Summary
- Retro RPGs offer simple fun without overwhelming new players – an easy introduction to the genre.
- Final Fantasy 6: An excellent, relatively easy RPG for newcomers to the iconic series and JRPGs in general.
- Golden Sun: A unique RPG for beginners with malleable jobs, puzzles, and a charming art style.
The role-playing genre has progressed by leaps and bounds, becoming one of the most popular genres in the gaming industry. Players love the idea of embarking on epic adventures in massive worlds where the fate of the entire world is often at stake.
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However, there’s something to be said about retro RPGs and the simple fun they bring to the table. Instead of keeping track of numerous metrics, these classic role-playing games ensure that newcomers to the genre will have a great time without getting overwhelmed.
8
Final Fantasy 6
An Epic JRPG With A Beloved Ensemble Cast
- Released
-
October 11, 1994
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix
, Square - OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
The sheer brilliance of Final Fantasy 6 can’t be stated enough. This RPG with a massive ensemble cast and a plot that takes place in a changing world is relatively easy to follow, with its combat being pretty easy too.
While the Pixel Remaster does up the challenge, Final Fantasy 6 is still an excellent game for newcomers to get into. It’s perfect as an introduction to the legendary Final Fantasy series and JRPGs in general.
7
System Shock 2
A Horror RPG With Immense Replayability And An Oppressive Atmosphere
- Released
-
August 11, 1999
- ESRB
-
m
System Shock 2 is a game that can seem challenging for a beginner, but they don’t necessarily need to play this title at a high difficulty. There’s no shame in playing this game on easy so that players get accustomed to the way it plays.
Soon enough, newcomers will be wowed by the sheer depth of System Shock 2‘s gameplay and why players should invest their time in this masterpiece. The oppressive atmosphere and varied gameplay make multiple playthroughs viable as the Hacker is molded in a different image every time.
6
Chrono Trigger
A Tightly-Paced JRPG That Is The Very Best This Genre Has To Offer
Chrono Trigger is one of the best and most well-paced JRPGs players can get their hands on. The game is beginner-friendly, with its combat being riveting despite the challenge being manageable at all times.
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All of this is accompanied by an amazing story and memorable characters that show off the combined genius of Akira Toriyama, Yuji Horii, and Hironobu Sakaguchi. Players unfamiliar with JRPGs who want to find out why people love this genre will find Chrono Trigger to be a great title that showcases the genre’s strengths.
5
Deus Ex
A Fun Action RPG That Showed The Brilliance Of Immersive Sims
- Released
-
June 23, 2000
- Developer(s)
-
Ion Storm
- Publisher(s)
-
Eidos Interactive
To this day, Deus Ex still stands strong as one of the greatest action RPGs ever made that has aged like a fine wine. JC Denton is an iconic protagonist whose dry dialogue delivery is somehow entertaining and makes him sound professional yet hilarious when the moment’s right.
The immersive sim gameplay is simple enough for beginners to wrap their heads around, with the lenient saving system ensuring that they are encouraged to take risks and redo a combat encounter if things go out of hand. Eventually, greenhorns will become masters of the game’s combat and stealth systems because of how intuitive Deus Ex‘s gameplay is.
4
EarthBound
The Perfect Example Of An Anti-JRPG That Inspired Several Other Titles
- Released
-
June 5, 1995
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
A lot of JRPGs go off the rails and become hard to comprehend, which can be challenging for beginners to wrap their heads around. Thankfully, EarthBound doesn’t face this problem, establishing the anti-JRPG genre and letting players experience the video game equivalent of a warm hug.
At the heart of this game is a group of kids who just want to play around, only to be roped into a quest to defeat Giygas from destroying the world. It may seem like a heavy-handed premise, but EarthBound‘s charming graphics and grounded setting make it an easy title for newcomers to sink their teeth into.
3
Fable
A Classic Action-Adventure RPG With An Epic And Simple Story Players Will Love
- Released
-
September 14, 2004
Lionhead Studios was at the top of their game when they made Fable, an epic action-adventure RPG that fans love to this day. The first entry in the Fable series is considered by many to be the best and is easy for players to get into.
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The combat doesn’t get stupidly hard and the story is simple yet engaging enough to keep fans entertained for the long haul. All of this combines to turn Fable into a beginner-friendly RPG with an epic scope.
2
Parasite Eve
For A JRPG, The Game Is Pretty Short And Doesn’t Overstay Its Welcome
- Released
-
September 9, 1998
- Developer(s)
-
Square
In an age when JRPGs could comfortably take hundreds of hours to defeat, Parasite Eve felt like a breath of fresh air. Instead of being a kid-friendly role-playing game, Parasite Eve tackles mature themes, features elements of body horror, and can be finished in under ten hours if players know what they’re doing.
This makes it the perfect candidate for a modern gamer’s first JRPG. The combat is never too convoluted and players won’t have to micromanage too much as they blaze through this tightly-paced role-playing game to reach a satisfying conclusion.
1
Golden Sun
A Unique Role-Playing Title With A Focus On Malleable Jobs And Puzzles
Golden Sun
- Released
-
November 12, 2001
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
A JRPG with a charming art style, Golden Sun lets players enjoy a unique take on the job system. For the most part, beginners shouldn’t have any issues with assigning a djinn of the same element to characters, making things easier for them.
This negates the complexity of the system, with Golden Sun featuring its fair share of puzzles that serve as welcome breaks from the game’s combat. This retro RPG starts strong and never lets up, letting players explore unique environments and prevent the antagonists from enacting their evil plans.
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