Summary
- Turn-based RPGs have evolved over the years, with games like Grandia introducing unique turn order mechanics.
- Shadow Hearts: Covenant and Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology added twists like Judgement Rings and time travel, enhancing turn-based combat.
- Games like Final Fantasy 10 and Octopath Traveler 2 innovated by displaying enemy turn orders and incorporating strategic elements into battles.
Turn-based RPGs have existed forever, blowing up in the 80s on the NES with games like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. They still exist today despite the overall genre moving more toward action. The genre has gone through several iterations over the years, including getting rid of random battles, introducing time-based mechanics, and showing the turn order.
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RPGs with turn orders are particularly interesting when done right, which came about in the 90s, thanks greatly to Grandia for popularizing it. Getting a one-over on an enemy and dispelling their turn can be a massively rewarding feeling. So, let's go through old-school and modern RPGs that use turn order well and rank them based on turn order mechanics and if they introduce some other innovative gameplay ideas.
9 Grandia
The OG Prince
Grandia
- Released
- September 30, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
Grandia is a forgotten classic individual game, along with a great, short-lived RPG series. It helped create the idea of turn orders, but it’s not exactly like the rest of the games, as battles were more like races. At the bottom corner of the screen, playable characters and enemies were on a bar.
During an act, their portraits would race forward to different phases. Who got to go first depended on the attack chosen during an act, as some were instant and others took more time to cast, like magic. Characters and enemies could be interrupted during their action process, thus bumping them to the back of the line, so it took a bit to get used to, but Grandia is still remembered fondly today.
8 Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Ringing Through Alt History
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
- Released
- September 27, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nautilus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
Shadow Hearts: Covenant takes place in an alternate version of Europe wherein a group of mystical heroes are trying to prevent Rasputin from taking over the world. Battles are turn-based, with the order displayed at all times, but there is another twist to combat.
When characters attack, their weapons have rings attached, the Judgement Ring, and if players time their attacks correctly, then they will do more damage. The turn order on top of these Judgement Rings helps it stand out, besides the goofy nature surrounding this alternate history game.
7 Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology
A Good Use Of The Bottom Screen
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology
- Released
- February 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is an enhanced port for the 3DS based on the original DS game. Both versions are great, making good use of the bottom screen as it will display the turn order. Unique to this game is the grouping system, as enemies occupy space on the board.
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Players can use moves to group enemies together and pull off combos with the party to do more damage, which can affect turn order. Beyond battles, the time travel element adds some puzzle mechanics to the game.
6 Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille Zur Macht
Of Mechs And Bibles
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
- Released
- February 25, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Soft
- Publisher(s)
- Namco
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS2
Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille zur Macht is a spiritual successor to Xenogears on the PS1. This first chapter in the PS2 trilogy is turn-based, wherein characters can use the face buttons to pull off moves. The turn order is displayed, but players can disrupt it if they boost a character ahead.
This meter will fill up over time in battle, and it's especially useful during boss battles. Some characters can use energy to call mechs into battle, too, which is another way this religious-heavy RPG is unique.
5 Triangle Strategy
Strategical Orders
Triangle Strategy
- Released
- March 4, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Artdink
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Triangle Strategy is a turn-based tactical RPG and one of the few around that will display turn order. Players can move their characters around a grid, and every hero character has a unique class that can affect movement speed and skills.
For example, Hughette has two advantages as she can target enemies from afar with her bow and can fly to high places with her bird companion. Figuring out the best parties that can work effectively well together is all part of the strategy, and the HD-2D visuals are to die for.
4 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Going French
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the latest turn-based RPG to use turn order importantly. This is a game where the Speed stat is important, which can dictate this turn order. There are accessory-like items called Pictos in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that characters can equip, and one of the best ones is called Cheater.
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This will allow characters to go twice in a single round, disrupting the turn order for enemies. Having two turns is a great way to set up attacks, or to heal and attack with the same character.
3 Baldur's Gate 3
Every Move Counts
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Baldur's Gate 3 is another tactical RPG, but one made in the West. Even on the easiest settings, it’s one tough ride because enemies often outnumber players, and they can hit harder. That’s why the turn order can at least help players strategize their moves, whether they need to prioritize attacking to finish off more of them and thus lessen their damage output, or to heal allies to keep the party strong.
Without a turn order, players may have never finished the game, which is why it is so critical in Baldur's Gate 3. It’s also a unique game as players can transition from walking around to going into battle with the snap of a finger, making the whole idea of exploring more engaging.
2 Final Fantasy 10
A First For The Series
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Final Fantasy 10 has one of the most diverse battle systems in the series, which some could argue made it a tad too easy at times. Regardless of those thoughts, it was the first mainline game to display enemy turn orders, a trait not shared with many games, spinoffs, or otherwise.
Beyond turn order, players could swap out party members mid-battle to adjust their strategy, like if they needed a character like Wakka who was good against hit flying enemies. Beyond that, Yuna could replace the whole party by summoning an Aeon companion like Bahamut, who could be controlled manually. On top of the series’ first instance of voice work, Final Fantasy 10 was a big deal on the PS2.
1 Octopath Traveler 2
A Spiritual Successor To A Spiritual Successor
Octopath Traveler 2
- Released
- February 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T for Teen for Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, and Use of Alcohol and Tobacco.
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Acquire
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy was like a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy as it brought back Jobs, random battles, the world map, and more. The Octopath Traveler series was like an unrelated spinoff to those games, which changed the visual style, borrowed the combat system, but added turn orders.
In Octopath Traveler 2’s battle system, as a prime example, players could rack up boost points to attack multiple times on the same turn. It was best to stack boosts right before an enemy or boss got a turn.
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