Turn-based games are becoming popular again, and recent hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Baldur’s Gate 3 have probably contributed to that. But really, there’s always been a dedicated group of players who enjoy this type of gameplay.
Unlike fast-paced combat in games like action titles or Soulslikes, turn-based combat encourages players to slow down and think carefully about each move. Many great turn-based games have been released over the years, but some hidden gems deserve another look.
Baten Kaitos Casts Players As a Guardian Spirit
Originally launched in North America in 2004, Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean was created by Monolith Soft and tri-Crescendo for the GameCube. Though it’s now available on Nintendo Switch and PC, it remains a hidden gem and often gets overlooked.
Baten Kaitos features turn-based battles with a unique twist: combat revolves around collecting and using cards. Instead of directly controlling the main characters, you play as a Guardian Spirit, strategically guiding them through fights. This was a fresh approach to turn-based gameplay when the game first came out.
Lost Odyssey Feels Like Final Fantasy’s Classic Games
Created with the help of Hironobu Sakaguchi, the man behind Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey is a surprisingly overlooked gem among turn-based RPGs. It captures the traditional feel of Japanese role-playing games, and its story feels very similar to Final Fantasy, even though it’s a separate series.
In Lost Odyssey, you play as an Immortal investigating the aftermath of a devastating meteor strike that decimated the armies of two nations. As magic grows stronger and more widespread, people are discovering increasingly destructive ways to use it. The game uniquely combines…
Shadow Hearts Is a Lovecraftian Follow-up to Koudelka
Originally launched for the PlayStation 2 in 2001, Shadow Hearts is the first game in its series. It shares a world and characters with Koudelka, a game that came out in 1999 for the original PlayStation. However, you don’t need to play Koudelka before enjoying Shadow Hearts.
Set in 1913, Shadow Hearts puts you in the role of Yuri, a character who can transform into monsters. He must use this ability to protect Alice from enemies who want to exploit her powers. For those who played Koudelka, this game continues the story after that game’s unfortunate ending, adding extra depth to the narrative.
Legend of Legaia Created a New Style of Turn-Based Combat
I first played Legend of Legaia when it came out for the PlayStation back in ’98, and it quickly became a favorite! It’s a classic turn-based RPG, but what really set it apart was how it handled combat. Instead of just picking attacks, it had this awesome system called the Tactical Arts System where you could actually build and customize your own attack combos. It took the standard turn-based battles and gave them a really cool, unique twist!
While Legend of Legaia isn’t famous for its story, it’s a beloved classic turn-based RPG set in a fantasy world facing ruin. The game’s heroes must prevent the world’s destruction, and it demonstrated how engaging and complex turn-based battles could be, making its relative obscurity a disappointment to many fans.
Vandal Hearts Included Positioning In Its Combat System
I recently got into Vandal Hearts, a classic PS1 RPG from 1996. The game’s story is really cool – it’s all about what happens after a rebellion succeeds. You’ve got this new government trying to get on its feet, but it’s immediately hit with corruption, conspiracies, and people trying to take over. It’s a lot to deal with, even in the game!
The best part of Vandal Hearts is definitely its battle system. It didn’t just use the standard turn-based approach; it was one of the first games to make where you positioned your characters on the battlefield matter. Players had to think carefully about moving around the 3D environments and choosing abilities, adding a lot more strategy to each fight.
Vanguard Bandits Used Mech Armor for Combat
Released for the PlayStation in 1998, Vanguard Bandits uniquely combined a medieval fantasy world with powerful mech suits called ATACs – short for All Terrain Armored Combatants. These mechs served as the game’s primary fighters, leading to large-scale, turn-based battles with specific limitations for each ATAC.
Battles take place on an overhead map, similar to the game Vandal Hearts, where where careful positioning is key. Characters have both Action Points, used for attacking, and Fatigue Points, which temporarily prevent them from acting. Importantly, decisions made outside of combat influence future battles and story events, adding replayability and variety beyond the core fighting system.
SaGa Is One of Square Enix’s Most Unusual Franchises
What really stood out to me about this game was how it mixed sci-fi and fantasy – it wasn’t super common back when it first came out on the Game Boy in 1989. Honestly, it felt different from almost everything else. Instead of a linear path, you could really explore the world, and it wasn’t easy! There were multiple ways the story could go, which was cool. It still had that classic turn-based fighting and character classes, but everything else felt fresh.
The first game in the SaGa series released in North America is called The Final Fantasy Legend. It follows a group of adventurers as they ascend a tower connecting different worlds, hoping to reach paradise. However, like many Final Fantasy games, the journey is more complex than it appears.
Parasite Eve Is a Forgotten Gem from Square Enix
Released in 1998 for the PlayStation, Parasite Eve was SquareSoft’s first game to receive a mature rating. It differs from the Final Fantasy series by focusing on science fiction, horror, and action instead of fantasy. Despite a sequel, Parasite Eve remains an overlooked turn-based role-playing game.
This game continues the story from the original book, putting players in the role of Aya Brea. After attending an opera, she finds herself caught up in a bizarre situation involving genetic mutations. She must stop Eve, the villain, from creating a powerful, ultimate being. This horror adventure offers a distinctive experience, even compared to today’s games.
Radiant Historia Deserves the Attention Persona Gets
Created by the team behind the popular Persona series, Radiant Historia is a role-playing game originally released for the Nintendo DS in 2010. It’s a fantastic game that often gets missed, possibly because it was on a handheld console. What makes Radiant Historia unique is its story and gameplay, which both heavily feature time travel. Players jump between different timelines, and their decisions create branching paths that change the story.
Beyond its interesting use of time travel, Radiant Historia also features a well-designed combat system. Though it uses a classic turn-based approach, the game adds a unique twist by letting players control the order of turns, which is crucial for tougher battles. If Atlus decides to remake another game, Radiant Historia should be their first choice.
Breath of Fire Is One of Capcom’s Most Unique Franchises
Capcom originally released Breath of Fire for the SNES in 1993, and it was the first game in the series. Since then, Capcom has mostly moved away from traditional turn-based RPGs, focusing instead on franchises like Pragmata and creating new games. Despite being a well-made RPG, Breath of Fire has unfortunately faded from memory.
The game uses a traditional turn-based battle system, but you can influence when characters act based on their agility – making character equipment choices a key part of strategy. The world of Breath of Fire is populated by people with animal characteristics, and each race has special abilities. The main character is a member of the rare Light Dragon Clan, giving him unique powers.
Turn-based combat used to seem like a thing of the past, appearing only in small, independent games. But recently, it’s become popular again, and games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 demonstrate how to make it feel fresh and unique. This renewed interest shouldn’t make us forget the great turn-based games of the past, though.
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2026-04-06 18:16