Atlus Says Turn-Based RPGs Never Needed Saving
Atlus Says Turn-Based RPGs Never Disappeared
Modern Turn-Based RPGs are enjoying a bright moment again.
Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shook the industry last year, while Baldur’s Gate 3, the Game of the Year winner from 2023, continues to stay popular.
Many players believe these games helped revive a long-running genre.
However, Kazuhisa Wada from Atlus sees things differently.
The developer behind one of the greatest modern JRPGs, Persona 5, believes Turn-Based RPGs never truly disappeared. He also does not believe the genre needed to be rescued.
A Genre That Never Needed Saving
According to Kazuhisa Wada, what people call a “return to popularity” may only mean that players are noticing something again.
He does not think turn-based elements should ever be left behind.
He also does not feel that Turn-Based RPGs are suddenly becoming popular in a special way. Instead, he believes recent acclaimed games have helped bring attention back to the genre.
That is an important distinction.
For Atlus, the genre has always had value. It was never dead, outdated, or forgotten by the people who continued to make and play it.
Western Hits Changed The Conversation
During an interview with Game Informer, Kazuhisa Wada said the conversation around Turn-Based RPGs began to shift after high-quality Western titles gained attention.
In Japan, this genre has remained common for a long time.
Its roots come from pioneering franchises such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. These games helped shape the term Turn-Based JRPG, or Japanese turn-based RPG.
Because of that history, Japanese players and developers may not see turn-based systems as something unusual.
They are simply part of the RPG landscape.
New Styles Helped The Genre Reach More Players
The situation becomes more interesting when Western studios take the formula and add different influences.
Western developers may use different art styles, ideas, pacing, and presentation compared to traditional Turn-Based JRPGs.
This helps create titles that feel fresh to a wider audience.
These games can also reach players who enjoy turn-based combat but do not usually connect with JRPG visuals or storytelling styles.
That mix gives the genre more room to grow.
It does not replace traditional Turn-Based JRPGs. It simply shows that turn-based combat can work across many creative directions.
The “Outdated” Image Came From Industry Trends
Kazuhisa Wada also addressed the idea that turn-based games feel outdated.
He believes this image may have come from the wider industry moving toward action games.
Many developers followed the action trend instead of continuing to improve turn-based systems.
Because of that, some players began to see turn-based combat as something old or primitive.
However, that does not mean the system itself became weak.
It only means fewer developers were pushing it forward in visible ways.
Turn-Based Combat Still Has Timeless Appeal
For Kazuhisa Wada, the excitement and satisfaction offered by Turn-Based RPGs have always existed.
The thrill of planning a move, reading the enemy, using the right skill, and watching a strategy succeed remains powerful.
That feeling does not become old just because time passes.
In fact, it is one of the timeless charms of video games.
Turn-based systems can still deliver tension, achievement, creativity, and tactical satisfaction.
That is why the genre continues to produce standout titles even today.
Recent Success Proves Players Still Care
The success of games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shows that many players still enjoy turn-based mechanics.
These games did not save the genre from death.
Instead, they reminded more people why the genre works.
They proved that turn-based combat can still feel exciting when paired with strong design, beautiful presentation, and meaningful choices.
For fans of Atlus, this perspective makes sense.
Games like Persona 5 already showed how stylish, fast, and emotionally engaging turn-based combat can be.
Turn-Based RPGs Still Have A Future
The discussion around Turn-Based RPGs may be changing, but the genre itself never truly left.
It continued through Japanese RPGs, tactical games, Western RPGs, indie projects, and major releases.
Now, recent hits have helped bring broader attention back to a style that many players never stopped loving.
Atlus sees that as recognition, not resurrection.
The genre does not need to escape the past. It only needs developers willing to keep evolving it.
As long as players still enjoy strategy, party building, dramatic battles, and meaningful choices, Turn-Based RPGs will continue to have a place in gaming.
THIS IS our take
Atlus has a point here. Turn-Based RPGs did not vanish. They just stopped being the loudest genre in the room for a while. Now that games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are grabbing attention, everyone suddenly remembers that thinking before attacking can still feel amazing.
Origin: gamesradar
