RPGs often give players a party of characters that each bring something to the table. Commanding a party in turn-based combat allows one to set up combos and pile on a specific enemy weakness. However, not all RPGs are turn based. Instead, some let players command their party while the enemies are able to relentlessly fight back every second of the way.
Real-time combat keeps players engaged and on their toes. Not paying attention can quickly cause one or more of their characters' health pools to hit zero, causing a dreaded “Game Over” screen. As such, players can expect there to be a lot of releases for some of these franchises.
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5 Rogue Galaxy
Metacritic Score: 83
Rogue Galaxy
Rogue Galaxy is one of the best RPGs published by Sony, and made its debut on the PS2. It has all the flair and charm of a fantasy action JRPG, but takes it to the stars with many different alien races, planets to visit, and other sci-fi elements. The story follows a crew of space pirates with the fate of the entire galaxy in jeopardy.
In terms of combat, players are able to switch between characters, or issue out team commands from a special menu. This can involve them telling everyone to pile on the same target, branch out, forgo support and focus purely on damage, or to take a step back if things are getting hairy.
4 Tales of Arise
Metacritic Score: 87
Tales of Arise
- Released
- September 10, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The first installment of the Tales series released back in 1995, and the franchise has continued to deliver new titles since. Like many of the previous Tales games, this game has an amazing story that will take players a hefty amount of time to get through. Many scenes play out in the form of animated comic book panels. There are plenty of dark and serious tones to pull players in, but also lots of light-hearted comedic moments scattered throughout the game.
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Players dive and dash about battle arenas, timing when they need to defend and when to strike. There are many mechanics to be aware of, such as Artes and Overdrives, which create a truly engaging sense of action for the player controlled character. Players can command others in their party to use special abilities and even combos.
3 Kingdom Hearts 2
Metacritic Score: 87
Kingdom Hearts 2
Kingdom Hearts is a franchise that needs no introduction, as it is one of the most well known and beloved action RPGs of all time. Players traverse many different worlds inspired by Disney IPs, with sprinklings of Square Enix characters and flair. The game has Donald Duck and Goofy as companions for its entirety, but also adds guest companions while visiting specific worlds. There are several entries in the franchise, resulting in a rather lengthy amount of lore for fans to delve into.
In Kingdom Hearts 2, players control only Sora, while Goofy and Donald act autonomously. However, players are able to give commands to their guest characters. These can be some of the most powerful options in their arsenal, and players are encouraged to use them as they become available so that they can be ready again as soon as possible. Players will then be able to extend this command with button prompts and finish things off to get the full effect of the command.
2 Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
Metacritic Score: 92
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth Deluxe Edition
- Released
- February 29, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platforms
- Sony PlayStation 5
Final Fantasy 7 is one of the most iconic entries in the Final Fantasy franchise. It received a remake from the ground up that revamped its combat system into something truly special. This remake, aptly named Final Fantasy 7 Remake, brought the story to a whole new generation of gamers, and won over the hearts of players and critics alike. This remake did not tell the whole story of Final Fantasy 7, and would continue to tell it in a follow-up title, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gives players an overwhelming number of hours when it comes to gameplay. It stands as one of the best modern RPGs, and it has a lot to offer modern-day gamers compared to the original PlayStation version. Players will be able to swap between characters, while still being able to command anyone else in the party. This allows gamers to play the way they want, while having access to everything they need.
1 Mass Effect 2
Metacritic Score: 96
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 might not be as stylish or flashy as a fantasy JRPG action adventure, but it is one of the best sci-fi space opera experiences that the gaming world has to offer. Players will have a wide arsenal of weapons and abilities to explore, and focusing on just one path will provide the most benefits for it. However, players will have party members they can rely on to help round things out.
Players will be able to have two companions accompany their player character, switching their choice of these companions as they see fit. Players cannot take direct control of them, but will be able to issue commands to these allies. Knowing what each of these allies are capable of will be very important, and makes deciding who to bring along an important choice.
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