Best turn-based rpgs from the last 10 years?

[Logi]

Having just beaten Expedition 33 i'm in the mood for more turn-based games, any modern rpgs you recommend?

 

[RustySK]

Setting aside the bigger releases from Squeenix and the like (Fantasian, the various SaGa remasters, Octopath and the like), I can definitely recommend Chained Echoes, Crystal Project and the Voice of Cards trilogy.

Chained Echoes has some fantastic sprite art and can best be described as an hommage to Chrono Trigger, I think. While I don't think it's as good as its inspiration, it definitely is a fun time.

Crystal Project meanwhile is an open world sandbox that allows you to experiment around with a very in-depth job system. Plenty of exploration, very little story - probably not for everyone, but I found it quite fun, especially since I went in blind and was very pleasantly surprised by the sheer breadth of what it has on offer.

Finally, the Voice of Cards games are three self-contained RPGs Yoko Taro and co. made a couple years ago that seem to have flown under the radar. They have a very distinct, tabletop-like aesthetic where everything is made of cards and you have a faux DM narrating the experience, but at their core they're turn-based JRPGs.
The second game, The Forsaken Maiden, is definitely the best one - be warned though, they're all quite slow-paced experiences.

I don't think any of them qualify as the best turn-based RPG of the last ten years or anything, but I honestly have no idea what I would pick for that title either and they're all quite good and easily overlooked.

 

[YuriSukiSan]

Based on what you posted I think you might like Dragon Quest XI, Romancing Saga 2 or Baldurs Gate 3! If you want a better look at what's around I recommend looking at RPG codex, it's what that site specializes in! They are very grumpy, rude and old fashioned there however so be warned. They're also orientated around Western RPGs rather than JRPGs.

Oh, ALSO! It's Golden Week! So some JRPGs should be on sale if you're not sailing the seven seas!

 

[Yousef]

Go with Persona 5 and Persona 3: Reload (as well as its DLC)

 

[nobitakun]

I don't usually play games this new, but a friend told me this one is worth mentioning as one of the best:

 

[Azazelivae]

Honestly when we're talking about "Best" in this case it depends on what you mean.

If you only care about the Gameplay i'm gonna recommend you SMT V:V but if you care about the Story Metaphor ReFantazio and Persona 5 and 3Re is good.

If we're willing to bend typical Turn-Based Genre in this something Persona 5 Tactica is also good, it's underrated even, not enough people talk about it imo.

But if you're more likely to play Turn-Based RPG that someway somehow feels more like Action then FF7Re is definitely the way to go nowadays.

 

[Firenoh]

I don't know about best, but there is an Apple Arcade game called Guildlings which came out 2019. It's only part 1 of a 3-part unfinished narrative, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it.

Biggest flaw is that it is very much centered around playing it on your phone, with zero ports floating around out there that I know of.

 

[glokglakglak]

Based on what you posted I think you might like Dragon Quest XI, Romancing Saga 2 or Baldurs Gate 3!

romancing saga 2 is the most recent one right? the remake of the old one? well then again everything "saga" or "romancing" being released as of late is pretty much a remake

how does one convince another that romancing saga 2 is any good at all when one thinks the character designs absolutely ruin the charm the original had?
i ask because i see DQXI in there and i can say i am enjoying DQXI, so seeing them lined up side by side makes me think that there may be actual worth in Romancing Saga 2 beyond the hideously generic character design

 

[WesternYokai]

I don't usually play games this new, but a friend told me this one is worth mentioning as one of the best:

View attachment 64253

I got the platinum trophy on PS5 but it was one of my biggest letdowns in indie gaming. I hope that the DLC and hopefully a sequel improves the general weak script and gameplay.

 

[RustySK]

how does one convince another that romancing saga 2 is any good at all when one thinks the character designs absolutely ruin the charm the original had?
i ask because i see DQXI in there and i can say i am enjoying DQXI, so seeing them lined up side by side makes me think that there may be actual worth in Romancing Saga 2 beyond the hideously generic character design

Could not agree more regarding the artstyle of the remake, I hate how that game looks. It's the main reason I still haven't gotten around to it, despite loving the series.
Looks more like an off-brand Ys game from the Vita days than anything else and given that SaGa games generally have super cool visuals, that's a real bummer.

