What are the best RPGs of all time? This has long been a topic of debate between fans of both western style and Japanese style role playing games. I grew up playing RPGs. It wasn’t my first genre, but it was the most enthralling for me. Journeying out on a long quest, twisting plots, slow paced battle systems and even grinding experience points have always been far more interesting to me than running through corridors shooting firearms at foes. Without RPGs it’s very likely I would have quit gaming a long time ago. With that said, I’m here today to talk about what I consider to be the greatest role playing games of all time. These are the best RPGs strictly in my opinion, and this should not be taken as a be all end all list. There are a few caveats to this list however. Just to name a few:

• I’ve always been a much bigger fan of Japanese RPGs than the Western equivalent. I have nothing against the latter, but the regional based sub-genre has just failed to maintain my interest.
• I have not played every role playing game ever made. If you don’t see one of your favorites here then there’s chance I’ve never experienced it. I’m constantly on the lookout for RPGs I may have overlooked so please feel free to mention them in the comments section.
• This list is just for fun and I’m in no way claiming to be the end all of great RPGs. So please don’t take it too seriously!

With that out of the way let’s get started.

These are the top 100 best RPGs of all time.

#100. – Dragon Quest II

This was the sequel to the original Dragon Quest, and further propelled the franchise into stardom. At least that’s true in Japan, Dragon Warrior (what it was called in North America) began waning in popularity in the English speaking part of the world at about this time. This RPG expanded upon the original in numerous ways allowing for a party of multiple characters and battles against numerous enemies simultaneously.It also expanded upon the world and story of Alefgard, and featured a new villain named Hargon. This is actually the worst mainline Dragon Quest game in the series in my opinion because the difficulty and characters are unbalanced. Still, the quality is undeniable.

#99. – Cosmic Fantasy 2

Here’s an RPG that very few have even heard of and it’s one of the first games published by Working Designs. This very simple game is about on par complexity wise with the second Dragon Quest game. You have a party of warriors, fight your way through random encounters against groups of enemies, and progress a wacky plot about space pirates and wizards. It’s good fun, but perplexing design choices and a high encounter rate are what keep this one from a higher ranking. Still, it’s a highly interesting RPG for a system that has also been largely forgotten.

#98. – Infinite Undiscovery

I’m sure to catch some major flack for including this one on the list, but hear me out! Infinite Undiscovery was one of the early RPGs announced for Microsoft’s platform, but was highly anticipated because it was being developed by Tri-Ace. So what happened? The game felt incomplete and rushed, but as it progresses it becomes a much better and more enjoyable experience. This action RPG features a unique party system wherein you can work together with multiple groups of allies to progress through dungeons, and a storyline that, while generic, is actually pretty enjoyable in a very cheesy way. If you can get through the first half of this one you’re in for a pretty fun experience.

#97. – Tales of the Abyss

Tales of the Abyss is a bit infamous among fans of the franchise. It features one of the least likable protagonists, and a storyline ridiculous even by series standards. With that said this RPG is pretty typical fare by system standards, but that’s not a bad thing! The action based battle system is a real treat and helps it stand out from the pack, and the story (despite the annoying characters) is fairly fun to follow. It’s a Tales of game, that’s for sure, but in my opinion there’s nothing wrong with that!

#96. – Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes

Dragon Slayer is an installment in the long running Legend of Heroes series, and the only early entry that was ever translated into English. This RPG was yet another one of forgotten games released on the ill-fated CD add-on for NEC’s unpopular console. This is another very traditional RPG that plays it very safe with a turn based combat system, a classic medieval setting, and all the bells and whistles you expect from a role playing game of the era. What’s nice about this one is that it has voice acting and full motion videos thanks to the high capacity storage medium.

#95. – Little Ninja Brothers

This is one of the stranger entries on this list. Little Ninja Brothers is a game almost no one has heard of; belonging to what is known as the Super Chinese series in Japan. This RPG is more action based but with random encounters, and the boss fights are entirely turn based. You also have a world map, towns to explore and buy items in, and even dungeons. The gameplay variety is what makes this one unique as well as the flamboyantly Asian setting and sense of humor. This is one of those RPGs that will probably leave you laughing out loud.

#94. – Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Fans of the franchise were shocked and mostly disappointed when Square-Enix announced that the ninth installment of their second biggest RPG franchise would be released exclusively on the Nintendo DS handheld system. It was even more surprising that this was supposed to be a multiplayer centric action RPG, but the developer later backtracked on that and went with a more traditional approach. Ditching the narrative based design of the last game, Dragon Quest IX is based strictly on the classic job system. You create all the characters in your party, and they follow a very impersonal story. The scenario is a bit weak by series standards but the battle system is as excellent as it always was.

#93. – Final Fantasy

This is the game that started one of the world’s biggest worldwide RPG franchises. The original Final Fantasy has unfortunately aged a lot more than even other role playing games of this era. This is due to an unforgiving difficulty and encounter rate the likes few other titles can match. If you manage to stick through with this one it’s a highly rewarding experience with a wonderful world to explore, a strategic battle system, and job mechanics (you can only change classes when you start a new game) that makes replaying this one a real treat.

#92. – Sands of Destruction

When the dual screen portable launched I was expecting a lot of big budget RPGs made specifically for the system. That didn’t happen; publishers gave us a lot of low cost releases, sequels and remakes, but it’s hard to be mad about it when they were so fun. Sands of Destruction was one of the few completely original RPGs on the DS that had a decent budget. Developed by Sega this game features a long and winding story, full motion videos, voice acting, and a complex battle system that I didn’t entirely understand even at the end of it! Sands of Destruction is a very overlooked RPG that’s worth a shot.

#91. – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Bioware’s Star Wars RPG is the only Western style role playing game to make this list. Again, this style just isn’t my cup of tea, but KOTOR’s quality is hard to deny. Taking place thousands of years before the original or even prequel trilogy’s this game puts you in the shoes of an insignificant grunt aboard a Republic star ship that’s soon under attack. After being separated from the crew your character goes on a quest to become a jedi knight, or will they fall to the dark side and instead transform into a sith warrior? That part is up to you. The turn based combat is unique here as you can freely move around, and there’s a lot of options in battle (especially once you gain force powers.) This RPG needs almost no introduction, and I’m sure just about every big time gamer who is also a fan of the franchise has already played it.

#90. – Zelda II: The Adventures of Link

No, I’m not one of those people trying to constantly push the Zelda games as RPGs. They’re action adventure games through and through, well, except for the second one. The Adventure’s of Link fits RPG standards with an experience system and other trappings specific to the genre. This game also takes a departure from the original with a world map, random encounters, and side scrolling combat. It’s a great game, and one I remember fondly from my childhood. Just be prepared because Zelda II is no pushover, and is easily one of the more frustrating 8-bit games this side of Ninja Gaiden.

