RPG franchises that drastically change the game over time

Key recommendations

• Iconic RPG franchises have evolved by incorporating RPG elements, skill systems, and deeper narratives.
• The changes in the game attracted a wider audience, but sometimes strayed from the traditional roots.
• The flexibility of RPG mechanics and adaptation to market demands contribute to the longevity and cultural impact of the genre.

The RPG genre has undergone significant transformations over the decades, adapting to trends in the video game industry. Iconic franchises have reshaped their mechanics, expanding the scope of their gameplay experiences and, on some occasions, moving away from their traditional roots. Hybridization with other genres such as action and adventure has resulted in innovative systems and more dynamic narratives, appealing to a wider audience.

On the other hand, various series not originally associated with the genre have incorporated RPG elements such as skill trees and deeper narratives, expanding the reach and diversity of the experience. This exchange of features demonstrates how the genre's flexibility contributes to its longevity, providing experiences tailored to market demands while maintaining its cultural impact at the heart of the video game industry.

9 assassin's creed

Ubisoft gradually added RPG elements to the franchise

Known for historical exploration, parkour and stealth, assassin's creed in his early titles such as assassin's creed and Assassin's Creed 2it offered linear narratives and well-structured missions. These games maintained a classic action-adventure approach, emphasizing historical accuracy and developing the Assassins' story.

In newer versions such as Valhalla and Odysseythe series incorporated RPG elements, including character customization, skill systems, and decisions that influence the narrative. This integration of RPG mechanics expanded the depth and complexity of the gameplay, bringing innovations for players who enjoy these mechanics, but also moving away from the roots of the series.

8 Mass effect

Bioware has made major changes to the franchise formula

The Mass effect the franchise has evolved considerably in its gameplay between titles. Mass Effect 1 combined classic RPG elements with deep exploration and a rich narrative, focusing on character development and player choices. However, some side missions were less appealing due to monotony.

With The mass effect 2the series took a more action-oriented approach similar to third-person shooters, simplifying traditional RPG aspects to appeal to a wider audience, something that continued in the third game. In Mass Effect: Andromedathe series attempted to return to its exploration and role-playing roots, but faced technical issues that compromised the player experience.

7 Fall out

From classic isometric RPG games to 3D games

From its beginnings, Fall out has remained one of the great classics of the video game industry, even with significant gameplay transformations over the years. The first two games were classic isometric RPGs, featuring turn-based combat and choice-laden narratives, with exploration connecting the world map to closed areas.

However, with Fallout 3the franchise migrated to 3D environments with first- or third-person perspectives, adopting RPG elements, action, and the open-world gameplay that became a hallmark of the series. The VATS system allowed for a combination of classic gameplay with new features added by Bethesda and Fallout 4 introduced further changes with a greater focus on exploration.

6 the sorcerer

Games always introduce something new

The the sorcerer franchise is one of the RPGs that shows a remarkable evolution in both game mechanics and design philosophy in its main titles. The first game featured timing-based combat and limited map exploration, while the second advanced the formula with dynamic combat and larger environments, even though the structure of both was similar.

However, in The Witcher 3Geralt's saga has reached its peak, becoming an open-world RPG with continuous exploration, refined combat and a level of freedom never seen in previous games in the franchise. This transformation solidified the series as one of the industry's benchmarks, but also raised the bar for the genre.

5 persona

A JRPG that stays pretty traditional

The first two persona games are completely different from modern entries, showing how the game has changed since the franchise's debut by incorporating new elements that have redefined the gameplay. The original games featured classic JRPG mechanics, with dungeon exploration and turn-based combat, but without the social systems that now define the franchise.

Starting with Persona 3the franchise was transformed by introducing mechanics like Social Links and slightly reformulating the combat gameplay, which maintained the essence already known to fans but also made changes to make the gameplay more fluid. Through this evolution, the series became even more popular, attracting new audiences without losing its older fans.

4 Final Fantasy

A JRPG that has undergone many changes throughout its history

The Final Fantasy franchise is one of the most iconic in the video game industry, marking generations with its innovations. The first titles, with pixel art and turn-based combat, defined the foundations of the JRPG genre, featuring engaging narratives and strategic systems that became benchmarks for future games.

With the move to 3D, the series began to explore more dynamic and action-oriented combat systems, as seen in recent titles. This evolution reflects not only technological changes, but also the desire to respond to the demands of a constantly changing audience, strengthening Final Fantasy as a franchise that shapes and follows the gaming market.

3 Dragon Age

Each game has its own gameplay

Few RPG franchises have undergone as many gameplay changes as Dragon Agewith every game released in the series so far having something that makes them unique. The first, for example, was more CRPG-focused, with real-time combat with pauses, but the second and third added new elements or changed everything.

In Dragon Age: Inquisitionnew changes have been added, transforming the game again. Combat became more action-focused, allowing only the protagonist to control during combat, while map exploration changed as well, with smaller and more linear regions to discover.

2 Yakuza

A franchise that has adopted RPG elements over time

Unlike many franchises that have abandoned their RPG roots over time in favor of more action-oriented gameplay, Yakuza took the opposite route, as the origins of the series are in beat 'em ups, but nowadays, it is a reference among traditional JRPGs. This happened and was also justified by the change in the protagonist of the saga.

So despite being set in a contemporary setting, the new Yakuza JRPGs make small parodies or homages to classic elements of the genre, such as the fact that courses or jobs, as they are called in other games, are learned in employment agencies. Another interesting fact is that when Kiryu, the former protagonist, is on stage, the gameplay adapts to the classic style of the series.

1 Baldur's Gate

A series that has always remained among the classics

From its conception as an isometric RPG with real-time combat with pauses to the transformation it has undergone Baldur's Gate 3becoming a turn-based game, this is one of the franchises that has managed to maintain gameplay consistency even with gameplay changes. Thus, players of different generations could experience all the content on offer.

Baldur's Gate 3 exemplifies the ability of RPG franchises to reinvent themselves, embracing turn-based combat and deep narrative without abandoning the roots and aspects that made the series a classic. This evolution not only attracted new audiences, but also strengthened the series' legacy, highlighting flexibility as a key element of RPG longevity.