10 RPGs That Ruined Every Other RPG

Sometimes, a game comes along that completely redefines its genre, changing how people think and feel about what comes after it — and sometimes, an RPG arrives that raises the bar so high those that follow struggle. And if that genre-defining RPG, like or , happens to be the first one someone plays, then it can ruin other RPGs when they are compared.

The very best RPGs are capable of not only telling a compelling story but fully immersing people for hours in rich worlds that feel alive. With memorable characters, powerful themes, and choices that matter, RPGs let people be someone else to live a life they could never have and roleplay characters vastly different from themselves. Each of these RPGs changes the game, rewriting what it meant to be an RPG,introducing what would become standard features, or creating a level of immersion that at the time was unmatched.

series, used a mixture of interpersonal relationships, interactive storytelling, and cinematics to create a game that blew people away Although the visuals were a little hit-and-miss, the overall experience and promise that choices mattered kept people engaged and launched one of the most loved game series. The clever world-building in the first set a new standard for those seeking to create new IPs, as the writing established the rules and elements of the universe as the player progressed.

For many, was the first game they played as it brought JRPGs to a wider audience with its graphics, massive world, and incredible story. Indeed, when some think of, they will immediately think of and its amazing cast of characters. is filled withiconic moments that continue to resonate through the RPG genre that in some ways have yet to be matched. It's hard to describe looking back at the game through modern eyes, just how epic felt when it first arrived and just how engrossing it was to play.

For better or worse, changed the face of RPGs upon release, with it’s massive open world offering the chance to do almost