Role-playing games, RPGs, are one of the most popular genres of video games. It offers players the never-before-seen ability to explore a multitude of fantastical and science-fiction worlds and experience deep and enriching stories in motion. They are chock-full of characters, insightful messages, and vast annals of interconnected lore that when come together, provide an enriching tapestry of stories players can physically traverse by vicariously playing as the protagonist, whether that be heroes or villains.
RPGs are also landmarks for innovation. With the formulaic heroes and villains of the early eras, studios are forced to approach games in new and flavorful ways to provide fresh gaming ideas and content. Necessity is the mother of invention, and that is on clear display with the forthcoming listed entries. They have been around for such a long time that even though they may not have reinvented the wheel for each installment, they've at least changed the tires and outfitted new shiny rims to refine and better upon their previous games.
10 The Legend Of Heroes
Nihon Falcom’s multi-chapter story spans generations and encourages players to follow the story of different casts of characters as they deal with the events of the previous game in one huge unfolding story. For the players who like heavily interconnected games with multiple Easter Eggs then this may be perfect to play.
From the Trails Of The Sky, Trails of Cold Steel, and the Trails From Zero this series has many installments, 17 core games to be exact, that all connect in some way as players get involved in the vents unfolding in the same world with time passing between each game. A fascinating turn-based JRPG experience where players can feel the world is truly alive, and the narrative they play through has meaning with every subsequent game release.
9 Romance Of The Three Kingdoms
Taking it way back in time to the 80s predating many gamers and yet still cementing itself as one of the most prevalent video game releases of the era. A game by Koeibased on the historical novel of the same name, it invites players to simulate the war and role-play through the story by taking art in large-scale tactical battles that pervaded the warring states of 200 AD China.
Players take on the role of the warlord and things vary between the 14 mainline games the roles fans take roughly stay the same. The franchise is still going strong today after 30-odd years of covering all different faction disputes and wars which players must strategize and fight their way through.
8 Dragon Quest
One of the older series on the list and an entry that can be braggadocios about its library of games. A classic JRPG with traditional animations and art from Manga greats such as Akira Toriyama of similar Dragon Ball fame. This series follows the time-trusted formula of a hero picking up arms and making friends while taking on a perilous journey to rid the world of a big bad evil.
A franchise of 11 core games and 23 spin-offs including the Monster and the recent Treasure series, there are many recognizable and iconic monsters for players to battle such as Slimes, Great Sabrecats, Drackys, and Golems. This RPG shares many similarities with fellow games in the genre however its quintessential charming visage is what separates it from its competitors and is proven to be a hit with gamers.
7 Atelier
A game that takes a different tack in defining a JRPG instead of taking on the role of a hero to save the world against the forces of darkness, or a ragtag group of ruffians fighting back against an oppressive political system, this franchise tries something different.
Players find themselves in the shoes of alchemists when playing the Atelier games and out of the 24 core games (sequels included) there is a lot of brewing, battling, and befriending to be done. The game still holds on to the cutesy, bright color palette and introduces a surprisingly fun RPG combat system for those wanting to take a dive into the action apothecary world.
6 Tales Of Arise
A series with its origins found back in the mid-90s, this action RPG is an anime-style adventure with 17 core games to its name and has become a staple of the genre. Not all games in the series are created equally, but a few are standouts not just in its own library but in the gaming space too. From one of the latest hit releases of Arise on the PS5 the games have gotten better since the SNES era.
Quite a few of the games have been re-released throughout the years with remasters or ports to newer consoles (which may heavily contribute to the 46 games in total), it also has a host of mobile games too. An addictive series with a cast of charming and deep characters with flashy animated combat and nuance to each game bringing back fans for more.
5 Digimon
Children often pick sides when it comes to entertainment, from the console wars to which side of the animated monster fence fans fall on. Pokemon may reign champion in terms of overall appeal and caliber of games; however, Digimon is not to be scoffed at. The denizens of the digital monster world are numerable as are its games.
Boating such series as Digimon World, Digimon Story, and the Dusk and Dawn installments on the DS, this franchise has a lot of RPGs with varying different styles of gameplay. From an action RPG to an open world to turn-based combat, the library of 31 core entries (and 59 games in total) is a testament to how much the anime delivered back in the day and how strong nostalgia has its hooks in the audience.
4 Shin Megami Tensei
The Atlus JRPG machine is a difficult beast to fully comprehend with versions of the games being region-locked and remasters released in the West under different tiles. The demon-capturing and fusion concept has been a main staple of the series, often leading players down the path of discovering what humanity does in the face of demonic invasion.
In the core games of SMT, there are 9 in total with 16 spin-offs. However, SMT has a lot of sister games that are massive (in their own rights) from the likes of Devil Summoner and the Persona games, each with their own side games; the list totals well over 60 entries in this gaming franchise universe alone.
3 Warhammer
One of the pioneers and leaders in the tabletop war simulator taking multiple factions and throwing them into a chaotic world of warfare, weapons, and fantastical, science-fiction abilities. Even though their original TTRPG model is going strong, the franchise has also branched out (regularly) into video games.
This series is expansive both in lore and the way it tackles its games, with 29 games based in the main Warhammer universe, 47 in the 40K sphere specifically, and a whole host of other games that may not necessarily fall into only the RPG category. Plus, with the rate at which Warhammer games are released and the different versions that are released each time this number is just going to keep growing.
2 Pokemon
The gateway RPG for many a new gamer. The monster-catching and battling gamehas captured the hearts of many generations since its first iteration in 1996. GameFreak has run with the idea and published 22 core games to date covering nine generations of fantastical pocket monsters to fight with, care for and eventually evolve on the player’s journey through the many islands they find themselves upon.
From an extremely successful trading card game to an explosive mobile app, the Pokemon franchise has 122 games in total, with some being specific to certain regions of the world. Some fans may complain that the formula has grown stale, however, to this day, they are reinventing themselves with such games as Legends: Arceus and Scarlet and Violet (to varying degrees of reception.)
1 Final Fantasy
Released in 1987, Square Enix’sFinal Fantasy series started a revolution for the role-playing video game genre and has ingratiated itself in many young gamers’ lives as a turning point for what they would love about gaming. Developed for the NES, this was a highly inspired and influential RPG that kickstarted a generation of gaming, garnering many sequels and inspiring many game creators to come.
Now in the series 36th year, Final Fantasy 16 is just around the corner for new consoles, and the fan base has only grown over the years. Apart from the mainline games, the series has a total of 126 games spanning spin-offs, sequels, and mobile games, earning its place as one of the most prolific RPG series of all time.