Summary
- Some RPGs make grinding fun by offering diverse challenges and rewarding character progression.
- Games like Final Fantasy and Diablo emphasize enjoyable battle mechanics to make grinding more entertaining.
- Unique progression systems, varied enemies, and strategic gameplay contribute to a satisfying grind in select RPGs.
In many RPGs, there comes a time when the player has to buckle down and train to become powerful enough to defeat a boss or progress through a dungeon. No one likes it when the game comes to a halt, but sometimes there is no other choice but to repeat battles over and over again.
However, the games below somehow manage to make a good time out of it. Whether it be through a lot of side content or simply having a fun battle system, grinding in these RPGs is entertaining and does not make players feel like they are wasting time.
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8
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
The Fighting Just Feels That Good
- Released
-
January 26, 2024
Infinite Wealth has a smoother progression system compared to its predecessor. There are still moments in the story that will test the party’s mettle if they have not trained enough, but enemies are never too overleveled.
The beginning of several chapters ups the difficulty of regular enemies roaming around, making grinding both hard and quick. By the end of the game, it is satisfying to experiment with the different jobs. The high experience points battles give ensures each character levels up through them quickly.
7
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Every Character Feels Different
- Released
-
February 29, 2024
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth significantly expands on the battle system introduced in 2020’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Every party member feels different, and they all compliment each other in battle. This manages to make even the simplest fights in the open world a joy to engage with.
Going through the game on normal without doing any side quests will result in an underprepared party, so be ready to grind a little bit if the aim is to beeline through the story. Fortunately, the battle system is so fun and each character is so unique that players might not even notice they are grinding at all.
6
Disgaea
Every Item Has Its Own Path To Grind
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Even more so than most other turn-based strategy RPGs, grinding is an integral part of Disgaea. It is a good thing, then, that the grinding is varied and offers light puzzle elements. Upgrading items and equipment is done by going into what the game calls Item Worlds.
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Each item has its own set of battlefields with different maps and challenges. Players can jump into this rabbit hole and make weapons from the early game unreasonably powerful, or they can focus on the story and progress more naturally.
5
Kingdom Hearts
Grind The Hades Cup Until Sora Reaches Level 99
- Released
-
September 17, 2002
The first Kingdom Hearts game is delightful in its simplicity. There are several difficulty modes, ensuring that players can choose between a breezy experience or a tough challenge. Regardless of the difficulty, players will need to grind if they want to take on any of the hidden bosses.
Fortunately, players gain experience in the Olympus Colosseum. The Hades Cup is 50 waves of various enemy types and bosses. Do this several times over and Sora, Donald, and Goofy will be more than prepared to take on the Ice Titan and Sephiroth.
4
Diablo 4
The Whole Game Is About The Grind
Diablo 4, like the games in the series before it, is all about the grind. Fans know this, and that is why they love it. With every new season, players create a new character and start at level one, restarting the journey of crafting a build in this ARPG.
This gameplay loop is made all the more satisfying by the sheer amount of carnage on screen at any given time. Players regularly dispose of dozens of enemies. With the gameplay loop built around the grind, it is obvious the developers have done all they could to make it rewarding.
3
Final Fantasy Tactics
Grind To Get The Best Jobs
- Released
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June 20, 1997
- Developer(s)
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Square
Tactics enemies in Final Fantasy Tactics scale to the party’s level, so aimless grinding will not give players a huge advantage. Grinding is helpful in leveling up the individual jobs, however. To earn more advanced jobs, players have to be at a certain level in several other ones.
It is also fun just to experiment with different jobs and party compositions while striving for a desirable job or ability. It takes some time, but with the right strategy, players can make a powerful party that will make mince meat out of even the toughest battles.
2
Elden Ring
Even Grinding Is Hard
- Released
-
February 25, 2022
Elden Ring is exactly as awe-inspiring as everyone says it is. It is also brutally difficult and unforgiving. Thankfully, there are a few places where players can farm tough enemies to level up quickly to take on the harder bosses in the latter half of the game. These points often are not cakewalks themselves, so players still have to be on their toes when grinding.
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This not only helps them level up their stats, but it keeps their reflexes in check too. The fact players can lose all their souls if they die a second time without recovering them after the first death also increases the stakes of grinding, making every fight matter.
1
Final Fantasy 10
The Sphere Grid Lets Players Know How They Are Advancing
- Released
-
December 17, 2001
Final Fantasy 10 does away with traditional levels in exchange for the Sphere Grid. Each party member navigates the sphere grid node-by-node, using one Sphere Level to move forward. Each node increases a specific stat or grants a new ability.
Being able to see exactly what path each character is on and mold them to one’s liking makes grinding much more satisfying. Instead of arbitrarily getting stronger level-by-level, players have more agency in how they upgrade their characters, and they know exactly how much stronger they get with each node they activate.
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