10 Turn-Based RPGs That Changed Video Games Forever

Although turn-based RPGs are far from the most popular genre in gaming, modern entries like the critically acclaimed release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have proven that the genre still has plenty to offer for a wide variety of audiences. While modern releases have been introducing new fans to the genre for the first time in recent years, there are numerous classics that not only innovated in their own genre but also affected the wider world of gaming as a whole.

Whether they stood out due to technological innovations, creative gameplay mechanics, subverting the medium, or simply setting a new bar for gaming as a whole, these turn-based RPGs have all had a massive influence over the years, and they certainly deserve recognition for their contributions to the gaming industry.

Baldur's Gate 3 Set A New Standard For Triple-A Games

Although it's a little too early to measure the exact impact of Baldur's Gate 3, given that it only released a few years ago in 2023, Larian's critically acclaimed CRPG sent shockwaves through the entire industry on release. Offering an incredibly well-polished game with well over 100 hours of gameplay if you choose to engage with its side content and limitless replayability with various classes and different decisions to be made, it's not hard to see why.

With numerous studios and developers coming out of the woodwork to slam Baldur's Gate 3 for setting 'unrealistic expectations' for the gaming industry, fans were championing the game as a perfect example of what every triple-A game should strive towards. Although this has set an extremely high bar for future sequels in the Baldur's Gate series, the legendary RPG will likely be remembered for decades, while also having introduced countless players to both the turn-based RPG and tabletop genres.

Octopath Traveler Revived Classic Pixel Games

Octopath Traveler isn't a massive game that redefined the genre, but the lengthy turn-based RPG still offered several innovative gameplay aspects that have not only spread their way across the industry, but also managed to offer a second life for countless classic pixel games.

Pioneering the stylized 2D-HD art style, Octopath Traveler sparked a major influx of retro games making a comeback thanks to the unique aesthetic. It's also inspired new developers to try their hand at the style as a foundation, which has recently been incorporated into RPGMaker. Even putting its visuals aside, Octopath Traveler incorporated unique combat mechanics and character-based storytelling that offered a unique spin on the genre, which has gone on to influence even more titles since its release.

Dragon Quest 3 Revolutionized Class-Based RPG Systems

While the original Dragon Quest comes close behind, as it helped to solidify the standard RPG formula and offered innovative leveling mechanics, Dragon Quest 3 has the most lasting impact today. The third entry popularized the highly customizable job system that is used in a wide variety of games, as turn-based strategy games, MMOs, standard RPGs, and even FPS titles have even incorporated the concept over the years.

Encouraging unique builds that add a significant amount of depth to character progression, Dragon Quest 3 set a new standard for the gameplay depth we expect from games in the genre, while expanding upon the non-linear world exploration of its predecessors that would act as the benchmark of player freedom for countless titles that came after.

Although Persona 5 introduced the concept to far more players, the original Persona 3 was the one that first fundamentally reimagined the structure of turn-based RPGs. Mixing the standard dungeon exploration with an everyday social simulator, Persona's unique cast, social links, and balancing a limited time window between each day made for an incredibly addictive gameplay formula.

With the concept being popularized by the Persona series, turn-based RPGs everywhere started incorporating a mix of the typical RPG content with life simulation elements from friendships to romance. This eventually carried over into the greater gaming world as a whole through an impactful mix of character stories and gameplay mechanics that pair excellently when done right.

EarthBound Proved You Don't Need Fantasy Staples

While some would argue the original Mother is more impactful, the second game in the series, Earthbound, has been widely considered the best the franchise has to offer and the blueprint for many games to follow. Rather than the large-scale fantasy RPG that was all too common for the time, EarthBound's modern setting and lighthearted humor were revolutionary on release, and proved that games didn't need to stick to the same generic settings to succeed.

Highlighting the unique personality of its cast and incredibly unconventional world, the pure style and emotional storytelling of EarthBound is still incredibly unique to this day, more than succeeding with its unorthodox formula. Earthbound has been directly cited as an inspiration for acclaimed games like Undertale, Omori, LISA, and more, proving that its legacy, and that of the Mother series as a whole, won't be going away anytime soon.

