3DS | 7th Dragon III Code: VFD | 2016 | Dungeon Crawler | The only game in the 3rd-person dungeon crawling series to make it to the west, keeps party customization and turn-based combat intact |
Game Gear | Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe | 1992 | Action | Side-scrolling ARPG; no leveling but magic pots can be used to upgrade skills |
JP Mega Drive | Bahamut Senki | 1991 | Simulation | A fantasy war simulator with 8 different armies to choose from; units can rank up and become stronger, combat is both turn-based and real-time |
Game Gear | Crystal Warriors | 1992 | Strategy | Pretty standard SRPG for the time |
3DS | Crystal Warriors (VC) | 2013 | Strategy | See GG |
Game Gear | Defenders of Oasis | 1992 | Turn-Based | Turn-based JRPG with a Thousand and One Nights theme |
3DS | Defenders of Oasis (VC) | 2013 | Turn-Based | See GG |
Game Gear | Dragon Crystal | 1991 | Dungeon Crawler | Kinda like a demake of Fatal Labyrinth |
Master System | Dragon Crystal (PAL/JP only) | 1991 | Dungeon Crawler | Similar to Fatal Labyrinth, gain levels by fighting monsters (but no XP) |
3DS | Dragon Crystal (VC) | 2012 | Turn-Based | See GG |
Saturn | Dragon Force | 1996 | Strategy | An RTS JRPG with 8 different factions to play as |
JP Saturn | Dragon Force II: Kamisarishi Daichi Ni | 1998 | Strategy | Pretty similar to the first |
Genesis | Fatal Labyrinth | 1991 | Dungeon Crawler | Semi-roguelike ARPG, levels are shown as "ranks," items found can either greatly help or hinder you |
Saturn | Magic Knight Rayearth | 1998 | Action | ARPG based on the anime, plays differently than the SFC version, very low print run in the US |
JP Game Gear | Mahou Kishi Rayearth | 1994 | Turn-Based | A different game than the Saturn and SFC ones - but also turn-based |
JP Game Gear | Moldorian: Hikari to Yami no Sister | 1994 | Turn-Based | Really good artwork, a turn-based battle system that gives you only seconds to input commands |
Master System | Phantasy Star | 1988 | Turn-Based | Sci-fi JRPG great-grandpappy |
DS | Phantasy Star 0 | 2009 | Action | Think Phantasy Star Online, but with crunchier graphics and a full-fledged story mode |
GBA | Phantasy Star Collection | 2002 | Turn-Based | Ports of the first 3 Phantasy Star games |
Genesis | Phantasy Star II | 1990 | Turn-Based | The Sci-fi JRPG, text-based adventures featuring characters from the game also exist |
Xbox 360 | Phantasy Star II (DL only) | 2009 | Turn-Based | See GEN |
Genesis | Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom | 1991 | Turn-Based | Went for a more traditional fantasy slant as opposed to the sci-fi seen in the rest of the series |
Genesis | Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium | 1995 | Turn-Based | If you liked the other games in the series, you'll love this one! |
Dreamcast | Phantasy Star Online | 2001 | Action | ARPG, first online console game |
Xbox Series | Phantasy Star Online 2 | 2020 | MMORPG | See XBO |
Xbox One | Phantasy Star Online 2 (DL only) | 2020 | MMORPG | MMOARPG with a single-player storyline and absolutely tons of cosmetics (and matching microtransactions) |
PS4 | Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis | 2022 | MMORPG | See XS |
Xbox Series | Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis | 2021 | MMORPG | An expansion/replacement of sorts of the original MMO that takes place 1000 years in the future |
Xbox One | Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis | 2021 | MMORPG | See XS |
GameCube | Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II | 2002 | Action | Adds entirely new content for Episode II, AKA Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst |
GameCube | Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II Plus | 2003 | Action | PSO with additional formerly online-only quests and items |
Xbox | Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II | 2003 | MMORPG | Everyone likes playing MMORPGs with clunky controllers! |
GameCube | Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution | 2004 | Turn-Based | Grid-and-turn-based card battling system, because that was the style at the time |
Dreamcast | Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2.0 | 2001 | Action | An expanded version of the original |
PSP | Phantasy Star Portable | 2009 | Action | Sequel to Phantasy Star Universe, plays in a similar ARPG style, customizable player character, mission-based structure |
PS2 | Phantasy Star Universe | 2006 | Action | ARPG with a PSO-like combat style, had both online and offline modes (only offline persists to this day) |
Xbox 360 | Phantasy Star Universe | 2006 | Action | Mostly the same as PS2, but Ambition of the Illuminus is a free DLC instead |
PS2 | Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus | 2007 | Action | Standalone expansion to Phantasy Star Universe |
N-Gage | Pocket Kingdom: Own the World | 2004 | MMORPG | A spiritual sequel to Dragon Force, but with insane amounts of groan-inducing leet-speak and lots of tongue-in-cheek self-awareness |
JP 3DS | Puyo Puyo Chronicle | 2016 | Puzzle | Arle (from Madou Monogatari- a deep cut) has to find a way home in an RPG mode complete with leveling, where combat is conducted via Puyo |
PS4 | Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 | 2020 | Puzzle | See PS5 |
Switch | Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 | 2020 | Puzzle | See PS5 |
PS5 | Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 | 2020 | Puzzle | Features Skill Battles wherein you must reduce your opponent's HP to 0 with the help of selected skills (and level up in other modes)! |
Xbox Series | Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 | 2020 | Puzzle | See PS5 |
