| Dreamcast | D2 | 2000 | Survival/Horror | Warp | More of a survival horror adventure game, with random battles (in which you aim and fire) and XP to gain to increase your small pool of stats, kind of a slog in pacing |
| GB+GBC | Azure Dreams | 2000 | Monster Collecting | KCEN | More dungeons, less town-building and dating than the PSX version |
| PSX | Digimon World | 2000 | Monster Collecting | Flying Tiger Development | Monster-collecting and raising game |
| PSX | Deception III: Dark Delusion | 2000 | Strategy | Tecmo | Dark story with trap creation |
| PSX | Chrono Cross | 2000 | Turn-Based | Square | Masterful soundtrack, confusingly related to Chrono Trigger |
| PSX | Breath of Fire IV | 2000 | Turn-Based | Capcom | Even more Ryu, pretty sprites, and a new combo system |
| PSX | Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins | 2000 | Action | Matrix Software | Standalone sequel, more lighthearted than the first, but similar gameplay |
| PS4 | Final Fantasy IX (DL only) | 2000 | Turn-Based | Square | See PSX, but with some QoL changes |
| PS4 | Eternal Ring (DL only) | 2000 | Action | FromSoftware | See PS2 |
| GB+GBC | Lil' Monster | 2000 | Monster Collecting | Kid Corp | Another of the many Poke-clones |
| GB+GBC | Dragon Warrior Monsters | 2000 | Monster Collecting | Tose | Sort of Dragon Quest's answer to Pokemon, but with fusion as well |
| Neo Geo Pocket | Evolution: Eternal Dungeons (PAL/JP only) | 2000 | Dungeon Crawler | Sting | A port of Evolution with a major natural graphical change, an altered translation, and more limited exploration |
| JP Dreamcast | Rent-A-Hero No. 1 | 2000 | Action | Aspect | A remake that adds a female counterpart to the main character and 3D as opposed to 2D fighting; itself fully translated and intended for Western shores it never reached |
| GB+GBC | Dragon Warrior I & II | 2000 | Turn-Based | Tose | Keeps the same QoL changes brought by the SFC version, albeit with some naturally downgraded graphics |
| GB+GBC | Crystalis | 2000 | Action | Nintendo | A remake of the original, with greater difficulty and story changes |
| PS2 | Orphen: Scion of Sorcery | 2000 | Action | Shade | ARPG with a strange turn-based/real-time combat hybrid, limited amount of battles overall prevent grinding |
| PSX | Eternal Eyes | 2000 | Strategy | TamTam | SRPG with a monster-collecting theme |
| JP GB+GBC | Arle no Bouken: Mahou no Jewel | 2000 | Monster Collecting | Compile | A monster-training game; monster-summoning cards can be enhanced |
| JP GB+GBC | Grandia: Parallel Trippers | 2000 | Turn-Based | Game Arts | Spinoff of Grandia featuring its characters and an attempt at using the same battle system |
| JP N64 | Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou! | 2000 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Shiren's second roguelike dungeon-delving adventure, with monster collecting and castle building as major gameplay mechanics |
| JP GB+GBC | Nushi Tsuri Adventure: Kite no Bouken | 2000 | Fishing | Marvelous/Victor Interactive Software | Catch fishies and fight thingies! |
| JP GB+GBC | Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children: Kuro no Sho | 2000 | Monster Collecting | Multimedia Intelligence Transfer | First game in the Devil Children series (the accompanying other version is untranslated), a monster-collector where demon partners can be used to help traverse the overworld |
| JP PSX | Brigandine: Grand Edition | 2000 | Strategy | Hearty Robin | An enhanced, expanded version of Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena |
| PS2 | Evergrace | 2000 | Action | FromSoftware | ARPG with 2 separate protagonists, character parameters are increased via equipment rather than leveling |
| PS2 | Eternal Ring | 2000 | Dungeon Crawler | FromSoftware | Another first-person FromSoft dungeon crawl, but this one has customizable magic rings |
| JP Wonderswan | Digimon Adventure 02: D1 Tamers | 2000 | Monster Collecting | SIMS/Bandai | Direct sequel to Tag Tamers, mostly the same, but utilizes the Wonderswan Color's palette |
| JP Wonderswan | Digimon Adventure 02: Tag Tamers | 2000 | Monster Collecting | SIMS/Bandai | Turn-based digital monster collecting, fighting, and fusing gameplay, elaborates on a very important plot point in the anime |
| Dreamcast | Evolution 2: Far Off Promise | 2000 | Dungeon Crawler | Sting | More of the same as the first, but some random maps |
| N64 | Fighter Destiny 2 | 2000 | Fighting/Board Game | Genki | Undertaking the board-game like Arena mode challenge lets you fight (with a point-based scoring system) to increase your stats and learn new special moves... also there's a playable cow |
| N64 | Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber | 2000 | Strategy | Quest | Plays like Ogre Battle, RTS elements and political story |
| Neo Geo Pocket | Nige-ron-pa (JP only) | 2000 | Turn-Based | Dennou Club | A turn-based game all about working various small jobs, party members have a friendship score that can cause them to abandon you if too low |
| PSX | Dragon Valor | 2000 | Action | Namco | Remake and sequel to Dragon Buster (FC), arcade-like 2.5D ARPG |
| Neo Geo Pocket | Faselei! (PAL/JP only) | 2000 | Strategy | Sacnoth | Tactical mecha combat, where even turning costs a predetermined amount of command points |
| PSX | Vagrant Story | 2000 | Dungeon Crawler | Square | Darker-themed ARPG with the same setting as Final Fantasy XII and Tactics, heavy crafting focus |
| PSX | Persona 2: Eternal Punishment | 2000 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Half of the Persona 2 story- the other half wasn't officially localized until years later |
| PSX | Final Fantasy IX | 2000 | Turn-Based | Square | Takes the series back to its fantasy roots, lots of callbacks to older entries |
| PSX | Torneko: The Last Hope | 2000 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft/Matrix Software | Roguelike sequel to Torneko no Daibouken (SFC), second localized Mystery Dungeon game |
| PSX | Vanguard Bandits | 2000 | Strategy | Human Entertainment | Fantasy/mech hybrid SRPG with a system balancing actions and resting |
| PSX | Threads of Fate | 2000 | Action | Square | Two-scenario ARPG with unconventional stat-increasing mechanics |
| PSX | Wild Arms 2 | 2000 | Turn-Based | Media.Vision | Old Western setting, plays similarly to the first |
| PSX | The Legend of Dragoon | 2000 | Timed Turn-Based | Sony Computer Entertainment Japan | Timing-based combat, some funny voice acting, neat concept |
| GB+GBC | Pokemon Gold/Silver | 2000 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | More mons, a day/night system, and the ability to revisit the entire previous region |
| GB+GBC | Quest: Brian's Journey | 2000 | Action | Atelier Double | A demake of the N64 game… if you considered Quest 64 a game to begin with. Taking actions builds stats |
| GB+GBC | Robopon: Sun Version | 2000 | Monster Collecting | Hudson Soft/Red Company Corporation | A robot-making and collecting Poke-clone, only one of the three versions was released in the Americas |
| PSX | SaGa Frontier 2 | 2000 | Turn-Based | Square | Watercolored, hand-drawn backgrounds and complex leveling with only 2 scenarios |
| PSX | RPG Maker | 2000 | Turn-Based | Kuusou Kagaku | Included due to presence of sample RPG Gobli's Quest, a short romp with notable difficulty spikes |
| Dreamcast | Skies of Arcadia | 2000 | Turn-Based | Overworks | Standard combat and ship battles! |
| Dreamcast | Seventh Cross Evolution | 2000 | Simulation | Atypical Alchemists Associate | Spore before Spore - gain evolution points and make your creature! |
| PSX | Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure | 2000 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | SRPG with painfully easy battles and a musical theme |
| PSX | Valkyrie Profile | 2000 | Turn-Based | Tri-Ace | 2D dungeon exploration, grim themes, and a combo-based battle system |
| PSX | Harvest Moon: Back to Nature | 2000 | Simulation | Victor Interactive Software | Do ALL the farming! |
| PSX | Parasite Eve II | 2000 | Action/Horror | Square | More of a survival-horror slant than the first game, including tank controls! |
| PSX | Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete | 2000 | Turn-Based | Game Arts | If you loved the first one, you'll love this- and how could you not? |
| Dreamcast | Grandia II | 2000 | Turn-Based | Game Arts | Excellent music and solid voice acting- a game with a lot of character in its characters and a superb battle system |
| PSX | Legend of Mana | 2000 | Action | Square | Gorgeously 2D, beautiful soundtrack, disjointed story with an offbeat structure |
| PSX | Koudelka | 2000 | Turn-Based/Horror | Sacnoth | Horror-themed JRPG, the precursor to the Shadow hearts series |
| PSX | Front Mission 3 | 2000 | Strategy | Square | First localized title in the series, greater focus on learning abilities from mech parts |
| JP GBA | Napoleon | 2001 | Strategy | Genki | RTSRPG starring Napoleon Bonaparte doing some very not-historically-accurate things |
| N64 | Paper Mario | 2001 | Timed Turn-Based | Intelligent Systems | Continues the timing-based attacks seen in SMRPG |
| PS2 | Jade Cocoon 2 | 2001 | Turn-Based | Genki | More bug-minion raising and fusion, combat is highly dependent on minion placement |
| JP GBA | Magical Vacation | 2001 | Turn-Based | Brownie Brown | Turn-based combat, gorgeous sprites; love/heart isn't just an element in Captain Planet anymore! |
| Dreamcast | Phantasy Star Online | 2001 | Action | Sonic Team | ARPG, first online console game |
| GBA | Castlevania: Circle of the Moon | 2001 | Action-Platform | KCEK | Metroidvania with a dual card system to customize abilities |
| Dreamcast | Record of Lodoss War: Advent of Cardice | 2001 | Action | Neverland | Based on the anime, plays kinda like Diablo |
| Dreamcast | Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2.0 | 2001 | Action | Sonic Team | An expanded version of the original |
| PS2 | Dark Cloud | 2001 | Action | Level-5 | ARPG with roguelike elements and town building; no traditional XP (though weapons do level) |
| GBA | Dokapon: Monster Hunter | 2001 | Monster Collecting | Tycoon/Asmik Ace Entertainment | Battle system is literally rock-paper-scissors, also contains monster collecting elements |
| PS2 | Ephemeral Fantasia | 2001 | Turn-Based | KCEJ | Rhythm mini-games are not enough to save this garbage time-looping game |
| JP PSX | Shin Megami Tensei | 2001 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Visually overhauls the SFC version, but is otherwise no different than the original |
| JP PSX | Tear Ring Saga: Yutona Eiyuu Senki | 2001 | Strategy | ASCII Entertainment | It's pretty much Fire Emblem, down to the creator of the series |
| GBA | Golden Sun | 2001 | Turn-Based | Camelot | Lots of exploration puzzles, character/class customization using creature allocation |
| GBA | Mega Man Battle Network | 2001 | Strategy | Capcom | Tactical real-time combat, learning skills from enemies, and memeable spritework |
| PS2 | Final Fantasy X | 2001 | Turn-Based | Square | First Final Fantasy game to feature voice acting, battle system employs manipulation of turn order |
| PSX | Final Fantasy Chronicles | 2001 | Turn-Based | Tose/Square | Contains inferior versions of Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger |
| PS2 | Tsugunai: Atonement | 2001 | Action | Cattle Call | Broken up into various quests rather than one fully linear experience- not all quests revolve around combat |
| PSX | Tales of Destiny II | 2001 | Action | Wolf Team/Namco | Actually Tales of Eternia - the real Tales of Destiny 2 is a Japanese exclusive |
| GB+GBC | Mario Tennis | 2001 | Sports | Camelot | Grab your racket, go to tennis school, and level up your skills with Mario and company |
| PS2 | Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land | 2001 | Dungeon Crawler | Racjin | Surprise! This is actually a JRPG! First-person dungeon-crawler like its parent WRPG series |
| GB+GBC | Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Cobi's Journey/Tara's Adventure | 2001 | Monster Collecting | Tose | Leans harder into the Pokemon slant with 2 different versions |
| PS2 | The Bouncer | 2001 | Action | Dream Factory | Cult-classic 3D beat-em-up with RPG elements |
| GB+GBC | Dragon Warrior III | 2001 | Turn-Based | Tose | Maintains the QoL changes of the SFC version, adds an extra bonus dungeon, downgrades graphics a bit |
| PSX | Battle Hunter | 2001 | Strategy | Success | SRPG of sorts with card-based movement and attack |
| PSX | Saiyuki: Journey West | 2001 | Strategy | Koei | SRPG based on the Journey to the West novel |
| PSX | Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth | 2001 | Strategy | Max Five | SRPG with interesting battle mechanics but unforgiving difficulty |
| PSX | Digimon World 2 | 2001 | Monster Collecting | BEC | More emphasis on dungeon crawling and monster battling than the first |
| GBA | Monster Rancher Advance | 2001 | Monster Collecting | Tecmo | Similar to the PSX games, but using words to summon monsters rather than CDs |
