With acclaimed RPG titles such as Final Fantasy and Suikoden, the PlayStation remains one of the all-time great consoles for fans of the genre. Along with the Super Nintendo, the PlayStation carried prestigious RPG producers like Square Enix and Capcom, who are still at the heart of the roleplaying genre today.
With its all-star lineup of RPG titles, it could be difficult to determine which were the best in the PlayStation library. But with thousands of gamers on Ranker voting for their favorites, the picture is made clearer via their crowd-sourced opinions.
Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)
Tactical RPG is a worthy subgenre in its own right, and Final Fantasy Tactics had a massive impact on it upon its release in 1997. Many of the classic features of the subgenre are present, including the turn-based gameplay taking place on an 3D isometric field that allows the player to maneuver their units like chess pieces.
Where Final Fantasy Tactics sets itself apart from other tactical RPGs is in the deep storytelling that is synonymous with the Final Fantasy series, weaving a beautiful and consistently surprising tale in a relatively short space of time. Sadly, the game is on the short side, but that hasn't stopped it from being a popular choice among players on Ranker.
Chrono Trigger (1999)
Released several years earlier on the Super Nintendo, Chrono Trigger finally came to the PlayStation in 1999 with a port developed by Tose. Chrono Trigger is one of the classic JRPGs that defined an era with its sweeping story and beautiful 16-bit artwork that even gives the Final Fantasy series a run for its money.
The PlayStation port is an enhanced edition of the game that included animated cutscenes created by Akira Toriyama's design company, which added a cinematic element to the game. It also included several bonus features that only added to the iconic time-travel JRPG.
Final Fantasy IX (2000)
The 9th edition of Square Enix's RPG phenomenon, Final Fantasy IX was released to universal acclaim in 2000 as the series had well and truly hit its stride. Though it's no longer considered one of the best Final Fantasy games, the game still delivers on everything players expect from the series with an amazing story, stunning visuals, and polished gameplay.
Final Fantasy IX features a unique cast of characters, including the protagonist Zidane Tribal, and immediately throws the player in the middle of a complex and interesting plot that starts relatively small-scale and concludes, of course, with a fight for the future of the universe. Final Fantasy IX manages to get almost everything right.
Breath Of Fire III (1997)
Though Breath of Fire III was a JRPG that didn't review very well at the time of its release, it has stood the test of time and continues to be popular among fans of the Capcom series. The title was criticized for not bringing a whole lot of innovation to the RPG genre, with a story and gameplay mechanics that all feel very familiar.
However, that didn't stop it from being an engrossing and, most importantly, fun contribution to the genre. With an expansive story that sees the main character, Ryu, try to piece together his identity after losing his memories, Breath of Fire III rewards the player for their investment of time.
Final Fantasy VII (1997)
With an ongoing remake still being developed, Final Fantasy VII continues to make an impact on the gaming world over 25 years after its initial release. Despite that, the original game is still a valuable experience for its innovation as well as characters and a story that have left fond memories for so many players.
The game's unique science fiction setting felt fresh with so many RPGs of the time taking place in medieval fantasy realms and is a place well worth revisiting. There is more than just nostalgia behind this game's popularity, as shown by the huge amount of acclaim it has received and the attention it continues to receive today.
Suikoden (1995)
Though it has faded from relevance in recent years after going 16 years without a new mainline game, Suikoden was once a celebrated RPG series for Konami. A traditional RPG with random encounters and turn-based combat, Suikoden puts the player in the role of a character as he discovers the corruption and cruelty at the heart of the Scarlet Moon Empire.
One of the best features of the game is the ability to recruit allies from a huge pool of over 100 characters for the player's cause. Over time, the player can build up a force mighty enough to take on the empire itself. Suikoden takes the player on an enjoyable journey and it's easy to see why it is considered one of the best the PlayStation has to offer.
Xenogears (1998)
With so many blockbuster RPG franchises on the PlayStation, there was something refreshing about a genuinely unique and creative new game in the form of Xenogears. Whilst the classic RPG features are all here, including an ambitious story and beautiful designs, Xenogears brought a lot of innovation, as well as the fun of giant robots.
Going on to spawn the popular Xenoblade franchise, Xenogears introduced a new battle system that allowed players to make use of powerful machines known as "Gears". Though like almost any game with a high degree of experimentation, it hasn't aged as well as other games of the era, Xenogears is still an awesome experience for JRPG fans.
Breath Of Fire IV (2000)
A significant improvement on the third entry in the series, Breath of Fire IV took almost everything to the next level with a polished gameplay system that is genuinely entertaining. Whether the story is considered an improvement on previous games is a subject of debate, with the game taking on some dark themes.
However, what's undeniable is that the gameplay is extremely well-executed, with a new combo system and the ability to develop characters by having them be taught new skills. As a result, there is actually a decent amount of replayability to Breath of Fire IV that sets it apart from a lot of the other greatest PlayStation RPGs.
Star Ocean: The Second Story (1998)
There are a ton of obscure JRPGs that deserve a revisit and Star Ocean: The Second Story, confusingly the first installment of the Action RPG series to be released outside of Japan can be considered among these. Taking place in a science fiction setting, the game gives the player the choice of playing as one of two protagonists, Claude or Rena, the former a human and the latter a member of an alien species.
The story evolves depending on the choices the player makes, including which character they selected at the beginning. Star Ocean: The Second Story is uniquely engrossing as a result, but the action-packed gameplay of the title also stands out. With fast-paced real-time combat, the game offers an exciting alternative to the many turn-based PlayStation RPGs.
Suikoden II (1998)
A sequel to the earlier PlayStation title, Suikoden II is a JRPG masterpiece delivering a story of war and conflict that expands on its predecessor in all the right ways. Taking place sometime after the first title as new kingdoms arise and attempt to increase their power, the game features a new cast of characters as well as some returning ones.
Whilst the game could easily satisfy fans of the first game with just that, Suikoden II brings entirely new gameplay features to the mix, with a grid-based tactical battle system as well as more traditional six-party battles. As a result of the game's ambition and almost flawless execution, it is now considered the best RPG on the console.