Chrono Trigger Is Both A Pillar Of Gaming & An A+ Experience

While Chrono Trigger is far from an underrated title, as it's often brought up as one of the best turn-based games of all time, it's just as influential today as it is fun to revisit. From seamless battle transitions between exploration and combat to multiple endings that encourage replayability, several of Chrono Trigger's best features have become incredibly commonplace even outside the turn-based RPG genre.

On top of the numerous endings, Chrono Trigger also helped innovate the concept of a new game plus in the gaming world, allowing you to get even more out of the experience and rewarding players for going back to finish off any content they might have missed. While not all of Chrono Trigger's unique mechanics have been copied or even incorporated successfully, it remains one of the hallmarks of the genre for a well-deserved reason, with its mature storytelling also being nothing to scoff at.

Undertale Broke Gaming Conventions In The Best Way Possible

Although Undertale is a much more recent turn-based RPG, the indie title achieved such an overwhelming presence in the gaming scene that it's impossible not to talk about. Flipping conventional RPG mechanics on its head despite the simple presentation, Undertale plays far differently than a typical game in the genre through its various routes.

Offering plenty of meaningful choices and making you question how you play other RPGs through its fourth-wall-breaking gameplay premise, Undertale is hands down one of the most creative and influential indie games ever made, going on to inspire countless smaller projects and fan works over the years.

Final Fantasy 7 Pushed The Limits For Narrative-Driven Games

While Final Fantasy as a whole has pushed the boundaries of turn-based RPGs several times over the years, it's the release of Final Fantasy 7 that really solidified the franchise as a genre-defining experience. With its incredibly ambitious gameplay mechanics, detailed environments, and a legendary cast of iconic characters, Final Fantasy 7 proved that video games could deliver cinematic storytelling on par with other mediums.

Pushing the envelope for not just what gaming storytelling could provide but also the potential of the CD-ROM hardware of the time, FF7 laid the foundations for countless games to add more elaborate gameplay mechanics, pre-rendered cinematics, and narrative-driven campaigns. This isn't even to mention the countless references and crossovers FF7 has had over the years either, with a new remake that continues its predecessor's ambitious direction.

Rogue Is So Iconic It Inspired Several Gaming Genres

While the name has far outlived the actual game itself, the original release of Rogue from 1980 is hands down one of the most important games ever made. Its genre-defining capacity outlived the later concepts of "DOOM clones" and other genres, with roguelikes and roguelites being more popular than ever today. Combining turn-based movement, dungeon crawling, and procedurally generated maps to make each playthrough unique and inspire replayability, Rogue's gameplay loop has been replicated countless times over the years.

With the main form of progression being your knowledge, games like Rogue offer an incredibly satisfying gameplay experience. To this day, many of the best-selling indie games of all time, like Balatro and addictive Ball x Pit, owe their success to the groundbreaking gameplay loop introduced by Rogue. It's started to spread its way into all forms of the gaming genre as more triple-A titles adapt the infinite content loop into their experience for more replayability.

Pokémon Red & Blue Defined A New Generation Of Gaming

It isn't a stretch to say that the Pokémon games are one of the most influential series ever made, going on to create a multi-billion-dollar franchise with countless sequels, spinoffs, TCG lines, and merchandise that has created a global sensation over the years. While it seems like Pokémon has been around forever at this point, the massive property and all of its countless influences over the decades all started with two simple turn-based RPGs, Pokémon Red and Blue.

As many players' first introduction into the genre, Pokémon encouraged players to not only think about their own linear progression, but the experiences shared between their interchangeable party members, which incentivizes collecting and trading with other players in real life. The innovative real-world multiplayer, focus on adorable monster companions, and countless other mechanics have spread across the industry over the years, making Pokémon Red & Blue hands down one of the most innovative turn-based RPGs ever made.