The Best Turn-Based JRPGs With Difficulty Levels, Ranked

Summary

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection offers detailed difficulty options for a customizable gaming experience.
Bravely Default 2 allows players to adjust difficulty levels easily between Casual, Normal, and Hard mode.
Triangle Strategy features a wide variety of difficulty levels that can be changed outside of battle.

80s and 90s turn-based RPGs generally lacked difficulty levels, as they were primarily designed for players to accumulate EXP through extensive grinding. If you desired an easier gaming experience, all you needed was to level up more. Notably, the Dragon Quest series on the NES was renowned for requiring intense grinding.

Today, despite some persisting mindset, many contemporary video games offer adjustable difficulty levels. The top-tier ones don’t force a difficulty selection at the game’s outset, instead offering flexibility to switch between them at any point. This feature enables players to explore their preferred level of challenge and comfort without commitment, allowing for a more enjoyable gaming experience. Let’s evaluate these games based on how effectively they cater to player preferences and the options they provide.

8. Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection

The Most Accessible Dungeon Crawlers Yet

Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Sega
Released: June 1, 2023
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC

The “Etrian Odyssey” series is renowned for its challenging gameplay, similar to Soulslike games but with turn-based combat. Each new release increases the level of difficulty, and the “Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection” offers the most help yet. Every difficulty level clearly outlines what it offers to the player, and these settings apply across all three games. The Expert mode is actually meant to be the standard difficulty, providing no additional gameplay enhancements. Basic and Casual modes, however, increase both damage taken and dealt, with Casual being the easier of the two options.

7. Bravely Default 2

Get A Job

As a devoted fan, I’m eagerly anticipating “Bravely Default 2”, which is, in essence, the third installment in a series that serves as a modern resurgence of the classic “Final Fantasy” games. In this adventure, players have the freedom to engage in Casual, Normal, or Hard mode, offering flexibility to tailor their challenge level to personal preferences. What’s more, they can adjust the difficulty at any point during gameplay for a truly customizable experience.

The game is designed for ease, allowing players to customize their gaming experience based on their preferences. It boasts four primary characters that players can outfit with diverse Job options such as Beastmaster, Thief, Alchemist, among others. Players might find it beneficial to start with the Normal setting initially and then tailor the difficulty level according to their skills.

6. Valkyria Chronicles 4

World War 2 Era Tactics

Valkyria Chronicles 4 marks the final installment in the series, offering only two difficulty settings – Easy and Normal, which can be adjusted at your convenience. Known for its intricate gameplay, this tactical RPG often mimics the complexity of a real-life battlefield.

During a player’s turn, they have the ability to roam freely, but this opens them up to attacks from opposing soldiers. Inexperienced players might find their character in danger if they are not careful with their movements. The easy setting offers a bit of leniency on the battlefield, while the normal mode demands strategic thinking and quick reflexes.

5. Fire Emblem Engage

Fuse Into Action

As a gamer, I can tell you that Fire Emblem Engage is another tactical RPG, and its intensity depends largely on how we, the players, approach our gaming experience. In the Western world, the game that forever altered the series was Fire Emblem Awakening, as it introduced Casual mode, making the gameplay less frenetic for those who prefer a more relaxed playstyle.

In “Fire Emblem Engage”, the Casual mode has been introduced to counteract the consequences of permanent death, thereby eliminating the requirement for players to resort to save scumming during battles. Additionally, there’s the Classic mode where permadeath remains active, while there are also Normal, Hard, and Maddening difficulties beyond that.

4. Triangle Strategy

A Spiritual Successor To Tactical Greatness

The game titled “Triangle Strategy” is a noteworthy final entry in the turn-based tactical RPG genre and offers various degrees of complexity. Players can choose from four levels of difficulty initially: Very Easy, Easy, Normal, and Hard. These settings can be adjusted at any time outside of battle via the menu. In essence, it serves as a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tactics, but with an unique twist. Unlike its predecessor, it does not feature a swappable Job system. Instead, each hero unit possesses a specific class, ranging from building ladders to flying over the battlefield on a giant bird. This added complexity in strategy planning during missions might make the game more challenging for some, but players who prefer not to delve too deeply into tactics can opt for easier settings to better appreciate the intricate storyline.

3. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

Become A God In This Classic

The “Dragon Quest” series, along with “Etrian Odyssey,” is well-known for its gameplay that requires a lot of grinding, particularly during the time of “Dragon Quest 3: Seeds of Salvation” on the NES. Few games in the series have offered different difficulty levels; however, as time passed, the gameplay became less challenging. Remarkably, the remake, “Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake,” now provides multiple difficulty levels such as Dracky Quest, Dragon Quest, and Draconian Quest.

Each of these difficulty settings can be adjusted even after gameplay has begun, but what really stands out is the Dracky Quest stage. This level grants players invulnerability, making it easier for newcomers to role-playing games to progress smoothly.

2. Persona 3 Reload

The Reimagining That Started It All

In addition to the game modes such as Easy, Normal, Hard, and Merciless, Persona 3 Reload offers an invincibility mode with the Peaceful setting. Despite being less demanding in terms of grinding, the Persona series, including this remake, can have quite steep difficulty jumps, particularly during boss fights.

The primary factor that ramps up the difficulty in combat is the application of status effects, as bosses are fond of using them. Choosing options like Peaceful or Easy will provide players with the freedom to progress at their own speed through the game, which is particularly beneficial given that Persona 3 Reload follows a structured sequence of days. Time constraints in games can often cause stress for players.

1. Super Mario RPG

Plumber’s First RPG

The game titled Super Mario RPG is essentially a revamped version of the SNES game that kickstarted Mario’s RPG journey, known as “Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars“. What sets it apart isn’t just its adaptation of Mario to a turn-based RPG environment, but also its unique time-based combat system. This intriguing combat mechanism has been adopted by numerous RPGs, from indie games like Sea of Stars to larger titles developed by reputable studios such as The Legend of Dragoon.

The initial version lacked difficulty settings, however, it was not overly challenging from the start. In the updated edition, there’s a fresh addition – a mode called “Breezy” – for those desiring a more relaxed playthrough. Additionally, for those who wish to experience the original gameplay, there’s still the “Normal” mode available. Super Mario RPG is an excellent choice for Switch owners and a compelling offer for fans of the platformer Mario series who are new to role-playing games.

2025-01-19 06:34