#89. – Grandia III

This was the final game released in the franchise and also one of the better RPGs on the platform. Grandia III enhances everyone’s favorite role playing battle system even further by using a wheel to display characters and their actions all the while retaining the intense strategic elements the series is so well known for. This one isn’t higher because the storyline just isn’t up to par with the prior installments, and the gameplay scenarios aren’t nearly as memorable. I know those are rather small complaints but the magic just isn’t here and Grandia III feels like a by-the-books sequel. Despite this it’s still a lot of fun and will no doubt keep fans clamoring for more. In this RPG starved generation we could all use more Grandia.

#88. – Contact

The most striking thing about Contact is how much this RPG tries to emulate the quirky style of Earthbound for the Super Nintendo. It succeeds to a certain extent, but also manages to establish itself as something all its own. This quirky role playing game puts you into the role of… yourself. You’re an entity using the DS to contact two different people; one on each screen and aid them to find each other. On the top is a scatterbrained professor in space with his dog that wishes it was a cat, and below you have a youth named Terry who you’re in direct control of. The battle system is simple, and the world is small. Contact is made great by it’s unique style and sense of humor. This RPG was widely overlooked and certainly deserves another chance.

#87. – Dragon Quest

While not the first RPG, Dragon Quest is the one that popularized the genre in the land of the rising sun. What I love so much about this first game in the series is it’s atmosphere. You really get swept up in a grand quest, and the land of Alefgard is very fun to explore. I even enjoy grinding experience points here, and that’s not something I can say about a lot of RPGs. The biggest drawback to the original Dragon Quest is its sheer simplicity; you have a party consisting of just one character and can only fight enemies one-on-one. There aren’t many spells, and the world map is small. This one is highly nostalgic for me. If you aren’t up to the challenge then go with one of the many remakes available on the original Game Boy and there’s even one for modern phones.

#86. – Star Ocean: The Last Hope

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is generally hated within the RPG community. It features one of the most over-the-top cheesy storylines as well as creepy doll-like character models and some of the worst voice acting you’ll ever experience. If you can look past those caveats then you’re in for something special. The action based battle system the franchise is known for reaches it’s peak with this release offering a multitude of strategic options and a large cast of characters from which you can select your party. Yeah this one is off putting aesthetically, but the battle system is amazing.

#85. – Breath of Fire

In the early 90s the RPG genre was just now becoming viable on a worldwide scale. Capcom, being the money hungry company they’ve always been, wanted in on the phenomena and so with the help of Squaresoft they released their first role playing game; Breath of Fire. This game has always struck me as a combination of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. It has the combat variety of the former, and the story and progression structure of the latter. It makes for a well rounded experience with some great dungeon designs, boss fights, and a whole lot of character. The translation is pretty rough, but as far as 16-bit RPGs are concerned this is one of the defining ones.

#84. – Final Fantasy X-2

Direct sequels are not something we generally see in the RPG genre, and up until part ten the Final Fantasy series had never explored this angle. X-2 picks up a few years after the conclusion of X with a much more fun and bubbly Zanarkand that now holds pop music concerts. The story here stars Yuna on an adventure to bring Tidus back to life. The battle mechanics has been completely revamped and is now faster, uses a traditional experience system (thank goodness we’re done with the sphere grid) and even brings in a flashier version of the classic Final Fantasy job system! What more could you ask for? Because of the more focused approach X-2 is significantly better than its predecessor, and a darn good RPG on it’s own merits.

#83. – Sakura Wars: So Long My Love

As the first in the franchise to be released in North America, Sakura Wars So Long My Love was my introduction to this storied strategy RPG franchise. The concept here is a little weird. In this anime world based on real life locations you play as a young man put in charge of a theater troupe in New York City. By day the actors perform, but by night they man mechanized robots and battle against enemies and monsters. The gameplay is part strategy RPG and part dating simulation. The relationships you build between the main character and other characters directly affect the battle system. Sakura Wars is incredibly unique but extremely charming. Here’s to hoping the franchise continues!

#82. – Lost Odyssey

Lost Odyssey was one of the first games announced for the Xbox follow up that had me really pumped. This project, helmed by Final Fantasy mastermind Hironobu Sakaguchi, was one of the first RPGs of it’s generation. In an age where most role playing games were trying drastically new things Lost Odyssey was, and still is, genre comfort food. This is what you would expect modern Final Fantasy to play like with a traditional turn based combat system, sweeping story spanning multiple discs, and amazing graphics with a memorably deep and brooding art style. This one is backwards compatible so you can play it on your Xbox One.

#81. – Parasite Eve

In the late 90s the two biggest genres were RPGs and survival horror games. Squaresoft got the genius idea to combine the two into one, and the end result was the critically acclaimed Parasite Eve. Combining a horror centric story with limited ammunition, pre-rendered backgrounds and a turn based combat system the game is truly one of a kind. As a standalone RPG the game is pretty solid with the only major drawback being that it doesn’t take long at all to complete. This is where the character Aya became an icon, and she’s probably the only thing about this game that is still referenced frequently.

#80. – E.V.O.: Search for Eden

If you’ve heard of this one then you deserve a round of applause. E.V.O. Is truly one of the most obscure RPGs on this list, and the subject matter is just plain weird. You begin this game as a simple fish in an ocean filled with dangers. You fight enemies in real-time, and as you gain experience points from these encounters you evolve into a more complex creature. Progression is linear; you start in the ocean and then go on land as you play through several time periods of the planet Earth. It’s a novel concept for sure. E.V.O. Won’t scratch the itch for a traditional RPG, but it’s still well worth playing.

#79. – Ys: Book I & II

This is a remake compilation of the original two Ys games and was originally released to take advantage of the fledgeling CD format. This means the story has full motion video consisting of charming anime sequences, and a fair amount of voice acting as well. The game features some of the best dungeon designs of any action RPG with memorable boss encounters and a fun storyline. There is however one major hurdle gamers must overcome before jumping in on this one; to attack your enemies you ram your character into them. What’s more is the fact that you have to get the angle just right. That makes this one a more hardcore RPG experience, but it has aged fairly well.

#78. – Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon

Harvest Moon can, at best, be only loosely considered an RPG. The Rune Factory spin-off however is more focused on role playing elements adding a medieval swords and sorcery motif as well as an action based combat system. It sounded off-putting when it was first announced, but Rune Factory proved that role playing elements worked perfectly with the world of farming. What I like is the fact that you can play this one how you please. You can focus on farming, or you can spend most of your time in the deep dark dungeons. Your character can still get married and have kids as well, but only if you so choose to pursue that avenue. The RPG elements in Rune Factory really enhanced the whole Harvest Moon experience, and new titles in this spin-off series are still be released.