| GB+GBC | Lufia: The Legend Returns | 2001 | Turn-Based | Neverland | Third game in the Lufia series, was almost a PSX game before the original dev went bankrupt |
| PS2 | Shadow Hearts | 2001 | Turn-Based/Horror | Sacnoth | Takes place after Koudelka's bad ending, incorporates cosmic horror, alternate history, and a timing-based disc that affects success |
| GB+GBC | Metal Walker | 2001 | Monster Collecting | Capcom | Pokemon + robots + billiards = Metal Walker |
| PS2 | Ring of Red | 2001 | Strategy | Konami | Alternate-history military turn-based strategy game with cool mechs |
| JP Dreamcast | RUN=DIM as Black Soul | 2001 | Strategy | Yuki Enterprise | Hexagonal turn-based strategy with giant robots fighting |
| GB+GBC | Pokemon Crystal | 2001 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | An attempt to add story to Gold/Silver, but does add a female protagonist! |
| PS2 | Okage: Shadow King | 2001 | Turn-Based | Zener Works/SCE | Cute spooky-themed JRPG |
| PSX | Dragon Warrior VII | 2001 | Turn-Based | Heart Beat | Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong Dragon Quest game |
| GBA | Bomberman Tournament | 2001 | Action | Amble | A Bomberman ARPG where you level Pokemon-like creatures that give you abilities |
| PS2 | Monster Rancher 3 | 2001 | Monster Collecting | Tecmo | More monster raising, but now you can trade monsters with friends/can use past data rather than disc-digging for old monsters! |
| GBA | Breath of Fire | 2001 | Turn-Based | Capcom | It's Ryu, but on a tinier screen! |
| GB+GBC | Legend of the River King 2 | 2001 | Fishing | Victor Interactive Software | Actually River King 4 - more fishies = more funsies |
| JP Wonderswan | Makai Toushi SaGa | 2002 | Turn-Based | Square | A remake of the first SaGa game (Final Fantasy Legend), upped the graphics and added features like a bestiary and the ability to re-target enemies to not waste attacks once defeated |
| JP GBA | Tomato Adventure | 2002 | Turn-Based | AlphaDream | You say "tomato," I say "a silly RPG with toy-based gimmicks in combat, humor throughout, and lots of lycopene!" |
| GameCube | Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest | 2002 | Action | Saru Brunei/Intelligent Systems | A game about raising cubes like animals and making them fight and mutate |
| GameCube | Evolution Worlds | 2002 | Dungeon Crawler | Sting | Ports of Evolution 1 and 2, but the former is heavily trimmed down |
| GBA | Breath of Fire II | 2002 | Turn-Based | Capcom | More polished than the SNES version, but gives up graphically in the process |
| GBA | Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance | 2002 | Action-Platform | KCET | Metroidvania with room decorating and traveling between dimensions to progress |
| GB+GBC | Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors | 2002 | Card-Based | Flight-Plan | Saiyan-Buu sagas featured, card-based combat, blah blah blah |
| GameCube | Mystic Heroes | 2002 | Action | Koei | A more mystical, chibi-styled Dynasty Warriors |
| GameCube | Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II | 2002 | Action | Sonic Team | Adds entirely new content for Episode II, AKA Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst |
| GBA | Car Battler Joe | 2002 | Action | Ancient | Exactly as the title implies - you level up your car in demolition derby-style matches |
| GameCube | Lost Kingdoms | 2002 | Card-Based | FromSoftware | Card-based ARPG, another FromSoft jam |
| PS2 | King's Field: The Ancient City | 2002 | Dungeon Crawler | FromSoftware | FromSoft coming through again with first-person dungeon action |
| GB+GBC | Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Duel Stories | 2002 | Card-Based | Konami | Third game in the Duel Monsters series, but first to come to the West; many card effects only work the first turn or just plain don't work at all- duelist level determines total deck cost capacity |
| GBA | Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars | 2002 | Strategy | Winkysoft | Mecha SRPG with some first-person elements in targeting enemies and attack dodging |
| GBA | Mega Man Battle Network 2 | 2002 | Strategy | Capcom | More or less the same as the first, but a bit more customizable, and no auto-healing after every battle |
| PS2 | Mystic Heroes | 2002 | Action | Koei | Cutesy Dynasty Warriors-like with magic, more characters than the GameCube version |
| PS2 | Rygar: The Legendary Adventure | 2002 | Action | Tecmo | Diskarmor shenanigans galore, but now in 3D; gorgeous soundtrack; points enhance player characteristics and strengthen weapons |
| GBA | Monster Rancher Advance 2 | 2002 | Monster Collecting | Tecmo/Graphic Research | See above! |
| GBA | Phantasy Star Collection | 2002 | Turn-Based | Digital Eclipse/Sega | Ports of the first 3 Phantasy Star games |
| PS2 | Suikoden III | 2002 | Turn-Based | KCET | The turn-based epic saga continues, a variety of protagonists, can import data from the PSX games for bonuses |
| PS2 | Wild Arms 3 | 2002 | Turn-Based | Media.Vision | Wild West-themed, turn-based, town discovery requires utilizing a GPS-like system, frequent encounters |
| PS2 | Kingdom Hearts | 2002 | Action | Square | The OG FF/Disney mashup, before the story started to overcomplicate itself |
| GBA | Robopon 2: Cross/Ring Version | 2002 | Monster Collecting | RED Entertainment | Introduces 4-on-4 battles, but otherwise is more of the same robot collecting and customizing |
| PSX | Arc the Lad Collection | 2002 | Strategy | G-Craft/ARC Entertainment | Collected SRPG series, contains Arc the Lad I, II, III, and Arc Arena |
| PSX | Digimon World 3 | 2002 | Monster Collecting | BEC/Boom Corp | More of the same |
| GBA | Shaman King: Legacy of the Spirits Soaring Hawk/Sprinting Wolf | 2002 | Monster Collecting | KCEJ | Based on the manga, basically Pokemon-type battles with spirits |
| Xbox | Crimson Sea | 2002 | Action | Koei | Musou-like with a sci-fi theme, some shooting elements, party members, weapon XP |
| Xbox | Metal Dungeon | 2002 | Turn-Based | Panther Software | Customizable characters and a futuristic third-person dungeon crawl, turn-based combat |
| GBA | Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis | 2002 | Strategy | Quest | Plays like Tactics Ogre- SRPG format, set before both Ogre Battle games |
| JP GBA | Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal | 2002 | Action | Namco | Top-down ARPG gameplay, and cute to boot! |
| PS2 | Legaia 2: Duel Saga | 2002 | Turn-Based | Prokion | Turn-based button combo combat system like its predecessor, adds item combination to the mix |
| PS2 | Grandia Xtreme | 2002 | Turn-Based | Game Arts | The combat you know and love with an increase in dungeon delving, English voice cast is oddly celeb-filled |
| GBA | Lunar Legend | 2002 | Turn-Based | Japan Art Media | Translation closer to the intended Japanese than the previous versions, but lacks cinematic feel |
| JP GBA | Keitai Denjuu Telefang 2: Power | 2002 | Monster Collecting | Smilesoft | One version of a Pokemon-like clone that features sharing your phone number with monsters to befriend them |
| JP GBA | Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade | 2002 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | AKA FE6 - Roy's our boy, and here's where you play as him! |
| PS2 | Dual Hearts | 2002 | Action-Platform | Matrix Software | Platforming-heavy ARPG - XP goes towards weapons instead of stats |
| PS2 | Dynasty Tactics | 2002 | Strategy | Koei | Romance of the Three Kingdoms-themed SRPG |
| PS2 | Grandia II | 2002 | Turn-Based | Game Arts | Avoid this version- it has bad framerate issues- but the game itself is amazing |
| PS2 | Forever Kingdom | 2002 | Action | FromSoftware | Sequel to Evergrace, similar equipment-focused character growth, ARPG where all characters share damage taken |
| GBA | Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga | 2003 | Timed Turn-Based | AlphaDream | Comedic RPG with exploration puzzles and a timing-based combat system |
| JP GBA | Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart | 2003 | Monster Collecting | Tose | Stars a young Prince Keifer from DQVII, where you recruit humans and monsters for your growing caravan |
| GBA | Final Fantasy Tactics Advance | 2003 | Strategy | Square Enix | Far lighter tone than the original FFT, many battles have tricky restrictions due to judges |
| GBA | Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow | 2003 | Action-Platform | KCET | Metroidvania with the addition of collecting enemy souls to augment abilities |
| GBA | Fire Emblem | 2003 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Technically Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, the 7th game in the series (but first brought to the west) |
| GBA | Golden Sun: The Lost Age | 2003 | Turn-Based | Camelot | Plays similar to the first, but from the villain's perspective |
| GBA | Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town | 2003 | Simulation | Marvelous | Level up your tools and grow your farm (and find a nice girl to settle down with) |
| GBA | Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire | 2003 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | 7/10, too much water; not possible to collect all Pokemon in these versions |
| GBA | Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Sacred Cards | 2003 | Card-Based | Konami | Surprisingly, there's a story surrounding the gameplay of a children's card game. You level by dueling. Shrug. |
| GBA | Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hand | 2003 | Action | KCEJ | That crazy Kojima made an ARPG where you have to use actual UV rays to power your weapons! |
| GBA | DemiKids: Light/Dark | 2003 | Monster Collecting | Multimedia Intelligence Transfer | Pokemon-like demon collecting and fusion, but each version has a separate plot/protagonist! |
| GBA | Medabots AX: Metabee/Rokusho | 2003 | Fighting | Natsume | Much more of a fighting game, but you do level your robots to fight them in real-time |
| GBA | Lufia: The Ruins of Lore | 2003 | Turn-Based | Atelier Double/Taito | Side story to the main series, has a basic job system, characters can fuse with monsters in battle |
| GBA | Onimusha Tactics | 2003 | Strategy | Capcom | Technically an SRPG side story to the main series, but has a similar plot |
| GBA | CIMA: The Enemy | 2003 | Action | Neverland | ARPG of sorts- can level up weapons and armor while controlling Lemmings-like civilians |
| GBA | Mega Man Battle Network 3: Blue/White | 2003 | Strategy | Capcom | More customizable than its predecessors, each version has different chips available |
| JP GBA | Mother 1 + 2 | 2003 | Turn-Based | Ape/HAL Laboratory/Nintendo | Ports of Mother 1 and 2, with an extended ending for the former |
| GBA | Sword of Mana | 2003 | Action | Brownie Brown | Incorporates elements from later games and 2 story paths |
| JP GBA | Oriental Blue: Ao no Tengai | 2003 | Turn-Based | Hudson Soft/RED Entertainment | A gaiden of the Tengai Makyo series, has a free scenario system influenced by real-time passage |
| GBA | Shining Soul | 2003 | Action | Nextech/Grasshopper Manufacture | Isometric ARPG that serves as a reboot of sorts to the Shining series |
| GameCube | Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Falsebound Kingdom | 2003 | Card-Based | Konami | It's an RTS/turn-based RPG hybrid with Yu-Gi-Oh characters. I don't make the rules here. |
| PS2 | Dynasty Tactics 2 | 2003 | Strategy | Koei | More of the above |
| PS2 | Unlimited Saga | 2003 | Turn-Based | Square | Much-maligned game with 7 different protagonists, a board-game style of exploration, and an obtuse combat system |
| PS2 | Disgaea: Hour of Darkness | 2003 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | SRPG with ridiculous party stats, party lifting, and Prinnies! |
| PS2 | Dark Cloud 2 | 2003 | Action | Level-5 | Similar to the first but with less playable characters, more involved town-building |
| PS2 | Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht | 2003 | Turn-Based | Monolith Soft | Spiritual successor to Xenogears, with similar AP-based combat; has a ton of cutscenes |
| PS2 | Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color | 2003 | Monster Collecting | Garakuta Studio/Taito | Think Pokemon, but if you as the player drew them instead to bring them to life |
| PS2 | Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter | 2003 | Turn-Based | Capcom | Heavily criticized for requiring multiple playthroughs |
| PS2 | Monster Rancher 4 | 2003 | Monster Collecting | Tecmo | Allows for more customization of your training facilities and adds a major exploration/adventure mode |
| PS2 | Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits | 2003 | Strategy | Cattle Call | Still tactical, but circular-based movement rather than grids |
| PS2 | .hack Part 3: Outbreak | 2003 | Action | CyberConnect2 | ARPG that tries to mimic early MMO features |
