Summary
The gap between consoles and the PC shrinks every day, but there’s still one area where consoles just can’t compete: library size. The number of games available on the PC’s multiple storefronts can feel bottomless at times, something that can be both a blessing and a curse.
These days, most popular games (besides console exclusives) are available on multiple platforms. Where the PC often excels is in genres that aren’t as popular as they used to be. Turn-based RPGs used to be incredibly popular, but more recently, they’ve been increasingly replaced with action RPGs. Thankfully, the PC still has plenty of them to choose from, whether they be golden oldies that won’t run on anything else or indie gems with small development teams. The icing on the cake?A lot of them are free.
TheExpeditionsgames may not be as popular as other RPG franchises, but they’re a lot of fun. Each game in the series has a different historical setting, with the most recent being one of thebest games for Roman history buffs.
The game begins with the player fleeing Rome so that they can make a name for themselves as a great military commander.Expeditions: Romebalances classic RPG staples like exploring a massive map and going on quests with the micromanagement of running one’s army. Players not only lead their small band of loyal companions; they also have an entire army to lead. That means setting up bases, getting resources, and even working out political alliances. It’s a lot to keep track of, but it’s a nice blend of a strategy game and a turn-based RPG.
Anachronoxcame out way back in 2001, and there’s no sugarcoating it; the game looks 20+ years old. If modern gamers can get over that issue, though, there’s still a lot to love about the game. In particular, how crazy it is compared to many of today’s cookie-cutter games.
Anachronoxis set in a surreal sci-fi future in which the game’s developers took nearly every genre trope and threw it at the wall. Gameplay-wise,Anachronoxfeels heavily inspired by the earlyFinal Fantasygames andChrono Trigger. Enemies walk around on the map, but interacting with them begins a turn-based combat mode that utilizes a system similar toFinal Fantasy’s Active Time Battle (love it or hate it).Anachronoxwas one of thebest science fiction games of the 2000s, and it’s a real shame that so few people remember it.
Thanks to the runaway success ofBaldur’s Gate 3, isometric RPGs are seeing a major resurgence. It’s not hard to find other great modern options;Pillars of EternityandDivinity: Original Sincertainly scratch the same itch. Things can get a bit rough, however, as soon as fans try out one of the games from the genre’s late 90s and early 2000s “golden years.”
The good news is that PC gamers have access toArcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. The title might be a mouthful, but the game’s writing is stellar and the art style stunning considering its age. The turn-based combat is up there with thebest top-down RPGsand the character creator puts many modern RPGs to shame. The real highlight, though, is the incredible setting (imagine Middle-earth going through an industrial revolution). The game’s world is a joy to explore, and it’s stuffed full of things to do.
The title that started one of gaming’s biggest franchises. By modern standards, the originalFalloutis rough around the edges. The game can be brutally hard, and there’s next to no hand-holding. Death comes often and in many forms.
The graphics are also very basic, no surprise considering the game’s age, and just getting it to run on a modern rig is migraine-inducing. Considering Bethesda’s love of putting out ports, it’s amazing that this one hasn’t seen a re-release or remaster. Playing it today feels like a franchise history lesson. The game mechanics may be confusing at times, but they’ll leave some fans wishing the franchise could return to its turn-based routes.
Lots of games pretend that the player’s decisions matter, but they really don’t. The 2015 indie gameThe Age of Decadenceis all about making decisions that do. Set in a low-magic, post-apocalyptic world, the game throws decisions at the player thick and fast. For a start, character creation involves picking from eight different backgrounds, each of which has a dramatic effect on gameplay by affecting faction relationships. Even the gender the player picks can lock them out of certain quests and affect their skills.
This decision-based approach is also reflected in the game’s quests. There are plenty to choose from, and nearly all of them have multiple endings, some of which have dramatic consequences for the game’s larger story. When it comes to killing NPCs, everyone is fair game. Essentially, this is a great game where theplayer’s decisions truly matterand is an excellent pick for anyone suffering fromBaldur’s Gate 3withdrawal.
Fallout 2may have been released just a year after the original, but it’s aged much better. WhileFalloutcan be a bit of a chore to get through, its sequel features enough improvements to make it enjoyable, even by today’s standards.
The game world is much bigger and features a lot more places to explore. There are also a lot more characters to meet and factions to interact with, while quests require the player to make decisions that have real consequences. The combat is also much improved; there are more weapons and skills to choose from, making this a turn-based RPG with real depth when it comes to strategic options. Most importantly, theFalloutgames are known forgreat environmental storytelling, a trend that started here.
Dungeons are a staple of most turn-based RPGs. Usually, players wander the world, find a dungeon, and then explore until they reach the final level and kill a boss.Iratus: The Lord of the Deadtakes this formula and turns it on its head.
The player is the boss, aka the necromancer Iratus. This time, their goal is to climb up through the dungeon and escape. They do this by raising the undead, who then join them in turn-based battles that feel very similar toDarkest Dungeon. As the player progresses, their creatures level up, and more powerful creatures become available to summon. There are lots of creatures to craft, each with their own abilities, and what starts as a fairly simple combat system soon becomes pretty meaty.
Wandering Sword is easily one ofthe best Indie RPGsto come out in the last few years. At first glance, it might look like a retro JRPG with few original ideas, but players should never judge a book by its cover. Playing as a wandering swordsman, the player character will visit various ancient Chinese towns on his journey to become a martial arts master.
The focus on martial arts makes a nice change from more traditional fantasy fare. What makes the game special, however, is the visuals. The game uses a blend of pixel art and more modern visual styles to create something truly stunning. Games likeOctopath Travelermay have popularized this trend, but few look better thanWandering Sword. For fans of classic RPGs likeFinal Fantasy 6andChrono Trigger, it doesn’t get much better than this.
