Summary
Turn-based first-person games, like the classicWizardryseries of the 90s, haven’t been explored as frequently in recent years. While there hasn’t been an abundance of recent releases in these genres, there are some stand-out titles that fans of turn-based first-person gameplay should experience.
Though there are a few games that break the mold, this style of game normally goes hand in hand withRPG dungeon crawlersand grid-based games. From classic RPGs to more modern takes on the genre, this style often gets little fanfare. So, it’s not surprising if even fans of the genre have missed some of the better modern examples. For those fans out there looking for the next thing to play, this topic will cover the best first-person turn-based games from across all eras of gaming.
The classicMight & Magicgames are early examples of the first-personturn-based RPG, andMight & Magic 10was a solid attempt to bring the genre forward into a more modern era of gaming. Released in 2014,Might & Magic 10retained the grid-based movement and turn-based combat of previous entries in the series.
It also retains the mechanical complexity typical of the genre. To learn a spell, for example, players have to have the requisite expertise level in that magic school, then they have to visit a library to study a new spell. Yet, the game also brought in more modern quality-of-life features like having a hotbar for quick access to skills and items. The game has a more readable quest system than previous entries too, and this balance of old and new in its design makes it worth revisiting for fans of turn-based, first-person games.
Thefirst-person dungeon crawlerOperencia: The Stolen Sunis an underrated modern example of the genre. The turn-based combat system is deep, with multiple party combinations and skills for players to experiment with. The environments and enemy designs are varied and vibrant, with some inventive fantasy maps and enemies based on European folklore.
The game ditches a lot of the mechanical complexity that comes with exploration and survival in many dungeon-crawler RPGs. The only resource-driven mechanic that players have to worry about is resting. That trade-off allows the game to flow, though, and the game feels balanced while giving the player some decisions to make while exploring. One of the most interesting things aboutOperenciais that it can also be played in VR, making it one of the only examples of the genre to allow this natively.
8Paper Sorcerer
Uniquely Stylish
Paper Sorcereris one of the most visually striking examples of a turn-based dungeon crawler. The black and white “paper” aesthetic could have been simplistic, but instead, it’s full of intricate details and depth of light and shadow. This gives the game a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from its genre peers.
Players take the role of a former dark lord in the game and recruit monsters and creatures to fight at their side and regain their former power. Theturn-based combathappens in phases, with the player telling all characters to act, and then playing out their turn while the enemy does the same in order of initiative. Fans of old-school dungeon crawlers will find a lot to love inPaper Sorcerer, especially the dungeon exploration, which features riddles and puzzles that can be quite fiendish and lets players permanently fail them in some cases.
Released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS,The Dark Spiremade the most of the limited system with a well-defined comic book art style featuring bold outlines. The story is nothing special; players have to fight to the top of the titular Spire to defeat a dark wizard because…he’s a dark wizard. However, the gameplay is shockingly deep, revealing more layers the more players explore, experiment, and come to understand.
The Dark Spiredoes little to guide players through this experience though. It’s punishing in its combat, and every new thing that players learn about the game will likely be at the expense of several deaths. For players who push through the difficulty, there’s a lot of freedom in how to progress and develop characters, and great depth to the systems, even if they are ill-explained.
6Grimoire: Heralds Of The Winged Exemplar
Tribute To The Classics
Grimoire: Heralds of the Winged Exemplaris afirst-person turn-based RPGthat sticks strictly to the formula established by series likeWizardryin the 90s. The game focuses on high replayability, with custom characters that can be created from a mix of 15 professions and 14 races. Even creating a character is a long and complicated process, but for fans of those old-school games, it has all the depth they could possibly want.
The indie game was created over 20 years of development, and the depth of the systems created in that time is apparent throughout the entire game. There are multiple beginnings, as well as multiple endings. There are hundreds of maps in the game. There are magic spells, skills, crafting, a lockpicking minigame, as well as all the secrets and puzzles players would expect in an RPG dungeon crawler. Basically, there’s a lot here for players who can come to love the confusing, old-school UI and harsh learning curve.
