There have been tons of RPGs crafted over the years, so many so that it seems nearly impossible for many players to get through them all. From turn-based to action to strategy and everything else in between, the RPG umbrella is vast and encompasses a wide array of sub-genres and types. Because of this, there are a multitude of games that could be considered “RPGs,” and there have been some truly grandiose adventures crafted since the dawn of gaming.
With so many titles to choose from, great games can simply fall through the cracks. Whether it was poor timing concerning the release, an immense spike of difficulty, or simply too many other great games floating through the industry, there have been a lot of awesome RPGs, especially in the retro era, that many players don’t even know exist. Here are some great examples.
6Secret Of Evermore
Secret Of Evermore stands as one of the most unique and criminally underrated titles ever released. It was lost among a sea of other more popularized adventure RPGs but the aesthetics, design, and gameplay elements found in Secret of Evermore make it an instant classic and a must-play release for fans of the genre.
Players will go on a fairly expansive (for the SNES) journey across multiple levels and areas, defeat some truly imposing-looking bosses, and upgrade their character and dog companion numerous times. It’s a blast and easily one of the best overlooked adventures someone can have on the SNES.
The Legend of Zelda was one of the greatest games ever released for the original NES, thanks to its awesome aesthetic, dungeon-crawling experience, and fast-paced yet sometimes-punishing gameplay. Perhaps that’s why many players were put off by Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link. It was a far cry from the original release and featured some truly grueling combat that had many struggling to make it past the starting areas.
Those that fell in love with the odd sequel may want to check out Faxanadu, which plays (and looks) similar. This release infused more RPG elements and has a greater focus on platforming, making it a great mixture of action and combat.
4Crystalis
The NES was filled to the brim with top-down and side-scrolling adventures, as developers attempted to figure out the best way to utilize the new technologies they had been given access to. As a product, there were a lot of interesting turn-based RPGs and adventure games that hit the market. Many of them featured similar gameplay elements, where players chose attacks, skills, and spells through menus.
This is what makes Crystalis such a standout RPG. The gameplay and combat was similar to The Legend of Zelda series, a top-down dungeon-crawling hack-and-slash-like adventure that saw players exploring areas, finding equipment and abilities, and slaying monsters and bosses along the way.
3Illusion Of Gaia
Those looking for another Zelda-esque adventure can hop over to the SNES era and take a look at Illusion of Gaia. Similar to Crystalis in the way it operated, it’s a narrative-driven top-down RPG with similar combat that looked visually stunning on the SNES' upgraded 32-Bit-capable hardware.
Illusion of Gaia had a unique hook in the idea that players would swap between characters by interacting with specialized statues that seemed to stand out between time and space (via special warp portals). Past that, it’s a great traditional old-school RPG adventure and a highly underrated, lesser-known release.
2The Last Remnant
The Last Remnant might be the most “cult classic” title on this list, thanks to all of the love and fan support it has received over the years. There have been many players that have questioned the lack of a sequel for this highly underrated RPG release.
This Square Enix release looks a bit dated compared to some of the other titles we’ve showcased but its gameplay and storyline more than make up for it. The combat is unique while still feeling traditional to turn-based RPG titles of the past and the story and music underline a pretty stellar adventure that definitely deserves more attention as a series.
1Skies Of Arcadia
Skies of Arcadia is hardly an underrated release in terms of the cult-following it generated over the years but there are many gamers today that have likely never heard of the turn-based RPG thanks to its original release on the Sega Dreamcast. There was a re-release on the Gamecube, and Skies of Arcadia received critical acclaim but didn’t manage to sell as many copies as developers had hoped.
Players that enjoy traditional RPGs with turn-based combat, leveling, skills, magic, and all of the pros and cons that come with them will definitely enjoy Skies of Arcadia. It’s a beautiful traditional adventure and features some great visuals (for the time) as well as an engaging story and awesome characters.
