RPGs come in countless flavors, from Sci-Fi to fantasy and live combat to turn-based. Today, we’re checking out the latter. Some may find turn-based combat archaic, while others adore its tactical aspect. If you want to flex your brains instead of your brawn, here are my picks for the 15 best turn-based RPGs.
The top 15 best turn-based RPGs
Before we dive in, I want to establish a few rules so the list isn’t flooded with Final Fantasy games. I’m limiting the list to a single title per franchise. Every game on the list also has a Metacritic score of at least 75, so I can’t bombard you with nostalgia picks from my childhood. These are turn-based RPGs that are nearly universally beloved.
#15 South Park: The Stick of Truth
South Park games are a mixed bag, and some older titles are awful.
Fortunately, South Park Digital Studios and Obsidian Entertainment struck Gold with The Stick of Truth, creating a surprisingly accomplished turn-based RPG. Combat is strategic, and playing as characters from the series is a treat.
The icing on the cake is the humor. South Park: The Stick of Truth is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. If you’re a fan of the show, the game feels like an extended episode where you call the shots.
#14 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Gaming fans across the world let out a collective sigh when a collab between Mario and the Rabbids was announced. Many, including myself, thought the partnership was doomed to fail, and the games would be terrible.
I’m happy to say my skepticism was misplaced. Kingdom Battle is better than it has any right to be and is surprisingly challenging in the best way possible. Mario and friends engage in tidy turn-based tactical battles across gorgeous landscapes you expect from Nintendo. Battles are laced with complexity, but you’ll figure out the basics in no time.
Kingdom Battle is a turn-based Tactical RPG, but if you’d prefer a more “pure” RPG experience, you can’t go wrong with Super Mario RPG on the SNES and Switch.
#13 Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a bleak, brutal, and punishing turn-based RPG not for the faint-hearted. While it’s probably the gloomiest game on the list, Darkest Dungeon is still incredibly rewarding when things go your way.
Many games on this list boast epic campaigns that take dozens of hours, but Darkest Dungeon is different as it has Roguelite mechanics. While there’s overarching progression, the game is played in runs, you’re expected to lose multiple times before you claim your first victory.
With all of the unique design features, Darkest Dungeon is an anomaly on this list, but everything you know and love about turn-based RPGs is here.
#12 Honkai: Star Rail
Honkai: Star Rail is a strong contender for the best-looking game on this list. If you’ve played Genshin Impact, imagine the title with turn-based combat and a Sci-fi setting, and you have Honkai: Star Rail.
The art and soundtrack are fantastic, as are the characters and voice acting. The turn-based combat is pretty simple, but your power is more tied to your gear than in other games on this list.
Like Genshin Impact, many characters are locked behind a Gacha system, for better or for worse. In my experience, I’ve beaten most of the game’s content without spending a penny, but your mileage may vary.
If you’re after a high-budget experience that you can enjoy completely free, you can’t go wrong with Honkai: Star Rail.
#11 Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon is a little hard to get hold of nowadays as it’s an Xbox 360 exclusive. That said, it’s worth seeking out as it’s a superb turn-based JRPG with tons of content, memorable characters, and one of the nastiest antagonists I’ve seen in the genre.
Nene is a villain you love to hate. His motives are no more complex than he’s just a foul being who enjoys hurting others. In Blue Dragon, your Shadows battle for you, and they can be taught a dizzying array of skills.
Battles are strategic and challenging, and there are several secret bosses that only the strongest players can hope to beat. Blue Dragon is gorgeous, fully voice-acted, and cutscene-rich, and it’s a crime it never got a sequel besides handheld titles.
#10 Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts is a turn-based RPG that is often overlooked in the PS2 library. While not as flashy as Final Fantasy 10, Shadow Hearts is a solid game with a terrific cast and some truly evil villains.
While combat is turn-based, the Judgement Ring system rewards timing. You must press buttons at the right time to deal more damage. This system works with many buffs and debuffs, and it’s a unique take on a genre.
In my opinion, the sequels fail to capture the original’s magic but they are solid games in their own right.
#9 Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Many fans were apprehensive when Sega announced a turn-based entry to the Yakuza franchise. Yakuza: Like a Dragon proved even the most vehement naysayers wrong, introducing the lovable Ichiban Kasuga to the series.
Everything you expect from a top-notch turn-based RPG is here, from creative skills to ridiculous special moves. In addition, everything you know and love from the Yakuza takes center stage, including high-quality minigames and over-the-top characters.
Like a Dragon is incredible, and the sequel, Infinite Wealth, manages to push the quality bar even higher. While the sequel is more refined, I recommend starting with Like a Dragon, as the powerful story will land that much harder.
#8 Octopath Traveller 2
Square Enix is most famous for their Final Fantasy games. The series has slowly pivoted away from turn-based combat, but Octopath Traveller proves they are still masters of the craft.
