Welcome to a world of pixelated adventures and epic quests! The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was home to some solid RPG games and today we’re diving into the best examples of the genre.
From fighting dragons to exploring vast kingdoms, these games captured the hearts of gamers worldwide and set the standard for future RPGs. So grab your sword and shield, and let’s take a nostalgic journey through the top NES RPGs that have stood the test of time.
Don’t have a NES to play these games? No problem, take a look at our guide to NES Emulators and play these on your modern system.
1. Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
The Dragon Warrior / Dragon Quest franchise may not be as sexy as Final Fantasy, but this franchise consistently releases absolute bangers of classic RPGs across decades. Dragon Warrior IV, also known as Dragon Quest IV in Japan, is an RPG developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990.
If you want to play this game, you are better served to play it on modern platforms as opposed to emulating it on even the NES emulators. This game is (well)remade for the PlayStation, Nintendo DS, and mobile devices. The game is known for its unique chapter-based storytelling, which was at that time a revolutionary concept for RPGs.
The game consists of five distinct chapters, each with a different protagonist and story. The first four chapters introduce the main characters, while the fifth chapter brings them together to save the world from an evil being known as Psaro the Manslayer. Each chapter is like a self-contained mini-game but unlike Live-a-Live it is one whole organic game. This format allows for a diverse range of gameplay experiences and keeps the player engaged throughout the entire game.
Dragon Warrior IV was a critical and commercial success and is often cited as one of the best RPGs ever. It was praised for its innovative storytelling, party talk system, and diverse gameplay experiences. It also significantly impacted the RPG genre, influencing future games like Final Fantasy IV and V, as well as other Dragon Quest titles. The game’s legacy can still be seen today, with the series continuing to be popular in Japan and gaining a growing following worldwide.
2. Crystalis
Crystalis is an 8-bit action-RPG game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world caused by thermonuclear war. The game was released in 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System and developed by SNK. The player controls a nameless male protagonist who must stop an evil empire attempting to control the world by combining science with magic. Throughout the game, the player gains access to various equipment pieces, including swords, shields, and armor. The equipment becomes more powerful as the player progresses, introducing a strategy to the gameplay as certain items are effective against specific enemy types.
The game features a top-down perspective similar to The Legend of Zelda and emphasizes magic, with various mages teaching the player a range of spells to use throughout the story. The game’s graphics, colorful world, music, and sound effects are all praised by the reviewer, creating an engaging and immersive experience.
Crystalis was well-received upon its release and has maintained a dedicated fan base in the decades since. The game’s combination of post-apocalyptic and fantasy elements, alongside its engaging gameplay and storytelling, have made it a beloved classic. In recent years, it has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to the rise of retro gaming and re-releases on modern platforms such as the Nintendo Switch.
3. Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy is considered one of the most important video games in the history of the industry. It is credited with popularizing the console role-playing game genre in North America and helped establish Square as a major player in the video game industry.
One of the most significant contributions of Final Fantasy to the gaming industry was the introduction of innovative gameplay mechanics. The game’s use of experience points, leveling up, and the character development system provided an unprecedented level of depth and player choice in RPGs at the time.
The game’s soundtrack, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, is also considered one of the greatest in video game history. The music of Final Fantasy was groundbreaking, using synthesized sound and a wide variety of instruments to create a rich and immersive experience for players.
The success of Final Fantasy on the NES paved the way for sequels and spin-offs on various consoles and platforms, as well as inspired other developers to create their own RPGs. It also helped establish Square (now Square Enix) as a major player in the gaming industry, with the company continuing to create popular RPG franchises to this day.
Final Fantasy’s impact on the gaming industry cannot be overstated. It introduced innovative gameplay mechanics, set new standards for storytelling and character development in RPGs, and helped popularize the genre in North America. Its influence can still be seen in modern games, making it a true classic that will always hold a special place in gaming history.
4. Wizardy: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Wizardry is known for being an extremely hardcore game. The maze has no distinctive features, and everything looks the same. There are traps and tricks to confuse the player, so following a map is a must. To survive, players must be extremely patient. Progress can be slow at the beginning, and running back to town to rest after every other encounter is almost a requirement. The only way to restore your HP and level up your character is to go back to town and rest at the inn. So, there is a lot of backtracking in this game.
5. Fire Emblem Gaiden
Fire Emblem Gaiden is the second game in the Fire Emblem series, originally released in Japan in 1992 for the Nintendo Famicom. It never saw a western release until a 3DS remake in 2017. The game differs from other Fire Emblem games in several ways. For example, it has a mix of grid-based battles and real-time exploration in towns and dungeons. It also features a route split, where players control two separate armies with unique maps, armies, and items.
The game introduces new ideas like repeatable map battles, simplified maps, extended promotion systems, and limited inventory systems with indestructible weapons. These changes make Fire Emblem Gaiden an unusual and experimental entry in the series, but also one that offers unique gameplay and lasting legacies.
