Summary
- Great characters are crucial for RPG success.
- Some RPGs prioritize ensemble casts over a central character.
- Games like Octopath Traveler showcase the power of ensemble storytelling.
More than any other aspect, great characters make a brilliant RPG sing. In fact, some RPGs decide to focus on characters over all else, creating some incredible ensemble RPGs where the focus is less on one central character than it is on a diverse party of memorable contributors.
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Whether its RPGs split into individual sections for each character or stories where the player protagonist takes a backseat to the squad as a whole, there are loads of great ensemble RPGs. This list is ranked both by how well the game uses the ensemble cast as well as how great the game is, overall.
1 Octopath Traveler
The Adventure Begins
Octopath Traveler
- Released
- July 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The mid to late 2010s was a dark time for fans of classic JRPGs. Increasingly, JRPG were chasing more mainstream trends and leaving behind the hardcore fans that wanted it to return to its 90s roots, and few big-budget RPGs were accommodating. That was, until Octopath Traveler.
Releasing in 2018 as a love letter to the classic era of JPRGs, Octopath Traveler follows the eight individual members of the party and their individual stories, prioritizing the ensemble and classic JRPG storytelling over all else. In fact, players can choose to start with any character they like (though Cyrus is probably best). While it has its problems, Octopath Traveler is well worth a playthrough to experience its diverse storytelling.
2 SaGa Frontier
Saga Breaks Through
SaGa Frontier
- Released
- March 24, 1998
- ESRB
- Teen // Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square, Sony Computer Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original)
It's hard to nail down one particular era for the golden age of JRPGs, but the late 1990s may well be the best claimant. Square Enix was on an absolute roll during this period, releasing countless classic JRPGs that remain adored to this day, including the indomitable Final Fantasy 7.
It's a shame, then, that SaGa Frontier often gets overlooked during this period. The game had an innovative "Free Scenario System" where players could take control of any member of the ensemble party throughout, going anywhere, and following individual storylines. It was an incredible amount of freedom for the time and remains one of the best ensemble RPGs ever made.
3 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Straight From The Source
Divinity: Original Sin 2
- Released
- September 14, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
In the modern day, CRPGs have experienced something of a resurgence following the incredible popularity of Baldur's Gate 3, but Larian were plugging away at CRPG greatness long before their breakout success, including the quite popular and often overlooked Divinity: Original Sin 2.
Although players can create their own custom characters, the whole point of the game is building up a ragtag group of adventurers whom the player can play as whenever they like, with unique dialogue choices for each. In fact, players can choose these pre-made characters from the beginning, as each one is equally baked into the game's overall narrative. Freedom is the name of the game, and the ensemble party is what makes the unique worldbuilding sing.
4 Wild Arms 2
Six-Shooters
Wild Arms 2
- Released
- April 30, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
In the late 1990s, RPGs were a bit oversaturated, even in worldwide markets, so developers were continually trying to find new ways to stand out from the competition. For the Wild Arms series, that usually involved a mix of Western, steampunk, and sci-fi elements into the worlds that made it stand apart from more generic fantasy fare.
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However, what made Wild Arms 2 special was its focus on an ensemble cast. There's not really one sole protagonist, but six, each of whom has equal say in the party and mostly equitable story importance. It's all about building a team as opposed to supporting one hero, and it shows the power of a cohesive ensemble cast.
5 Suikoden 2
The Star Party
Suikoden II
- Released
- September 29, 1999
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
Of the many casualties of the late 1990s JRPG wars, where getting attention was everything, Suikoden 2 remains an underplayed classic. Quite possibly the best entry in the franchise got pushed out by Square Enix products, yet every year, modern gamers discover this stone-cold classic.
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Though the player controls a central silent protagonist, the game is really about the 108 Stars of Destiny, a diverse cast of weird and wonderful characters who vary in importance and prominence but come to define the player's party and enemies. It's a unique, ambitious mechanic for the time that remains wildly underappreciated for just how ambitious it was.
6 Persona 5 Royal
Steal Your Heart
Persona 5 Royal
- Released
- March 31, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Atlus, P-Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Determining the most popular JRPG of all time is a tricky task, but Persona 5 has a strong claim to the throne. The latest entry in the mainline Persona series oozes with style from top to bottom and has just enough JRPG credentials to retain the hardcore old fans while also having enough accessibility to court a whole new crop of newbies.
While the visuals are the flashiest part of Persona 5, the ensemble cast and character writing is where the game shines. Each member of the Phantom Thieves is drawn out in rich detail, making them genuinely unforgettable and one of the most compelling groups of friends ever put to pixels.
7 Baldur’s Gate 3
Infected Together
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Baldur's Gate 3 is a stunning achievement. Not only did it beat the odds of popularity by being a long-awaited sequel to a CRPG left dormant for over two decades, but it delivered one of the very best translations of D&D tabletop mechanics to the digital world, ever. It's hard to imagine D&D 5e system's translation here ever being topped.
While the player character certainly has sway, what makes the game special is the attention and emphasis on strong player companions. Each companion feels realistic, with wants, needs, dreams and desires, and extensive backstories to explore. They're the beating heart of the game, and it would be nothing without the ensemble cast.
8 Octopath Traveler 2
Old-School RPG Perfection
Octopath Traveler 2
- Released
- February 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Acquire
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The original Octopath Traveler was an enthusiastic love letter to the classic JRPG era, but some still doubted its structure and gameplay credentials, considering it more a gimmick than a fully-fleshed-out game. Luckily, the team at Square Enix gave it another shot and delivered an incredible sequel that is better in almost every single way.
Not only is the game's combat system refined, it's graphical fidelity upgraded, and structure overhauled to be more beginner-friendly, but a renewed focus on ensemble dynamics and the core cast of characters makes it the Platonic ideal of this eight-fold formula. It's the ultimate ensemble RPG.
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