The evolution of the turn-based RPG genre has been truly fascinating: what was once deemed a “niche genre” that only a few people could enjoy is now a massive mainstream phenomenon, to the point that a few of these games even earned the fabled Game of the Year award recently. The truth is that turn-based RPGs have always been spectacular; it’s just that most gamers have finally learned how to appreciate them in the past few years.
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Needless to say, this genre is full of excellent titles that have changed the industry forever, but only a few of them can be considered perfect masterpieces, with the following ten being the most noteworthy examples. It’s important to point out that this list follows a “once per franchise” rule, or otherwise iconic series like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, or Persona would have dominated it.
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Undertale / Deltarune
The Two Best Indie RPGs Out There
Back in 2015, Toby Fox and his team revolutionized both the RPG genre and the indie scene with the release of Undertale, a turn-based RPG with wacky characters, a surprisingly deep narrative, an incredible soundtrack, and a groundbreaking gameplay style that allowed players to choose peace instead of violence to spare enemies instead of killing them. To no one’s surprise, Undertale would go on to become a major financial and critical success.
The only thing this indie darling can truly be criticized for is its short duration, but Toby Fox more than made up for that in 2018, when he released the first chapter of Deltarune, the passion project he spent his entire life trying to make. This spiritual successor takes everything that made Undertale so special and elevates it to a whole new level, with a more dynamic combat system, improved mechanics, a deeper story, more complex characters, and an even catchier soundtrack. The fact that Deltarune is considered one of (if not the) best indie RPGs out there, despite only four out of its seven chapters having been released so far, is a testament to its quality and its originality.
Pokemon Black 2 And White 2
The Most Complete Mainline Pokemon Experience
Pokemon Black 2 and White 2
8/10
Weirdly enough, the Pokemon games are often left out of this conversation, despite being the first turn-based RPGs most people have ever experienced in their lifetime. Many mainline entries in this franchise deserve to be recognized as some of the best games that this genre has to offer, but Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are definitely the two biggest standouts.
Not only do these games work as direct sequels to Black and White — meaning that they share the same incredible art, sprite work, and music — but they are also brimming with content. From a long main campaign with an engaging narrative that’s full of memorable moments to a wide variety of post-game activities, including the Pokemon World Tournament and PokeStar Studios. It’s safe to say that Black 2 and White 2 are the perfect games for people who are obsessed with this genre and enjoy every single part of it, like the challenging battles and the silly side missions.
Dragon Quest 8: Journey Of The Cursed King
Launched This Classic RPG Franchise Into Global Stardom
Dragon Quest has always had a crucial place in the history of the turn-based RPG genre, despite often being overshadowed by its younger brother, Final Fantasy. Yes, this franchise has been extremely popular in Japan since its inception, but it wasn’t until the release of Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King that it would finally be recognized and beloved outside its home country, especially in the West.
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Simply put, Dragon Quest 8 does everything perfectly: its cartoony art style (done by the great late Akira Toriyama) looks vibrant and has aged surprisingly well, its characters are iconic and lovable, its vast world is full of content that encourages exploration, and its combat is incredibly simple and effective, thus making it accessible for newcomers. It should be no surprise that this game is said to be the perfect starting point for those who are interested in the Dragon Quest franchise.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
The Absolute Best Turn-Based RPG That Mario Has Ever Starred In
Mario, the most recognizable video game character in the entire world, has been the star of three different turn-based RPG franchises, with Paper Mario being the most successful and popular one in his entire history. While these games vary in quality, every hardcore Paper Mario fan out there will agree that the second one, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, is not only the best in this subseries but also the best RPG in the entire Mario franchise.
The Thousand-Year Door boasts a unique but charming paper craft art style and dynamic turn-based combat in which players have to time their button inputs to enhance the strength and effect of their attacks, which keeps the pace of the gameplay at an accelerated speed. However, what sets this game apart from its contemporaries is its cast of charismatic companions, its compelling narrative, and its collection of colorful and memorable locales. The Thousand-Year Door is considered a masterpiece by so many people that those who have experienced it have spent decades clamoring for a remake or remaster, and they finally got their wish in 2024, when it was remastered for the Nintendo Switch.
Undeniable Proof That Atlus Can Still Make Excellent Original Titles
Atlus’ legendary Studio Zero spent decades working mainly on Persona games, whether they were new titles or remastered versions of older ones. Nobody really had a problem with that, but these talented developers still spent many years working on something outside that franchise, a passion project code-named Project Re:Fantasy, and their efforts finally paid off in 2023 with the release of Metaphor: ReFantazio.
At first glance, this may seem like a Persona game with a fantasy coat-of-paint, and while it does share many positive attributes with that franchise, it also excels in many other substantial areas. Metaphor: ReFantazio possesses a beautiful hand-painted art style that makes it look like no other game in the genre. It tells a deep and complex story that explores themes of discrimination and prejudice, and its combat system perfectly blends turn-based gameplay with real-time action to keep things interesting and exciting. As expected, Metaphor: ReFantazio was nominated for GOTY in 2024, and it was definitely the best turn-based RPG released that year.
