Some RPGs, from both the East and the West, are very lucky because they get to come back as ports, remasters, or remakes. Final Fantasy 7 is a prime example that has received all three types, and has also remained in the popular zeitgeist due to numerous multimedia projects related to Final Fantasy 7, from books to movies to spinoff games.
Some games, even if they get a second or third chance at life, are not that lucky to stick around as long, and it’s a shame. If more RPG fans played these games, perhaps they would be more accessible, or at least more talked about today. Popular or not, they’re all great in their own ways.
Breath Of Fire 4
Late To The Party
Breath of Fire 4 was a late addition to the PS1 in 2000, which did come out in North America after the PS2 launched. Like all major entries, the game starred a blue-haired silent hero, Ryu, who could transform into dragons in turn-based combat.
The visuals still look great thanks to the vibrant colors of the polygonal models, and the world is a little more desolate than other entries in the series, giving it an almost post-apocalyptic vibe at the start. There is some good news for Capcom RPG fans as Breath of Fire 4 did release on GOG in 2025, so it’s not too late to check this hidden gem out.
Champions Of Norrath: Realms Of EverQuest
A True Diablo Rival
Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest was released for the PS2 in 2004, and there, along with its sequel, it has remained ever since. Like the Diablo games, players could choose one of several characters, all belonging to a specific race and class. They could then go on a linear progression of levels through top-down dungeons to fight hordes of monsters and collect loot.
It was a staple for PS2 RPG fans who enjoyed multiplayer, and it’s a darn shame Sony has never remastered it or even ported it to another PlayStation console since they published it in North America.
Dragon Quest 5: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride
Before Pokemon
Most Dragon Quest fans in North America missed Dragon Quest 5: Hand of the Heavenly Bride because it actually didn’t come out over here. Originally released for the SNES in Japan, the 2009 DS remake is the first official time North America got to play it. Release history aside, the second trilogy in the series, which includes this game, is often forgotten compared to other Dragon Quest titles.
Dragon Quest 5: Hand of the Heavenly Bride has a lot of interesting concepts worth checking out in any version. Players will grow up over time, choose a bride, and instead of a party, they will befriend monsters, and it’s important to note this was four years before Pokemon.
Final Fantasy 5
Not Praised Enough
Another fifth installment in a big franchise, Final Fantasy, also doesn’t get enough credit. Final Fantasy 5 was also released in 1992 for the SNES in Japan, and North Americans got to play it in 1999 via the PS1 collection, Final Fantasy Anthology, which also included Final Fantasy 6.
This was the second game to use the Job system, following Final Fantasy 3, and it did a better job developing its core four characters over time. The Job system was the selling point, and there are plenty of versions to choose from now, with the GBA release still being the best, albeit hard to find, option.
Jeanne d’Arc
For France!
Jeanne d’Arc was a PSP exclusive tactical RPG developed by Level-5, taking place in an alternate timeline to the English and French war in the 1400s. In this version, the English is aided by monsters, and a young girl, Jeanne, is given a magic bracelet to transform into a mighty warrior, and other characters along the way receive similar transformative abilities.
Tactical combat is pretty standard with units moving on a grid, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t compelling. Like so many other PSP RPGs, this one fell by the wayside because of the portable’s low sales rates in North America. The game is thankfully now available on PS5, along with other PSP gems just waiting to be rediscovered.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
