Summary
Out of every form of entertainment available today, video games are the most immersive. They allow players to enter into incredible worlds andgo on amazing adventureslike no other medium. No game genre does this better than role-playing games. Often set in vast fantasy worlds,RPGsallow players to go on exciting quests, explore large maps, and battle with a variety of different enemies.
The genre has evolved a lot over the years. With graphics improving and computers becoming ever more powerful, developers today can create some truly complex and breathtaking worlds for players to enjoy. RPGs have been around since the early days of video games. Some of today’s most famous franchises made their start in the1990s, and at the time, were at the forefront of gaming, innovating the genre and setting the standard for years to come.
The fourth installment of theDragon Questseries kicked off the 90s in style. It was one of the best-selling games of that year, as well as a critical success, winning several awards. TheDragon Questfranchise started its life back in 1986. At the time, it was considered the first console RPG, and would set the standard for RPGs over the coming years.
Dragon Quest 4would change things up, with the game being split into five different chapters, each distinct from the other. Each chapter centered around a different companion, who is connected to the main hero. The final chapter brings all these stories together as the group sets off on their main adventure.Dragon Quest 4allowed the franchise to continue and expand, with several spin-off games following.
TheFinal Fantasyfranchise is one of the most famous series in gaming history and is still going strong today. Beginning its life in 1987, the series has grown and evolved to become the institution it is today. In 1991, the fourth installment was released to critical acclaim and financial success.
Final Fantasy 4allows players to control many varied characters, go on several different quests, and battle enemies in real-time combat, instead of the more common turn-based style of the time. It was praised for itsdramatic storytelling and outstanding graphics.Final Fantasy 4is considered a landmark moment for all RPGs that would follow.
The early nineties had already seen some groundbreaking RPGs released to critical acclaim. In 1992,Darklandswas released to mixed reviews, with critics praising it for its open-ended gameplay and complexity, but criticizing its multiple bugs.
Set in the 15th century around the time of The Holy Roman Empire, players can battle their way around medieval Europe, finding various quests along the way. This historical RPG may have had a rocky start but would go on to be considered one of the best entries in the genre. It was highly influential on the famousElder Scrollsseries and continued the 90s track record of strong RPG releases.
1993 would bring RPG gamers another classic title,Secret Of Mana.This RPG is set in a high fantasy world, where the three heroes attempt to stop the main villain from conquering the world. Like earlierFinal Fantasyreleases, the game incorporated real-time combat over the more common turn-based style, which allowed formore fluid gameplay.
On release,Secret Of Manawas widely successful and became the second best-selling game of the year in Japan. The game would help to further popularize the RPG genre in the West. It is now considered one of the best games ever made.
In 1994, the sixth entry in the long-runningFinal Fantasyseries was released to more critical acclaim. It became the best-selling game in Japan in ‘94 and further cemented the franchise as an industry heavyweight. It is now considered a landmark moment for the RPG genre.
The game has fourteen playable characters and centers around the fight to end a military dictatorship. It was highly praised for itscompelling storytelling, modern graphics, and excellent gameplay.Final Fantasy 6was the end of an era for the series, as it would be the last mainline game to be released on Nintendo until 2018.
Entering into the mid-nineties, RPGs were still going strong.Chrono Triggeris a time-traveling story, where players explorevarious dungeons, forests, and cities. The game was made by the same developers who had worked on both theDragon QuestandFinal Fantasyseries previously. LikeFinal Fantasy,Chrono Triggerincorporates a real-time combat style, although a turn-based option is also available.
The game was released to critical acclaim and became the second best-selling game of the year in Japan. The game was praised for its more simplistic mechanics, which would make it more accessible to a wider audience than more complex RPGs. It is still widely considered to be one of the best games ever made.
TheElder Scrollsfranchise is one of the most beloved game series in history. It has been an entry point in RPGs for many gamers, with later titles, such asOblivionandSkyrim,still being widely played today. In 1996, the series was in its infancy. With the release ofDaggerfall, theElder Scrollspushed the genre further than ever before.
Unlike many games on this list,Elder Scrollsis played from afirst-person perspective, which allows for deeper immersion and close-up action. Daggerfall is set within two provinces of the Elder Scrolls setting of Tamriel, High Rock, and Hammerfell, which players can freely explore. The game was released to critical acclaim, with its high-level graphics and realism being particularly praised.
1997 would see the release of another title that has become one of the biggest franchises in gaming. Before Bethesda took over, Interplay Productions released the classic post-apocalyptic gameFallout. Moving away from the standard fantasy setting,Falloutis set in a desolate, futuristic environment after a nuclearwar has destroyed society.
On release, the game received widespread acclaim, winning several awards, including Role-Playing Game Of The Year. An instant classic, the game was praised for its original setting and open gameplay. It has since spawned a long-running game franchise, as well as a soon-to-be-released TV show.
With the release ofBaldur’s Gate 3and its subsequent critical acclaim, this series has risen to the very top of RPG titles in modern gaming. Way back in 1998, the series was first unveiled to the world.Baldur’s Gateis set within theDungeon and Dragonssetting, in the Forgotten Realms, and uses modified rules from the 2nd Edition of the tabletop game.
Players can create their character and choose from a range of abilities and classes. They can then venture out to find quests, explore various locations, recruit companions, and battle dangerous foes. The game was highly praised on release and helped to define role-playing video games for a whole new generation.
1999 may have been the end of the millennium, but it wasn’t the end for great RPGs.Planescape: Tormentis another role-playing game based around theDungeons and Dragonssetting and uses the same engine asBaldur’s Gate.The game centers more on storytelling than on combat and follows an immortal who is trying to retrieve his memories, as he forgets everything upon death.
Although the game wasn’t financially successful on release, it was critically praised, quickly becoming a cult classic among fans of the RPG genre. With its dark setting, intriguing characters, and engaging storylines,Planescape: Tormentis now considered one of the best RPGs ever released.
