RPGs are already a tough game to sell to the average gamer. Long hours, complicated combat, and character-building systems – you name it. Most people don’t have a massive amount of time to spend on a game, so their choice ends up being a shorter experience or something they can jump in and out from. Well, that’s the wrong choice.
These games are some of the most fulfilling and satisfying experiences in all of gaming and, sadly, some of these had sequels depending on their financial performance, which we’ll never be able to see.
Deus Exhas been a series that is constantly in the shadows of the gaming world. While beloved by a small group of die-hards, it has never had the pull that a Final Fantasy has. Especially for a long-running series like this one, moving copies can be quite challenging, but Mankind Divided had another slew of significant issues.
The story and narrative direction of this installment were great, but the publisher, Square Enix, shot themselves in the foot by implementing a predatory microtransaction system within the game. That, along with a mess of a preorder system, did not help the game’s overall sales.
9Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Buggy, Bloody, And Brilliant
Tabletop to video game can be a difficult task to accomplish, and while it’s debatable whether Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines did it, it’s undeniable that it’s such a fun game for what it is.
Even past the technical issues that it presents, Bloodlines offers an amazing experience when it comes to building your very own vampire to your liking and inhabiting the world they created, which you can shape through your decisions. This is one of those games that desperately needs a remake or sequel.
What is there to say about Earthbound that hasn’t been said before? Earthbound isthecult classic game. It may not seem like it now, but when it first released in the Western market, the beloved RPG was not so beloved. Although it sold excellently in Japan, Western sales were hurt by its marketing campaign as it was based on gross and self-deprecating humor.
Most people would probably go back in time just to purchase a copy on release. Maybe then we could get an English version of Mother 3.
There is no denying that this game was a tough sell to begin with since it meshed two niche series in an attempt to create a brand-new game. Tokyo Mirage Sessions is the love child between Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem, and while the game included elements of both, it was a departure from either of them.
This game was a bold move from Atlus, but it still created a group of people who thoroughly enjoyed the game. Enough to port it to the Nintendo Switch years after its original release on the Wii U.
In an attempt to bring JRPGs to Western audiences, legendary producer Hironobu Sakaguchi and his studio Mistwalker decided to create Lost Odyssey, an Xbox 360 exclusive game. This was a bold move since most of the JRPG fanbase is located within Japan, where the Xbox 360 was not as popular as its Sony counterpart.
This hurt Lost Odyssey’s sales quite a bit, but critics were not shy about praising the incredible storytelling and hailing it as one of the Xbox 360’s hidden,but not-so-hidden, gems.
Midnight Suns made a huge splash in the gaming industry when it was revealed at Gamescom 2021. Players and fans were excited to see some not-so-represented Marvel heroes back on the video game space, but what they missed accounting for is that a large part of the audience does not care about deck building or turn-based combat.
While this gameplay style placed a sour taste in many fans’ mouths, the game was still critically acclaimed and a solid RPG that was reminiscent of XCOM, albeit with more superpowers.
Bowser’s Inside Story is not the best in the Mario & Luigi series of RPGs, but the worst Mario game is still miles above the rest. The game was originally released on the Nintendo DS, but its 3DS remake, with its additional DLC, was the one that didn’t meet Nintendo’s expectations when it came to its sales.
It’s not that the game was poorly ported, but rather it was released a bit too late in the Nintendo 3DS lifespan, and most players had already moved on and were spending countless hours on Breath Of The Wild on their new and shiny Nintendo Switch.
Even though they were on their third numbered entry, Persona had not taken up in popularity in the West upon the release of Persona 3. The game series was still considered a niche JRPG, and its lack of party control and unfair dungeon enemies did not help its case.
Issues aside, Persona 3 is widely known – and debated – as one of the best in the series. Luckily, you can avoid all of that by playing the excellent remake, Persona 3 Reload.
If Persona 3 is aniche game, then Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey is but a concept to the larger part of the gaming community. All things aside, Strange Journey is still one of the best that the series has produced.
Even though it’s not part of the numbered series, and technically a spin-off, it holds true to what a Shin Megami Tensei game is. Maybe a little too much since players felt like they were regressing after playing the gorgeous and stylish Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne.
Although the game’s Gamecube port was referred to as the “Director’s Cut” version of the Dreamcast classic, the sales of this incredible JRPG did not match its caliber. While the game is beloved by many who played the original, the port’s endless delays and eventual cancellation of the PlayStation 2 version did not leave players excited about a new take on their favorite skyfaring RPG.
If you’ve never heard of Skies Of Arcadia, and you have a Gamecube, don’t let the reviews fool you. This game is incredible and a must-play.
