Role-playing games have been commonly associated with great battle systems as well, enhancing the player’s experience while playing the game. Some RPGs are even more popular due to their battle systems, rather than their engaging plot lines or narrative design. These RPGs remain timeless despite their age, and some became the golden standard for battle systems in RPGs.
However, these battle systems have been somewhat infamous as well due to their complexity. There are games that require the player to take a deep dive into their battle systems before they can begin their first step toward the world. Some of them might even test the player’s patience but are also hugely rewarding for those who manage to persevere and master the complex battle system.
Updated on June 04, 2025, by Evan Arnoldi:Role-playing games are commonly known to be challenging in certain aspects, be it due to their puzzle-solving difficulty, or the battle system that can be innovative, but at the same time, quite difficult to understand on the first try. These role-playing games with difficult battle systems can test a player’s patience at certain times, but after mastering it, a certain sense of accomplishment and satisfaction can enhance the player’s enjoyment of the game as well. These specific games can be challenging in certain parts of the game, such as having the necessary reflexes to counter an enemy’s attack or having the analytical mind to set the right tactics before a turn’s end for turn-based battle systems.
As a Square Enix classic,VagrantStoryearned its notoriety as one of the classic games that are quite hard to learn, and more difficult to master due to its complex battle system. Even the earliest battle with the most simple melee attack will give the player a choice to pick a part of the enemy to strike, showcasing its in-depth battle system.
Moreover, as the game goes on, the player will also gain the ability to “Chain Attacks”, which enable them to perform a series of combination attacks to deal a heavy amount of damage. The Chain Attack will also require perfect button input timing from the player, adding another layer of complexity to the rich battle system.
At first glance,Yakuza: Like A Dragonseemingly offers a simple turn-based combat that any player who is familiar with RPGs should have no problem grasping, especially if they are a veteran with many years on their belt playing various kinds of RPGs. However, the game offers a more in-depth rendition of turn-based combat, making it simple to understand, yet quite challenging to master.
Veterans of the series would probably be the ones that need patience the most, as they might be more familiar with the fast-paced beat-em-up battle system present in the Yakuza series. Elements such as perfect button prompts during attacks in the game should be an adequate replacement for the veterans of the series, as they adjust to the turn-based battle system.
The 2023 releasedWo Long: Fallen Dynastyby Team Ninja deserves a mention due to its unforgiving battle system for the players. Although the player is given the freedom to use any weapons to destroy their enemies, it requires patience and dedication to learn whichweapons are the best for the specific enemiesand locations.
Similar toSoulsgames,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyalso requires the player to learn about the timings and patterns of certain enemies and bosses. Failure to do that will result in multiple trips toward their last checkpoint, as in the tradition ofSoulsgames.
The complexity of the battle system does not necessarily come from the mechanics of it but from the huge amount of options to choose from. With over 40 characters available to use in combat,Suikoden 2offers the players a chance to have flying squirrels in their party to face a monstrous prince capable of slashing three people (or creatures) in one stroke, as long as they have the patience to learn about each of the game’s characters strength and weakness.
The creative rune system ofSuikoden 2also allows the player to customize their favorite character without sacrificing efficiency. Put some of the best runes in the slot, and watch a cook one-hit a giant golem in a boss encounter.
Dragon’s Dogmabattle system is quite intimidating at first glance since the player would need to choose from numerous “vocations” before they even start fighting. From the classic Fighter to theboss-melting Magic Archer with Magick Bows, players would need a copious amount of reading time to ensure the viability of their build for the late stages of the game.
Aside from its class customization option, thehack-and-slash combat systemshould be enough to keep the players engaged. Moreover, the actions able to be performed in-game were quite diverse, such as clinging to a monster’s limb to attack its weak point.
The remastered open-world RPG offers freedom of customization for players who might find it to be overwhelming at times. The huge skill tree of over 20 abilities per tree makes it a daunting task for players who want to min-max their player to take on the harsh world of Amalur.
The fun does not stop there, as players would also need to be vigilant during combat, as the system is rather akin to action role-playing games, similar to theDiabloseries.
ARPG enthusiasts would instantly recognize the name of this particularly hardcore ARPG.Path of Exileis one of the examples of how a battle system, however complex it may be, would enhance a player’s fun once they’re hitting that sweet spot between learning and mastery. The humongous amount of customization is one of a kind in its genre, as players would need to choose from over 1200 nodes in its passive skill tree alone tocreate the most efficient buildfor the late stages of the game.
The customization option that the player can do to their character is also quite wild. As a glimpse, players are able toenhance their active ability with five different options, varying in both power and scope.
Although it was released 13 years ago,Resonance of Fateholds up its title as one of the RPGs with both a robust and complex battle system. The battle system, named “tri-Attack Battle system”, was quite infamous for its high learning curve. Players on online forums often gave their own anecdotes of how they chose to quit the game since they struggled with the battle system.
However, players who preserved and tried their best to learn the battle system found it quite fun. The high-quality combat animation for its year made an effort to learn the system worthwhile. Moreover, the freedom that the battle system granted to the player made battles almost always engaging, even the ones against normal mobs.
This timeless classic JRPG, rumored to be getting a remake soon, offers players the satisfaction of progressing their characters from mereSquires to Time Mages and Samurais. However, they would need to carefully choose the classes as the balance of the party is needed as well to prepare for every combat situation and enemy unit.
Not only the classes, but the battlefield itself is also something that needs to be taken into account before starting the battle. Terrain elevations and elements are some of the things that need to be taken into account, as they might offer either advantages or disadvantages for both the players and the enemies.
Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteoushas some of its players in check constantly for necessities before landing a single step further into the wilderness. Its robust battle system offers both flexibility and complexity for the players to master in order tomanipulate the battle in their favor. Micromanaging all characters during the battle needs to be a player’s second nature.
Moreover, the elemental aspect of the battles also makes it necessary for players to prepare for all possibilities. Once the player gets the hang of the battle system,Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteouswill surely become a time sink for them.
