In 2012, Blizzard fired up one of its many future controversies : It wasn’t the decision to simply revive the Diablo franchise that did this, but the fact that it chose to monetize the legendary hack ‘n’ slash RPG with Diablo 3 . Beyond trading items with another player, an in-game auction house meant players could buy and sell items with real money.

For some, it was a bewildering decision from a developer already battling the threat of real-money trading (RMT) in its monolithic MMORPG World of Warcraft . The idea of claiming a cut of player’s profits was seen as simple corporate greed stemming from the then-recent merger with Activision, a company known for pushing aggressive revenue streams onto consumers.

Within two years, uproar caused the feature to be ripped from the game, with a “smarter” loot system put into place to reduce the need to rely on other players for equipment. But a lot has changed since 2012, and with Diablo IV in the works, it’s time for the auction house to make a return.

A real grind

In any Diablo game, each character class relies on different equipment types, armor sets, and stats to thrive. All of these are randomly generated after slaying a monster. If an item drops and its random stat rolls aren’t perfect for your ideal build, it’s back to the grind you go. Statistically, the grind for perfect loot could go on forever. If you have the time, there’s no harm in chasing the dream. If you don’t, the game feels like a chore.

The Diablo III auction house was a faster alternative to that chase, though it was regarded as a black market by players. It just felt shady. The idea of paying real money for any in-game item rubbed players the wrong way at the time, despite the fact that the game didn’t feature the kind of “pay-to-win” mechanics that plague multiplayer games.

Those complaints feel misguided in retrospect. These days, one of the biggest complaints in gaming is when a title doesn’t respect our time. When a powerful or must-have item is locked behind menial tasks that are drawn out over weeks, sometimes months, in a bid to artificially inflate the game and have it look like a bigger value investment than it really is.

Even before the auction house, trading to get ahead was nothing new for the franchise. In its heyday, Diablo II was rife with gameplay automation software and “gold farmers” enticing players with rare items and in-game gold at a relatively low cost. As anyone who frequents an online RPG can attest, scrubbing a game of sketchy third-party services is impossible. It’s pure supply and demand. If people weren’t clearly willing to pay, the market wouldn’t exist, meaning we only have ourselves to blame for its existence — similar to the scalping situation currently driving up the prices of computer components and next-gen consoles.

On its surface, the Diablo III auction house looked like nothing more than a way for Blizzard to extract extra cash from its already paying customers. In actuality, it was a way to legitimize and moderate the in-game market, giving anyone the means to reap the rewards of continued play or circumvent the hours of farming needed to chase gear.

It’s an approach the company later adopted in a similar form in World of Warcraft with the WoW Token . Players could buy one for real cash and sell it to another player for in-game gold to cover their membership fees. They couldn’t make money from it, but they could save some. And because it was Blizzard-approved practice of RMT, it was allowed to live and thrive, with its in-game price dictated by supply and demand.

So why shouldn’t Diablo IV reintroduce the auction house? The allure of lady luck one day sending that perfect piece of loot flying out of the bloodied corpse of a goat man is what keeps Diablo players hooked. It’s what the whole looter genre is built to support. But the needs of one player won’t always match the free time of another. If you have a whole day to freely grind for items, why shouldn’t you be able to offload any gear you don’t need to a player who might not have the time to blindly grind for a specific item that has no guarantee of appearing? We expect to get paid for the hours we work, so why are we so averse to the idea of generating a little something for the time we put into a particular activity?

Win-win situation

Loot in Diablo is infinite. Someone finding what you need doesn’t mean it’s suddenly locked behind a paywall. You can still luck out and find your own. But if you’d rather not take the chance of losing dozens of hours to the gamble of the grind, why not tip someone else for their time spent? After all, there’s a chance they didn’t find what they were after, either. If their struggle can save you time and your money can ease the pain of their misfortune, it’s a win-win situation for players on either side of the hunt.

With so many forms of entertainment vying for our time, player choice matters most, and reintroducing the auction house to Diablo IV can help facilitate the ever-changing needs of the modern gamer. Where once we could pay a stranger to spend their time “boosting” our character, now we simply pay the publisher to change a number in a database. So why do we draw the line at paying someone else for their time spent farming items? People are willing to pay for things like a Double EXP boost to save time, so why villainize those who want to buy a piece of gear someone else just so happened to find before you? The focus of Diablo should be on playing with an item, not playing to acquire it.

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PlayStation 4’s catalog is littered with quality RPGs. From Persona 4 and Monster Hunter to Skyrim and Horizon Zero Dawn , Sony’s aging system built up an incredible library of top-tier role-playing games throughout its life. Regardless of your gaming preference, PS4 is bound to have an RPG with your name on it.

Unfortunately, that stellar library means dozens of worthy titles didn’t make the final cut to be named among the best RPGs. Stardew Valley , Dragon’s Dogma , Pillars of Eternity , and many more aren’t mentioned on this list, but they’re no doubt worthy of your time.

In no particular order, here are the best RPGs on PlayStation 4.

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Bloodborne

Bloodborne takes everything great about the Dark Souls franchise and kicks it up a notch. Faster combat, smoother movement, and a radically different setting all combine to make the haunting title one of the best RPGs in recent memory.

Underneath its complex combat lies a deep progression system. Grinding for gear, upgrading weapons, and leveling up your stats are just as intricate as you’d expect for a title made by FromSoftware. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those seeking a challenge, there’s not much else like it.

Read our full review of Bloodborne

Nier: Automata

One moment it’s an RPG, the next it’s a side-scrolling shoot-em-up. Then it’s locking its camera in place, before setting you out into a massive open world. Nier: Automata has no problem reinventing itself throughout the lengthy adventure, but make no mistake — this is an RPG at heart.

