With major marquis releases in long-running and much-beloved franchises dropping almost every month, it’s hard to argue against 2023 being a banner year for RPGs. Square Enix alone has had an extremely busy year, withFinal Fantasy 16being the developer’s biggest release and a surefire Game of the Year contender. Still, there are plenty of RPG fans that aren’t thrilled with the new direction taken by the series, begging the question of where fans of classicFinal Fantasycan scratch the itch for turn-based RPGs that harken back to the 16-bit glory days. Thankfully, there are several games coming down the pike for the rest of 2023 that fit that very bill.
In addition to the upcoming release of Sabotage Studio’sSea of Stars, which proudly wears itsChrono Triggerinspirationsfor all to see, there are several other great AAA and indie titles that either released earlier in the year or are still anticipated to arrive in 2023. While many RPG fans are likely well aware ofOctopath Traveler 2’s excellent embracing of classic JRPG gameplay or are looking forward to the familiar CRPG tactical combat ofBaldur’s Gate 3, there are some lesser-known titles that fans of classicFinal Fantasywith its turn-based combat, party management, and instantly recognizable 16-bit pixel art will want to look out for.
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Super Mario RPG Remake Leads an AAA Charge of Classic JRPG Gameplay
One of the biggest surprise announcements from the June Nintendo Direct (and one that likely sent fans of SNES-era RPGs into a frenzy) was thereveal of theSuper Mario RPGremakeset to arrive in November. The originalSuper Mario RPGwas developed as part of a partnership between Nintendo and Squaresoft and is widely considered one of the best JRPGs to release on the SNES - quite the praise given the system’s pedigree of quality RPGs. The modern remake ofSuper Mario RPGlooks to retain all the great mechanics and charm of the original while updating the visuals for modern hardware while also making the title more accessible to a wider audience.
But Mario’s original RPG spin-off is far from the only AAA release arriving in the second half of 2023 that appeals to fans of classicFinal Fantasy, as there are some other titles that players will want to keep an eye on. One highlight set to arrive later in the year is a boon for fans of turn-based tactics and thePersonaseries, and it’s a wonder that Atlus' most popular franchise has yet to receive a tactics gamebeforePersona 5 Tactica. Also arriving in November is the next entry in Square Enix’sStar Oceanremake series,Star Ocean: Second Story R, which doesn’t have turn-based combat but does feature other characteristic elements of old-school JRPGs.
Sea of Stars and Other Indie Titles Are Flying the Flag for 16-Bit RPGs
Sabotage Studio is following up its incredibleNinja GaidenthrowbackThe Messengerwith another retro-inspired game set in the same universe but adopting a completely different genre and set of retro influences.Sea of Starsis prepared to release in just a few weeks and is looking to stand alongside other recent greatretro-inspired RPGs likeChained Echoes. WhereSea of Starssets itself apart is in its very clearChrono Triggerinspirations, complete with featuring the talents of composer Yasunori Mitsuda.
Asizable demo forSea of Starsis available ahead of the game’s release and absolutely appeals to fans of classic turn-based RPGs while also featuring a graphic style and aesthetic that transports players back to 1995. There are, however, plenty of other indie-developed retro-styled RPGs that players can get their hands on both before and afterSea of Stars' release. Early access titleAlteriumShiftborrows many elements fromOctopath Traveler, and the original team behind the legendarySuikodengames has its new title,Eiyuden Chronicle, still targeting a 2023 release. The newestFinal Fantasymay abandon some series tradition, but there are plenty of great alternatives for fans of classic JRPG gameplay.
