Hey everyone! I’ve been diving into RPGs lately and wanted to share my thoughts and seek recommendations from fellow gamers. I’ve found myself resonating with Scott the Woz’s viewpoint on random encounters and grinding, but I do make an exception when the combat system is truly exceptional, like in the case of Undertale.Personally, I’m not particularly fond of random encounters and the need to grind excessively. I find it difficult to immerse myself in games that heavily rely on these mechanics. However, I’m open to exploring RPGs that strike a balance between engaging combat and a captivating narrative. While the combat system doesn’t necessarily have to be mind-blowing, it does need to offer some strategic depth.I’ve tried Pokémon games in the past, but they didn’t quite grab my attention. I’d prefer for the game to be available on steam or the switch. In terms of graphics I prefer pixel-art.That being said, I’m eager to hear your recommendations for pixelated RPGs that you think might suit my preferences. Whether it’s a lesser-known gem or a popular title, I’m open to any suggestions. Thanks in advance for your input, and I can’t wait to delve into some new RPG adventures!
You must log in or register to comment.
Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark
It doesn’t fit all your requirements but I think you may like it.
Fear & hunger will surprise you. It looks like an RPG and it seemingly plays like one, but it’s actually an entire different beast. Lots to understand and to uncover, both gameplay-wise and lore-wise. If you decide to give it a shot, be sure that the game it’s not unbalanced, it just need to be understood.
If you want something less dark and hard, the Mario & Luigi series for GBA/NDS/3DS is crazy fun. The same applies for the Paper mario series, very original and super fun RPGs that don’t really play by the rules
fear and hunger is an immersive sim disguised as an rpg.
the only thing pushing the game further isn’t your characters level but your own knowledge and understanding of the game mechanics and your ability to manipulate them to your advantage but this comes with bashing your head to a wall over and over and over again until you find something that works. it is brutal and not for everyone. the themes are also pretty disturbing so proceed with caution.
Thank you for clarifying
RPGs are such a board term nowadays that anything can be an rpg if you market it as such. But that’s not the time for it.
If you like Undertale, you might enjoy its deranged post apocalyptic cousin released near the same time, Lisa the Painful. A turn base rpg with plenty of tangible choices.
If you like more narrative stuff, play Disco Elysium or Planescape Torment.
Prey’s currently on sale and one of the most memorable gaming experiences I’ve had in recent years.
You’ll be hooked within the first 10 minutes of playing, I guarantee it:
I found Prey to be a little rough at the start, but once you pick up some upgrades the combat improves.
Took me a few hours at least to decide I liked it.
Prey is not a RPG
Captivating narrative and in-depth combat system? Final Fantasy 7.
Witcher 3 is perhaps a good option. The combat style is relatively complex I’d say, and quite fun. The story is very engaging and super well written. And it’s available on both Steam and in fact on Switch too. I’ve played the whole game on Switch, and it runs well.
I couldn’t see anyone mentioning so I would add Disco Elysium
Not your typical RPG by any measure, but one of my top favorite games of all time, more focused on exploration and talking/decisions rather than fighting. Also has a unique mechanic where “stats” are connected to mental attributes that talk with the character by offering advice, insight, or just poor suggestions depending on your level :D
I love Disco Elysium with all my heart, but suggesting it to a person who talks with emphasis about combat systems and strategic depth is sort of dangerous.
Disco Elysium is a novel masquerading as a game. If you like that and approach it as such, it can be extremely rewarding, but there isn’t much gameplay to be had.
It is basically a visual novel where you’re able to walk around the world and interact with things. The only gameplay is making choices, but there are an incredible amount of choices to make.
I explain Disco Elysium as the best book I ever played.
The World Ends With You (or the sequel, Neo: The World Ends With You) is an action RPG that does away with random encounters. Battles are initiated by you scanning for enemies and picking fights in your own, you can even lower your level or string multiple fights together for more rewards. The original is 2D (and best played in a DS/2DS/3DS but if you don’t have one there’s also a single-screen version on Switch) and the sequel is 3D on Switch and Steam.
Give the Nier series a try. Starting with Automata is probably the best way in. The Replicant remake is great too but it might take more time to grow on you because Replicant’s opening is slow and not as captivating compared to Automata. Both are great RPGs once you get into the thick of them. Both games have several chapters (aka playthroughs but that term is misleading) which can make them quite long but enjoyable all the way. I have sunk more than 100 hours into each of them.
Why not try out Western CRPGs?
