5 Best Turn-Based RPGs Ever Made

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Before action RPGs were widespread, most role-playing games used a turn-based combat system. This style of gameplay originated from the technical constraints of older hardware and was strongly influenced by the tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons. Despite the rise of other combat styles, turn-based gameplay has remained popular for decades, with developers constantly refining and improving it.

Turn-based RPGs have seen a surge in popularity recently, largely due to the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Winning many Game of the Year awards, Expedition 33 is now considered one of the most highly praised games of all time. But does it truly stand among the very best turn-based RPGs ever created? To help answer that, here’s a ranking of the five greatest turn-based RPGs in history.

5. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Mario is famous for games like Super Mario Bros., but he’s also been in many role-playing games, or RPGs. It started with Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on the SNES, and he continued to appear in the Paper Mario series and with his brother Luigi in the Mario & Luigi games. Out of all these RPGs, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is widely considered the best, and many fans believe it’s one of the greatest RPGs ever made.

Compared to the first Paper Mario, The Thousand-Year Door is a significant step up in almost every way, particularly in how you play the game. Mario has a wider range of special moves, and his allies offer more creative strategies during battles. Along with these better combat features, the game boasts a fantastic story filled with unforgettable characters – both friendly and villainous. It’s easy to see why Nintendo decided to give it a fresh update for the Switch in 2024.

4. Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy helped popularize turn-based battles in video games. While newer games have moved away from this style, most Final Fantasy titles used it for over two decades. Among them, Final Fantasy VII is widely considered the greatest.

As a critic, I have to say Final Fantasy VII isn’t just a nostalgia trip filled with iconic characters and tunes—it genuinely improved on the classic turn-based combat the series was known for. The Materia system was a real game-changer, letting you customize your characters’ abilities in incredibly deep ways. Throw in a memorable cast of companions, each with their own unique skills, and you’ve got a turn-based RPG that’s stuck with me for years. It’s an unforgettable experience.

3. Chrono Trigger

The Super Nintendo era had a wealth of fantastic turn-based RPGs, making it tough to pick a favorite, but Chrono Trigger truly shines. Made by a legendary team – Hironobu Sakaguchi, Akira Toriyama, and Yuji Horii – the game itself feels like a special event. It expertly combines the best parts of classics like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Dragon Ball, delivering a captivating story, unforgettable characters, and a beautiful soundtrack.

As a huge RPG fan, I still think about Chrono Trigger all the time. It wasn’t just a great turn-based game for its time, it really changed things up! The way it blended real-time elements into the battles with its Active Time Battle system was amazing, and so many games after it borrowed that idea. Plus, the Tech system – where your characters could combine attacks – was incredibly creative and powerful. It’s honestly remarkable how fresh Chrono Trigger still feels, even after all these years. It truly is a timeless classic.

2. Pokemon Gold and Silver

Pokémon is widely considered a great first turn-based role-playing game for kids, and it remains incredibly popular. Unlike many other game series that have moved towards faster-paced, real-time battles, Pokémon continues to use the traditional turn-based system in its main games. What really sets Pokémon apart is the sheer variety – while most turn-based RPGs offer limited choices, Pokémon features hundreds of different creatures, each with unique moves and appearances.

Picking the best Pokémon game is tough, but many fans consider Gold and Silver to be the peak of the series. They took everything that made the original Red and Blue great – like new Pokémon types and exploring multiple regions – and improved upon it, creating a truly special experience that still holds up after over 25 years. If you could only play one Pokémon game, Gold and Silver (or the updated versions, HeartGold and SoulSilver) are the ones to pick.

1. Persona 5

For over ten years, the Persona series has been a leading force in turn-based RPGs. Starting with Persona 3, the games developed by Atlus began to forge their own identity, distinct from the Shin Megami Tensei series. Atlus refined this approach with Persona 4, but Persona 5, released in 2017, truly elevated both the franchise and the genre to new heights.

Beyond its incredible music and stylish look, Persona 5 seamlessly blends everyday life simulation with traditional RPG gameplay better than any previous game in the series. New combat features like Baton Pass and All Out Attacks added layers of strategy, and the redesigned dungeons were much more fun to explore. Like other games on this list, Persona 5 boasts a compelling story and memorable characters, all of which were enhanced in the expanded version, Persona 5 Royal.

Considering everything it offers, Persona 5 isn’t just the best turn-based RPG of the last ten years – it’s arguably the greatest of all time. Now, fans are eagerly awaiting Persona 6 to see how Atlus will build on this incredible success.

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2026-01-14 02:11