Japan, February 4, 2010 in Korea, March 14, 2010 in North America, March 25, 2010 in Australia and March 26, 2010 in Europe (this excludes the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of Belgium due to an in-game save error, with the patched copies later released on April 2, 2010). 86 /100
09 Pokémon SoulSilver Version C Pokémon SoulSilver Version 2009 · 394 ratings · 3 Tier votes Pokemon HeartGold Version and Pokemon SoulSilver Version return players to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the beloved original Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver games nearly a decade ago. The richly detailed adventure of Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver is now enhanced for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems with updated graphics and sound, as well as new touch-screen features and a host of surprises. Pokemon HeartGold Version and Pokemon SoulSilver Version bring dozens of Pokemon characters back into the limelight for a new Pokemon generation - and longtime fans - to catch, train and battle. 90 /100
10 Torchlight Torchlight 2009 · 265 ratings · finished by 11% In this ARPG you control a hero who explores a series of randomized dungeons, fightinghordes of enemies and collecting equipment, gold, and loot while doing so. The game also features a town , to which the hero can return to sell and buy gear and items and pick up quests. As you progress into the dungeon, you get to battle unique bosses that advance the main storyline by completing quests revolving around them. Optionally, the player may take on side quests, random quests or visit branching dungeon areas to further develop their character. 83 /100
11 Pokémon Platinum Pokémon Platinum 2009 · 278 ratings 83 /100
12 Final Fantasy XIII A Final Fantasy XIII 2009 · 428 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 15% 81 /100
13 Fallout 3: Broken Steel Fallout 3: Broken Steel 2009 · 88 ratings 81 /100
14 Fallout 3: Point Lookout Fallout 3: Point Lookout 2009 · 87 ratings 79 /100
15 Risen Risen 2009 · 188 ratings · finished by 13% 77 /100
16 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days 2009 · 126 ratings 77 /100
17 Might and Magic Clash of Heroes Might and Magic Clash of Heroes 2009 · 89 ratings 76 /100
18 Fallout 3: The Pitt Fallout 3: The Pitt 2009 · 89 ratings 76 /100
19 Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword 2009 · 228 ratings · finished by 5% 68 /100
20 Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta 2009 · 89 ratings 66 /100
21 Fallout 3: Operation Anchorage Fallout 3: Operation Anchorage 2009 · 88 ratings 66 /100
22 Two Worlds Epic Edition Two Worlds Epic Edition 2009 · 187 ratings · finished by 2% · 20 h to beat 65 /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 2009Best PlayStation 3 games of 2009Best Xbox 360 games of 2009Best Mac games of 2009Best iOS games of 2009Best Nintendo DS games of 2009Best Linux games of 2009Best PlayStation 2 games of 2009Best Android games of 2009Best PSP games of 2009Best Wii games of 2009

Nearby rankings

Best RPG games of 2008Best RPG games of 2010Best Platformer games of 2009Best Shooter games of 2009Best Sports games of 2009

Catalog statistics

Most abandoned gamesMost completed games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best RPG game of 2009?

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story currently tops the ranking with a score of 96/100 across 149 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.