Summary
- Turn-based games, once deemed outdated, make a glorious return in the modern gaming scene.
- Cassette Beasts, Octopath Traveler 2, and Sea of Stars are examples of the genre's resurgence via nostalgia.
- Games like Wrath of the Righteous, Divinity: Original Sin 2, and Baldur's Gate 3 prove the enduring quality of turn-based combat even outside tabletop gams.
Inspired by the pen-and-paper games of the 1980s, such as Dungeons & Dragons, many games in the turn-based roleplaying genre made huge splashes in the 90s and early 2000s. However, the turn-based format was declared too slow, outdated, and irrelevant in the modern gaming scene by the gaming zeitgeist of the 2010s. However, the desire for complex, tactical battles ran deep, and as the 2010s came to a close, the genre saw its glorious return.
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The chaos of real-time combat clearly has an appeal, and after several years of meeting resistance on the issue, several studios pushed back against the idea that gamers saw it as "old hat" and turned their desire to return to making games with precise, thoughtful battles into reality. With the benefit of hindsight, it is now obvious that the turn-based format has a special place in gamers' hearts and, at least for now, is here to stay.
Updated on February 27, 2025, by Mark Smith: After a long absence in obscurity, turn-based RPGs are back in the gaming community's collective consciousness thanks to a slew of modern entries wowing gamers with fresh spins on the idea. The success and popularity of new turn-based RPGs proves that far from being an "outdated concept," the tactical delight of the genre holds a timeless appeal that can be as exhilarating and compelling as any action RPG. From Wildermyth's intuitive, character-development-driven storytelling to the old-school first-person combat stylings of Felvidek, gamers of all stripes are discovering for the first time or anew the joy of taking turns.
14 Wasteland 3 (2020)
A Return To Turn-Based Sophistication And Apocalyptic Barbarism
Wasteland 3
- Released
- August 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Strategy
- Setting: An all-American nuclear winter
- Battle Style: Squad-based, tactical
The game series that ostensibly inspired the mega-popular Fallout series (which eschewed its original combat system for the action-hybrid V.A.T.S system) stuck to its guns with the point-and-turn-based format. Wasteland 3 takes place directly after the events of Wasteland 2, although no prior knowledge of the game is required to enjoy the third entry.
The nitty gritty is that nuclear bombs ended the world 100 years before the events of the game, and the remnants of the American population are, naturally, treating each other poorly. Combat encounters are squad-based, tactical, and terrain-sensitive, and have the player facing off against cults and murderers in the winter wastes.
13 Wildermyth (2021)
Penning A Unique Saga One Hero At A Time
Wildermyth
- Released
- June 15, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Language, Alcohol Reference
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
- Setting: Dungeons & Dragons-style fantasy
- Battle Style: Party-based, tactical
Tabletop roleplaying games were among the earliest inspirations for their computer-driven video game counterparts, and a big reason for this is their storytelling potential. Just as many pen-and-paper campaigns are powered by character arcs just as much as combat, Wildermyth harnesses emergent storytelling to weave intimate-yet-epic narratives over generations.
The simple and intuitive turn-based system allows the player to pick up and play new characters as their cast of heroes gradually expands over a campaign. That said, there is plenty of room for unique customization and build craft, especially later in the game where battles and party management become increasingly more complex.
12 Felvidek (2024)
A Hyper-Stylish Bite Of Concentrated, Turn-Based Enjoyment
Felvidek
- Released
- March 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Setting: Alternate 15th Century Slovakia
- Battle Style: Classic first-person, party-based
The demand for "shorter games with worse graphics made by people who are paid more to work less" is met by the indie RPG gem Felvidek, which puts players in the shoes of a 15th-century knight less-than-soberly navigating a world of intrigue, moral dilemmas, and dark humor, with the whole game taking around five or six hours to complete in its entirety.
The grainy, PlayStation-cum-GameBoy esque graphics and soundtrack lend well to the old-school first-person, turn-based party combat reminiscent of ancient games like Wizardry. Although plenty of reviewers and gamers measure a game's quality in part by its length, Felvidek packs more soul and quality into its short play time than an RPG of the same stripe with a runtime that overstays its welcome.
11 Metaphor: ReFantazio
On The Cutting Edge Of Snappy Tactical Action
Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Setting: High fantasy
- Battle Style: A blend of action and traditional, party and turn-based
Atlus has always been stalwart about the turn-based format taking center stage, and the studio has enjoyed great success through series like Persona and Shin Megami Tensei. Metaphor: ReFantazio continues in this tradition albeit in a completely fantastical world filled with chivalry and political sleights of hand. Many Atlus staples such as time-sensitive calendar events, party bonding, and dungeon crawling make a return.
The player is able to freeroam and fight enemies with snappy attacks, but turn-based battles are initiated when the player calls upon their squad to fight dangerous foes that they could not handle alone, allowing for deeply tactical and thoughtful combat gameplay. Enemies stunned by an attack in freeroam give players an advantage. Turn-based fights are painted with the same UI flare as those seen in Persona, making fights as stylish as they are visceral.
