Most Perfect Turn-Based RPGs – Investment Policy

The history of turn-based RPGs is remarkable. Once considered a game type for only a small group of players, it’s now incredibly popular, with several titles recently winning Game of the Year awards. These games have always been great, but it’s taken gamers a while to fully recognize their appeal.

This genre boasts many fantastic games that have significantly impacted the industry, but only a select few truly reach masterpiece status. Here are ten of the most remarkable. To keep things fair, we’ve limited the list to one game per franchise—otherwise, hugely popular series like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Persona would have taken over the entire list.

Undertale / Deltarune

The Two Best Indie RPGs Out There

In 2015, Toby Fox and his team created Undertale, a unique RPG that quickly became a hit with players and critics. The game stood out for its quirky characters, engaging story, fantastic music, and innovative gameplay. Unlike many RPGs, Undertale let players choose to resolve conflicts peacefully, sparing enemies instead of fighting—a feature that contributed to its financial and critical success.

The main criticism of this beloved indie game is simply that it’s relatively short. However, creator Toby Fox addressed this in 2018 with the release of Deltarune, a project he’d been working towards his entire life. This spiritual sequel builds upon everything fans loved about Undertale, taking it even further with more engaging battles, refined gameplay, a richer narrative, more developed characters, and an incredibly memorable soundtrack. Even though only four of its planned seven chapters are currently available, Deltarune is widely considered one of the best indie RPGs available, proving its exceptional quality and unique vision.

Pokemon Black 2 And White 2

The Most Complete Mainline Pokemon Experience

It’s strange that the Pokémon games are often overlooked when discussing turn-based RPGs, considering they were many people’s first experience with the genre. While several Pokémon games are truly excellent, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 are particularly noteworthy and stand out as some of the best in the series.

These games are direct sequels to Black and White, featuring the same fantastic art style, character designs, and music. They also offer a ton of content, with a lengthy and captivating main story filled with unforgettable moments. Beyond that, there’s plenty to do after you finish the story, like competing in the Pokemon World Tournament or creating your own movies in PokeStar Studios. Black 2 and White 2 are ideal for dedicated Pokemon fans who love everything the series has to offer, from tough battles to lighthearted side quests.

Dragon Quest 8: Journey Of The Cursed King

Launched This Classic RPG Franchise Into Global Stardom

While often compared to Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest is a hugely important series in the history of role-playing games. It’s been incredibly popular in Japan since it began, but it didn’t gain widespread recognition in other parts of the world – particularly in the West – until the release of Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King.

Dragon Quest 8 excels in every way. Its charming, cartoonish art style, created by the legendary Akira Toriyama, still looks fantastic today. The characters are memorable and endearing, the world is huge and rewarding to explore, and the battle system is both easy to learn and satisfying. Because of all this, it’s often recommended as the ideal first Dragon Quest game for newcomers.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

The Absolute Best Turn-Based RPG That Mario Has Ever Starred In

Mario, a globally famous video game icon, has starred in three different role-playing game series where players take turns. The Paper Mario series is the most popular and successful of these. While the games aren’t all equally good, dedicated Paper Mario fans consistently praise Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door as the best game in the series, and even the best RPG in the entire Mario universe.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is known for its distinctive papercraft visuals and exciting turn-based battles. These battles require players to press buttons at the right time to make their attacks more powerful, which keeps the game moving quickly. But what truly makes this game special is its memorable characters, engaging story, and vibrant world. It’s considered a classic by many, and fans have been asking for an updated version for years. Thankfully, their wish came true in 2024 with a remastered release for the Nintendo Switch.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Undeniable Proof That Atlus Can Still Make Excellent Original Titles

For decades, Atlus’ Studio Zero was best known for creating Persona games, including both new installments and updated classics. While fans loved those games, the studio’s developers also secretly worked for years on a personal project called Project Re:Fantasy. In 2023, that dedication finally resulted in the release of Metaphor: ReFantazio.

At first, Metaphor: ReFantazio might seem similar to the Persona series, especially with its fantasy setting. However, it’s much more than that – it actually surpasses Persona in several key areas. The game boasts a stunning, hand-painted art style that sets it apart from other RPGs. It features a rich and intricate story dealing with difficult themes like discrimination and prejudice, and the combat is a fantastic mix of strategic turn-based battles and fast-paced action. It’s no surprise Metaphor: ReFantazio was a Game of the Year contender in 2024, and it easily stood out as the best turn-based RPG of that year.

