Summary
- RPGs boast a variety of classes which drastically impact gameplay, with games like World of Warcraft featuring 13 classes and various specializations.
- Games like Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous and Final Fantasy 5 offer a diverse range of classes, catering to players' varied playstyle preferences.
- MapleStory and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn stand out for offering a vast array of classes within different class banners, appealing to a wide range of players.
Role-playing games have long been a staple of gaming, from titles created decades ago, to modern developments that continue to push the genre forward. As these games are often filled with content and long hours of gameplay, a core feature of RPGs is classes. Players can decide between different playstyles to play through the game. These can have drastic effects on how the game is played, and can be a careful consideration depending on the game.
With RPGs being such a storied genre, there have been numerous games that feature classes. Some have many base classes, others focus on the abundance of subclasses and further investment in a class, and others have different ranges of classes to play. Several games feature a huge range and variety of classes, making for vast replayability.
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9 World Of Warcraft
Various Classes With Several Specializations
World of Warcraft
- Released
- November 23, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
World of Warcraft is a behemoth of a game, known even by those who don't play video games. As an MMORPG, a core tenet of the gameplay is the class system, with 13 different classes to pick from. These can change somewhat depending on the expansion.
However, the base classes further diverge into their own unique specializations, such as the Frost spec for Death Knights, the Restoration spec for Shamans, or the Protection spec for Warriors/Paladins. Some share the same name, but are mostly specific to their own class. Most classes usually have at least three specs, but some — like the Demon Hunter and Druid — don't follow this, adding to the variety within the base classes. WoW also adds new classes occasionally, but it isn't as common compared to some other MMOs.
8 Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous
Many Different Types Of Classes
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
- Released
- September 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Owlcat Games
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Pathfinder: Kingmaker was the predecessor to Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. The first game had a large number of classes to choose from as well, but Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous comes with an increased number of 26 classes.
However, it goes beyond that, as those are only the basic classes. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous also possesses prestige classes, of which there are 13, making for a game that should satisfy any players who want to try out a huge number of playstyles.
7 EverQuest 2
More Classes Than The First Game
EverQuest II
- Released
- November 8, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
To improve on a first game, introducing more classes than what was previously playable is something to aim for. EverQuest 2 engages in this. The second game increased the number of classes from 16 in the first game, to 26.
Some of these are the traditional MMO classes, with roles such as dealing damage, tanking, or healing. Some of these roles include Assassin, Inquisitor, and Guardian. However, there are additional classes for crafting, such as a Tailor, Alchemist, and Carpenter. The former choice of classes is labeled Adventurers, whereas the crafting classes are labeled Crafters.
6 Final Fantasy 5
A Huge Number Of Jobs
Final Fantasy 5
- Released
- December 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
As an incredibly successful video game franchise, Final Fantasy has created a vast array of classes across the many games in the series. Except, they aren't called classes in the series, but rather jobs, with Final Fantasy 5 having 26 jobs overall.
Some well-known Final Fantasy jobs appear in the game, such as Black Mage and Dragoon. Other, more uncommon jobs also exist in the game, such as Mime. Furthermore, there are jobs exclusive to the platform players play Final Fantasy 5 on, such as Necromancer and Cannoneer.
5 Final Fantasy 14
Ever-Increasing Jobs
Final Fantasy 14
- Released
- August 27, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PC, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
As an MMO, Final Fantasy 14 has added new jobs to its repertoire throughout its lifetime. Originally starting with fewer classes (or jobs, as they are called in the franchise), this number has since been expanded to 21 jobs.
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The different jobs pertain to the different roles players play within the game. Some, such as Dark Knight, are tanks; some, such as Astrologian, are healers; others, such as Viper, deal damage. The damage dealers also vary themselves, as they can be a melee DPS, a ranged DPS, or a magical DPS. When counting the Disciples of the Land and Hand jobs, as well as the limited job Blue Mage, the number further increases to 33 jobs, making for a well-rounded number of jobs that only grow with each expansion.
4 Final Fantasy Tactics
The Most Jobs In Any Final Fantasy Game
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
- Released
- May 10, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Tose
- Genre(s)
- Tactical
As is made obvious by the franchise's prevalence on this list, Final Fantasy has included a vast number of jobs throughout the series. Final Fantasy Tactics shows some of these jobs, as it is the Final Fantasy game with the most jobs.
Involving 33 jobs, they range from Time Mage, to Soldier, to Geomancer, to Dark Knight. There are generic jobs, with additional special jobs. Special jobs are unlocked after completing prerequisites.
3 Grim Dawn
A Focus On Multiclassing
Grim Dawn
- Released
- February 25, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Games that allow players to choose from different classes usually let players further progress their class via subclasses. Sometimes RPGs will even let players journey into multiclassing by taking on aspects of numerous classes.
Grim Dawn has a focus on multiclassing. There are only 10 classes (or Masteries, as they're known in Grim Dawn), yet this increases to 45 when combining different masteries. Dual Classes offer a huge amount of selection for players beyond the usual single classes of other games.
2 MapleStory
Various Classes Under Five Class Banners
MapleStory
- Released
- April 29, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
While not as huge in the west, MapleStory is a massively played game, especially in Asia. As an MMORPG, there are numerous classes in the game, which belong to different class archetypes.
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Hero falls under Warrior, Bowmaster falls under Bowman, Corsair falls under Pirate, and so on. To be even more specific, some classes further fall under the overall branch they belong to, such as an Explorer, a Cygnus Knight, or Flora. Overall, there are 50 classes to play, making for a lot of selection.
1 Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
A Massive Number Of Classes
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
- Released
- November 5, 2007
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
The Fire Emblem series is another franchise that has been around for decades now. Throughout the time it has existed, there have been numerous classes to grace the games, and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn features a ridiculous number of classes.
There are over 80 classes available, each of which uses different weapons. Some of the classes can be promoted to other classes, which helps boost the number of classes up to 80.
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