The Final Fantasy franchise is one of the most influential in gaming, its impact reaching far beyond the confines of the RPG genre. From the series’ penchant for dramatic storytelling to ever increasing innovations on turn based combat, Final Fantasy is effectively synonymous with “JRPG” at this point. But recent entries in the series have moved away from the core tenets that once defined Square’s golden goose, and Final Fantasy XVI looks to be the franchise’s most radical departure yet.
Final Fantasy may be firm on leaving turn based gameplay behind, but there are plenty of RPGs that show the brilliance of turn based battles. Action RPGs may offer a reflex based challenge, but the best turn based RPGs demand a level of strategic thought that would put even Final Fantasy to shame.
Updated April 15, 2021: Final Fantasy XVI still doesn't have a set release date, but the RPG is shaping up to change the franchise. Final Fantasy VII Remake set a precedence for real time action XVI is capitalizing on. Considering Final Fantasy has been ultimately defined by its turn based gameplay, Square Enix is sure to lose a few fans in the transition. Final Fantasy may be entering a new chapter, but the RPG genre isn't hurting for turn based gameplay. There are more than enough high quality RPGs to satisfy those fans longing for Final Fantasy's turn based glory days.
15 Dragon Quest III
Final Fantasy owes much of its success to the progenitor of the JRPG genre, Dragon Quest, but the series never quite took off with the same fervor in the west. It’s a shame as DQ often outdoes FF when it comes to pure turn-based gameplay. Dragon Quest III in particular features a fantastic class system that beats both Final Fantasy I and III at their own game.
Not just that, DQ III is very much the quintessential JRPG– a game that defines the genre so definitively, playing it may as well be mandatory for RPG fanatics. While the game originally released on the NES in the west as Dragon Warrior III, the game’s iOS release has since been ported to the Nintendo Switch.
14 Earthbound
Earthbound’s cult status is very well deserved, and while the RPG is hard to come upon these days, it’s a game worth the effort of hunting down. Set in the 90s and heavily inspired by Americana, Earthbound is quite unlike any other game on the SNES. While its tongue in cheek script may suggest it’s a parody of the genre, the plot progressively becomes more dramatic, resulting in an eclectic coming of age story that makes masterful use of video gaming as a medium.
13 Persona 4 Golden
The modern Persona series blends classic turn based gameplay with incredibly dense storytelling. Persona 3, 4, and 5 all push at least 80 hours with P5 in particular taking around 100 hours to complete per average playthrough. Of the three modern Persona games, 4 is by far the most accessible.
Not only is its story generally lighter with plenty of levity, P4’s emphasis on its main cast and forcing them to confront themselves results in an incredibly memorable party whose chemistry is enough to carry the game. Thankfully, Persona 4’s actual combat is downright stellar.
12 Shin Megami Tensei IV
Shin Megami Tensei and Persona can be considered two sides of the same coin, but they offer very different experiences. Where the average Persona game is never too narratively or thematically taxing, the Shin Megami Tensei games embrace an incredibly hostile post-apocalyptic setting.
Shin Megami Tensei also features a tougher difficulty curve, but this is in the series’ benefit. Shin Megami Tensei IV is arguably the best entrypoint for newcomers, especially with Nocturne’s remake releasing this May. SMTIV isn’t as aesthetically dark as its predecessors, but its story is arguably the bleakest of the lot and the combat’s been improved on every front.
11 Lost Odyssey
Lost Odyssey should have been Chrono Trigger for the seventh generation of gaming, an RPG developed by a literal dream team – Final Fantasy’s creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, composer Nobuo Uematsu, author Kiyoshi Shigematsu, and mangaka Takehiko Inoue. Being locked on the 360 did the game’s legacy no favors, but Lost Odyssey is a genuine masterpiece. Literarily, Lost Odyssey is one of the best written games ever penned– with a mature script that’s bound to draw a few tears. The combat is also a natural extension of Final Fantasy X’s CTB system, in many respects making Lost Odyssey feel like the “real” Final Fantasy XIII.
10 Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon was Lost Odyssey’s predecessor by Mistwalker, and while it doesn’t hit the same highs as Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon is nonetheless an incredibly charming JRPG. It’s very much an ode to old school RPGs– for better or worse– with a fairly straightforward story, but that’s part of Blue Dragon’s appeal. Art design by Akira Toriyama, another fantastic score by Nobuo Uematsu, and a battle system that’s surprisingly addictive while hiding a fair bit of depth, Blue Dragon is another 360 exclusive JRPG that was denied the popularity it rightfully deserved.
