RPGs - ranked by preference

Release Date: October 5, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Overworks
Genre: RPG

As soon as I first began to sail the skies in Skies of Arcadia, I fell in love with this game. This is an RPG that encourages and rewards exploration in such a way that I was driven to ensure that every millimeter of the world map was explored to find all discoveries, hidden bosses, recruitable characters, etc. When you're not exploring the game is still tremendous with memorable characters, fun ship battles, beautiful visuals, and inspiring story. The Dreamcast wasn't exactly known as a console full of RPGs, but it's the home of this game, which I consider to be one of the best RPGs ever made.

Release Date: January 29, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Team Andromeda
Genre: RPG

Panzer Dragoon Saga isn't a perfect game, but for the system it was on, and for the time it was released, Panzer Dragoon Saga was an absolutely amazing game. The game is fully voiced-over (which was unheard of back then) and it also took place in a fully 3D world, which was a change from the pre-rendered backgrounds in most RPG's of the time. On top of that, the game itself is just so original...Even today there isn't a single game out there like it, which is a shame as this is a fantastic experience. It can cost a pretty penny if you want a copy, but quite frankly, when you've got a game this good and this original, it's well worth the price of admission.

Release Date: November 27, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: SquareEnix
Developer: Level 5
Genre: RPG

I had always preferred Final Fantasy to Dragon Quest...Then came Dragon Quest VIII, a game that mixes the things I love about the RPGs of old with some more "modern" gameplay elements and an absolutely gorgeous graphical design and beautiful soundtrack, and my allegiance switched sides. I absolutely love how when you exit town and enter the world map for the first time, you quickly realize that you're not thrust into a top-down view of a mini character walking around the world...The world map exploration is just as big as everything in the towns, really giving you a sense of how enormous the world is in this 75+ hour game. There aren't many games, RPG or otherwise, that I enjoy more than this gem.

Release Date: June 14, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Amazing. That's really the only way to describe Persona 4 Golden. Persona 4 on the Playstation 2 was one of the best RPGs ever made already. Golden makes that RPG portable and adds in a ton of new content - content that you'll keep seeing from the beginning of the game until the credits roll. If you haven't played this game yet, play it. It does everything extremely well - the story, the gameplay, graphics, managing your time between work, school, friends, and dungeon crawling...It's all fantastic. I highly recommend this game to anyone who even just slightly likes RPGs or even to people who like good stories in their games. It's like I said at the beginning: amazing.

Release Date: January 31, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Let's face it - when it comes to RPGs in North America, this is the game that was almost exclusively responsible for their success and popularity. Final Fantasy VII is generally seen battling Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the title of greatest game ever made on most online polls. I wouldn't necessarily go quite that far, but Final Fantasy VII is definitely one of the best RPGs ever created. Fifteen years later, I'm still playing this game at least once a year...And it never gets old. That said, there aren't too many stand-alone titles that have as rabid of a fan base as this game does. If you play it, you're likely to see why.

Release Date: November 18, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Chrono Cross is a game that people seem to love or hate based on if they expected it to be like Chrono Trigger or not...I've actually heard quite a few people argue that Chrono Cross is terrible simply because it's nothing like Chrono Trigger. That's ridiculous. Chrono Cross is a great game that anyone who goes in with an open mind will likely enjoy. The graphics, the music, the unique battle system, trying to recruit all party members, and switching from one dimension to another...They all come together to create a beautiful and fun game to play...And one that I've happily played through over twenty times since its release.

Release Date: March 21, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: RPG

Phantasy Star was a great RPG for the Sega Master System. Phantasy Star II blew it away with improvements in every way imaginable, and a really good story to boot, which (spoiler alert) involves a party member passing away halfway through the story nearly a decade before the death of Aeris was made famous in Final Fantasy VII. It's a fantastic old-style RPG with turn-based combat and plenty of grinding involved for leveling up and saving up money, well worth playing for any fan of RPGs. But, if you're spoiled by more modern RPGs, or just simply dislike needing to grind, you may not appreciate it as much as I do. For its time, there weren't many RPGs better.

