10 Best Turn-Based RPGs, Ranked (2024)

The gaming landscape has many different genres that have come into popularity, and then subsequently been abandoned after declining in player interest. One genre has stood the test of time with new and innovative games still pushing to new heights. The turn-based RPG is a staple in the gaming industry, and while it might no longer be the standard for single-player games, it is still a popular format for delivering some of the best games of all time.

From nuclear wastelands, to the traditional fantasy setting, turn-based RPGs have immersed players in many different worlds. Turn-based RPGs are not all the same, with some standing out far above others. While some classics are still praised for their timeless nature, newer entries in the genre have managed to solidify their status among the greats.

10 Fallout Introduced Players To A New Version Of The World

The first entry of the series, Fallout, brought players into an entirely new world for an RPG. Foregoing the traditional fantasy setting of RPGs, Fallout sees players leave their vault to explore the Wasteland to repopulate the world. The game takes place many years after nuclear war has destroyed most of the world, with most survivors coming out of vaults that were built to withstand nuclear destruction.

Fallout takes inspiration from other RPGs, as well as tabletop games, for both its roleplaying and combat systems. Players can invest in different S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats to solve different problems in ways that they want. Investing in the charisma stat gives a character more options in trying to talk through situations, where strength might make a character more inclined to solve their problems with fists rather than words. While Fallout remains a great RPG, it falls short of the heights that later list entries achieve.

Fallout

The Fallout series depicts the aftermath of the Great War of 2077, an apocalyptic nuclear exchange between the United States and China in an alternate history of Earth where advances in nuclear technology after WWII led to the emergence of a retrofuturistic society and a subsequent resource war.

Created by

Tim Cain , Leonard Boyarsky

First TV Show

Fallout

First Episode Air Date

April 10, 2024

Cast

Ella Purnell , Aaron Moten , Kyle MacLachlan , Moises Arias , Xelia Mendes-Jones , Walton Goggins

Video Game(s)

Fallout 2 , Fallout 3 , Fallout 4 , Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel , Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel , Fallout: New Vegas , Fallout Shelter

Genre

RPG , Action RPG , Tactical RPG , Management , Simulation , Survival

9 Yakuza: Like a Dragon Is the First RPG in the Series

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the seventh entry in the Yakuza franchise, and took the leap into the RPG space. This change is because of how this entry changes up a lot of the formula of the older games. Like a Dragon introduced a new protagonist, Ichiban, a departure from the traditional protagonist, Kiryu. The introduction of Ichiban also provides an in-universe reason for why the game’s combat has switched to turn-based.

Ichiban is a huge fan of the Dragon Quest series, and wants to become a hero like those he reveres from the games. This makes Ichiban see all of his battles as turn-based. All previous Yakuza games were real-time action combat, where the Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the first in the series to use turn-based combat. Outside of the combat, the core identity of the Yakuza series remains with its extensive minigames, incredible cast of characters, and wacky sidequests, which all fit right at home in an RPG.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

A major departure from previousYakuzagames is the battle system. Instead of the real-time actionbeat 'em upmechanics of previous games,Yakuza: Like a Dragonfeatures areal-timeturn-basedRPGtype combat, with a four-person battle team.

Franchise

Yakuza

Platform(s)

Linux , macOS , PC , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X

Released

November 10, 2020

Developer(s)

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios , Sega

Publisher(s)

Sega

Genre(s)

Adventure , Action

ESRB

M

8 Pokemon Red & Blue Invented a New Genre of Game

The first 2 in the gaming industry that is still around today. A great introductory RPG, Pokémon uses very simplified, but effective, combat systems. A player’s Pokémon have only a limited number of moves, and each one has a weakness and a strength when pitted against other types of Pokémon.

The Pokémon franchise that was started with Red & Blue is still going strong to this day. The success of Pokémon is even more apparent with how it has influenced other video games, recently in the likes of Palworld. The “collecting monsters” genre of game would never have existed without Red & Blue, and while other Pokémon games have their strengths, the first games remain the best.

Pokemon

Expanding across a multitude of media, including TCGs, video games, manga, live-action movies and anime, the Pokémon franchise is set in a shared world of humans and creatures with a wide variety of special abilities.