| PS2 | .hack Part 2: Mutation | 2003 | Action | CyberConnect2 | ARPG that tries to mimic early MMO features |
| PS2 | .hack Part 1: Infection | 2003 | Action | CyberConnect2 | ARPG that tries to mimic early MMO features |
| PS2 | Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Duelists of the Roses | 2003 | Card-Based | KCEJ | Something something loose adaptation of War of the Roses in a children's card game with grids to place monsters (that can rank up) on |
| PSX | Final Fantasy Origins | 2003 | Turn-Based | Tose/Square | Contains Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II (first localized appearance) |
| GameCube | Lost Kingdoms II | 2003 | Card-Based | FromSoftware | Pretty much similar to the first, some tweaks to the cards were made |
| GameCube | Medabots Infinity | 2003 | Action | Natsume | 3D robutt arena battles! |
| JP PS2 | Shadow Tower: Abyss | 2003 | Action | FromSoftware | Another first-person FromSoft jam and sequel to Shadow Tower, this one features soul harvesting and independent NPC schedules |
| GameCube | Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II Plus | 2003 | Action | Sonic Team | PSO with additional formerly online-only quests and items |
| GameCube | Skies of Arcadia Legends | 2003 | Turn-Based | Overworks | The skyfaring adventure with a bit more spit-shine! |
| JP GBA | Shin Megami Tensei | 2003 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Keeps the visuals from the Playstation version, makes a few balance changes and adds some unlockable story scenes |
| Xbox | Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II | 2003 | MMORPG | Sonic Team | Everyone likes playing MMORPGs with clunky controllers! |
| PS2 | Final Fantasy X-2 | 2003 | Turn-Based | Square | Fast-paced Charlie's Angels with banger vocal songs |
| PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne | 2004 | Turn-Based | Atlus | AKA Shin Megami Tensei 3 - has all the expected demon recruitment, does not feature a Law/Chaos branching system |
| PS2 | Shadow Hearts: Covenant | 2004 | Turn-Based/Horror | Nautilus | More of the above, but it has a vampire wrestler, so it's immediately 5203487203 times better |
| PS2 | Shaman King: Power of Spirit | 2004 | Strategy | WinkySoft | SRPG of sorts, but individual fights between units are settled in a 3D fighting game format |
| PS2 | Yu-Gi-Oh!: Capsule Monster Coliseum | 2004 | Strategy | WinkySoft/KCEJ | SRPG featuring the Capsule Monsters before they got their own spinoff anime |
| PS2 | Star Ocean: Till the End of Time | 2004 | Action | Tri-Ace | AKA Star Ocean 3 - losing all HP or MP will knock a character out in battle, very complicated Private Action scoring system to determine ending |
| PS2 | The Nightmare of Druaga: Fushigino Dungeon | 2004 | Dungeon Crawler | Arika/Matrix Software/Chunsoft | Actually a title in the Mystery Dungeon series, sequel to The Tower of Druaga |
| GBA | Zoids: Legacy | 2004 | Turn-Based | Amedio | In Japan, known as Zoids Saga II; standard turn-based combat, based on the anime |
| GBA | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | 2004 | Action | Nintendo | See NES |
| GBA | Yu-Gi-Oh!: Reshef of Destruction | 2004 | Card-Based | Konami | You will be judged by many for playing this game and even more for enjoying it- be warned |
| PS2 | Phantom Brave | 2004 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Another Disgaea-adjacent SRPG; gridless system and borderless maps (characters and objects can fall off) |
| PS2 | Eternal Quest (PAL/JP only) | 2004 | Dungeon Crawler | Tamsoft | This randomly-generated roguelike was created as a budget title… and it shows |
| PS2 | Monster Hunter | 2004 | Action | Capcom | These monsters aren't gonna hunt themselves! Origin of the popular series |
| PS2 | Mega Man X: Command Mission | 2004 | Turn-Based | Capcom | It's Mega Man X, but it's also turn-based? Now I've seen everything! |
| PS2 | La Pucelle: Tactics | 2004 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | SRPG that has some crossover with Disgaea; can purify enemies on maps to recruit them |
| PS2 | Inuyasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask | 2004 | Turn-Based | Kamui | Based on the anime, laughable graphics, minor dating sim elements - only play if you're a shojo-loving masochist |
| PS2 | Growlanser Generations | 2004 | Strategy | Career Soft | Collection of SRPGs Growlanser II and III, last Working Designs release, include auto-battle systems |
| PS2 | Front Mission 4 | 2004 | Strategy | Square Enix | Mecha SRPG with more complex mechanics such as a day/night system |
| PS2 | Drakengard | 2004 | Action | Cavia | Musou-like RPG with some heavy/dark themes, direct predecessor to the Nier series |
| PS2 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 | 2004 | Fighting | Dimps | More of a 3D fighter with the Z crew, but there is also a story mode where the main characters can train and level |
| PS2 | Crimson Sea 2 | 2004 | Action | Koei | Sci-fi musou-like with weapon/magic XP, multiplayer, and a non-linear mission structure |
| JP GBA | Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Meisou no Rinbukyoku | 2004 | Turn-Based | Tom Create | Based on the anime, no real levels to gain, but turn-based combat utilizing alchemy combinations |
| JP GBA | Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Omoide no Sonata | 2004 | Turn-Based | Tom Create | Original story, sequel to Stray Rondo, adds a leveling system but otherwise similar mechanics |
| N-Gage | Pocket Kingdom: Own the World | 2004 | MMORPG | Sega | A spiritual sequel to Dragon Force, but with insane amounts of groan-inducing leet-speak and lots of tongue-in-cheek self-awareness |
| JP Wonderswan | Dicing Knight. | 2004 | Dungeon Crawler | Platine Dispositif | A roguelike with hectic gameplay, dice literally fly out of enemies when you attack them to determine damage done |
| JP PS2 | Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome | 2004 | Turn-Based | ArtePiazza/Matrix Software | A 3D remake of the Super Famicom classic with an increased party size |
| JP GBA | Rockman EXE 4.5: Real Operation | 2004 | Strategy | Capcom | Not part of the MMBN story, gives you the ability to control multiple Navis |
| PS2 | .hack part 4: Quarantine | 2004 | Action | CyberConnect2 | ARPG that tries to mimic early MMO features |
| PS2 | Crimson Tears | 2004 | Action | Dream Factory | 3D beat-em-up/randomized dungeon crawler hybrid |
| GBA | Shining Soul II | 2004 | Action | Nextech/Grasshopper Manufacture | Similar to the first, with more classes to choose from |
| GBA | Mega Man Battle Network 4: Blue Moon/Red Sun | 2004 | Strategy | Capcom | Now emotions must be controlled during battle, and fusion (like traditional MM) is available |
| GameCube | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles | 2004 | Action | Square Enix | Multiplayer ARPG- no traditional leveling, using items instead |
| GameCube | Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean | 2004 | Card-Based | Tri-Crescendo | A curious take on card-based combat, poor quality voice acting |
| GameCube | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | 2004 | Turn-Based | Intelligent Systems | Everything that made the first game so great, but more of it! |
| GameCube | Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution | 2004 | Turn-Based | Sonic Team | Grid-and-turn-based card battling system, because that was the style at the time |
| GameCube | Pokemon Colosseum | 2004 | Turn-Based | Genius Sonority | You're a trainer, go purify some Shadow Pokemon! |
| GameCube | Tales of Symphonia | 2004 | Action | Namco Tales Studio | Brought the Tales series into the 3D realm for combat, chibi character models belie a twist-heavy story |
| GameCube | Virtua Quest | 2004 | Action | Sega-AM2/Tose | An ARPG starring a lame kid who has to enslave the souls of Virtua Fighter characters to become cool |
| GBA | Advance Guardian Heroes | 2004 | Action | Treasure | Sequel to Guardian Heroes, with similar beat-em-up gameplay but more platforming and characters |
| GBA | Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django | 2004 | Action | KCEJ | They done did it again, but now the sunlight also works as a form of currency! |
| GBA | Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls | 2004 | Turn-Based | Square Enix/Tose | Adds dungeons and tweaks the translation of the originals |
| GBA | Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories | 2004 | Action | Jupiter | The first of many, many side stories- takes place between KH I and II, uses a card battling system |
| GameCube | Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life | 2004 | Simulation | Victor Interactive Software | Watch your child grow to adulthood as you grow crops (including hybrid ones!) and farm your heart out (with upgradeable tools)- but don't get divorced! |
| GBA | Mario Golf: Advance Tour | 2004 | Sports | Camelot | Story mode and leveling, now with even more strange human characters to beat Mario's crew in golf! |
| GameCube | Mega Man X Command Mission | 2004 | Turn-Based | Capcom | Dungeon Crawler |
| GBA | Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen | 2004 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Remakes of Red/Green versions |
| GBA | River City Ransom EX | 2004 | Action | Million | Removes co-op and replaces it with an AI partner and more game customizability |
| GBA | Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon | 2004 | Strategy | Amusement Vision | Remake of the first Shining Force with new plot and characters |
| GBA | Shaman King: Master of Spirits | 2004 | Action-Platform | KCEJ | Metroidvania based on the anime |
| GameCube | Digimon World 4 | 2005 | Action | BEC | Much maligned for adopting an ARPG format - why would you give Agumon a sword? |
| GameCube | Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance | 2005 | Action | Intelligent Systems | The SRPG you know and love, with racial tensions! And Ike! |
| PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 | 2005 | Turn-Based | Atlus | See above - direct sequel to Digital Devil Saga |
| PS2 | Virtua Quest | 2005 | Action | Sega-AM2/Tose | ARPG with a main character so lame, he has to capture the souls of the Virtua Fighter characters to become cool |
| PS2 | Trapt | 2005 | Strategy | Paon Corporation | Unofficially part of the Deception series, with all the trap-placing gameplay intact |
| PS2 | Digimon World 4 | 2005 | Action | BEC | Digimon-themed ARPG with a clunky camera and a lack of balance |
| PSP | The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion | 2005 | Turn-Based | Microvision/Falcom | Second game in the Gagharv trilogy, despite western release order; run-of-the-mill turn-based gameplay and an arbitrary pet system |
| DS | Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow | 2005 | Action-Platform | Konami | Metroidvania direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow with a more anime design aesthetic, requires the stylus to draw symbols |
| PS2 | Shining Force Neo | 2005 | Action | Neverland | More realistically proportioned models than Shining Tears, but overall plays similarly |
| PS2 | Suikoden IV | 2005 | Turn-Based | KCET | Takes place long before other games in the series, smaller party size, looooooooooooooooooooooooooads of slow sailing |
| PS2 | Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity | 2005 | Strategy | Pinegrow/Atlus | SRPG with a similar position-heavy system to Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth |
| PS2 | Colosseum: Road to Freedom | 2005 | Action | Goshow | A gladiator simulator is a bit of a strange choice to make an ARPG about, but here we are- |
| PS2 | Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King | 2005 | Turn-Based | Level-5 | Can you really say no to more slimes? In a fully 3D environment? |
| PS2 | Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana | 2005 | Turn-Based | Gust | First localized Atelier game- you know the drill- turn-based combat and loads of item synthesis |
| PS2 | Arc the Lad: End of Darkness | 2005 | Action | Cattle Call | Radical shift in gameplay to an ARPG, had online multiplayer, widely panned |
| DS | Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour | 2005 | Card-Based | Konami | It's the Battle City Tournament and the Virtual World arc, but with spiffy 3D monster summoning animations for particular cards and a distinct lack of Tristan |
| PS2 | Shining Tears | 2005 | Action | NexTech/Amusement Vision | Plays vastly different to the rest of the Shining Force games- is an isometric ARPG rather than turn-based |
| N-Gage | Xanadu Next | 2005 | Action | Falcom/ScriptArts | Isometric ARPG gameplay with a clunky class-switching system of sorts and a different story than the PC version |
| PS2 | Castlevania: Curse of Darkness | 2005 | Action | Konami | Hacky-slashy-spooky, uses items to increase stats |
| PS2 | Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Bose | 2005 | Turn-Based | Monolith Soft | Made some changes to the combat system that were largely panned at the time, but otherwise more of the same |
