Final Fantasy, Persona, and The Elder Scrolls are decades-old RPG series with current or upcoming entries. Constant gameplay, narrative, and technical innovation draw in new fans and excite old supporters. Even near-unchanging series like Dragon Quest implemented quality-of-life improvements to keep their vibe the same while improving fan experience.
However, some of their contemporaries from the new 00s never made the jump into the new 20s. Some never received a sequel at all, even with their relative popularity at the time. If they ever got new entries in the 10s, they were either ports or spiritual successors that were almost completely removed from the original series.
10 Dark Cloud & Dark Chronicle (PS2)
Dark Chronicle was named Dark Cloud 2 in North America, but it shares no narrative elements save for a few references from Dark Cloud. What the games do share are city-building elements, weapon degradation, and weapon fusion or upgrades as core gameplay elements.
Both games also feature unique combat and exploration abilities for their characters. Time travel also figured into their plot, along with self-sacrifice and redemption. While the second game improved upon the first by leaps and bounds, poor sales and new IP shelved any possibility of a third game.
9 Skies of Arcadia (Dreamcast & Gamecube)
Skies of Arcadia is still looked back on fondly by fans who long to sail the skies in RPGs. It’s easy to see, as the turn-of-the-millennium game allows players to chart the world via airships, as well as make “Discoveries,” or hidden locations with extra goods.
Rumors are floating around of a remaster for its GameCube remake, Skies of Arcadia Legends. If those rumors prove right, gamers will have access to a classic turn-based RPG with a similarly prototypic and likable hero in Vyse, and a story of pirates saving the known world.
8 Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)
Lost Odyssey was remarkable for a 2007 title, in spite of its troubled development. While turn-based, this JRPG introduced refreshing mechanics such as the “Aim Ring System” and five-member combat parties. Story elements, such as the difference between “mortal” and “immortal” characters, also carried over to the gameplay.
Reviews and fans have noted that its tempered, memorable adult cast gave emotional weight to the game’s main story and subplots. And while it was reviewed and sold remarkably well at the time, a sequel never surfaced.
7 Vagrant Story (PS)
A true heartbreaker of a never-to-be-seen-again game, Vagrant Story is frequently touted as one of Square Enix’s best non-Final Fantasy games and one of the best English localizations of a Japanese game.
Gorgeous visuals conceived by Akihiko Yoshida and Hiroshi Minagawa, soaring music by Hitoshi Sakimoto, and complex plotlines by Yasumi Matsuno and Jun Akiyama captured the imaginations of Square Enix loyalists and JRPG fans at the time. The action RPG’s multi-layered combat system also wowed players.
As is the nature of similar games, this entry in the Ivalice Alliance series never got a true narrative sequel. The best that fans have at the moment are references in Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, and Crimson Shroud.
6 Jade Empire (Xbox & Windows)
Jade Empire was a marked departure from BioWare’s repertoire at the time of release. At that point, the studio mostly dealt with Dungeons & Dragons-style fantasy games or science fiction titles. Yet the studio was able to create an accessible and tightly-packed action RPG with a fresh premise and interesting cast.
Despite BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk initially stating deep interest in the game, interest in expanding on the IP remains six feet under. The closest fans have to a similar title is Sifu, the martial-arts rogue-like by Sloclap.
5 Shadow Hearts (PS & PS2)
Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts: Covenant are better-known than their predecessor, Koudelka, yet the series as a whole is still largely obscure. All three games combine cosmic horror with alternate history and a lack of fear on the developer’s side as to how weird they may seem.
Gamers laud the Shadow Hearts games in particular for their charming characters and unique combat. Yuri and Alice’s romance took center stage, but other playable characters have quirky personalities and histories worth paying attention to. Meanwhile, the Judgement Ring timing-based system had players paying attention to on-screen action in and out of combat.
4 Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 (Gamecube & Switch)
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean and its prequel Baten Kaitos Origins were unfortunately cast aside for bigger projects by developer Monolith Soft. Nevertheless, both games retain a following in the 20s, thanks to the upcoming Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster port for the Nintendo Switch.
Players found both games enjoyable not just because they controlled “guardian spirits” that guided the protagonists. They also found “Magnus,” its card-based combat system, a refreshing change from typical RPG fighting systems. Various plot twists and stunning moments have helped sustain this short-lived series in the minds of fans.
3 The Legend of Dragoon (PS)
A holdout on the Playstation 1, The Legend of Dragoon stood out due to its QTE-like battle mechanic and Dragoon Spirits. Additions, the QTE mechanic, gave extra incentive for gamers to pay attention as successful executions granted spirit points that allowed Dragoon transformations. Realistic cutscenes and luscious pre-rendered backgrounds also earned the game praise.
From launch, this game faced tough competition. Final Fantasy IX, Vagrant Story, and Chrono Cross all dominated the RPG landscape that year. Despite this, the game managed to survive obscurity and receives attention to this day thanks to well-met remakes.
2 Champions (PS2 & Windows)
Champions of Norrath and Champions: Return to Arms were couch co-op staples as well as online games to play with friends. Not only did they tread on familiar Everquest grounds, but they also had timeless hack-and-slash action that made it easy to drop in and out of the game.
Compared to Diablo II and similar games, the couch co-op experience of Champions was a lot more social. Sadly, unlike Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, these games never got a re-release even if they were ready for online play and could accommodate more players.
1 Suikoden (PS & Nintendo)
Ask any RPG fan which franchise they’d want to see back, and Suikoden is the likely answer. Touted as one of the best JRPG series ever made, these games are built on the backs of a massive cast of playable characters and moving stories of destiny and betrayal.
Fortunately for fans, the first two titles received HD remakes. But a full revival of the series doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Konami at the moment. Instead, fans have spiritual successor Eiyuden Chronicle to look forward to.