Both Octopath Traveller games boast several stories with an overarching theme tying them together. Multiple jobs spice up the battle system, but the sequel provides a tidier, more refined experience.
Octopath Traveller 2 tells a standalone story, so you don’t have to play the original first. That said, both games are fantastic, and I daresay you’ll want to try them both, no matter what game you start with.
If you want the feeling of an old-school turn-based RPG without digging out an old console, you can’t go wrong with Octopath Traveller series.
#7 Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars is one of my favorite games of 2023, and it proves that there’s still room in the industry for retro-style RPGs.
Everything you’d expect from a superb RPG is here: an adorable cast, minigames, and a gripping story. The turn-based combat is challenging but fair. Like Shadow Hearts, many skills reward timing, but your ability to strategize takes center stage.
I have to give special mention to the music and graphics. Sea of Stars is one of the prettiest games on this list and has clearly learned lessons from heavy hitters in the genre, especially one title that you’ll read all about when you reach number three on the list.
#6 XCOM 2
XCOM 2 is one of the best-known turn-based tactical games on the market, and for good reason.
This game is an absolute masterpiece, with gorgeous graphics, strategic combat, and deep mechanics to keep fights interesting. Out of every game on this list, XCOM 2 can be quite punishing at times, but it’s rewarding when everything goes your way.
If you’re a fan of Sci-fi, you’ll enjoy the setting and story. Even if you’re more of a fantasy fan, I urge you to try XCOM 2, as high-budget games in the genre don’t come around often.
#5 Undertale
Undertale is an indie darling full of memorable characters and a unique combat system in which killing your opponents might be the worst option.
There are plenty of familiar turn-based RPG tropes in Undertale, but there are also so many curveballs that you’re kept on your toes the entire time. One moment, you’re running away from a monster hurling spears at you; the next, you’re on a cooking show with a murderous robot!
Undertale is sometimes ridiculous but also pulls at your heartstrings like few other titles can. I could sing this game’s praise for an entire article, but the most impressive part is that this monumental game was made by one person. Toby Fox has created an unforgettable experience in Undertale, and one that I could recommend to anyone.
#4 Pokemon Silver and Gold
The Pokémon games need no introduction, and the turn-based combat system has remained largely unchanged for over twenty years.
Silver and Gold are my favorites in the series. Battles are slightly more advanced than the original Red/Blue, and Gen II Pokémon spice up the Pokedex.
The story is your standard Pokémon affair, but with a neat post-game twist: after completing the game, an additional region unlocks. Any Pokémon games could make this list, but Silver/Gold are solid choices and mark my favorite point in the franchise’s history.
#3 Chrono Trigger
I didn’t want to fill this article with old games that are hard to find nowadays, but I have to make an exception for Chrono Trigger.
Square’s masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the best turn-based RPGs ever made, and it has aged like a fine wine.
This iconic SNES game has a gripping story, great characters, and easy-to-learn combat that punishes careless decisions. The music is some of the best you’ll hear on the system, and Chrono Trigger looks great for a game from 1995.
Chrono Trigger is dated compared to most games on this list, but it carries an air of timelessness to it that games like Sea of Stars have been mining for inspiration to this day. It’s a real treat to see where so many of the genre’s tropes began.
#2 Baldurs Gate 3
Baldurs Gate 3 should need no introduction as it’s one of this generation’s most critically acclaimed titles. Larian Studios has crafted an absolute masterpiece in Baldurs Gate 3, boasting everything from strategic combat to deep relationship mechanics.
Every decision you make has consequences, and there’s so much side content that BG3 begs for multiple play-throughs.
If you’re after a turn-based RPG set to a high fantasy backdrop, you can’t do much better than BG3. This is a game that you’re going to see crop up on lists like this for years and even decades to come.
#1 Final Fantasy 7
I’m sure to frustrate Final Fantasy fans no matter what I pick here, but any mainline game could take this spot.
Final Fantasy 7 is a turn-based epic with a phenomenal story and lovable characters. Combat is pretty basic initially but becomes deliciously complex as you progress. There are so many different skills and spells that the combinations are limitless.
There’s a gripping story that unfolds beautifully across the 60-100hr playtime. On top of that, there are secret characters, hidden boss battles, and one of the most iconic villains in gaming history.
FF7 is the game that got me into RPGs, and it is an easy choice for the top spot based on that alone.
Those are my picks of some of the turn-based games on the market. While not as popular as first-person shooters or “live service” games, there are still plenty of stellar titles that prove the genre is still alive and well. I joked about every final fantasy game flooding this list earlier, but there are several respected series I simply couldn’t fit here or lack the experience to discuss. Don’t despair if I didn’t mention your favorites, as I’ve likely not played them.