6. The Magic of Scheherazade
The Magic of Scheherazade is a classic RPG set in a world inspired by the tales of Arabian Nights. The game starts with the magician Sabaron kidnapping the player’s love, Scheherazade, and banishing the player to the realm of the mundane. The player must then turn the tables, travel through time and fight demons to save Scheherazade.
One of the game’s unique features is its cap on leveling. Each chapter has a cap of five levels, preventing players from relying solely on grinding to win battles. This means that precision timing, strategy, and skill are required to defeat powerful bosses like Curly, who has six arms, moves at high speed, fires projectiles, and can recover her own HP.
7. Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the red-headed step-sister of the Zelda family, swaps the top-down perspective for side-scrolling platform action, featuring an RPG leveling-up system, a large overworld map with caves, towns, and palaces, sub-quests, and random encounters with baddies. Although it has flaws and lacks the timeless quality of other Zelda games, it still holds up quite well over time.
However, it can be a frustrating experience, as dying and continuing means starting from the beginning, the dungeons lack puzzles, and certain vital items are hidden in unmarked areas. Despite these issues, Zelda II is a charming and entertaining Nintendo adventure, recommended for fans of the series but newcomers should start with A Link to the Past on the SNES.
8. Willow
The NES version of Willow, developed by Capcom, differs greatly from the arcade version and the movie, but it is still an excellent licensed game. The story follows Willow, the hero prophesized to defeat the corrupt Bavmorda, who embarks on a quest to save the world. The game plays similarly to Zelda, with overhead exploration and sporadic dungeon placement.
Willow wields a sword and magic spells, including the ability to transform into a monster. The combat is enjoyable, the boss fights are challenging, and the game is longer than most of its kind. The graphics are vibrant, with clean character sprites, and the music is well-composed and memorable. Willow is a combination of Zelda and Ys, creating one of the best-licensed games on the NES that still holds up to its competition.
9. Swords and Serpents
Swords & Serpents is an adventure game that may lack an in-depth plot but offers a sense of adventure from the moment you leave the first corridor. Players control a party of four heroes who journey through a massive dungeon, collecting rubies to reassemble a sword and vanquish a dragon.
The dungeon is viewed from a first-person perspective, and battles come rather often, with limited variety in the monsters faced. Battles require careful micro-management as most monsters can take large chunks from your life meters without a second’s thought. Spells can be cast and careful attention must be given to balancing healing and damage to gain success. Exploration is addictive, and elderly men can be found throughout the dungeon to help solve puzzles and gain items. Despite its lack of depth, the game appeals to those who live for dungeon crawling and offers an impressive level of workmanship.
10. Faxanadu
The Dragon Slayer series, created by Nihon Falcom, is not widely known outside of Japan. The first game gained popularity and many sequels followed, but unfortunately, most of them remained exclusive to Japan. The second game, Xanadu, became a separate series and also got sequels, but again, most of them were only released in Japan. However, a spin-off for the NES, produced by Hudson Soft, called Faxanadu, was released worldwide.
In Faxanadu, you play a nameless hero who has just returned to his hometown located at the base of the enormous World Tree. The land has been in a dire state since the hero left, with the Elves and Dwarves that inhabited the World Tree living in harmony before the Evil One arrived, corrupting the Dwarves and transforming them into monsters.
11. StarTropics
StarTropics is an action RPG that takes place in a tropical setting. The game features both puzzle-solving and combat elements, as players navigate through a variety of environments and battle enemies with a yo-yo weapon. The game also includes RPG elements such as experience points and character upgrades. Players must interact with non-playable characters to gather information and progress through the story, adding depth to the game’s RPG elements.
12. Pool of Radiance
Pool of Radiance is a classic turn-based RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. The game features a party of characters that players can customize and level up as they progress through the game’s story. Combat is a key aspect of the game, with players engaging in tactical battles against a variety of foes. Players must also navigate through a variety of environments and interact with non-playable characters to progress through the game.
13. The Bard’s Tale
The Bard’s Tale is a classic RPG with a focus on storytelling and character development. Players take on the role of a bard, using their musical abilities to control and summon creatures in combat. The game features a large open world to explore, with a variety of quests and characters to encounter. Players must also manage their inventory and equipment to optimize their characters for combat.
14. Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei is a household name now in the form of Persona, but it started at the bottom, and now it’s here.
This is a Japanese RPG with a dark and mature storyline. The game features turn-based combat against a variety of supernatural creatures, as players navigate a world that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. The game features a complex demon summoning system, with players able to fuse and upgrade demons to create more powerful allies. The game also includes moral choices that affect the player’s alignment and the game’s story.
15. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
You would’ve thought that a Robin Hood game be a platformer or a shooter in the form of Duck Hunt. But no, this is an RPG.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is an action RPG based on the classic tale of Robin Hood. Players take on the role of Robin Hood, engaging in swordplay and archery combat against the evil Prince John and his soldiers. The game features a variety of environments to explore and quests to complete, as players gather allies and resources to take on the Prince’s forces. The game also includes RPG elements such as character upgrades and equipment management.
