Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s massive success has sent the entire gaming community into a frenzy. It’s shaping up to be another Game of the Year contender, joining the likes of Blue Prince, Monster Hunter Wilds, Split Fiction, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
The discourse around the turn-based genre has also sparked a handful of opinions on social media. While this may seem like a clear-cut case of “just make good games,” most people tend to forget that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t the first modern game to appeal to fans of turn-based RPGs. In fact, there’s more. There’s always more.
Here are the five best games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Atlus has learned a lot from their Persona games, and it’s clear they’ve poured that experience into Metaphor: ReFantazio, creating some of their best turn-based combat yet.
Similar to Clair Obscur, Metaphor’s gameplay mixes real-time and turn-based elements, but most of the time, you’re dealing with enemies the old-fashioned way: waiting for your turn.
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+ 4What makes Metaphor’s turn-based system even more appealing is that it borrows notable mechanics from Shin Megami Tensei’s "Press Turn" combat. It requires you to think carefully about each action, as every move costs a crystal. It’s much more rewarding and strategic than just exploiting enemy weaknesses and getting an extra turn like in Persona.
Sea Of Stars
If Clair Obscur’s 3D adventure doesn’t quite click for you, maybe Sea of Stars' beautiful 2D sprites will catch your eye. Both games share a similar approach to turn-based gameplay, where player input is crucial thanks to QTE (Quick Time Event) commands.
click to enlarge+ 4Like Clair Obscur, parrying and dodging are essential parts of the experience. In Sea of Stars, you’re not just sitting back and waiting for the next turn—you have to stay engaged to maximize your offense and defense.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Among all the Yakuza titles, Like a Dragon was the first to adopt a turn-based combat system. This might have initially put off longtime fans used to the franchise’s beat ‘em up style, but to everyone’s surprise, it worked wonders.
click to enlarge+ 4Like a Dragon’s environmental interactivity is a fun addition: fights often devolve into pure chaos, depending on what's nearby. One moment you're swinging a street sign at an enemy; the next, your opponent is grabbing something even more ridiculous to smack you with.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 has become the blueprint for what a great modern RPG looks like, and Larian Studios is rightfully proud after nearly a decade of work.
At first glance, Baldur’s Gate 3’s combat might not feel familiar to fans of Final Fantasy or Persona. It’s for those who grew up loving pen-and-paper RPGs—those who found excitement in Dungeons & Dragons sessions during their younger years.
click to enlarge+ 4Dice rolls are a key mechanic in this game. Sometimes, you’re just praying the RNG gods smile on you during critical moments, but that’s part of the game’s magic. Unlike the other games on this list, there are countless ways to tackle encounters—you can go wild with experimentation or stick to the basics of whittling enemies down to zero health. BG3’s charm lies in the freedom it gives you, but ultimately, you’re still waiting your turn and hoping for a good roll.
South Park: The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole
When all else fails, it’s never a bad idea to turn to South Park. Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny might not be the friends you usually call on for battle, but here, they’re the perfect party members.
The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole stand out not just for their humor and raunchiness, but also for their surprisingly strong turn-based combat systems.
Their grid-based approach feels fresh. Think XCOM or Final Fantasy Tactics, but with Cartman being… well, Cartman. It’s a bizarre but brilliant fusion of styles that both games pulled off with ridiculous charm. Just don’t play this game on your living room TV; otherwise, people might question your life choices.
While there are still plenty more games worth discussing, these are my picks for the five best modern turn-based RPGs.
What’s your favorite modern turn-based RPG?
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