Summary
While open world and open-ended games have become an incredibly popular genre, sometimes you just want to sit back, and not have to explore every nook and cranny. It’s a wonderful feeling when you have an RPG that grips you with its narrative and/or fun gameplay and just follow it to its conclusion with only the occasional detour in between.
Linear RPGs still remain one of the best genres in terms of storytelling and engaging battle systems out there. Put your feet up, grab a snack, and get ready to enjoy any one of these great linear RPGs that are available.
Undertale continues to be one of the greatest indie gems despite its age and is also a fantastic RPG to play. With its gripping narrative filled with twists and turns, along with hidden details for eagle-eyed players, it is still a must-play.
Combat is relatively simple as well, and also changes depending on what route you wish to follow. Will you choose to be peaceful to the enemies you come across? Or will violence be your only option? The choice is yours.
While being a gacha game, Honkai: Star Rail remains one of the most captivating RPGs out there withits out-of-this-world setting and unique lore. Every destination the Astral Express visits has been a treat thus far, and it promises to continue.
For people who just want a story and to follow along with minimal effort involved, Star Rail has you covered, requiring no grand investment of time as you go from plot point to plot point. For players who like a little extra, the game offers regular events with each patch, allowing you to gather more currency for summons.
Eiyuden Chronicle offers players a vibrant world to explore and colorful characters to meet and recruit into your ever-growing army as you seek to turn the tides of war. Enjoy the setting as you travel to far-flung reaches of the realm and spelunk into dangerous dungeons.
Your battle party will consist of six characters from the over 100 heroes you will recruit throughout the game, offering a ton of battle options and varying strategies. Some are better than others, but most offer unique skills specific to them and should be taken advantage of.
The dream-like world of Omori looks idyllic and wonderful when you first step foot into it. It quickly, however, becomes apparent that all is not as it seems as you switch back and forth between reality and the dream and learn unsettling truths.
For players who like dark themes, or games that deal with heavy topics like love, loss, depression, and trying to belong in a world that doesn’t seem to want you, Omori aims to provide. It is another one of those truly gripping and emotional tales that should be experienced.
Follow the adventures of either Claude C. Kenny or Rena Lanford in Star Ocean The Second Story R as you travel the world of Expel. While Claude hails from beyond the stars, Rena is a local from Expel, and each character offers a vastly different perspective to watch through.
The active combat system is also enjoyable and offers players plenty of customization and strategies as you lead your chosen party of four through each engagement. Enjoy this interstellar adventure at your own pace.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is the starting point for part 2 in the long-running Legend of Heroes series and is another fantastic addition to the series. As it is the first entry in its arc, it serves as a good starting point for new players to jump into the series.
With revamped combat, a vibrant cast of characters, and the setting of the series moving to the Clavard Republic, it is a perfect time to give the series a try. If you like it, there are a plethora of games that came before it, so you’ll have plenty of titles to add to your backlog.
For classic RPG lovers, Octopath Traveler 2 is a love song to the genre. With an incredible cast of main characters and a world filled to the brim with beauty and danger and things to explore, this game will be difficult to put down.
Follow the story of each character as you learn who they are, their motivations, and what they strive to accomplish as they venture out into the world. The eight paths are not only the game’s namesake but also the biggest selling point as you gather all the heroes together.
A remake of a classic JRPG, Persona 3 Reload, will put you in the shoes of an “ordinary” high school student as you awaken to the power of persona and use it to save the world. During your school year, you will make friends, and enemies, and learn the meaning of life.
A major aspect of the game is managing your daily life: what activities you do, skills you build, people you hang out with, and more. For every action, there is a consequence; however, how you choose to spend your time will affect the bonds you forge, as well as the types of personas you unlock.
Sometimes, you just want a challenge, and that’s where Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance comes in.This is the JRPG that will push you to your limits, as you navigate a dangerous world, fusing and fighting demons along the way in a quest to gain ever greater power.
Take advantage of your enemies' elemental weaknesses to gain the upper hand in battle and protect your own. You can quickly be obliterated if not careful and a flock of demons figures out you’re weak to something; the game offers a high-risk, high-reward playstyle, so have at it and embrace the power of the Nahobino.