Release Date: March 11, 1995 (JP)
Publisher: SquareSoft
Developer: SquareSoft
Genre: RPG

When people discuss the greatest game of all time, Chrono Trigger is almost always brought up and thrown into the discussion. Back when I had my own website, Chrono Trigger actually found its way to number one on my second-annual "Top 500 Games of All-Time" list. While I prefer some other games over this one, including Chrono Cross (yes, I know that I'm in the minority), you can't deny the number of people that absolutely adore this game. It is one of the best RPGs ever created and one of the best games in any genre ever released. If you haven't played it yet, give it a try - you'll probably fall in love with it just like the rest of us who have played it already have.

Release Date: February 20, 2003 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Persona 2 was my introduction to the Shin Megami Tensei universe, but Nocturne was the game that solidified the fact that the SMT games would become one of my favorite game franchises. From a gameplay standpoint, Nocturne really knocks everything out of the park...From the fun aspect of exploiting the weakness of your enemies in combat, to having conversations with demons in an attempt to get them to join you, to fusing your demon allies to create stronger demons to team with...It's all just done so well. The end result is a game that I played obsessively until I have obtained every demon and seen every inch of every aspect that this game has to offer...I love it that much.

Release Date: November 1, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

If Persona 3 Portable would have simply been a port of the fantastic Playstation 2 game, I would have gladly purchased it. But Atlus instead changed the gameplay up a tad, added all of the content of FES, included even more new demons to aquire, AND introduced an optional, female lead character, which essentially gives you a second game to play as going through the game as a female introduces a few different situations to the story. There is enough different and new here to easily justify a purchase if you want more Persona 3, or if you just want to visit the Dark Hour on the go.

Release Date: April 19, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Persona 3 FES is the Persona 3 we all know and love, but with some new demons and the like tossed in. Also, the story from Persona 3 is now a mode called "The Journey" with a second mode, which is an epilogue with Aegis called "The Answer" also playable. The Answer plays like the regular Persona 3 game, but without Social Links or the need to attend school. In other words, dungeon crawling goodness. So, FES is Persona 3 with enough extras to justify a purchase for the Persona nuts (like myself) out there.

Release Date: July 7, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: SquareSoft
Developer: SquareSoft
Genre: RPG

I really adore Final Fantasy IX. For a few years after it was released, it rivaled Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VI as my favorite in the series, with my mind consistently changing between the three. In time, it has settled in behind both of those games, but my love for this gem remains. The graphical style, the return to the fantasy roots, the characters (except Eiko...I wanna punt her like a football), the soundtrack...I love it all in this game. Next to FF7, this is probably the game I've played through the most times in the franchise...It's that good.

Release Date: July 11, 2002 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCET
Genre: RPG

I love Suikoden II...I think it might be the best game in the series...But, when it comes to preference, Suikoden III is my favorite. It's odd because I wasn't much of a fan of Suikoden III when I first played it...But each time I played it, I enjoyed it more and more and learned to appreciate it more and more. From the art direction to the soundtrack to the five-way story arc (technically six if you count wandering around as a dog as another arc)...even to the neat concept of occasionally running into an enemy much stronger than you are...I just really, really love this game. If you haven't played it yet, you need to see a quack....Literally. There's ducks in this game. Play it and see them. Thank me later.

Release Date: November 21, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG

I really said what I want about Pokemon Gold and Silver in the entry below with Pokemon Gold. So, for this entry, I'm just going to list off some of the new features for these two games, so you can get an idea of some of the good additions to the already great formula established in Pokemon Red and Blue. Aside from the addition of various new Pokemon to find and collect, Gold and Silver introduced the ability to breed Pokemon, which was about as addicting as wandering around and searching for Pokemon in the wilderness is. A time system is also introduced, using real time to influence certain events and Pokemon appearances. These additions add some variety to collecting Pokemon and help the games feel fresh in comparison to the previous generation Pokemon games. If you're not a Pokemon fan yet, the Gold and Silver versions may be able to convert you into one.

