PC gamers had a wealth of nice RPGs within the 90s, like Diablo and Baldur’s Gate, whereas console gamers had JRPGs to maintain them entertained, like Ultimate Fantasy 7 and Pokemon Yellow. Now, each console gamers and PC gamers can play Western-style RPGs and JRPGs on their system of alternative, and most of the best from the 90s are nonetheless accessible.
The 10 Most Timeless Classic JRPGs, Ranked
From the SNES to the 3DS, these JRPGs stay timeless in high quality and have earned their spot as style classics.
Additionally, because of the worldwide market of video games rising, there are actually a variety of South Korean builders who’re making RPGs as nicely. Lots of the greatest South Korean video games mirror one of the best of one of the best, like examples from the 90s, so let’s go over among the video games RPG followers general ought to look into in the event that they need to increase their data.
Lies Of P
Pinocchio Souls
Lies of P is a distinct tackle the Pinocchio lore that Disney followers would have by no means seen coming, going down inside a steampunk dystopian city known as Krat. The whole thing of the town has been overrun with clockwork puppets, and gamers are the treatment to repair this overrun robotic metropolis.
Gamers are inspired to be on the offensive to strike foes down with customizable weapons and completely different armaments, like a grappling hook, to make fight extra frenzied. From the tone to the fight system, it appears like a religious successor to Bloodborne, and the Japanese masters at FromSoftware could be proud. Like most Soulslikes, it may be difficult, however there may be an AI associate system to help gamers in the event that they want a leg up on these decrepit puppets.
The First Berserker: Khazan
No Shirt, No Sneakers, No Downside
The First Berserker: Khazan is a part of the Dungeon & Fighter universe. Soulslike games are known to be hard, however this recreation takes issues to an entire new stage. Gamers will really feel each blow to themselves and each kill they commit. The weapon system is exclusive as there are solely three varieties, with every weapon having an unlimited branching ability tree.
Committing to at least one weapon is a plus, identical to it’s within the Monster Hunter sequence. Essentially the most difficult a part of The First Berserker: Khazan is the bosses, which require solely the best and affected person gamers, as a result of this recreation doesn’t care in the event that they succeed. It’s right here to toughen gamers up, and in the event that they handle to complete it, there isn’t a Soulslike they can not overcome.
Stellar Blade
Trying Good In The Apocalypse
Stellar Blade was a shock hit when it launched on the PS5 in 2024, and it had an opportunity to develop its viewers in 2025 because of a PC port. Gamers assume the function of a fight android, Eve, who is distributed to cease an alien invasion on a ruined planet. With tight outfits and elegance for days, she was like a second coming of Bayonneta if she had been thrown into an action RPG with Soulslike parts.
With numerous combos, gamers can discover a number of biomes and combat mutated aliens which have angelic designs as if H.R. Giger made them. The motion is slick, the visuals are spectacular, and the world-building is excellent. Subsequent to Lies of P, Stellar Blade needs to be essentially the most well-known South Korean motion RPG on the present online game market, and there’s certainly a sequel on the best way.
MagnaCarta 2
A Forgotten Xbox 360 Cult Basic
- Developer: Softmax
- Writer: Namco Bandai Video games
- Launched: October 13, 2009 (NA)
- Platform: Xbox 360
MagnaCarta 2 is an Xbox 360 exclusive that was launched in 2009. It’s the third and closing recreation within the sequence, with the second coming to the PS2 in North America and the unique by no means releasing outdoors of South Korea. This closing recreation has a hybrid fight system that’s half motion, half MMO. When gamers are exploring the world, they will interact with enemies by deciding on them.
Throughout a personality’s flip, a meter will tick down, and on this time, they will assault with numerous talents, all of which may be chained to the following character in the event that they change in time. It takes a while to get used to, however it’s simply one of the best a part of the sport. The story and character designs could not gel with everybody, between the civil conflict facet and the tiny heads. That stated, JRPG fight lovers can liken MagnaCarta 2 to Ultimate Fantasy 12 or Xenoblade Chronicles, minus the large open-world design.
