The best RPGs for Sega Saturn

Key points

• Sega Saturn had a rocky start with competition from the PS1, but had a good lineup of RPGs.
• Outstanding RPGs include
  Super Robot Taisen F, Lunar: Silver Star Story completed,
  AND
  The magic knight Rayearth.
• Notable RPGs for the Sega Saturn:
  Princess Crown, Dragon Force, Shining Force 3, Tactics Ogre.

The history of Sega Saturn it is both fascinating and tragic. It was released in 1994 in Japan, followed by a North American release in 1995. Unfortunately for Sega, Sony had a more promising console with the PS1, launched in the same year, 1994, and at a cheaper price.

This certainly didn't give the Sega Saturn a good starting point, and things only got worse from there, despite a good lineup of games over the years. There were many great ones Role-playing games on the Sega Saturnfor example, built by first-party and third-party teams. Many games remain lost to time because that library, from platformers to RPGs, mostly hasn't left the console. For now, let's focus on some amazing RPGs from the Sega Saturn era.

Updated October 3, 2024, by Gerardo Molina: Even though Sony completely destroyed the competition with the original PlayStation when it was released, that shouldn't take away from the fact that the Sega Saturn had some fantastic titles in different genres. Even though it's very difficult to find a Sega Saturn in good condition these days, there is definitely still a market for the console and the games that were released for it.

Sega Saturn RPGs not only provided players with hours of entertainment, but also helped further define the genre during the late 1990s, paving the way for other titles in the early 2000s and even modern games that today they are great successes.

9 The Holy Ark shines

One of the best Sega Saturn dungeon crawlers

• Platform(s): Sega Saturn
• Released: December 20, 1996
• Developer(s): Camelot software planning
• Gender(s): Role-playing video game, dungeon crawl

Shine the Holy Ark is a first-person dungeon crawler game released in 1996. This title is part of Shining series and follows a group of adventurers as they explore various caves, forests, and cities, trying to prevent evil forces from emerging and taking over the world. With turn-based combat and various different elements that players can take advantage of during fights, there is always fun to be had with this title.

Shine the Holy Ark It also features puzzle solving that works well with the other dungeon-crawler game mechanics.

8 Shining wisdom

A refreshing change from the classic first-person perspective of other brilliant games

• Platform(s): Sega Saturn
• Released: August 11, 1995
• Developer(s): Software planning Camelot, Sega, Sonic Team
• Gender(s): Action RPG, action-adventure game

As predecessor of The Holy Ark shining, Shining wisdom features a top-down viewing format that breaks with the formula of others Shining games, which are typically based on first-person perspectives. The objective of the game is simple; travel the world and embark on various adventures, all to thwart the efforts of the evil dark elf wizard, Pazort.

This title features real-time strategic combat that combines various weapons, magic and abilities that come in handy when fighting enemies or solving puzzles needed to progress through the game.

7 The super robot Taisen F

A crossover RPG for Mech fans

• Released: September 25, 1997 (Japan)
• Developer: Winkysoft
• Publisher: Banpresto

The point of The Taisen superrobot series is to bring together a group of anime and mech-based game franchises for a great crossover tactical RPG. Not many main entries or spin-offs of this series have left Japan, and the same goes for The super robot Taisen F. This is an important entry in the franchise though, because it was introduced Neon Genesis Evangelion for the first time.

Another great addition was Gunbusters, which was another Gainax anime that was a little darker than Evangelion. Other anime in the game included various Gundam seasons, like G Gundam AND Gundam Wing, together with Mazinger AND Take Robo. It's difficult to play in Japanese, but it's still a good RPG.

6 Lunar: Silver Star story completed

A classic turn-based epic

Lunar: the silver star is the first installment in the series, which would debut on Sega CD in 1992, followed by a North American release in 1993. Lunar: Silver Star story completed is an improved addition, with more content and gameplay changes, that hit the Sega Saturn in 1996. North America wouldn't get to play this version until 1999 with its PS1 port.

It was ahead of its time for a turn-based game, as it added some tactical elements such as moving in to directly strike an enemy before a fight began. Players could see monsters in the dungeons and there was also an auto-battle feature. There have been many ports over the years, but the Sega Saturn version is among the best.