Release Date: November 21, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG

Owners of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow may had thought that they caught 'em all, and then Nintendo released Pokemon Gold and Silver, with 100 new Pokemon to collect and a few new gameplay elements that improved upon an already addicting game style established in the original Pokemon games. If you loved the original Pokemon games, you'll easily love this one as well. It's worth noting that the differences between the Gold and Silver versions is minute. The only reason for Silver being above Gold in this list is my preference in the Pokemon types gracing the cover...Scientific reasoning, I know.

Release Date: December 17, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: RPG

Suikoden was a great, but short, RPG. The sequel increased the length of the game, introduced a slew of new characters to recruit, and improved on the graphical look as well. The story was also done a bit better, in my opinion, in comparison to the original. If you play your cards right, and have a save from the previous Suikoden on your memory card, you can even recruit the hero from the original Suikoden to join your ranks in this game. Suikoden II can go for over $200 USD online, and if you're a fan of RPG's, then it's definitely worth every penny.

Release Date: October 8, 2009 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

I'm a sucker for pretty much anything that comes from the Megaten universe. Strange Journey is near the top of the list of my favorites from the series. Strange Journey successfully plays like Shin Megami Tensei and Shin Megami Tensei II on the Super Famicom, but with some modern-day gameplay elements and design added it to help the classic gameplay "live in the now." The game also supports a password system, allowing you to share your powerful demonic allies with anyone willing to type the password in. Strange Journey is a game that helps fans of the earlier games in the series feel nostalgic while still feeling like they're playing something new. If you've never experienced that feeling, it's nice.

Release Date: February 11, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

As time passes, and each time I play Final Fantasy VIII, I enjoy the game more and more. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it when it came out...I did, but I was never a big fan of the story. I considered this to be all about the gameplay. Having to draw spells from enemies and allocate spells to your stats was a unique system, and one that I personally enjoy. I also enjoyed how everything levels up with you. You can literally get to level 99 within a few hours of grinding in the forests once you first hit the world map since the monsters, leveling up with you and getting tougher as you do, consistently offer plenty of experience. It is worth noting that the things that I just mentioned about enjoying are the same things that some folks absolutely hate about the game...But I like 'em, so there. It's also worth noting that this game has my favorite music in the Final Fantasy series.

Release Date: June 24, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Game Arts
Genre: RPG

Grandia may not have the impressive graphics of the Final Fantasy series, but what it lacks in graphical prowess, it more than makes up for in everything else. Grandia is a memorable RPG that will likely hook you if you give it a chance. I enjoy the gameplay, but I'll mention the leveling up system in particular...The party doesn't just level up, the skills do as well. If you want stronger fire magic, keep using it in battle and you'll eventually get experienced enough in fire magic for a new spell to become unlocked. This leveling up requires a decent amount of strategy in battle...Not just in order to survive, but for getting new skills. If you missed out on this game in the Playstation One days, it's available on the Playstation Network for $6 USD, which is an incredible steal for a game of this quality.

Release Date: October 15, 1996 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG

Not really sure what to say that I haven't already said in the post below with Pokemon: Red Version. The differences between the two are minuscule - mostly just percentages of how often certain Pokemon appear and areas. But the great thing about Pokemon games is that they're fun enough to play both games from beginning to end, and you probably won't get bored...And, since you can trade with friends, you're not necessarily stuck doing all the work if you want to catch 'em all. By the way, like I said, the differences between Red and Blue are minute - the only reason Blue is above Red in this list is because I adore Squirtle in any form.

Release Date: February 27, 1996 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG

Pokemon: Red Version is the first Pokemon game that I beat...And that was only within the last two years or so. So I was late to the Pokemon party, what of it? Anyway, this game, along with Blue, was a fantastic first game in the series. This unique RPG with a "Gotta catch 'em all" gimmick is highly addictive. I found myself wandering around areas for hours just to run into a rare pokemon to nab for myself. The games have evolved since the days of the originals, but that doesn't make this game any less fun today.

