The Nintendo 64 had a limited but powerful library of historical games but is not known for its collection of RPGs. If you’re looking for turn-based games, there aren’t many options, but if you’re looking to dive into some of the best RPGs of all time, you’re in luck.
Below are four of the best Nintendo 64 RPG games you can play today. Also, be sure to check out our list of the best N64 racing games and the best N64 games of all time.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time is widely regarded as one of the greatest games of all time across all genres. You take on the role of Link, the Hero of Time, and face one of the greatest threats the Kingdom of Hyrule has ever seen. In this RPG, the player explores dungeons, solves puzzles and defeats bosses in real-time.
You don’t level up in the usual sense, but Link grows stronger by finding heart containers to increase his maximum health and items that allow him to access new areas and gain stronger abilities.
Mission 64
Quest 64 is one of those Nintendo 64 RPGs that many, but not many people, have heard of. He also receives an award for the most common name for a protagonist. You play as Brian, an apprentice of a magician in a fictional version of Ireland. You go in search of your father, who went on his own journey to find a powerful magic book.
Quest 64’s gameplay is more traditional. Battles take place in turn-based mode, not in real time, but they lack an experience-based leveling system. Instead, the stats increase depending on how you fight. If you take a lot of damage, your defense will increase. If you focus on a specific type of spell, it will become stronger.
There is no monetary system either. Instead of worrying about keeping track of your money, each item is found as a combat reward, in a chest, or simply given to the player by an NPC. While Quest 64 has nothing like a good story, the gameplay is definitely worth checking out.
Mario Paper
If you’re looking for a Nintendo 64 RPG that feels traditional in almost every aspect, but with your favorite characters from the Mario franchise, Paper Mario is the place for you. This turn-based game creates the foundation for every Paper Mario game and includes the same adorable storylines you know and love from the Mario games.
The game, of course, focuses on defeating Bowser. The fired upon villain forced Princess Peach’s castle into the sky and imprisoned her there. The only way to reach him is to traverse the world and defeat Bowser’s minions guarding the Celestial Spirits.
Although Mario gets stronger throughout the game, progress in the game often requires Mario to have a specific partner. As with most RPGs, the battles are turn-based, but you can influence the strength of the movement by pressing a specific button or choosing the desired press time.
If you’ve never played Paper Mario before, the original is one of the best in the series. Now is a great time to check it out, especially considering that rumored to be a new one for Nintendo Switch soon.
Ogre Battle 64: Person Of Lordly Caliber
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber has a long title but is a cult favorite on the Nintendo 64. Ogre Battle 64 is not an action game or traditional RPG, but a tactical real-time strategy or real-time strategy game. This combination of genres is rare today.
You will take on the role of Magnus Gallant, commander of the Blue Knights. Civil war has broken out and Magnus joins the revolutionary forces to liberate his country. The plot isn’t all that great, but the appeal of the game is not the story, but the gameplay.
The battalions are made up of 50 men and are organized into smaller groups called “squads”, each of which consists of five squads. One of these five divisions is named the leader. When the battle begins, the view switches to an isometric perspective. The battles take place in a modified version of real-time.
Several units perform their actions simultaneously. The battle ends when all members of one squad are killed, be it your squad or the enemy. The main character also participates in the battle, and if he dies, the game end screen appears.
Ogre Battle 64 has different classes that the characters fall into. Characters can switch from one class to another, with each class having different stats that add a new level of strategy to every battle.
There are a limited number of role-playing games available for the Nintendo 64, although it can be argued that other games also fit the bill. For example, many say that Harvest Moon 64 is an RPG. Anyway, if you’re looking for some fantastic RPG games to scratch your itch on a console that hasn’t really focused on them, try any of these four games.
What’s your favorite RPG on the N64? Let us know in the comments below.
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