The first PlayStation, which came out in 1994, paved the way to Sony's entrance into the console wars. The company entered a fierce race between Nintendo and Sega that it has stayed in ever since. The PS1 was a success with plenty of great games making the console better, especially with role-playing games like Final Fantasy VII.
Many Playstation RPGs were enjoyed worldwide, but some were exclusive for certain regions. Specifically, Japan received quite a few games only those in the country had access to. Of course, thanks to modding, North American players were still able to get some of these RPGs. Luckily, there were quite a few good ones to choose from.
10 Weltorv Estleia
A game by the now-defunct Hudson Soft, Weltorv Estleia is a typical medieval fantasy. The game starts out with a battle between seven warriors and an evil dragon. This transitions into the player's story as they arrive in the city of Farbell. After joining the Adventurers Guild, players can choose what missions to complete and what skills they specialize in. This non-linear RPG uses a level-up system that allows players to increase their main attributes and allows them to get new gear. Weltorv Estleia allows players to freely roam to various areas on their map.
9 Khamrai
While the game hasn't aged particularly well since its release, Khamrai is considered one of the most beautiful RPGs ever made for the Playstation. Set in a world of six floating continents, the story revolves around six lords that formerly ruled comfortably over humans. Unfortunately, things have drastically changed over time as lords struggle to maintain power and humans start to rebel. As two protagonists with connections to the lords, players can travel in this 3D world that can be rotated in this action RPG.
8 Shachou Eiyuuden: The Eagle Shooting Heroes
Role-playing games tend to be in-depth stories, so it's fitting an RPG would be based on a famous novel. Derived from Louis Cha's novel Legend of the Condor Heroes, the game Shachou Eiyuuden: The Eagle Shooting Heroes follows the life of Guo Jing during the Song Dynasty.
Jing is tasked to learn martial arts in order to face Yang Kang thanks to a bet placed by Qiu Chu Ji, who had a collection to both characters' fathers before they died prior to their sons' birth. The game is a classic turn-based RPG with a rock-paper-scissors like skill system.
7 Ningyo No Rakuin
The most unique element of Ningyo No Rakuin is not the gameplay or characters, but its setting. The game starts out after an airplane crash on an island. The surviving characters, including the main protagonist, now must live on the island until they are rescued. However, strange occurrences are happening on the island. It's up to all eight playable characters to stay alive as long as possible. Ningyo No Rakuin is a tactical RPG that relies on the speed of each character rather than a regular turn-based system in battles. Each character has their own unique attack as well.
6 Super Robot Wars Alpha
Fighting robots is always going to win people over. Super Robot Wars Alpha was the first game in the Alpha spin-off series for the Super Robot Wars franchise. When diving in, players learn about the backstory. During the "One Year War," alien factions from various points of space begin to invade or threaten Earth. After learning about the story in great detail, players will then get to choose whether they fight as a super robot or a real robot. Their actions in and out of battle will affect how hard the game gets. Super Robot Wars Alpha pulls from various anime and manga.
5 Front Mission 2
Front Mission 2 is a continuation of a franchise that focuses on different characters as they take on enemies using mechs called "wanzers." The sequel takes place 12 years after the first game and involves playing as three different characters that were just overthrown from their government positions. The game alternates between these three characters as the story progresses. Front Mission 2 moves in a linear path as the plot is mission-based. After each mission, players can upgrade their wanzers and prepare for their next mission in "intermissions."
4 Elder Gate
Another rare 3D RPG of the era, Elder Gate's setting revolves around two worlds: Eldora and Rosel. The former has built up energies from eight different elements: fire, earth, water, air, ice, thunder, light, and darkness. Because of this unbelievable amounts of energy, Eldora must pass some of it to Rosel.
The hero watches over this process but must look to save both worlds after the energy suddenly stops being transferred. Elder Gate focuses on traveling in a randomly-generated map, talking to NPCs, and using magic in a turn-based battle system.
3 Tear Ring Saga
If PlayStation fans ever wondered what the Sony equivalent of Fire Emblem was, it's Tear Ring Saga. This is due, in part, to Fire Emblem creator Shouzou Kaga being the man behind the game. Tear Ring Saga is set on Riberia, a continent separated into four kingdoms. When each of the kingdoms falls under the evil rule of the Zoa Empire, it's up to two princes, Runan and Holmes, to topple the empire and restore their families to power. This tactical RPG has players moving in a turn-based fashion as each character leads an army through enemy after enemy.
2 London Seirei Tanteidan
One of the more lesser-known RPGs of the PlayStation era, but also one of the most coveted, is London Seirei Tanteidan. Not much is known about the plot, but it revolves around a young boy in Victorian-era London who goes out on an adventure with other kids serving as his partners. The boy serves as a detective as he tries to unravel the many mysteries surrounding the area. The game is a classic turn-based RPG that spreads its story across 20 chapters. The game's artistic-style is impressive for the era.
1 Volfoss
One of the strangest tactical RPGs to arrive on the PlayStation, Volfoss has a little bit of everything. The plot revolves around two junior members of the Silver Fang mercenary troop. The military unit was among the best until most of the unit was killed in an ambush. The remaining members look to rebuild the Silver Fang while getting revenge on those responsible. Volfoss revolves around three unique nations that are very different from one another. The people and enemies for each region are unique, making each world feel like a whole new game.