Ever experience an RPG that blows all others out of the water? It could be for several reasons, like the story being bold and hard to put down or the gameplay being solid and interactive. The available customization options could also be fun and inviting for anyone who likes to craft their own experiences.
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After hundreds of hours, these final bosses tested the very limits of the skills of players.
Then there are RPGs that go above and beyond the standards of classics like Final Fantasy 7, Persona 5, Baldur’s Gate 3, Diablo 2, and so on; games that are unlike anything else out there. They may have sequels that double up on these ideas, but overall, they are completely original RPGs that are must-plays or are so far out there that they need to be seen to be believed.
E.V.O.: Search For Eden
Start From Nothing
E.V.O.: Search for Eden
- Released
- December 21, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Action
E.V.O.: Search for Eden is a SNES action RPG that teaches players about the mysteries of evolution, albeit with a fast-forwarded approach to time. Players begin as a small fish and, by attacking other aquatic entities, they can level up and evolve.
It’s not as branching as other SNES RPGs of the era, but the evolutionary perks are wild to see. There are even on-land segments with dinosaurs and cavemen to look forward to, and it remains one of the most unique gaming experiences decades later.
Dark Half
Light And Dark Side
- Developer: West One
- Publisher: Enix
- Released: May 31, 1996 (Japan Version)
- Platform: SNES
Dark Half is another obscure SNES RPG, but this one has never been released outside of Japan. The game follows both the main antagonist and the hero, and players can swap between the two campaigns as each character battles toward the other.
It's a strange concept, and challenging too, because every action counts down on a meter, and if it reaches zero, it's Game Over. Thankfully, there is a fan translation for anyone curious to take up the challenge of this bizarre two-sided RPG.
Parasite Eve
Survival Horror Meets RPG
Parasite Eve
- Released
- September 9, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Action RPG
The Parasite Eve series is a trilogy of games, but the first one is a unique experience from the other, more action-focused entries. As a cop in New York City, players will explore locations looking for Eve, a corrupt monster who is infecting the population, and on Christmas of all times.
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In battle, players can run around freely and then pause combat to fire their weapon or use a psychic ability. Ammo is limited, and their range is displayed in a dome, similar to Vagrant Story’s battle system. This hodgepodge of survival horror and classic turn-based combat makes Parasite Eve special in the genre to this day.
Thousand Arms
Doki Doki Blacksmith
Thousand Arms
- Released
- October 14, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Red Company, Tose
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Thousand Arms is a turn-based RPG and one of the few on the PS1 that has voiced dialogue and 2D anime-inspired battles. The star, Meis, is a blacksmith in training, but like his father, he requires love to make weapons.
Players have to befriend and date their female party members, and depending on their bond levels, they can make better upgrades to their gear. There are plenty of RPGs with dating mechanics, but not many with blacksmithing as the context they are based around.
Infinite Space
Battle Stations!
Infinite Space
- Released
- June 11, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- teen
- Developer(s)
- PlatinumGames
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Infinite Space is one of the strangest titles PlatinumGames has ever produced. It’s presented as a visual novel taking place in between space battles, which are fought exclusively in ships. Players can customize their ship and put party members in areas during combat to man battle stations or conduct repairs.
Battles are tough, and players have to plan their strategies well. It’s kind of like an anime version of Star Trek. Infinite Space wasn’t a huge hit when it launched on the DS in 2009, but perhaps more RPG fans would be ready to give it a chance today.
Contact
Breaking The Fourth Wall
Contact
- Released
- October 19, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Grasshopper Manufacture
- Genre(s)
- RPG
There are many RPGs that break the fourth wall, from EarthBound to Undertale, but Contact is on a different level. Graphically and narratively, a professor exists in a 16-bit world, but he then lands in a more 3D environment in his spaceship.
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An island boy decides to help the professor, and that’s who players will play as. They will explore beaches, caves, groves, and so on, fighting monsters and gathering materials for the professor. Also, the player themselves has a role in the game, as the professor talks to them periodically during the adventure. Altogether, it’s a mind-bending action RPG for the DS that really has no equal.
Little Town Hero
Imaaaaaagination
little town hero
- Released
- October 16, 2019
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One
Besides Pokemon, not many Game Freak games have broken through the mold, including Little Town Hero, which is perhaps one of their strangest RPGs. Players are essentially the guardians of their town, but they don’t have to worry about fighting random mobs of enemies for EXP or traveling around on an epic quest. Instead, they stay put, talk to NPCs in town, and help ready everyone for a impending, Kaiju-like presence.
When fighting the monster in town, players will use ideas that then fold into attacks based on the information they've gathered. Imagine if MacGyver were a young anime boy who invented attacks on the spot to fight Godzilla. That’s Little Town Hero in a nutshell.
Nobody Saves The World
The Blank Slate RPG
Nobody Saves The World
- Released
- January 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- DrinkBox Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Nobody Saves the World stars a literal nobody, a husk of a person with no personality or goals in life until one day they get a magic wand and are forced into a quest to save a beloved wizard. The overworld map and dungeon layout are reminiscent of a Zelda experience, except with one very bizarre twist: with the magic wand, players can level up various animal and human forms, which act as classes.
Some of these classes are battle-ready, like the archer, while others are intended more for exploration, like the rat. As weird as it sounds, Nobody Saves the World is compelling alone or with a co-op friend.
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