5 Best RPGs That Truly Defined the 1990s

by

The 1990s were a golden age for role-playing game fans. With popular consoles like the Super Nintendo and PlayStation, and the rise of PC gaming, the decade delivered a huge number of classic RPGs. It was a time of big changes for the genre, too. Traditionally focused on fantasy worlds, RPGs began successfully exploring science fiction and even retro American settings. Developers weren’t afraid to experiment, blending RPG elements with strategy or action-packed combat. However, only a select few games truly represent the unique experience of playing RPGs in the ’90s.

Here are the five RPGs that best represent the decade.

5) Earthbound

There are probably a ton of other great RPGs from the ’90s, but Earthbound just feels different. It’s a surprisingly challenging game, but it has this really unique, almost cute style compared to a lot of the other RPGs from that era. You play as this kid, Ness, and when you start out, he’s fighting bad guys with a baseball bat and a yo-yo! And honestly, it just gets stranger and more wonderful from there.

If you haven’t experienced EarthBound, nothing else from the ’90s quite compares. While many games since have borrowed from it, EarthBound was unique for its distinctive style and incredibly quirky story. It showed that RPGs didn’t need to rely on traditional fantasy settings to be successful, and it made the genre accessible to a new generation of players.

4) Baldur’s Gate

In the 1990s, personal computers became widely popular, creating a larger audience for detailed and complex role-playing games (RPGs). While several games fit the bill, titles like Fallout, Planescape: Torment, and Diablo made the late 90s a fantastic time for Western RPGs on PC. But Baldur’s Gate is arguably the game that best showcases the genre’s growth on the platform.

BioWare, the game developer, built one of the greatest RPGs ever by using the familiar world of Dungeons & Dragons and a slightly altered version of its 2nd Edition rules. While later Baldur’s Gate games may be improved, this original title sparked a huge wave of popularity for Western RPGs, introducing the genre to a massive audience. It proved that D&D could thrive in the digital space and helped breathe new life into the genre.

3) Pokémon Red and Blue

Pokémon became incredibly popular right after its release in 1996. Nintendo quickly built a huge franchise around it, creating many video games, movies, a popular TV show, and a very successful trading card game. If you grew up in the 90s, it was hard to avoid Pokémon! It was a true cultural phenomenon, and it’s still popular almost 30 years later.

While not a typical role-playing game, Pokémon arrived during a time when the genre was changing. Its turn-based battles offered a good level of strategy for experienced players, but were also easy for kids to pick up and play. However, the biggest draw was collecting the creatures – the desire to ‘catch ’em all’ kept players hooked for countless hours and made the series a massive success.

2) Chrono Trigger

Like Earthbound, Chrono Trigger demonstrates how developers were innovating the RPG genre. What sets Chrono Trigger apart is its use of time travel, allowing players to experience multiple versions of the same world. The game blends fantasy elements with science fiction and even includes a prehistoric era with dinosaurs.

Chrono Trigger is a groundbreaking game that really changed how stories were told within video games. The ability to travel through time is brilliantly done, but what truly makes the game special are the memorable characters you encounter – they’re just as compelling as the different eras you explore. These characters help you become invested in the story, and you’ll find yourself wanting to experience all the different endings to see what happens to Crono and his companions.

1) Final Fantasy VII

Okay, so maybe Final Fantasy VII isn’t the best Final Fantasy game, but honestly, it’s the one that really matters, at least to me. Seeing Square Enix jump into 3D with this game was amazing – it felt like a huge step forward in so many ways. The older Final Fantasy games were great and everyone loved them, but FF7 just blew everything up and took the series to a whole new level of popularity.

When Final Fantasy VII (often called FF7) first came out, it was almost universally praised. Critics and players loved everything about it – the story, graphics, gameplay, and music. It was a defining game of the 1990s, winning numerous Game of the Year awards. And that popularity hasn’t faded. The ongoing Remake project has been a huge success for Square Enix, and FF7 has grown into a major franchise, including CGI movies, spin-off games that add to the story, and even a series of books. Basically, if you didn’t play FF7 in the ’90s, you missed out on a truly iconic gaming experience.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/feature/5-weirdest-rpgs-of-all-time/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-30 01:41