Considering that many RPGs are rooted in the world of fantasy, it only makes sense that there would be kings, queens, and all sorts of royal individuals who occupy the world, but sometimes, they even play a leading role as the protagonist. Though these characters are obviously very well known in their respective worlds, this doesn't necessarily mean that they have it any easier than their party members, and these characters are usually able to grow from their experiences where they can re-evaluate their prestigious position within society along their adventure.
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There have actually been a huge number of RPGs over the years that feature protagonists who are considered to be royalty, and though not all of these games made much of an impression on players, there are still quite a few that really stood out for their world, combat and characters. The RPG genre has featured some of the industry's most beloved protagonists, and these excellent titles listed below managed to make their royal main characters intriguing and relatable, while also providing a fantastic experience overall for players to enjoy.
6 Fable 3
Metacritic User Score: 6.7
Though Fable 3 wasn't considered quite as groundbreaking and innovative as its predecessors, it's still nonetheless an incredibly fun and endlessly charming game that allows players to fill the shoes of the Royal Monarch. The biggest addition to the game which feeds into the protagonist's role within the story is the ability to make important decisions which will directly affect the kingdom and its inhabitants. These choices will also impact the player's morality, giving them the option to become a kindhearted ruler of their kingdom, or a merciless tyrant who seeks nothing more than money and chaos.
When players aren't attending to their royal chores, they are able to freely explore the expansive world at their leisure, which is packed full of interesting activities to jump into. As with the previous Fable games, players are also given the option to form relationships with a character if they take the time to form a bond with them, and are even able to marry and have children if they are close enouh. There may be a few shortcomings, but Fable 3 is still an excellent RPG that really makes the player feel like a big deal due to the amount of authority that they wield as a Royal Monarch.
5 Final Fantasy 15
Metacritic User Score: 7.8
Final Fantasy 15 kicks off with Noctis, the Crown Prince of Lucis, traveling away to attend his arranged marriage with Lady Lunafreya as part of a peace deal. Despite his prestigious position within society, Noctis isn't exactly thrilled with being a royal, reluctantly attending to his duties without any real understanding of how important his position really is within the world. After Lucis is unexpectedly attacked and destroyed a few hours into the game, Noctis is forced to learn what it means to be a member of a royal family, and the immense amount of responsibility that rests on his shoulders.
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Noctis isn't alone while traveling the vast open world though, as he's also accompanied by four royal bodyguards, who just so happen to also be his best friends, resulting in one giant road trip that features plenty of intense fights, side quests, and more than a few camping spots. Final Fantasy 15's story can admittedly be a little messy at times, but the brotherly comradery shared between the boys helps to still keep the game engaging and fun to play, and when paired with the flashy combat and outstanding visuals, it makes for a very unique and enjoyable RPG experience overall.
4 Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Metacritic User Score: 7.9
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
- Platform(s)
- PS4 , Switch , PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One
- Released
- March 23, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Level 5
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Ni No Kuni 2 features two playable characters, and while one is royalty in the traditional sense, the other is a little more modern, but still someone of very high authority and influence within the world. Evan is the young heir to the Ding Dong Dell Kingdom, while Roland is the president of an unnamed country who is mysteriously transported to the world of Ni No Kuni as a younger form of himself. Although players will be tasked with defeating monsters and seeking out rare resources across the open world, they're also encouraged to spend some time building up Evan's new kingdom by instructing the workforce to upgrade and enhance certain areas, which in turn provides weapons and armor to use in the battles.
Despite the bright and vibrant visual aesthetic of the game, Ni No Kuni 2 still does a very good job at looking at the realistic and often gritty reality of being a ruler of a kingdom, with the story pretty much kicking off with a devastating coup d'état taking place. Throughout the plot, there's plenty of political drama and a huge focus on how stressful it can be to take on such a magnitude of authority at such a young age, making for a thrilling story that manages to stay engaging from beginning to end through its two amazing protagonist characters.
3 Child Of Light
Metacritic User Score: 8.0
On the surface, Child of Light can seem like a pretty familiar 2D side-scroller platforming title, but the game actually features plenty of core RPG mechanics, such as earning EXP and acquiring new skills and abilities over time. It also includes a royal protagonist in the form of Aurora, a princess who becomes stranded in the continent of Lemuria, which has been decimated after it was colonized by Umbra and her dark forces. Aurora's mission is to bring back the sun, stars and moon, which were all stripped from Lemuria, so that she can finally drive away its invaders.
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Throughout the game, Aurora makes plenty of friends who will accompany her on her long and arduous journey, along with contributing their unique abilities to the turn-based combat sequences. The game is packed full of quirky and lovable characters, but Aurora is most definitely the highlight, with her coming-of-age character arc really tugging at the heart strings and making her a truly underrated RPG protagonist who deserves a lot more credit.
2 Suikoden 5
Metacritic User Score: 8.5
Suikoden 5
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
- Released
- February 23, 2006
- Developer(s)
- Konami , Hudson Soft
- Genre(s)
- JRPG , Fighting , Adventure , Strategy
Suikoden 5 is the final game released for this beloved series of RPGs, but the story actually takes place several years before the events of the first entry, being based around the political struggles that affect the rich and luxurious Queendom of Falena. Players control the Prince of Falena, who is tasked with traveling the world, recruiting allies, and finding solutions to some of the kingdom's biggest issues. Along their adventure, players will be able to have six characters in their party at a time, all of whom have their own unique playstyles and even their own small loyalty quests which shed some light on their personality and backstory.
The amount of player freedom that the game grants players in regard to creating teams and specific formations is honestly quite staggering, and though the story starts off pretty simple, it quickly spirals into something much more engaging and unpredictable as it goes on. The protagonists' position as a prince also impacts how NPCs actually talk and interact with him, with some setting up shops just to aid their adventure, while others will give them valuable tips on how to go about recruiting new allies. Suikoden 5 is a more than worthy entry in the longrunning Suikoden series which is greatly enhanced by its protagonist who plays a very pivotal role in the story and the world at large.
1 Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Metacritic User Score: 8.9
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Released
- October 7, 2004
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Genre(s)
- Tactical RPG
Alongside their innovative tactical-RPG gameplay and compelling stories, the Fire Emblem series has also become well-known for its iconic protagonists, and Sacred Stones is certainly no exception, with Eirika and Ephraim being two of the greatest characters seen in the entire series. Born into the royal family of Renais, Eirika and Ephraim must band together to resist a sudden invasion by the Grado Empire, while also setting out on their own adventures to learn more about the mystery of the Sacred Stones.
The turn-based tactical gameplay of Scared Stones is incredibly addictive, largely thanks to the RPG systems that allow characters to grow with each battle, making each and every encounter very worthwhile and fun. The lengthy and quite mature story of Sacred Stones is also elevated by the inclusion of both Eirika and Ephraim, especially during the sequences where they get to split up and reflect on the state of the world, and their hopes and doubts concerning whether they'll ever be able to save their home-nation of Renais before it's completely destroyed.
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