Despite the significant success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, its director asserts that traditional prejudice towards turn-based RPGs persists, with real-time action games generally receiving smoother acceptance.
In the ever-evolving world of video games, the rise and fall of certain genres is a common occurrence. One such genre that has seen a decline in popularity is the turn-based RPG (Role-Playing Game). This shift away from turn-based games, particularly in the realm of Japanese RPGs (JRPGs), can be traced back to the Xbox 360 era, when open-world games began to dominate gaming media and player attention.
Guillaume Broche, the creative director of the recently successful game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, believes this decline could be part of a longer shift in gaming culture. According to Broche, before the Xbox 360 era, Japanese turn-based RPGs were very popular, but as gaming trends shifted towards more visually expansive and real-time gameplay experiences, they started being viewed as “uncool.” This shift contributed to a long-lasting perception problem for turn-based RPGs, despite the fact that some recent titles like Persona and Sea of Stars have seen critical and commercial success.
Broche indicates that the decline is not necessarily about the quality of turn-based games themselves but rather the change in cultural and media attitudes that favored faster-paced, open-world, or action RPGs. The perception that turn-based systems are “outdated” or relics of past technical limitations continues to influence player interest negatively. Although the genre has not fully recovered, the enthusiasm for acclaimed recent titles shows potential growth, but the segment still has a way to go to regain its prior mass appeal.
The market for games is currently dominated by roguelites, soulslikes, and real-time action games. However, some turn-based RPGs like Sea of Stars have significantly outperformed expectations, indicating that while the genre’s broad market share has declined, niche successes remain viable.
Rick Lane, a games journalist with a passion for first-person shooters and immersive sims, has written for publications like Edge, Eurogamer, the Guardian, and PC Gamer. Growing up, Rick was fascinated by PC gaming, sneaking into his dad's home office for covert sessions of Doom and other popular games like Quake, Thief, Half-Life, and Deus Ex. Between 2013 and 2022, Rick was games editor of Custom PC magazine and associated website bit-tech.net.
In contrast to the decline in turn-based RPGs, first-person shooters and immersive sims continue to thrive. One such example is the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has had a runaway success. Despite being a turn-based RPG, Broche claims that the inclusion of real-time parry and dodging in the gameplay was not done to avoid prejudice, but rather to offer a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
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In the case of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED is mentioned as the best overall monitor for the game. The game was developed by a small team, and Broche refers specifically to the Persona series as an example of successful turn-based JRPG combat. Final Fantasy has also shifted towards fluid, reaction-based combat systems in recent years.
While the market for turn-based RPGs may be facing challenges, the success of games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the ongoing passion of gamers like Rick Lane suggest that the genre still has a place in the hearts of many. As gaming trends continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how turn-based RPGs adapt and thrive in the future.
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