The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Final Fantasy 7and even Persona 5 are all some of the best AAA and mass marketed RPGs of all time. No one can question how they hold up and their contribution to the genre as a whole. AAA RPGs can unfortunately outshine lesser RPGs that are sometimes even better.
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These classic turn-based RPGs have a perfect balance of 10/10 between their stories and gameplay.
When it comes to these AA RPGs, most of which were originally on laptops, they help prove that money isn't everything. Strong ideas are often king for games like Golden sun and Wild Arms 3. Let's rank these RPGs based on the stories, combat, how well they hold up, and overall quality.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
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10
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
Diving into cyberspace
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is one of the better ones Digimon game that finally created a compelling story and combat system that could compete Pokémon. Employed by a detective agency, players will investigate a series of crimes in cyberspace that disrupt the real world.
Players are given a Digimon partner and can recruit and evolve new ones as they progress through dungeons. It's a basic turn-based system, but the unique monsters, cyberspace design, and evolving storyline will keep players engaged.
9
Indivisible
A Metroidvania Mashup
Indivisible is a 2D RPG starring Ajna, who has the unique power to store dead ghosts in her mind to then summon in battle, much like Persona in Persona series. Exploration is much like a Metroidvania, as Ajna will gain new abilities to go deeper into dungeons as the game progresses.
Once enemies are engaged, things will switch over to a turn-based system where each of the four party members will be assigned a face button. It's a hodgepodge of ideas that blend together well, and the art of indivisible is arguably its best feature.
8
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Rings of Judgment
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
- Released
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September 27, 2004
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a World War I-inspired alternate reality turn-based RPG. As a ragtag group of heroes, including a puppeteer and a vampire wrestler, players must stop the war from spiraling out of control due to supernatural influences.
It's a bizarre story, but captivating in its simplicity, plus the combat system is more active than most PS2 RPGs of the era. Each character had a Judgment Ring that, when perfectly timed, could deal extra damage to enemies.
7
Wild Arms 3
A Wild West RPG
Wild arms is a niche series Sony has backed off for a while that has western influences, with Wild Arms 3 is the most obvious example. Players could choose to start the game as one of four characters, but the order did not matter because after each intro, the game would continue as normal with these four heroes joining as one.
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Combat took ammo into consideration, as each character had a gun, and between rounds characters and enemies ran around to mimic the feel of a shootout in a Western. There were even battles on horseback, so overall, Wild Arms 3 is a very cool western that just happens to be an RPG.
6
Golden sun
The sun is in your hand
Golden sun was a Game Boy Advance RPG that became a small franchise for Nintendo. The combat system was well-animated with large sprites and flashy attacks, making it stand out from almost any RPG on the system.
The combat was great, but the dungeons were also more involved than many RPGs of the era, with players given psychic powers to use to solve puzzles. Using a power tap to move a column in place is one example that makes the monotony of dungeons more engaging, and these are just a few examples of why Golden sun still rules.
5
Brilliant History
Chrono Trigger in all but name
Brilliant History was first released on the DS before getting a 3DS port. Regardless of the version, the story and gameplay are the same, where a soldier, Stocke, is granted the power of time travel after nearly dying.
Players must solve problems in the past to make areas safer in the present, and sometimes these puzzles can be difficult to solve. Time travel doesn't play a role in combat, but it's also unique, as players can use attacks to move and group enemies to more effectively damage them, creating a more engaging sense of strategy.
4
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy
Sold at work
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is one Final Fantasy game in all but name, and with a less impressive budget in both the 3DS and Switch 2 versions. Players will command four characters, explore a world map, dive into dungeons and rescue elemental crystals from a domineering kingdom trying to harvest its power.
By defeating bosses, players will earn new classes, called jobs, and multiclassing between them all can create powerful combos in turn-based battles. The music is among the best on the 3DS, the polite style is charming, and the Job system ranks up there as one of the best Square Enix has ever produced.
3
Etrian Odyssey 4: Legends Of The Titan
Challenging, but rewarding
Etrian Odyssey 4: Legends of the Titan is one of the hardest RPGs on the 3DS, but also one of the most rewarding. Players are free to create their party with five adventures from a multi-class pool before venturing into the maze. Instead of the Labyrinth being one big interconnected dungeon, players get to cruise around a world map outside to enter other dungeons, and mapping out the details of those dungeons is still a must.
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Fight challenging battles, level up and earn skill points in return to further strengthen characters. Etrian Odyssey 4: Legends of the Titan is a turn-based RPG intended for players who like to explore and fight their way through history.
2
Final Fantasy Tactics
A spinoff that got bigger
Final Fantasy Tacticslike most spinoffs in the series, was meant to be a smaller experience with no flashy cutscenes. The result created one of the most beloved entries in the series thanks to its darker tone, world-building in Ivalice, and tactical combat. In battle, players could choose multiple characters to participate, each moving on a grid.
Characters could be assigned jobs, such as Time Mage, Chemist, and Dragoon, and multi-classing with each was engrossing. Between the PS1 original and the improved latest remaster, Final Fantasy Tactics is a must in the franchise.
1
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The definition of AA
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks, sounds and plays like a triple-A RPG but on a double-A budget, which makes it more fascinating. It was the first game from the French studio, Sandfall Interactive, which makes it even more impressive.
Set in a desolate world full of carnage, an unlikely band of heroes come together to stop an evil witch from continuing to kill generations on an annual rotation. The music is outstanding, the counter system in combat is deeply engaging, and the overarching story has drama and levity well balanced. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is proof that talent and style can trump outrageous budgets.
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