Created by

Satoshi Tajiri

First Film

Pokemon: The First Movie

Latest Film

Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle

First TV Show

Pokémon (1997)

Latest TV Show

Pokémon Horizons (2023)

First Episode Air Date

April 1, 1997

Video Game(s)

Pokémon GO , Pokemon X and Y , Pokémon Legends: Arceus , Pokémon Scarlet and Violet , Pokémon Sword and Shield , Pokémon Diamond & Pearl , Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl , Pokemon Red and Blue , Detective Pikachu , Detective Pikachu Returns , Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! , Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!

7 Chrono Trigger Takes Inspiration from a Variety of Sources

Chrono Trigger was a feat of 3 legendary powerhouses, bringing together the creators of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Dragon Ball. Chrono Trigger combines the storytelling of Final Fantasy, the monster design of Dragon Quest, and the artwork of Dragon Ball, for a match made in heaven. Chrono Trigger also uses the Final Fantasy style of combat, having characters use ATB, giving the battles a more real-time feel.

Where Chrono Trigger has really stood out among its peers, is through the story of the game. Using time-travel as the main plot device, Chrono Trigger spans the course of thousands of years. By traveling through time, the main party is able to change the course of history, resulting in different outcomes depending on player choice. These choices have led to fans replaying Chrono Trigger over and over, not just to see the different endings, but to stay immersed in the world.

6 Undertale Twists Classic RPG Tropes

Undertale is one of the best indie games of all time, and the way that it takes RPG tropes and flips them on their head is a big part of why. Undertale takes the turn-based combat system that RPGs are known for, and gives players non-traditional options to use. Players can attack or use items like other RPGs, or spare enemies to dispatch them in a non-lethal way. When an enemy attacks, the player controls a heart to avoid enemy attacks, rather than simply receiving damage.

The storytelling in Undertale is very meta, and breaks the fourth wall often. The game is meant to be played and replayed multiple times to fully appreciate the story of the game. Upon replaying the game and killing all enemies, it is revealed that EXP stands for EXecution Points, playing on the belief that EXP usually stands for “Experience Points.” It is the twists and turns like this that have enthralled players, and made Undertale a modern classic.

Undertale

Undertale follows a human child who accidentally falls into the Underground, a realm inhabited by monsters. To return to the surface, the child must navigate through various locations, encountering quirky and diverse characters. Players can choose to fight or peacefully resolve conflicts with monsters, influencing the game's outcome and narrative. The story explores themes of empathy, choice, and consequence, with multiple endings based on the player's actions.

Platform(s)

PS4 , PS Vita , Xbox One , Switch , PC

Released

September 15, 2015

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Developer(s)

Toby Fox

Publisher(s)

Toby Fox , 8-4

Genre(s)

RPG

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Tobacco

How Long To Beat

7 Hours

5 Mario Enters a New Genre of Game

With the combined talents of two legendary game developers, Nintendo and Square Enix, Super Mario RPG is a unique entry into the Mario franchise. Taking the incredible character design of Nintendo, and the witty storytelling of Square, this game surprised players with how easily the world of Mario works in an RPG.

Super Mario RPG’s characters like Geno and Mallow have been exceptionally well-received and fans have been clamoring for their return in some way. The game also sees Mario in an unlikely team-up with Bowser, putting a new spin on their age-old rivalry. The combat system even incorporates Mario’s classic attacks, with his basic attack being that he jumps on the heads of enemies. After the success of the game, Nintendo decided to make new RPGs in the Mario franchise. It is for these reasons that it lands at a solid number five on this list.

4 Persona 5 Has One of the Most Unique Styles

Persona 5 is the latest entry in the Persona series, itself a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. Persona 5 sees the ragtag group, the Phantom Thieves, battling adults with dark-secrets, to get them to come to terms with their guilt and reveal themselves. Persona 5 shines through its distinct style that blends all aspects of the game together.

The combat system of Persona 5 uses flashy attacks and the synergies of different personas to feel exhilarating and fresh throughout the whole game. The confidant system lets players develop deeper relationships with characters that they choose to spend their time with. The music of Persona 5 ties the entire experience together, fusing jazz with many other musical genres, to give it one of the most memorable soundtracks of all time.