| PSP | Rengoku II: The Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N. | 2005 | Action | Neverland/Hudson Soft | Makes very minimal changes to the gameplay loop from the first game, culminating in another lackluster experience |
| PS2 | Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life Special Edition | 2005 | Simulation | Marucome | Goes back to a male player character and adds gameplay updates such as dog training, a new marriage candidate, and free-play after the game concludes |
| DS | Lost in Blue | 2005 | Survival | Konami | Successor to the Survival Kids series with more RPG elements; tools can be upgraded to make your experience easier |
| PS2 | Radiata Stories | 2005 | Action | Tri-Ace | ARPG with a majorly branching storyline, tons of recruitable characters (all with their own schedules), and lots to kick! |
| PS2 | Ys: The Ark of Napishtim | 2005 | Action | Falcom | Technically Ys VI; Adol can jump now, so that's cool |
| PS2 | Musashi: Samurai Legend | 2005 | Action | Square Enix | Sequel of sorts to Brave Fencer Musashi with similar ARPG gameplay |
| DS | Lunar: Dragon Song | 2005 | Turn-Based | Japan Art Media | Nice sprite work and music is the only thing this game has going for it. Garbage story, garbage characters, garbage game design. |
| PS2 | Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome | 2005 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Disgaea-adjacent SRPG with vehicular combat and an assortment of weapon types for each class |
| DS | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story | 2005 | Timed Turn-Based | AlphaDream | More fun with the Mario Bros., as well as exploration of Bowser's innards! |
| DS | Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS | 2005 | Strategy | Capcom | Has content from both versions of MMBN 5 as well as additional content |
| PS2 | Graffiti Kingdom | 2005 | Action | Taito | Draw-your-own-monster ARPG, sequel to Magic Pengel |
| PS2 | Romancing SaGa | 2005 | Turn-Based | Square Enix | Remake of the sandboxy JRPG with gameplay elements taken from other games in the series |
| PS2 | Genji: Dawn of the Samurai | 2005 | Action | Game Republic | Musou-like ARPG loosely based on a Japanese epic tale |
| PS2 | Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel | 2005 | Action | Racjin | ARPG based on the manga with an original plot |
| PS2 | Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir | 2005 | Action | Racjin | Prequel to its predecessor with greatly improved visuals |
| PS2 | Wild Arms Alter Code: F | 2005 | Turn-Based | Media.Vision | 3D remake of Wild Arms, adding 5 playable characters and some QoL improvements |
| PS2 | Fishing Fantasy: Buzzrod (PAL only) | 2005 | Fishing | Starfish | Who would have guessed that fishing would be the key to discovering an ancient civilization? |
| PSP | Kingdom of Paradise | 2005 | Action | Climax Entertainment | ARPG with lots of references to Chinese culture, customization of martial arts moves in combat, stat allocation when leveling up is determined by favored battle actions |
| DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team | 2005 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Companion to the GBA's Red Rescue Team, with Pokemon exploring randomized labyrinths in classic Mystery Dungeon style |
| PSP | Metal Gear Acid | 2005 | Strategy | KCEJ | An SRPG using cards (that can be leveled) to determine actions taken by an alt-canon Solid Snake |
| PSP | PoPoLoCrois | 2005 | Turn-Based | G-Artists | Adorable characters, wholesome setting, turn-based combat with some grid elements, a combined enhanced version of two previously Japan-only PSX games |
| PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga | 2005 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Straightforward turn-based JRPG, characters transform into demons in battle, lots of turn manipulation in combat |
| PS2 | Suikoden Tactics | 2005 | Strategy | Konami | An SRPG with a heavy focus on elements and support characters; takes place both before and after Suikoden IV |
| GameCube | Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life | 2005 | Simulation | Marvelous | Like A Wonderful Life, but with a female player character |
| JP PS2 | Namco x Capcom | 2005 | Strategy | Monolith Soft | Predecessor to Project X Zone, SRPG with combo-based gameplay |
| GBA | Shaman King: Master of Spirits II | 2005 | Action-Platform | KCEJ | Another Metroidvania based on the anime but with more attacks and abilities |
| GBA | Riviera: The Promised Land | 2005 | Turn-Based | Sting | First in the Dept. Heaven series, with nonconventional dungeon exploration and item-based battles |
| GBA | Pokemon Emerald | 2005 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Superior third version of Pokemon Gen 3 |
| JP DS | Zoids Saga DS: Legend of Arcadia | 2005 | Turn-Based | Tomy | Retells the story of the first Zoids Saga game, with updates to gameplay from throughout the series and incorporation of the 2nd/3rd games' protagonists |
| GBA | Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel/Team Protoman | 2005 | Strategy | Capcom | You've seen it before, but now there are powerful Dark Chips! |
| GBA | Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town | 2005 | Simulation | Marvelous | Female protagonist version of Friends of Mineral town with a few added QoL changes |
| GBA | Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones | 2005 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Actually FE8, set in a separate continuity to the previous games |
| Xbox | Digimon World 4 | 2005 | Action | BEC | An unexpected departure from the series format |
| GBA | Final Fantasy IV Advance | 2005 | Turn-Based | Square Enix/Tose | Revised translation and plot polish of the original, as well as graphical improvements |
| GBA | Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure | 2005 | Action | Dimps | Included due to the story mode, which follows a majority of the original DragonBall arcs, featuring side-scrolling beat-em-up (with findable health/ki/weapon length upgrades), flying, and fighting-game-like stages |
| JP GBA | Super Robot Taisen J | 2005 | Strategy | Banpresto | Contains licensed mechs, which is why localization didn't otherwise occur |
| GameCube | Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness | 2005 | Monster Collecting | Genius Sonority | You're a trainer, go purify more Shadow Pokemon! |
| JP PS2 | Front Mission 5: Scars of the War | 2005 | Strategy | Square Enix | More tactical Wanzer combat, largely similar to Front Mission 2, with the addition of friendly fire |
| JP PS2 | Marie to Elie no Atelier: Salburg no Renkinjutsushi 1-2 | 2005 | Turn-Based | Gust | Remakes of the first games in the Atelier series, with all the expected alchemy present |
| GBA | Mario Tennis: Power Tour | 2005 | Sports | Camelot | Another jaunt through tennis school with Mario and friends, with EXP to gain and stats to improve! |
| JP PS2 | Tear Ring Saga Series: Berwick Saga - Lazberia Chronicle Chapter 174 | 2005 | Strategy | Enterbrain | SRPG with a heavy Fire Emblem influence (made by the same creator) with a hexagonal-based battle grid |
| Xbox | Castlevania: Curse of Darkness | 2005 | Action | Konami | 3D ARPG - level Hector's stats with items and his familiars with good ol' XP |
| DS | Advance Wars: Dual Strike | 2005 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Incorporates leveling of commanding officers to the army tactics game |
| JP PS2 | Zill O'll Infinite | 2005 | Turn-Based | Koei | A remake of the JP PSX-only Zill O'll, featuring character creation, major plot-altering decisions (that can even result in NPS permadeath), and 48 endings |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS | 2006 | Simulation | Tose | Classic farming gameplay, lots of harvest spirtes to rescue- and crops themselves level up! |
| GBA | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team | 2006 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Third-person randomized dungeon crawler with Pokemon, sister Blue version was a DS game |
| PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army | 2006 | Action | Atlus | Deviates from series norms by being more of an ARPG and taking place in the past, demon assistance is always present |
| PS2 | Final Fantasy XII | 2006 | Turn-Based | Square Enix | Heavy utilization of programming AI tactics in battle, takes place in the same Ivalice as FFT and Vagrant Story |
| GBA | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Duel Academy | 2006 | Card-Based | Konami | Want to be the King of Games? Then you better study up on your dueling skills and card knowledge! Both successful duels and passing exams help to increase your duelist rank |
| DS | Tao's Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal | 2006 | Turn-Based | Konami | Sequel to Azure Dreams (PSX/GBC), with similar tower climbing/dungeon crawling mchanics, with the addition of touchscreen runes |
| PS2 | Wild Arms 4 | 2006 | Turn-Based | Media.Vision | Abandons the Wild West theme of the previous games; actions in combat affect targeted areas rather than allies/enemies |
| GameCube | Baten Kaitos Origins | 2006 | Card-Based | Tri-Crescendo/Monolith Soft | Similar card combat, but now all characters draw from the same deck |
| GBA | Final Fantasy V Advance | 2006 | Turn-Based | Square Enix/Tose | Updated graphics, new jobs, and a new boss battle compared to the original |
| PSP | Metal Gear Acid 2 | 2006 | Strategy | Kojima Productions | Much like the first, with a massive change in graphical style and some improvements to card management and acquisition |
| Xbox 360 | Enchanted Arms | 2006 | Turn-Based | FromSoftware | Fairly mediocre turn-based JRPG with some grid-based tactical elements to combat |
| PSP | Monster Hunter: Freedom 2 | 2006 | Action | Capcom | An enhanced/expanded handheld port of the second Monster Hunter game (which was previously Japan-only) |
| PS2 | Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria | 2006 | Action | Tri-Ace | Similar combat and dungeon exploration as the first game, but with no time limits or pressure to release Einherjar |
| JP DS | Tales of the Tempest | 2006 | Action | Dimps/Namco Tales Studio | A short spinoff title from the mainline series, but plays as you've come to expect; a very polarizing game |
| PS2 | Grandia III | 2006 | Turn-Based | Game Arts | Same time and distance-based combat as the first two, disproportionate story pacing but solid nonetheless |
| PSP | Generation of Chaos | 2006 | Strategy | Idea Factory | Kingdom sim of sorts, with battles decided in army clashes with many soldiers/one commander |
| PS2 | Phantasy Star Universe | 2006 | Action | Sonic Team | ARPG with a PSO-like combat style, had both online and offline modes (only offline persists to this day) |
| PS2 | Monster Rancher EVO | 2006 | Monster Collecting | Tecmo | Leans more into traditional RPG mechanics than the rest of the series, dumbs some regular Monster Rancher ones down in the process |
| PS3 | Genji: Days of the Blade | 2006 | Action | Game Republic | Origin of the "giant enemy crab" meme, stat progress depnds on weapon leveling |
| PS2 | Metal Saga | 2006 | Turn-Based | Success | First Metal Max series game to be localized, post-apocalyptic setting with some vehicle combat |
| DS | Magical Starsign | 2006 | Turn-Based | Brownie Brown | Cute turn-based JRPG with food-named characters and a focus on elemental and planetary alignment in combat |
| DS | LostMagic | 2006 | Strategy | Taito | RTSRPG that revolves around drawing various runes to use powerful magic and monster capturing |
| Xbox 360 | Dead Rising | 2006 | Action | Capcom | Smashing hordes of zombies in a chaotic mall with a leveling system, unforgiving game timer, survivors to rescue, and pictures to take |
| PSP | Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light | 2006 | Turn-Based | Hit Maker | Run-of-the-mill turn-based JRPG, equipment management is important, you use the moon's energy to allow you to use powerful combat abilities |
| PS2 | Shadow Hearts: From the New World | 2006 | Turn-Based/Horror | Nautilus | Simliar gameplay to the previous entries, but more of a comedic tone and weaker dungeon design |
| PS2 | Kingdom Hearts II | 2006 | Action | Square Enix | Do you like pressing the triangle button? |
| Xbox 360 | Ninety-Nine Nights | 2006 | Action | Q Entertainment/Phantagram | A musou-type game with RPG elements and a fantasy theme, increasing character levels makes better combos available |
| Xbox 360 | Phantasy Star Universe | 2006 | Action | Sonic Team | Mostly the same as PS2, but Ambition of the Illuminus is a free DLC instead |
| PS2 | River King: A Wonderful Journey | 2006 | Fishing | Marvelous | The truest form of JRPG- loads of fishing |
| PS2 | Yakuza | 2006 | Action | Amusement Vision | Tons of minigames, ARPG combat, and a badass protagonist; lots of major Hollywood actors in the English voice cast |
