A List of the Best Retro RPGs I’ve Reviewed

I’ve been playing quite a few RPGs over the last few years. Many of the retro games I’ve played were games I remember playing when I was young. These were games I tried to beat, but put them down when I became bored or when life got in the way.

I’ve reviewed each of these games for my YouTube Channel, and a few of them have written reviews on my blog. Some weren’t as good as I remembered, and a few of them were much better. Giving a game another chance is always fun, especially when it turns out to be good.

A few of these are my favorite games on their respective consoles. There aren’t any Computer RPGs on this list. I only remember one of them, Darksun, and the others I’ve played weren’t as memorable. At some point, I’ll go back and play a few of them. Until then, here is a list of my favorite Retro RPGs.

Bottom Line up Front: A List of My Favorite Retro RPGs I’ve played for my YouTube Channel or Reviewed on my blog.

Destiny of an Emperor

Developer: Capcom

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 7.1/10 (MobyGames)

This is one of my favorite NES games. It is a very fun RPG loosely based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms. When I was doing some research on another game, I learned that this game has a sequel, and is from a manga. We didn’t get the sequel in the US, and I’m unsure if the manga was brought over.

Destiny of an Emperor looks like one of the Dragon Quest games. It is a turn-based RPG where you can recruit enemy generals to join your party. Five generals can be leveled up, while the others remain the same throughout the game. Instead of magic, you used tactics to inflict more damage.

This game is fairly linear. You follow a path through a version of China and fight enemy generals based on characters from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel. It gets hard at the end of the game, but it isn’t impossible.  

Thousand Arms

Developer: Atlus

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 7.6/10 (MobyGames)

Thousand Arms manages to combine a dating simulation with an RPG. The game’s combat is also unique, as each fight plays like a one-on-one battle. It is an interesting approach to turn-based combat, and it is one of the things that I’m not sure I like that much.

This is a rather easy game. The story is very good, even if it doesn’t have many twists to it. If I had one criticism of Thousand Arms, it would be with the dating simulation in the game. It was something that I kept forgetting about because it wasn’t front and center.

Dating and your relationship with the women in your party are connected to the magic system. If you forget about it, like I did, you’ll have a rough time at the end of the game. Magic and summoning spells don’t become important until the end of the game.

This is an underrated game. It would be great if the game were more accessible, but it is trapped on the PS1 and emulation. I would love to see the game get a modern port or a sequel.

Phantasy Star IV

Developer: Sega

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 9.5/10

Phantasy Star IV is my favorite game in the series, and one of my favorite games on the Sega Genesis. It has everything I would want from a science fiction RPG. It wraps up the story from the previous three games and works to connect them all together.

The characters and story are very good! Narrative threads from the other games get wrapped up, and there are several twists in the game. The gameplay is very good, and the graphics are beautiful. I particularly like the comic book cutscenes in this game. They add a lot to the story.

This game gave us narrative closure to the series. The evil that has been influencing the events of the series is defeated, and the solar system is saved. Phantasy Star IV is as good as any of the games on the SNES.

Robotrek

Developer: Enix

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 7.3/10 (MobyGames)

Robotrek is a quirky RPG that feels like a good game to introduce someone to the genre. It can be considered to be a starter RPG because of how short and easy it is. I was a little surprised by how short this game is, and how much I liked it.

The combat system is a little weird, it has a cool crafting system, and I like the graphics. Robotrek has cute graphics and a fun story that does its best to be funny at times. In some ways, the combat feels like Pokémon. You build robots to fight for you, which can be swapped out during battle.

The robots are a very cool idea that feels half-baked. As you gain levels, you get points to program them. This is how you increase their stats. They can be equipped with different weapons and change their color, but all three look the same.

Robotrek feels very different from the other RPGs I’ve played because of the combat, crafting system, and art style. The story is fun, even if things get a little too complicated with time travel and going into space.  It felt like this game needed more time, or a sequel, to explore all the ideas it has better.

Tactics Ogre

Developer: Quest

Genre: Tactical RPG

Review Score: 9.5/10

Tactics Ogre is the best Tactical RPG I’ve ever played. I like it a little more than Final Fantasy Tactics and the other games from that subgenre on this list. It has an amazing story with multiple endings, great gameplay, and very good graphics.

