There are some games and genres out there where precision is everything. For example, in a shooter like Call of Duty, it’s important to aim for the head, as that will usually kill an opponent instantly. In stealth games like Metal Gear Solid, going behind an enemy to choke them out or break their neck is also a quick and easy way to eliminate trouble.
10 New Action RPGs That Surpassed The Genre’s Longtime Kings
The next generation of action RPGs is setting new standards, from the spiritual successor to Elder Scrolls to the bold new direction of Final Fantasy.
When it comes to precision-based gaming, not many people tend to think of RPGs. Most of the time, players are encouraged to rank up their stats in RPGs to create the ultimate build, whether that is a melee-focused warrior or a magically gifted wizard. That said, in some RPGs, it’s not all about the stats: precise timing, movement, and skills are what make all the difference.
Bloodborne
It's All About Counters
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
From Demon’s Souls to Dark Souls, FromSoftware designed their Soulslike games to be more about defense than offense, but this changed in Bloodborne. Thanks to the counter system, combat is now more active as players are encouraged to attack rather than sit still with a shield.
By learning an enemy’s moves, players can one-shot a lot of the early-game enemies, and every execution performed perfectly will be more satisfying than the last. Even bosses can be countered, although the risk is much higher should a player miss their shot.
Nioh
Know Your Stance
Nioh
- Released
- February 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Nioh is another Soulslike game, although this one features samurai, and was developed by Team Ninja, known most for the brutal action in the Ninja Gaiden games. In combat, stances are crucial, and they can be used effectively to overpower an enemy with normal attacks or countermeasures.
It’s kind of like playing rock, paper, scissors, but guessing which combat stance enemies are weak to is always a gamble. Experimentation is key, along with studying patterns, and if that isn’t enough, perhaps switching weapons can exploit weaknesses with a well-timed strike.
Horizon Forbidden West
Breaking Down Mechanized Animals
Horizon Forbidden West
- Released
- February 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
Horizon Forbidden West and its predecessor use bow-based combat well. With a well-charged shot, players can be more precise with an arrow than if they were using a gun in an FPS. Every creature in the game has a weakness — sometimes they're covered by armor,other times they have poison sacs on their underside — but exposing and attacking these points is an effective strategy.
There are also enemies armed with weaponry that players can shoot off and then grab and use as a temporary weapon, like a big Gatling Gun. Beyond the bow, there are other gadgets players can use, like a bomb slingshot that freezes enemies, thus making them more vulnerable.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Mastering Your Weapons
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
The gameplay loop in Monster Hunter Wilds, and the other Monster Hunter games, will have players replaying hunts to salvage monster parts, which they can then use to make new weapons and armor. Sometimes stat increases will be significant, but more often than not, these boosts will be minor and instead offer bonuses to elemental damage or specific weapon types.
Great Tactical RPGs With Simple But Satisfying Mechanics
Like a good game of chess, these tactical RPGs are hard to leave alone.
That’s because it’s more important to strike enemy weak points than it is to have the very best gear at all times. There’s a new mechanic in the game where weapons, especially the bow, can zero in on enemy weak points, which can also be used to gather more materials. Once hit, enemies will become temporarily disabled and open themselves up for further damage.
Front Mission 4
Mech Destroyer
Front Mission 4
- Released
- June 15, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
Front Mission 4, and the rest of the mainline Front Mission games, are tactical RPGs that involve moving mechs, called Wanzers, around grid-based maps. Players can customize their Wanzers before battle with different body parts and weapons, from ranged gear to melee armaments.
When attacking an enemy, the Wanzer's computer will randomly hit the body, legs, or either of their arms, and if the HP of these parts reaches zero, then they will become unusable. There are skills players can learn to help them aim at specific areas more often. Taking out the weaponized arm of a Wanzer will disable their attacking capabilities, or taking out their legs will decrease movement, which nicely blends the player's choice of skills with how their Wanzer plays in combat.
Vagrant Story
Mazes And Monsters
Vagrant Story
- Released
- May 15, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Vagrant Story is technically part of Ivalice, which is tied to Final Fantasy, but it’s also a one-off dungeon crawler with a hybrid battle system that combines elements of turn-based and action combat. When players encounter an enemy, a battle will begin, and players are free to roam around the arena to dodge attacks.
When players can attack, targeting an enemy will freeze time, and most small enemies just have one area of their body that is open to attack. However, on bigger enemies, players can target different areas like the torso or legs, similar to Front Mission 4.
Valkyria Chronicles
The Heat Of Battle
Valkyria Chronicles
- Released
- October 31, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
Valkyria Chronicles uses an advanced tactical RPG system where units are free to run wherever they want on their turn as long as they have enough points in their meter. During the movement period, enemies can freely attack in real-time.
When players wish to attack themselves, time will freeze. They can then aim their weapons at specific enemy parts, and headshots are a clean way to do more damage at the risk of less accuracy. Enemy tanks have weak points, too, like their engine, which can be targeted for more damage.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Two Brothers, One Goal
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- Released
- November 17, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga gives players control of Mario and Luigi, who both move with the D-Pad, but the A and B buttons control their jumps in the game world. In combat, players just have to worry about using A and B to attack, counter, or defend, while the D-Pad will select their attacks.
8 RPGs That Are Practically MMOs in Disguise
These games may not officially be MMOs, but fans of the genre may find something familiar in them.
While leveling up to hit harder or to perform stronger specials can be useful, this is an RPG system that favors counters, like most Mario-based RPGs. Learning enemy attack patterns to know when to counter, like hopping on a swooping Goomba, is way more valuable than having the best weapons or highest levels.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Behold, The Judge
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
- Released
- September 27, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nautilus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a turn-based RPG where each character has an attack associated with their Judgment Ring. When trying to execute attacks, players will have to strike limited areas to boost the effect of attacks in a spinning wheel formation.
Like trying to stop on the dot when filling up a gas tank, it can be tricky to time attacks perfectly to execute critical strikes. This small touch in Shadow Hearts: Covenant makes combat more engaging than most turn-based systems, along with the alternate history angle of the World War 1-inspired story.
Resonance Of Fate
Channeling Action Movies
Resonance Of Fate
- Released
- January 28, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Tri-Ace
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Fantasy, Narrative
Resonance of Fate might have one of the coolest and hardest battle systems to learn in an RPG. Throughout the campaign, players can control just three mercenaries named Zephyr, Vashyron, and Leanne, each with their own skills.
In battle, players can target an enemy with their guns, which will create a lined trajectory. The goal is to make sure characters don’t get tangled up in each other’s line of fire, because if they do, the strike will be canceled. It’s better to play it safely so that players can hit their enemies rather than trying to be fancy at the risk of failure, but practice makes perfect.
The 10 Greatest RPG Couples Of All Time, Ranked
The following famous RPG couples definitely have #CoupleGoals and have earned their spot in the romantic hall of fame.