It’s unfortunate that Sega fumbled so hard with their 32-bit Saturn console. They were at the top of their game with the Genesis, but thanks to confusing the market with add-ons they doomed anything further down the road for them. It’s a shame too because the Sega Saturn was a really good console (in fact, it’s my second favorite of all time). It’s worth noting that the 32-bit generation is when RPGs really caught on in the worldwide market. They’ve always been huge in Japan, but thanks to Squaresoft’s Final Fantasy VII on the Sony PlayStation. Gamers everywhere were hungry for more. Unfortunately they left most of their releases in Japan. This genre is often forgotten on the Sega Saturn. That’s why today we’re highlighting the greatest ones for the platform. These are the top 25 Best Sega Saturn RPGs of all time!
#25. – Shining Wisdom
Shining Wisdom is a little strange if I’m being completely honest. Up to this point Sega has been known to experiment a fair bit with the ‘Shining’ series. This was however the first time they made a full blown action RPG under that umbrella. It was translated for North America by Working Designs, but as with all their other games it’s extremely rare and by now really expensive. It’s a top down action adventure game with heavy role playing elements. It may be a stretch to include it here because it’s more like the Legend of Zelda, but here we are. Combat is mildly entertaining, and exploration is decent. It’s not incredible by any means but it’s kind of fun. Hardcore Saturn collectors will no doubt want this one in their collection.
#24. – Princess Crown
For a long time this was the holy grail import for Sega Saturn fans. Seriously, you couldn’t avoid discussion about the console without this one stealing the spotlight. When I finally gave it a try I found that Princess Crown is ultimately decent, but far from worth the price tag. I guess it’s status as import-only is what caused such infamy. Princess Crown is a side scrolling action RPG where you wander through various zones fighting foes with a variety of weapons. Combat is kind of similar to a beat ’em up game, but encounters are random which adds to the RPG feel of this one. It’s very pretty by 2D standards, and is fairly fun to play. Princess Crown is definitely one of the best Sega Saturn RPGs.
#23. – Vandal Hearts: Ushinawareta Kodai Bunmei
The 32-bit era, in my opinion, was the true rise of strategy RPGs. Sure, we had several big hitters on older consoles but the floodgates were opened on the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. Vandal Hearts (as it’s known in North America) was released for both, but only the PS1 version was localized. Thankfully we can play the Saturn edition because of a fan translation. This is a neat little isometric battle game. It has all the trappings of a great strategy RPG title. You have a variety of different characters encompassing different classes (or jobs, as they’re more commonly known). Each has their own strengths, weaknesses, and even abilities. The story isn’t up to par with the bigger releases, but gameplay is fun. That’s what really matters after all.
#22. – Maho Gakuen Lunar!
I was very salty when Sega and Working Designs had their falling out. The Lunar remakes were some of my most anticipated RPGs, and I was disappointed to see that they were not only heavily delayed but completely switched platforms for localization. Regardless, Maho Gakuen Lunar was lost in the mix. This game was probably never going to be released in North America. It’s a remake of a Game Gear spin-off. Magic School is best considered a ‘gaiden’ because it has low stakes and doesn’t push the original narrative in any meaningful way. Regardless it’s a turn based strategy game wherein you play as a trio of students in the magic school of Vane. The fact that they’re all wizards is a nice change of pace from other RPGs, and it affects how battles play. Lunar Magic School is a far cry from the mainline installments, but it’s pretty neat.
#21. – Linkle Liver Story
I’m stretching the boundaries again for just what an RPG is. Linkle Liver Story is absolutely an action adventure title, but it has just enough role playing elements to make my list. The game is best described as a more anime influenced more simplified take on the Legend of Zelda. Linkle Liver Story is an overhead game that looks beautiful. It’s completely sprite based with no special 3D effects or anything of the sort. The story definitely takes the back seat but the action makes up for it. Gameplay is quite fun here with a miriad of different weapons to choose from, decent dungeon designs, and fun progression. I really like how you gain new weapons by planting seeds. The eco-friendly dynamic makes this one feel unique to me.
#20. – Magic Knight Rayearth
This was publisher Working Designs last title on Sega hardware. You can tell Victor Ireland was a decent fellow because he only released it because it was promised to Saturn owners. This was also the last commercial North American release, despite it coming out early on in Japan. Magic Knight Rayearth is directly based on the anime/manga series of the same name. I haven’t watched or read that so I don’t know how accurate the story is here. What I can say however is that this game is pretty fun. It’s an overhead action RPG wherein you guide three characters through both towns and dungeons slaying foes, collecting items, and progressing the story. The highlight here is Working Designs fantastic localization. The jokes mostly land, and I found it hilarious. Gameplay isn’t too shabby either with three different characters (each with their own weapon and magic) to play as.