This game takes you for a ride. You can take a few paths through it, and you’re presented with hard choices several times. The characters are excellent, the plot is superb, and the gameplay is a lot of fun.

Tactics Ogre uses a class system. Your characters can be upgraded as the game goes on, and you have to balance the morale of your soldiers. It is so good.

I could keep talking about this game forever, but I think it is time to move on. If you want to try it, I would recommend the remaster. It is easier to get a hold of and more friendly to new players than the PS1 version.

Jade Cocoon

Developer: Crave

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 7.5/10 (MobyGames)

Jade Cocoon had the misfortune of being released around the same time as Pokémon Red and Blue. It has a number of similarities with those games, mostly because of the gameplay. You capture monsters and use them to fight enemies.

There is a little more to it than that. You’re trying to save your village from being destroyed. This is an end-time scenario where your village has been attacked by monsters from the forest that surrounds the village. You have to find a way to save them by exploring four sections of the forest that lie on the other side of the divine barrier.

There is a lot of lore to this story. Most of it isn’t presented to the player, and you have to go out of your way to learn it. Jade Cocoon has an excellent story and very good gameplay. It is more than just another Pokémon clone.

Final Fantasy IV

Developer: Square

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 7.6/10 (MobyGames)

I was a little surprised by how short Final Fantasy IV was. I remember playing it on an emulator in the mid-1990s, but I didn’t remember it being as easy as when I played it a few years ago. It is a great game, and I loved the story.

The story takes some strange turns. For example, near the end of the game, you ride a whale to the moon so you can fight the final boss. You’re also going to lose quite a few characters during the game. They all come back, but it is still a little surprising when it happens.

The graphics and gameplay are great. I like that you have five party members instead of three or four. There is something about that setup that I find compelling. It also makes the game easier. Final Fantasy IV isn’t too difficult, at least it wasn’t for me. It is a well-made RPG and is still fun today.

Breath of Fire

Developer: Capcom

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 8.5/10

This is a series of games that I played completely out of order. I first played the Third game in the series, then went back to try this one when I started collecting games. When I went back to play Breath of Fire, I found a very good game.

The graphics are pretty good, and the gameplay is solid. I liked the cut scenes in the game; they looked excellent and were much better than just reading text. The transformation mechanics add a lot to the game. There is something about having your main character turn into a dragon that will always be awesome!

Breath of Fire is the start of a great series of RPGs Capcom abandoned for some reason. It would be nice to see it make a comeback, but who knows what they’re going to do? The first game is very good and sets up many of the things I enjoyed about the third game in the series.  

Saiyuki: Journey West

Developer: Koei

Genre: Tactical RPG

Review Score: 7.6/10 (MobyGames)

This is a great change of pace from the other Tactical RPGs on the PS1. Saiyuki: The Journey West is based on the novel of the same name. It is a fictional retelling of a Buddhist monk’s journey from the Tibet region of China to India.

The monk is your main character, and you’re joined by several creatures who can transform into beasts. The most memorable is Sun Wukong. He gets forced into joining you and becomes your friend. This version of the story is pretty great, and it was nice to play through it.

The graphics and gameplay are very good. The transformation mechanics take a little time to get used to, as the game limits you to how long a character can remain transformed.

Final Fantasy VI

Developer: Square

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 9.5/10

This is my favorite Final Fantasy game. I like it a little more than Final Fantasy VII. It has a better story, characters, and I think the pixel graphics have held up better than the early 3D graphics of Final Fantasy VII.

The gameplay is very good. I like the Esper system, where you can give any character any type of magic you want. It is also cool that the characters have unique skills that you can use. The Pummel and Sword Techs are my favorite of this group. Their explanation for why people can’t all use magic is very good.

The setting in this game is spectacular. It is so cool to see how the series slowly went from High Fantasy to a Steampunk setting. What I really liked is how the bad guy wins. The story shifts from hopeful to despair, and as the player, you must put your team back together and get them into the fight. It is such a great ending.

Tales of Destiny

Developer: Namco

Genre: Action-RPG

Review Score: 7.6/10 (MobyGames)

My friend Drew introduced me to the first Tales of Destiny. He made it sound like a very hard game, but when I returned to it a few years ago, I found it pretty easy. It was very fun, and maybe I was overpowered when I reached the end. There is also a strange thing going on with the game ends, and then what feels like a sequel starts up.