#77. – Final Fantasy Dimensions

If I haven’t upset anyone with any entry in the list yet then this is the one that’s going to break the camel’s back. Final Fantasy Dimensions is an entirely original installment in the classic RPG franchise. It’s designed with a retro approach making use of the classic active time battle system. The real highlight here is the job system. You control two parties; the warriors of darkness and light, and they have access to different classes and abilities. When they meet up the level of management is stepped up as you can choose anyone to put in your group. Surprisingly this is one of the more difficult RPGs on this list, but thanks to the sheer amount of customization you can simply re-assess your party should you get stuck. FF Dimensions is easily the best role playing game on mobile.

#76. – Blue Dragon

This is another RPG designed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and released exclusively for Microsoft’s second console. Blue Dragon sets itself off from Lost Odyssey by going with a more classic approach. This one has a full fledged world map, enemies you can see outside of encounters and focuses around the classic Final Fantasy style job system. The artwork from Akira Toriyama was pretty generic by his standards, but helped make this release one of the more popular RPGs on the platform. If you can just look past the hilariously bad boss battle theme you’re in for a real treat here.

#75. – Final Fantasy Legend II

What we know as Final Fantasy Legend II in the United States is actually SaGa II in Japan. Squaresoft undoubtedly wanted to cash in on the success (though limited at the time) of it’s major RPG franchise of the time hence the re-branding. What I’ve always loved about the SaGa games is how experimental they are. This is a very weird game with a huge amount of customization over your characters. There isn’t a lot of structure as far as progression of your party goes which leaves this one more open ended gameplay wise. The excellent graphics, soundtrack, battle system and story make this one of the best early portable RPGs.

#74. – Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen

We didn’t get a whole lot of strategy RPGs localized for English speakers on the Super Nintendo. Ogre Battle was one of the few representatives, but I’m not complaining because it’s one of the best. In this game you play across a variety of different maps guiding your troops in real-time across many types of terrain. Battles are strictly turn based, but you don’t actually input any commands and instead each unit acts on their own. There are a lot of secrets to be found, and a good/evil alignment system more complex and interesting than in any Western RPG surprisingly enough.

#73. – Tales of Phantasia

Yeah, we’re all a little tired of the Tales of series these days. The action based battle system no longer stands out in the realm of RPGs, but when Phantasia was released this was a real novelty. Tales of Phantasia is a traditional role playing game in every sense except it’s combat. From a side view you fight off enemies in real-time, and holding different directions as you mash the attack button gives you different results. Many compare the battle system to a fighting game like Street Fighter, but anyone who has spent any amount of time with this RPG knows that’s not accurate at all.

#72. – Star Ocean

Due to creative differences a large number of developers left Wolf Team at Namco after finishing Tales of Phantasia to make an RPG of their own. They formed Tri-Ace, and the end product was a unique sci-fi role playing game called Star Ocean. Like Phantasia this RPG made use of an action based battle system but was more turn based but still allowing your characters to move across a battlefield instead of being stationary. Star Ocean is significant because it’s one of the prettiest games released on the Super Famicom, and it even features an opening sequence that’s voiced in English. The story, battle system, graphics and soundtrack are all amazing.

#71. – Persona 3

While I’ve always been aware of the Persona franchise it wasn’t until the third installment that I began to take notice. This game was released to rave reviews and was one of the most talked about RPGs of its time. I didn’t love it as much as everyone else did, but it still deserves a place on this list. Persona 3 has you play as a student in a Japanese high school during the day, interacting with you peers, building social links and relationships, but things get a little weird at night. After the sun sets you gather a group of fellow Persona users (they’re like magical spirits) and traverse into a series of randomly generated dungeons. The cast of characters and story are unique by RPG standards, and the polished graphics and hip hop/electronic soundtrack are full of character.

#70. – Romancing SaGa

After three successful outings on the black and white Game Boy Squaresoft decided that the SaGa series belonged on home consoles. What sets this RPG apart from the pack is that it’s much more open ended than your typical Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest title. You can complete a variety of tasks out of order, and are usually held back from new areas by steep increases in difficulty with the new monsters. Despite being very traditional turned based fare, Romancing SaGa carries over the ‘weird’ aesthetics and story that made the franchise famous. This is one of the many RPG releases that never made it out of Japan, but there are many translations available and even a PS2 remake.

#69. – Tales of Symphonia

Until Symphonia the Tales of series was having a rough time modernizing. While other RPG franchises had gone fully 3D long before these releases were still largely sprite based with an action battle system viewed strictly from the side. Tales of Symphonia was one of the few RPG releases on the Nintendo GameCube console, and it quickly became the best selling installment of the franchise outside of Japan and even worldwide. This game transitioned the franchise to 3D rather painlessly, and still maintained the intricacies of past titles. Tales of Symphonia has off-putting cell shaded graphics and childish character designs, but it’s one of the best installments in the franchise.

#68. – Xenoblade Chronicles

It’s a shame that this RPG was almost never released stateside; it took a long winded petition from fans of the genre to get this one published outside of Japan and Europe. Xenoblade was developed by Monolith Soft who were behind the Xenosaga franchise on the PS2, but this is significantly better with a wide open world to explore and fun, strategic battle system. What’s interesting about this game is the fact that the story takes place in a world atop two giant mechs. How many RPGs can claim something outrageous like that?

#67. – Tales of Destiny

This was the follow up to Wolf Team’s first Tales of game, but Destiny has the advantage of more powerful hardware. It’s easy to see why this one was so overlooked; at the time all genres (even RPGs) were pushing 3D polygonal graphics, and Tales of Destiny was mostly sprite based and looked like something that could almost be done on the Super Nintendo. What’s more is that it has some really unlikable character designs. Tales of Destiny has all of the good qualities of your average Tales of game, but the battle system is a little better and the story a bit worse. For a 32-bit RPG this one looks a little underwhelming but delivers elsewhere.

#66. – Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest

Fans of the RPG genre (and of Final Fantasy in general) love to trash on Mystic Quest. It’s less complex than almost any other role playing game of its time, and it’s more geared toward beginners. The difficulty is often the main target of cynicism, but I assure you that this is about on par with Final Fantasy IV and VI in terms of challenge. Where Final Fantasy Mystic Quest excels is in its dungeon designs. You have a set of tools that you must use to get past various obstacles, and the sub areas are really well designed and fun to traverse. You can even see the monsters outside of battle, but as with other RPGs that use this mechanic they’re almost unavoidable.

#65. – Crystalis

It’s hard to believe that at one point developer SNK (known almost exclusively for their fighting games) dabbled in the RPG genre. Crystalis was their lone experiment, and it’s easily the best action role playing game on the platform. You journey across a world map, entering towns to progress the plot, and fighting your way through deep and dark dungeons. The best way to describe it is the Legend of Zelda combined with the classic anime film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind with plenty of RPG elements thrown in for good measure. Crystalis did not get the attention it deserved.

