Your Favorite Non-Mainstream RPG

[Timbydude]

(Search bar approved!)

What do I mean by 'Non-Mainstream'? Basically, anything that:

-Is not made by BioWare, Bethesda, Blizzard, or Obsidian
-Is not a Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Fire Emblem, or Dragon Quest game
-Doesn't belong to a well-known franchise that I otherwise forgot to mention here

This includes (some examples):

-Most JRPGs that aren't part of any of the series listed above
-Indie RPGs
-Games that were never released in the US (fan translations)

I know some people will have a problem with my definition of "mainstream", but I do have to set some sort of criteria.

--

Anyway, my favorite RPG under these critera (and my favorite game of all time) is definitely Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3. A close second is The World Ends With You, and I've also been told that I have to play Mother 3 at some point.

So, what about you?

 

[iriemage]

Valkyrie Profile Silmeria is one of my favorite games ever!

 

[Hiphophippo]

Etrian Odyssey if we're talking video game.

Shadowrun if we're not.

 

[D_987]

I guess Magna Carta II comes under this criteria.

In which case that's my choice...

 

[AlternatePFG]

Would Mount and Blade count as an RPG? If so, then yes.

The World Ends With You was made by Square Enix last time I checked.

 

[Grayjack]

The Shin Megami Tensei franchise. Those games are great.

 

[Durxom]

Before anyone else beats me to it. Super Robot Taisen: OG Saga: Endless Frontier for the DS!

Hilarious story, tons of characters/crossovers, fun gameplay, and it's damn cheap and comes with a music CD.

 

[Timbydude]

The World Ends With You was made by Square Enix last time I checked.

It is, but I don't really think it was popular enough to be called mainstream. Square puts out their high-profile FF, KH, and DQ games, but they also release a few lesser-known games now and then as well. (That's why I listed those series instead of excluding the entirety of Square.)

The Shin Megami Tensei franchise. Those games are great.

Could not agree with you more. SMT: Devil Survivor is probably my pick for 3rd.

 

[Worgen]

Before anyone else beats me to it. Super Robot Taisen: OG Saga: Endless Frontier for the DS!

Hilarious story, tons of characters/crossovers, fun gameplay, and it's damn cheap and comes with a music CD.

bah, you beat me too it, suppose Ill say breath of fire series then

 

[Pearwood]

Demon's Souls by that definition. Valkyria Chronicles, System Shock, I'm unsure whether to call Heavy Rain an RPG or not but since it's a game in which you play a role I'm listing it.

 

[The Madman]

Divine Divinity and Arx Fatalis. Two fantastic rpg that never got the recognition they deserved!

Divine Divinity was like Diablo 2 meets Fallout with a splash of Baldur's Gate. Incredibly addictive gameplay, tons of choice, good sense of humor, *amazing* soundtrack, and some beautiful 2D visuals that put Diablo 2's to shame. Aside from some bad voice acting and iffy translations, it was damn near close the perfect clicker rpg.

Arx Fatalis meanwhile was the spiritual successor to the Ultima Underworld series. Light on plot, but heavy on adventure and exploration. This is one of the only games I've ever played where the dungeon layout were so free-form and well designed, with multiple ways to think, sneak, magic, or just overpower any obstacle before you. Puts anything by Bethesda to shame really, dungeon-wise, so if you enjoyed plunging into crypts in Morrowind or Oblivion, you need to check this game out!

 

[HT_Black]

Geneforge, a thousand times. The runners-up are Ego Draconis, FATE, and something else I don't remember.

 

[Pearwood]

Oh Arx Fatalis! That game was really fun, I loved the rune system too.

 

[Scrubbed account]

Does Fire Emblem count?

 

[Blemontea]

Nier, i guess, its made by square so does it count?

 

[AlternatePFG]

Does Fire Emblem count?

It's made by Nintendo, and has a pretty large following, but it's probably one of their lesser known series, so eh.

 

[Marter]

Valkyria Chronicles wasn't really mainstream, but that game would definitely be in my top ten games of all time.

 

[LadyRhian]

Exile/Avernum by Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software.
Geneforge- also same as above.

Eschalon- Book 1 and Book 2.