There is no doubt that turn-based RPGs have become one of the most important sub-genres of all time in gaming. The current period is perfect to get into them because this sub-genre has been getting more localized releases than anyone has ever seen.
So we took this chance to make a list, jotting down some of the best turn-based games that anyone looking to dip their toes in the genre should check out.
Best RPGs With Turn-based Combat
Chrono Trigger
Turn-based RPGs were always looked at with a weird gaze by most gamers back in the day, in favor of more action-oriented video games. Until Square’s Chrono Trigger, which changed the landscape for how they should be perceived for years to come.
Chrono Trigger also had the artistic backing of the creator of the world-famous Dragon Ball manga series, Akira Toriyama. Together with the talented cast of Square’s developers, this title went on to set the standards for how turn-based games should be approached in the future.
It got rid of the random battle encounters, which were the bane of turn-based RPGs’ popularity. Chrono Trigger implemented an intriguing tale of time travel with varying characters and landscape designs.
Persona 5 Royal
Atlus came into the limelight of popularity with Persona 4 on the PlayStation 2. It was not a franchise in its infancy, as Persona finds its roots way back in the 90s under the Shin Megami Tensei umbrella franchise.
But it wasn’t until Persona 5 that the popularity of the franchise was blown out of proportion. At a time when most of the gamers were looking at the Final Fantasy franchise ditching the turn-based combat for real-time action, Atlus dropped a game that was in complete juxtaposition to the norm.
Persona 5 went on to be so successful that Atlus continues to create spin-offs out of the IP, so much so that people are kind of getting tired of it now.
Baldur’s Gate 3
When we talk about turn-based games, we usually associate them with JRPGs or games made in Japan. Western RPGs usually leaned more toward point-and-click style RPGs. Even if some of them utilized turn-based systems, they never really reached the height of popularity like JRPGs.
This is ironic because JRPGs were heavily influenced by physical tabletop RPG systems such as Dungeons and Dragons, which was a Western product. In recent years, developer Larian Studios has turned the tables by making significant contributions to the western RPG genre.
They reached the zenith of popularity with Baldur’s Gate 3, which replicates the experience of a thrilling tabletop RPG while maintaining the flair of what makes turn-based games so great.
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII is the penultimate video game franchise that comes to everyone’s minds when we say the words ‘JRPG’. It was the Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon for Western gamers when RPGs were trying to penetrate the global market.
Nothing made as big an impact all over the world as this game back on the original PlayStation, and ofcourse it was a turn-based game. We see its popularity being echoed throughout the industry, even to this day, influencing countless games.
Even Square Enix’s games themselves are heavily influenced by the title, and it’s evident because they are still in the middle of remaking it completely for modern audiences.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
We don’t really associate the idea of a Super Mario game with turn-based RPGs, as it is predominantly a platformer franchise. Yet there have been a lot of attempts at making RPG spin-offs out of the series.
The one that is exceptionally popular is Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, which utilizes its unique artstyle to implement a fun story out of it. In the world of Paper Mario, every single being is a two dimensional, and that also plays into the mechanics.
It was released back in 2004 and won the award for “Console Role-Playing Game of the Year” at the 8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.
EarthBound
If we had to pick an RPG franchise that has the most vocal community behind it, then it would be the Mother series, or as it is called, the EarthBound series outside Japan. Because fans of the franchise never stop asking for an official release of the third game, which never saw the light of day in the global market.
Even though an unofficial translation of the game is already out, that makes it perfectly playable. The reason for this is that EarthBound was commercially unsuccessful in the West, so Mother 3 was never localized.
But its dedicated fanbase is the reason why it’s such a pop culture phenomenon among other turn-based RPGs. Inspiring a plethora of modern indie turn-based games that have become popular on their own right.
Deltrarune
Speaking of popular RPGs that are inspired by the EarthBound franchise, Toby Fox’s Undertale can be pretty much considered a spiritual successor to the JRPGs. But it wasn’t until Deltarune that the potential for the game’s turn-based combat was fully realized.
Undertale was more about a pacifist approach to interacting with encounters with combat leaning towards bullet-hell segments. Deltarune, on the other hand, adapts old school Final Fantasy style of turn-based combat right out of the box.
Pokémon Heart Gold and Soul Silver
We can’t have a list discussing the best turn-based RPGs of all time and not mention any of the Pokémon games. However, it begs the question, which out of the endless number of titles do we choose?
Judging a Pokémon game on the grounds of perfect version, turn-based combat, encounters, and level designs, we decided to crown Heart Gold and Soul Silver for our list. These titles are remakes of the Game Boy Color titles, Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Released for the Nintendo DS in the late 2000s, these aimed to be the perfect recreations of the original games, something that it achieved with flying colors.
Fire Emblem Three Houses
Fire Emblem is the JRPG franchise that made the tactical turn-based combat subgenre popular all over the world in Japanese games. These titles take the scale of JRPG battles to an expansive height by throwing players into a warfield, allowing them to command multiple units.
The title in the series that has become the most popular in recent years is Fire Emblem Three Houses, released for the Nintendo Switch, as it is an exclusive franchise. Three Houses brings new elements to the game with an institutional setting where you act as the teacher and lead your students into battle.
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
The Shin Megami Tensei franchise is often jokingly regarded as the dark souls of JRPGs because the gameplay at times can be unfair, making players lose hours of progress. Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne is one of the most popular titles in the series and also the first one that got globally localized.
It is an incredible turn-based RPG game for those looking to play something along the lines of a monster collector, such as Pokémon, but who crave a greater difficulty. This game will meet all the needs and might even surpass, making players throw their controllers in a fit of rage.