#64. – Breath of Fire III

As with most RPG franchises of its time Breath of Fire made the leap to Sony’s 32-bit console. With the transition came new three dimensional graphics, a sweeping new story, and redbook audio. Of course Capcom managed to retain all of the franchise’s charm what with the humanoid animals and all as well as the mostly traditional battle system that allows you to transform into a dragon. The Breath of Fire series is mostly dead and buried, but there’s no shame in returning to this third iteration which is also available on the PSP. As far as RPGs go Breath of Fire III plays it safe, but that makes it like role playing comfort food.

#63. – Kingdom Hearts

It was big news when Squaresoft announced they were teaming up with Disney to make an RPG based off of the world’s biggest brands. I hyped, and for the most part Kingdom Hearts delivered the goods even if the novelty wore off long ago. Kingdom Hearts has a convoluted story that takes the player, who controls a young anime boy named Sora, through a variety of different Disney worlds sealing up keyholes to keep the evil heartless creatures at bay. You’ll explore such lands as Tarzan’s jungle, Atlantis, Agrabah, and much more! The original is still the best one, and it’s one of the defining RPGs of its generation.

#62. – Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon

The Rune Factory series continues with another installment in the RPG farming franchise. Just about everything has been kicked up a notch with a smoother battle system, more engrossing world to explore, and an improved story. So why is this one so much better than the original? The generations system. The first half of the game focuses around the social and farming aspects wherein you raise money and woo one of the eligible bachelorettes. From here the story fast forwards several years and you play as the son of the protagonist on a quest to find his father. Even just taking into account the RPG elements this one is worth its meddle.

#61. – Phantasy Star

Phantasy Star was Sega’s answer to Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Instead of going with the typical medieval motif the RPG genre is so well known for the house of Sonic did something a little different and instead went with a science fiction interplanetary theme. You still battle dragons and other fantastical beasts, but you can travel to various splanets via a spaceship! What set Phantasy Star apart from the other RPGs of this generation was it’s monster designs and animations. These were next level and almost looked like an animated cartoon. The first person dungeons may feel archaic in this day and age, but they still offer up a fun challenge.

#60. – Legend of the Dragoon

Gamers generally hate this game, and it’s not hard to see why. Legend of the Dragoon is a textbook RPG with a generic plot about fighting against an evil empire complete with dragons, damsels in distress, a hooded villain and more. The four disc adventure teeming with full motion video and turn based combat definitely makes this feel like a Final Fantasy clone, but it really opens up later on and comes into its own. Legend of Dragoon’s only sin is that the first half of the story is boring. People are quick to dismiss this as a generic and characterless RPG, but those who have made it past disc 2 know there’s a great role playing game to be found.

#59. – Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

This was the modernization of the franchise. Featuring some of the best graphics of its generation there was no other Japanese RPG so grand and vast as Dragon Quest VIII. I will start by saying that this game is indeed pretty. The cel-shaded graphics fit the DQ universe extremely well, and the package is rounded out with a fully orchestrated soundtrack and amazing voice acting. For a role playing game DQ VIII is indeed one of the best, but as far as the franchise is concerned it was a step in the wrong direction. They took much of the customization out of the design, and focused around four specific characters with exclusive abilities. It’s a great RPG, but not a great Dragon Quest game.

#58. – Breath of Fire II

Breath of Fire II is an improvement on the original in almost every way. The story and scneario is significantly more focused with memorable characters and locales as well as improved graphics and a much better soundtrack. This is the one installment in the franchise that’s almost on par with the mainline Final Fantasy games of this era. The battle system requires a lot of strategy here and you’ll need to focus on each character and their unique abilities to exploit boss weaknesses and buff your party. The RPG mechanics are solid, but where Breath of Fire II really shines is its charm and character. You won’t find enemy designs with this level of personality anywhere else!

#57. – Dragon Quest Monsters

While many think Nintendo started the monster collecting and battling phenomenon with Pokemon, Enix actually introduced this concept with the fifth installment in their premier RPG franchise. It wasn’t the sole focus in a Dragon Quest game until this Monsters branded spin-off was released. In this title you play as a young Terry (a protagonist from DQ VI) who is whisked away to a fantasy world to rescue his sister from monsters. It is here that he recruits a team of monsters to compete in various tournaments in turn based combat. This first installment is one of my favorite monster battling RPGs of all time.

#56. – Grandia II

Sega’s lost 128-bit console wasn’t known for its library of RPGs. At least, not at first. For the short amount of time it was viable on the market it had its fair share of role playing games, and one of the most famous of these is Grandia II which is a sequel to Gameart’s big fantasy title from the previous generation. This really turned up the battle system and every flows much smoother here thanks to the more powerful hardware. The translation is also significantly better than that of the original. The battle system is better, but the story and scenario are much worse than in the first Grandia. Still, you could do a lot worse as far as the RPG genre is concerned.

#55. – Persona 4

The fourth installment in this spin-off to the popular Shin Megami Tensei RPG franchise is also my favorite in the series. Persona 4 throws you into the role of a teen living in Japan who moves to a new city to stay with his uncle. Just like in the previous iteration you make friends and attend school during the day, but by night you enter a shadow realm (this time via a television) to do battle against the dark underlying forces of humanity. This one features a more fluid battle system, better characters, and a significantly improved storyline. Persona 4 is a very stylish and polished RPG that new fans of the genre will certainly appreciate.

#54. – Valkyria Chronicles

Valkyria Chronicles was the first major RPG released for Sony’s third iteration of the PlayStation, and it’s easily the best strategy centric one of the generation. The game takes place in an alternate anime version of our real world during the great war era. You play as a young recruit who ascends to the rank of general leading his men to victory in this cel-shaded beautifully hand drawn world. While the action is turn based enemies can counter you in real-time and vice versa. This is one difficult game, and will challenge even the most professional RPG players.

#53. – Tengai Makyou Zero

This game is the most significant and biggest 16-bit RPG that was never released outside of Japan. Tengai Makyou Zero uses a special compression chip that allows for a larger variety of enemy designs (which means no simple palette swaps) and a huge soundtrack. There’s even an internal clock to keep track of time, and the game features specific events based on what the real world hour is at. Aside from that this is a massive quest with a hugely charming story and amazing battle system. Tengai Makyou Zero is easily one of the most technically impressive early RPG releases.

#52. – Mother

It’s a real shame that Nintendo spent the time to translate this one, but never released this oddball RPG in the West until decades later. Mother follows the exploits of a young boy named Ninten who journeys through a modern world doing battle against a myriad of crazy enemies (which include common household items like lamps) in some of the strangest scenarios the genre has ever seen. There’s nothing out there quite like the Mother franchise, and this original release is better than most RPG releases on both the Famicom and the Master System.

#51. – Paper Mario

Paper Mario has the distinction of being the only highly rated RPG on the Nintendo 64 platform. What started out as Super Mario RPG 2 transformed into something different entirely. The paper theme was off-putting at the time of release, but over the years I’ve grown fond of it. Everything from the battle system to exploring the environments are a real treat. My only gripe is that you don’t really have a party of characters at your disposal and instead can use just one partner at once. Paper Mario is a standout RPG on a console that is not at all known for them.

