RPG is arguably the most populargaming genreout there, and it all started with table-top games like Dungeons and Dragons. While there are RPGs that have real-time, action-heavy combat in them, there’s nothing like a well-implemented turn-based system that makes an RPG truly feel like one. Turn-based combat isn’t for everyone and players who like fast-paced games should steer clear of turn-based games. That said, the amount of depth present in turn-based systems will never be found in any other type of combat, and chances are, players who are avoiding turn-based games because of their slow pace will fall in love with them once they put in a genuine effort to play them.
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These ten turn-based RPGs are considered the cream of the genre and if playing them doesn’t make someone fall in love with turn-based combat, nothing will.
10Fallout 2
The Last Hurrah For a Turn-Based Fallout
Fallout 2puts players in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where diplomacy, deception and outright destruction are all viable paths to survival. The game refined and expanded upon the groundwork laid by its predecessor, setting the gold standard for turn-based RPGs in the late ’90s. Players step into the worn boots of the Chosen One, a descendant of the Vault Dweller from the first game, on a desperate quest to find the Garden of Eden Creation Kit (GECK) to save their dying tribal village. But the wasteland, filled with scheming factions, grotesque mutants and the ever-present remnants of pre-war civilization, ensures that no decision is ever simple.
Unlike many RPGs of its era, Fallout 2 embraced player choice with an almost reckless abandon. A well-spoken character could talk their way past entire encounters, while a trigger-happy brute could solve problems with bullets before hearing anyone out. The SPECIAL system dictated the main stats, but even non-essential skills like Speech, Science, and even Gambling allowed for wildly different playthroughs. The turn-based combat, built around Action Points, lets players strategize their attacks, targeting specific limbs to cripple foes or go for a well-placed shot to the eyes for an instant kill.
Where the game truly set itself apart, however, was its writing. Fallout 2 went all-in with the satirical, darkly comedic tone of the first game. From encounters with pop culture references to a world that felt simultaneously absurd and eerily realistic, the narrative delivered both hilarity and bleak existential dread in equal measure. It’s a must-play for players who want to role-play in a post-apocalyptic world.
9Divinity: Original Sin
Where Friendly Fire is Just Another Tuesday
Divinity: Original Sin
Larian Studios’Divinity: Original Sinbrought old-school RPG mechanics back in style, embracing deep character builds, environmental strategy and true roleplaying freedom. The turn-based combat doesn’t just rely on basic attack queues, it forces players to think multiple steps ahead. Fire spreads across oil-covered floors, rain can snuff out flames or create a shocking hazard when combined with lightning, and teleportation can completely change the flow of battle.
Beyond combat, Divinity: Original Sin thrives on player choice. Nearly every NPC can be killed, quests have multiple solutions andco-opmode allows for completely different approaches between two players. The game rewards creativity, whether it’s combining skills for new effects or finding unconventional ways to bypass obstacles.
8Yakuza: Like a Dragon
The Most Turn-(Based) Yakuza Game
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Taking a massive departure from the series' signature real-time brawling, Yakuza: Like a Dragon replaced fists and heat actions with turn-based RPG battles, but kept the franchise’s signature absurdity intact. Ichiban Kasuga, a die-hard Dragon Quest fan, sees life as an RPG, and the game leans into that by turning street fights into over-the-top, party-based combat encounters.
Instead of traditional RPG classes, Like a Dragon features jobs that reflect its modern setting. Players can turn party members into breakdancers, riot police or even chefs who attack enemies with flaming woks. The combat system keeps the Yakuza DNA alive, incorporating environmental interactions, combo timing and even tag-team special moves. The heartfelt story and ridiculous combat somehow blend seamlessly, making it one of the most unique turn-based RPGs ever made.
7Octopath Traveler 2
Eight Stories, One Masterpiece
Octopath Traveler 2
Where most RPGs focus on a singular protagonist,Octopath Traveler 2doubles down on variety, letting players guide eight different heroes through their own intertwining tales. The game builds upon the first title’s strengths, refining the turn-based combat with an improved Boost and Break system that rewards strategic planning.
Every battle is a test of patience and timing. Players must analyze enemy weaknesses, break their defenses and use stored boost points at the right moment for maximum damage. Each character brings a unique skill set to the table, be it the warrior’s powerful attacks, the thief’s ability to steal or the scholar’s magic spells, making team composition a crucial part of the strategy. The HD-2D art style, expansive world and non-linear storytelling elevate it above its predecessor, solidifying it as a modern classic in turn-based RPGs.
6Undertale
Where Mercy is the Strongest Attack
Turn-based RPGs have conditioned players to attack, grind and level up, butUndertalechallenges those instincts by making pacifism a legitimate path. Every enemy encounter offers a choice: fight or find another way. Talking, complimenting or even dancing with foes can resolve battles, often leading to hilarious or emotional outcomes.
Combat isn’t just about picking options from a menu. The bullet-hell dodging mechanics add an action element, making every encounter feel dynamic. Choices carry weight, affecting everything from dialogue to the multiple endings. Undertale is a unique game that turns traditional RPG mechanics on its head, creating one of the most memorable turn-based experiences in gaming.
5Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver
The Best in the Franchise
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Johto’s return in Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver was the definitive Pokemon experience. The battle system retained its classic turn-based simplicity while introducing modern refinements like the Physical/Special split and smoother UI improvements.
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The biggest addition was the Pokewalker, a pedometer that let players train Pokémon outside the game, bridging the gap between real-life activity and RPG progression. The post-game content remains one of the most generous in the series, with the ability to revisit Kanto and challenge sixteen gym leaders, culminating in the legendary battle against Red atop Mt. Silver.