Assuming it's anything like the original, it definitely would be worth checking out though!
Every game in that series is usually a super unique, experimental take on what a (J)RPG can be. If you can't get past the visuals in the remake, SaGa Frontier 2's remake is definitely very good and also well worth a look.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

SMT VV
SMT Nocturne HD

 

[MemeAlert]

I don't usually play games this new, but a friend told me this one is worth mentioning as one of the best:

View attachment 64253

Was that before or after they remove "The Completionist" from the game?

 

[Graw]

Could not agree more regarding the artstyle of the remake, I hate how that game looks.

The art style in SaGa games can be pretty janky. Romancing SaGa Minstrel song has probably some of the worst character designs I've seen in an rpg but it's probably one of my favourite rpgs of all time.

 

[RustySK]

The art style in SaGa games can be pretty janky. Romancing SaGa Minstrel song has probably some of the worst character designs I've seen in an rpg but it's probably one of my favourite rpgs of all time.

Oh I actually love how Minstrel Song looks! But I totally understand that that style isn't everybody's cup of tea.

That said, as divisive as it may be, it is definitely a unique aesthetic. Which is pretty much my primary issue with the visuals in the RS2 remake - it looks generic as all hell. I'll take odd, hit-or-miss visuals over that look any day.

 

[McDoob]

I don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but my vote is for BattleTech:

Save 75% on BATTLETECH on Steam

Take command of your own mercenary outfit of 'Mechs and the MechWarriors that pilot them, struggling to stay afloat as you find yourself drawn into a brutal interstellar civil war.

store.steampowered.com

One of the many reasons why I miss my PC.

 

[Graw]

Oh I actually love how Minstrel Song looks! But I totally understand that that style isn't everybody's cup of tea.

It's grown on me over time but I really don't know why they went with that weird mix of western influenced chibi-anime style. All the concept art reminds me of fantasy novel cover art from the 70's but the way they translated that to the in game models seems like a very odd choice.

That said, as divisive as it may be, it is definitely a unique aesthetic. Which is pretty much my primary issue with the visuals in the RS2 remake - it looks generic as all hell. I'll take odd, hit-or-miss visuals over that look any day.

I haven't actually played the remake yet or even really looked at any screenshots.

 

[Bakuma1997]

Sea of Stars, basically Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger with even more creative puzzles
Haven't played it since i lack funds, but i got hooked to it by the gameplay videos alone

 

[McDoob]

Sea of Stars, basically Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger with even more creative puzzles
Haven't played it since i lack funds, but i got hooked to it by the gameplay videos alone

Wow. I mean, Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger are among my favorite SNES games. And your synopsis seems accurate. But, like you, I lack funds.

When this game finds itself on the high seas, I may or may not say 'Arr, matey!' Because Grinch-Tendo can kiss my hairy pale...something...

 

[nobitakun]

Was that before or after they remove "The Completionist" from the game?

I didn't know what was that, I thought it was like a side quest or something so I was worried. It turns out it's just a guy who did or didn't arguable stuff. Anyways, I care nothing about these kind of "internet gossips", if they told me the main character is based in a kid who did very bad things I would also don't care, that's the dev's problem :)

 

[Castilho]

Setting aside the bigger releases from Squeenix and the like (Fantasian, the various SaGa remasters, Octopath and the like), I can definitely recommend Chained Echoes, Crystal Project and the Voice of Cards trilogy.

Chained Echoes has some fantastic sprite art and can best be described as an hommage to Chrono Trigger, I think. While I don't think it's as good as its inspiration, it definitely is a fun time.

I don't think any of them qualify as the best turn-based RPG of the last ten years or anything, but I honestly have no idea what I would pick for that title either and they're all quite good and easily overlooked.

I'd totally list Chained Echoes as one of the best in recent years.

 

[glokglakglak]

Oh I actually love how Minstrel Song looks!

i can actually say i actually grew up with the Minstrel game (the one with the male pirate, the female viking, the green bow girl or was it thief)
the music was pretty damn good and i actually liked the overall visual style of it, although it has this weird mix of realistic + chibi, it at least still looks more appealing than the Romancing Saga 2 remake for me

the only reason why i stopped playing it was because the battle system was kinda convoluted
like iirc i had to use up a certain gauge which doesn't replenish just to use certain attacks? my memory is hazy but that's very much the mechanic that kinda turned me off, despite the game looking and feeling really nice