10 Best Turn-Based RPGs of All Time

Published Aug 12, 2026, 7:21 PM EDT Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts. There are so many types of video games that fans can't get enough of, and with hundreds of genres, everyone can play exactly what they want. One of the most popular genres is RPGs, which have players embodying a certain role and setting out on an adventure in games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077. However, this genre includes many sub-genres, including turn-based RPGs. Turn-based RPGs also have players immersing themselves in their roles, but as opposed to free-flowing gameplay, they make decisions and level up in specific sequences and turns, allowing for more strategic gameplay. That is why this list will rank the best turn-based RPGs of all time based on gameplay, design, narrative, originality, fan opinion, critical acclaim, visuals, and overall quality. 10 'Octopath Traveler' (2018) Image via Square Enix A lot of turn-based RPGs have moved onto 3D graphics, but the introduction of HD-2D has changed the game, and one of the best is Octopath Traveler. This game doesn't just follow one big party; it is split between eight different adventurers and their grand quest across the continent of Orsterra. Its stunning visuals and graphics bring back the nostalgic feeling of classic titles while remaining new, modern, and gorgeous. The boost and break mechanic revitalized the classic job system in old RPGs, which has players analyzing their enemies and finding ways to break their shields, turning every boss battle into a puzzle of manipulation. 9 'Undertale' (2015) Image via Toby Fox Turn-based RPGs are one genre that anyone can make, meaning there are many indie masterpieces, such as Undertale, which was mostly made by one person, Toby Fox. The Underground is a subterranean realm inhabited by monsters who were sealed away there. When a young girl accidentally falls into the world, one kind soul helps her navigate the abyss, but she alone must choose for herself what methods she uses to get back home. By subverting classic RPG tropes by allowing gamers to play in different peaceful ways, it becomes a fascinating experience that also boasts a profound narrative that hooked an entire generation of fans. Players don't grind for loot in Undertale; instead, they negotiate, spare, or befriend every enemy, plus each enemy encounter brings new mechanics to every fight. 8 'Fire Emblem: Three Houses' (2019) Image via Nintendo Nintendo has a lot of turn-based RPG franchises; some fantastic ones didn't even make this list, but one that did is Fire Emblem. This game series has a lot of acclaimed titles, but one of their newest is also one of the best, Fire Emblem: Three Houses. With the nation split into three distinct parts, players control Byleth, a mercenary who is enlisted to become a professor, but when they start having prophetic visions, their nightmare slowly becomes true. The Nintendo Switch introduced a lot of fans to new franchises, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses revitalized the franchise and brought it new life. It boasts one of the best fantasy adventure video game experiences through the investment of character dynamics and growth, making the party seem more authentic. Not to mention its classic grid-style combat and social management make the gameplay extra engaging. 7 'Pokémon Black 2 and White 2' (2012) Turn-based RPGs are pretty popular, but the biggest gaming franchise overshadows a lot of the other ones, that being Pokémon. This franchise has a lot of stand-outs, but the best is arguably Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Following the events of the first game, the remnants of Team Plasma are still haunting Unova, and it is up to the player to stop this. This 10/10 Pokémon game is the pinnacle of the franchise, perfecting everything about the 2D formula that they had to pivot to 3D. These games aren't exactly known for their story, but this one is surprisingly mature and engaging, and with the best graphics, it is also a visual masterpiece. Black 2 and White 2 refine the mechanics in every way, plus the expanded Pokédex, hard difficulty mode, and post-game content pack it with everything fans could ever want in a Pokémon game. 6 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' (2025) Image via Sandfall Entertainment Turn-based RPGs are often thought to be older games because of their format, but newer titles continue to innovate the genre, including the 2025 Game of the Year winner, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In a fading world exists the paintress, an entity able to erase an age from the planet every year. Now, a brave group of adventurers set out on the 33rd expedition to defeat her and save the planet from becoming ageless. