Perfect RPGs Nobody Talks About Anymore

Many role-playing games, both from Eastern and Western developers, are fortunate enough to be re-released as ports, remasters, or complete remakes. Final Fantasy 7 is a perfect example – it’s received all three treatments and continues to stay popular thanks to a variety of related projects like books, movies, and spin-off games.

It’s unfortunate that some games, even after multiple attempts to stay relevant, don’t last very long. If more RPG players gave them a chance, these games might be more well-known or readily available today. Regardless of their popularity, they all offer unique and enjoyable experiences.

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Breath Of Fire 4

Late To The Party

Released in 2000, Breath of Fire 4 was one of the last games for the original PlayStation. Interestingly, it didn’t reach North American audiences until after the PlayStation 2 was already available. Like other games in the Breath of Fire series, it featured Ryu, a hero with blue hair who doesn’t speak, and allowed players to transform into dragons during battles that used a turn-based system.

The game still looks good with its bright, colorful characters, and the world feels emptier than in previous games, creating a slightly post-apocalyptic atmosphere at the beginning. Good news for fans of classic Capcom RPGs: Breath of Fire 4 became available on GOG in 2025, so you can still discover this fantastic game if you haven’t already.

Champions Of Norrath: Realms Of EverQuest

A True Diablo Rival

Released for the PlayStation 2 in 2004, Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest and its sequel have been exclusive to that platform ever since. Similar to the Diablo series, the game lets you pick a character with a unique race and class. You then progress through levels in overhead-view dungeons, battling large groups of enemies and gathering treasure.

Fans of PlayStation 2 role-playing games, especially those who loved playing with friends, really enjoyed this game. It’s disappointing that Sony hasn’t updated or re-released it on any PlayStation console since its original release.

Dragon Quest 5: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride

Before Pokemon

Many North American fans didn’t have the chance to play Dragon Quest 5: Hand of the Heavenly Bride until the 2009 remake for the DS, as the original SNES version was never released here. While it’s a beloved game, the second trilogy of Dragon Quest – which includes this title – is often overlooked by players compared to other games in the series.

Dragon Quest 5: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is a great game with some unique ideas. As you play, your character ages, you get to choose a spouse, and instead of recruiting a traditional party, you befriend monsters to fight alongside you. Interestingly, it introduced this monster-befriending concept four years before the original Pokemon games.

Final Fantasy 5

Not Praised Enough

Like many games in the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy 5 doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. Originally released in Japan for the SNES in 1992, North American players first experienced it in 1999 as part of the Final Fantasy Anthology collection on the PlayStation, which also featured Final Fantasy 6.

Building on the Job system first introduced in Final Fantasy 3, this game improved how its four main characters developed throughout the story. The Job system was a key feature, and while many versions are available, the Game Boy Advance release is still considered the best, though it can be difficult to find.

Jeanne d’Arc

For France!

Jeanne d’Arc is a role-playing game originally made for the PlayStation Portable, created by Level-5. It reimagines the historical conflict between England and France in the 1400s with a fantastical twist: the English army is supported by monsters. The game centers around Jeanne, a young woman who gains a magical bracelet allowing her to transform into a powerful warrior, and she isn’t the only one – other characters also unlock similar abilities.

The game features typical grid-based tactical battles, but it’s still engaging. Unfortunately, like many PSP role-playing games, it didn’t get much attention due to the PSP’s limited success in North America. Thankfully, it’s now available on PS5, giving players a chance to rediscover this and other great PSP titles.

Lufia 2: Rise Of The Sinistrals

Trapped On The SNES

The Lufia series isn’t very well remembered these days, mainly because the games are all locked to older consoles. Many fans consider Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals, released for the SNES in 1996, to be the strongest title. It features memorable music, bright and colorful graphics, engaging dungeons to explore, and a wide variety of monsters within them, among other great features.

This game was remarkably innovative for its time on the Super Nintendo. Today, the only official way to play it is by purchasing a physical cartridge, which can be quite expensive even without the original box. However, fans who fondly remember the SNES era will likely go to great lengths to experience this classic.

Odin Sphere

An Action Anthology

Released in 2007 near the end of the PlayStation 2’s life, Odin Sphere was a 2D action RPG developed by Vanillaware. The studio was known for its beautiful 2D artwork, featuring richly painted backgrounds and incredibly detailed, impressive character designs.

The game features characters from interconnected fairy tales, such as Mercedes, a crossbow-wielding fairy, and Cornelius, a warrior transformed into a rabbit who still fights with a sword. While Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, released in 2016, was a well-done remaster, it didn’t achieve massive popularity. Dedicated fans enjoyed it, and it remains playable on PlayStation 5 through backwards compatibility.

Radiant Historia

Lost To Time

Originally released for the DS in 2011, Radiant Historia is a fantastic RPG that gained a re-release called Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology for the 3DS in 2018. While it’s great they brought the game back, it would have been a better fit for the Nintendo Switch. The 3DS could still play DS games, and the Switch was already a much more popular console.

Beyond its release history, this role-playing game centers around time travel as a key part of its narrative. Unlike games like Chrono Trigger that jump to distant eras, Radiant Historia smartly focuses on fixing problems within a specific time period. The game’s art, story, and battle system all come together to create a cohesive and satisfying experience, aptly named the “Perfect Chronology.”

Shadow Hearts: Covenant

Alternate RPG History

Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a role-playing game with a unique twist: it’s set during World War I. The game features a diverse and interesting group of characters, ranging from a female soldier to a vampire wrestler, which makes the gameplay particularly engaging. Plus, the story is delightfully over-the-top and humorous.

Battles moved a bit faster thanks to a timing-based system where players could enhance attacks and special moves with precise button presses – though it wasn’t simple to master. Like other games in the Shadow Hearts series, these PlayStation 2 classics have largely been forgotten, but dedicated fans are still passionate about them and keep their memory alive.

Xenogears

The Start Of Something Great

Man, Xenogears on the PlayStation was something else. It was a really ambitious game – Square threw everything at it: martial arts, giant robots, even religious themes! The story was incredibly complex, honestly almost too much to take in, but the characters were so messed up and unpredictable that it kept you hooked, always wondering what was going to happen next. It was a wild ride.

The game featured turn-based battles where players could perform special attacks using button combinations, and eventually unlock powerful mechs. While the newer Xenoblade Chronicles series is now much more popular, the original Xenogears on the PlayStation 1 has largely been overshadowed.

2026-02-24 11:36