Some RPG stories play out like a detailed novel, but some of them test your patience to the point that they make you wish they’d been printed on pages instead of being coded onto a game disc. Whether it’s clunky combat, repetitive encounters, or mechanics that just don’t quite match the ambition of the plot, these games make you push through every encounter just to see what happens next.
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These games prove that a gripping narrative can keep players hooked even when the gameplay stumbles. Here are eight RPGs where the story shines brighter than the swordplay.
8 Xenogears
Gears May Stall, But the Story Keeps Running
Xenogears
- Released
- October 20, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS1, PlayStation 3
With a narrative that blends philosophy, religion, and psychology into an ambitious, multi-layered plot; Xenogears features gameplay that alternates between traditional turn-based combat and giant mech battles. Except, animations are repetitive, the pacing of the combat is glacial, and piloting a mech is more about piloting menu-screens.
Add to that random encounters that are painfully frequent to the point of being downright intrusive, especially in some of the longer dungeons. Leaning further into its narrative-first philosophy, Xenogears’ final act is notorious for cutting gameplay almost entirely in favor of heavy exposition. Even so, the game gives players a perfectly bittersweet blend of frustrating pacing but a rewarding philosophical conclusion.
7 Suikoden 2
A Political Masterpiece Trapped in Random Encounters
Suikoden II
- Released
- September 29, 1999
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
A political epic about loyalty, betrayal, and war, all accompanied by deeply personal character arcs. Sounds like the perfect recipe, but Suikoden 2 slightly sours the taste with its overly simplistic turn-based gameplay, with limited moves per character. It’s not all a lost cause, though, as some of the major set-piece combat encounters still carry some level of excitement.
With 108 different characters, called “Stars of Destiny” to recruit and build a relationship with, the narrative satisfaction of such a feat is bogged down by the repetitive mechanics. Random encounters disrupt the pacing of exploration, and grinding is often unavoidable. Despite all that, Suikoden 2’s emotional storytelling is gripping enough to make players forget the repetitive gameplay loop.
6 The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
World-Building Worth Every Slow Step
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
- Released
- June 24, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Animated Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Nihon Falcom
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PS Vita
Celebrated for its political intrigue, subtle character growth, and massive interconnected lore, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky features turn-based combat with grid-based movement and a customizable “Quartz” magic system. The battles are tactical, true, but they have slow pacing and lengthy animations, which taints the experience somewhat.
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The dungeon design also feels padded, with filler battles aplenty to stretch progression. The dialogue-heavy exposition dumps make the game feel more like a visual novel at times. Even so, story and character payoffs are enough to keep you invested through the long gameplay stretches.
5 Final Fantasy 13
When Lightning Strikes, But The Path Is Still a Hallway
Final Fantasy 13
- Released
- March 9, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
High production values, a cinematic story exploring themes of fate, sacrifice, and rebellion. Players expected all that to be paired with the masterful turn-based gameplay which Final Fantasy is so well known for, and therefore, back in 2009, FF13’s announcement set the JRPG world on fire with a bang. But what was released was more of a Paradigm Shift-flavored whimper.
The combat system encourages switching roles in the middle of combat, but early chapters are so overly automated that you never have the opportunity to be eased into it. It also makes the bizarre decision of foregoing exploration almost entirely, being extremely linear for the majority of its runtime. Though the long battle animations and rigid combat flow make encounters feel scripted, the cinematics, emotional beats, and character arcs are enough reason to see the journey through.
4 The Witcher
Dialogue Choices That Outshine Sword Swings
The Witcher
- Released
- October 30, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC
It might seem like sacrilege to criticize a Witcher game after the immense success of the third game. But players who were there for the series’ humble beginnings might recall how this mature fantasy tale, with its morally complex choices and branching storylines, was inundated with stiff and repetitive-feeling combat.
Battles required timed click sequences and prepping with potions and alchemy, but what didn’t help was the dumb-as-bricks enemy AI, making fights more about endurance than a test of skill. Inventory and crafting systems were also cumbersome and unintuitive. However, the legacy it left behind, with its rich world-building, gritty tone, and consequences in dialogue, make The Witcher’s awkward combat forgivable.
3 Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Rumors Are More Fun Than the Random Battles
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
- Released
- June 24, 1999
- ESRB
- Teen // Drug Reference, Language, Mild Blood, Sexual Themes, Simulated Gambling, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PlayStation Portable
Often overlooked in favor of later entries, Persona 2: Innocent Sin carries a dark, psychological narrative about rumors becoming reality, with heavy themes and plenty of hilariously accurate social commentary. The turn-based combat includes a demon negotiation mechanic and fusion, but carries a steep learning curve.
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What throws a wrench in the works is the random encounters, which are frequent, and the sluggish flow of battles. Paired with dungeon layouts that feel repetitive and tedious compared to the fascinating multilayered labyrinths of later games, navigating the game’s mazes isn’t the most fun experience. Despite all that, the story and unique rumor mechanic still make it a cult favorite in the eyes of hardcore persona fans despite its mechanical fatigue.
2 Lost Odyssey
A Thousand Years of Dreams, Ten Thousand Years of Menus
Lost Odyssey
- Released
- February 12, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Mistwalker, Feelplus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360
This Xbox 360 classic from 2008 features an emotional, character-driven story about immortals and the fragility of humans. It’s a classic affair of traditional turn-based combat with a timing-based “ring” system for attacks. But the pace of combat is slow, with repetitive animations and lengthy skill management.
Dungeon exploration is often padded with an absurd number of encounters. The game seemed like a social experiment at times, with narrative vignettes such as “A Thousand Years of Dreams”, an emotional rollercoaster series of over thirty stories detailing the main character's life as an Immortal available to read within the game itself, it overshadows the lackluster gameplay entirely.
1 Drakengard 3
A Wild Ride Where the Cutscenes Are The Real Boss Fights
Drakengard 3
- Released
- December 19, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- 12+
- Developer(s)
- Access Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Fighting, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3
In classic Yoko Taro fashion, Drakengard 3 features an absurd, dark, and surreal narrative as well as multiple endings that reframe the story entirely. The gameplay is a mix of hack-and-slash ground combat mixed with dragon-riding aerial battles. Clunky hit detection and camera issues made the already repetitive combat feel like even more of a struggle.
Limited enemy variety makes every battle blur together. The ground-based combat, though clunky and repetitive, is still passable. What’s more of a pain is the aerial dragon battles, with their bafflingly obtuse controls and poor AI. Drakengard 3 is truly a test to see if players can endure awkward, repetitive gameplay to uncover one of the most unpredictable and bizarre RPG stories ever.
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