| GBA | Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar/Cybeast Gregar | 2006 | Strategy | Capcom | Final game in the series, a bit more limitations on chip arrangement, stronger fusions |
| PS2 | Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra | 2006 | Turn-Based | Monolith Soft | Xenosaga was intended to be a 6-part series- this entry makes it extremely evident |
| DS | Pokemon Ranger | 2006 | Action | HAL Laboratory | More of an ARPG than regular Pokemon games that uses the stylus to help temporarily capture Pokemon, who assist in completing missions |
| GBA | Yggdra Union: We'll Never Fight Alone | 2006 | Strategy | Sting | Second Dept. Heaven game, an SRPG with card-based movement and skills as well as some real-time elements |
| PS2 | Drakengard 2 | 2006 | Action | Cavia | Still guarding and using dragons to fight masses of enemies |
| PS2 | Steambot Chronicles | 2006 | Action | Irem | Mech-based ARPG, characters are named after food, eschews leveling system for highly customizable mech parts |
| GBA | Summon Night: Swordcraft Story | 2006 | Action | Flight-Plan | Combat reminiscent of earlier Tales games, but with weapon swapping available |
| PSP | Ys: The Ark of Napishtim | 2006 | Action | Falcom | Closer to the original PC Japanese version than the PS2 version was; also adds some extra quests; very long and frequent loading |
| PSP | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force | 2006 | Card-Based | Konami | Something something tag team children's card game, beating rivals levels you up and makes you eligible to buy better booster packs |
| JP PS2 | Monster Hunter 2 (Dos) | 2006 | Action | Capcom | Added a day/night cycle, seasons, gem slotting, and marks the first appearance of the hunting horn weapon |
| PS2 | Tales of the Abyss | 2006 | Action | Namco Tales Studio | Back to the 3D combat that Symphonia popularized, a shining example of protagonist character development |
| PS2 | Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny | 2006 | Turn-Based | Gust | More item synthesis, two switchable protagonists |
| DS | Deep Labyrinth | 2006 | Action | Interactive Brains | A first-person dungeon crawler ARPG with heavy use of the stylus for attacking and drawing runes for spellcasting |
| PS2 | The Sword of Etheria (PAL/JP only) | 2006 | Action | KCET | 3D beat-em-up with a Wizard of Oz theme, heavy emphasis on combo/team-up attacks |
| DS | Final Fantasy III | 2006 | Turn-Based | Matrix Software/Square Enix | First appearance of the job-heavy game in the west |
| GBA | Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation | 2006 | Strategy | Banpresto | Contains only original characters (no licensed mechs), gameplay is otherwise SRPG as always |
| PS2 | Tales of Legendia | 2006 | Action | Namco | Reverts back to the linear combat of earlier entries, about half of the game takes place after the final boss is defeated |
| DS | Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime | 2006 | Action | Tose | Part Zelda-like adventure starring a slime (with increasable health), part tank warfare as only Dragon Quest can provide (the stats of the tank itself can also be upgraded) |
| PS2 | .hack//G.U. Vol. 1//Rebirth | 2006 | Action | CyberConnect2 | The ARPG/false MMO series continues, with a bit of shmup involved |
| GBA | Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 | 2006 | Action | Flight-Plan | Like the first, but with more crafting |
| DS | Digimon World DS | 2006 | Monster Collecting | BEC | Technically the first game in the Digimon Story series rather than a Digimon World game, very Pokemon-esque in gameplay |
| JP GBA | Mother 3 | 2006 | Turn-Based | Brownie Brown/HAL Laboratory | (LOCALIZE IT NINTENDO) Musical combo system in combat, still as offbeat as ever |
| PS2 | MS Saga: A New Dawn | 2006 | Turn-Based | BEC | Gundam-themed, but accessible to those unfamiliar with the universe, includes mobile suit part mixing and matching |
| GBA | Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 | 2006 | Strategy | Banpresto | Differs from the first game by featuring a branching storyline |
| DS | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin | 2006 | Action-Platform | Konami | Metroidvania with highly varied level design and two switchable playable protagonists - CHARLOTTEJONATHANCHARLOTTE |
| PSP | Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory | 2006 | Action | Neverland | A sci-fi ARPG with cumbersome gameplay mechanics and an almost nonexistent story, encourages weapon scavenging from enemies |
| PS2 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 | 2006 | Fighting | Spike | Uses a different game engine and camera style than the Budokai series, but has a similar story mode with additional "what-if" scenarios |
| PSP | Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires | 2006 | Strategy | Idea Factory | An enhanced port of the previously Japan-only Spectral Souls II, an SRPG with multiple storylines to choose, an AP-based combat system |
| PSP | Tales of Eternia (PAL/AU/JP only) | 2006 | Action | Namco Tales Studio | A port of what NA territories knew as Tales of Destiny II, with vastly improved load times |
| PS2 | Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories | 2006 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | More SRPG demon shenanigans! |
| PS2 | Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII | 2006 | Action | Square Enix | An ARPG starring Midgar's favorite brooding gun-toting mutant |
| DS | Contact | 2006 | Action | Grasshopper Manufacture | A fourth-wall breaking ARPG with a costume-based skill system and stats gained in real-time by taking specific actions |
| GBA | Tales of Phantasia | 2006 | Action | Namco Tales Studio | First time released in English, with lots of slowdown and heavily compressed voice clips |
| PSP | The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch | 2006 | Turn-Based | Microvision/Falcom | First game in the Gagharv trilogy, despite western release order; gameplay is still very traditional, arguably bland, continues the pet system from the previous game |
| Wii | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 | 2006 | Fighting | Spike | See PS2, but with motion controls optional |
| DS | Children of Mana | 2006 | Action | Nex Entertainment | Beautiful graphics, but otherwise a repetitive randomized dungeon-crawling ARPG |
| PS2 | Suikoden V | 2006 | Turn-Based | Konami/Hudson Soft | Last game in the series before being abandoned by Konami, a return to 6-person parties, lots of story connections to I-III |
| PSP | Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth | 2006 | Turn-Based | Tose/Tri-Ace | An English port of the Japanese PSX version, not too different overall but does spiff up the localization a bit and adds a few cutscenes |
| Xbox 360 | Eternal Sonata | 2007 | Action | Tri-Crescendo | Visually charming, a story loosely based on music/the composer Chopin, and combat limited by time |
| DS | Fossil League: Dino Tournament Championship | 2007 | Monster Collecting | MTO | Another dinosaur-themed Pokemon clone, but uses actual dinosaurs rather than made-up creatures |
| Vita | Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (DL only) | 2007 | Strategy | Tose/Square Enix | See PSP |
| PS3 | Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War | 2007 | Strategy | Omega Force | A RTS/musou with a rock-paper-scissors-like element to squad types (which can each be leveled), takes place in an alt-historical version of France/England |
| PS2 | Wild Arms 5 | 2007 | Turn-Based | Media.Vision | Back to Filgaia's Wild West theme, but maintains the hex system from WA4 |
| PS3 | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSone Classics) | 2007 | Action-Platform | Konami | See PSX |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS: Island of Happiness | 2007 | Simulation | Tose | Same farming, but now on a deserted island! Limited to touchscreen controls |
| PS3 | Dynasty Warriors: Gundam | 2007 | Action | Koei | Hacky-slashy-mechy ARPG musou fun with the ability to change the outcomes of certain pilots' predetermined fates |
| PS3 | Enchanted Arms | 2007 | Turn-Based | FromSoftware | Mediocre, sci-fi-themed, turn-based, adds Sixaxis controls to enhance attacks in this version |
| DS | Front Mission | 2007 | Strategy | Square Enix | First appearance of the game on western shores, with all the walking tanks you can handle |
| Wii | Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn | 2007 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Direct sequel to Path of Radiance, multiple factions to control over the course of the game, also hard |
| PSP | Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground | 2007 | Dungeon Crawler | Global A Entertainment | Spend the days digging a dungeon to protect your town, then eliminating the monsters you trapped! Stat growth comes in the form of meals made from defeated foes |
| PS3 | Folklore | 2007 | Action | Game Republic | Capture and control fantasy creatures with ARPG gameplay that also utilizes the Sixaxis motion controller (for good or ill) |
| PSP | The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean | 2007 | Turn-Based | Microvision/Falcom | Last in the Gagharv trilogy, but chronologically between the other two; still linear but allows for importing of data from the previous two games |
| PSP | Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon | 2007 | Simulation | ArtePiazza | Has more of a centralized storyline than other Harvest Moons, no marriage system, more adventuring elements (though farming is still a thing to do) |
| PSP | Jeanne d'Arc | 2007 | Strategy | Level-5 | An SRPG loosely based on the story of the famed French heroine; unit facing is important, as is a rock-paper-scissors-type affinity system |
| PSP | Monster Hunter: Freedom | 2007 | Action | Capcom | An enhanced/expanded handheld port of the first Monster Hunter game |
| PSP | Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner | 2007 | Monster Collecting | Gaia | A monster collector/battler game made by the co-creator of the SMT series, item fusion can influence the monsters' stats |
| PSP | Riviera: The Promised Land | 2007 | Turn-Based | Sting | Adds full voice acting, more CG images, and more events to the GBA version of the game |
| PSP | Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology | 2007 | Action | Alfa System | A crossover Tales game with a customizable main character, the ability to recruit other major characters from the series, and a quest-based format |
| PSP | Warriors of the Lost Empire | 2007 | Action | Platinum Egg | A fairly mindless hack-and-slash ARPG with some very questionable enemy AI |
| PSP | Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure | 2007 | Action | Falcom | A cutesy ARPG, fun hats confer stat upgrades and can be leveled in and of themselves |
| DS | Custom Robo Arena | 2007 | Action | Noise Inc. | Go to school, build your robot, and battle using it in arena-styled ARPG combat! |
| PSP | Wild Arms (PSone Classics) | 2007 | Turn-Based | Media.Vision | See PSX |
| PSP | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 2 | 2007 | Card-Based | Konami | If you played the first one, you've played this one; playing the previous game can unlock extra cards |
| DS | Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings | 2007 | Strategy | Think & Feel/Square Enix | Sequel to FFXII, in RTSRPG form! Strong focus on Esper summoning, US version is more difficult than JP |
| DS | Etrian Odyssey | 2007 | Turn-Based | Atlus/Lancarse | Classic-styled first-person dungeon crawler with punishing difficulty, requires dungeon mapping via the stylus |
| DS | Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker | 2007 | Monster Collecting | Tose | More Dragon Quest-themed monster collection and synthesis! Also features a DQ VIII- like skill system |
| DS | Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu | 2007 | Card-Based | BEC | Taking it all the way back to card-based combat, encounters take a long time but you gain experience between them |
| PSP | Harvest Moon: Boy & Girl | 2007 | Simulation | Marvelous Entertainment | Combines the original version of Back to Nature with the previously JP-only female protagonist version |
| Wii | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | 2007 | Fighting | Spike | See PS2, but with motion controls optional |
| Xbox 360 | Dynasty Warriors: Gundam | 2007 | Action | Koei | Epic large-scale musou battles with a Gundam twist |
| PSP | Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness | 2007 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Cuts out a few songs from the original, but adds a mode focusing on Etna, some bosses from Disgaea 2, and dual language support |
| PS3 | Wild Arms (PSone Classics) | 2007 | Turn-Based | Media Vision | See PSX |
| PSP | Aedis Eclipse: Generation of Chaos | 2007 | Strategy | Idea Factory | Sequel to Generation of Chaos, similar SRPG-adjacent gameplay; movement is done in a board game-like fashion and combat plays out automatically |
