PC players had a wealth of great RPGs in the 90s, like Diablo and Baldur’s Gate, while console players had JRPGs to keep them entertained, like Final Fantasy 7 and Pokemon Yellow. Now, both console players and PC players can play Western-style RPGs and JRPGs on their system of choice, and many of the best from the 90s are still available.
The 10 Most Timeless Classic JRPGs, Ranked
From the SNES to the 3DS, these JRPGs remain timeless in quality and have earned their spot as genre classics.
Also, thanks to the global market of games growing, there are now a lot of South Korean developers who are making RPGs as well. Many of the best South Korean games mirror the best of the best, like examples from the 90s, so let’s go over some of the games RPG fans overall should look into if they want to expand their knowledge.
Lies Of P
Pinocchio Souls
Lies of P
- Released
- September 19, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike
Lies of P is a different take on the Pinocchio lore that Disney fans would have never seen coming, taking place within a steampunk dystopian city called Krat. The entirety of the city has been overrun with clockwork puppets, and players are the cure to fix this overrun robotic city.
Players are encouraged to be on the offensive to strike foes down with customizable weapons and different armaments, like a grappling hook, to make combat more frenzied. From the tone to the combat system, it feels like a spiritual successor to Bloodborne, and the Japanese masters at FromSoftware would be proud. Like most Soulslikes, it can be challenging, but there is an AI partner system to assist players if they need a leg up on these decrepit puppets.
The First Berserker: Khazan
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem
The First Berserker: Khazan
- Released
- March 27, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Neople
- Publisher(s)
- Nexon
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
The First Berserker: Khazan is part of the Dungeon & Fighter universe. Soulslike games are known to be hard, but this game takes things to a whole new level. Players will feel every blow to themselves and every kill they commit. The weapon system is unique as there are only three types, with each weapon having a vast branching skill tree.
Committing to one weapon is a plus, just like it is in the Monster Hunter series. The most challenging part of The First Berserker: Khazan is the bosses, which require only the finest and patient players, because this game does not care if they succeed. It is here to toughen players up, and if they manage to finish it, there is no Soulslike they cannot overcome.
Stellar Blade
Looking Good In The Apocalypse
Stellar Blade
- Released
- April 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Stellar Blade was a surprise hit when it launched on the PS5 in 2024, and it had a chance to grow its audience in 2025 thanks to a PC port. Players assume the role of a combat android, Eve, who is sent to stop an alien invasion on a ruined planet. With tight outfits and style for days, she was like a second coming of Bayonneta if she were thrown into an action RPG with Soulslike elements.
With various combos, players can explore several biomes and fight mutated aliens that have angelic designs as if H.R. Giger made them. The action is slick, the visuals are impressive, and the world-building is superb. Next to Lies of P, Stellar Blade has to be the most well-known South Korean action RPG on the current video game market, and there’s surely a sequel on the way.
MagnaCarta 2
A Forgotten Xbox 360 Cult Classic
- Developer: Softmax
- Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
- Released: October 13, 2009 (NA)
- Platform: Xbox 360
MagnaCarta 2 is an Xbox 360 exclusive that was released in 2009. It is the third and final game in the series, with the second coming to the PS2 in North America and the original never releasing outside of South Korea. This final game has a hybrid combat system that is part action, part MMO. When players are exploring the world, they can engage with enemies by selecting them.
During a character’s turn, a meter will tick down, and in this time, they can attack with various abilities, all of which can be chained to the next character if they switch in time. It takes some time to get used to, but it’s easily the best part of the game. The story and character designs may not gel with everyone, between the civil war aspect and the tiny heads. That said, JRPG combat lovers can liken MagnaCarta 2 to Final Fantasy 12 or Xenoblade Chronicles, minus the giant open-world design.
Lost Eidolons
Challenging Tactics
Lost Eidolons
- Released
- October 13, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Lost Eidolons doesn’t look like a South Korean-made RPG, as the designs are more reminiscent of something like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. While the characters and overall designs have more of a Western aesthetic, the gameplay falls in line with a Fire Emblem entry as it is a turn-based tactical RPG with permadeath.
Players have to be extra careful during normal gameplay, or they can lose units and progress with unplanned tactics. In-between combat, players can bond with their units to raise morale, again, much like some of the more recent Fire Emblem games. There are some fantasy elements like magic, but for tactical RPG fans looking for a more grounded experience, Lost Eidolons is it.
Crimson Gem Saga
A Diamond In The Rough
Crimson Gem Saga
- Released
- October 23, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
For PSP fans who were looking for another good RPG or JRPG on the system, they probably stumbled upon Crimson Gem Saga at some point. It’s technically part of the Astonishia Story series, but since that game didn’t review well, that could be why a different name was chosen for the sequel.
It is a much better game overall with an easy-to-understand turn-based battle system that incorporates four characters, a timeline, and combo attacks akin to Chrono Trigger. The art design looks a lot like Ragnarok Online, another South Korean game, with soft colors and an almost watercolor aesthetic. Among the PSP hidden RPG gems, Crimson Gem Saga is definitely one that needs to be rediscovered, or better yet, re-released.
Black Desert Online
More Than Dunes
Black Desert Online
- Released
- March 3, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Black Desert Online is a massive MMO that started in South Korea in 2015, following a North America version in 2016. It’s been going on so long that the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S even got a version in 2025, and it has changed a lot over the past decade. It’s not a normal MMO either, as there was more of an emphasis on the action combat, as mobs of enemies were larger in size, almost like the hordes of monsters that appear in a Diablo game.
Best 2D Turn-Based RPGs
Don’t let the shift in perspective fool you; these 2D turn-based RPGs are just as epic and enthralling as any 3D game.
Beyond combat, there are chill mini-games like fishing and hunting, and it’s a great MMO to make a life in. It may not quite be as popular as Final Fantasy 14, but given that it has been going on since 2015, somebody is doing something right at Pearl Abyss, the developer. They’re even making an offline follow-up called Crimson Desert in 2026, which should be one of the biggest South Korean action RPGs of next year.
TERA
An Original MMO
TERA
- Released
- May 1, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bluehole Studio
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
TERA is one of the most important MMOs as it is thought to be one of the first to have true action combat, and this was back in 2011 in South Korea. North Americans would have to wait a year later, and the scope of the game was promising with its open-world, character designs, and race options. Not many games allow players to be squat animals, like dogs or bears, and the Popori were that for TERA. The world also had big monsters that were almost impossible alone but manageable with friends, which could be likened to the overpowered monsters roaming around the Xenoblade Chronicles games. Thanks to the action combat, it felt different from other big MMOs like World of Warcraft.
Ragnarok Online
An All-Time Classic MMO
Ragnarok Online
- Released
- June 1, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
The early 2000s had a lot of basic MMOs that PC fans all dabbled in, with Ragnarok Online being one of the bigger ones. Released first in 2002 in South Korea, and a year later elsewhere, this game decided to favor sprites over 3D models. Combat was simplistic with point-and-click mechanics, and it was another MMO with a heavy grind. While it wasn’t a fully immersive game like Final Fantasy 11’s stunning 3D world, which launched in 2002 in Japan, Ragnarok Online did have a good social aspect, which is what brought a lot of players in. From grouping up to slay monsters to just hanging out in town, these are the memories fans cling to the most.
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