My Personal unranked list of 25 turn-based RPGs from 2025 that are worth playing.
I’ve already taken an in-depth look at some of the most promising RPGs coming in 2026, but this morning I wanted to pause for a moment and look back at what 2025 had to offer.
It’s time to close the book on 2025, and what a year it’s been. The last twelve months have been fantastic for turn-based RPGs; with so many epic adventures available, it’s hard to find time to play them all. It was such a good year, in fact, that I couldn’t just do a Top 10 or Top 20.
Fittingly for 2025, there are no less than 25 turn-based RPGs that deserve special recognition this year. Honestly, I could probably have done even more, but I had to cut it off somewhere. How many of these standouts have you played?
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
- Developer: Square Enix
- Release Date: 30 September, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the most-beloved tactical RPGs of all time, and served as many players’ introduction to strategy games. With its incredibly deep Job System and gripping story of war, ambition, and betrayal, it’s held up as a pinnacle of the PS1 era.
The Ivalice Chronicles took a great game and made it better, polishing the classic with improved graphics, full voiceover, and quality-of-life improvements. Whether you’re returning to Ivalice or venturing onto the battlefield for the first time, this is the definitive Final Fantasy Tactics experience.
Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson
- Developer: Ritual Studios
- Release Date: 17 July, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Mac
- Steam Page
Fretless is a pixelated RPG for rockers, metalheads, and music aficionados in general. With the power of your guitar, you’ll do battle with an evil record label seeking to claim souls and control music.
Fretless has fantastic style, and of course a great soundtrack. It’s a joyful tribute to rock that’s well worth a play; it even has a free demo to try!
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
- Developer: Nihon Falcom
- Release Date: 19 September, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Switch
- Steam Page
The Legend of Heroes is a positively massive franchise, so it’s understandable if it seems daunting to get into. Luckily, Trails In The Sky 1st Chapter offers the perfect starting point. A remaster of the 2004 title that kicked off the Trails storyline, it brings a beloved classic back to life in gorgeous detail.
The Legend of Heroes has been going strong since 1989, so now is a perfect time to start your journey. In fact, 2nd Chapter is set to release in 2026, so there will be plenty of adventure to find in the skies of Liberl Kingdom.
Kingdoms of the Dump
- Developer: Roach Games, Dream Sloth Games
- Release Date: 18 November, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Steam Page
This retro-inspired RPG has all the excitement and exploration of a classic SNES epic, but with a junkyard theme to set it apart from the pack. As a mighty Trash Can Knight, you’ll fight through hordes of enemies and bosses to clean up the world.
Kingdoms of the Dump is a love letter to legendary games like Chrono Trigger, Paper Mario, and Earthbound, with its own themes and challenges to make it memorable. It’s also 15% off on Steam until 5 January, so if it sounds like your kind of game, now is a great time to try it out.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
- Developer: Too Kyo Games, Media.Vision
- Release Date: 24 April, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Switch
- Steam Page
If you like over-the-top anime games like Persona or Danganronpa, then The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a must-play. With your team of fourteen students, you’ll be tasked with defending an interdimensional school from monstrous invaders for 100 days… or die trying.
The Hundred Line offers tons of choices both in and out of combat, and you’ll need to get to know your classmates to work together as a team. It’s got tons of endings, too, so it offers massive replay value; you won’t find everything on a single run.
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
- Developer: Konami
- Release Date: 6 March, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
Suikoden was another hallmark of PS1 JRPGs, famous for its gameplay, story, and massive roster of recruitable characters. While the series hasn’t seen a mainline entry since 2006, Suikoden I & II HD Remaster is a welcome update to the original games and an indicator that Konami hasn’t completely forgotten this classic franchise.
The Remaster bundles both games together, giving you two full adventures in a single package. It offers audio and visual improvements and some quality-of-life tweaks, but otherwise leaves the original quests intact for you to experience, whether for the first time or the 108th.
Look Outside
- Developer: Francis Coulombe
- Release Date: March 21, 2025
- Platforms: Windows
- Steam Page
For all its whimsy, the Mother series has some disturbing moments; Look Outside is what would happen if Earthbound embraced the darkness and became a full-on horror game. Trapped in an apartment building where your neighbors have transformed into mutated monsters, you’ll have to gather the survivors and scrounge for supplies if you want to make it through the night.
There are several different ways your journey could end – not all of them pleasant, of course – so you’ll need to be brave and explore the building over several playthroughs so see everything.
Not only is Look Outside on sale until 5 January on Steam, but it’s also offered as part of several bundles, including with Kingdoms of the Dump or Demonschool.
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked
- Developer: Resolution Games
- Release Date: 20 November, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, PlayStation
- Steam Page
The original Demeo offered a D&D-like tabletop experience that’s authentic as it comes, challenging players to survive tactical battles on a gorgeously-rendered game board complete with miniatures and dice. An actual crossover with Dungeons & Dragons turned out to be a perfect match for the growing franchise!
