Many of these RPGs, like the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series, came out courtesy of the juggernaut developer Square, but they’re not the only ones who helped push the RPG genre forward. There are plenty of titles that haven’t gotten their proper due simply because they were overshadowed by Square’s efforts.
Updated October 18, 2021 by Mark Sammut: Square is synonymous with PS1 RPGs. Along with genre-defining franchises such as Final Fantasy, the company released titles like Parasite Eve, Xenogears, Brave Fencer Musashi, Legend of Mana, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and SaGa Frontier, and that rundown is only the tip of the iceberg. Square might have hogged the limelight during the late ’90s, but the publisher was hardly the only one waving the (J)RPG flag. Plenty of other developers left their stamp on the genre, producing games that rivaled Square’s strongest offerings. To illustrate this point, a few more of the best PS1 RPGs not by Square have been added to this article.
14 Diablo (Blizzard North)
Compared to releases by Japanese studios, the PS1 did not have much in the way of Western RPGs. At the time, these types of games were synonymous with PC, with the ’90s producing some of the most beloved RPGs of all time. One of these iconic games even made its way to the PS1, albeit as an inferior version.
Diablo’s PS1 port is not quite as brilliant as its more famous PC sibling, but the action RPG is nevertheless an above-average console experience. The PS1 release included co-op as a replacement for online support, and it was well implemented. In fact, Diablo is one of the better co-op experiences on Sony’s debut platform.
13 Koudelka (Sacnoth)
Another game overshadowed by its successors, Koudelka laid the groundwork for Shadow Hearts, which peaked with 2004’s Covenant. Each game in the PS2 trilogy has aged more gracefully than Koudelka, mostly because the latter’s gameplay is just not all that good.
Looking past the grid-based combat system, Koudelka has a lot going for it. Backed by top-notch cutscenes and better-than-average voice work for its era, Koudelka manages to weave an enjoyable narrative that makes stellar use of its Gothic-esque Wales setting.
12 Persona 2: Innocent Sin (Atlus)
Megami Tensei has been around since the late ’80s, with the Persona spin-off series debuting in 1996. Nowadays, the JRPG franchise is well-known for its social component and stylish presentation, but the former wasn’t added until Persona 3. Consequently, its predecessors tend to be seen as separate entities since they are so different from the later releases in the franchise.
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Persona 2 is closer to a Shin Megami Tensei game than Persona 3/4/5, and that is not a bad thing. Although there are no social links, Persona 2 still delivers a long and excellent story, one that takes place in a cursed city where rumors become true. The combat system is engaging and deep, the Persona summoning mechanic works well, and the characters are unforgettable.
11 Tales Of Destiny (Wolf Team)
Tales of Destiny is the second entry in Namco’s illustrious “Tales of” ongoing RPG series. Tales of Destiny reflects many of the fantastical staples that are seen as the norm in early RPG titles, like an ancient world that’s split by the advent of magic, which also sets some noble individuals on a quest to fix this corruption.
Tales of Destiny stars Stahn, an optimistic, young hero who acquires a sentient sword named Dymlos that’s instrumental in righting the wrongs that have infected the world. Addictive combat and an intricate story make Tales of Destiny a winner.
10 Legend Of Legaia (Prokion)
Legend of Legaia, developed by Prokion, creates a compelling adventure that’s set ten years after a devastating event where a mysterious mist transforms humans into monsters. In addition to the unique story, Legaia’s battle system is much more intricate than the standard RPG title.
Rather than simply attacking, players have control over where they’re attacking and with what parts of their body, like their left or right arms. This adds a lot more strategy to the fast-paced action RPG title. The game made enough of an impact that a Legend of Legaia 2 eventually came out for the PlayStation 2.
9 Vandal Hearts (Konami)
Vandal Hearts is an encouraging tactical RPG title from Konami whose success led to both a sequel and a prequel title. Vandal Hearts’ story tackles typical ideas that are seen in RPGs, like a land that suffers from political corruption and a party of underdogs who are desperate to change the world.
Vandal Hearts’ linear narrative is where the title is at its most pedestrian, but it still connects. The game’s combat and environments are where Vandal Hearts really shines. The spell effects are incredible and there are seven diverse classes that can be utilized to flesh out Ash’s party.
