By 2026, the action RPG conversation has moved beyond a simple question of whether classes are necessary. Avowed arrived in February 2025 as Obsidian Entertainment’s classless fantasy RPG, while No Rest for the Wicked remains an evolving early-access project from Moon Studios. Together, they represent a visible alternative to the class-first model that has defined the genre for decades. Their shared premise is straightforward but disruptive: let players combine abilities freely, and let identity emerge from experimentation rather than from a preset label. The result is not a rejection of role-playing games, but a relocation of where role-playing choices begin.

A genre built on archetypes

For years, the nucleus of the RPG experience has been the partnership between character classes and skill trees. Dungeons and Dragons gave modern design a vocabulary of archetypes, and titles such as Baldur’s Gate 3 turned that vocabulary into a commercial and critical triumph. Path of Exile 2 follows a similarly class-conscious path, with ascendancies and specialized identities that reward commitment to a chosen role. In this model, the class is a promise: a player knows what kind of fantasy to expect, and the game can tune encounters around recognizable strengths and weaknesses.

That model remains powerful. It offers clarity, strong fantasy, and a sense of belonging. A wizard is not merely a collection of spells; a rogue is not only a set of stealth modifiers. The label carries narrative weight. It tells players who their character is before the first dungeon is cleared.

Avowed: abilities over labels

Avowed takes a different route. Obsidian’s design is heavily predicated on abilities rather than classes. Players assemble a character from attributes, weapon loadouts, and active skills, then mix those pieces in ways that would ordinarily be fenced off by class restrictions. The reasoning is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to conquering the game’s story. A player can lean into spellcasting, melee combat, ranged attacks, or a hybrid of all three without being told that the combination is invalid.

The launch of Avowed turned that theory into a live experiment. Its system does not erase role-playing; it relocates role-playing into the act of construction. The player defines the character through use, preference, and curiosity. That is a subtle but important shift. Instead of asking which box a character belongs in, Avowed asks what the character can do when the boxes are removed.

No Rest for the Wicked: choice without presets

No Rest for the Wicked follows a related instinct. Moon Studios elected not to feature class presets, encouraging individual player choice through weapon-driven combat and combinable skills. The project has been shaped in early access, and by 2026 its direction is clear even if its final form is still in motion. The game does not want to dictate how a playstyle should work. It wants players to discover a playstyle through equipment, timing, and experimentation.

This is a meaningful departure from the action RPG status quo. Many games in the space use classes as a contract between developer and player. No Rest for the Wicked treats that contract as optional. The appeal is obvious: replayability, build crafting, and the pleasure of finding an unexpected synergy. The risk is equally obvious: without clear archetypes, some players may feel adrift.

The counterargument

Classless design is not a universal cure. CRPGs thrived on the unique playstyles of their classes, and the very idea behind role-playing games was for players to conform to fantasy roles. Removing that barrier can feel like removing the genre’s skeleton. Hardcore fans may argue that class identity produces better balance, stronger narrative coherence, and more meaningful choices. A classless system must work harder to make every combination feel intentional rather than accidental.

Design model	Examples	Strength	Risk
Class-first	Baldur’s Gate 3, Path of Exile 2	Clear identity, tuned balance, strong fantasy	Rigid builds, slower experimentation
Classless	Avowed, No Rest for the Wicked	Combinatorial freedom, high replayability	Diluted identity, balance complexity

Why the shift matters

The classless turn matters because it reflects a broader change in player expectations. Modern audiences are comfortable with hybrid builds, respec systems, and content creators who showcase unusual combinations. 🌍 A game that locks players into a single lane can feel restrictive beside one that invites continuous revision. Avowed and No Rest for the Wicked do not need to replace class-based RPGs. They only need to prove that a parallel lane can thrive.

In 2026, that lane is still being paved. Avowed has already shown how a major studio can ship a classless RPG without abandoning depth. No Rest for the Wicked continues to test the idea in early access, where feedback and iteration are part of the process. Neither game settles the debate. Together, they make the debate worth having. The future of action RPGs may not be classless for everyone, but it is increasingly likely to be class-optional for many. That is a meaningful shift for a genre once built on the certainty of labels. 🎮