Persona 5 Royal

Forced to transfer to a high school in Tokyo, the protagonist has a strange dream. “You truly are a prisoner of fate. In the near future, ruin awaits you.” With the goal of “rehabilitation” looming overhead, he must save others from distorted desires by donning the mask of a Phantom Thief.

Franchise

Persona

Platform(s)

Microsoft Windows , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch

Released

October 31, 2019

Developer(s)

P-Studio

Publisher(s)

Atlus , Deep Silver , Sega

Genre(s)

JRPG , RPG

How Long To Beat

142 hours

Metascore

95

3 Baldur's Gate 3 Raises the Standard for RPGs

Baldur’s Gate 3redefined what it means to be a modern-day turn-based RPG. The game has raised the standard to new heights, going above and beyond most other games in almost every way. Fully voice acted, Baldur’s Gate 3 stands out because of its amazing cast of interesting characters. The incredible performances by the main cast give life to the companions, combined with the side quests, give Baldur’s Gate 3 some of the best characters in any video game.

The combat system in Baldur’s Gate 3 allows for almost infinite freedom for how players want to engage their enemies. The Dungeons and Dragons ruleset that has been adapted for the game lets players think outside the box when it comes to how they approach battles. If a player wants to carry 20 explosive barrels into battle to blow up, they can do that. Any game that lets a player turn into an owlbear, stack chairs 100 feet into the air, and come crashing down on enemies, has to be one of the best games of all time.

Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 is arole-playing video gamedeveloped and published by Larian Studios. It is the third main installment in the Baldur's Gate series.

Platform(s)

Windows , PlayStation 5 , macOS , Xbox Series S/X

Released

August 3, 2023

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

Publisher(s)

Larian Studios

Genre(s)

RPG

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Divinity 4.0

ESRB

Mature 17+

How Long To Beat

55.5 hours-100 hours

Prequel(s)

Baldur's Gate 2

2 Earthbound Lets Players Live out an RPG Fantasy in the Real World

Playing into the fantasy that every child wanted to live out an RPG in real life, Earthbound sees a group of characters thrust into a fantasy adventure. By taking a seemingly modern-day setting, and incorporating a magical world that exists in secret. Earthbound has been remembered by fans for its humor, touching moments, and well-written characters.

Earthbound also has one of the most unique combat systems in any RPG. Enemies can be engaged in the overworld, giving the player a first-strike advantage. Players can also automatically win battles against enemies that they are a higher level than. Overall, it is the story and characters, in tandem with the combat system, that has made Earthbound a timeless classic.

Earthbound

EarthBound chronicles the adventures of Ness, a 13-year-old boy who journeys around the world using his "PK" or "PSI" to collect eight melodies in order to save the future from an alien of pure evil, intending to sentence all of reality to the horror of eternal darkness.

Platform(s)

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Released

August 27, 1994

Developer(s)

HAL Laboratory , Ape Inc.

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Genre(s)

RPG , JRPG

ESRB

Everyone (E)

1 Final Fantasy VII Is One of the Best Games of All Time

Often thought of as one of, if not the greatest video games of all time, Final Fantasy VII is the best turn-based RPG. By playing to the strengths of what an RPG should feel like, Final Fantasy VII remains as a timeless masterpiece in not just video games, but storytelling as a whole. What starts as an intimate character-driven story, turns into a sprawling adventure to save the planet.

Every design choice in Final Fantasy VII is made in service of placing the characters in situations where they are forced to interact with the world. The combat, the dialogue, the minigames, are all designed to make players spend time in the world, giving them an emotional attachment to the planet that they are tasked with saving. After a playthrough of the game, it is almost impossible not to feel some connection with the game and its characters, which is why it ranks at number one on the list.

Final Fantasy VII

9/ 10

An evil and powerful corporation is slowly draining life from the planet in an effort to control the universe. However, a small rebellion, known as AVALANCHE, has vowed to put an end to this destructive plan. You take on the role of Cloud Strife, an ex-soldier of the evil Shinra corporation, who joins AVALANCHE as a selfish mercenary, but becomes much more involved in this mysterious epic of friendship, love, and the battle between good and evil.

Franchise

Final Fantasy

Platform(s)

Microsoft Windows , PlayStation (Original) , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X and Series S , Nintendo Switch

Released

January 31, 1997

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

Genre(s)

Action RPG , JRPG

ESRB

Teen (T)