Xbox One | Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 | 2020 | Puzzle | See PS5 |
JP Mega Drive | Rent-A-Hero | 1991 | Fighting | Do errands for the local populace to upgrade your super suit! Fighting game-like battles, very tongue-in-cheek |
JP Mega Drive | Rent a Hero | 1991 | Action | Perform various tasks for townsfolk as a superhero-for-hire; no XP but the cash from your jobs can be used to upgrade your armor and weapons, used in fighting game-esque combat |
JP Game Gear | Royal Stone | 1995 | Strategy | Sequel to Crystal Warriors - this is a standard but pretty SRPG all about revenge |
PS2 | Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love | 2010 | Strategy | Mech SRPG/dating sim goodness in 1920s New York, the first of the series to be localized |
Wii | Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love | 2010 | Strategy | No major changes from the PS2 version save for a lack of JP voices |
Switch | Sega Ages: Phantasy Star | 2018 | Turn-Based | Mostly the same as the original release, but with QoL features like auto-mapping of dungeons and adjusting the rate of XP gain (if desired) |
Xbox One | Shining Resonance Refrain | 2018 | Action | See PS4 |
PS4 | Shining Resonance Refrain | 2018 | Action | Enhanced port of a previously JP-only PS3 game with added storylines; a serviceable ARPG with some dating sim elements |
Switch | Shining Resonance Refrain | 2018 | Action | See PS4 |
Wii | Sonic and the Black Knight | 2009 | Action-Platform | 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 |
Wii | Sonic and the Secret Rings | 2007 | Action-Platform | Sonic meets Arabian Nights with results of dubious quality, but experience to be gained and applied to skills based on stage performance |
Switch | Sonic Frontiers | 2022 | Action-Platform | See PS5 |
Xbox One | Sonic Frontiers | 2022 | Action-Platform | See PS5 |
Xbox Series | Sonic Frontiers | 2022 | Action-Platform | See PS5 |
PS5 | Sonic Frontiers | 2022 | Action-Platform | More of an open-world platformer (a first for the series), but the hedgehog does have various stats to increase |
PS4 | Sonic Frontiers | 2022 | Action-Platform | See PS5 |
PS2 | Sonic Unleashed | 2008 | Action-Platform | See Wii |
Xbox 360 | Sonic Unleashed | 2008 | Action-Platform | Featuring XP for both the hedgehog and werehog, a hub world that can be explored, and more/different levels than the PS2/Wii versions |
PS3 | Sonic Unleashed | 2008 | Action-Platform | See 360 |
Wii | Sonic Unleashed | 2008 | Action-Platform | Hope you like werehogs! More night levels than 360/PS3, a non-explorable hub world by comparison, and only the werehog can be leveled |
Master System | SpellCaster | 1989 | Action | ARPG in combat (plays much like Shinobi), point-and-click-like in towns, story progression increases stats |
Genesis | Sword of Vermilion | 1991 | Action | Overworld traversal in first and third-person, combat is done ARPG-style |
JP Mega Drive | Tougi-Ou: King Colossus | 1992 | Action | Another Ys wannabe |
PS3 | Valkyria Chronicles | 2008 | Strategy | Squad-focused SRPG with real-time troop movement limited by AP, tanks are also controllable (and destructable) |
PSP | Valkyria Chronicles 2 | 2010 | Strategy | Plays a lot like the first, but with a more school-like setting compared to the first game |
Vita | Valkyria Chronicles 2 (DL only) | 2012 | Strategy | See PSP |
JP PSP | Valkyria Chronicles 3 | 2011 | Strategy | Runs parallel to the first game, dark in tone but very anime-like characters, plays like the other games in the series |
Switch | Valkyria Chronicles 4 | 2018 | Strategy | See PS4 |
PS4 | Valkyria Chronicles 4 | 2018 | Strategy | Plays much like the other numbered entries with the grit of the first game; adds a new class and assist options in the thick of battle |
Xbox One | Valkyria Chronicles 4 | 2018 | Strategy | See PS4 |
PS4 | Valkyria Chronicles Remastered | 2016 | Strategy | Improves the already gorgeous look of the first game and includes all DLC, otherwise is the same as the original |
Switch | Valkyria Chronicles Remastered (DL only) | 2018 | Strategy | See PS4 |
GameCube | Virtua Quest | 2004 | Action | An ARPG starring a lame kid who has to enslave the souls of Virtua Fighter characters to become cool |
PS2 | Virtua Quest | 2005 | Action | ARPG with a main character so lame, he has to capture the souls of the Virtua Fighter characters to become cool |
Switch | Wonder Boy: Monster Land (DL only) | 2019 | Action-Platform | (AKA Wonder Boy in Monster Land) See SMS, but with challenge modes and QoL features |
Switch | Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection | 2023 | Action-Platform | See PS4 |
PS4 | Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection | 2023 | Action-Platform | Contains versions of 6 Wonder Boy titles (including in Monster Land, in Monster World, The Dragon's Trap (SMS), and Monster World IV) |
Master System | Wonder Boy in Monster Land | 1988 | Action-Platform | A side-scrolling ARPG where score serves as XP of sorts and there is purchasable equipment to increase stats |
PS3 | Yakuza 3 | 2010 | Action | Continues Kiryu's story but takes out a fair amount of content due to rushed localization (hostess clubs, for example) |
PS3 | Yakuza 4 | 2011 | Action | Adds additional protagonists in addition to furthering Kiryu's saga (with tons to do in Kamurocho as always) |
PS3 | Yakuza: Dead Souls | 2012 | Action | Non-canonical spinoff taking place after Yakuza 4; 4 playable protagonists and reduced exploration ability (on account of there being zombies everywhere) |
Master System | Ys: The Vanished Omens | 1989 | Action | Some dungeon areas are horizontally flipped, but is otherwise generally similar to the original release |