A turn-based RPG technically it started in 2Dbut that was due to console limitations. Classic as Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy 6 they're not quite 2D RPGs in the same way Super Mario World is a 2D platformer. However, there are plenty of great 2D action RPGs to try out, including Dragon Crown and River City Girls games.
Are there any? turn-based 2D RPG in a more traditional sense? They are truly made in East and West and many of them are the best of the best. On all platforms, fans of 2D games will love this RPG.
Indivisible
A loan from two of the best
Indivisible is an indie RPG where the main character Ajna can summon the spirits of the past to help her in battle. Each character is placed on a face button in battle, and players can build combos if they time the button press correctly.
It's a similar combat system to Profile of Valkyrie on PS1. Overworld is a 2D maze similar to Metroidvania, complete with crawling abilities, so it's like two great genres rolled into one.
Child of Light
Another UbiArt classic
Ubisoft fans can enjoy exploring 3D RPGs like Tom Clancy's The Division or Assassin's Creed Shadowsbut they are missing out on a forgotten 2D classic. Child of light it used the UbiArt engine that also powered it Rayman Origins; in other words, it looks like great 2D art.
In this haunting story, a princess plays in a crumbling land where each battle is more difficult than the last. Every move, from attacks to abilities, has a timer that can interrupt an enemy's moves or be interrupted by enemies. This mechanic adds more strategy to the platform game.
A cruel king and a great hero
Even little girls can save monsters
As obscure an RPG company as NIS is, A cruel king and a great hero is one of their most underrated games. The artwork looks like it was drawn with crayons and pencils, giving it a very different style. Players control a young girl, Yuu, who gains monster allies as she explores new areas of the world.
The monsters are misunderstood, and with Yuu's help, he bridges the gap between them and humans. Yuu can travel up and down each area, but the game is still overall in 2D, with areas separated by screens rather than world maps connecting the locations.
Miitopia
Check out Mii!
Miitopia started out as a 3DS RPG before being remade for the Switch. The game's big gimmick revolves around player-created Miis that appear as party members and monsters. This made more sense on the 3DS, as it pulled the Miis from the others that players met on SpotPass to populate the world.
This discrepancy makes the Switch version a smaller experience, but a more accessible one. either way Miitopia is a lightweight RPG designed fully in 2D, with the game mostly consisting of battles without offering many ways to explore the environment.
Cris stories
Time Makes Sense
Cris stories is one of those modern turn-based RPGs that starts out a bit slow but sinks its hooks into players over time. This is fitting since the game is a time travel RPG that incorporates this theme into the battle.
Crisbell, the protagonist, can split the game's turn-based battles into past, present, or future segments that will affect enemies. An enemy may be strong in the present but weak in the future or a novice in the past. It's a system that's a little hard to get used to, but it's a deep turn-based game with strategic depth that's worth investing in.
SteamWorld Quest: Hand Of Gilgamesh
Robots, dungeons and dragons
Great stuff on SteamWorld series is that the developer, Image & Form Games, is always experimenting with genres and settings. SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamesh is a turn-based fantasy game with card gameplay.
Moves are counted using cards in battle, but there are also controllable robot characters, so it's not strictly a deck-building game. Although not as popular as SteamWorld Dig or SteamWorld Heist, SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamesh is an underrated gem waiting for 2D fans to get their hands on it.
Monster Sanctuary
PokeVania
Monster Sanctuary combines Metroidvanias with monster catching games like Pokemon into something truly innovative. Players can explore and acquire items or abilities to help them navigate the environment, a pattern typical of Metroidvanias.
When monsters are encountered, battles switch to a turn-based mechanic where players can issue orders to their group of monsters. It's a shame Game Freak didn't try a Metroidvania hybrid with theirs Pokemon series still, like Monster Sanctuary proves to be a solid genre combination.
Astria Ascending
From mobile to console
Astria Ascending is a unique RPG because it started as a mobile game before being remastered for a larger console release. It's also weird because players start with a large number of party members and have to decide who to take with them through trial and error.
With hand-drawn graphics and a vibrant 2D world, this RPG will pop on any system players engage with it. From battles to exploration, everything in it Astria Ascending it's in great 2D.