#50. – Final Fantasy III

We all know the classic Final Fantasy job system from the fifth installment in this franchise, but it was actually started in the third. Final Fantasy III is one of the biggest RPG releases of its era with both a light and dark world to explore, and a huge variety of jobs to choose from for each of the four onion knight characters in your party. The battle system is slow and plodding, but Squaresoft made some quality of life changes from the past two games which really go a long way to improving the experience. As far as 8-bit RPGs go you can’t get much better than this.

#49. – Final Fantasy Tactics

With the huge popularity of Final Fantasy VII on the original PlayStation we were guaranteed that more titles in the franchise would be translated for the rest of the world. Enter Final Fantasy Tactics. Squaresoft emulated the play style of Tactics Ogre here as this is strictly a strategy RPG. You take turns and move characters across a 3D grid based battlefield. You can choose and completely customize your party here, and as far as strategy RPGs are concerned this one offers more options than most other similar releases. Fans are still clamouring for a real sequel to this one.

#48. – Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals

The original Lufia was kind of a dud. It was strictly traditional and got lost in a sea of superior RPG releases. The sequel is significantly better, and moved in a slightly different direction. Rather than continuing the scenario we instead are treated to a prequel. Here you play as Maxim (the hero that defeated the sinistrals at the beginning of the first Lufia) as he recruits a rag tag band of warriors to save the world. The battle system is fluid and functional, but the real highlight here is the dungeon designs. Lufia II has been mostly forgotten because many bigger RPGs were released around it.

#47. – Sakura Taisen

This one isn’t available in English, and you must use a translation guide. It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but this Japanese RPG comes recommended highly by yours truly. Like the other games in the franchise you play as a young man put in charge of a ragtag troupe of actors who build their relationships during the day but whenever the city is threatened they engage their giant mecha robots to do battle in a strategy based battle system to save the city. It’s very strange even by RPG standards but it works. It’s a crime that Sega never brought this one over for us English speakers.

#46. – Shining Force

Shining Force was my first exposure to the strategy RPG genre. This Sega game pits you as the leader of an army as you travel via a world map like a traditional role playing game to progress the story, and recuit characters as you come to new towns and areas. There are no dungeons or random encounters; everything is pre-determined within the story. You move characters along a grid and can have a large party that all moves independently. You have your RPG staples such as knights, mages and clerics, but a whole lot more like eagle men, dragons, and even a flying squid! Shining Force is an incredible game and you can’t call yourself a hardcore fan of the genre without having played it.

#45. – Panzer Dragoon Saga

Let me get one thing straight; I love Panzer Dragoon Saga. It’s one of my favorite RPGs of the 32-bit era, and it’s a one of a kind game. With that said it’s very overrated by its rabid fanbase, and not worth the four hundred dollar plus price it commands at auction. With that said the main appeal here is the combat system. You control Edge, a mercenary for hire, who falls through a mine in the beginning of the game and stumbled upon a dragon. From here Edge and his dragon rebel against the empire exploring ruins and meeting a colorful cast of characters along the way. The combat system has both real-time and turn based elements based on placement of your character as you wait for command bars to charge. It’s very unique by RPG standards but manages to fit the Panzer Dragoon franchise perfectly.

#44. – Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium

This marked the end of the Phantasy Star series and was one heck of a send off. This RPG takes place thousands of years after parts II and III and returns us to previous locations and planets in an epic and overarching story. This represents the culmination of everything the developers learned while making the previous installments; the battle system has never been better with unique characters and cool techs that can be combined. As far as the genre is concerned Phantasy Star IV can go toe to toe with the best RPGs of any generation.

#43. – Dragon Quest VI

The last installment of the franchise to hit the Super Famicom also skipped the North America market, but has since been made available to English fans. Ditching both the generation system from V, and the day and night mechanics from III this game has a more focused story than previous iterations. Characters come and go in your party, and the classic job system rears it’s head once again. The focus here is on alternate dimensions and small vignettes within the overarching story. It’s a lot of fun, and Dragon Quest VI is easily one of the most beautiful 16-bit RPGs.

#42. – Pokemon: Emerald Version

This was the final version of the third generation of Pokemon titles, and this is the one that got me back into the franchise. It seemed like forever between Crystal and Ruby/Sapphire, and thankfully Game Freak was hard at work thinking up new features for the franchise. We got new statistic mechanics, double battles, and of course a host of new Pokemon to catch. The Hoenn region was a little too focused on water, but it was still a lot of fun to explore. Those who pass on Pokemon because they don’t consider it to be a ‘real’ RPG are missing out.

#41. – Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

This one took me by surprise. Level 5 teamed up with studio ghibli to create an RPG for the Nintendo DS, but it didn’t really shine until it was re-imagined for the PlayStation 3 console. Ni No Kuni is a monster collecting and battling sort of role playing game, but with a sweeping and epic story, multiple party members, and some of the best graphics I’ve ever seen. This is not only one of the best RPGs on the console, but also of the entire generation.

#40. – Final Fantasy Legend III

Spoiler alert; you won’t find another SaGa game on this list. Yes, part 3 is the best one in the series (don’t be fooled by the North American naming convention). This RPG was an absolutely massive endeavor for the 8-bit Game Boy handheld. It made use of a time travel storyline (years before Chrono Trigger), an amazing battle system (where even your airship could attack) and a very weird and complicated job system. I’m amazed that Squaresoft was able to fit such a content heavy RPG in such a little cartridge.

#39. – Shining Force III

As one of the late releases on the console Shining Force III has the distinction of being the most heavily butchered. Originally it was a three scenario game (each sold separately) but because Sega is Sega we only got one of them translated into English. Shining Force III plays like the other games in the franchise but with a shiny 32-bit coat. This means the battlefields are and action sequences are 3D, and these look pretty spectacular. Despite being only one part of a bigger story Shining Force III is a very worthwhile strategy RPG.

#38. – Dragon Quest V

This is most often considered the fan favorite of the franchise, and with good reason. Dragon Quest V was one of the first RPGs to make use of a generations system. The main character is not the hero of this story, and is instead the father of the hero. Who turns out to be the mother of the hero is up to you. Besides this drastic departure in scenario the story is much more personal than other games in the franchise, and it’s probably the best of the bunch in this regard. It trails behind your standard RPG in storytelling however. The game uses the traditional turn based battle system but with a twist; you can recruit monsters on your team! This pre-dates Pokemon was a unique feature for the RPG genre back at the time of release.

#37. – Secret of Mana

I was surprised to learn many years ago that this wasn’t the first installment in the Mana RPG series, and instead Squaresoft rebranded the original as Final Fantasy Adventure for the Game Boy. Secret of Mana is a much better game with much smoother combat and a charge system that adds a lot of strategy to the base gameplay. The real highlight here is the fact that this is one of the only action RPG titles from this era that has multiplayer.

