Summary
- Old-school RPG design elements are often lost in modern games, but there are plenty of new titles that pay homage to the classics.
- Games like Dread Delusion, Lunacid, and Sea Of Stars offer unique experiences that blend old-school charm with modern gameplay mechanics.
- For fans of traditional RPGs, exploring these newer titles can bring back the magic of older games while still enjoying modern enhancements.
RPGs are a dime a dozen in the realm of video gaming, coming in all manner of forms, from popular JRPGs such as Chrono Trigger to CRPGs like the original Fallout. These games have origins in tabletop RPGs, often featuring character creation and progression that mimics that of games such as Dungeons & Dragons, though the genre has shifted over time. Older RPGs had a lot going for them in spite of their often rough-edged visuals (though many pixel-art RPGs have aged tremendously well in this regard), and due to the genre's infancy, there was plenty of creativity on display.
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Unfortunately, many older schools of design have been lost, forgotten, or discarded over time. AAA and even AA RPGs have shifted their focus toward cinematic, photorealistic experiences that, while certainly impressive, fail to offer the same magic that older RPGs once did. This in of itself isn't necessarily bad, with massive RPGs such as Cyberpunk 2077 offering truly expansive worlds to explore and systems to engage with. However, for fans of older, less straightforward games, there is a variety of modern old-school RPGs available that are certain to impress.
6 Dread Delusion
A First-Person RPG In The Style Of Old-School Elder Scrolls
Dread Delusion
- Released
- June 15, 2022
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Developer
- Lovely Hellplace
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Dread Delusion is a first-person RPG that takes clear influence from older Elder Scrolls titles, such as The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall. Dread Delusion features a vivid color palette and visuals that border on psychedelic, and this allows the game to stand out from other titles of its ilk. The game takes place in a truly intriguing setting packed with memorable locations and quirky characters, and it's this setting that provides the biggest draw of Dread Delusion.
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Outside of its unique visuals and detailed world, Dread Delusion is a relatively standard affair, but fans of old-school RPG gameplay should be right at home with its systems. Combat is arguably Dread Delusion's biggest weakness, so RPG fans looking for an intricately designed, engaging battle system should perhaps look elsewhere.
5 Lunacid
A First-Person RPG That Plays Like Old-School FromSoftware
Lunacid
Taking heaps of inspiration from classic FromSoftware RPGs such as Shadow Tower and King's Field, Lunacid is a first-person RPG with a dense atmosphere and an abundance of charm. Its old-school inspirations run deep, but Lunacid stands on its own two legs with a well-crafted world and rewarding, albeit simple, combat.
Lunacid's gameplay is centered around quiet, thoughtful exploration and methodical, slow-paced combat. The slower pace and back-and-forth nature of its combat encounters won't be for everyone, but Lunacid's wonderfully unique world is a consistent joy to explore for those that have the patience.
4 Sea Of Stars
A Retro-Style JRPG With Beautiful Pixel-Art
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
Featuring a combination of old-school pixel-art and modern dynamic lighting, Sea Of Stars offers a tremendously traditional visual style made modern. This old-school RPG takes inspiration from classic JRPGs such as Chrono Trigger, but it manages to stand on its own as a JRPG with its modern look and feel.
Sea Of Stars features an engaging narrative, beautifully-illustrated pixel-art environments, and turn-based combat that makes use of timed-attacks and combos. All together, Sea Of Stars offers a tremendously old-school but original RPG experience. For fans of old-school JRPGs, Sea Of Stars is certainly worth more than a passing glance.
3 UnderRail
A Fallout-Inspired Isometric RPG Set Underground
- Platform: PC
- Released: September 24, 2013
- Developer: Stygian Software
- Genre: RPG, Strategy
Taking place in a future in which the surface of the Earth is hostile and uninhabitable, players are placed in an underground society and let loose within its environments. UnderRail takes clear inspiration from old-school RPGs such as Fallout, with classic character creation and role-playing mechanics.
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UnderRail is similar to Fallout in more ways than one, however, as it also features an isometric perspective and graphical style that's highly reminiscent of Interplay Entertainment's classic RPG. The game's large, interconnected world is richly detailed and fun to explore, populated with a variety of NPCs and interesting landmarks.
2 Caves Of Qud
An Old-School Rogue-Like RPG With A Unique Setting
Caves Of Qud
This old-school rogue-like RPG manages to be a detailed and complex role-playing game while also remaining true to traditional rogue-likes. Thankfully, Caves Of Qud also features a role-play game mode that allows players to save their game and circumvent permanent death, making it much more accessible.
Despite its old-school influences, however, Caves Of Qud is made unique through its retro-futuristic sci-fi fantasy world, as well as its abundance of content. Caves Of Qud also features a careful blend of procedural generation and hand-crafted content, as well as a massive amount of build variety, allowing for an incredibly replayable experience.
1 Moonring
An Entirely Free And Wholly Unique Tile-Based RPG
Moonring
Developed by a co-creator of the Fable series and featuring incredibly old-school graphics akin to classic rogue-likes, Moonring takes clear inspiration from RPGs of old such as Ultima. The game's old-school visuals may turn some players away, but thoughtful neon color choices and brilliantly-designed RPG systems make Moonring worth a shot even for those who don't enjoy its graphical style.
Moonring's intricate open world is perhaps its greatest strength, but its turn-based combat will likely be gripping for fans of traditional rogue-likes. Moonring is also entirely free, so it's almost certainly worth trying out even for those who remain skeptical.
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