In 2018, inXile entertainment brought back the classicThe Bard’s Talefranchise with a new entry featuring modern looks and more approachable systems.The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep, and the subsequent director’s cut, modernized the franchise in many ways while retaining the old-school feeling of exploration and turn-based combat.
More modern players who want to experience thefirst-person RPG genrewill appreciate the customizable difficulty and gameplay options inThe Bard’s Tale 4. The game features options for auto-mapping, waypoint markers, and enabling saving anywhere, as well as difficulty options, managing to cater to new players and those who want the traditional hardcore 90s experience.
Etrian Odysseydeviates from most of the other examples of its genre in a few key ways. While it shares the first-person, turn-based gameplay of games likeWizardry, it has much moreJRPG flavorto its systems. That’s thanks to being developed, in part, by Atlus, so expect an anime-inspired art style and storyline.
Players will spend the game mapping the massive Ygdrassil dungeon while building up their adventuring guild. Players recruit multiple characters throughout the game who can be assembled into a party, and reserve members hang out in the guild hall, which acts as the players' hub. Despite coming out way back in 2007 on the Nintendo DS, the 2D anime sprites have vibrant art designs that still hold up today, especially with an HD remastered version available.
3Starcrawlers
Going Sci-fi
TheKickstarter-fundedfirst-person RPGStarcrawlersis a rare example of a turn-based dungeon crawler that differentiates itself through themes and setting. Rather than the fantasy style typical to the genre,Starcrawlersopts for a cyberpunk sci-fi setting. The storyline is appropriately gritty, with players taking the role of a Crawler, essentially a mercenary for hire who will take on any kind of shady work.
The game incorporates randomly generated missions and maps, accessed from a persistent hub where players can recruit and manage their team of Crawlers. The game adapts all the abilities and classes players would expect from the genre to its sci-fi themes. Players will assemble teams of hackers, smugglers, and soldiers rather than wizards, rogues, and warriors.
Starcrawlers' classes are varied and customizable with multiple skill trees, and the game gives each class interesting ways to interact with the environment outside of combat, too. From hacking to disarming traps to appraising loot, each class has something unique to them.Starcrawlersis a rare game even within its niche genre, and every turn-based dungeon crawler fan should give it a try.
2Elminage Gothic
Clash Of The Gods
Since it started as aJapan-only PSP exclusive, many players will have missed out onElminage Gothic, even though it’s one of the best examples of its genre. Fortunately, for any player who falls into that category, the game was re-released on PC in 2014. Despite being a JRPG,Elminagesticks with an art style that’s more reminiscent of the classic Western fantasy games that inspired it.
Old-school fans of turn-based dungeon crawling will appreciate the lack of hand-holding and punishing level of difficulty. Some coming to the game with more modern eyes may be slightly disappointed by the lack of mechanical explanations, though. Despite being confusing to learn, building and leveling characters becomes incredibly satisfying once players have got the hang of it.
There are 18 classes in the game and some inventive fantasy races to choose from when creating a character. Players also have to choose a moral alignment for their characters, which can affect the class choices on offer, as can gender. There’s not much story depth set up, but there are 16 total dungeons to delve into, giving players a wealth of content to build their ideal fantasy characters in.
There was a gap of nine years between the release ofWizardry 7andWizardry 8. While some players will say they prefer the classic games, the 3D world and fluid exploration ofWizardry 8make it easier for modern players to revisit, even if its 2001 release makes it a retro game itself now. Despite ditching the grid-based movement and 2D looks, the game retains the deep turn-based combat and mechanical complexity of its predecessors.
Wizardry 8included roaming monsters for the first time, replacing random encounters with foes that the player can see coming. Aware monsters will seek out the players' party, which adds another reason for caution during exploration. Dungeon exploration is one thing, but for many, the real draw ofWizardryis the character creation. There are multiple races with different inherent stats and there are multiple class specializations to choose from, as well as character alignments.
To add to the roleplaying options for players' custom characters, there are also multiple beginnings, endings, and choices to make throughout the game.Wizardryis regarded by many as the grandfather of the first-person turn-based RPG, andWizardry 8is one of the best examples of the series. That makes it an essential game to revisit for any fans of the genre.
