The turn-based combat system in RPGs is usually associated with the being old-school or throwbacks to classical Japanese RPGs like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. However, turn-based gameplay is just as relevant now as it was over twenty years ago. Developers seem to be getting more and more adept at finding ways of innovating the fighting systems to keep them feeling new fresh.
While real-time action combat is a lot of fun, the turn-based system has an element of strategy that can’t be matched by all-out action games. It helps give the players a feeling of complete control over their characters and abilities. Also, being turn-based doesn’t necessarily mean the fighting system is slow especially if there’s a timer involved, players will find themselves executing quick thinking with great reflexes. Let’s take a look at 10 of the best Western RPGs of all time.
10 South Park: The Stick Of Truth
First released in 2014 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the PC, South Park: The Stick of Truth was developed by Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II developers Obsidion. It surprised everyone when it turned out to not only be a good licensed game, but a fantastic homage to old school RPGs, as well.
It’s based on the long-running adult cartoon show South Park and was made in collaboration with the show’s creators to give fans the game that they deserve. It was released again in 2018 for the PS4, Xbox One, and the Switch.
9 The Banner Saga Trilogy
The Banner Saga Trilogy is a Norse mythology-inspired tactical RPG series that was initially released as the separate titles in 2014, 2016, and 2018 respectively. However, now that all three games have been bundled together as one overarching story there has never been a better time to dive in.
Sporting a visual style that is reminiscent of classical Disney cartoons and Raph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings and Fire and Ice, The Banner Saga trilogy is one of the best looking RPGs in years. The battles play out like the Fire Emblem series, and players are also forced to make difficult decisions that will affect the game’s narrative and have potentially devastating consequences for its characters.
8 Wizardry 8
The Wizardry series first made its mark all the way back in 1981, making it one of the most influential and oldest RPG series of all time. Arguably, its greatest entry was the last one with Wizardry 8, which released in 2001 on the PC.
The game combines elements of fantasy and science fiction while also offering its players a ton of depth in its character creation tools. Furthermore, it boasts a massive 80 hours of gameplay that will challenge even the most seasoned RPG fans.
7 Wasteland 2
Wasteland 2 is the sequel to the 1988 classic original that inspired the original Fallout series. As with the series that succeeded it, Wasteland 2 is a post-apocalyptic RPG where players will be faced with making tough decisions that affect the game’s overarching narrative.
Just like its classical predecessors, Wasteland 2 is played from an isometric viewpoint, and the combat is party-based and turn-based with a heavy emphasis on tactics and strategy. Wasteland 2’s world is well-developed, with memorably wacky characters, and a good narrative.
6 Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark
Released for the PC, the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and the PlayStation 4 Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark is an indie developed tactical turn-based RPG that is inspired by the strategy JRPGs Tactics Ogre and of Final Fantasy Tactics.
Despite its humble beginnings and Western development team, Fell Seal looks and plays like the true modern-day successor to the aforementioned tactics games from the 90s. The game has an excellent soundtrack with a good mature story and hours worth of side-quests and sub-plots.
5 Shadowrun: Dragonfall
Based on the pen-and-paper tabletop games of the same name the Shadowrun videogames series are turn-based sci-fi fantasy RPGs set in a dystopian cyberpunk future. Released for the PC only, Shadowrun: Dragonfall was released in 2014 as a standalone expansion for Shadowrun: Returns released a year prior.
The writing is chock full of twists and betrayals to keep players hooked. The character development is top-notch, and the world-building is some of the best in the genre, the Shadowrun series as a whole is well worth playing.
4 Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire
Created as a spiritual successor to the Baldur’s Gate series, Pillars of Eternity helped usher in a new wave if classically inspired CRPGs for a modern audience. The sequel Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire was released in 2018 for the PC and consoles in early 2020 and improved on everything that its predecessor did.
The writing, dialogue, and voice acting are on another level, and the dialogue choices are exactly what one would expect from a game with a branching narrative. The turn-based combat was added into the game later, but whether players choose to real-time or turn-based they will be in for one of the best RPGs of the generation.
3 XCOM 2
XCOM 2 is a turn-based tactical strategy with a raft of features that places a heavy emphasis on its RPG mechanics and will appeal to fans of JRPGs like the Fire Emblem series. The game is available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, the PC, and more recently the Nintendo Switch.
Players are tasked with defending the earth and fighting back against an invading alien force. The XCOM series pulls players and forces them to really invest in their characters like no other game can. This is especially so when the permadeath feature is enabled, forcing players to deal with a sense of loss when they fall on the battlefield.
2 Divinity Original Sin II
Released for the PC in 2017 and all current-gen consoles by 2019, Divinity: Original Sin II has quickly cemented itself a place in the hearts of RPG fans across the world. Already heralded as one of the best RPGs of all time, Original Sin II offers gamers a sense of freedom and choice, unlike any other game before it.
Original Sin II’s world builds and develops around the player’s choices in a realistic and believable way. There is very rarely a right or wrong conclusion to a problem that’s presented itself, and sometimes even the most meaningless acts can have a huge impact on the player’s story.
1 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Released in 2003 for the original Xbox and the PC, Star Wars: Knights of the Republic is an RPG developed by BioWare Games. The game’s timeline is set 4,000 years before the events of the Star Wars movies where the Jedi and Sith are at the height of their power.
The branching plot will give its players lots of choices that will either direct them to the light or the dark side of the Force. The game has a fantastic cast of memorable characters whose personalities and actions change based on the choices that the player makes. Furthermore, Knights of the Old Republic still has one of the greatest plot twists in gaming. The combat isn't a traditional turn-based game on the surface, but players stack up moves in rounds/turns to keep its roots still firmly planted in turn-based D&D systems.