4Chrono Trigger
The RPG that Defined a Generation
Chrono Trigger
Few games have aged as gracefully asChrono Trigger. Built as a collaborative effort by the finest minds behind Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger was more than just another RPG. Released in 1995 for the SNES, it introduced mechanics, storytelling techniques and design philosophies that would influence RPGs for decades. With time travel at the core of its narrative, Chrono Trigger follows a group of heroes who journey across different eras, from prehistoric times to a dystopian future, to stop Lavos, aworld-endingcosmic parasite.
Where Chrono Trigger truly shined was its seamless, dynamic combat system. Unlike traditional turn-based RPGs with separate battle screens, enemies were visible in the overworld, and combat flowed directly from exploration. The game introduced the Active Time Battle 2.0 system, where characters acted based on their speed stat, leading to fast-paced, strategic encounters. Beyond its mechanics, Chrono Trigger boasted some of the most memorable characters in RPG history. From the silent but determined protagonist Crono to the tragic yet noble knight Frog and the tormented villain-turned-ally Magus, every character had depth, growth and motivations that resonated with players. Coupled with Yasunori Mitsuda’s unforgettable soundtrack, featuring tracks like “Corridors of Time” and “To Far Away Times,” the game delivered an emotional journey that few RPGs have ever matched.
3Final Fantasy 6
A Tragic Opera of Magic and Madness
Final Fantasy 6
Before Final Fantasy 7 took the world by storm,Final Fantasy6 pushed the boundaries of storytelling in RPGs, delivering one of the most emotionally charged narratives of the 16-bit era. Released in 1994 for the SNES, it introduced an ensemble cast of characters, a villain unlike any before him and a world that didn’t just threaten to end, but actually did.
The story follows the struggle between the oppressive Gestahlian Empire and a group of rebels seeking to harness the power of Espers, which are magical beings linked to the world’s past. Among them is Terra, a half-Esper woman caught between both sides, searching for her own identity. But what sets Final Fantasy 6 apart is its structure: there’s no true singular protagonist. Instead, the game shifts focus across multiple characters, each with their own arcs, motivations and tragedies, from Locke’s undying love for a lost woman to Celes’ heartbreaking crisis of faith.
Combat builds upon the series’ Active Time Battle system, where each character’s unique abilities make them stand out. Edgar commands mechanical tools, Sabin unleashes martial arts moves through fighting-game-style inputs and Cyan’s sword techniques charge up for devastating results.
And then there’s Kefka. Final Fantasy 6’s villain starts as a sadistic court jester but quickly escalates into one of gaming’s most terrifying antagonists. Unlike most villains who seek power, Kefka wants to see everything burn. And in a shocking twist, he succeeds. Halfway through the game, Kefka destroys the world, forcing players to navigate a ruined wasteland where hope is scarce and the party is scattered. What follows is a deeply personal journey of rebuilding, not just the world, but the will to keep fighting. It was a landmark in video game storytelling, proving that even in an era of pixelated characters and limited dialogue, an emotionally complex, world-shattering story could be told.
2Persona 5 Royal
Stylish, Strategic and Stealing Hearts
Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5Royal took everything great about the base game and turned it into one of the most-polished, stylish RPG experiences of all time. Players step into the role of Joker, a high school student wrongfully put on probation who discovers the Metaverse: a supernatural realm where corrupt individuals’ twisted desires manifest as Palaces. With the help of a talking cat, an ever-growing team of outcasts and an arsenal of Persona abilities, Joker leads the Phantom Thieves in a quest to change the hearts of the wicked.
Combat is one of the game’s biggest strengths. Battles use a turn-based system where exploiting enemy weaknesses allows for devastating follow-ups, including Baton Passes and All-Out Attacks. Customizing Personas, fusing new ones and carefully managing party synergy gives combat a strategic depth that rewards clever planning.
But Persona 5 Royal isn’t just about dungeon crawling. Half the game is spent balancing Joker’s daily life: studying, working part-time jobs, deepening relationships with Confidants, and making time for activities like batting cages and jazz club visits. Every interaction carries weight, as stronger bonds unlock new abilities in battle or even alter the endings. Royal also expands the story with a new semester, an additional Palace and the unforgettable Kasumi Yoshizawa, adding layers to an already-rich narrative.
1Baldur’s Gate 3
A Masterpiece That Defied an Industry
Baldur’s Gate 3
In an era where live-service models and microtransactions dominate,Baldur’s Gate 3emerged as a defiant throwback to classic RPG storytelling: an uncompromising, sprawling experience where player choice truly dictates the adventure. Built on the foundation of Dungeons & Dragons’ 5th Edition ruleset, Larian Studios crafted a game where every dice roll, dialogue choice and tactical decision has real consequences.
The story begins with players abducted by mind flayers and implanted with a parasitic tadpole, setting off a desperate journey to rid themselves of the infection before it turns them into one of the terrifying creatures. But Baldur’s Gate 3 is anything but linear. From forming uneasy alliances with sinister forces to making powerful enemies over seemingly minor choices, the game ensures no two playthroughs are ever alike.
Combat embraces turn-based tactical depth, allowing players to use the environment creatively: setting explosive barrels on fire, knocking enemies off cliffs, or using spells to control the battlefield. Each class plays wildly differently, whether it’s a barbarian smashing through foes or a wizard shaping fights with crowd-control magic. Withbreathtaking visuals, full voice acting for over 17,000 lines of dialogue and a level of player agency rarely seen in modern gaming, Baldur’s Gate 3 is arguably the best turn-based RPG of all time.
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