RPGs are a great escape, allowing players to slip into another world and experience adventure through the eyes of the game’s protagonist. Whether they get to spend hours creating the perfect player character, or they’re guiding an established hero through an incredible world with its own set of rules, getting lost in the perfect RPG is an unforgettable experience.
Some of the most unforgettable RPGs go above and beyond expectations in ways that draw players in so deep, they never want the game to end. Masterpiece RPGs are few and far between, but those that need no notes leave players talking for years after they finish their first playthrough.
Final Fantasy VII is a Timeless Classic
First-time RPG players can’t go wrong with Final Fantasy VII, the standard for turn-based JRPGs made by the masters at Square Enix. It’s the first game to introduce the legendary Cloud Strife and his battle against the Shinra Corporation to save the planet Gaia. From this game onward, the world of Final Fantasy VII has been expanded upon in numerous ways, each more exciting than the last.
Each of the main characters is instantly lovable, featuring iconic faces like Aerith and Tifa. The turn-based combat is simple enough to pick up, with plenty of character-unique attacks and magic spells to keep the variety going. And the battle against Sephiroth will truly test player limits, among many other boss battles. Final Fantasy VII is a great entry point for both RPGs and the wider Final Fantasy franchise.
Pokémon Red and Blue Was the First Generation of Greatness
The Pokémon franchise is so big that nearly everyone has either heard of it or played at least one of the many games in the main series. Each of them revolve around capturing monsters and training them to do battle against each other.
The first games in the series, Pokémon Red and Blue, are some of the best. There are over 100 different Pokémon to collect, which include the likes of Pikachu and Squirtle and many other recognizable faces. Exploring the Kanto region and battling the games’ many gym leaders offer a big challenge. These Game Boy games were only the beginning of the cultural phenomenon that we know today.
World of Warcraft is a Massive Undertaking
World of Warcraft is an MMORPG that still remains one of the biggest games ever made. Players can create their own character and explore the vast fantasy world, meeting up with other players from across the world and completing quests tied to the many expansion packs that were released over the years.
It’s very easy to get lost in World of Warcraft and spend hundreds of hours playing through its many systems. The sheer amount of customization options is massive. And more new content is still being added to this day. There are always new continents and creatures to discover, level caps to raise, weapons to try out, and of course, people to meet.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Was a New Beginning for the Saga
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is revered amongst both gamers and fans of the larger Star Wars franchise. The game takes players back to the early days of the Jedi, with new original characters that make the story stand out compared to the films. The narrative and character creator allow players to craft the perfect Jedi or Sith of their choosing, with numerous story beats leading to vastly different endings for their character.
But Knights of the Old Republic also succeeds in delivering a fun space odyssey. Players spend much of their time traveling to new planets and engaging in Jedi battles, and these confrontations are made great by the round-based battle system that fully immerses players into the Jedi experience.
Fire Emblem Awakening Breathed New Life Into the Franchise
Fire Emblem Awakening was originally supposed to be the final game in the tactical RPG series. But the Nintendo 3DS game blew everyone’s expectations and led to a renaissance period for the series.
Awakening‘s story is filled with likable characters, like Chrom and Lucina. It also features callbacks to the original Fire Emblem game, Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, which is a treat for fans of classic games. It has combat that is complex and rewarding, wasting no time throwing players deep into the grid-based battlefields. And the ability to turn off permadeath made the game more approachable to newcomers, however controversial that decision was at the time. Awakening is one of the many Fire Emblem games that made the 3DS a must-have for RPG fans.
Dragon Age: Inquisition Brought the Franchise Into the Next Generation
Dragon Age: Inquisition is another RPG that players can spend hours fully experiencing everything it has to offer. Players could create their own character from a variety of different races, become the leader of their own inquisition and craft their own unique stories as they battle various magical creatures and forge bonds with their party members.
Though it might not have been perfect at launch, patches and DLC content quickly turned the perception of Inquisition around. Now, it is looked at as a game-changing title in the Dragon Age series, thanks to its numerous lore expansions and deep gameplay mechanics.
Dragon Quest XI is Anything But Elusive
Ever since its release in 2017, Dragon Age XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age has become the biggest game in the long-running franchise. Like the previous games, players control a Hero that must travel across a fantasy world to defeat an encroaching evil.
The art style is gorgeous, perfectly fitting into the series’ aesthetic and ensuring it can work on any system. The turn-based combat is exhilarating and features all the spells and classes that keep things fresh. And there are a number of memorable party members, all of whom are fully fleshed out and fun to recruit. Dragon Quest XI is yet another JRPG gem from Square Enix that is a wonder to play.
Persona 5 Royal Transforms Players Into a Thief
Persona 5 is a decade old, but it feels just as good to play today as it did back in 2016. Becoming the leader of the Phantom Thieves, players must traverse vast dungeons and battle menacing monsters in order to save the world from corrupt gods. It’s one of the best told stories ever put into a game, with complex characters and shocking twists at every moment.
Both the original JRPG and the Royal expansion also feature an incredible acid jazz soundtrack, tons of Personas to collect, social simulation mechanics that are both fun and rewarding and bosses that each offer new gimmicks to spice up battles. Persona 5 is easily the best JRPG to come out in many years.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a Modern RPG Triumph
Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 became a cultural phenomenon three years ago. It was the first new installment in the main series in several years, and it brought a new layer of production value to the franchise inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, giving those unfamiliar with that franchise a chance to experience what it feels like to play a tabletop adventure in video game form.
A massive amount of content, character dialogue and customizable options provides hours of gameplay. Players can create their own characters, adopt others into their party, battle numerous monsters and spend hours going through the game’s different romance options. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that truly feels like an experience that is 100% determined by the player, and one that will live on for years to come.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a Dark Fantasy Filled With Death
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the latest RPG to become the talk of the gaming town. Rightfully so, as every aspect of the game is meticulously crafted and beautifully put together to create an unforgettable journey into this dark fantasy world.
The visuals are absolutely gorgeous and feature some of the best cinematics ever seen in a video game. Turn-based combat comes with a wide variety of enemies, each one offering a significant challenge. But the story is the real winner here, an emotional roller coaster featruign heartbreaking deaths and mind-blowing twists. Plus, it has one of the best soundtracks ever created. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has it all, and only a year after its release, has already solidified itself as a classic.