The best RPG to play on every PlayStation

Ever since the original PlayStation, Sony's consoles have been a haven for JRPG fans. Unlike Nintendo, PlayStation RPGs tend to target an older audience, have more complex stories, feature much longer plots, and rely more heavily on aesthetics that appeal to Japanese audiences.

Many, if not most, of the best RPGs of all time were launched on the PlayStation system, making it easy for RPG fans to choose which console to play on each generation. Sony's consoles consistently produce a good mix of cross-platform and console-exclusive masterpieces.

7 PlayStation – Final Fantasy 7

The original PlayStation was an RPG titan. Perhaps no console has had a more powerful RPG library than the PSOne. The RPG that made the genre mainstream in the West forever was Final Fantasy 7.

FF7 is known for having one of the biggest plot twists in gaming, but aside from the twist, it has a thematically strong narrative. It explores personality in a mature and deep way, allowing players to experience the life of Cloud, a character who was an infantryman with primitive defense mechanisms that lead him to believe he was a great warrior. In contrast, his foil, Sephiroth, is a scientifically minded being who has deluded himself into thinking he is a god.

6 PlayStation 2 – Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

• Release date: February 20, 2003

Few games can convey the sense of impending doom quite like Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. Nocturne prefers to tell its stories by forcing you to read between the lines of its dark narrative. The story is minimalistic, favoring atmosphere and tone – you'll discover hints of lore rather than elaborate plot and characterization.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne may punish people who aren't used to more complex titles in the genre. It's one of the few mainstream RPGs where you feel like you have to strategize even for random battles. Nocturne's combat system is simple at first glance, but interacting with demons and fusing to create stronger monsters creates a lot of depth.

5 PlayStation Portable – Persona 3 Portable

Of all the Persona games, and perhaps even all the titles under the Shin Megami Tensei umbrella, Persona 3 Portable has the most cathartic story. It features a slow-paced plot that explores how understanding death can lead to a greater appreciation for life. Although there are harsh images, such as the fight, shooting himself with a gun, they serve as a subtle expression of regret and the seriousness of life's choices.

P3P emphasizes connecting with NPCs and learning their stories, much like a dating sim. You grow stronger as you learn more about the characters in your life, some of whom have heart-wrenching stories, like a happy-go-lucky track and field star coming to terms with a career-changing situation.

4 PlayStation 3 – Dark Souls

The PS3 was the main console for FromSoftware's major breakthrough. On this system, they launched Demon's Souls, which was not only the precursor to the Dark Souls series, but also inspired a generation of action-heavy RPGs dubbed “Soulslike.”

Dark Souls improved on Demon's Souls by increasing the size of the map while cramming more action into almost every corner. While many video games suffer from an over-scripted feel that makes them feel like they're playing themselves, Dark Souls maintains an “anything can happen” feel that can lead to frustrating deaths, but keeps the game unpredictable and vibrant.

3 PlayStation Vita – Persona 4 Golden

Persona 4 Golden differs from the other games in the series in that it captures fragments of life better than any other game. It features fun Scooby-Doo-like atmospheres as the characters investigate a series of murders committed by magical means. However, it is not uniform; there are key moments where the story and tone take a dark and heavy turn.

P4G changes the combat balance compared to the original PS2 version and adds more content, making it the definitive version of Persona 4. It's the perfect game for those looking for an RPG that puts a lot of emphasis on character development.

2 PlayStation 4 – Bloodborne

FromSoftware reduced the RPG elements in Bloodborne and focused on creating an action role-playing game centered around ruthless aggression. While the Dark Souls series is more methodical and slow, often requiring you to judge when to dodge and counterattack, Bloodborne emphasizes a fast-paced offense. It's quite difficult at first, but it starts to be a lot of fun as you become more skilled and break through enemies with ease.

Bloodborne is FromSoftware's best written game. There isn't a lot of material in terms of cutscenes, but if you dig in and read many of the story elements, it paints an ambitious story about the futility of humanity and the folly of ambition. While Bloodborne's story takes a lot of digging and effort, it still makes for one of the most narrative Lovecraft stories in gaming.

1 PlayStation 5 – Baldur's Gate 3

There are few RPGs that can match the immersive depth of Baldur's Gate 3. The essence of Dungeons & Dragons is perfectly captured in a game that offers countless choices for each character throughout the 100-hour experience. It gives you the feeling that you are actually playing your characters.

Despite having a very complex grid of choices, BG3 effectively details every possible scenario. The voice acting is incredible and the characters progress and change significantly throughout the journey. It doesn't suffer from pointless choices or filler; it is filled with action, consequences and drama.