I gather from what you’re writing, that you’re trying to get into JRPGs.
If you want action-laden fights without random encounters, I suggest the “old” BioWare RPGs:
- Mass Effect Trilogy
- Knights of the old Republic 1 + 2
- Dragon Age Origins (never played the sequels)
They’re old but gold and still one of the best.
And there are still:
- The Witcher 3 and
- Cyberpunk 2077
I will say that I hate to call something like Cyberpunk an RPG at all. It feels almost entirely like a shooter, with the RPG parts somewhat tacked-on. This is more evident even with the missing 6th spec tree and how, even after massive rebalancing, the whole level-up and spec-system are entirely irrelevant without a lot of mods.
Don’t get me wrong, modded the system works well.
But as installed, it’s just all rubbish and feels almost forgotten by the devs.
OP asked for “RPGs for people who don’t like RPGs”.
And yes Cyberpunk has all of that:
- Story, Conversations and Decisions
- Quests
- Skill and Leveling system
It’s a proper RPG but with a huge focus on the shooter/action part and yes, in my opinion it lacked on the Quest and interaction part.
But I wouldn’t say that the battle system alone defines a RPG, see Mass effect 2 + 3 and the Witcher.
Isn’t Cyberpunk 2077 also based on the RPG system with the same name?
Yeah true, you’re right. Nevermind my comment. 😅 Especially on the background of wanting an RPG for non-RPG players.
Golden Sun is probably one of my favorite RPGs, very deep combat system where in the lategame you will be modifying your character class in the middle of battles to change your movesets and other cool mechanics. Fairly interesting story as well. It has great GBA pixel art and it does have random encounters.
Persona 5 is a turn-based RPG that lots of people who aren’t usually into turn-based RPGs tend to like. Simple but satisfying battles, and a story that would have seemed mediocre if it wasn’t for great music and some cool moments which make it really stand out. No pixel art and also no random encounters.
OMORI is pretty good and has a really good art style. The story is also very good with some very memorable characters and moments, and pretty good music. The combat is simple and probably best described as “not bad”. The biggest downside of the game imo is that despite not being very long (<20 hours) it felt like it dragged on close to the end. It might have random encounters? I don’t really remember.
Overall I recommend Golden Sun if you are able to emulate it or something (not on steam or switch)
For clarification, Golden Sun was mostly 3d rendered models. They purposely made them to have a resemblance to pixel art since they needed it to both fit in a GBA cartridge and screen, and not look ugly while doing all that. Also I believe it is on Switch now if you pay for online and have the GBA emulator (which I personally don’t pay for and never will).
I still replay the series once every couple years, though. Fantastic series.
It’s not on the GBA app yet. At least the first game was announced for the service when they announced GB/GBA for Switch Online, but neither game is available at the moment on that. Hopefully soon.
pixel-art
- Chrono Trigger
- Octopath Traveller
- Final Fantasy VI
If you’re looking for a good JRPG, I can’t recommend the Persona series enough. I hate traditional JRPG’s but I love Persona and have dumped literally hundreds of hours into P5/ P5 Royal. I know it’s not pixel art, but the art style is very unique and fun to look at.
Totally agree. The last JRPG (if you don’t count the Zelda saga) I played was Final Fantasy VII on Ps1. Persona 5 Royal was awesome.
Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2, Mass Effect, Guardians of the Galaxy (not a real RPG, but has RPG elements).
Kotor, absolutely, and me:le if that takes.
No love for Guardians? I was pleasantly surprised by that game.
Never played, might give it a shot.
Earthbound
Also known as Mother 2. Up to you if you want to try English fan translations of Mother 1 and 3 as well. 2 is the only one with an official English translation. It does a good job as a stand alone game, I played it long before I knew any of that. Back when renting a snes game from a physical store was a thing.
But I have since played part of Mother 1/earthbound 0, and all of Mother 3/earthbound 2. Mother 3 is worth it in my opinion, the fan translation is very good and fits the style of the Mother 2 official translation. I should try Mother 1 again, but after playing Mother 2, it felt like an earlier lower quality version of the same thing. I didn’t get more than an hour in, so it might be worth it further in.
If you haven’t heard of earthbound, well that sucks. Everyone should hear about it. Definitely a must play at least once in any gamers life. It is the very definition of a traditional non-traditional RPG. It uses as well as breaks every convention. It’s exactly what you expect, except totally not what you expected.
Basically, it’s a type of parody of the genre, while also being one of the best games of the genre.
