Whether they are developed in Japan or in the west role-playing games are some of the most engaging genres one can play. They are time-consuming and usually require a lot of commitment from the player to get the most out of them.
It’s these kinds of traits that RPG fans enjoy but unfortunately, other than to most avid of collectors there are many RPGs that get overlooked and forgotten in time. Unless a game is a massive AAA blockbuster like Final Fantasy or The Elder Scrolls the chances are that many gamers will miss out on many great games. Let’s take a look at ten forgotten RPGs that fans of the genre should definitely consider adding to their collection.
10 Rogue Galaxy
Developed by Level-5 the same team responsible for Dragon Quest VIII and Dark Cloud, Rogue Galaxy is a science fantasy RPG released exclusively for the PlayStation 2 in 2007. Taking more than a little bit of inspiration from the Star Wars movies Rogue Galaxy wasn’t quite the massive hit that Sony had hoped.
It didn’t help that Sony released an exclusive big-budget RPG a year after the PlayStation 3 was released. It still remains one of the best looking games on the PS2 and was upscaled and ported on for the PS4 it’s definitely a title worth checking out today.
9 Sands of Destruction
Sands of Destruction was released on the Nintendo DS in 2010 for western territories. It was created by a team made up of developers that worked on Xenogears, Drakengard, Etrian Odyssey, and Grandia.
Sands of Destruction doesn’t quite live up to that legacy but despite being fairly cliché and linear it is still a very good JRPG that is worth seeking out for fans of the genre. In addition, there’s an excellent soundtrack to accompany the game’s surprisingly good visuals that pushed the little DS to its limits.
8 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning was released in 2012 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the PC. It is an action RPG from 38 Studios featuring a dream team directed by The Elder Scrolls’ directorKen Rolston, art and character design by comic book creator Todd McFarlane, and the story by fantasy writer R.A. Salvatore.
Unfortunately, the studio filed for bankruptcy after the Reckoning’s release meaning that any potential sequel seems to be unlikely. It’s a shame because it’s an excellent fantasy action RPG with a very flexible character growth system.
7 Arc The Lad
Arc The Lad gained some recognition in the west with the Arc the Lad Collection released on the PlayStation in 2002. It was localized by Working Designs and packaged in one of the nicest gaming boxsets ever seen at the time featuring a compilation of four games.
The collection was later followed by Arc: Twilight of Spirits and Arc: The End of Darkness released in 2003 and 2005 respectively on the PS2. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that fans will ever see a return to the series after 15 years but for those looking to play a solid a fantasy RPG series with tactical combat would do well to add this series to their collection.
6 Alpha Protocol
Alpha Protocol is a spy espionage RPG thriller developed by Obsidian Studios and published by Sega in 2010. It takes inspiration from espionage movies and TV shows like 24, James Bond, Mission Impossible, and Jason Bourne.
The team at Obsidian Studios are masters at creating RPGs and world-building and interactivity. Those that can look past some awkward combat mechanics will find one of the most original and fun RPGs of the last decade. Alpha Protocol has a wealth of dialogue options and a branching storyline.
5 The Shadow Hearts Trilogy
The Shadow Hearts trilogy was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2001, 2004 and 2006 respectively. The second game in the series Shadow Hearts: Covenant is highly regarded by fans and collectors as not only the best in the series but one of the RPGs ever released on the PS2.
All three games are well worth playing, however, due to its great cast of characters and very original setting. The games are set in alternate Gothic First World War setting where the world is filled with the supernatural which is a far cry from the usual fantasy-like settings of most games in the genre.
4 Resonance Of Fate
First released in 2010 for the Xbox 360, Resonance of Fate is an action RPG developed by tri-Ace a studio better known for its Star Ocean series. It went largely ignored at the time of its release due to its release window being too close to hotly anticipated Final Fantasy XIII.
It’s recently had a second chance with its 4K/HD remaster for the PlayStation 4 but for many gamers, it still went under the radar due to being only available via the PlayStation Store. Fans of JRPGs should definitely add Resonance of Fate to their playlist. It has a unique steampunk setting and one of the most stylish combat systems in the genre.
3 The Last Remnant
First released and developed by Square-Enix for the Xbox 360 in 2008. The Last Remnant has a lot in common with Square-Enix’s SaGa RPG franchise and was created by many of the same developers that worked on that series. Unfortunately, The Last Remnant suffered from slow down and other technical issues on the Xbox 360 and its reviews suffered as a result.
It was later remastered for the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch in 2010. The developers upgraded the engine from Unreal 3 to Unreal 4 and all of the issues that plagued the original game were gone. The Last Remnant is well worth the time of any RPG fan, it features a fantastic world to explore and has one of the most memorable antagonists in the genre in the form of The Conqueror.
2 Jeanne D’Arc
Jeanne d’Arc was released on the PlayStation Portable in 2007. It was developed by Level-5 and is a fantasy tactical RPG based on Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years’ War. The gameplay share some similarities to the Final Fantasy: Tactics series with an albeit more accessible for newcomers.
The visuals still hold as some of the best seen on the system with its cell-shaded art style and beautiful anime cutscenes. Additionally, the story cleverly blends important moments in history with fantasy and it works surprisingly well.
1 The Wild Arms Series
The Wild Arms series was released exclusively for PlayStation consoles from 1996 to 2008. It received five mainline entries, an enhanced remake of the first game and a tactical RPG for the PSP. It has one of the most unique settings ever seen in an RPG it uses an old American West theme combined with aspects of medieval Europe.
A great place to start would be Wild Arms: Alter Code f which is a remake of the first game featuring a more fleshed out script and much better graphics more in line with Wild Arms 5. It's unlikely the series will ever see a return on modern consoles but RPG fans should definitely add this series to their collection.