#36. – Tales of Vesperia

It was a shocking turn of events when Namco announced Vesperia for the Xbox 360. Little did I know that this would not only be the best installment of the franchise, but also the best RPG on the platform. Tales of Vesperia takes all the classic Tales of mechanics and turn them up to 11. The cell shaded graphics are absolutely beautiful and hold up well even today. What really sets this apart from other RPGs is that the main character faces some dark story revelations which blur the line between hero and villain.

#35. – Xenogears

This game was released at the height of Squaresoft trying new things. This storyline is dark and complicated even by brooding RPG standards! You play as a young amnesiac caught between two warring nations. Also, mechs. The battle system takes a little getting used to because it’s not your traditional input command and move on and instead is combo based. Unfortunately Xenogears falls apart when you hit the second disc; Squaresoft apparently didn’t have the proper budget to finish this epic RPG.

#34. – Dragon Quest VII

The only mainline Dragon Quest RPG released on the original PlayStation console is the single biggest role playing game of the generation. It’s only two discs, but this game will take you over one hundred hours to complete. Every single one of these is enjoyable too. You play as a time traveling son of a fisherman who lives on the only island in the world. You soon discover portals to different time periods leading to other islands at the time of their demise. It’s up to you and a full party of characters to save these islands from sinking into the sea. It’s a traditional Dragon Quest game with all the standard RPG trappings, and the best use of the job system so far in the franchise.

#33. – Phantasy Star Online

As far as I know this was the first online RPG to be released for home console. Phantasy Star Online was less of a continuation of the classic PS franchise and more something new. You could connect via dial-up and team up with three other characters as you fought your way through various dungeons using the real-time action RPG battle system. It didn’t have a ton of content, but Phantasy Star Online kept me busy for an entire unforgettable Summer.

#32. – Pokemon: Crystal Version

This was the third iteration of the Johto Pokemon games, and easily the most technical of the bunch. Pokemon Crystal was exclusive to the Game Boy Color and made great use of its features with enemy animations and a real-time clock. Crystal represents the best of both worlds from Gold and Silver, and is the best way to experience the second generation of Pokemon RPGs. The world of Johto is short but varied, but the real highlight is the fact that you can actually return to the original region Kanto!

#31. – Terranigma

One of the biggest crimes of the 16-bit era is the fact that Terranigma was never released stateside. This is the third release in the Soul Blazer trilogy and was only released in Japan and Europe. Here you play as a mischeivous youth named Ark who lives a peaceful life in the underworld. One day he opens a forbidden door that unleashes all of the evils of the world. He must go to the Earth’s surface to bring all life back to it. This action RPG has really fun combat and inventive enemies, but the most interesting part of it is the fact that most of the dungeons and towns are based on real-life locales. Terranigma is one of the best RPGs never released here.

#30. – Suikoden

Suikoden was a very unassuming release from Konami during the 32-bit era. This developer wasn’t exactly known as an RPG powerhouse, and the 2D graphics of the overworld didn’t exactly impress mainstream audiences. The game itself is incredible. Unlike most RPGs this is a tale of political intrigue in a grand fantasy world. You play as a youth named McDohl who rises through the ranks of a rebel army to become its leader and defeat the evil forces controlling the Scarlet Moon Empire.This game features three different battle systems; your typical party based squad found in most other RPGs, one-on-one duels, and even skirmishes involving entire armies. Suikoden is unforgettable and shouldn’t be missed by any fan of the genre.

#29. – Final Fantasy V

This is the only 16-bit Final Fantasy game that wasn’t released in North America, and that really hurts. Final Fantasy V was one of the original fan translated games and for a while was a much coveted game. This release represents the pinnacle of the FF job system, and by RPG standards offers a ton of different options for your party. Making use of the classic ATB system the battles are fast and strategic. This is one of the most difficult Final Fantasy games and is tough when compared to most other RPGs of this era. The only weak link is the story which focuses around just four characters with not many revelations and plot twists.

#28. – Pokemon: Platinum Version

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl were kind of duds to be honest. I loved the setting and adored all of the new creatures they added to the universe, but the battle system was just so slow. Platinum fixed this issue and added some welcome new features to the experience. The day and night system returned with this release, and was based on the handheld’s internal clock. The problem with this release is that it came out late in the system’s life, and by then bigger and flashier RPGs had already been released.

#27. – Dragon Quest IV

This sequel marked the beginning of the heaven series for Dragon Quest, and this was one of the last RPGs released for the 8-bit Nintendo console. Gameplay is traditional DQ fare with the main difference being how the story is told. Here the plot is divided into various chapters each following a different character. These are some of the most memorable personalities in the franchise with Alena the runaway princess, Torneko the aspiring merchant, and more. Everyone comes together in the final chapter, and from here you can switch characters openly in battle. Bear in mind that this is one long game and it might just be the lengthiest RPG on the platform.

#26. – Sweet Home

Sweet Home may be the original survival horror game, but it’s primarily an RPG. This horror game has you taking control of a band of characters in modern times investigating the haunted Mamiya mansion. Each character has their own abilities, and you must put them into various parties that can separate as needed to progress through the house. The battle system is very traditional by turn based RPG standards; you take turns inputting commands against singular foes and win by draining their HP. You have limited healing items and so must plan accordingly. The story is one of the most dark you’ll ever find in the genre. Sweet Home is an incredible game and one I keep returning to.

#25. – Earthbound

Earthbound, or Mother 2 as it’s known in Japan, is the only RPG in the franchise to be released in North America. Nintendo was a bit confused about how to market it and packed it in with a huge strategy guide and… scratch and sniff stickers. It’s a very weird game that takes some getting used to. Enemies include piles of vomit and rabid dogs. If you can stomach that then Earthbound might be for you. The battle system is simple by RPG standards but the world is a fun one to explore. It leaves you wanting to see what crazy thing is just around the corner.

#24. – Pokemon: Yellow Version

Few other RPGs have had the cultural impact of Pokemon. The Red and Blue versions started a phenomenon, but this third iteration polished the already expansive adventure offering new features and scenarios. In this version you can get all three of the starters and begin the adventure with just the simple Pikachu. What’s cool is that he has actual speech samples that sound really good relative to the hardware. Every gamer should play at least one version of this classic RPG, and there’s no better place to start than with Pokemon Yellow.

#23. – Seiken Densetsu III

This may just be the biggest RPG of its generation, and it was never released outside of Japan. That’s a real shame because it’s one of the very best regardless of console. Seiken Densetsu III is the sequel to Secret of Mana, and is exponentially bigger. You begin by selecting which character you would like to play as, and the scenarios criss cross in the overarching story. This game can also be played by three players at once which makes it just about the only RPG of its time to allow for this. If you’re looking for a good action RPG you cannot do much better than Seiken Densetsu III.