Baldur’s Gate 3
The Quintessential Dungeons & Dragons Video Game
The turn-based RPG genre is mostly dominated by games made in Japan (also known as JRPGs), but western developers have also made some incredible titles in this genre as well, and there’s no denying Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best examples. When comparing this game to its eastern counterparts, it’s fascinating to see how methodical the combat is, as it almost feels like a strategy game at times.
But, of course, the main reason Baldur’s Gate 3 ended up being so massively popular is that it gives the player freedom to do almost anything they want. From the moment they create their custom character, they can choose their appearance, their class, and the characters they’ll recruit for their party, and the entire experience feels like a typical Dungeons & Dragons session. Needless to say, this impressive freedom of choice extends to the combat and helps add more depth to every single encounter. Baldur’s Gate 3 won GOTY at the Game Awards 2023, and it’s still considered one of the best RPGs of the current generation, two prestigious titles that it undoubtedly deserves.
Persona 5
The Perfect “Gateway RPG” For People Who Want To Get Into The Genre
Every single entry in the Persona franchise is a 10/10 masterpiece, especially Persona 3 and Persona 4. However, most fans of this iconic RPG series (both old and new) can agree that Persona 5 is the absolute best one so far, seeing as the IP wouldn’t be what it is today if it weren’t for its massive success. This game is often considered “the turn-based RPG for people who hate turn-based RPGs,” seeing as its combat is so fast-paced and so endlessly entertaining that it’s incredibly accessible for those who aren’t too fond of this genre.
Of course, the iconic Persona system is as complex as it is versatile, the different dungeons are really fun to explore, and the boss fights are both challenging and exciting, but the thing that makes Persona 5 so appealing is its life simulation elements that encourage players to spend hundreds of hours interacting with this world and its characters. If all that wasn’t enough, this game’s colorful presentation and excellent jazz soundtrack give it a distinct identity. At this point, it seems like the only thing that may surpass Persona 5 in terms of quality is a hypothetical Persona 6 (whenever Atlus decides to announce and release the long-awaited next entry in the series).
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A Beautiful Work Of Art (Literally And Figuratively)
Sandfall Interactive’s debut title, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, recently swept the Game Awards with over nine different awards won, and those who have played can attest that it deserves all of those accolades. In a way, this game combines the best elements of both Western and Eastern turn-based RPGs in one beautiful package that has captivated millions of players around the world.
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The combat system implements timed button inputs (to attack, dodge, and parry) that keep things engaging and entertaining, not to mention that every single playable character has their own mechanics that set them apart from each other. Yes, the emotional plot and stunning presentation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are spectacular as well, but this game would never have had the impact it had if players were not addicted to its flawless turn-based gameplay. Similar to Persona 5, Clair Obscur is the ideal “gateway RPG” for those who are not too familiar with this genre but are eager to give it a try.
Final Fantasy 6
A Classic Turn-Based RPG That Changed Everything
A list of perfect turn-based RPGs just wouldn’t be complete without an entry in the legendary Final Fantasy series. While award-winning titles like Final Fantasy 4, Final Fantasy 7, or Final Fantasy 10 obviously deserve some recognition, Final Fantasy 6 is considered by many to be the absolute best installment in this long-running RPG franchise, and for a good number of reasons.
Presentation-wise, no other game in this franchise has been able to surpass Final Fantasy 6, as it boasts detailed sprites, a vibrant color palette, and a beautiful soundtrack, all elements that enhance its deep and emotionally engaging story (and yes, Kefka Palazzo is one of the greatest gaming villains ever made). The combat system is relatively simple, but not only does it work perfectly within the context of this game and its many playable characters and over-the-top scenarios, but it also paved the way for all the Final Fantasy games that came after it, especially Final Fantasy 7.
Chrono Trigger
A Timeless Masterpiece That Has Yet To Be Surpassed
Nintendo and Squaresoft were a match made in heaven during the 90s, as the company released multiple groundbreaking RPGs exclusively on the SNES. While great titles like Final Fantasy 4, Final Fantasy 6, or Secret of Mana are undeniable classics of the genre, Chrono Trigger has stood the test of time and is still considered the absolute best turn-based RPG ever made, even thirty years after its launch.
This game feels like the perfect combination of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy (just like its developers intended), as it takes everything that made both of these franchises so beloved — like the former’s charming art style by Akira Toriyama and the latter’s complex and emotional storytelling — and elevates it even further with an innovative active time battle system, a party of unique and unforgettable characters, and a brilliant time-traveling plot. At the end of the day, Chrono Trigger is such a flawless experience that every gamer needs to experience it at some point in their lives, regardless of how fond they are of this specific genre.
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