#19. – Densetsu no Ogre Battle
For the uninitiated this is an enhanced port of Ogre Battle for the Super Nintendo. This was also released for the Sony PlayStation and was even localized there. Sadly the Sega Saturn version was left only in Japan, but it has been translated by fans so we can all enjoy it. This version also has exclusive content which hasn’t been in any other port of the game. Ogre Battle is a unique strategy RPG. You view each map from a zoomed out semi-overhead view. Each unit is composed of up to five characters. You’re given full reign over each of these. When selecting them you can choose where they move to, and they start toward their destination in real-time. You also do not input commands for your characters during battle. These occur automatically, and each encounter only lasts a few turns. It’s an interesting approach for sure.
#18. – Legend of Oasis
Beyond Oasis was a really unique game on the Sega Genesis. It was one part action/adventure, another beat ’em up, and rounding out the bunch were the RPG elements. Most think that’s where the series ended. That’s because the only follow up was, and still is to this day, a Sega Saturn exclusive. Legend of Oasis plays in a very similar way to the original. The game is strictly 2D and is displayed from an overhead perspective. Legend of Oasis can best be compared to the Legend of Zelda series. You traverse a world map containing within it towns and dungeons with the latter having a focus on combat as well as light puzzles. In my opinion Legend of Oasis is superior to the original. That’s not just because of the more beautiful graphics, rather, combat is more fluid and fun here. It’s one of the best Sega Saturn RPGs.
#17. – Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
As I mentioned earlier the era of the Saturn was one in which strategy RPGs were really taking off. Tactics Ogre was one of the early pioneers. It was first released for the Super Famicom (but only in Japan) and only localized for the PS1. The Sega Saturn had a port which not only ran better than the others, but had exclusive content as well. The sheer amount of options you have for characters and jobs, as well as the way battles are thoughtfully laid out is why this one places so high. The story is hit or miss (mostly miss) but I love the way this one plays. Though a remake was released for modern consoles this version still holds a special place in my heart. Tactics Ogre is clearly one of the best Sega Saturn RPGs of all time.
#16. – Wachenröder
Sigh. Another strategy RPG. Yes, I know. They were bigger back then than they are now, and so any list from this era is going to include a lot of them. Wachenroder was released as a Sega Saturn exclusive and hasn’t been ported anywhere else. It’s a 3D isometric view strategy RPG title that’s a bit darker than most from this era. As opposed to the fantasy/medieval angle most games of this kind pursued back then Wachenroder is firmly steampunk/victorian. It’s a really interesting change. Battles plays like in a pretty traditional fashion with classes, and turn based combat. I do like that the graphics are 3D. Characters are sprite based, but the terrain is all three dimensional. It looks really good by the standards of the time. When it comes down to it though the battle system is decently fast, and it’s fun.
#15. – Dark Savior
Do you remember LandStalker on the Sega Genesis? Well this is the follow up, and it never got any attention because unlike it’s predecessor this was rarely advertised. Dark Savior plays just like the game it’s based upon. Basically it’s an action RPG from an isometric perspective, and has some light platforming elements. Combat is pretty simple. This is where the role playing elements come in to play. It’s slightly reminiscent of a fighting game but with RPG stats. These fast paced encounters are a lot of fun even though they’re slightly awkward. Regardless Dark Savior is a lot of fun. The platforming elements and exploration in general is really well done. I think most people passed on this title because of the focus on 2D graphics. That’s a shame because Dark Savior is truly a great game, and one of the best Sega Saturn RPGs of all time.
#14. – Panzer Dragoon Saga
Okay I know I’m going to get some hate for this. Panzer Dragoon Saga was a ‘white whale’ for me in terms of RPGs. I had huge expectations and paid a lot of money to get a copy of it. I liked the game plenty, but felt it did not live up to the hype. You’ll see this one at the top of just about every Sega Saturn list and with good reason. It’s just not the Saturn’s Final Fantasy VII like it has been posthumously hyped to be. Panzer Dragoon Saga has you playing as a soldier on the back of a dragon. You fly across environments while encountering enemies at random. This occurs on a separate screen where you engage commands as an action bar fills. You can shoot your gun, attack with the dragon’s special abilities, and more. It’s an amazing game, but falls victim to hype.