8 Breath Of Fire 3 (Capcom)
Capcom’s Breath of Fire 3 is a major step forward for the series due to its incorporation of 3D graphics and voice acting. The game continues Ryu’s quest to understand his people, who can turn into dragons. Combat excels, but the game is unique in the sense that there’s no major antagonist, with smaller threats and quests making up the majority of the game.
Admittedly, some believe that Breath of Fire 4 is the superior game, but the title largely restarts the franchise’s storyline, whereas Breath of Fire 3 acts as a fitting conclusion to its predecessors.
7 The Legend Of Dragoon (Sony Computer Entertainment)
The Legend of Dragoon is one of the biggest endeavors that the original PlayStation took on. The game was in development for over three years, with a budget of $16 million and a team of over 100 people. This level of manpower results in a gorgeous combination of graphics and sound design.
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The game mixes real-time attacks with turn-based combat, which creates exciting combat and even makes the game feel like a lost PlayStation-era Final Fantasy game. Legend of Dragoon’s Dart has become an iconic hero for the PlayStation who will hopefully hasn’t gone on his last adventure just yet.
6 Wild Arms (Media.Vision)
Wild Arms is an influential PlayStation RPG that many people missed because it was released so close to Final Fantasy 7, which easily overshadowed the smaller title. Wild Arms examines a scrappy team of adventurers who wield powerful and ridiculous weapons in an epic story that leaves the fate of the world in jeopardy.
Wild Arms stands out for the fact that the majority of the game is presented in a conventional 2D design, yet the battle system shifts to a 3D environment that pushes the PlayStation’s capabilities. Wild Arms struggled outside of Japan, but it’s celebrated many sequels.
5 Grandia (Game Arts)
Game Arts’ Grandia is considered to be one of the best RPG titles of its era and the concepts that the game introduces, like weapons and spells getting upgrades the more that they’re used, have become fixtures in modern RPGs. It also steers away from random encounters with enemies clearly visible on the map.
Grandia examines a world that’s turned asunder from the growing presence of technology and sets its heroes out to discover a legendary lost civilization that the military is also determined to locate. Grandia is one of the best-looking 2D titles for the PlayStation, too.
4 Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (Game Arts)
The Lunar series started on the overlooked Sega CD and this remake title was first released on the Sega Saturn. However, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is largely considered to be the best version of the game since it takes everything from the Sega Saturn release and refines the package even further.
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Silver Star Story Complete adds even more characters, scenarios, and lush FMV sequences to what’s already an impressive and in-depth game. Alex, a humble heir to the Dragonmaster title, is a fantastic protagonist, and the trials he must conquer to keep the world safe are genuinely suspenseful.
3 Star Ocean: The Second Story (tri-Ace)
The Star Ocean RPG series isn’t as popular as Final Fantasy, but it’s arguably even deeper in many ways. The Second Story is the apex of the franchise and it’s set in a remarkable world that leans harder towards science fiction than fantasy for its inspiration.
The use of real-time combat and action mechanics guarantees that the combat is engaging and the title will keep bringing players back due to the multiple different endings that are possible as well as the two different main characters that can be controlled throughout the epic adventure.
2 Suikoden 2 (Konami)
The Final Fantasy series is full of charm, but it and every other series truly needs to bow to the ambition of Suikoden 2. The RPG series from Konami doesn’t prioritize aesthetics like 3D graphics and instead devotes its time to a deep story that’s full of turns and surprises that will actually resonate with the audience.
Suikoden 2 also features over 100 characters that can be recruited, 40 of which are playable, which is still a technical feat that’s practically unrivaled even in RPGs from the current gaming generation.
1 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night (Konami)
Konami’s Castlevania has produced more than a few masterpieces, and Symphony of the Night might just be the franchise’s best. Opting against embracing the 3D movement that took hold during the PS1 era, Symphony of the Night delivers a 2D action RPG featuring time-resistant visuals, an unbeatable soundtrack, jaw-dropping backgrounds, and gameplay that is still a joy to experience more than two decades after the game’s release.
Symphony of the Night represents the PS1 at the height of its powers; an RPG of such high quality that the genre has constantly struggled to surpass it.
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