Are Turn Based RPGs Dead in 2020?

NoobFeed writer Jake Skudder looks at the state of turn-based RPG games in 2020 following the success of Final Fantasy VII Remake.

[PhoenixUp]

Ima keep this simple and just say no

Both battle styles can easily coexist as they have for decades prior

[kythlyn]

Having played turn-based RPGs for almost 35 years, I can say both that no, they're not dead, but also that for someone like me, they are pretty stale. It takes a really fresh twist on that kind of battle engine to keep things interesting, because at this point as a player I'm always relying on existing proven strategies rather than being forced to come up with new ones.

[bouzebbal]

They need to be more dynamic.. Dragon Quest was cool but the turn based was yaaaaaaawn

[jambola]

@bouzebbal
they need to change to appeal more to the people who don't like them?
and not stay the way the fans of it like?

[oasdada]

Yeah just like petsona 5 that is doing pretty good both critically and commercialy.. dunno what numbskull wrote this article

[kenpachi]

Persona 5 Royal says different

[KiRBY3000]

Yakuza : Like a Dragon comes to mind

[SegaGamer]

"The original Final Fantasy VII sold in excess of 9 million. NINE MILLION COPIES. That puts FFVII just behind Gran Turismo as the second biggest game of the PlayStation 1 era.

When is the last time that a turn-based RPG game reached those sorts of heights? Well, FF8, FF10 and FF12 sold a huge amount of copies during their lifespan, with Final Fantasy 10 selling around 8 million units, making it the 5th biggest game on PlayStation 2.

But what about right now? What turn-based RPG games really top the charts in the same way that these classics did?"

This is an unfair argument against other turn based role playing games. I can turn this around and say how many action JRPG games sell that many copies in the west? The answer is none. Final Fantasy will always sell well because of it's name and the amount of marketing that goes with it. If Final Fantasy 7 Remake was turn based, it would still have sold as well as it has done.

As for turn based rpg's not topping the charts anymore, the person writing this article answers his own quetsion. It was only Final Fantasy that was topping those charts before, well, Final Fantasy and Pokemon to be more accurate. Turn based and action based JRPG's in general don't sell as massively as these two series in the west. I personally think that is down to marketing, no other JRPG series get's the same level of marketing as these two do.

I wonder how much better Persona 5 would have done and Dragon Quest XI if those games had received the same level of marketing that the latest Final Fantasy and Pokemon games received.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

That and Turn-based aren't as common anymore, companies like Square-Enix are shocked that Bravely Default sells as well as it does due to the old school story and turn-based mechanics.

[Black-Helghast]

Pretty sure darkest dungeon isn't dead, there's a sequel coming out and that's just one turned based RPG that's coming.

[Poopmist]

Wasteland 3 comes out in a couple months and Persona 5 Royal just came out

[knickstr]

Unfortunately they are dying out which is a shame. I prefer the more strategic battle systems to the action slashing as the action slashing usually just involves button mashing with some good exceptions. Although I disliked the combat in octopath because it was way too slow moving. There needs to be a better middle ground.

[l33t_haxx0r]

I still want turn based games.

[FernDiggidy]

FF7R >>>> turnbased

[FallenAngel1984]

“When is the last time that a turn-based RPG game reached those sorts of heights?“

Sounds likes someone keeps forgetting how the huge numbers Pokémon keeps producing everytime a mainline title is released

[JakeJeremy]

Pokemon is mentioned in the article?

[FallenAngel1984]

Obviously not because talking about how the highest selling RPG series is turn based would be detrimental to the entire point of the article

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Persona 5 Royal?

[jambola]

while i don't think they're dead
using an updated version of a game isn't really valid

[husomc]

They aren't dead, just transitioned from consoles to the mobile arena

[MidnightMay0r]

No

[Tross]

Just because the FFVII remake dropped the turn-based system of the original doesn't mean they're dead, and I'm sick of so-called "journalists" refusing to do even the most basic of research on the subject. Not every RPG is FFVII you know.

[NukeDaHippies]

Yea, it and every other FF in recent times only make those numbers because of its Turn-based predecessors (especially 7). It really goes to show a legacy can keep a franchise alive for a very long time. Cus, most of the non turn based games aren't great.

[terrorofdeath]

They shouldn't be.

[NukeDaHippies]

No, I'm currently playing Persona 5: The royal and eagerly await Trails of cold steel 4, SMT 5 and what ever other turn-based games Atlus wants to make. God knows square will never make another one.....Even if their legacy was built upon such RPGs.

[jmtstan]

just because a Final Fantasy game changes their gameplay mechanics doesn't mean turn based RPG are dead. there are still plenty of turn based JRPG out there. Persona 5, Fire Emblem Three Houses, are among the best. Technically Fire Emblem is more like turn based strategy.

[Lennoxb63]

They’ve never been the most popular games aside from the few AAAs.

[oasdada]

Persona 5? Who the F writes these articles

[Games1st]

No

[FlavorLav01]

I’ve been gaming for 32-34ish years, I’ve never once enjoyed a game with turn based mechanics. Might as well play a card game...strategy takes place in real time, so the argument that their is more “strategy” in these type games seems subjective. In any real skirmish (slap-fights aside), why would anyone trade turns hitting your opponent. Never made since to me, just gonna stand here and let you hit me first. Lol. Just not for me I guess...

[PiNkFaIrYbOi]

Final Fantasy VII: Remake was going to sell well no matter what. It was one of the most wanted remakes ever, so you can't really use it as a case stating that turn based rpgs might die because of it.

[shauzy]

only square enix thinks that, are you a square enix spy? spit it out

[DonDon3000]

Why not both? If u like turned based, there's Dragon Warrior, Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, Divinity etc. If you like pure action with rpg elements, there's Souls games, Witcher and a myriad of others. If you like Hybrid, there's FF 7 Remake, FF 14, Tales of...series, etc. I like alternating when I get bored of turned based, or bored of the minimal strategy in action based. I just jope that Dragon Warrior, Persona, SMT, Divinity and other still traditionally turn based RPGs don't try to be action based. And vice versa. I don't want a turn based Souls or Witcher game. Keep the variety going but make sure not to sell-out to the other side in hopes of gaining fans while ironically losing the ones u currently already had. I Make an exception for Final Fantasy. I like that they experiment, because the franchise is exceedingly old and needs to innovate now that they have all these other competitors (of all rpg sub-genres: action, hybrid, and turn based) to compete with for the top crown.

[WickedLester]

Turn based mechanics were originally introduced due to limitations of hardware. While they still possess a certain level of charm, I just don't think I could ever go back to them after enjoying so many real-time combat systems. If you still enjoy that kind of gameplay, more power to you. However for me, the "toothpaste is out of the tube" now with real time gameplay. I just can't go back to turn-based. It feels too archaic.

[Knightofelemia]

They aren't dead it just depends on the studios making the rpg Square is more active so is Namco with their rpgs last turn based I played was World of Final Fantasy.