Some players want huge worlds to explore for hundreds of hours. One of the most famous, which has been around for more than ten years, is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. With a fantastical world, visceral combat, and an engaging story, players couldn't help themselves. At the end of the JRPG, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gave players another great option to explore and another great remake v Final Fantasy series.
10 linear games that quietly give players complete control
Open-world projects aren't the only ones with player choice and freedom, as evidenced by these linear games.
Not every RPG or JRPG fan is interested in exploring every nook and cranny in a game, even if they want the same amount of play time. There are more linear experiences, both short and long, that fans will love if they haven't played or even seen these games before.
Scarlet Nexus
The future is now
Scarlet Nexus gives players a choice at the start between two protagonists, Yuito or Kasane, who start out the same, but their paths quickly diverge. Each character gets different party members to join them on missions, and the protagonists are the only playable characters, with the others serving as support.
In terms of side activities, there isn't much besides bonding with party members between missions and discovering things off the beaten path. Although it can be linear, the action is the best part of the game, easy enough to understand and look cool doing it.
Indivisible
Metroidvania RPG
Indivisible is a turn-based RPG stuffed inside a 2D Metroidvania. In dungeons, players will run through typical interconnected mazes as they move between different areas of the world. Weak monsters can be killed by melee attacks, while stronger monsters initiate combat when hit.
All four party members will be mapped to the face button and players are free to randomly summon them or try to be more strategic and build combos. With slick hand-drawn animations, it's certainly one of the best-looking RPGs and Metroidvanias in somewhat recent history.
Undertale
Monster Mash
Undertale is short, very linear, but also one of the most unique and memorable RPGs on the list, let alone of all time. Players can choose to attack the monsters or talk their way out of the fight, and by sparing the monsters, they can take the pacifist path.
Doing so will open up more random monsters and big bosses, giving players insight into their problems. Being a pacifist is more challenging than fighting, oddly enough, as dodging attacks, especially from bosses, is akin to a shooter from hell. It's all worth it in the end, thanks to the comedic writing and energetic music.
Final Fantasy 13
Funneled Fantasy
Final Fantasy 13 is the most linear entry in the main series Final Fantasy games. Players will not be able to change jobs, party members, or do any side activities until much later in the game. It was a disaster for fans used to the openness of previous entries, but a blessing for fans of linear games.
10 RPGs that let you play at your own pace
Go slow or fast, make a beeline for the next quest or take a moment to explore: this RPG encourages you to play as fast as you want.
Splitting the party into different areas and missions helped players get to know the characters better in smaller pairs, which is what Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth he did too, and he must have been inspired by that Final Fantasy 13. While not perfect, the visuals, music, and combat system are top notch, plus the last quarter of the game opens up with a few distractions if players want.
Parasite Eve
Resolution of the Case
Parasite Eve takes place in New York and follows a detective investigation into the paranormal. Melting humans, mutating rats, sewer chases and more await players in this horror-themed RPG.
In combat, players are free to run around and dodge attacks, and on their turn they can pause the game, aim their weapon or psychic power, and fire away. A heightened sense of reality, a small list of locations and a combat system does it all Parasite Eve one of Square's best PS1 games, and while there aren't many side activities on your first try, New Game+ mode adds an extra long side dungeon.
The world ends with you
Week after week
The world ends with you it also takes place in one city, apart from Shibuya, Japan. Neku, a recently deceased teenager, wakes up in a secondary dimension of the real Shibuya. While everything looks the same, it can only interact with characters who are also in this plane of existence.
The goal is to win a series of battle challenges to be crowned the winner of this game and thus obtain wishes such as the ability to be revived. The battle system is unique as touch controls work for Neku on the bottom screen, while his rotating partners can be controlled using buttons on the top screen. Gamers can get the single screen remaster on Switch to keep things simple, which is also the easiest to find and play today. Aside from grinding for EXP, the game goes through a daily structure, so there aren't many side activities.
Live A Live
Episodic RPG
Live A Live allows players to choose seven different characters that have separate stories over time. Some episodes are strictly linear, like Sundown Kid in the Wild West, while others allow players to explore more freely, like Pogo from the prehistoric era. Once all the episodes are finished, more open up and it's a bit of a spoiler to say how.
Either way, this remaster Live A Livewhich only started in Japan on the SNES, is a great example of a turn-based RPG with tactical grids. It's not the biggest cohesive story, even when things come together, but the experimental nature is worth it along with the HD-2D graphics.
Castlevania: Dawn Of Sorrow
Along the 2D path
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is a sequel Castlevania: Aria of Sorrowwhich followed Soma Cruz, a vampire hunter in the future. Future or not, Dracula and his castle still exist, so the fight continues even without the full support of the Belmont clan. Just like the first game, Soma can fight enemies, level up, and collect or buy equipment from shops.
10 RPGs where buildings matter more than equipment
Loot isn't everything in these RPGs that put a lot of emphasis on your class, skills, and other abilities.
Players also have the chance to learn abilities from monsters, both active and passive, and turn a collection of souls into almost va Pokemon game. The 2D Metroidvania design means there will be a lot of backtracking and some side exploration, but it's minimal in the long run.
Fire Emblem: Path of Shining
Back to basics
Unlike newer versions v Fire sign series like Fire Emblem: Three Houseswhich has secondary content, Fire Emblem: Path of Shining goes the old school route. Players will move from one tactical battle to another with permadeath on all the time, meaning players have to pay more attention than usual during battles.
Once an ally is dead, that is unless players reload. It's certainly a more challenging tactical game, but anyone curious can now check it out on the Switch 2 thanks to the recent GameCube drop.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Not as open as BG3
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a tightly focused dungeon diving action game, similar Diablo but on a smaller scale. Players can choose their character and class between Archer, Fighter or Sorceress. They can follow the campaign alone by going to different dungeons, or they can speed up the hack-and-slash and loot-based gameplay with friends.
Everyone who jumped into it Baldur's Gate 3 and was too intimidated by branching paths and a long campaign will feel more comfortable with this earlier spinoff now having a remaster on most systems.
Square Enix's 10 Hardest RPGs, Ranked
With so many RPG games out there, it's no surprise that Square Enix has created many highly challenging titles, even on default difficulty.
