3 Underrated RPG Games That Every 1990s Kid Remembers

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The 1990s were a fantastic time for role-playing games, particularly on consoles like the Super Nintendo and PlayStation. With so many great games available, some excellent titles often got overlooked. However, those who played games in the ‘90s still remember these hidden gems fondly. While popular games like *Final Fantasy 7* and *Chrono Trigger* rightfully get a lot of attention, there are other ‘90s RPGs that deserve recognition. Here’s a quick look at some of the best underrated games from that era, remembered by those who experienced them as true classics.

Here are three underrated RPGs from the ‘90s, listed from oldest to newest.

3) Wild Arms

  • Release Date: April 30th, 1997 (US Release)
  • Console: PlayStation
  • Developer: Media Vision

While *Wild Arms* has become a successful series with multiple sequels, a manga, and an anime, it often gets overlooked. When it was first released, it didn’t receive as much attention because *Final Fantasy 7* came out the same year and was a much bigger hit.

What makes *Wild Arms* so special is its unique world, blending fantasy and Western themes into a captivating experience. The game featured beautiful 3D battles and a visually appealing 2D overworld. Plus, each character in your party plays a key role in solving puzzles, making them all feel valuable and essential.

While it wasn’t as groundbreaking as *Final Fantasy VII*, this is still a really good RPG that holds up today. A follow-up project, *Armed Fantasia*, was started after a successful Kickstarter, but development has faced some challenges. Originally planned for release in March 2025, the game has been delayed as the team, including the original producer of *Wild Arms*, Akifumi Kaneko, continues to work on it.

2) Parasite Eve

  • Release Date: September 10th, 1998 (US Release)
  • Console: PlayStation
  • Developer: Square

SquareSoft’s *Parasite Eve* was their first game to receive a mature rating, which made its release fairly significant, even though it wasn’t considered a masterpiece. It stands out as one of Square’s more ambitious projects from a period when the company was known for trying new things.

Many consider *Parasite Eve* to be Square’s take on *Resident Evil*. While it’s a role-playing game with more complex systems, it still delivers a strong horror experience. *Parasite Eve* was a fantastic and innovative horror RPG that showed Square wasn’t afraid to experiment with new ideas.

Like *Wild Arms*, *Parasite Eve* has expanded into a full franchise. It has two sequels, the latest of which was released in 2010 for the PSP. A manga series called *Parasite Eve DIVA* also exists, but it tells an original story set within the game’s world, rather than adapting a specific game’s plot.

1) Suikoden 2

  • Release Date: September 29th, 1999 (US Release)
  • Console: PlayStation, PC
  • Developer: Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo

Both *Parasite Eve* and *Wild Arms* kicked off their own series, but *Suikoden 2* continued the story of the original *Suikoden*, which came out three years earlier. A key feature of this game is the ability to recruit more than 100 characters, with 40 of them able to fight alongside you.

This game is huge and packed with things to do. Almost every character has a personal story you can explore through sidequests before they join your team. Battles require strategy and careful planning, and the game also features massive army clashes, adding even more excitement to *Suikoden 2*.

While the *Suikoden* series continued with three more installments, many fans consider the second game to be the best. The original *Suikoden* and its sequel received a remastered compilation in 2025, and an anime adaptation of *Suikoden 2* is planned for 2026. Although the upcoming mobile game, *Suikoden: Star Leap*, isn’t generating as much buzz, Yoshitaka Murayama—the series creator—completed *Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes* in 2024. Sadly, Murayama passed away during development, but the game serves as a strong spiritual successor to the beloved classic series.

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2025-10-10 18:13