Sometimes it’s nice to have an RPG, big or small, that respects players' time. Because of their gameplay loops, mission structures, open-world designs, or whatever else, players are more able to play the following RPGs at their own pace. Of course, if they want, they can go through these games quickly as well if they become addicted to the combat, story, and so on.
10 Classic RPGs That Respect Your Time More Than Modern AAA Games
These classic RPGs trim the fat and cut right to the best parts of the genre, making them ideal for anyone who dislikes filler content.
With the flexible pacing of these games, they are more inviting to beginners, along with hardcore fans. With a wide variety of RPG types, from turn-based to action, these are some good examples across a wide variety of consoles of games that keeps things light and breezy, allowing you to progress at your own pace.
Final Fantasy 14
Your New Life
Final Fantasy 14
- Released
- August 27, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Language, Mild Blood, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
Final Fantasy 14 is the most prolific MMO entry in the Final Fantasy series and will serve as an example here for all MMO games. MMOs are designed to keep players engaged through constant updates and expansions, as most generally have months upon months of content, or at least that’s the case currently with Final Fantasy 14.
Players can create their character and hone them into the perfect warrior, mage, or craftsman they desire, either alone or in big parties. Whether they are going after main quests or side activities, there’s always a reason to log in daily or to check back periodically for new content and activities.
Ring Fit Adventure
Sweat It Out
Ring Fit Adventure
- Released
- October 18, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo, Nintendo EPD
- Genre(s)
- Sports
Ring Fit Adventure is part exercise game, part RPG, and one of the finest exclusives on the Switch that showcases Nintendo’s unique ingenuity. As players progress through individual map nodes, they will have to perform exercises while exploring or in turn-based battles.
Doing leg lifts, crunches, or stretches can hurt enemies, which serves as the game's combat. It may sound wildly silly, and it is, but it’s also effective and fun for players to commit to daily, or as much as possible, to prevent exhaustion, as playing too much at once could prove disastrous.
Elden Ring
Learn Not To Stress Over Defeat
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
Elden Ring is an open-world Soulslike and one of the first of its kind, as most Soulslikes tend to be more like Metroidvanias with interconnected zones. Players are free to explore the dense map at their leisure, which hides NPCs, treasures, and big bosses to defeat.
Playing too much at once could create burnout if players keep dying against the same boss. That’s why it’s a better idea to pace oneself over time. If players die a few times on a boss, they should either quit, try leveling up more, find friends to help, or go explore elsewhere until they're a bit stronger.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
See That Mountain?
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is another open-world game, and undoubtedly one of the most important open-world games of all time. Players can create their character and will eventually be unshackled by the game's tutorials, so that they may finally explore.
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They might choose to follow the story and learn more about dragons and the land's warring factions, or they could explore numerous caves, fight bandits, run away from giants, and so on. With such a huge map and a slew of quests, players can explore for weeks and weeks and still feel content, whether they are grinding for hours or playing casually. There’s just so much to see, do, and fight.
Destiny 2
Striking While The Iron Is Hot
Destiny 2
- Released
- August 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Destiny 2 is like an MMO, as it has a constant rotation of updates and expansions like Final Fantasy 14, but It is instead considered a live-service game, which is essentially the same thing, just on a smaller scale, without hundreds of players running around at once (except for in specific zones).
Players can create their character, choose a class, and go through the game one mission or several at a time. It’s an easy setup to jump into obsessively or periodically whenever the need to shoot aliens across many moons and planets in the galaxy arises. Also, there is co-op, which makes it a fun and friendly activity for a few friends to share in.
Dragon’s Crown
Dive Into Dungeons, Take A Break
Dragon's Crown
- Released
- August 6, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Vanillaware
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Dragon’s Crown is a 2D action RPG that gives players six characters to choose from, each of whom corresponds to classic classes like warriors and mages. There isn’t much of a story to be found, as it’s all about the adventure and loot aspect.
Players choose their character and then go on missions, gathering as much loot as possible before heading back to the hub town to gain new skills or buy new gear. It’s a satisfying gameplay loop, either alone or with friends, that still slaps even though it’s always been a more niche RPG.
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Portable Gaming At Its Finest
Fire Emblem: Awakening
- Released
- February 4, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems, Nintendo SPD
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Strategy
Fire Emblem: Awakening revitalized the Fire Emblem franchise on the 3DS and made it a more accessible tactical RPG than previous entries. Instead of being linear, moving from mission to mission, players gain access to a world map that they can use to interact with random enemies and go at their own pace. This allows players to grind for EXP, which they were rarely able to do before.
While entries after this also had more open-ended systems, Fire Emblem: Awakening will always be remembered for breaking new ground in North America. The pocket portability of the 3DS and the SpotPass functionality also made it ideal to play as much or as little as players wanted.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy
It Takes A Village
Bravely Default
- Released
- February 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Silicon Studio
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is another great RPG that started on the 3DS, and while it has its perks, the newly remastered version on the Switch 2 is also great. The main gameplay loop involves players going on an old-school Final Fantasy-like adventure by gaining Crystals, fighting in turn-based battles, and leveling up classes, called Jobs.
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It’s a fairly easy RPG to play at one’s own pace, since players can save or suspend the game quickly, but there is one large reason why Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is a game that should be played over an extended period. Besides battling, players can spend their time rebuilding the town of Norende, and each location takes real-world time to finish. Recreating Norende will give players access to rare items, which is why it can be especially beneficial to go slow.
The World Ends With You
Leveling Up Badges
The World Ends With You
- Released
- July 27, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The World Ends With You began as an RPG on the Nintendo DS, but it has a more accessible Switch version now. No matter which version players check out, this action RPG uses Pins for the main character, Neku, to equip and learn moves from. Players can create lightning, hurl fireballs, or just slash enemies to ribbons.
Pins level up as Neku does after battles, but they can also gain EXP in real-time if players shut the game down. So, like Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, The World Ends With You may be a wise RPG to play over a longer time, but that’s just a suggestion.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Living The City Life
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
- Released
- October 16, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is another game that doesn’t have much of a story, and by this point, players know what to expect in a Pokemon game. This latest entry does have a twist, though, as players are stuck in one city wherein they can explore shops, go into natural areas to catch Pokemon, and at night, they can battle trainers to become the city’s top Pokemon expert.
With so much to do and the ability to save at any time, Pokemon Legends: Z-A does not stress players out with an impending world-ending event. It’s also still receiving updates, so there is a reason to hang around a bit longer, as Pokemon fans are all still enjoying it.
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