Release Date: December 6, 1992 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Final Fantasy V gets overlooked pretty often in debates of the best Final Fantasy games, but I always thought that it held its own rather well. An endearing cast of characters, a job class system, and some nifty vehicles like having not just an airship to explore the skies, but also a submarine to explore the ocean depths, and you've got yourself one of the better games in the Final Fantasy franchise that will hopefully get the recognition that it deserves one day.

Release Date: March 28, 2002 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG - Action

Oh man, prior to playing it for a bit recently to nab screenshots for this list, I haven't played Kingdom Hearts in about a decade. Once I got to Traverse Town and heard the background music, it felt like I had just played it yesterday. The nostalgia here hits certain folks like myself on two levels - remembering all the Disney cartoons I watched as a kid, and remembering all of the Squaresoft games I played as a teen. Nostalgia aside, which admittedly is a big reason why I love this game, Kingdom Hearts isn't perfect - platforming can sometimes be a nightmare due to a not-always-cooperative camera and the Gummi ship sequences (which I don't really mind) seem to infuriate some folks...But there's much more good here than bad. I guess simple and clean is the way that this game makes me feel....Sorry, I'll show myself out.

Release Date: August 11, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Genre: RPG

Paper Mario is my kind of game. It's an RPG with a unique combat system, plenty of humor, and an interesting art style - toss 'em in a blender and you've got a happiness milkshake for li'l ol' me. That said, Paper Mario is like a spiritual successor to Super Mario RPG on the SNES, with an obviously different approach, but one that is just as enjoyable in my opinion. And it's still fun today - I like to go back and play through it every couple of years and it's always just as fun as the last time I had played it. If you like RPGs, but haven't played this game yet, you're missing out. Give it a shot. Unless you hate any form of humor in your games, I think you'll enjoy your time here.

Release Date: December 22, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Enix
Developer: Tri-Ace
Genre: RPG

Valkyrie Profile can fetch for a pretty penny online, but it's a game that is completely worth the cost. The unique setting, story, and combat all make this a worthy title to play for even the most jaded RPG fan. If you want to play it, but are looking for a cheaper alternative, there's always the PSP version, which is basically the same game, except you can play it on the go.

Release Date: December 20, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: RPG

Dragon Warrior hit North American shelves about a year after Phantasy Star did...And while Phantasy Star is a far superior game in terms of everything from gameplay to graphics, it never really gained the popularity that Dragon Warrior did. That said, Phantasy Star is a futuristic RPG (one of the first) and it may be the very first great RPG to be released in North America. I can't think of one that came before it that was better. I can't think of many released within a few years after it that was better, for that matter. If you're a fan of classic, turn-based, grinding RPGs, this game is worth buying a Master System for alone.

Release Date: August 27, 1994 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Ape Studios
Genre: RPG

What can you say about Earthbound? It's a great game with a fantastic sense of humor...that's what you can say. The graphics aren't bad, but they're not gonna wow anyone, and the RPG gameplay was a little bit behind the times, but the positives easily outweigh the negatives in this game by a large margin. It's worth the astronomical price that the game tends to sell for. But, if you're still doubting me, and you've got a Wii U, you can get it for $10 USD on the Virtual Console and experience the joys of the only game in the Mother series that Nintendo ported to North America.

Release Date: May 23, 2013 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Having played the previous entries in the "main" Shin Megami Tensei series, I do have to say that while I really like this game a lot, it may be my least favorite in the main series. I can't put my finger on why, either. Everything here is very solid from the interesting story to the weakness exploiting gameplay that we all know and love...and there's even a few new additions to the gameplay that don't really enhance anything, but they're still neat all the same. This is also probably the most accessible game in the series, with enough done where newcomers can come in and not be overwhelmed, while long-time fans still have the challenge there to enjoy. Anyway, SMT IV is a great entry in the series and good enough where I started up a second game immediately after beating it. Even if I prefer others in the series, this is still one of the best RPG experiences that you can experience on a handheld. Get it and find out for yourself.

