5 Perfect Turn-Based RPGs From The 1990s That Still Hold Up Today

As much as I hate to say it, not every video game from my childhood has aged well. Some of my favorite games as a kid have aged like milk, while others I didn't really get at the time have matured beautifully.As someone born in 1993, I was just a little bit too young for the deluge of incredible turn-based RPGs that released in the mid-to-late 90s. But as a grown up who can (more or less) feed himself, hold his head up, and even use the toilet unsupervised, I've revisited all the key 90s RPGs and discovered gold.

To be clear, I'm not saying these are the only turn-based 90s RPGs worth your time in 2026. However, if you're a younger gamer looking for some retro education, I can say from firsthand experience that the following five games are probably your best way in.

5 Earthbound (1994)

You can tell when a gamer grew up inspired by Earthbound by the way they never really shut up about it. To be fair, they've got good reason: this is a wonderfully weird and uncompromisingly strange video game about a group of kids who take on an eldritch horror from the edge of time.

Earthbound's modern (relative to the time) setting helps it stand apart from other RPGs. Instead of exploring ancient castles or futuristic citadels, you'll wander through familiar-looking towns and cities, visit malls, and pick up provisions at drug stores and pizza joints. It's also wonderfully written, balancing genuine humor and moments of pure terror.

4 Final Fantasy 6 (1994)

There's a reason gamers of a certain age insist Final Fantasy 6 is the best of the bunch. This SNES classic is hands-down one of the best JRPGs of all time, and easily a top Final Fantasy adventure. In an age where Square Enix was putting out banger after banger, this might be the best of them all. Final Fantasy 6 balances a large ensemble cast of unforgettable characters, one of the series' best villains, an excellent soundtrack, and a story that builds to an unbelievable conclusion.

Factor in the game-changing magicite system that allows you customize spells and bonuses learned by individual characters without completely erasing their unique abilities, and you have a banger of a game. If any gamers are curious to try "classic" Final Fantasy, this is the one to start with.

3 Chrono Trigger (1995)

Of all the games on this list, I'd argue few have aged as well as Chrono Trigger, which I suppose is fitting for a game about time travel. This is an adventure that immediately starts with a jump back in time to find a missing person and then refuses to let up, raising the stakes with the introduction of each new character or era.

The cast is lean but memorable, the time travel plot makes the world feel absolutely massive, and everyone has their own unique story for you to uncover. The battle system also remains undefeated, and the soundtrack is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye.

2 Fallout 2 (1998)

As much as I love Fallout 3, New Vegas and (to a lesser extent) Fallout 4, it's kind of hard to go back and see what the series used to be: a hardcore RPG where your choices genuinely mattered. Sure, you're presented with the occasional choice in modern Fallout, but Fallout 2 takes place in a world that offers true freedom in every sense of the word. The world feels truly alive, and the way you engage with it is completely up to you thanks to a reactive environment and meaningful skill checks. There are also complex factions and settlements to engage with, making this the most accomplished Fallout game yet made if we're judging them solely as RPGs.

1 Pokémon Gold & Silver (1999)

Okay, I'm being a little cheeky here. Pokémon Gold & Silver didn't release in the west until well into 2000, but they initially launched in Japan at the very end of 1999. So... it counts, okay? Let me have this. For my money, Pokémon Gold & Silver represent the absolute pinnacle of the series, offering players a substantial upgrade from the original Red & Blue while maintaining that core gameplay loop and ingenious battle system.

New features included a day-night cycle and in-game clock, tons of new Pokémon, baby Pokémon and breeding, and the ability to go back to Kanto after defeating the Elite Four to explore the original game's map and get eight bonus Gym badges. Has a game ever been so generous before or since? I don't think so.