THIS! VtM:B is an all time favorite of mine... I am still waiting patiently for GoG to get it... It's absolulty the greatest First person RPG of it's era and the Very First Source game ever released...

Seriously the First one! ^_^

yeah I know the game, I bought it first when it was released (retail) and a while back from steam too cause I couldn't find the disc or something)

My problem with 3D games is they age fast and while I am not a graphics whore,....anyway, the game was filled with bugs from day 1 as usual and even later I never managed to like the game that much to want to play it again.

Path of Exile is now in Open Beta and pretty dark.

Planescape : Torment is about as dark - and as light - as it gets when it comes to RPGs, and also it's the deepest storyline you will ever encounter in a computer game. But I also agree with all the calls for any of the Fallout games (including 3 and New Vegas), and if you want to stretch the definition of RPG then also the STALKER games and the original Deus Ex deserve a mention.

It depends on what you you mean by "dark" though. Baldur's Gate 2 is also dark, though it favours the light and is the best game of all time (along with BG1). It's a bit of a vague question. There is darkness in all these games. Do you want to play as a "dark" (evil) character, or do you just want a scary atmosphere ?

Fallout 3-the small town (forget name) with the two families that are your "typical" american family come to mind and also some of the vaults have creepy back stories told through the computers.

Planescape Torment and Alpha Protocol can deal with some pretty depressing and dark themes, which goes great with the fact that your decisions in those games matter a lot more than in almost every other game.

They aren't RPGs, but a good deal of visual novels out there that deal with some pretty mature and dark content as well. Phoenix Wright could be one glorified mainstream example, but the more traditional visual novels go into some pretty deep stuff, like Katawa Shoujo for example. In essence its kinda like roleplaying sometimes but its mainly dialogue options and a bit more linear in approach.

I didn't say no nudity. I said that when I am talking about adult themes I am not talking simply about having boobs hang out.

+1 for VTM: Bloodlines. It fits the dark atmosphere criteria, although I would not say that it is "dark" when it comes to the tone of the game and writing. Sure, it takes place in a moody LA splattered with urban decay, there are some slightly disturbing events and "adult" themes (nothing overly serious or pretentious though), but I still found the game more upbeat than grimdark depressing. Then again maybe it was so because I played Malkavian for the first time. Nonetheless, I am one of those people who are patiently waiting for the game to make it's way to GOG.

I bought Alpha Protocol on Steam yesterday it's actually Not that bad for $1.25 lol I have the MAN-FLU I feel so weak and sick!

Link to newest patch

The games seems bland and medicore at best ,a waste of 1 eur

If you are at all interested in RPGs then you're doing a huge disservice to yourself. Fantastic game.

Alpha Protocol is an awesome game as long as you approach it as a real time light RPG and not as a third person shooter with rpg elements.

I bought it on disc about a week after release and played it to finish 4 times in a row.

EvilQuest

You play a truly evil character here, not a "BWAHAHA I AM EVIL BWAHAHA" type.

As well as my obligitory mention of Morrowind in this (and most other!) contexts*, I'm surprised no one's mentioned Bastion. While not exactly an rpg, it has some dark moments, and I've laid awake at night worrying about it several times since playing it.

*though it does have lighter moments, and overall - I found - lightened and moved more towards my character's ideals.