Turn-based RPGs make up one of the major genres in gaming. Fantastic individual games in the genre come nearly every year, often from the same major franchises. The greatest franchises in the genre offer excellent and diverse experiences despite the shared base concept.
Some turn-based franchises have even released games that cater to other genres throughout their storied history. Other franchises have quickly climbed the charts even though they only have two are three titles to their name. In the end, the greatest turn-based franchises cultivate a reputation for quality gameplay, excellent characters, and an intriguing story.
11 Paper Mario
Paper Mario takes a classic genre and adds some of its own flare. The Thousand-Year Door, in particular, adds exciting real-time elements to the turn-based style. This gives the game a fresh spin that makes it feel unique despite using the tried-and-true Mario franchise for its foundation.
The Paper Mario franchise has established a fun visual style to its games, using the paper theme to create memorable character models. The characters themselves also have some of the best character work in the Mario universe.
10 Yu-Gi-Oh!
Strategy is a vital part of turn-based RPGs. The same holds true for the Trading Card Game subgenre, where strategy is king. Yu-Gi-Oh! games allow players to choose between thousands of cards to create a 40-60 card deck that can employ a variety of different strategies.
Not only is Atem an iconic protagonist in RPGs and anime alike, but Kaiba is an amazing rival. Many games also include the wonderful casts from other Yu-Gi-Oh! series, featuring characters like Jack Atlas and Zane Truesdale.
9 Octopath Traveler
Square Enix seems to have no end of fantastic turn-based RPGs to choose from, but Octopath Traveler remains one of their more unique projects. Octopath Traveler follows eight different protagonists as their separate journeys converge.
Octopath takes the opposite route of the silent protagonist, giving players eight different, very distinct characters to follow. The diverse cast has various classes, skills, and personalities that keep players hooked until the end. Despite only having two games, Octopath has established itself as a promising franchise.
8 Mother
Also known as Earthbound, the Mother franchise is one of the more controversial turn-based RPG franchises. Silly, borderline ridiculous enemies and tongue-in-cheek dialogue make the game sometimes feel like a parody of itself.
Yet, despite the odd nature of the games, Earthbound also explores darker themes and one of the most heavily discussed final bosses in video game history: Giygas. The Giygas fight present is such a unique experience that many would recommend the Earthbound based on the Giygas battle alone.
7 Dragon Quest
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1986's Dragon Warrior launched the Dragon Quest franchise and was the prototype for all turn-based JRPGs. While the game doesn't get the same recognition as its cousin, Final Fantasy, however, many of the best turn-based games today may not exist without the Dragon Quest franchise.
However, Dragon Quest has more going for it than history. It has one of the most adorable mascots in gaming, Slimes, and a great class system that rivals other titans in the genre. With over 10 games to choose from, it's hard to go wrong with Dragon Quest.
5 Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy has brought some of the best turn-based RPGs to the genre, but the classic JRPG franchise also tends to steer clear of the battle system. Continuing to innovate and expand upon its previous titles, some of the best games in the franchise, including Final Fantasy XIV, have opted for a different style.
While the Final Fantasy franchise has moved past its roots in many ways, turn-based fans can't forget its contributions to the genre. There aren't many classic JRPG franchises that can rival Final Fantasy's historical releases.
4 Persona
While Persona 4 helped establish the franchise in the west, it was Persona 5 that transformed Persona into a household name. Equal parts dungeon crawler, romance simulator, and overall masterpiece, Persona 5 has raised hype for the franchise moving forward.
Joker remains one of the coolest protagonists in the genre, and few RPGs can match the cast Persona 5 brings to the table. The games' unique art style, in particular, has become especially iconic. News on Persona 6 is limited, but fans can only hope that it will continue the franchise's upward trajectory.
3 Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the crown jewel of an iconic franchise that spans back decades, but the recent Engage and the iconic Awakening prove that the franchise is more than a one-trick pony. The series also differs in gameplay from the average turn-based JRPG, since players command units on a map in a chess-like strategy experience.
Every Fire Emblem game feels unique, and the franchise never truly grows stale thanks to it. The games often come with great characters as well, and special support conversations that grow their depth beyond what the story shows.
2 Bravely Default
Despite only having three games in the franchise, Bravely Default arguably has the highest average quality of any turn-based JRPG franchise. Bravely Default II presents one of the best stories of any Switch game, and the trilogy has performed well enough to expand in the future.
Bravely doesn't just have a fantastic story and character work, it also features incredible gameplay. The class system is arguably the highlight of the series, featuring a surprising amount of customization while keeping the classic feel of JRPG classes.
1 Pokémon
To this day, Pokémon remains the largest multimedia franchise in history. It created a new style of turn-based combat that has inspired countless merchandise, anime, and even a competitive battling scene that rivals games designed to be Esports.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the most recent release, may have the best story in the series so far despite its occasionally glitchy gameplay. No other franchise can match the longevity of Pokémon's global reach and dominance, as well as the unique gaming niche that only Pokémon really hits.