#13. – Dragon Force II: Kamisarishi Daichi ni
The original Dragon Force was an absolutely amazing game. It’s one of the best titles Working Designs ever localized. It’s unfortunate that they skipped out on localizing the sequel. Up until a few years ago English gamers had few options to play it. Since then a fan translation was released. I discovered that the game is amazing. You select troops (who each use a distinct type of unit) to various locations on a world map and they do battle against other armies. It’s a pretty unique system because combat is in real-time, but you have no control over your troops. These skirmishes can consist of up to 200 different individual characters which makes for some absolutely massive battles. Watching these and issuing tactics in real-time is a fantastic experience. The reason the sequel doesn’t measure up is because of it’s more linear focus, but Dragon Force II is still great.
#12. – Tengai Makyou: Daiyon no Mokushiroku
Tengai Makyou was a huge name in Japan, but unfortunately the franchise was mostly left in Japan at this point. It’s a shame because the games were amazing. One of the last new installments was released exclusively on the Sega Saturn. Tengai Makyou: The Fourth Apocalypse (I’ll refer to it as that because the Japanese name is tough for me) is a fantastic RPG. It is considered a spin-off within the franchise. This turn based RPG has a rag-tag group traveling across an over the top version of the USA. Battles are extremely interesting because they use a lot of pre-rendered graphics. I would be remiss if I didn’t say they were impressive even now. The game hasn’t been translated yet but there are a few guides online to help you through. It’s an amazing game, and a worthwhile entry in this storied franchise.
#11. – Shining the Holy Ark
Here we have another entry in the ‘Shining’ franchise. This one is a follow up to the dungeon crawling turn based RPG Shining in the Darkness which was originally released for the Sega Genesis. Shining the Holy Ark is an absolutely fantastic game. You explore dungeons from a first person perspective and encounter enemies at random. Combat is strictly turn based as you issue commands to your party of three characters, and the battle system is traditional in all senses of the word. Where this one ‘shines’ (sorry) is in it’s dungeon designs. These are a real treat to explore with inventive designs and very pleasant graphics/music. What’s more is the fact that the story ties directly in with Shining Force III giving fans of the franchise even more reason to seek this one out.
#10. – Shining Force III: Scenario 2
In a rather unusual move Sega released not one but three iterations of Shining Force III. These different scenarios take place in the same world, share story events/locations/characters, but explore the plot from different perspectives. This second release is the weakest of the three in my opinion, but it’s still one of the best Sega Saturn RPGs of all time. This is primarily due to the less interesting battle scenarios and weaker roster of characters. Shining Force III: Scenario 2 has you play as prince Medion who goes on a quest to fight back against the an evil sect of monks bent on world destruction. The game’s graphics are fantastic with 3D environments displayed via an isometric view and 2D sprites for the characters. The battle system is amazing and it’s a ton of fun to build up your force. This is one you don’t want to miss.
#9. – Sakura Taisen 2
The Sakura Taisen series was probably the biggest one that Sega never bothered releasing outside of Japan in this era. It was a huge hit, but has since largely died out despite having a soft reboot a few years back on the PS4. Regardless, Sakura Taisen 2 is an absolute treat to play as long as you can handle the fact that there’s no translation currently available. In this title you play as an Imperial Navy Ensign named Ogami. In this steampunk revisionist version of Japan he commands an elite group of warriors who fight demons using large mecha units. Oh, and did I mention they are under the disguise of a theater troupe by day? That part is kind of important. This is a strategy RPG with a story that focuses on dating sim elements. I wasn’t expecting to like it, but it’s incredible.
#8. – Shining Force III: Scenario 1
I’ve already gone over what’s different between the scenarios in Shining Force III so I’m just going to focus on the first scenario here. This game was actually released in North America. Unfortunately it’s the only scenario that was, and was simply labeled ‘Shining Force III.’ The game has you following Synbios, the son of a great general, as he battles with a deranged sect of monks bent on destruction of the kingdoms in this medieval world. The turn based strategy gameplay is incredibly rewarding with a lot of technical stuff going on here. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, along with different weapon types that are strong against some and weak against others. This one is absolutely amazing with some great gameplay that will require strong tactics to survive. It may have the weakest graphics of the three, but this first scenario is the second best.
