PPG Game Of The Year 2024 - 22 - The Best Top Down RPGs
While many of the games here fit into other RPG categories, the distinction of having a top down overworld that has battles play out in discrete separate screens (or in the overworld itself sometimes!) is a classic slice of RPG goodness all its own. Whether turn based or action, we've been spoiled for choice in recent years, with some stellar games coming out of the woodwork - this year is no different.
Saga of the Moon Priestess
Classic GB Zelda
Retro inspired action RPG that takes liberally from classics with it's single screen at a time presentation, but with a more vibrant modern graphical style.
EVERING
Modernized Throwback RPG
A mostly linear nostalgia throwback RPG with a few modern QOL features such as the ability to turn off random encounters / consequence free escaping from battles.
Secrets of Grindea
Modern Day 2D Zelda And Roguelike
A classic play years in the making that is more than simple nostalgia. Having a really excellent story mode that expands what makes this type of game great would already be enough, but there's also a whole roguelike mode added in as well.
The Secret of Varonis
Gameboy Party Based Adventure
One for the Final Fantasy Legends fans in the crowd. Turn based RPG with a variety of races to build out your party and go adventuring with.
Master Key
Black And White Zelda
A wonderful little adventure without words riffing on the old school Zelda's of yore. Some fun secret hunting and puzzling solving is in store with this one.
Infinite Mana
2.5D Expansive Adventure
This is a pretty wild one folks - a huge turn based adventure awaits, with plenty of side activities to keep you busy, a crafting system and a job-like "guise" system. Has an "emphasis on exploration, lore, and glitch mechanics". Even has a demo that spans the first 2 of 11 chapters, which is around 10(!) hours of gameplay.
Veritus
Gameboy Zelda-alike
Smaller 2D Zelda style adventure focused on a single location. Expands on the previous dev's excellent Prodigal for those that fell in love with it.
Ringlorn Saga Gaiden
Classic Japanese PC Inspired
Short and sweet retro action RPG pulling from old PC top down RPGs instead of console RPGs like most retro throwbacks do nowadays. Has a neat shapeshifting mechanic.
Castaway
Bite Sized Zelda Adventure
You've got your sword, your shield, your hookshot, lovely pixel animation, single screen at a time grid based overworld with multiple puzzly dungeons - you know what it is.
Bloomtown: A Different Story
Persona Pokemon Pixel RPG
The best RPGs take mechanics from multiple other RPGs and mash them together, which is exactly the case here. Persona meets Pokemon meets a classic RPG tale, with beautiful pixel art.
Scarmonde
8-bit Job System
Very nostalgia heavy 8 bit JRPG ala OG Final Fantasy but with a job system. You already know what you're getting with this, and it is a good one of those.
Beloved Rapture
Beloved Classic Nostalgia
As classic as classic JRPGs can get. Turn based battles, coming of age story leading to world spanning consequences, great pixel art and music. You know the drill.
Dungeon Antiqua
Bite Sized OG Final Fantasy
Do you enjoy the mechanics of classic FF but don't have time to sit down to an epic RPG? This 3-4 hour game situates you in a dungeon and has you delving deep, leveling up and obtaining treasure while fighting with classic turn based battles. Designed to be replayable for those who like to just sit down and smash out a JRPG in a night or two.
The World of Kungfu: Dragon and Eagle
Old School Wuxia Adventure
Zero to hero in ancient China, with a broad approach to learning different methods of kung fu as you progress through a large scale adventure. Has come a long way since it's initially rough EA days to release in a much better state.
Frameland: A Binary Tale
Classic Turn Based Homage
Pixel perfect JRPG with all killer no filler. Short run time keeps the game well paced, combat has some timing based elements and no random encounters.
Letalis (EA)
Classic Gameboy Adventure
Explore a non linear world with your team of knights in search of glory and status. Reminiscent of Pokemon Red/Blue but with a regular RPG party instead of the creature catching.
And The Best Top Down RPG Of 2024 Is…
Flowstone Saga
JRPG With Tetris Battles
You know when you see a game with a wholly unique battle system that makes you go, "wow that is SO damn clever!" well, that's this. Playing Tetris for battles is already a great idea, but if the fast pace is too much, the brilliant "hold" system makes the Tetris pieces have no gravity and the enemies will only attack after a certain number of turns, giving you an effective turn based option. Absolutely brilliant. Add on town building, nice pixel art and a neat JRPG story and you have a winner right here.