Release Date: April 20, 2010 (NA)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Media Vision
Genre: RPG

Chaos Rings isn't the deepest RPG...And the gameplay isn't necessarily anything new. What makes Chaos Rings so good in my eyes? The story. I've heard some folks say they hated the story. I'm not one of those people. I found it really interesting and totally different from anything else I'd seen before. I played it to 100% completion and loved every single second of it. I've enjoyed a decent number of iPhone games, but in my opinion, Chaos Rings is at the very top of that list.

Release Date: January 26, 1987 (JP)
Publisher: Enix
Developer: ChunSoft
Genre: RPG

The first Dragon Warrior was a good, albeit short, RPG that wasn't the first in the genre, but was the first huge success in the genre by far. Dragon Warrior II really improves on the first Dragon Warrior in nearly every way. It also introduces a party system, so you can smush the slimes with some allies you meet on your quest, and it also brings vehicles to the Dragon Warrior series in the form of a boat you can use to sail around in. But be warned, especially towards the end, this game can be absolutely brutal in a hard-as-nails way. If you don't have the patience to grind levels and save up money, then this may not be the game for you...But in my personal tastes, I'm a pretty huge fan.

Release Date: March 29, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

I remember when I first played Parasite Eve, I thought it was so cool...Nearly fifteen years later and I'm still a pretty big fan. Parasite Eve was an attempt by Squaresoft to toss some survival horror elements into an RPG...and it turned out pretty dang well, in my opinion. While it wasn't necessarily scary, the game created a unique atmosphere...one that made it hard for me to put the controller down. The unique, turn-based combat is also pretty fun. The overall package results in a solid game that I'm a pretty big fan of.

Release Date: July 27, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Pax Softonica
Genre: RPG

For those of you familiar with Earthbound, this is the game that came out before it in Japan. In other words, Earthbound is Mother 2 in Japan. So, if you like Earthbound, you're bound to like the first game in the series as well. Don't speak Japanese? That's fine. It's been translated to English as Earthbound Zero and even programmed to some NES carts in case you want the complete NES experience. But anyway, with its solid RPG gameplay and some good humor tossed in, Mother is probably among the top five RPGs on the NES in my opinion. If you haven't played it yet, do it. You won't regret it.

Release Date: September 18, 2010 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG

Pokemon White and Black are basically the same game, but with minor changes. That said, I prefer White over Black for two reasons. One, Black seems to get most of the attention, and I like to root for the underdog. Two, I like the legendary Pokemon in White more than the one in Black. Scientific reasons, I know. Anyway, these games are more of the same for Pokemon fans with enough little tweaks and touches to make it still feel like a worthwhile purchase for folks who thought they already had their fill of catching 'em all.

Release Date: September 18, 2010 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG

As I stated in the above comments, I like White better for pretty dumb reasons (but they're still reasons, dang it!) but Black is essentially the same game...And the title makes it sound cooler. Anyway, like I mentioned above, Pokemon fans will love the Black and White games and both are worth playing if you'd like to catch 'em all. Yeah, some of the new Pokemon are lame...But after beating the game, you get access to all of your old favorites again, so at least that's a plus.

Release Date: December 11, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Camelot Software Planning
Genre: RPG

Some folks are bitter because everyone but the Japanese know this simply as Shining Force III...When in Japan, this is known as Shining Force III Scenario 1, and is actually part one of a three game series. Scenarios 2 and 3 never made their way outside of Japan, but quite frankly, in my opinion whether we got the other parts of this game's story is irrelevant. What we did get was a great RPG, regardless of if it was only one third of the full story in Shining Force III to be told.

Release Date: October 14, 2011 (NA)
Publisher: Double Fine Productions
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Genre: RPG

I adore Costume Quest. I remember playing this for the first time and walking from house to house, ringing doorbells, and instantly feeling nostalgia from when I was a wee lad, with face paint covering my mug while I begged for candy. That nostalgia mixed with a clever story and fantastic gameplay make Costume Quest a must-play RPG. My only real complaint about the game is that it's way too short...But if you're new to turn-based RPGs, the length of this game may make it a good choice to give the genre a try.

