Forget 'Final Fantasy VII.' Here Are 5 RPG Franchises That Need to Be Revived

Few would disagree that the Final Fantasy series is the king (or queen) of mainstream RPGs. The series spans several decades and is still going strong with the upcoming release of Final Fantasy VII Remake, which looks set to flip the gaming mechanics of the RPG genre on its head in the best possible way.

While there are plenty of awesome indie RPGs, the Final Fantasy franchise has not had a direct competitor of similar stature for a while now. So, it's time we dig deep into the treasure trove of old RPGs and give Final Fantasy something to worry about. In no particular order, here are five fantastic RPG franchises that can do just that, but first, they'll need a few Phoenix Downs.

5. Breath Of Fire

A pointy blue-haired protagonist named Ryu, a winged princess, an anthropomorphic cat-man, and a ton of dragons. If that doesn't ring any bells, then you might be one of the unfortunate many who missed out on the amazing RPG series Breath of Fire.

Debuting in 1993 with traditional turn-based RPG gameplay, Breath of Fire stood out thanks to its unique feature that allowed the player to morph Ryu into different dragons, and in later games, fuse him with other characters. Subsequent standalone sequels each improved on gameplay while re-imagining the same characters in new but thematically similar stories.

After the fifth instalment made dramatic changes to the series, it was poorly received by fans, causing the series to fade into obscurity. However, a recently released mobile sequel, Breath of Fire 6, might be the game to prove that there is still some spark left for the franchise's long-overdue return to form.

4. Radiant Historia

Chrono Trigger might have set the bar for time-travelling role-playing epics, but few have ever raised it as much as Atlus's Radiant Historia. A 2010 Nintendo DS exclusive, Radiant Historia was an unexpected sleeper hit that took a very different approach with its story and revamped turn-based gameplay.

Set in a steampunk-inspired world, Radiant Historia presented a non-linear time-travelling adventure, requiring you to navigate two parallel timelines with branching paths to solve puzzles. It was unusual, yet fun. Check out the trailer below.

This non-linear approach, combined with its unique pseudo-grid-based combat, made Radiant Historia stand out in the world of role-playing games. Unfortunately, no sequels are currently in development, but who knows what Atlus might have up its sleeves for the future?

3. Skies Of Arcadia

Originally a Dreamcast exclusive in 2000, Skies of Arcadia might be best remembered for its annoyingly high enemy encounter rate, which dramatically slowed progress for players. However, those who battled through it were treated to a fun adventure that featured both ground and aerial airship-to-airship turn-based combat. A 2002 port to the GameCube addressed the encounter rate issue.

Skies of Arcadia—a very colourful, Jules Verne-inspired JRPG—had you traverse the skies in an airship piloted by the sky pirate protagonist Vyse and his crew. While the ground combat was your standard turn-based affair, the airship combat is what truly made this game shine.

Despite its cult following and the subsequent re-release on the GameCube, Skies of Arcadia never truly received the sequel it deserved, though Sega made several attempts to revive it.

2. Suikoden

RPGs traditionally feature a limited cast of supporting characters for players to utilize. Released in 1996, the Suikoden series took a different approach to this trope, offering up to 108 additional characters for players to discover in each game. See that cute dog over there in the corner? He’s in your squad now. Like the cut of the innkeeper's jib? He’s hired. You get the idea.

Beyond its unique approach to party recruitment, the Suikoden series is renowned for its deep, story-driven narrative, spanning five main titles and several spinoff games. With a six-character battle system and 108 unique characters per game to choose from, Suikoden boasted a scale so grand that few RPGs could compete with it at the time.

1. Golden Sun

The Game Boy Advance has always been a handheld system brimming with RPGs, from Final Fantasy and Breath of Fire to new instalments of Pokémon. However, in 2001, for those seeking something a bit more original, Golden Sun emerged as a fresh IP that quickly set a benchmark for quality RPGs.

At its core, Golden Sun is a turn-based RPG that seamlessly incorporates elements from other video game genres. Players often solve puzzles in dungeons using character-specific abilities. Some puzzles involve collecting hidden creatures called Djinn, reminiscent of Pokémon, which can be equipped to characters for additional abilities both in and out of combat.

Ultimately, Golden Sun's blend of combat, puzzles, and Djinn-catching gameplay creates one of the most engaging and rewarding RPG experiences available. A direct sequel, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, was released on the GBA in 2002, followed by Golden Sun: Dark Dawn on the Nintendo DS in 2010. However, there has been little discussion about a fourth instalment.

While some of these titles enjoyed greater success in Japan than in the West, the tides of gaming are always shifting. Although we jest about the Final Fantasy franchise needing to be dethroned, the success of Final Fantasy VII Remake could very well pave the way for these and other RPGs to make a notable comeback.