While PlatinumGames heritage is clearly on display with Automata’s fast-paced combat, the tale it tells is more than enough to keep you plugging away through the 30-plus-hour adventure. It might take a few hours to get rolling, but once it does, you’ll be glued to your PS4 until the very end.

Read our full review of Nier: Automata

Monster Hunter: World

Monster Hunter took things to new heights on PlayStation 4 thanks to the increase in processing power. Players are free to hunt without long loading times, and the action looks better than ever on a platform capable of producing HD graphics.

All told, Monster Hunter: World is arguably the best in series history. Better yet, it’s only become better over the years. Content updates and patches have introduced terrifying new monsters, giving you a constant flow of challenging material to work through.

Read our full review of Monster Hunter: World

Final Fantasy VII Remake

The long-awaited Final Fantasy VII Remake didn’t disappoint. A reworked combat system, stunning HD graphics, and a surprising amount of new content gave fans both new and old a lot to love. The innovative combat system is a defining feature of the remake, letting you play through the entire game with real-time or turn-based battles.

Although Final Fantasy VII Remake takes about 40 hours to beat, it ends with Cloud and company just about to leave Midgar — in the original title, that only took about eight hours. That means you get to see a reimagined Midgar on PS4, one that’s shockingly detailed yet still faithfully recreated.

Read our full review of Final Fantasy VII Remake

Diablo III

It may have started a bit rough, but Diablo III ended up as one of the best games on PS4. At its core, Diablo III is the same as Diablo II , offering up hordes of enemies to slay in a variety of horrific ways. However, it evolves on the core formula with improved graphics, a unique new skill system, and brutal new classes.

One big change from Diablo II came in the form of Health Orbs. These are dropped by defeated enemies, making it easy to plow through hundreds of demons without having to worry about running out of potions. Despite its age, Diablo III remains one of the most popular titles on PS4.

Read our full review of Diablo III

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Frustrating long title aside, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is the latest and greatest installment in the long-running franchise. You’ll step into the shoes of the Luminary, a mysterious figure that is prophesized to protect the land from evil forces hell-bent on destruction.

The game is split into two distinct halves, although the turn-based combat and heartwarming characters remain stellar throughout the journey. While all the usual JRPG tropes are there, several modern conveniences — such as Auto-Battle for a bit of grinding — make it one of the most accessible Dragon Quest games yet.

Read our full review of Dragon Quest XI

Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV started its life as one of the worst MMORPGs on the market. More than a decade later, and it’s one of the most revered RPGs across all platforms. The usual arching, convoluted, but no-doubt incredible Final Fantasy storyline is here in spades, bolstered by the best MMO gameplay you’ll find on consoles.

With a wide variety of PvP and PvE content, a variety of viable character builds, and frequent expansions, Final Fantasy XIV deserves to be recognized among the best RPGs on PS4 — despite its MMO label.

Read our full review of Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

Persona 5 Royal

No discussion about the best RPGs is complete without mention of Persona 5 Royal . Arguably the best JRPG on PS4, Persona 5 Royal takes place in modern-day Tokyo and follows Joker — a high schooler who just transferred schools after being accused of assault. What follows is among the deepest narratives told on PS4, and a journey that will stick with you long after the final credits.

Persona 5 stands out from the pack due to its vibrant, cartoonish art style, but keeps you engaged with its turn-based combat system and emotional story. Royal takes everything great about the original Persona 5 and adds a bit of new content and gameplay tweaks, further perfecting the Persona formula.

Read our full review of the original Persona 5

Horizon Zero Dawn

What more could you possibly want from your RPG than giant mechanic dinosaurs? Horizon Zero Dawn brings its futuristic world to life with a colorful cast of characters, superb graphics, and tense gameplay that constantly keeps you on your toes.

At the heart of Zero Dawn is Aloy, a charismatic protagonist who has been shunned by her tribe since birth. You’ll follow her journey as she discovers her past, questions her future, and figures out why she’s been an outcast her entire life.

Read our full review of Horizon Zero Dawn

Dark Souls III

Without a doubt, Dark Souls III is the best in the series. The brutal action-RPG developed by FromSoftware brings the trilogy to its conclusion — and left a permanent mark on the RPG landscape.

What started as a niche title with Demon’s Souls ended with the ultra-popular Dark Souls III — breaking sales records for Bandai Namco just weeks after launch. The challenging journey became more difficult over time, as the developer continued to add DLC content and expand the bleak world of Lordran.

Read our full review of Dark Souls III

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim has been ported to every system under the sun — and for good reason. The open-world RPG remains one of the most popular games on any system, giving players all the tools necessary to run wild in a shockingly immersive world.

Become a thief, join the Mage’s Guild, delve into dungeons, and save the world from dragons. The only limit to what you can do in Skyrim is your own imagination. The impeccable freedom was later augmented by both a massive modding community and official DLC, giving players hundreds of hours of content to explore.

Read our full review of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Not only is it among the best RPGs on PS4, but The Witcher 3 might also be one of the best games of all time. Geralt’s story came to a stunning conclusion in The Witcher 3 , with a variety of endings available based on your choices throughout the journey. Few other games can tell a tale as intricate as The Witcher, and any RPG fan owes it to themselves to give this one a go.

With a rich world to explore, memorable characters, and a mature story, all aspects of The Witcher 3 combine to make it one of the all-time greats. While Geralt’s adventures may have come to an end, his legacy won’t soon be forgotten.

Read our full review of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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