Misplaced Eidolons
Difficult Techniques
Misplaced Eidolons doesn’t appear like a South Korean-made RPG, because the designs are extra harking back to one thing like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Whereas the characters and general designs have extra of a Western aesthetic, the gameplay falls consistent with a Hearth Emblem entry as it’s a turn-based tactical RPG with permadeath.
Gamers should be further cautious throughout regular gameplay, or they will lose models and progress with unplanned techniques. In-between fight, gamers can bond with their models to lift morale, once more, very like among the newer Hearth Emblem video games. There are some fantasy parts like magic, however for tactical RPG followers searching for a extra grounded expertise, Misplaced Eidolons is it.
Crimson Gem Saga
A Diamond In The Tough
For PSP followers who had been searching for one other good RPG or JRPG on the system, they most likely stumbled upon Crimson Gem Saga in some unspecified time in the future. It’s technically a part of the Astonishia Story sequence, however since that recreation didn’t assessment nicely, that may very well be why a distinct title was chosen for the sequel.
It’s a significantly better recreation general with an easy-to-understand turn-based battle system that comes with 4 characters, a timeline, and combo assaults akin to Chrono Trigger. The artwork design seems lots like Ragnarok On-line, one other South Korean recreation, with mushy colours and an nearly watercolor aesthetic. Among the many PSP hidden RPG gems, Crimson Gem Saga is unquestionably one which must be rediscovered, or higher but, re-released.
Black Desert On-line
Extra Than Dunes
Black Desert On-line is a massive MMO that began in South Korea in 2015, following a North America model in 2016. It’s been occurring so lengthy that the PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S even bought a model in 2025, and it has modified lots over the previous decade. It’s not a traditional MMO both, as there was extra of an emphasis on the motion fight, as mobs of enemies had been bigger in dimension, nearly just like the hordes of monsters that seem in a Diablo recreation.
Don’t let the shift in perspective idiot you; these 2D turn-based RPGs are simply as epic and enthralling as any 3D recreation.
Past fight, there are chill mini-games like fishing and looking, and it’s a terrific MMO to make a life in. It might not fairly be as common as Ultimate Fantasy 14, however on condition that it has been occurring since 2015, anyone is doing one thing proper at Pearl Abyss, the developer. They’re even making an offline follow-up known as Crimson Desert in 2026, which must be one of many largest South Korean motion RPGs of subsequent 12 months.
TERA
An Unique MMO
TERA is without doubt one of the most necessary MMOs as it’s regarded as one of many first to have true motion fight, and this was again in 2011 in South Korea. North People must wait a 12 months later, and the scope of the sport was promising with its open-world, character designs, and race choices. Not many video games enable gamers to be squat animals, like canine or bears, and the Popori had been that for TERA. The world additionally had large monsters that had been nearly unimaginable alone however manageable with buddies, which may very well be likened to the overpowered monsters roaming across the Xenoblade Chronicles video games. Because of the motion fight, it felt completely different from different large MMOs like World of Warcraft.
Ragnarok On-line
An All-Time Basic MMO
The early 2000s had a variety of fundamental MMOs that PC followers all dabbled in, with Ragnarok On-line being one of many larger ones. Launched first in 2002 in South Korea, and a 12 months later elsewhere, this recreation determined to favor sprites over 3D fashions. Fight was simplistic with point-and-click mechanics, and it was one other MMO with a heavy grind. Whereas it wasn’t a totally immersive recreation like Ultimate Fantasy 11’s beautiful 3D world, which launched in 2002 in Japan, Ragnarok On-line did have a very good social facet, which is what introduced a variety of gamers in. From grouping as much as slay monsters to simply hanging out on the town, these are the reminiscences followers cling to essentially the most.
7 RPGs Officially Longer Than Baldur’s Gate 3
These video games will not be as wealthy an expertise as Baldur’s Gate 3, however they are going to actually hold gamers busy.
