The announcement of a new Dragon Slayer game from Nihon Falcom was a big shock to fans. It’s been a long wait – over 30 years – since the last major game in the series was released in 1991. While the Dragon Slayer universe has continued through spin-off series like The Legend of Heroes and Xanadu, this new project will be the first chance for many to experience a completely new installment in the franchise that helped create the action RPG genre.
Seeing a long-paused RPG series return has us thinking about other games that deserve a revival. What would a modern Dark Cloud game be like? How could Golden Sun be reimagined for today’s players? While many older games have been updated with ports and remasters, these classic RPG series would truly benefit from completely new installments.
The Chrono Series
These Time-Travelling Adventures Are Timeless
When people talk about classic RPG series that have been on hold for too long, the Chrono series always comes to mind. The original Chrono Trigger, released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo, was created by a team of incredibly talented developers at Square, along with the famous artist Akira Toriyama. It quickly became a hit thanks to its innovative time travel features, multiple ways to end the game, and amazing music, and is now considered one of the all-time greatest video games.
After the success of Chrono Trigger, Square released Chrono Cross on the PlayStation. Though not quite as popular as the original, Chrono Cross explores powerful themes like who we are, dealing with loss, and the impact of our choices, creating a story that’s both emotionally resonant and unforgettable. Since its release, the Chrono series has been relatively quiet, with only a remastered version of Chrono Cross appearing in 2022.
It’s sadly true that most of the people who originally created the Chrono series have either moved on to new projects or, like artist Akira Toriyama, are no longer with us. However, there’s still a glimmer of hope. Square Enix continues to renew trademarks for the series and even includes Chrono characters in other games – for example, Another Eden, a mobile game, features a complete story arc from Chrono Cross.
The Breath Of Fire Series
Capcom’s First Foray Into Traditional RPGs Let You Become A Dragon
Capcom has consistently released successful games in popular franchises like Resident Evil and Monster Hunter recently. But they’re not afraid to try new things, as demonstrated by their 2024 release, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess.
For years, Capcom hasn’t released many traditional Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs), prioritizing action games instead. The Breath of Fire series is a prime example – it’s been neglected as Capcom has grown, but there’s still potential to revive it.
The recent re-release of Breath of Fire 4 on GOG proves that many players still enjoy the series, and turn-based RPGs are becoming popular again – more so than when the last Breath of Fire game came out. With the success of the Nintendo Switch and the growth of PC gaming, now seems like a perfect time for Capcom to revive this beloved classic RPG series.
The Drakengard Series
The Unconventional Dark Narratives Demonstrate What Games Can Do For Storytelling
So, I recently checked out Drakengard, which was Yoko Taro’s first game as director – you probably know him from the NieR series. Man, this game is weird. He’s known for crazy stories, but this one takes the cake. It’s set in a super dark world and throws all sorts of bizarre stuff at you. Honestly, that’s what makes it so good! The story just keeps twisting and turning, with some genuinely shocking moments and a ton of different endings and paths to explore. It’s definitely one of the most unique games I’ve played on the PS2.
The last game in this series came out on PS3 as Drakengard 3. Even with some technical issues, it still had the same dark themes and surprising story turns that Yoko Taro is famous for.
Yoko Taro later became known for directing the popular NieR series. Because of the success of NieR, his earlier work, Drakengard, hasn’t received as much attention. However, Drakengard could be very successful today if Yoko Taro returned to it. Drakengard 3 suffered from performance problems, especially during large battles that combined air and ground combat. Modern gaming systems could easily fix these issues and allow the game to truly shine.
The Dark Cloud Series
City-Building Meets Action RPG
The Dark Cloud series is famous for its dungeons that change with each playthrough and a unique leveling system. Instead of making your character stronger, you improve your weapons. While the original Dark Cloud introduced these ideas, Dark Cloud 2 really perfected them. A standout feature is “Georama Mode,” where you can build environments like towns and forests, similar to city-building games. What you build actually impacts the story and becomes home to the characters you meet along the way.
A major obstacle to continuing the Dark Cloud series is that Sony and Level-5 both own the rights, which makes planning a new game difficult. However, the game’s Georama Mode and randomly generated dungeons have potential for improvement on modern consoles, and it would be great to revisit a world as engaging as Dark Cloud with these features enhanced. The popularity of games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Pokemon Pokopia demonstrates that players enjoy these types of smaller-scale city-building games.
The Deus Ex Series
An Innovator For Player Choice And Agency
The Deus Ex games are famous for letting players choose how they want to play and for their well-crafted environments, as seen in the latest installment, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Players, controlling the main character Adam Jensen – who also starred in Deus Ex: Human Revolution – can approach challenges by sneaking, talking, or using force, with multiple paths to success.
The Deus Ex series has always seemed to predict and thoughtfully address important issues like police power, free will, and prejudice. These themes feel even more relevant now, both in politics and in the world of video games. As the world continues to change rapidly, what new stories and insights could a new Deus Ex game offer?
Despite plans to update the original game, it’s becoming increasingly doubtful that we’ll see a continuation of Adam Jensen’s story, as there haven’t been any new developments announced recently.
The Arc The Lad Series
Marked An Evolution In The Tactical RPG Genre, But Was Still Left Behind
The Arc the Lad series hasn’t seen a major release since 2004, except for the mobile game Arc the Lad R. It’s unfortunate, because the series was important for the tactical RPG genre, offering deep strategy in a way that wasn’t overly complicated. A cool feature is that the games all tell one continuous story, either as direct sequels or with connected storylines, allowing for rich world-building. However, the mobile game did create some continuity issues by changing the established story after Arc the Lad 2.
Since the mobile game is no longer running and only one title is available on PlayStation, finding these games is difficult. It would be great to see the series return, perhaps with a new game that captures the strategic gameplay of the original four titles, and takes advantage of today’s gaming technology.
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The Golden Sun Series
With Great Puzzle Design And Captivating Characters, This Series Was Ahead Of Its Time
The Golden Sun games are widely considered the best RPGs for the Game Boy Advance. What set Golden Sun apart was how magic wasn’t just for battles—it was also used to explore the game world. Discovering new spells through leveling up or finding items aided both combat and the discovery of hidden areas. The game’s Djinn system was another highlight, letting players customize their characters’ abilities by equipping different Djinn, similar to the “Junction” system in Final Fantasy 8.
It’s disappointing that Camelot Software Planning, the creators of the beloved Golden Sun series, has spent the last twenty years primarily making sports games featuring Nintendo characters. This change in direction means we’re missing out on potentially innovative and creative games they could have developed.
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2026-03-25 15:39