5 Crown Princess

Vanillaware's forgotten prototype

• Released: December 11, 1997 (Japan)
• Developer: Atlus
• Publisher: Atlus

Crown Princess it was developed by Atlus, but it appeals to die-hard fans of Vanillaware games Odin's Sphere you might notice a close resemblance. George Kamitani, the director, left Atlus to help form Vanillaware. Crown Princess it had multiple scenarios, like Odin Sphere, and combat was action-oriented on a 2D plane, again, like many Vanillaware games.

It was a bit like a fighting game, as the random battles were usually against one or more enemies at most. Unfortunately, there was never a release in English territories and there is no fan patch for either this version, the PSP port, or the PS4 port. It's disappointing especially for Vanillaware fans, since it was a good looking and playable RPG on the Sega Saturn.

4 The magic knight Rayearth

A really good Zelda style action anime

• Released: December 11, 1998 (NA)
• Developer: Handjob
• Publisher: Working drawings

The magic knight Rayearth it was based on a manga and anime of the same name. The manga began in Japan in 1993, while the anime followed a year later. A year later, this Sega Saturn game was released in 1995, followed by a long wait for North American gamers in 1998. The story follows three teenagers, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, who are drawn into a fantasy world by Japan.

It's a classic isekai setup and the gameplay is like an entryway The Legend of Zelda franchising. It's a top-down world full of treasures, monsters, and dungeons. Players could swap between all three girls, each with different weapons and powers. Fuu, for example, used wind magic and carried a bow.

3 Dragon Strength

Advanced Wars on Saturn

• Released: November 1996 (NA)
• Developers: J-Force, Sega
• Publisher: Working drawings

Dragon Strengthnot to be confused with the power metal band, was released in Japan and North America in 1996, which was almost unheard of in the 90s. The tactical gameplay was similar to Nintendo's Advance Wars series, where players could choose an army to follow. They deployed troops on a map, conquering territory as they moved.

It had a board game-like nature in its design, and the battles were mostly automatic but epic as they featured tons of sprites on the screen colliding. The game got a PS2 port in Japan in 2005, but was never released in the West. There was also a sequel in 1998 on the Sega Saturn, but that too has yet to leave Japan.

2 Shining Force 3

Before the Golden Sun there was a Shining Force

• Released: July 31, 1998 (NA)
• Developers: Sonic! Software Planning, Camelot Software Planning
• Publisher: Handjob

THE Shining is one of the most prolific on Sega consoles. Shining Force 3 continued the tradition of grid-based tactical gameplay that fans had come to know and love since the Sega Genesis days. It was developed in collaboration with Camelot, which now works almost exclusively with Nintendo Mario sports titles, but before that, they also made Golden sun.

Players can make many comparisons between SHining Force 3 AND Golden sun beyond character design. In Japan, this game was released in three episodes between 1997 and 1998. I like it Golden sundata could be transferred between games. Unfortunately, North America only received the first episode in 1998, but luckily for fans, patches are available for the other two scenarios. They are all worth it as difficult but good tactical RPGs.

1 Ogre Tactic: Let's huddle together

The prologue of Final Fantasy Tactics

Ogre Tactic: Let's huddle together started out as a tactical RPG on the SNES. This then made its debut on the Sega Saturn in 1996 in Japan, and the first time North America got a taste of it was in 1998 for the PS1 version. Most of the Quest Corporation team contributed to the creation Final Fantasy Tactics for Squaresoft after this. It's funny considering that Ogre Tactic: Let's huddle together he was released later Final Fantasy Tactics in North America by a few months, although it officially arrived earlier.

This probably gave some players pause Ogre Tactic: Let's huddle together it was the imitator instead of the prototype he made Final Fantasy Tactics a great game. There's a political story, grid-based gameplay with a class system, and plenty of other familiar features. The best way to experience it now is through remastering, Tactics Ogre Rebornon consoles like Switch. Make no mistake, though, this is an absolutely great RPG on any console, from the SNES to the Sega Saturn and beyond.