Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
Feature
Taking Turns
To investigate the renaissance of turn-based systems and what it means for the future of video games at large, we talked to developers behind some of the biggest titles of the last decade, including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Persona, and Sea of Stars
In the midst of multiplayer and live service games like Fortnite and Genshin Impact gaining mass popularity, it’s easy to think single-player turn-based games have lost relevance. But over the last few years, hits like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have become critical darlings, racking up acclaim and awards from DICE, The Game Awards, the Game Developer’s Choice Awards, and just about every publication that picks a yearly favorite (including Game Informer). It’s easy to look at those examples and feel like they “came out of nowhere,” but the truth is that turn-based games have been one of the most enduring genres for decades, and a long and winding path led to these massive hits.
“This might sound a bit contrarian, but I think what we’re calling a ‘resurgence’ may simply be the rediscovery of things that had fallen outside our field of view. And what sparked this, I believe, is the recent wave of high‑quality turn‑based RPGs released in the West,” says P-Studio director and Persona 5 Royal producer Kazuhisa Wada.
The last decade has proven monumental for turn-based games, in ways both obvious and unseen, thanks to years of innovation and iteration by studios of all sizes. But equally true is that turn-based systems have integrally changed, and the future of the genre has never been more promising.