Release Date: March 20, 1992 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Camelot Software Planning
Genre: RPG

Shining Force may not have the story of a Final Fantasy game, but its combat system, which played much like a game of chess, more than made up for it. I feel like the next two Shining Force games improve on the formula found here, but prior to their releases, Shining Force was an awesome RPG for Genesis owners. It, along with the Phantasy Star games, helped make up for the fact that the SNES was loaded with awesome RPGs...'Cause Shining Force is pretty awesome in its own right.

Release Date: September 11, 1997 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: RPG

I'm a big fan of the first two Breath of Fire games on the SNES, so I'm naturally a fan of the third game as well - especially since it's done just as well as the previous two games. It also features a ton of fishing - the fishing mini game is one that can be played in plenty of locations in the game world, and new bait and equipment can be found all over as well. So, I suppose if you like solid RPGs and fishing mini games, then Breath of Fire III is more than likely going to be the game for you.

Release Date: May 28, 2009 (JP)
Publisher: Xseed Games
Developer: Opus
Genre: RPG

Half-Minute Hero is a unique RPG that requires to you level-up, buy equipment, fight random battles, and battle the area boss....All within thirty seconds. It works incredibly well. The thirty-second format makes this a great game in short bursts, but it's also fun enough to keep you playing for hours with that "just one more quest" feeling when you know you should stop playing, but you can't bring yourself to end the fun. The game is also extremely charming and full of comedy. If you haven't experienced it yet, Half-Minute Hero is a fun, unique game that definitely deserves any attention that you give it.

Release Date: June 22, 1999 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Persona 2: Tsumi (also known as Innocent Sin), until recently via the PSP, was never released outside of Japan...Probably due to an appearance by Adolf Hitler and the option for the main character to have a homosexual relationship, which back in '99 was a bit more controversial than it would be today. As a result, anyone who enjoyed Persona 2: Eternal Punishment outside of Japan only got to see half of the story of Persona 2. Innocent Sin looks and plays just like Eternal Punishment, which is to be expected as they were made to be played together. Fans of Persona 3 and 4 may not be as enthralled with the gameplay as I am, but both games in the Persona 2 pair are personal favorites of mine.

Release Date: June 29, 2000 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

I enjoy Eternal Punishment quite a bit, but if I had to choose between this and Innocent Sin, I'd pick Innocent Sin. The games play very much the same, but I prefer the story in Innocent Sin to the story found here...But that's not a knock to this game as the story here isn't too shabby, either. Anyway, like I said with Innocent Sin, this isn't like the very popular Persona 3 or 4...So if you're new to the series, you may not be as enthralled with this game as I am, but it's still a quality RPG worth plaything for fans of the genre.

Release Date: July 19, 2001 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Final Fantasy X was the beginning of me no longer being a Final Fantasy fan...At least in terms of new games. Don't get me wrong, I like Final Fantasy X...But when I had just played the previous several Final Fantasy games and loved them, simply "liking" a game in the Final Fantasy series feels like the game fell short. Anyway, I enjoy the actual gameplay...monster collecting and blitzball sucked way too much time out of me. This is still a solid RPG and very good, but it falls short of being great, in my opinion. And by losing small things like an open world to explore, this was the game that started moving Final Fantasy away from what fans of the series wanted, I feel. Whether that's true or not, this is still a solid RPG and well worth playing for any RPG fan.

Release Date: October 29, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Contrail
Genre: RPG

Fun story - I accidentally bought Legend of Legaia as a teenager when I was intending to purchase Grandia. The mistake initially made me disappointed, but after playing Legend of Legaia, I was quickly glad that I made a mistake because it allowed me to discover a unique, enjoyable RPG. Noah, the clueless young lady raised by a "wolf," is also one of my favorite characters of all-time. Legend of Legaia isn't perfect, mind you, but its unique combat is enough to let you forgive its few shortcomings. If you get a chance to play it, I definitely recommend giving it a try.

