“They just don’t make RPGs like they used to.” Players may have uttered those words before or heard someone else say them at one point or another. No matter the age, everyone will have a favorite era of RPGs, and for many, the height was in the 80s and 90s, right before the new millennium hit in the 2000s.
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Not every RPG holds up today, but the following examples, across a wide range of consoles, are still great thanks to their forward-thinking ideas. They’re so good that some of these even surpass all the bells and whistles that modern RPGs get. So, let’s dive into some classic RPGs, before 2000, that respect your time and don’t dawdle on filler.
River City Ransom
Check Please
River City Ransom
- Released
- April 25, 1989
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up
River City Ransom was an influential NES game that incorporated RPG elements into the typical beat 'em up design. As players explored the titular city, foes would drop coins that players could then spend at stores.
Eating certain foods would contribute to leveling up stats, a system that would go on to inspire later games, such as Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game. While players could stop and grind for hours to get money and level up, it wasn’t necessary to get through this relatively breezy brawler.
Sweet Home
Resident Evil Zero
Sweet Home
- Released
- December 15, 1989
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Horror, JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System
Sweet Home is an NES game that the West never got, but dedicated fans have translated it into English for those curious. It was based on a movie of the same name, developed by Capcom, and some believe it served as the basis for Resident Evil years later.
A group of individuals goes to a haunted mansion, and at the start, players can decide which party members to take along, all of whom have special skills. While there are turn-based battles against ghosts, it’s not the main focus, as the puzzles were more key to the experience, which was not that long.
Chrono Trigger
Ahead Of Its Time
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Chrono Trigger was ahead of the curve in terms of game design. Monsters appeared in dungeons and technically could be avoided, and there were no random battles on the world map. Battles took place right on the spot, with encounters going by quickly so as not to waste time.
Again, players could grind if they wanted to, but based on enemy placement, dungeons were designed to level up players where they needed to be before the next boss. Even with the later side quests and time travel antics, this is a great SNES RPG that players can finish in a weekend.
E.V.O.: Search For Eden
The Evolutionary Chain
E.V.O.: Search for Eden
- Released
- December 21, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Action
E.V.O.: Search for Eden is probably a SNES game most have not heard about, even though it did release in the West. As a lowly creature in the ocean, players could attack other aquatic life, and by doing so, they could level up and evolve, with some evolutionary paths having choices.
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Eventually, creatures could learn to walk and get out of the water, walking on land and fighting dinosaurs. It’s a pretty linear RPG about the wonders of evolution that’s still incredibly deep to this day as a game on the SNES.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
The Most Linear Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
- Released
- October 5, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, for the SNES, is one of the strangest games in the franchise, which is part action-adventure like a Zelda game. Players can see enemies in dungeons, and they will get a rotating party throughout the game.
In towns and dungeons, players will get tools that can open up new pathways, like an axe to chop down trees, and the world map is staged like something out of Super Mario World. The combat is easy, and there’s no real reason to grind, as the game wasn’t built like a typical Final Fantasy.
Live A Live
An Anthology RPG
Live A Live
- Released
- September 2, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
Live A Live is an anthology RPG released for the SNES in 1994 in Japan, and North America wouldn’t see it until the Switch remake in 2022. At the start, players can choose one of seven characters who are all connected to a specific place in time, from an Old West setting to caveman times to a cyberpunk future.
Completing each episode won’t take more than an hour or two at max, and after the initial seven, two more scenarios will unlock, and try to connect the game thematically as a whole. It’s an experimental SNES game, and the remake is worth recommending for those who don’t want to track down an original copy.
Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
Plumbing For EXP
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Released
- May 13, 1996
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is the first RPG adventure Mario went on, thanks to Squaresoft developing it for Nintendo on the SNES. It combined Mario platforming with a new active turn-based combat system wherein players could time attacks and defensive maneuvers to boost or negate damage.
In dungeons, there was some light platforming too. It’s a solid and straightforward RPG that’s another good example of one that doesn’t promote grinding and is well-paced overall. It too received a Switch remake for easy access today.
Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Dracula, I’m In Your Castle
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
- Released
- October 2, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is the Castlevania entry that changed it all, as it was the first to borrow from Super Metroid, thus creating the Metroidvania genre. As Alucard, Dracula’s son, players could explore Dracula’s castle in an ever-evolving labyrinth. Players could get lost, but even the trickier sections never deterred them from the experience, and the game never overstayed its welcome.
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New powers opened up new pathways, and fighting monsters in real time could level up Alucard, along with providing him with different gear to equip. It was a formula Konami would go on to evolve with sequels, even though this initial PS1 game is near perfection already and has stood the test of time as a game so good, it’s hard to put down.
Front Mission 3
Tactical Domination
Front Mission 3
- Released
- September 2, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, MegaPixel Studios
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG, Strategy
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Classic
Front Mission 3 is the first game in the Front Mission series that North America ever got, and it was a PS1 release. Like its predecessors, this was a tactical grid-based RPG wherein players could customize their mechs, Wanzers, for battle.
Missions were linear without deviation, although players could go into VR battles in between to grind for skills. Ultimately, it was a linear game that was challenging, with missions taking anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour, which may seem too lengthy, but time flew by fast.
Parasite Eve
Just Another Night
Parasite Eve
- Released
- September 9, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Action RPG
Parasite Eve is a PS1 blend of survival horror games with a hybrid turn-based active battle system. As a detective in New York City, players would unlock new locations to explore as they investigated paranormal incidents around town.
In battle, players could run around to dodge attacks, and time stopped once players could act. Even though it’s not paced like a movie, players would feel like no time has passed at all as they quickly get through each scenario, all building up to one heck of a climax for a PS1 RPG.
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