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a compelling masterpiece from a gameplay perspective that delivers immersive and tense combat, which is accomplished using its innovative blend of turn-based combat and real-time events. This unique mix of mechanics made it an instant masterpiece, and with some incredible worldbuilding and a spectacular cast of voice actors, it is no surprise why this is one of the best modern RPG games. 5 'Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door' (2004) Image via Nintendo Mario is mainly a platforming franchise, but it has spread out into fighting games, kart racers, party games, and turn-based RPGs. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door follows Mario as he travels to a port town in order to help Princess Peach open the titular door. However, once he arrives, he discovers that the princess has been kidnapped by an alien race known as the X-nauts. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door takes Mario outside his comfort zone and brings him into a new world of turn-based gameplay. The timed button presses add a nice flow and engagement to the usual menu sequences, keeping players on their toes. Also highlighting sharp writing, witty dialog, and unmatched charm, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is an unexpected video game masterpiece. 4 'Final Fantasy X' (2001) Image via Square Enix One of the greatest video game franchises is Final Fantasy, and while it has a history of being turn-based, a lot of its games are hybrid versions. It was tough to choose just one, but the best pure turn-based RPG in the series is Final Fantasy X. When Tidus is transported from his highly-advanced world to a fantasy realm, he teams up with a mage to go on an adventure and take down the one who summoned him here. Final Fantasy X might not be the most acclaimed Final Fantasy game, but it is the best turn-based RPG because of its conditional turn-based system, which turns every battle into a strategic chess match. This game also innovated with the Sphere Grid, offering more mechanical flexibility in character stat building, giving the player unprecedented control, which helped build their vision of how to win. 3 'Chrono Trigger' (1995) Image via Square Enix Turn-based RPGs have existed for years, but modern titles have perfected the formula, meaning it is all the more impressive for older games to hold up, such as Chrono Trigger. When a group of adventurers accidentally travel to the future, they discover a post-apocalyptic ruin. Now, they must travel back and forth from the destroyed future and the prehistoric past in order to gain enough strength to prevent the end of the world. Chrono Trigger was assembled by a dream team of producers who had worked on some of the greatest JRPGs of the time, as well as using the art of acclaimed manga author Akira Toriyama. By replacing random encounters with fluid gameplay, the seamless battlefield combat was much more immersive and immaculately paced. But it still retains the turn-based charm that made it one of the best fantasy video games from the 1990s. 2 'Persona 5' (2016) Image via Atlus, Sega Turn-based RPGs aren't the only subgenre of RPGs, because there also exist JRPGs, which can merge to become something else entirely. Even with so many modern hits, there is only one king of JRPGs, and that is Persona 5. A group of high school students forms a group of phantom thieves, aiming to steal artifacts and other valuables from evil adults, stopping their villainous desires from harming the rest of the world. RPGs are such a popular genre because they allow players to fully embody the role they are playing, giving them a greater sense of immersion, and Persona 5 does that exceptionally well. Players have the freedom to explore its turn-based dungeon crawler system or simply roam around the realistic train station. Persona 5 also dazzles with its bold and stylized aesthetic, which doesn't take away from this turn-based masterpiece that also feels like a social-life simulator. 1 'Baldur's Gate 3' (2023) Image via Larian Studios Before video games, the turn-based RPG genre existed through tabletop games such as Dungeons & Dragons, and the one game that brought this to life was Baldur's Gate 3. After players are infected by a Mind Flayer tadpole, they need to adventure across the world in order to find a cure. However, a war between mortals and gods is brewing, making that task much more difficult. Baldur's Gate 3 is a journey of unparalleled freedom, bringing the nostalgic classic turn-based RPG to life like never before. The character customization is deep, letting players be whatever they want, and with unlimited choices for each solution, they can also do whatever they want. The mechanical agency players have is unrestricted, and with some of the best worldbuilding in video games, players can do all of this in an intriguing setting, proving why it not only is the best turn-based RPG, but one of the best games ever. Baldur's Gate 3 Released August 3, 2023 ESRB M Developer(s) Larian Studios Publisher(s) Larian Studios Franchise Baldur's Gate