Release Date: December 15, 1995 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: RPG

Suikoden was a great early RPG for the Playstation. Though graphically, it looked a generation behind, the gameplay more than made up for any visual unpleasantries. The game is short by RPG standards (20-25 hours for most folks), but the ability to find and recruit 107 other members for your party helps add the the replay value a bit. Most of the later Suikoden games are better than the original in most aspects, but with how solid the original game was, that's more of a compliment to later games in the series than an insult to the game that started it all.

Release Date: April 3, 1993 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Capcom
Genre: RPG

Breath of Fire is an underrated RPG, in my opinion. I remember playing it for the first time in college and not expecting much, but once the story started to get going, I absolutely fell in love with it. The hunting and fishing mini games alone are aspects of the game that I have fond memories of. If you're in the mood for a SNES RPG that doesn't have "Final Fantasy" or "Dragon Quest" in the title, Breath of Fire is a great one to play.

Release Date: October 29, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Squaresoft
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre: RPG

Final Fantasy II in North America was actually Final Fantasy IV over in Japan. This fourth entry in the Final Fantasy series is really the first one to deliver a captivating story to go along with the enjoyable gameplay. Watching Cecil's character develop as the story progresses is a fine example of excellent storytelling in video games. If you can't hunt down a copy for the Super NES, Square Enix has pimped this game out on a ton of platforms, so experiencing the story of this game shouldn't be too difficult if you make the effort. The effort will be well worth it.

Release Date: January 18, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

When I play an RPG where maps are created by walking around every inch of the area, I often find myself trying to complete each map just for fun. In Etrian Odyssey, not only is that encouraged, but you're also actually drawing the map as you explore with your stylus. The game is absolutely gorgeous to wander around and explore in, which makes map making quite a joy to experience. When it comes time to fight, it's classic, turn-based combat and your party members are all customizable from their names to their classes. It's a nice mix of classic RPG action mixed with beautiful new visuals and a touch screen gimmick that actually enhances the game rather than holding it back.

Release Date: December 20, 1996 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Media Vision
Genre: RPG

Wild Arms is an interesting RPG as you play as each of the three main characters individually before they all finally come together as a team, which is where the story really begins. While I wouldn't say that Wild Arms is one of the greatest RPGs ever made, it certainly is very good and well worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre...afterall, they made 7 games in the series (and re-released several of them) for a reason.

Release Date: March 15, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Media Vision
Genre: RPG

Chaos Rings put the player in situations where they were forced to battle other people to the death. Chaos Rings II takes that to a whole new level, forcing the player to choose a character to kill in a sacrificial manner. It really made me feel uncomfortable as the choice alone is difficult at points since some of the characters are likable (and the ones that aren't actually become likable...right before you kill them) but Chaos Rings II takes it further - instead of a cut scene, you're forced to manually deal the killing blow. It's good, effective storytelling. Aside from the different story, the gameplay is largely the same as the first two Chaos Rings with only a few minor differences and additions. The fact that the gameplay is largely the same is really the only problem I have with this sequel. If you liked the first one, Chaos Rings II, steep price and all, is worth the purchase.

Release Date: December 5, 2003 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Monolith Soft
Genre: RPG

When I think of Baten Kaitos, I think of three things: beautiful graphics and soundtrack, interesting card-based battle system, and what may be the worst voice acting work I've ever heard in my life. Thankfully, there's an option to turn the voice acting off should it begin to annoy you...It bothered me, and I like cheesy, poor acting. Anyway, the battle system in Baten Kaitos (and other things like picking up items) revolves around cards, or Magnus. In order to fight, you need to acquire cards that attack, defend, and heal. It's an interesting system that results in battles that feel like a casino game of luck with a little bit of strategy tossed in for good measure. I loved it, and I'm sure if you give it an opportunity, you may grow to enjoy it, too.