| PSP | Beta Bloc (PAL/JP only) | 2007 | Arcade | Tamsoft | See PS2 |
| Xbox 360 | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (DL only) | 2007 | Action-Platform | Konami | Mostly the same as the PSX version, but removes FMV cutscenes |
| PSP | Brave Story: New Traveler | 2007 | Turn-Based | Game Republic | Based on a novel/manga, standard turn-based gameplay, semi-obnoxious onomatopoeia effects during combat |
| PSP | Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles | 2007 | Action-Platform | Konami | Contains a remade version of Rondo of Blood and an unlockable version of Symphony of the Night with dialogue translation closer to the original Japanese |
| Xbox 360 | Blue Dragon | 2007 | Turn-Based | Mistwalker/Artoon | Elementary JRPG with a killer boss theme and a job system |
| PSP | Dragoneer's Aria | 2007 | Turn-Based | Hit Maker | Turn-based battle system, magic is improved through repeated use, each party member has a unique field skill, elemental combos are encouraged in combat |
| Wii | Super Paper Mario | 2007 | Action-Platform | Intelligent Systems | Multiple playable characters and the ability to switch between 2D/3D for platforming; the last decent Paper Mario game, according to many |
| PSP | Dungeon Explorer (DL only) | 2007 | Dungeon Crawler | Atlus | See TG16 |
| Xbox 360 | Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War | 2007 | Strategy | Omega Force | See PS3 |
| DS | Digimon World Dawn/Dusk | 2007 | Turn-Based | BEC | Sequels to Digimon World DS, play similarly, exclusive Digimon to each version (as is tradition) |
| PSP | Final Fantasy | 2007 | Turn-Based | Tose/Square Enix | Uses bonus dungeon and translation from Dawn of Souls (GBA), has updated 2D graphics, FMVs and soundtrack, arguably the definitive version of the game |
| PSP | Final Fantasy II | 2007 | Turn-Based | Tose/Square Enix | See above |
| PSP | Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions | 2007 | Strategy | Tose/Square Enix | Enhanced port of the original, changes some character/spell names, a LOT of Shakespearean-type English, MAJOR slowdown with spells, lots of QoL changes |
| Wii | Sonic and the Secret Rings | 2007 | Action-Platform | Sonic Team | Sonic meets Arabian Nights with results of dubious quality, but experience to be gained and applied to skills based on stage performance |
| PSP | Valhalla Knights | 2007 | Action | K2 | Combat takes place in real-time with instant character switching but is a tad clunky, job system/subclassing confers abilities onto party members |
| DS | Heroes of Mana | 2007 | Strategy | Brownie Brown | RTS where better equipment is the key to raising stats; pretty but lacking in substance |
| DS | Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth Remix | 2007 | Strategy | Barnhouse Effect | Remake of the PSX SRPG with a new localization and endings |
| DS | Spectral Force Genesis | 2007 | Strategy | Idea Factory | An extremely detailed war sim RTSRPG, with multiple nations to play as and features like taxation and diplomacy |
| DS | Master of the Monster Lair | 2007 | Dungeon Crawler | Global A Entertainment | Want to slay monsters? Just dig a whole dungeon for them so you have them all corralled in one place! |
| PS2 | Growlanser: Heritage of War | 2007 | Strategy | Career Soft | Actually Growlanser V, more of an RTS than previous entries in the series |
| DS | Mega Man Star Force: Dragon/Leo/Pegasus | 2007 | Strategy | Capcom | Separate from but plays in a similar manner to the MMBN series, except with a vertical grid and more limited dodging |
| PS2 | GrimGrimoire | 2007 | Strategy | Vanillaware | RTSRPG, units level up based on progress in the story |
| DS | Naruto: Path of the Ninja | 2007 | Turn-Based | Tose | Follows the manga/anime through the Chunin Exams arc, with some touch controls integrated |
| DS | Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | 2007 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Less water than Gen 3 Pokemon games, but with an obnoxious mountain to frequently travel through |
| PS2 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | 2007 | Fighting | Spike | An absolute ton of playable characters, but a bit of meat taken out of the story mode, as well as diminishing the RPG elements |
| PS2 | Digimon World Data Squad | 2007 | Turn-Based | BEC | Turn-based battles and an emphasis on raising your Digimon appropriately |
| PS2 | Dawn of Mana | 2007 | Action | Square Enix | Does away with many conventions of the series, large focus on item throwing, level gains are reset between areas |
| DS | Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon | 2007 | Simulation | Neverland | Now you get to raise crops and slay monsters! |
| DS | Inuyasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel | 2007 | Turn-Based | Art Co./Frontier Groove | Run-of-the-mill turn-based JRPG with an original story featuring the characters and setting of the anime/manga |
| DS | Luminous Arc | 2007 | Strategy | Imageepoch | SRPG; relationship-building between characters takes place between battles |
| PS2 | Atelier iris 3: Grand Phantasm | 2007 | Turn-Based | Gust | Fewer party members, but more customizable as a result |
| PS2 | Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia | 2007 | Turn-Based | Gust | Turn-based battles, platforming dungeons, some VN elements- protect the singers! |
| PS2 | .hack//G.U. Vol. 3//Redemption | 2007 | Action | CyberConnect2 | The ARPG/false MMO series continues, with a bit of shmup involved |
| PS2 | .hack//G.U. Vol. 2//Reminisce | 2007 | Action | CyberConnect2 | The ARPG/false MMO series continues, with a bit of shmup involved |
| DS | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Spirit Caller | 2007 | Card-Based | Konami | Mostly follows season 1 of the anime from Jaden's perspective, leveling as a duelist is a requirement for story progression |
| JP PS2 | Super Robot Taisen OG: Original Generations | 2007 | Strategy | Banpresto | Combined retcon/remake of the two GBA SRT games; additionally incorporates battle systems/bots from other games in the series |
| JP PS2 | Rogue Hearts Dungeon | 2007 | Dungeon Crawler | Compile Heart | Roguelike dungeon crawl with randomized dungeons, not part of the Mystery Dungeon series though |
| GBA | Final Fantasy VI Advance | 2007 | Turn-Based | Square Enix/Tose | Added bonus dungeons, Espers, and some graphical polish |
| JP DS | Tales of Innocence | 2007 | Action | Alfa System | You know what to expect here at this point - in addition, doing sidequests for guilds levels them up |
| JP DS | Super Robot Wars W | 2007 | Turn-Based | Banpresto | Generally speaking same gameplay as always, splits the story into 2 timelines (not all storylines are present in both) |
| DS | Lunar Knights | 2007 | Action | Kojima Productions | ARPG; part of the Boktai series, and can even use the previous game's cartriges as solar sensors to confer extra bonuses |
| DS | Spectrobes | 2007 | Action | Jupiter | An original Disney Interactive Studios IP with slippery-looking controls; a Pokemon clone with ARPG combat |
| PS2 | Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus | 2007 | Action | Sonic Team | Standalone expansion to Phantasy Star Universe |
| DS | Lost in Blue 2 | 2007 | Survival | Matrix Software | Survive on a deserted island with your partner (and be sure to improve your living conditions as well)! |
| PS2 | Shining Force EXA | 2007 | Action | Neverland | Isometric ARPG with two protagonists and some town-building, recycles many assets from Shining Force Neo |
| PS2 | Rogue Galaxy | 2007 | Action | Level-5 | Space pirate ARPG with AI party members and a nontradional stat increasing system |
| PS2 | Odin Sphere | 2007 | Action | Vanillaware | Side-scrolling beat-em-up ARPG with a gorgeous art style |
| DS | Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja | 2007 | Dungeon Crawler | Ninja Studio | Roguelike dungeon crawler with a quirky protagonist, decent difficulty curve |
| PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 | 2007 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Where the Persona series really began to pick up steam in mainstream consciousness; introduced the Social Link element used by future entries |
| PS2 | Soul Nomad & The World Eaters | 2007 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Yet another Disgaea-adjacent SRPG, this one has more NPC interaction and a branching storyline |
| PS2 | Baroque | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Sting | Morbid, dark rogue-like, with a 3rd-person 3D perspective as opposed to the original |
| Wii | Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked | 2008 | Survival | Hudson Soft | Whoops, you're trapped on an island and have to do minigames in order to craft tools/hunt to survive |
| PS2 | Beta Bloc (PAL/JP only) | 2008 | Arcade | Tamsoft | Arkanoid/RPG hybrid, if that can be believed |
| PSP | Yggdra Union: We'll Never Fight Alone | 2008 | Strategy | Sting | Adds new characters, redrawn sprites, increased unit capacity, more story sequences, and tweaks skills found in the original |
| PSP | Wild Arms XF | 2008 | Strategy | Media.Vision | Takes the hex grid system seen in later series entries and makes an SRPG out of them, a vitality points system adds an additional time limit to regular battles |
| Wii | One Piece: Unlimited Adventure | 2008 | Fighting | Ganbarion | ARPG in which the Straw Hat Pirates are stuck on an island and need to forage for survival; crafted food increases statistics |
| Wii | Opoona | 2008 | Action | ArtePiazza | Cutesy semi-sci-fi game where combat is done by throwing a sphere at enemies |
| PS2 | Chaos Wars | 2008 | Strategy | Idea Factory | SRPG with the best English voice acting known to man |
| PSP | Valhalla Knights 2 | 2008 | Action | K2 | Not much different from the first at all, cumbersome spell systems and mission structure with bland environments |
| PS2 | Shepherd's Crossing | 2008 | Simulation | Success | A game much like Harvest Moon in terms of farming, RPG elements are present in the raising and skill-learning of hunting dogs |
| PSP | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 3 (PAL/JP only) | 2008 | Card-Based | Konami | Partner characters have more storylines to make up for a smaller number of events per storyline, UMD recognition of previous games gives a bonus partner, same leveling as the prequels |
| DS | Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon | 2008 | Simulation | Neverland | Grow your farm and level up, and befriend monsters to hire them as farmhands! |
| DS | Rondo of Swords | 2008 | Strategy | Success | An SRPG where you have to run a route through enemies to engage them in combat |
| PSP | Suikoden (PSone Classics) | 2008 | Turn-Based | Konami | See PSX |
| PSP | Star Ocean: First Departure | 2008 | Action | Tose/Tri-Ace | Adds new playable characters and animated cutscenes, gives the game a different engine, expands on some NPCs storyline-wise, first western localization of the game |
| PS2 | Dokapon Kingdom | 2008 | Board Game | Sting | Board game/JRPG hybrid, extremely cute with turn-based combat |
| DS | River King: Mystic Valley | 2008 | Fishing | Marvelous | It's a River King game, yes, but the fishing lacks the charm it once had in earlier games |
| DS | Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure | 2008 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Changes the SRPG combat to 2D turn-based fighting, no English song vocals |
| DS | Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Ninja Studio | Plays like the first with similar tone, but adds a tag system for exploring dungeons; lots of grinding is necessary to complete |
| Xbox 360 | Zoids Assault | 2008 | Strategy | SE Mobile & Online | SRPG featuring the long-running Zoids franchise and a lot of washed-out color palettes |
| DS | Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals | 2008 | Action | Jupiter | Many more Spectrobes to collect and a general improvement overall from the first game |
| DS | Disgaea DS | 2008 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Port of the PSP version of the classic SRPG with a few additional characters |
| Wii | Dokapon Kingdom | 2008 | Board Game | Sting | No gameplay changes as compared to PS2, but better graphics and easier multiplayer |
| DS | Away: Shuffle Dungeon | 2008 | Action | Artoon/Mistwalker | Unique spin on the mystery dungeon rogue-like format: each of the two screens is randomized and will shuffle after a time |
| Wii | Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors | 2008 | Action | Genius Sonority/Eighting | An on-rails hack-and-slash RPG utilizing the Wii's motion controls |
| DS | Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia | 2008 | Action-Platform | Konami | Last of the DS Metroidvanias, featuring a glyph combination system to customize movement and combat abilities |
| PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 | 2008 | Simulation | Atlus | The RPG/life sim (of sorts) series continues, this time with a murder mystery theme and an obsession with the color yellow |
| DS | Chrono Trigger | 2008 | Turn-Based | Square Enix/Tose | If you must play a version of this game (and you must), this one is a good choice- it has extra cut content! |
| DS | The World Ends With You | 2008 | Action | Jupiter/Square Enix | A fashionable, frantic ARPG that utilizes badges of sorts to determine attack abilities |
| DS | Digimon World Championship | 2008 | Monster Collecting | Epics | All the perils of raising monsters without any of the storyline or ability to control them in combat (which happens via AI)! |
| DS | Summon Night: Twin Age | 2008 | Action | Flight-Plan | Touch control-only ARPG with 2 AI party members and the ability to summon monsters |
| DS | Dinosaur King | 2008 | Monster Collecting | Climax Entertainment | It's Pokemon, but with dinosaurs instead! Combat is literally in a rock-paper-scissors format |
| Wii | Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | h.a.n.d. Inc. | Another Mystery Dungeon game starring Chocobo, this time with the addition of jobs (and subsequently adorable outfits) |
| DS | Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia | 2008 | Action | Creatures Inc. | Still no Pokemon battling here and still touchscreen-heavy, but with more possible partner Pokemon and tools for capturing |
| JP PSP | Super Robot Taisen A Portable | 2008 | Strategy | Banpresto | It's more SRW, with branching storylines and super evasive enemies! Remake of the GBA game Super Robot Wars A |
| PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES | 2008 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Adds an additional epilogue scenario to the original game, debatably the definitive edition |
| DS | Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen | 2008 | Turn-Based | ArtePiazza | Classic JRPG gameplay broken up into chapters following specific protagonists, has one more chapter than the NES version |
| DS | Drone Tactics | 2008 | Strategy | Success | A robo-bug-based SRPG, skews in a simplistic/childlike direction, especially story-wise |
| DS | Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Hudson Soft | Isometric ARPG dungeon crawler, has a materia-like system of weapon/armor augmentation |
| Wii | Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility | 2008 | Simulation | Marvelous Entertainment | Level your tools, grow your crops, and restore a nature deity- all in a day's work! |
| DS | Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard | 2008 | Turn-Based | Atlus/Lancarse | Very similar to the first game, just as blisteringly hard, more mapping symbols available for use |
| DS | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time | 2008 | Action | Square Enix | Isometric ARPG dungeon crawl with character creation, can link to other DS or Wii copies of the game for multiplayer |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS: Cute | 2008 | Simulation | Marvelous | An alternative version of Harvest Moon DS that makes some QoL changes and allows you to play as a female protagonist |
| DS | Final Fantasy IV | 2008 | Turn-Based | Matrix Software | A drastic change in graphics from 2D to 3D, added FMV cutscenes, significantly expanded plot from previous versions |
| DS | Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift | 2008 | Strategy | Square Enix | Class- and clan-based SRPG, similar to its predecessor in lighthearted tone, but far less strict laws in play |
| PSP | R-Type Command | 2008 | Strategy | Irem | An SRPG spinoff of the space shmup; two separate campaigns available; pilots can gain experience during missions, making their ships better in combat |
| Wii | Sonic Unleashed | 2008 | Action-Platform | Sonic Team/Dimps | Hope you like werehogs! More night levels than 360/PS3, a non-explorable hub world by comparison, and only the werehog can be leveled |
| Wii | Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World | 2008 | Action | Namco Tales Studio | Lots of elemental affinity manipulation and some monster recruitment mechanics in addition to normal Tales gameplay |
| PS3 | Valkyria Chronicles | 2008 | Strategy | Sega | Squad-focused SRPG with real-time troop movement limited by AP, tanks are also controllable (and destructable) |
| DS | Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Ninja/Zerker X Saurian | 2008 | Strategy | Capcom | See above, but with a few more transformations |
| PSP | Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII | 2008 | Action | Square Enix | ARPG featuring not-Cloud in a prequel to FFVII, slot machines can affect the tide of battle, mission-based structure |
| PS2 | Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories | 2008 | Action | Square Enix | Still card-based, but with voice acting, new cutscenes, and 3D combat |
| PSP | Ape Quest | 2008 | Turn-Based | Shift | It's a JRPG with the monkeys from Ape Escape- enough said |
| Xbox 360 | Infinite Undiscovery | 2008 | Action | Tri-Ace | ARPG combat with combo attacks; opening menus doesn't pause the game, too many characters drag the otherwise compelling story down |
| Xbox 360 | Lost Odyssey | 2008 | Turn-Based | Mistwalker/Feelplus | A traditional JRPG with incredible writing in side dream sequences; lots of rumination on immortality |
| Xbox 360 | Operation Darkness | 2008 | Strategy | Success | An SRPG featuring permadeath and a heavily alternate history WWII - think Nazi zombies and dragons |
| PS2 | Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis | 2008 | Turn-Based | Gust | Go to school, learn some alchemy, and use action points instead of XP to grow your characters! |
| PS3 | Suikoden (PSone Classics) | 2008 | Turn-Based | Konami | See PSX |
| PSP | Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Hudson Soft | Isometric ARPG dungeon-crawler with a job system, some levels of the dungeons have strict requirements on the party |
| PS3 | Sonic Unleashed | 2008 | Action-Platform | Sonic Team | See 360 |
| DS | Lost in Blue 3 | 2008 | Survival | Matrix Software | More castaways to assist with touchscreen mechanics |
| DS | Luminous Arc 2 | 2008 | Strategy | Imageepoch | Not terribly different from the first, can be quite difficult, endings are determined by pre-battle dialouge choices |
| Xbox 360 | Record of Agarest War | 2008 | Strategy | Compile Heart | An extremely long SRPG that encourages careful marriage selection via dating sim elements and takes place over 5 generations |
| Xbox 360 | Sonic Unleashed | 2008 | Action-Platform | Sonic Team | Featuring XP for both the hedgehog and werehog, a hub world that can be explored, and more/different levels than the PS2/Wii versions |
| Xbox 360 | Spectral Force 3 | 2008 | Strategy | Idea Factory/XPEC Entertainment | SRPG with a large amount of recruitable characters, faction-based story |
| PS3 | Eternal Sonata | 2008 | Action | Tri-Crescendo | Adds a lot to the 360 version - more story, more playable characters, more dungeons; combat is fun but tactical |
| Xbox 360 | Tales of Vesperia | 2008 | Action | Namco Tales Studio | It's more Tales, featuring a badass doggo! Lots of missables and a strong overall cast |
| PS3 | Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice | 2008 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | SRPG shenanigans in the netherworld, with weapon proficiencies, monsters changing into weapons, and stacks of Geo blocks |
| PS2 | Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Special Edition | 2008 | Simulation | ArtePiazza | Harvest Moon gameplay with more of a focused quest |
| Wii | Baroque | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Sting | Third-person randomized dungeon crawler, eating flesh and hearts restores health and vitality! |
| PSP | Dungeon Maker II: The Hidden War | 2008 | Sandbox/Dungeon Crawler | Global A Entertainment | Plays similarly to the first, with an additional monster-raising system and more fine-tuning of dungeon-building elements |
| DS | Advance Wars: Days of Ruin | 2008 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | A more post-apocalyptic setting than pervious entries, individual units can level up in combat (though the effect only lasts for one map) |
| DS | Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 | 2008 | Turn-Based | Tose | Plays like the first game, but is more of an original filler story than directly following the source material |
| DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness/Time | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | More mystery dungeon delving with the famous pocket monsters, with the addition of Gen 4 Pokemon |
| PS2 | Eternal Poison | 2008 | Strategy | Flight-Plan | Gothic-themed SRPG with demon capturing mechanics |
| PS2 | Yakuza 2 | 2008 | Action | Amusement Vision | Kazuma Kiryu's Kamurocho shenanigans continue with a JP-only voice cast |
| DS | Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Roguelike dungeon crawl where food management is critical and death is expected |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS: Sunshine Islands | 2008 | Simulation | Marvelous | Resembles Island of Happiness, but reliance on the touchsreen is removed |
| PS2 | Sonic Unleashed | 2008 | Action-Platform | Sonic Team/Dimps | See Wii |
| DS | From the Abyss | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Sonic Powered | Randomized dungeon crawler ARPG |
| PS2 | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: The Beginning of Destiny | 2008 | Card-Based | KCEJ | Adds more duels to the the PSP Tag Force game, also allows for connectivity with Tag Force 2 to obtain more cards |
| JP DS | Soma Bringer | 2008 | Action | Monolith Soft | Top-down ARPG, widely acclaimed; lots of text to read and lots of character customization to do |
| Wii | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord (WiiWare) | 2009 | Strategy | Square Enix | A cute tower defense/light RPG, clearing stages gives you experience used to power up minions |
| JP PSP | R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate | 2009 | Strategy | Irem | Continues the same style of gameplay as the first game; three campaigns to choose from; stats can be improved with leveling |
| Wii | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers | 2009 | Action | Square Enix | ARPG; there is no party system, equipment and thorough exploration are the only ways to upgrade stats |
| Wii | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (WiiWare) | 2009 | Simulation | Square Enix | A cute town-building simulator/RPG with the Final Fantasy trappings |
| JP Wii | Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon - Mezase! Hikari no Boukendan | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | See above, but electric Pokemon |
| Vita | Final Fantasy VIII (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Turn-Based | Square | See PSX |
| JP Wii | Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon - Ikuzo! Arashi no Boukendan | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Stack water Pokemon in a WiiWare-exclusive Mystery Dungeon adventure! |
| Xbox 360 | Way of the Samurai 3 | 2009 | Action | Acquire | See PS3 |
| Wii | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time | 2009 | Action | Square Enix | ARPG with a customizable avatar character and the ability to cross-play with the DS version |
| Wii | Spectrobes: Origins | 2009 | Monster Collecting | Genki | ARPG/monster collector with utilization of motion controls to switch between Spectrobes in combat |
| Wii | Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga | 2009 | Action | K2 | ARPG with a lot of similarities to Monster Hunter and a job system |
| Xbox 360 | The Last Remnant | 2009 | Turn-Based | Square Enix | Battles are done in large-scale- each character leads a squad of units, too much grinding can notoriously make the game too difficult |
| Wii | Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop | 2009 | Action | Tose/Capcom | Replaces the game-spanning countdown clock with timed missions, no free-roaming the mall between missions, and over-the-shoulder gunplay |
| JP DS | 7th Dragon | 2009 | Turn-Based | Imageepoch | Slay some dragons in a traditional turn-based style! |
| Wii | Sonic and the Black Knight | 2009 | Action-Platform | Sonic Team | Sonic meets King Arthur this time, with even worse controls and a looser form of experience in the form of followers, which raise your knight rank which lets you access more skills |
| JP DS | Luminous Arc 3: Eyes | 2009 | Strategy | Imageepoch | Shenanigans at a magic school with both SRPG gameplay and dating sim elements |
| Xbox 360 | Crystal Defenders | 2009 | Strategy | Square Enix | A Final Fantasy-themed tower defense game where leveling units is crucial to survival |
| JP DS | SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu - Goddess of Destiny | 2009 | Turn-Based | Racjin/Square Enix | A ground-up remake of Final Fantasy Legend II, with more sidequests and the removal of random battles |