Battlemarked offers the deep tactical gameplay of Demeo with the iconic world and creatures of D&D. If you’re a fan of tabletop games or strategy in general, this is definitely one to check out. If you have a VR headset, you can even feel like you’re sitting at the world’s coolest game table!
Dark Deity 2
- Developer: Sword & Axe LLC
- Release Date: 24 March, 2025
- Platforms: Windows
- Steam Page
Dark Deity is a return to the classic days of Fire Emblem. It’s packed with nostalgia for the GBA titles, but with characters, classes, and a story more than worthy of standing on their own. Dark Deity 2 adds even more options, a new campaign, and a wonderful new cast.
You don’t need to play the original to enjoy Dark Deity 2, but they’re both excellent strategy RPGs. The sequel even includes a built-in randomizer to challenge your skills long after you’ve completed the story.
OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0
- Developer: Square Enix
- Release Date: 4 December, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
The Octopath Traveler series is quickly becoming a modern JRPG staple, and the recently released Octopath Traveler 0 solidifies its status. It’s not a prequel or a sequel, but a completely new adventure, so you can jump in even if it’s your first game in the franchise.
The newest Octopath has a larger cast, with eight party members allowed in combat at a time. As you rebuild your town and invite new travelers to settle there, your list of recruitable heroes will grow. There’s a free demo to try on Steam, too!
Quartet
- Developer: Something Classic Games
- Release Date: 26 August, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Switch
- Steam Page
True to its name, Quartet offers four different stories that ultimately intertwine, to be played in any order you want. It’s like a modern Dragon Quest 4, with notes of Live A Live and the original Octopath Traveler.
If you like JRPGs and supporting indie developers, Quartet is a retro gem. It even has a playable hippo – how many games can say that? Give the demo a try, and if you end up buying the full game, you can get it for 20% off on Steam until 5 January.
Digimon Story Time Stranger
- Developer: Media.Vision
- Release Date: 2 October, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox
- Steam Page
If you’re a longtime fan of Digimon, you won’t want to miss out on Time Stranger. It’s an RPG experience on the level of Persona or Shin Megami Tensei, all in the Digital World with your favorite creatures.
Time Stranger has over 450 Digimon to collect and battle, to say nothing of its impressive world and story. It’s even part of the Steam Winter Sale, available for 20% off until 5 January. That’s the lowest it’s likely to be for a while, so it’s a good idea to strike while the iron is hot if you’re looking to play it.
Artis Impact
- Developer: Mas
- Release Date: 7 August, 2025
- Platforms: Windows
- Steam Page
Artis Impact is a lovely RPG that features a hand-crafted, pixelated world simple but exciting battles. It’s a relaxing adventure, whether you’re off slaying monsters or kicking back at home.
If you play RPGs to unwind, Artis Impact could be just what you need. Best of all, it’s 20% off on Steam until the end of the Winter Sale, letting you get this already-affordable game at an even better price.
LUNAR Remastered Collection
- Developer: Ashibi, Game Arts
- Release Date: 18 April, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
2025 has been a great year for PS1 remasters. Lunar Remastered combines the first two games in the series, polished for the 21st century while keeping the classic feel of the original releases.
The Lunar Remastered Collection is a great starting point for new players, but longtime fans are in for a treat with enhanced cutscenes (complete with the iconic ’90s anime look), improved audio, and more. You can even add a CRT filter for maximum nostalgia.
Dice Gambit
- Developer: Chromatic Ink
- Release Date: 14 August, 2025
- Platforms: Windows
- Steam Page
Dice Gambit is a fresh tactical game that’s reminiscent of Massive Chalice, but with dice-based combat and a unique visual style. After creating your noble house, you’ll fight your way across generations to defend the city from monsters.
Each new generation will inherit the traits of their parents, so your choices could have long-lasting consequences.
It’s a very cool game, and the best way to really understand it is to play it. Luckily, Act One is available as a demo on Steam, so you can give it a try. Dice Gambit is also available bundled with Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark for even more tactical goodness.
SUPER ROBOT WARS Y
- Developer: Bandai Namco
- Release Date: 27 August, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Switch
- Steam Page
Super Robot Wars has been the ultimate mecha crossover battle for decades now, and doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. With characters and mechs from loads of classic Bandai Namco franchises – from Gundam to Macross to Godzilla – it’s a fan’s dream.
Even if you don’t know the series that the mechs are from, there’s still plenty of fun to be had commanding your squad, with anime-style cutscenes to raise the stakes. Super Robot Wars Y is part of the Steam Winter Sale, discounted 33% until 5 January.