This is one of my favorite Action-RPGs. The combat in the game is very good, and your AI companions are rather useful. The first part of the plot is excellent. The Swordians are a cool addition to the game, and I like how they aren’t all on the same page.

It is a little strange that the first part of the game has a logical conclusion, and then picks up again in what feels like a sequel. I like it, and both parts of the story make a lot of sense. It felt a little strange the first time I played through Tales of Destiny. This is a wonderful game, and I’m looking forward to playing some of the other games in the Tales series.

Chrono Trigger

Developer: Square

Genre: RPG

Review Score: 8.5/10 (MobyGames)

I’m not sure what else can be said about Chrono Trigger at this point. It has spectacular music, an awesome story, and beautiful graphics. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve poked a few holes in the story, but I still love it.

The magic and tech systems are very good. When I first played Chrono Trigger, I hadn’t seen the Double and Triple team attacks in any other game before. There is something similar to this in Secret of Mana, but I think I played Chrono Trigger first, if my memory is correct. I love the gameplay in this game; it is really good.

This is one of the games that just makes me happy. I love going through it and seeing what ending I get. I haven’t seen everything in Chrono Trigger, but that’s part of the fun. You can always go back to try and get a different ending.

Kartia

Developer: Atlus

Genre: Tactical RPG

Review Score: 7.3/10 (MobyGames)

Kartia is an interesting game. I like the gameplay in this game more than most of the other Tactical RPGs on this list. The idea of summoning monsters in the middle of battle is a lot of fun. The game’s story is spread across two scenarios, which gives the game some replay value.

This game stands out because of the monster-summoning mechanic. You’ll need to summon different groups of monsters as you fight through each mission, and there is a crafting system to make equipment for the monsters. You’ll also have a group of soldiers to fight with.

This is a unique Tactical RPG because of the gameplay. The graphics are very good, and the story is excellent. It isn’t as good as Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics, or Saiyuki, but it is an excellent alternative to those games.

Shining Force

Developer: Sega

Genre: Tactical RPG

Review Score: 8/10 (MobyGames)

Shining Force plays like a hybrid of a traditional Tactical RPG and a regular RPG. There is some exploration in the game that you don’t see in other Tactical RPGs. That isn’t to take anything away from this game; it helps it stand out from other games.

I like the gameplay and graphics in Shining Force. The characters and story aren’t the best, but as an early Tactical RPG, it is very good. I like this game a little more than the Fire Emblem games.

The graphics stand out to me. They look very good for an early Sega Genesis/Mega Drive game. The gameplay is very straightforward and makes for an excellent starter Tactical RPG. The story isn’t anything special, but the gameplay is challenging enough to make up for it.

Ogre Battle

Developer: Quest

Genre: Strategy RPG

Review Score: 10/10

This is one of my favorite RPGs of all time. I’ve gone back to this game many times over the years and had so much fun experimenting with different characters. It is one of those games that is an acquired taste and isn’t for everyone.

The gameplay, story, and graphics are great. My favorite part of the game is the world it built. There is a lot of lore in the game that wasn’t explored until other games in the series. I love that it spawned another series on this list.

It feels like I always discover something new about this game. Experimenting with different units is always awesome, and I’ve enjoyed trying to get the different endings over the years. I love so many things about this game, but the story is my favorite.

Conclusion

There are a few games I haven’t played yet that would definitely make it on a list like this. While I like each of the games here, a few could be swapped out. Some of the games I want to get to are:

• Tales of Destiny II
• Breath of Fire III
• Xenogears
• Ring of Red
• Dragon Quest VIII

I know there wasn’t a Dragon Quest game on this list. When I looked back at them, I didn’t see one that I could move into the top 15. Dragon Quest III or IV were games I thought about putting on the list, but neither of them would’ve pushed something off of it. It was similar to how I felt about some of the Final Fantasy games I’ve played. I didn’t want those two series to dominate the list.

I’ll have to update this list at some point. The more RPGs I play, the more this and the other lists of RPGs will change. If I want to keep doing this, I might have to expand this list to 20 or 25 at some point. I should also make a list of my favorite indie RPGs at some point.

If you liked this list, please check out My Favorite RPGs so far.