10 Cassette Beasts (2023)
A Retro Record 'Em All From A Studio That Knows Its Audience
Cassette Beasts
- Released
- April 26, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Bytten Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Setting: Pseudo-modern/Futuristic (think Pokemon)
- Battle Style: Static menu based
If three things make any late 80s / early 90s kid's nostalgia list, it's collecting fighting monsters (ala Pokemon), cassette tapes, and turn-based games. Cassette Beasts is a fusion of all three, and being able to fuse the titular beasts and use them to fight in a turn-based battle is also the game's main gameplay loop. Cassette Beasts has a slightly more ethical take on the 'mon collect-a-thon model, as the player doesn't actually snatch the beasts from the wild but instead copies their forms and powers.
When entering battle, the player and their companion shapeshift (or fuse) into the beasts they have recorded. Similar to Pokemon, each "beast" has a limited number of movesets (represented by stickers), and each side takes turns making their moves, using debuffs and elemental combos to try to gain the upper hand. If Pokemon feels a little too childish or repetitive, Cassette Beasts puts an interesting, more mature spin on the concept and, appropriately for a game with "cassette" in the title, comes with a killer soundtrack.
9 South Park: The Fractured But Whole (2017)
A Hilarious Lampooning Of The Genre And A Solid Addition To It
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
- Released
- October 17, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft San Francisco
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Setting: South Park, Colorado
- Battle Style: Grid movement turn-based
Although South Park: The Fractured But Whole serves as a sequel to Obsidian's equally excellent Stick of Truth, it can be played completely independently. But Whole is an irreverent parody of RPGs and superheroes and manages to perfectly translate the satirical and crude comedy of the show to the interactive medium.
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Despite the classically South Park visuals and story, But Whole has a decent amount of combat depth and exploration potential, but not so much that it slows the overall flow. Fans of the show (or those who enjoy visceral cartoon violence and irreverent, spicy and offensive humor) will find a home in South Park's Fractured But Whole, so long as they can stand the gratuitous flatulence.
8 Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (2021)
Another Faithful Tabletop RPG Adaptation From Owlcat
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
- Released
- September 2, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Owlcat Games
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Setting: High Fantasy
- Battle Style: Map-based movement (standard/move/free action split, turn economy)
Unlike many computer-driven roleplaying games, even some of the best tabletop RPGs are known for their complexity. While some titles handle the crunch and sand down build intricacy for the sake of smoother play, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is one of the truest-to-form adaptations of a pen-and-paper system and, as such, can require a lot of reading and new-player-guide parsing to enjoy.
However, those already familiar with tabletop conventions or those who enjoy deep, complex systems will get a lot out of Wrath of the Righteous, from its intricate character creation and progression to the scope and quality of its story.
7 Octopath Traveler 2 (2023)
An Old-School Party-Based RPG On Par With The Nostalgic Memories Of Its Inspiration
Octopath Traveler 2
- Setting: High Fantasy
- Battle Style: Static menu based
This game is the story of eight travelers, each with their own path. Not only does Octopath Traveler 2 continue to bring back the turn-based games now abandoned by many RPG series, such as Final Fantasy, but it also brings back the simpler, 2D style, albeit with a modern airbrush of depth of field effects, GC-infused high-definition pixels. There are several new features and upgrades this time, from character-specific latent powers to delightful new methods of transportation across the lush landscapes.
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Like some of the games of its inspiration, Octopath Traveler 2 is the second in an anthology series, meaning players unfamiliar with the series can jump right into a new world with a new cast of characters (although the original Octopath is just as worthy of playing). However, the original game's highly-celebrated Boost and Break mechanics return, as do the intimate storytelling and the wonderful retro vistas.
6 Sea of Stars (2023)
A Bright, Innovative Return To Form For Japanese-Style Roleplaying Adventures
Sea of Stars
- Released
- August 29, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Sabotage
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Setting: High Fantasy
- Battle Style: Free movement, tactical
This bright-eyed, beautiful RPG pays homage to classics and, like one of its main inspirations, Chrono Trigger, has turn-based combat taking place in the overworld. Sea of Stars' battle system involves learning how to use timed power attacks and blocks at the appropriate moment, which sprinkles in an element of interactivity that keeps battles dynamic and engaging without being overly taxing on the player's brain power after too many hours of play and monster-bashing.
Sea of Stars' vibrant pixel art style and fluid integration of exploration and combat create an experience that feels fresh yet faithful to the classics (but without feeling overly derivative). While there are secrets to discover and a world to roam (with a spectacular, old-school overworld made with an exuberant love for the pixelated overworlds of yore), the journey is somewhat linear in the classic JRPG fashion, and while the characters feel perfectly tuned with their relatively limited movesets, they may feel confining in combat to some players.
5 Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age (2019)
The Latest And Greatest In A Series With A Decade-Spanning Legacy
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
- Setting: High Fantasy
- Battle Style: Static menu or free movement-based
Players who both appreciate turn-based RPGs for their chill and cozy atmosphere and have never before played a Dragon Ques t game are in for a serious treat. Besides a few themes and familiar monster designs, the long-running Dragon Quest series is an anthology (apart from the first three games, which were connected). Dragon Quest 11 is a standalone story that is perfect for the uninitiated.
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While the mainline, numbered series remained true to turn-based fans for all this time, DQ11 S also caters to players of different types. For example, there is an option for speeding up play for players with less patience for the attack-and-wait format. For returning players of the series, there are a plethora of references, including an entire recreation of the game in pixel form, which can be switched to and from by speaking to the priest in each town.