Demonschool
- Developer: Necrosoft Games
- Release Date: 19 November, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Mac
- Steam Page
With its exciting style that blends college life with battling demons, Demonschool has been on our radar for a while. It didn’t disappoint, living up to the hype as a sort of Shin Megami Tensei meets Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
The tactical battles allow for combo-driven gameplay, and there’s tons to do around campus when you aren’t fighting Demonschool’s big scary monsters. It’s a rock-solid tactical RPG, and it’s even available as part of several bundles on Steam.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
- Developer: Jump Over The Age
- Release Date: 31 January, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Switch
- Steam Page
Citizen Sleeper brought tabletop-style role-playing and exploration to a space station for an unforgettable experience, and it definitely deserved a sequel. Starward Vector offers an all-new adventure in the game’s sci-fi world, this time as an android with a price on your head.
Citizen Sleeper 2 is bigger and deeper than the original, letting you recruit crew for your ship and stay one step ahead of the law. If you haven’t tried out this series yet, both games are bundled together for just over $20 as part of the Steam Winter Sale.
Lords of Ravage
- Developer: Synthetic Domain
- Release Date: 15 October, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
It’s always fun to play as the bad guy, and Lords of Ravage lets you conquer a fantasy world one battle at a time. It’s a roguelike tactical RPG that lets you build your forces from monstrous factions and lay waste to all in your path… unless those pesky heroes manage to stop you.
Not only is Lords of Ravage a fun pick for roguelike fans, but it’s also very affordable at $9.99. Better yet, it’s 30% off in the Steam Winter Sale, and also offered in a few bundles.
Maliki : Poison Of The Past
- Developer: Blue Banshee
- Release Date: 22 April, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Switch
- Steam Page
Based on the graphic novel series Maliki : Poison of the Past brings the comic’s lovely art style and story of time-traveling heroes to life. There’s plenty of room in our hearts for more French turn-based RPGs with lavishly-imagined worlds, after all!
Not only does Poison of the Past have time-twisting adventure and gorgeous animated cutscenes, but it also lets you manage your home base, cozy farming style! Best of all, it’s offered with several bundles on Steam, and it has a free demo to boot.
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint
- Developer: Trese Brothers
- Release Date: 2 June, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Switch
- Steam Page
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint just might be the ultimate tactical cyberpunk experience. Each member of your crew has a unique backstory that can weave into the main plot in unexpected ways, possibly jeopardizing the mission. With tons of character customization and procedurally-generated heists, there’s plenty of reason to keep coming back for one more job.
Flashpoint has drawn comparisons to Invisible, Inc., XCOM, and, of course, Shadowrun, all of which are well-deserved. Give it a try on its own, or pick it up in one of its many available bundles – this is one game that was worth the wait.
Dragon Quest I & II HD Remake
- Developer: Square Enix
- Release Date: 30 October, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
Dragon Quest came from humble beginnings, but its influence can’t be overstated. It’s the series that gave birth to JRPGs, and the new remake bundle of the first two games renders the classics almost unrecognizable (in a good way) from their 8-bit roots.
The HD-2D Remake of Dragon Quest I and II is nothing short of breathtaking, telling the story of the Hero and his descendants with style. If you’re a longtime fan of the series, this might be the new best way to play the original games.
Rue Valley
- Developer: Emotion Spark Studio
- Release Date: 11 November, 2025
- Platforms: Windows
- Steam Page
Rue Valley is an open-ended RPG where you’re caught in a time loop, learning more about the people around you and developing your character as you play. It’s like Disco Elysium meets Groundhog Day, and you’re in control of your choices until a status effect pushes you down a road you weren’t expecting.
Rue Valley is a curious game, perfect if you’re looking for something a bit outside the box. It’s got a demo to try for free, and Steam has it as part of several bundles as well.
The Use of Life
- Developer: Daraneko Games
- Release Date: 26 November, 2025
- Platforms: Windows
- Steam Page
The Use of Life combines turn-based, quick-time battles with meaningful decisions. As the lone warrior Goshe, you’ll determine what matters most to you on a given playthrough. The ending you get is ultimately determined by how Goshe chooses to live (assuming you survive the game’s many battles, of course).
The Use of Life has been in early access for several years now, and the final version has proven to be worth the wait. If you’ve played it before or were waiting until launch, the full version will make a great addition to your collection.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Developer: Sandfall Interactive
- Release Date: 24 April, 2025
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox
- Steam Page
It’s the game everyone’s been talking about since spring, and with good reason. Clair Obscur is a beautiful, heart-rending adventure in a truly unique world, with challenging battles and a grand overworld to explore.
Bold and experimental, Clair Obscur may not be perfect, but it’s unquestionably unforgettable. This is a game people will be talking about for years, and if you haven’t played it yet, I strongly recommend giving it a try and seeing what all the hype is about.
With these 25 RPGs, in my opinion, you’ll have more than enough to keep you busy for dozens and dozens of hours. In any case, let me know if you think I left something out that really deserved a spot on this list.
You can do that by joining us on our Reddit channel, which surpassed 1,000 members over the past few days. I wish you an amazing 2026. Ciao