| JP DS | Rockman.EXE: Operate Shooting Star | 2009 | Action | Capcom | A port of Mega Man Battle Network with some additional Star Force content thrown in |
| DS | Hero's Saga Laevatein Tactics | 2009 | Strategy | GungHo | SRPG; combat between individual map units takes place over 3 rounds with a full squad of troops |
| Xbox 360 | Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 | 2009 | Action | Koei | More gigantic mobile suits to face off against in ARPG combat |
| Wii | Phantom Brave: We Meet Again | 2009 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Adds a new campaign and characters to the PS2 version of the SRPG |
| JP PSP | La Pucelle Ragnarok | 2009 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Adds characters from the Disgaea series, QoL improvements, and extra bonus episodes |
| Wii | Little King's Story | 2009 | Simulation | Cing/Townfactory | Combination RTSRPG/town builder/management sim; explore and expand your rapidly growing reign as king |
| Wii | Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (WiiWare) | 2009 | Turn-Based | Matrix Software | An episodic sequel to Final Fantasy IV that many felt was unnecessary, adds new gameplay systems |
| Wii | Rune Factory: Frontier | 2009 | Simulation | Neverland | Harvest and dungeon delve, all while trying to prevent a whale island from crashing to the ground! |
| JP DS | Blood of Bahamut | 2009 | Action | Think & Feel | Giant monster-slaying ARPG with mission-based structure |
| Wii | Rygar: The Battle of Argus | 2009 | Action | Team Tachyon | See PS2, but with motion controls for the diskarmor and a massive change in Rygar's appearance |
| Wii | Harvest Moon: Animal Parade | 2009 | Simulation | Marvelous Entertainment | All the farming you'd expect, but with a bigger variety of animals (many of them rideable)! |
| Xbox 360 | Phantasy Star II (DL only) | 2009 | Turn-Based | Sega | See GEN |
| DS | A Witch's Tale | 2009 | Turn-Based | Hit Maker/Nippon Ichi | Bland gameplay with a twisted Halloween aesthetic and public domain characters |
| Wii | Muramasa: The Demon Blade | 2009 | Action | Vanillaware | Gorgeous side-scrolling ARPG with a Japanese folklore twist |
| JP DS | Ore ga Omae o Mamoru | 2009 | Action-Platform | Vingt-et-un Systems/Idea Factory | A Metroidvania made to entice women to play, but quite difficult in practice; no XP to speak of but stats can be increased through equipment and story events |
| PS3 | Cross Edge | 2009 | Strategy | Compile Heart | Crossover RPG with characters from Darkstalkers and Disgaea among others, combo-based gameplay, loads of technical issues |
| JP Wii | Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon - Susume! Honou no Boukendan | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | See above, but fire Pokemon |
| DS | Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time | 2009 | Timed Turn-Based | AlphaDream | Related to Superstar Saga by time travel, still turn-based with timing elements; introduces baby Mario and Luigi as playable |
| PSP | Mana Khemia: Student Alliance | 2009 | Turn-Based | Gust | Mostly the same as the PS2 version, but with added multiplayer battles and more items to synthesize in exchange for longer load times |
| DS | Phantasy Star 0 | 2009 | Action | Sonic Team | Think Phantasy Star Online, but with crunchier graphics and a full-fledged story mode |
| DS | Nostalgia | 2009 | Turn-Based | Matrix Software/RED Entertainment | Turn-based combat, airship battles, real-world locations, and a magical steampunk aesthetic |
| PSP | Half-Minute Hero | 2009 | Action | Opus | You have 30 seconds to save the world! What are you waiting for? A variety of fast-paced and humorous game modes and stories to complete |
| PSP | Final Fantasy VIII (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Turn-Based | Square | See PSX |
| DS | My World, My Way | 2009 | Turn-Based | Global A Entertainment | The main character is a spoiled princess who can literally pout her way into changing the difficulty of battles and the terrain itself |
| PSP | Final Fantasy Tactics (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Strategy | Square | See PSX |
| DS | Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace/Red Joker | 2009 | Strategy | Capcom | See above, with version-specific transformations, more customizable commands, and the ability to become Mega Man at any time |
| PSP | Dissidia Final Fantasy | 2009 | Fighting | Square Enix | A 3D Final Fantasy fighting game with unconventional mechanics, representatives from most main games in the series, and a story mode with character leveling |
| PSP | Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days | 2009 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Adds characters from Disgaea 3, a story mode focusing on Axel, and other QoL changes brought over from Disgaea 3 |
| PSP | Class of Heroes | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Zerodiv | First-person dungeon-crawler with highly customizable party members, and balancing compatibility between members is important |
| DS | Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times | 2009 | Simulation | Aquria | If Animal Crossing went to Hogwarts, this would be the adorable result |
| DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | The "third version" of Explorers of Darkness/Time, adds more storyline elements |
| PS2 | Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy | 2009 | Turn-Based | Gust | Direct sequel to Mana Khemia, with a similar character growth system- lots of pre-planning in synthesis encouraged |
| PSP | Adventures to Go! | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Global A Entertainment | Isometric turn-based dungeon crawler of sorts where you set the parameters for the adventures you go on; gameplay is not very inventive |
| DS | Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon | 2009 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Remake of the first Fire Emblem game (and the first time Marth's story was told in the west) adding a lot of QoL features |
| DS | Fossil Fighters | 2009 | Monster Collecting | RED Entertainment/M2/Artdink/Nintendo | Dig up fossils, combine them, revive them, and pit them against each other in Pokemon-like combat! |
| PS3 | Wild Arms 2 (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Turn-Based | Media Vision | See PSX |
| PS3 | Way of the Samurai 3 | 2009 | Action | Acquire | A Sengoku-era ARPG with 22 different endings; weapons gain XP and lead to learning skills, many butterfly effect-type decisions to make |
| PS3 | Final Fantasy VIII (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Turn-Based | Square | See PSX |
| PS3 | Final Fantasy VII (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Turn-Based | Square | See PSX |
| PS3 | Final Fantasy Tactics (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Strategy | Square | See PSX |
| PS3 | Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 | 2009 | Action | Koei | Removes Japanese voices but adds some aerial combat, combos, and quick time events |
| PS2 | Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle | 2009 | Strategy | Koei Tecmo | Battles happen on a far grander scale than in the previous series entries- individual officers gain experience and tactics by being utilized |
| PS3 | Demon's Souls | 2009 | Action | FromSoftware | Punishing ARPG gameplay, loads of dying, learning, and dying again - collective actions online shift the difficulty of the game as a whole |
| PSP | Monster Hunter Freedom Unite | 2009 | Action | Capcom | A further enhanced verion of Freedom 2, with more monsters, missions, pieces of equipment, and the addition of Felyne fighters to provide assistance |
| PS2 | Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 | 2009 | Action | Omega Force | Mobile suit musou madness |
| Vita | Final Fantasy Tactics (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Strategy | Square | See PSX |
| DS | Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride | 2009 | Turn-Based | ArtePiazza | First release of DQV in North America, featuring monster taming and a multi-generational story |
| DS | Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island | 2009 | Strategy | Gust | The first traditional Atelier game to come to the States - lots of crafting and time management as expected |
| DS | Avalon Code | 2009 | Action | Matrix Software | Offbeat ARPG focusing on changing the properties of items to solve puzzles |
| DS | Bleach: The 3rd Phantom | 2009 | Strategy | Tom Create | An SRPG with relationship-building elements, spinoff story written by Tite Kubo himself |
| DS | Blue Dragon Plus | 2009 | Strategy | Brownie Brown/feelplus | RTSRPG sequel to Blue Dragon, adorable spritework |
| JP Wii | Takt of Magic | 2009 | Strategy | Taito | Successor to LostMagic (DS); a ARPGRTS focused on using motion controls to cast spells |
| DS | Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume | 2009 | Strategy | Tri-Ace | Prequel to the first Valkyrie Profile; an SRPG where permakilling party members voluntarily can greatly aid in battle |
| DS | The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road | 2009 | Turn-Based | Media Vision | Dorothy and friends go out to hunt some witches, with a cumbersome trackball guiding movement and a slot-based combat system |
| DS | The Dark Spire | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Success | A heavily stylized first-person dungeon crawler with an emphasis on an alignment system |
| DS | Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier | 2009 | Turn-Based | Monolith Soft | Spinoff of the Original Generation series of Super Robot Wars, with turn-based combo combat rather than the regular SRPG format |
| DS | Dokapon Journey | 2009 | Board Game | Suzak | Hybrid JRPG/board game, super duper cute! |
| DS | Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans | 2009 | Turn-Based | Monolith Soft | An actual traditional turn-based Dragon Ball Z JRPG? I never thought I would see the day! |
| DS | Suikoden Tierkreis | 2009 | Turn-Based | Konami | Not part of the main series storyline (no returning characters), but similar 108-star recuitment and turn-based gameplay |
| PS2 | Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica | 2009 | Timed Turn-Based | Gust | Battle system different from the first, but the premise remains the same |
| DS | Pokemon Platinum | 2009 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Last of the "combined third versions" of Pokemon games, this one the arguably ultimate version of Gen 4 |
| PS3 | Crystal Defenders | 2009 | Strategy | Square Enix | Final Fantasy-themed tower defense, cute spritework, unit management and leveling is important |
| PSP | Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 4 | 2009 | Card-Based | Konami | See above, with some different characters/follows a different series, still with UMD recognition from previous games |
| PSP | Wild Arms 2 (PSone Classics) | 2009 | Turn-Based | Media.Vision | See PSX |
| PS2 | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon | 2009 | Action | Atlus | Very similar to its predecessor, but uses demon negotiation rather than capture elements |
| PSP | What Did I Do To Deserve This, My Lord!? (DL only) | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Acquire/Rideon | You're the bad guy who has to build the dungeons and buff up your monsters to kill off the good guys! |
| DS | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor | 2009 | Strategy | Atlus | SRPG with branching narrative choices and squads of units rather than individuals, plus demons of course |
| DS | Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days | 2009 | Action | h.a.n.d. Inc./Square Enix | Stars Organization XIII, takes place parallel to Chain of Memories; mission-like structure with the same ARPG gameplay |
| DS | Knights in the Nightmare | 2009 | Strategy | Sting | Fourth episode of the Dept. Heaven game series; SRPG/bullet hell hybrid that should be played to be believed |
| PSP | Star Ocean: Second Evolution | 2009 | Action | Tose/Tri-Ace | Adds new playable characters, reworked skills, new cutscenes, and even more endings to The Second Story |
| PSP | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona | 2009 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Adds the previously excluded Snow Queen Quest, readjusts difficulty levels and encounter rates, and reworks the dialogue to be more modern |
| DS | Legacy of Ys: Books I & II | 2009 | Action | Dreams/Falcom | Combined enhanced remake of Ys I and II with 3D and potential multiplayer |
| PSP | Phantasy Star Portable | 2009 | Action | Alfa System/Sonic Team | Sequel to Phantasy Star Universe, plays in a similar ARPG style, customizable player character, mission-based structure |
| DS | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates | 2009 | Action | Square Enix | The multiplayer ARPG returns with changes to the playable classes and visible equipment |