#7. – Lunar: Silver Star Story
The Lunar series never got its fair shake. One of the first big Sega Saturn RPGs announced was a remake of this first title. Working Designs was poised to localized it for Sega fans but due to their falling out with the house of hedgehog it never saw the light of day. Eventually it was localized for the PS1. There aren’t a lot of differences between the versions but the franchise just feels best at home on Sega consoles. In this game you play as a youth who aspires to go on adventures and become a dragonmaster like his idol. He is swept up in a plot to destroy the world, and soon gets his wish. The battle system is the highlight with placement playing a big role, and a wide variety of different spells allowing for fantastic layers of strategy. Check out the fan translation for this one.
#6. – Sakura Taisen
I’ve already mentioned the sequel in this list, but there’s something truly special about the first one. Sakura Taisen presents an alternate history rife with anime characters and a steampunk aesthetic. You play as Japanese Navy Ensign Ogami, and command the flower division to protect Japan from encroaching demons. This is a turn based strategy game where you move characters on a grid from an isometric viewpoint, and win by defeating all foes in battle. The highlight is the story. It’s full of anime tropes, sure, but the relationships and characters are unforgettable. Sakura Taisen is heavy handed with dating sim elements wherein you make dialogue choices to improve (or in some cases harm) your relationships with your teammates. It’s going to be tough to swallow for those that like more realistic role playing games, but there’s a lot of heart here and the game is a ton of fun.
#5. – Shining Force III: Scenario 3
This is the best scenario for Shining Force III in my opinion. It’s basically the conclusion of the entire story and wraps up the entirety of the plot in one nice package. Like the others it’s a turn based strategy game using 3D graphics and an isometric perspective. This time around you play as a youth named Julian who is out to save the world. Scenario 3 has the best characters, most interesting narrative perspective, and the nicest graphics of the three. What’s most interesting is the fact that if you use save files from the other titles you retain items, levels, and even specific side quests you’ve completed. To get the most of the experience you’ll need to carry over save data, but it’s worth it. Shining Force III: Scenario 3 is easily one of the best strategy RPGs of all time.
#4. – Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean
Albert Odyssey is sure to be a controversial pick given how high I’ve placed it. This 2D RPG does absolutely nothing to reinvent the wheel, or even refine the genre. What’s more is that most of the time it looks like a 16-bit title. None of that matters to me because Albert Odyssey is charming, fun, and has some of the best music and graphics of any RPG. What’s more is the translation by Working Designs injects a ton of humor into the dialogue. Some think they went a bit overboard with this release, but I like it. The game’s story revolves around a youth raised by harpies. This guy, Pike, has to save his sister from a stone curse on a quest that will eventually encompass saving the world itself. The battle system is very traditional, but it’s functional and allows for just the right amount of strategy.
#3. – Grandia
Now this one is a crying shame. Grandia was intended by developer Gamearts to compete directly with Final Fantasy VII. They put a lot of eggs in that basket, and while it was a success in Japan unfortunately it wasn’t released in English. Sony eventually published the game for their own platform, but the Sega Saturn original is often considered the best version even to this day. Thankfully we finally have a fan translation allowing English speakers to experience Grandia as it was intended. The game has a really contrived story, but the sense of adventure and exploration is astounding. It’s the battle system that pushes this one to such tremendous heights. No other RPG, except it’s sequels, have ever managed to match the sheer amount of strategy here. Character placement is huge, as is turn order. You can actually cancel enemies commands, and will need to do so often.
#2. – Lunar 2: Eternal Blue
The first Lunar was an incredible and groundbreaking game. It’s sequel however fell flat on it’s face due to some unwelcome changes made by the developer. This remake rights all of the wrongs, and is undeniably amazing. Eternal Blue Complete is a direct sequel to the original story. It takes place a thousand years in the future and even shares some of the same locations, and there are some returning members of the cast. The graphics have been significantly improved, and the soundtrack is simply amazing. The fantastic battle system retains all of it’s uniqueness. It’s heavily based on placement, and despite being a remake of such an old game feels more fresh than many modern ones. Everything here is just about perfect, and thanks to a fan translation this one can now be played on the Sega Saturn.
#1. – Dragon Force
To this day no developer has managed to surpass Dragon Force as far as strategy RPGs are concerned. That’s because it’s so different than everything else. You control various characters who command entire armies. You move these units down linear paths on a zoomed out map. Absolute chaos ensues when a skirmish breaks out. These battles can consist of up to two hundred units which looks incredible on the screen with almost no slowdown. You don’t directly control each character and instead issue general commands. The units move in real-time on their own. With several different unit types (each with strengths and weaknesses) it’s a real treat to plan your method of attack. What’s more is the fact that you can play as eight different kingdoms. These scenarios often play out quite different from one another despite having the same end goal. The game is incredible, and extremely replayable.