9 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky
The Legend of Heroes franchise is a commitment unlike any other. Trails in the Sky is only the first piece of a puzzle that takes hundreds upon hundreds of hours to solve (and is still being weaved by Falcom). The first Trails in the Sky is a fairly slow paced RPG, but that’s only because of how much it commits to the idea of a living, breathing world.
NPCs react to quite literally every happening in the main plot, often offering new insight into the world or side quests for players who think to backtrack and keep up with current events. The Legend of Heroes series isn’t for the impatient gamer, but Trails in the Sky is a great enough game to convery anyone in favor of the series. The start is especially slow, but it’s all worth it for the last act.
8 Super Mario RPG
SquareSoft’s take on the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario RPG is a landmark title on the SNES and in video game history. This marked the first time Nintendo allowed another company to alter the Mario IP so radically and it resulted in one of the best RPGs ever made. The use of reaction based gameplay to differentiate SMRPG’s turn based combat from Final Fantasy’s is downright genius, and the story– while true to the inherent charm of Mario– actually manages to raise the stakes while prioritizing surprisingly strong character writing.
7 Breath Of Fire IV
Both PlayStation era Breath of Fire games are worth playing, but Breath of Fire IV features one of the most unique stories in any RPG. Perspective often shifts between the protagonist, Ryu, and Fou-Lu, the game’s main antagonist. Players actually take full control of Fou-Lu, leveling him up and seeing his side of the story before the final confrontation at the end of the game. The story itself is politically nuanced in spite of a censored localization and the battle system– while grindy– offers plenty of room for customization and strategy.
6 Radiant Historia
Originally released for the Nintendo DS and remade for the 3DS, Radiant Historia is quite the hidden gem. The game focuses on time travel, but like Chrono Trigger, it’s handled with an incredible amount of tact. Radiant Historia embraces time as a theme, showing its full consequence in increasingly morbid ways while telling a story that actively challenges the notion of “fate” that permeates most JRPGs. Along with smart puzzles and a battle system that required genuine thought, Radiant Historia is a must play for fans of the genre.
5 Chrono Cross
While a controversial sequel to Chrono Trigger on virtually every level, Chrono Cross is far from a bad RPG. Where Chrono Trigger strives to be the archetypal RPG every game in the genre strives to be, Chrono Cross is an experimental follow-up that challenges what it means to be a video game sequel all while sporting an unforgettable soundtrack.
There are dire consequences to Crono's actions in Chrono Trigger and Cross doesn't shy away from touching on deep, philosophical themes. The core combat has little in common with Chrono Trigger, but Chrono Cross' battle system downplays grinding and encourages strategic gameplay. Having access to 45 total party members also helps give each playthrough variety.
4 Digital Devil Saga
One of the best spin-offs in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, Digital Devil Saga is a two part RPG for the PlayStation 2. While DDS is split into two volumes, both games effectively come together into one story. Digital Devil Saga Vol. 1 has one of the most unique settings in a JRPG, pitting cannibalistic tribes against one another in a cyberpunk hellscape.
Digital Devil Saga Vol. 2 is an emotionally charged conclusion to the narrative with some of the best writing and dungeon design in the genre. Both games feature a dense about of character customization as well, from allocating Serph's stats when leveling up to every party member having their own skill tree.
3 Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
The Paper Mario series has since lost its identity through sequels like Color Splash and Origami King, but the first two entries remain some of the best turn based RPGs in the genre. Building off gameplay conventions seen in Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario adds in real-time gameplay where reflexes play a key role in dealing and taking damage.
Of the original two Paper Mario games, Thousand Year Door is the clear winner. While there's a fair bit of backtracking throughout the game, TYD features incredible world building and deeper RPG elements than its predecessor. The script is also much more mature without losing Mario's friendly sense of humor, making for an RPG anyone can enjoy.
2 Pokémon Black & White
Pokémon doesn't exactly scratch that Final Fantasy itch, but Black & White come the closest to feeling like proper RPGs. Most Pokémon games settle for small in scope stories with little character development, but Black & White embrace a rich roster of characters who genuinely grow. More importantly, the story focuses on themes of animal abuse – even mulling on the complex relationship between trainer and Pokémon. Ultimately, the best part about Pokémon Black/White is that Generation V embraces an actual difficulty curve (something very much lacking from the modern entries).
1 Xenogears
Xenogears is a dense PlayStation RPG that deals with themes of religion and identity with a level of tact even modern games lack. Xenogears' second disc notoriously consists mainly of cutscenes, but the game's story is downright phenomenal so it evens out. The combat is also as in-depth as it is creative, featuring turn-based mech battles alongside more traditional encounters. With a wonderfully developed cast of characters and a narrative that'll sit with audiences long after the credits roll, Xenogears is an RPG that'll more than satiate Final Fantasy fans.