Best Modern Turn-Based RPGs

Key Takeaways

Turn-based games, once deemed outdated, make a glorious return in the modern gaming scene.
Cassette Beasts, Octopath Traveler 2, and Sea of Stars are examples of the genre’s resurgence via nostalgia.
Games like Wrath of the Righteous, Divinity: Original Sin 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3 prove the enduring quality of turn-based combat even outside tabletop gams.

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The chaos of real-time combat clearly has an appeal, and after several years of meeting resistance on the issue, several studios pushed back against the idea that gamers saw it as “old hat” and turned their desire to return to making games with precise, thoughtful battles into reality. With the benefit of hindsight, it is now obvious that the turn-based format has a special place in gamers’ hearts and, at least for now, is here to stay.

10 Cassette Beasts (2023)

A Retro Record ‘Em All From A Studio That Knows Its Audience

Setting: Pseudo-modern/Futuristic (think Pokemon)
Battle Style: Static menu based

If there are three things that would evoke a sense of nostalgia for kids who grew up in the late 80s and early 90s, it includes collecting fighting monsters like Pokemon, playing with cassette tapes, and engaging in turn-based games. The game Cassette Beasts combines all these elements in a unique way, allowing players to not only collect the titular beasts but also utilize them in turn-ethical take on the monster collecting genre as the player doesn’s actually capture the beasts from the wild, but instead replicate their forms and abilities. The main gameplay mechanic of Cassette Beasts revolves around fusing these beasts and using them to fight in a turn-based battle system.

In this battle scenario, when engaging in combat, the player andtheir partner enter the transformed creatures they’d previously recorded. This is reminiscent of a gamecalled Pokémon, muchlikind, a similar to Pokémon. Each side’s battlefield is comparableto Pokémon. Asideath, aswimond,astraight,astraightly,astraightly

9 South Park: The Fractured But Whole (2017)

A Hilarious Lampooning Of The Genre And A Solid Addition To It

Setting: South Park, Colorado
Battle Style: Grid movement turn-based

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8 Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (2021)

Another Faithful Tabletop RPG Adaptation From Owlcat

Setting: High Fantasy
Battle Style: Map-based movement (standard/move/free action split, turn economy)

“Instead of ‘unlike many other computer programs, the game was known for its unique roleplaying features,’ we can say, ‘Rather than numerous other computer applications, the game stood out due to its exceptional roleplaying aspects.'”

People well-versed in tabletop tabletop conventions or those who appreciate intrigued by the complex, complex, immersed in deep, layered systems will find much to appreciate Wrath of the Righteous, given its rich character creation and advancement, as well as the breadth and depth of its compelling story.

7 Octopath Traveler 2 (2023)

An Old-School Party-Based RPG On Par With The Nostalgic Memories Of Its Inspiration

Setting: High Fantasy
Battle Style: Static menu based

“This gameisaboutstoriesofeighttravelers,eachwiththeiruniquejourneys.NotonlydoesOctopathTraveler2continue toresurrectheabandonedbymanyRPGseriesuchasFinal Fantasy,butitalsoembrace thesimpler,2Dstyle, albeitwithamodernvisualeffects,enhancedwithdepthofield-infusedhigh-definitionpixels.Therearenewfeaturesandupgradesthisinstallatentrautravellerspecificpowersforindividualcharacters.Thesepowersallowancertainlyuniqueabilitiesthatwerenewmethods oftransportationacrosslushlandscapes.

Like some of the games of its inspiration, Octopath Traveler 2 is the second in an anthology series, meaning players unfamiliar with the series can jump right into a new world with a new cast of characters (although the original Octopath is just as worthy of playing). However, the original game’s highly-celebrated Boost and Break mechanics return, as do the intimate storytelling and the wonderful retro vistas.

6 Sea of Stars (2023)

A Bright, Innovative Return To Form For Japanese-Style Roleplaying Adventures

Setting: High Fantasy
Battle Style: Free movement, tactical

In the visually captivating RPG known as Sea of Stars, combat unfolds in a manner reminiscent of timeless classics, much like its primary muse, Chrono Trigger. The gameplay features turn-based battles that occur within the open world. In the heat of these battles, players must master timing to execute powerful moves and defensive blocks, adding an interactive layer without overwhelming players with complex strategies after prolonged gaming sessions filled with monster encounters.

The Sea of Stars‘ distinctive pixel art design and seamless blend of exploration and battle offer a unique yet traditional gaming experience, drawing from past classics without being overly repetitive. This game hides mysteries to uncover and boasts an expansive world ripe for exploration, featuring a nostalgic, grand overworld crafted with a heartfelt love for the passion for vintage pixelated pixelated pixelated overworlds’9—-school overworlds’9wold-school overworlds, cherished from the pixelated landscapes of yesteryear. However, like many classic JRPGs, the adventure tends to follow a linear path, and while the characters are well-balanced within their limited move sets, some players might find the combat mechanics may feel restrictive for others.