#22. – Lunar: The Silver Star Story Complete

Every retro gamer needs to play Lunar. The Silver Star Story Complete is a remake of the original Sega CD release, and features new gameplay and story scenarios as well as a more polished and well rounded battle system. This remake also brings the famous boat song into the franchise, and the high quality FMV sequences are a real treat. The simple story of a young boy striving to become a dragonmaster to save the girl he loves is a timeless classic, and one of the best told across the entirety of the RPG genre. This remake is different enough from the original that it’s worth playing as a standalone game.

#21. – Illusion of Gaia

Illusion of Gaia is the second in Quintet’s trilogy of action RPGs, and by far the strangest. You play as a young man named Will whose father went missing while on an expedition to the legendary Tower of Babel. He has always been blessed iwth powers of telekinesis and one day while locked away in a dungeon for running away with the kingdom’s princess hears his father’s voice beckoning him to go to the tower. While the story is convoluted and at times doesn’t make any sense the gameplay is top notch. I’m especially fond of the dungeon designs and enemy patterns. This is one of the most underrated RPGs on the Super Nintendo.

#20. – Final Fantasy IX

After the underwhelming eighth entry in thist storied RPG franchise everyone assumed Squaresoft was off the rails and would never get the series back on track. Final Fantasy IX proved everyone otherwise. What began as a project of love for Sakaguchi became the next installment of the franchise. Final Fantasy IX returns the series to its medieval roots and re-introduces four character parties back to the mix. This is a love story to classic RPGs told with a coat of 3D graphics. This is the last truly great mainline Final Fantasy game.

#19. – Suikoden V

Suikoden is yet another franchise that we RPG fans assumed was lost after the third and fourth iterations were awful, but it made a big comeback with number five. Suikoden V returns the series to its roots and goes back to the battle system we all know and love. Returning to the mix are one-on-one duels, and army battles (which are now real-time events). The story features some of the most memorable and charming characters found in any RPG, and has a very rich history in the world it creates. Suikoden V is simply incredible and it’s a crying shame the franchise ended here.

#18. – Shining Force II

Shining Force II is easily one of the greatest strategy RPGs of all time. This game takes the incredible battle system from the original and expands on it by adding a myriad of different types of fighter to the mix. Additionally you can now promote to special classes by meeting unique requirements. The story also sees much greater focus here and is very charming and memorable. This is just about the best RPG available for the Sega Genesis.

#17. – Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean

Albert Odyssey was a hit strategy RPG on the Super Nintendo but was only released in Japan. It wasn’t until this side story, or gaiden as it’s called, was released for the Sega Saturn that we got our first taste of the franchise. Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean is a strictly traditional turn based RPG. It doesn’t do anything different, but what it does do, it does with style and finesse. The battle system is addictive and entertaining, the characters and story memorable, and the soundtrack is absolutely legendary. The voice acting and script, done by publisher Working Designs, are a real riot. This one was overlooked but deserves a second chance.

#16. – Star Ocean: The Second Story

This was my introduction to Tri-Ace’s most famous RPG franchise. I still recall the commercials advertising over one hundred different endings. If only! Either way, the game is a solid and unique role playing game that’s not quite like anything else out there. It mixes both fantasy and science fiction wonderfully, and offers two different scenarios with a multitude of different characters that you can recruit into your party. The battle system is real-time and you can freely move around in the 3D arena during battle with three other A.I. controlled characters coming to your aid. This is easily one of the best RPGs for the original PlayStation, and yet another release that was criminally overlooked.

#15. – Mother 3

What was originally supposed to be Earthbound 64, this game was completely re-purposed for the Game Boy Advance and is easily the best RPG on that platform. Mother 3 carries on the tradition of featuring some of the weirdest enemies and story scenarios across the entire RPG genre. What’s unique about Mother 3 is the fact that the game takes place almost entirely on one island and relies on time jumps to progress the story. The series’ trademark turn based battle system returns but now there’s a rhythm based component to it which enhances your attack power. There’s a good reason why this game has the most rabid fanbase of any video game in the entire world, and it STILL hasn’t been officially translated.

#14. – Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

While Mario has dabbled in just about every video game genre known to man by this point back in the mid 90s an RPG starring the mustached plumber was a real novelty. This quickly became one of my most favorite games on the platform as it mixed together all that was so great about the Super Mario universe with a traditional role playing game. The world is a real treat to explore with tons of secrets to uncover. In addition you have a fun timing based combat system and back then there was nothing else quite like it. Most prefer Paper Mario, but I still wish they would make a real Mario RPG 2.

#13. – Final Fantasy VI

At the time of release I spent $80 on this game. For an eleven year old that’s no small chunk of change, but I never once regretted it. Final Fantasy VI pushed the RPG genre forward in numerous ways. It featured a large cast of characters allowing you to completely customize your party (there’s no traditional main character here). The first half of the game is linear, but the second takes place in the destroyed world where you can optionally track down all of your lost party members or go straight to the final dungeon. No other RPG has done this to my knowledge. This is one of the defining installments in the franchise.

#12. – Grandia

For all intents and purposes this game could be considered Lunar 3. Grandia continued Gamearts tradition of lighthearted RPG fare with a cast of likeable anime style children who are swept up in an epic quest eventually leading them to save the world. This game introduced to the world one of the best battle systems of any role playing game allowing for a lot of strategy in timing. There’s a heavy atmosphere of exploration and adventure, and the story (while more innocent and simple) is a real treat to follow. Grandia is an absolutely unforgettable game, and is being released on modern consoles so everyone can enjoy it.

#11. – Phantasy Star II

Admittedly I hated this game at first. Phantasy Star II feels very archaic interface and an unusual battle system wherein you don’t even directly input commands for your characters. It took a while but this one grew on me in a major way. The story here takes place a thousand years after the original long after the defeat of Lassic. Now humans have become lazy thanks to a super computer that runs their lives for them, but when it starts malfunctioning the government sends the protagonist and his friend Nei to investigate. The story isn’t particularly personable, but it’s one of the greatest of all time. The dungeon designs are highly convoluted, and the battle system difficult to grasp, but it all comes together in a package that truly hardcore RPG fans will appreciate.

#10. – Dragon Quest III

This is the finale of the Loto trilogy in the Dragon Quest franchise, and it sure goes out with a bang. What starts out as a seemingly unrelated game eventually thrusts you into the dark world which turns out to be Alefgard, the land in the original two games. It turns out you’re the legendary hero the previous stories constantly referred to. While the main character cannot be customized you create all of the other members in your party choosing a class for them which can be changed or upgraded later in the game. Dragon Quest III is more difficult than your typical RPG, but it’s a truly rewarding experience thanks to its ties to the previous installments.

