7 Modern RPGs That Captured the Magic of the Classics

We live for nostalgia. There is something in our brains that makes us tell everyone on the internet that “our generation was better.” But how true is that? While I have fond memories of playing games like Final Fantasy 7, Chrono Trigger, and Suikoden, there are some modern games that bring those exact same feels. Or at least close to it. Here are 7 modern RPGs that remind me of the golden era of gaming!

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Suprising absolutely no one, Clair Obscur makes this list. When it was initially shown off, it almost looked too good to be true. So much so, in fact, that I was kind of scared to play it when it came out. I’m so glad I did, however. With a super unique and emotional story, old school RPG feels with a twist, and a cast of characters you’ll enjoy throughout, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a game you MUST play to relive the good ole days.

2. Personal 5 Royal

This is a massive game. That can be overwhelming. It’s worth the investment of time. Persona 5 Royal is a game I restarted quite a few times before fully committing. But if you take the plunge, you’ll enjoy a fun, investigative story. Persona has consistently displayed a strong art style, and this game also highlights it. Whether you are keeping up with your social activities, school work, or battling the alternate world that plagues the real one, you cannot go wrong with Persona 5.

3. Dragon Quest XI

This may have been my first Dragon Quest, but it immediately made me want to play the others. Some games want to redefine their genre and Dragon Quest XI decides to embrace it. Old school feel through and through. Heck, you can even play the game in NES-Style graphics the whole way if you’d like.

5. Sea of Stars

Not just a lookalike of games like Chrono Trigger. It feels like you’ve played this before. When you are looking at Sea of Stars, you are teleported back to those SNES days. A really fun combat system, a nice story, and of course, the graphics. Sea of Stars is a great pick-up if you want a refreshing classic this summer.

6. Octopath Traveler II

The original game reminded the world that we crave sprites. The HD-2D introduction started a revolution. This sequel, refines and improves on the series in many ways. An awesome soundtrack, a journey of 8 characters, and a bit of freedom make the Octopath Traveler series a joy to play.

7. Chained Echoes

Like Sea of Stars, Chained Echoes gives that retro feel but introduces some pretty cool modern gameplay mechanics. Your attacks matter so you can’t spam the same thing during each turn. It brings a level of strategy that is welcomed in RPGs.

While this list is my own, let me know if you happen to have any other modern RPGs that give you that warm and fuzzy feel of the golden days.

Looking for more RPG goodness? Check out the Summer of RPGs below!

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