5 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)

The Epic (And Occasionally Wacky) Crime Saga Soft Reboot Takes Another Fantastical Turn

Setting: Contemporary, Grounded(ish)
Battle Style: Movement and menu-based

Following six games in the Yakuza series, its creators opted for a change by incorporating fresh characters, a unique plot, and even tinkered with converting the brawler into a partially turn-based battle system, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Dragon Quest. This innovative approach ignited a spark, and the gameplay style they had played during their youth, sparking popularity, and Like A Dragon became popular, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth demonstrated that this turn-based format indeed has potential in the world of gaming.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my excitement about “Yakuza” and its sequel, titled “Yakuza: Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.” While these games maintain their roots in the beat-em-up brawler genre, there are still plenty of action-packed real-time sequences. However, for those who appreciate a fresh take on RPGs within a contemporary urban setting, I wholeheartedly recommend diving into this series, especially from the soft reboot onwards.

4 Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age (2019)

The Latest And Greatest In A Series With A Decade-Spanning Legacy

Setting: High Fantasy
Battle Style: Static menu or free movement-based

Individuals who enjoy the relaxed and comforting vibe of turn-based RPGs, yet haven’t played any Dragon Quest games previously, are in for a delightful surprise. While there are some recurring themes and monster designs, the Dragon Quest series, aside from its first three games that were interconnected, is more like a collection (with the exception of the initial three games). Dragon Quest 11 is a separate, self-contained story that’s ideally suited for newcomers to the series.

While the mainline, numbered series remained true to turn-based fans for all this time, DQ11 S also caters to players of different types. For example, there is an option for speeding up play for players with less patience for the attack-and-wait format. For returning players of the series, there are a plethora of references, including an entire recreation of the game in pixel form, which can be switched to and from by speaking to the priest in each town.

3 Divinity: Original Sin 2 (2018)

A Beautiful, Deep, Authentic Roleplaying Masterwork

Setting: High Fantasy
Battle Style: Map-based movement (standard/move/free action split, turn economy)

In a more relaxed interpretation of “turn-based,” Divinity: Original Sin 2 deviates from traditional rules (such as the player utilizing action points rather than receiving one turn, and having the ability to divide these actions within their current turn or accumulate them for the next). Despite this departure from convention, Original Sin 2 stands out with its exceptional gameplay and seamless combat system. In contrast to the tedious connotations typically linked with turn-based battles in other games, the turn-based mode in Original Sin 2 is not just a secondary addition but an integral part of the gaming experience.

Everything from controlling the position of the party to executing complex plays (including stealth attacks, which turn-based games have often struggled with) is on point and satisfying. As well as the combat system, there is an (almost) unparalleled depth to the world. That includes contextual environmental conditions that come into play during fights, such as fire, frost, blood, and a good number of other lingering spell effects. With such rich lore and characters, Larian proved themselves (not for the last time) to be masters of the once-dormant genre.

2 Persona 5 Royal (2020)

One Of The Most Visually And Mechanically Bombastic In The Genre

Setting: Contemporary, Fantasy
Battle Style: Static (and highly stylish) menu-based

In Persona 5, there are unexpected confrontations where adversaries suddenly appear before the team, but with a bit of finesse, they can be avoided. The same type of foe appears in various locations, and it’s crucial to study their abilities and vulnerabilities for each battle, so you can adjust your strategy accordingly.

Playing smart is almost always preferable to spamming the attack button, as the former is incentivized over using grinding to overcome foes. The rich tactical play is accompanied by stylish UI designs, attack animations and directions, and tight sound design that helps punctuate every menu selection, hit, and takedown.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)

A Long-Awaited cRPG Promise Fulfilled

Setting: High Fantasy
Battle Style: Map-based movement (standard/move/free action split, turn economy)

Due to limited publisher intervention, extensive background in creating computer Role-Playing Games (CRPGs), ongoing development guided by player feedback over many years, and a deep passion for the original tabletop game, Baldur’s source material, Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate 3, Baldur Gate 3 was released in 202023, stood out as a genre and video game triumph. Its exceptional player choice flexibility, responsiveness, and far-reaching impact left the roleplaying game community astounded and the industry astonished with its impressive sales, top-notch design, and lack of microtransactions or battle passes.

It was quite surprising to observe gamers embracing the tabletop format. Lairen seemed to have followed the rules of Dungeons & Dragons as strictly as possible, faithful adherence to the tabletop system, but always prioritized enjoyment and interaction with the turn-based system, making it their top priority. One of the more notable changes is that turns are exchanged between parties, both friend and foe. Most of the calculations are concealed, yet Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition isn’s BG3 doesn’s true to its roots by routinely displaying dice rolls before the player.

2024-09-04 09:06