#9. – Soul Blazer

Chalk it up to nostalgia, but Soul Blazer has and probably always will be my favorite action RPG of all time. You play as an angel of sorts sent down from the heavens to save the souls of all living things in this fantasy world. Soul Blazer features some really fantastic dungeon designs with a rather haunting atmosphere and sad storyline that’s very engrossing. It also has one of my favorite soundtracks of all time with Lisa’s theme usually at the top of any video game mix I’m listening to. Most overlook this because it’s the most simple of Quintent’s RPG trilogy, but it will always be my favorite.

#8. – Lunar: The Silver Star

I know I’ve already included the Complete version of this game, but the original is different enough from the remake that it’s worth putting down both. Lunar: The Silver Star was the biggest RPG ever at the time of its release. It had a lot of voice and animated sequences, and really showed off what storytellers were capable of with the new CD medium. It’s also one of the most touching stories ever told in a video game RPG or not, and has an absolutely enthralling battle system based on movement and character placement. The soundtrack and graphics are also very charming, and dare I say, masterful. If you’re asking yourself which version of this classic role playing game you should play… well now you have your answer.

#7. – Dragon Force

Dragon Force is hands down the greatest strategy RPG of all time, and almost no one played it! This game adds new layers of strategy to the genre with battles occurring in real time wherein you give your troops loose commands and can have as many as one hundred units in each character’s army at once. In this anime themed fantasy role playing game you select a monarch and set out to take over the entire continent of Legendra to bring together all of the monarchs to stop an evil god from reviving. What makes it so amazing is the variety of different troop types you can choose from as well as the fact that you can start out as any of the monarchs of each country and the scenario changes based on who you picked. It’s another hilarious translation from Working Designs, and the best game on the platform.

#6. – Chrono Trigger

No list of RPGs would be complete without Chrono Trigger. It was designed by a dream team of developers including Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, Akira Toryiama, and more. The story here is time travel as a group of unlikely youths discover the planet is destroyed in the future by an alien being named Lavos, and so they travel through different time periods in an effort to ultimately stop the destruction. It’s a fun and adventurous story that will stick with you for a very long time, and the characters are some of the best you’ll find in any RPG. The battle system was unique in that fights unfold wherever you come in contact with the enemy, and while combat is still turn based Chrono Trigger invites a few new conventions such as combine attacks and battlefield placement. It’s a one in a lifetime sort of game, and if you’re reading this list chances are you’ve already played it.

#5. – Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete

Most RPG franchises shy away from direct sequels, and that’s why Lunar deserves a special commendation. The game takes place a thousand years after the Silver Star and throws a new cast of saucer eyed apple pie in the sky youths against daunting odds. The story is as charming as ever, but the real highlight is traveling the world to see what has changed since Alex became Dragonmaster and saved the goddess Althena in the last game. The combat system that made the original so fun returns and is once again placement and movement based. This title offers up more of a challenge than most of the other RPGs of this era, but gameplay is thoughtful and provoking. Lunar 2 is a timeless story with game mechanics and a story that will never grow old.

#4. – Final Fantasy VII

Of all of the RPGs on this list FFVII is the one that needs no introduction. It brought the genre into the mainstream on a worldwide basis, and was one of the major reasons the Sony PlayStation became the unstoppable force that it was. The story of the mercenary Cloud and the band of rebels standing up against the evil corporation Shinra from destroying the planet is one that’s unforgettable and timeless. This brought the classic turn based RPG battle system into the third dimension, and it would never be the same. The full motion videos are still a treat to watch even today even if the rest of the graphics haven’t aged particularly well. This one has fallen on my list a bit, but it’s still an incredible installment in what once was an amazing franchise.

#3. – Skies of Arcadia

Skies of Arcadia came out of almost nowhere. This lighthearted RPG was released in a time when everyone else was trying to create a dark and brooding plot. Here you take control of a band of sky pirates in a world that consists of endless sky and floating islands. It’s a bright and colorful game with some truly inventive dungeon designs and a battle system that’s similar to Lunar, but has it’s own nuances such as a focus system where you must use communal points for skills. Once you get a ship you can also battle against other air faring vessels in a combat system unlike in any other RPG. No video game has ever been able to re-create the feeling of going on an epic adventure quite like this one, and it’s depressing that the game was never updated in HD.

#2. – Suikoden II

Suikoden didn’t exactly set the world on fire. It was sandwiched between much bigger RPGs, and had just a cult following. The sequel is known almost universally as one of the best role playing games of all time. This is another direct sequel taking place in the City States of Jowston which is just north of the previous setting the Scarlet Moon Empire. You play as a youth who is enlisted in the army, but later goes on to create his own rebellion and fight back against them. Suikoden II is unique in the realm of RPGs because it has 108 recruitable characters many of which are well hidden in the world. This one has a great political and militaristic story, and it has some very emotional twists that are sure to bring even the most hardened gamer to tears. This one has it all.

#1. – Final Fantasy IV

The first installment in the Final Fantasy franchise also happens to be not only my favorite RPG, but also, my favorite video game of all time. This game has a simple, but wholly charming story based around a knight rebelling against his king, and eventually traveling to the underground and even the moon to stop magical baddies from taking over the world. This game introduced the ATB system which added real time elements to the classic turn based set up, as well as a cast of characters each with their own unique abilities. It’s very simple by modern standards. Maybe it’s just nostalgia that has propelled this one up so high for me, but Final Fantasy IV is simply incredible. No other RPG has captivated me quite like this one.

Runners Up:

These are a few games that didn’t quite make the cut (either I haven’t played enough of them, or they just barely didn’t place.

Lagrange Point

This is kind of an odd-ball release. Lagrange Point came out on the Nintendo Famicom late in its lifespan (the Super Famicom was already upon us) and it was a technological marvel. The game made use of a new chip in the cartridge to enhance the music, and to be honest there’s nothing else on the platform that sounds quite like it. Lagrange Point also has one of the most detailed and rich stories on the platform, a fully functional fast paced and fun battle system, and a huge world to explore. The game is right up there with Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. It’s disappointing this never became a franchise.

Far East of Eden: Tengai Makyou Ziria

I started playing this one just a few weeks back (using a translation guide of course) and I’m positively blown away by it. The sense of humor is hilarious, the world fun to explore, and the battle system is pretty nifty. Ziria is basically a big parody; it takes place in the country of Jipang (a very flamboyant version of Japan) and is somewhat of a retelling of the legend of Jiraiya. It has a wonderful sense of humor. Things such as the cave full of tanooki impersonating humans actually made me laugh. Tengai Makyou Ziria was the first RPG to use the CD format and the developers put it to good use. The game has more than its fair share of speech and even some animated sequences! The reason this one isn’t higher on the list is because I haven’t completed it yet. Once I’m done you can be sure it’ll score higher on here!

And that’s the top 100 best RPGs of all time! Please feel free to comment and let me know anything that you may agree or disagree with!

Hungry for more? Check out our ultimate guide to NES/Famicom imports to find more RPGs!