7 Best Grid-Based Western RPGs, Ranked

Grid-based RPGs are a classic of the role-playing game genre, with. Many players keep to a grid when moving through dungeons or taking part in various intense combat situations. While many grid-based games as of recently are the likes of Fire Emblem, these are JRPGs. Some players may be surprised to hear that it’s possible to play similar titles, that is instead of Western RPGs.

Therefore, these are by far the best grid-based Western RPGs players can enjoy that either bring players back to what it was like to play a classic RPG or battle in a grid format. These titles can range in theme from a medieval battlefield to a sci-fi adventure. However, these are the ones to play. Games that have been considered for grid-based Western RPGs are both games that use a grid for combat as well as dungeon crawler RPGs that force players to remain on a grid.

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7 Islands Of The Caliph

Metascore: TBD

Playing with only a keyboard, Islands of the Caliph is an action RPG that heavily follows the old-school nature of Western RPGs. What makes Islands of the Caliph so interesting as a classic action RPG is that it plays heavily into Middle Eastern folklore and Islamic spiritual tradition.

This makes for an even more interesting world to explore that feels different from the usual Christian folklore that many other RPGs follow. Players will discover various mythical creatures from this folklore as they explore various islands while their map is regularly updated, so they can never get lost.

6 Fight Knight

Metascore: TBD

First-person dungeon crawlers are a classic Western RPG style that can be difficult to find in this day and age, although modern releases are not completely unheard of either.. Fight Knight takes these mechanics and puts them into an incredibly vibrant pixel world where the only weapon the player has is their fists.

As the name suggests, players are in for an all-out dungeon-brawler as they take on various foes in grid-based combat. Besides punching foes, players will need to fight through puzzles to save all those who have been trapped within the tower they find themselves adventuring within.

5 Hard West 2

Metascore: 76

Taking a break from the usual fantasy settings, Hard West 2 sees the player control a supernatural posse of cowboys as they track down a ghost train. In this strategic RPG, players will need to outsmart their opponents in grid-based combat if they hope to be the group to finish with the loot.

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Players are likely to meet the Wild West in a way they have never seen before, as nothing is ever as it really seems in this spooky world. As the posse leader, the player should try to make the right choices to keep their gang together.

4 King Arthur: Knight’s Tale

Metascore: 76

Modern RPGs tend to create interesting hybrids of genres. King Arthur: Knight’s Tale is no different. This Western RPG combines turn-based tactical gameplay with the traditional character-centric RPG mechanics players are used to in a Western RPG. As mentioned, combat is done through a grid and therefore, players are expected to think strategically about where they wish for their units to be placed in the hope of winning these dark fantasy battles while keeping their characters alive.

As the king of this tale, the player will make many harsh decisions as well as lead their armies in the hope of doing the round table justice, or perhaps bringing its demise.

3 Jupiter Hell

Metascore: 78

While many Western RPGs players are aware of usually include a fantasy theme, there are those that instead take to the stars to create a sci-fi role-play experience. Jupiter Hell is an intense roguelike RPG that doesn’t hold the player’s hand in the hope of creating a difficult experience that challenges the player.

Due to the turn-based combat that takes part on a grid, players need to think strategically about their placement when taking on the possible alien hordes they may face, as once they have died, that’s the end of the run.

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With players creating their adventuring party in the first game, this team will be used throughout all three adventures to allow the player to create their own epic tale.

2 Legend Of Grimrock 2

Metascore: 85

Legend of Grimrock 2 is another RPG that attempts to put a modern twist on the old-school RPG format. Players find themselves exploring dungeons in a first-person view while still trapped in grid-movement to explore the surrounding dungeons.

While players may be stuck fighting the occasional monster, Legend of Grimrock 2 also encourages players to explore, survive, and most importantly, solve various puzzles to find treasure. What makes this RPG even better is that after players have explored the 20-plus hours of dungeon crawling, they can then take on the dungeons created by other players too.

1 Crypt Of The NecroDancer

Metascore: 87

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a hardcore roguelike rhythm game that has RPG elements. Players are forced to travel across a grid that they can only traverse in time with the rhythm of the game. Players will be tasked with defeating dancing skeletons and other monsters that also groove along with the music.

This makes a challenging RPG that doesn’t only bring players back to the classic dungeon crawler titles but also adds a fun new modern twist. As players delve deeper into the crypts, they can challenge themselves to earn the highest score or complete the crypt in the fastest time.

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