Summary
More than any other aspect, great characters make a brilliant RPG sing. In fact, some RPGs decide to focus on characters over all else, creating some incredible ensemble RPGs where the focus is less on one central character than it is on a diverse party of memorable contributors.
Whether its RPGs split into individual sections for each character or stories where the player protagonist takes a backseat to the squad as a whole, there are loads of great ensemble RPGs. This list is ranked both by how well the game uses the ensemble cast as well as how great the game is, overall.
The mid to late 2010s was a dark time for fans of classic JRPGs. Increasingly, JRPG were chasing more mainstream trends and leaving behind the hardcore fans that wanted it to return to its 90s roots, and few big-budget RPGs were accommodating. That was, untilOctopath Traveler.
Releasing in 2018 as a love letter to the classic era of JPRGs,Octopath Travelerfollows the eight individual members of the party and their individual stories, prioritizing the ensemble and classic JRPG storytelling over all else. In fact, players can choose to start with any character they like (though Cyrus is probably best). While it has its problems,Octopath Traveleris well worth a playthrough to experience its diverse storytelling.
It’s hard to nail down one particular era for the golden age of JRPGs, but the late 1990s may well be the best claimant. Square Enix was on an absolute roll during this period, releasing countless classic JRPGs that remain adored to this day, including the indomitableFinal Fantasy 7.
It’s a shame, then, thatSaGa Frontieroften gets overlooked during this period. The game had an innovative “Free Scenario System” where players could take control of any member of the ensemble party throughout, going anywhere, and following individual storylines. It was an incredible amount of freedom for the time and remains one of the best ensemble RPGs ever made.
In the modern day, CRPGs have experienced something of a resurgence following the incredible popularity ofBaldur’s Gate 3, but Larian were plugging away at CRPG greatness long before their breakout success, including the quite popular and often overlookedDivinity: Original Sin 2.
Although players can create their own custom characters, the whole point of the game is building up a ragtag group of adventurers whom the player can play as whenever they like, with unique dialogue choices for each. In fact, players can choosethese pre-made characters from the beginning, as each one is equally baked into the game’s overall narrative. Freedom is the name of the game, and the ensemble party is what makes the unique worldbuilding sing.
In the late 1990s, RPGs were a bit oversaturated, even in worldwide markets, so developers were continually trying to find new ways to stand out from the competition. For theWild Armsseries, that usually involved a mix of Western, steampunk, and sci-fi elements into the worlds that made it stand apart from more generic fantasy fare.
However, what madeWild Arms 2special was its focus on an ensemble cast. There’s not really one sole protagonist, but six, each of whom has equal say in the party and mostly equitable story importance. It’s all about building a team as opposed to supporting one hero, and it shows the power of a cohesive ensemble cast.
Of the many casualties of thelate 1990s JRPG wars, where getting attention was everything,Suikoden 2remains an underplayed classic. Quite possibly the best entry in the franchise got pushed out by Square Enix products, yet every year, modern gamers discover this stone-cold classic.
Though the player controls a central silent protagonist, the game is really about the 108 Stars of Destiny, a diverse cast of weird and wonderful characters who vary in importance and prominence but come to define the player’s party and enemies. It’s a unique, ambitious mechanic for the time that remains wildly underappreciated for just how ambitious it was.
Determining the most popular JRPG of all time is a tricky task, butPersona 5has a strong claim to the throne. The latest entry in the mainlinePersonaseries oozes with style from top to bottom and has just enough JRPG credentials to retain the hardcore old fans while also having enough accessibility to court a whole new crop of newbies.
While the visuals are the flashiest part ofPersona 5, the ensemble cast and character writing is where the game shines.Each member of the Phantom Thievesis drawn out in rich detail, making them genuinely unforgettable and one of the most compelling groups of friends ever put to pixels.
Baldur’s Gate 3is a stunning achievement. Not only did it beat the odds of popularity by being a long-awaited sequel to a CRPG left dormant for over two decades, but it delivered one of the very best translations of D&D tabletop mechanics to the digital world, ever. It’s hard to imagine D&D 5e system’s translation here ever being topped.
While the player character certainly has sway, what makes the game special is the attention and emphasison strong player companions. Each companion feels realistic, with wants, needs, dreams and desires, and extensive backstories to explore. They’re the beating heart of the game, and it would be nothing without the ensemble cast.
The originalOctopath Travelerwas an enthusiastic love letter to the classic JRPG era, but some still doubted its structure and gameplay credentials, considering it more a gimmick than a fully-fleshed-out game. Luckily, the team at Square Enix gave it another shot and delivered an incredible sequel that is better in almost every single way.
Not only is the game’s combat system refined, it’s graphical fidelity upgraded, and structure overhauledto be more beginner-friendly, but a renewed focus on ensemble dynamics and the core cast of characters makes it the Platonic ideal of this eight-fold formula. It’s the ultimate ensemble RPG.
