Best Korean RPG that competes with JRPGs

PC gamers had a ton of good RPGs in the 90s, sort of Diablo and Baldur's Gatewhile console gamers had JRPGs to entertain them, sort of Final Fantasy 7 and Pokemon yellow. Now console and PC gamers alike can play Western-style RPGs and JRPGs on their systems of choice, and many of the best ones from the 90s are still available.

Also, thanks to the growing global gaming market, there are now many South Korean developers making RPGs as well. Many of the best South Korean games reflect the best of the best, such as examples from the 90s, so let's go over some of the games that RPG fans in general should check out if they want to expand their knowledge.

Lies by P

Pinocchio Souls

Lies by P is a different take on the Pinocchio lore that Disney fans would have never seen coming, taking place in a steampunk dystopian city called Krat. The entire city has been overrun by clockwork dolls, and players are the cure to fix this overrun robot city.

Players are encouraged to be on the offensive to take down enemies with customizable weapons and various weapons, such as a grappling hook, to make battles more frenzied. From the tone to the combat system, it feels like a spiritual successor to Blood borneand the Japanese masters at FromSoftware would be proud. Like most Soulslikes, it can be challenging, but there's an AI partner system to help players out if they need a step up on those dilapidated dolls.

The First Berserker: Khazan

No shirt, no shoes, no problem

The First Berserker: Khazan is part of Dungeon & Fighter universe. Soulslike games are known for being difficult, but this game takes things to a whole new level. Players will feel every blow to themselves and every kill they commit. The weapon system is unique in that there are only three types, with each weapon having a large branching skill tree.

Betting on a weapon is a plus, just as it is in Monster Hunter series. The most challenging part of The First Berserker: Khazan are the bosses, who only require the best and patient players, because this game doesn't care if they succeed. It's here to toughen up players, and if they manage to finish it, there's no soulmate they can't overcome.

Stellar Blade

Looks good in the Apocalypse

Stellar Blade was a surprise hit when it launched on PS5 in 2024, and it had a chance to expand its audience in 2025 thanks to a PC port. Players take on the role of a battle android, Eve, who is sent to stop an alien invasion on a destroyed planet. With tight outfits and style for days, she was like a second coming of Bayonneta if thrown into an action RPG with soulslike elements.

With different combinations, players can explore multiple biomes and fight mutant aliens that have angelic designs as if they were made by HR Giger. The action is smooth, the visuals are impressive and the world building is fantastic. Next Lies by P, Stellar Blade has to be the most well-known South Korean action RPG in the current video game market, and there is surely a sequel on the way.

Magna Carta 2

A forgotten Xbox 360 Cult Classic

• Developer: Softmax

• Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

• Released: October 13, 2009 (NA)

• Platform: Xbox 360

Magna Carta 2 is an Xbox 360 exclusive game released in 2009. It is the third and final game in the series, with the second coming to the PS2 in North America and the original never being released outside of South Korea. This last game features a hybrid battle system that is part action, part MMO. As players explore the world, they can engage with enemies by selecting them.

During a character's turn, a meter will tick down, and during this time they can attack with various abilities, all of which can be chained to the next character if they switch in time. It takes some getting used to, but it's easily the best part of the game. The story and character design may not be for everyone, between the civil war aspect and the small heads. That said, JRPG fighting fans may be similar Magna Carta 2 more Final Fantasy 12 or Xenoblade Chroniclesminus the gigantic open world design.

Lost Eidolons

Challenging tactics

Lost Eidolons doesn't look like a South Korean-made RPG, as the design is more reminiscent of something similar Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. While the characters and overall design have more of a western aesthetic, the game falls in line with a Fire Emblem entry as it is a turn-based tactical RPG with permadeath.

Players must be extra careful during normal gameplay or they may lose units and evolve with unplanned tactics. Between battles, players can attach to their units to boost morale, again, much like some of the recent Fire emblem game. There are some fantasy elements like magic, but for tactical RPG fans looking for a more grounded experience, Lost Eidolons is it.

Crimson Gem Saga

A diamond in the rough

For PSP fans looking for another good RPG or JRPG on the system, they probably stumbled upon it Crimson Gem Saga sometime. It's technically part of Astonishia story series, but since that game wasn't very well reviewed, that may be why a different name was chosen for the sequel.

It's a much better game overall with an easy-to-understand turn-based combat system that features four characters, a timeline, and combo attacks similar to Chrono Trigger. The art design looks great Ragnarok onlineanother South Korean game, with soft colors and an almost watercolor aesthetic. Among PSP's hidden RPG gems, Crimson Gem Saga is definitely one that needs to be rediscovered, or better yet, re-released.

Black Desert Online

More than dunes

Black Desert Online is a massive MMO that started in South Korea in 2015, after a North American version in 2016. It's been around for so long that the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S even got a version in 2025, and it's changed a lot in the last decade. It's also not a normal MMO, as there was more emphasis on the action combat, as the mobs of enemies were larger in size, almost like the hordes of monsters that appear in a Diablo game.

In addition to combat, there are cool mini-games like fishing and hunting, and it's a great MMO to make a living in. It might not be quite as popular as Final Fantasy 14but considering it's been going since 2015, someone is doing something right at Pearl Abyss, the developer. They even do an offline follow-up Crimson Desert in 2026, which should be one of the biggest South Korean action RPGs next year.

TERA

An original MMO

TERA is one of the most important MMOs because it is believed to be one of the first to have true action combat, and this was back in 2011 in South Korea. North Americans would have to wait a year later, and the scope of the game was promising with its open world, character design, and racial options. Not many games allow players to be crouching animals, like dogs or bears, and Popori was that for TERA. The world also had large monsters that were nearly impossible alone but manageable with friends, which could be compared to the overpowered monsters that roamed the Xenoblade Chronicles game. Thanks to the action combat, it felt different from other big MMOs like World of Warcraft.

Ragnarok online

A classic MMO of all time

The early 2000s had a lot of basic MMOs that all PC fans were into Ragnarok online be one of the bigger ones. First released in 2002 in South Korea and a year later elsewhere, this game decided to favor sprites over 3D models. Combat was simplified with point-and-click mechanics, and it was another MMO with a heavy grind. Although it wasn't a fully immersive game that Final Fantasy 11 amazing 3D world, launched in 2002 in Japan, Ragnarok online had a good social aspect which is what brought in many players. From teaming up to killing monsters to just hanging out, these are the memories fans hold on to the most.