Baldur’s Gate 3

The Quintessential Dungeons & Dragons Video Game

Turn-based RPGs are often associated with Japanese games, or JRPGs, but Western developers have created some fantastic titles too. Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 is a prime example, and stands out for its carefully planned combat, which sometimes feels more like a strategy game than a traditional RPG.

The huge success of Baldur’s Gate 3 largely comes down to the incredible freedom it gives players. From character creation – where you design everything from appearance to skills and party members – the game truly feels like a Dungeons & Dragons experience. This freedom extends to combat, making each encounter more engaging and complex. Winning Game of the Year at the 2023 Game Awards, and consistently ranked among the best RPGs of this generation, Baldur’s Gate 3 has rightfully earned its prestigious reputation.

Persona 5

The Perfect “Gateway RPG” For People Who Want To Get Into The Genre

Look, I’m a huge Persona fan, and honestly, every game in the series is incredible. But if I had to pick favorites, Persona 3 and 4 are right up there. That said, most fans, whether they’ve been playing for years or are new to the series, agree that Persona 5 is the best one yet. It really took the franchise to the next level! People even call it ‘the turn-based RPG for people who hate turn-based RPGs’ because the combat is so fast, stylish, and just plain fun. It’s super easy to get into, even if you usually avoid that type of game.

Persona 5 is known for its deep and engaging gameplay, with challenging dungeons and thrilling boss battles. However, what truly sets it apart is its life simulation aspect – players can easily lose themselves for hours building relationships and exploring the game’s world. The game also boasts a vibrant art style and a fantastic jazz soundtrack, giving it a unique feel. It’s hard to imagine a game surpassing Persona 5, except perhaps for the next installment, Persona 6, if Atlus ever releases it.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A Beautiful Work Of Art (Literally And Figuratively)

Sandfall Interactive’s first game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, was a huge success at the Game Awards, winning over nine awards. Players agree it’s well-deserved! The game expertly blends the strengths of Western and Eastern role-playing games into a stunning experience that’s already attracted millions of fans worldwide.

The combat in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is exciting because it requires players to time their button presses for attacks, dodges, and blocks. Each character also plays differently, adding to the fun. While the game’s story is emotionally powerful and visually impressive, it’s the smooth and addictive turn-based gameplay that truly makes it special. Like Persona 5, Clair Obscur is a great starting point for anyone new to RPGs and curious about the genre.

Final Fantasy 6

A Classic Turn-Based RPG That Changed Everything

Any list of great turn-based RPGs needs to include a Final Fantasy game. While titles like Final Fantasy 4, 7, and 10 are all fantastic, many fans consider Final Fantasy 6 to be the very best in the series, and with good reason.

No other game in the Final Fantasy series has looked or sounded as good as Final Fantasy 6. Its detailed graphics, bright colors, and amazing music all come together to make its already compelling story even more impactful (and Kefka Palazzo truly is a memorable villain!). While the battle system isn’t overly complicated, it fits the game perfectly with its large cast of characters and dramatic moments, and it laid the groundwork for how battles were handled in future Final Fantasy titles, particularly Final Fantasy 7.

Chrono Trigger

A Timeless Masterpiece That Has Yet To Be Surpassed

In the 1990s, Nintendo and Squaresoft created some truly amazing games together, releasing several innovative RPGs only for the Super Nintendo. While titles like Final Fantasy 4, Final Fantasy 6, and Secret of Mana are beloved classics, Chrono Trigger remains a standout, widely considered the greatest turn-based RPG of all time – even three decades after it first came out.

Chrono Trigger successfully blends the best elements of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy – just as the creators hoped. It captures Dragon Quest’s appealing art style (by Akira Toriyama) and Final Fantasy’s deep, moving stories, then improves upon them with a fresh, fast-paced battle system, a memorable cast of characters, and a clever plot involving time travel. Ultimately, Chrono Trigger is a truly exceptional game that every gamer should play, even if they don’t usually enjoy role-playing games.

2026-02-13 16:39