Anyone who grew up in the 80s during the rise of the NES and continued playing games for decades afterward witnessed firsthand how quickly the industry grew. The RPG genre is a fascinating one to look at in particular, because there are so many examples that changed things forever, and either stayed original or created templates for others to copy.
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Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and Chrono Trigger are two great examples on the SNES. So, what upcoming RPGs look like they have cool original mechanics that could change the industry like those SNES classics? Even if they aren’t original, these examples at least look like they are contributing to the genre as a whole and are trying to shake things up in cool new ways.
Octopath Traveler 0
A Big Party Awaits
Octopath Traveler 0
- Released
- December 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- DOKIDOKI GROOVE WORKS, Square Enix
- Planned Release Date: 12/4/25
- Planned Systems: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S
The first two Octopath Traveler games already had a novel approach to gameplay. Players could choose one of eight characters to start with, and then they could collect the other seven as they progressed. Battles were turn-based with four party members, all of which could defend on their turn to gain an extra turn later on, plus monsters could be broken.
The upcoming prequel, Octopath Traveler 0, will let players have a party of eight that they switch between in rows, doubling the party size of most turn-based RPGs, which is wild enough on its own. There is also a new character creator and town-building element, so those options are sure to make it an exciting new entry in the franchise.
Chronoscript: The Endless End
An Inky Metroidvania
Chronoscript: The Endless End
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PC and PS5
Chronoscript: The Endless End is one of the coolest-looking games set to release in 2026. The game actually takes place in 2026 when the editor of a book gets warped into the pages of his current project.
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Now, as a tiny knight, players have to make their way in and out of the book's pages via a sprawling Metroidvania map that is connected by paper and ink. Visually, it’s astounding, but the mechanics look wild too, from the action RPG combat to how players can interact with the map. There are a few games that break the fourth wall and look this interesting while doing it.
Ariana And The Elder Codex
Book Magic
- Developers: Idea Factory, Compile Heart, Hyde
- Publisher: Idea Factory
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PS4, PS5, and Switch
Ariana and the Elder Codex has similar vibes to Chronoscript: The Endless End, as there is a book-like aesthetic to the visuals. Gameplay looks like it will be particularly appealing for magic enthusiasts, as players can seemingly find and equip spell books as they progress.
The face buttons have direct links to attacks, while the D-Pad houses different elements. How these two mechanics combine to form spells is a mystery, but the first trailer looks like there will be a lot of combat variety in this upcoming 2D RPG. It could even be a Metroidvania. RPGs with deep spell systems are always worth looking into, and Ariana and the Elder Codex is no different.
Dosa Divas
Free The People Through Cooking
Dosa Divas
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Planned Release Date: 2026
- Planned Systems: PC
Dosa Divas takes place in a world where people no longer cook and instead get their nutritional value through pre-made kits. The heroes aim to rejuvenate the world’s love of cooking by fighting corporate fat cats through turn-based combat.
The gameplay looks active, kind of like Super Mario RPG, with plenty of flashy visuals. Outside of combat, players can explore, acquire ingredients, cook for NPCs, and customize their mech to further its battle and exploration powers. Outerloop Games is developing this food-themed RPG, the studio that also made Thirsty Suitors, and that is also a game worth checking out.
Threads Of Time
An Homage To A Classic
Threads of Time
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Riyo Games
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: PC and Xbox Series X
Threads of Time looks like an homage to Chrono Trigger in ways both major and minor. Characters appear as tiny sprites on the world map. There is time travel between the modern, prehistoric, and future eras. Plus, the battle system looks similar to the SNES classic, although it's been beefed up in a few major ways.
Based on context clues, it looks like there will be combo attacks executed between party members, and there is a timeline below for turn orders, similar to Grandia. It’s great that Threads of Time is both an homage and an upgrade on more modern turn-based games, and hopefully, the time mechanics will also make their way into combat.
Parasite Mutant
Parasite Eve Returns
Parasite Mutant
- Developer(s)
- IceSitruuna
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Survival Horror
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: PC and PS5
Square Enix seems uninterested in revisiting Parasite Eve anytime soon, but that's where indie developers come in. Parasite Mutant looks like a spiritual successor, complete with a blonde protagonist and a similar battle system.
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Players will explore mundane areas like factories and sewers while looking for mutants. When battles commence, players can move around the battlefield, but combat pauses as players take aim, using a domed grid to pinpoint their attack range. It’s a great blending of tactics that worked in 1998, and it will likely work in 2026 as well, or whenever Parasite Mutant arrives.
Prisma
Play With Yourself
- Developers: Dreams Uncorporated
- Publisher: Dreams Uncorporated
- Planned Release Date: TBA
- Planned Systems: PC
Prisma looks unreal. The game is completely hand-drawn, from exploration to the turn-based battle system. The catch with this game is that the heroine, Alma, is a journalist who stumbles upon magic camera lenses that allow her to change perspectives mid-battle. A different lens could curve an attack to strike more opponents, for example.
Also, all her party members are other versions of herself, sort of like a multiverse RPG. From a developer perspective, this fits with Dreams Uncorporated’s other hand-drawn RPG, Cris Tales, which split its battle system into different time zones: past, present, and future. Hopefully, their experimental use of storytelling and gameplay will create something interesting again whenever Prisma launches.
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