There’s a lot of affection held towards the 16-bit generation of gaming that helped establish a lot of the norms that are still in place today. The levels of depth and production that go into modern action RPGs is absolutely staggering and it’s led to some of the biggest titles of all time.
There’s no denying that the genre has evolved, but even decades back the Sega Genesis was still putting out some action RPGs that challenged gamers and gave them a new kind of experience. It’s important that these retro titles don’t get forgotten as the video game industry moves forward.
10 Rent A Hero
Rent A Hero never made it outside of Japan, but the quirky series has been able to slowly gain a cult status in America. Rent A Hero is such an interesting take on the genre because it features an everyday boy who mistakenly acquires a superhero suit and then approaches crime fighting more like it’s a part time job.
Rent A Hero is incredibly funny for an RPG and the idea to present battles like a 2D fighter is very effective. A remake was made for the Dreamcast, but the ambitious Rent A Hero still needs more love.
9 Ys III: Wanderers From Ys
The Ys franchise has been able to survive over the years and while it's not the most popular RPG series, it's still impressive to see new entries in the sprawling saga. Ys III continues Adol's adventures, this time pitting him and Dogi against a nearby town with evil intentions.
Ys III switches from the top-down format of its predecessors and embraces a side-scrolling angle that works well for it. The controls could use refining, but Ys III is still a fun game with a compelling story.
8 Sorcerian
Sorcerian, which is actually the fourth sequel in the Dragon Slayer franchise, is one of the more ambitious action RPGs for the Genesis. It features many traditional ideas where a party of heroes set out to defeat evil and improve their strength, but Sorcerian allows a deep amount of customization for a game of its time– like the ability to construct your own party or even get them jobs. This adds a lot of replayability, but many of the mechanics are too complex, like the game's magic system. Sorcerian is still an impressive accomplishment with an amazing soundtrack.
7 Beyond Oasis
Beyond Oasis is a Genesis title that many people missed and it’s as if the Prince of Persia franchise became an RPG that flirted with fantasy elements. Beyond Oasis centers around the resurrection of an evil sorcerer, with the game's protagonist, a beleaguered prince, incorporating both combat & powerful magic spirits to reach his goal. There's a strong mix of action, puzzles, & platforming, and there are even special moves & abilities that aren't spelled out to the gamer which must be discovered by experimentation. It's a deep and different RPG experience.
6 Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a massive Genesis title that's set in the year 2050 and features a glorious tribute to cyberpunk storytelling that's otherwise absent in Genesis RPGs. This difference is enough to make Shadowrun stand out as it mixes gritty sci-fi concepts with things like mages and orcs, but in a way that doesn’t betray the tenets of the RPG genre. There's such a big world in Shadowrun that whether players are taking care of criminals or pulling off a heist, there's always something to do and explore.
5 Crusader Of Centy
Crusader of Centy is very much like the Genesis' antidote to Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda and this game honestly feels like it could have been a lost entry from the series. The art design, environments, and mechanics are nearly identical, but Crusader of Centy is different enough that it doesn't just feel like a Zelda imitation. The young hero's noble quest to rid his land of dangerous invading creatures isn't exactly original, but it manages to be a very satisfying experience that features things like time travel and a litany of new magical powers and abilities to wield.
4 Wonder Boy In Monster World
Wonder Boy in Monster World is the perfect action RPG for audiences who secretly want to play a platformer game. It's a smooth combination of the two genres and the platforming mixes with standard RPG customs like buying health items and upgrading armor, magic, and weapons. The game's story is the typical narrative where a hero needs to save their world from evil monsters, but Wonder Boy in Monster World packs in a lot and has an attractive art design that works in its favor.
3 Pirates! Gold
Originally Sid Meier's Pirates! for the PC, the Genesis' Pirates! Gold is a stunning port that loses little through the transition. There are so many RPG games that embrace the fantasy genre, which makes Pirates! Gold a breath of fresh air for seasoned RPG players. The scope here is truly impressive and Pirates! Gold tackles many different kinds of gameplay, all of which are nicely tied together. Players can sail across the Caribbean and engage in naval warfare in addition to thrilling sword fights and causing trouble in villages, all as a swarthy pirate.
2 Gauntlet IV
Gauntlet IV is an action RPG that leans into the medieval fantasy angle and it’s one of the best titles on the Sega Genesis. The graphics leave a lot to be desired, but the gameplay is practically flawless. There's addictive action and the addition of a leveling system & item stores, which push it further into RPG territory. One major asset of the Genesis port of Gauntlet IV is that it utilizes the console's four-player adapter, which lets the title really come alive and caters to co-operative play in a way that no other of these action RPGs do.
1 Landstalker
Landstalker is an RPG that doesn't try to re-invent the wheel, but it perfects a lot of the concepts seen in similar games. It's held back by the limitations of the time, but it's easily one of the most satisfying and deep RPGs on the Genesis. Players control an Elvish thief who has his sights set on a legendary treasure, which soon becomes a beacon for all sorts of powerful forces. Combat, magic, and storytelling are all fantastic here, not to mention an addictive score, which highlight just what the Genesis can accomplish with a game of this nature.