RPGMaker/WOLF RPG gems
Stand-out RPGMaker and WOLF RPG titles that go a step beyond the usual fare. Check notes for more details.
Primarily from this list I saw on /v/ one time
Missing from IGDB:
Standstill Girl
Dark Necklofar
Alchemy Schoollife
Alter A.I.L.A Genesis
Sequel Blight
Dogma no Hakoniwa [ドグマの箱庭]
Part of a series of 2ch VIPRPGs made in RPGMaker 2000. This is an advanced shitpost to put it lightly, as it is caked in edginess and extreme grotesqueness. Apparently the plot is actually pretty good and involved though but it's Japanese only.
Hikkikomori Quest
Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer
El sueno de la razon
The Way (2008)
MeguriMeguru
Porterminus
Alone in the Dark remake
Primarily from this list I saw on /v/ one time
Missing from IGDB:
Standstill Girl
Dark Necklofar
Alchemy Schoollife
Alter A.I.L.A Genesis
Sequel Blight
Dogma no Hakoniwa [ドグマの箱庭]
Part of a series of 2ch VIPRPGs made in RPGMaker 2000. This is an advanced shitpost to put it lightly, as it is caked in edginess and extreme grotesqueness. Apparently the plot is actually pretty good and involved though but it's Japanese only.
Hikkikomori Quest
Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer
El sueno de la razon
The Way (2008)
MeguriMeguru
Porterminus
Alone in the Dark remake
57 Games
2004 release noteworthy for its hour-long cutscenes and turn of the century edginess. Features an in-game glossary which updates as the story progresses. Cynical and shocking story accompanied by progressively disturbing monster design. Highly difficult. Japanese release is notorious for its very heavy use of kanji which many find pretentious.
German title which grew to popularity there, even appearing in some print publications. Considered the apex of the German RPGMaker scene of the early 2000s. Heavy use of scripting to achieve mechanics which are very rare in RPGMaker titles. Sequel received top billing in an issue of Bravo Screenfun. Third game is available on Steam.
Described as an 'regretful adventure RPG,' a 14 year old murderer named Russell is forced to participate in an experiment for the drug Happy Dream or face the death penalty. In taking the drug daily over a week, he is tasked with figuring out what guilt and remorse are by interacting with the ghosts of his past in his dreams. Noteworthy for its storytelling, unique premise, and interesting characters as well as some shocking scenes. Features a lot of optional party dialogue.
A series of quirky, Earthbound inspired RPGs (wait don't leave yet) that mix harem anime tropes and fairy-tale premises with violence, psychosis, sexual perversions, cynicism, and existential horror. There are no random encounters as all monsters are visible on the map. This entry is particularly grim as it gets going. The series generally has the planet getting invaded by aliens. You can consult this chart for more info on individual entries and play order.
FUCK YEAH BLACK SOULS
A series of two RPGMaker dark fantasy horror H-games with Dark Souls-esque gameplay tropes (bonfires, flasks, souls as currency, esoteric quest parameters). Themed around western fairy-tales and similar source content. Difficult as hell, and at times makes Berserk look cheerful. Open world with a high degree of freedom, Active Time battles, no random encounters. Every NPC can be killed. Has optional erotic content with a mix of consensual and non-con scenes.
A series of two RPGMaker dark fantasy horror H-games with Dark Souls-esque gameplay tropes (bonfires, flasks, souls as currency, esoteric quest parameters). Themed around western fairy-tales and similar source content. Difficult as hell, and at times makes Berserk look cheerful. Open world with a high degree of freedom, Active Time battles, no random encounters. Every NPC can be killed. Has optional erotic content with a mix of consensual and non-con scenes.
Spanish title oozing with dark humour, anti-Catholic vibes (a la Blasphemous), and dope enemy design. Largely follows a classic JRPG design. Has a 'true' story progression of power wherein you start as a complete loser and by the end feel your power. Gory!
Cyberpunk RPG that takes after Deus Ex. Considered one of the best RPGMaker titles ever made due to its compelling story and open-ended gameplay. Actions have consequences. Sadly unfinished, the final chapter was teased for a 2002 release but never came out.
Obscenely long and untranslated JRPG about a 15 year old girl trying to secure funds for her sister's treatment through an epic quest. Despite the premise, it isn't afraid to get dark when it needs to. Worldbuilding is set up for minimal infodumps, if you want a deeper dive into the lore there are libraries you can visit for encyclopedias. When you learn information, you can bring it up with NPCs for more dialogue, similar to Morrowind. There's also a huge roster of party members. I would be very surprised if this ever gets an English patch.
Exploration story about ruins (gasp) mixed with geopolitical drama. Claimed by some to be like if you wrote a novel using RPGMaker instead of Microsoft Word. Don't go into it expecting groundbreaking gameplay, but it does have a backgrounds system, job system, encounters which change based on stats and skills, and plenty of secrets. Very idiosyncratic for an RPGMaker title, generally falling more in line with WRPGs and Etrian Odyssey than typical JRPG fare.
Just got a translation last year! And a two part novelisation in 2018?
Just got a translation last year! And a two part novelisation in 2018?
One-man seven year project heavily influenced by CRPGs like Planescape: Torment and Arcanum. Challenging, methodical, and dark. Strong focus on strategy and status effects. Battles are rare and largely fought solo. The creator is an independent novelist whose books sound very compelling.
Cryptic, beautiful exploratory JRPG with non-linear gameplay and unforgiving battles. The watercolour art is gorgeous, and much of the plot is left unanswered in a deliberate fashion. Probably don't look into it too much before playing, at least according to the SA LP.
Survival horror title, blending together Berserk, Silent Hill, and Lovecraft with a baroque artstyle and deformations of the flesh. Has a dismemberment system. According to some randies on Steam it's obscenely dark and oppressive.
Another title from the German RPGMaker Renaissance of the early 2000s. High production values and witty dialogue. Inspired by old JRPGs and tabletop games. No English translation but there is an LP thread available here.
No levelling RPG with asymmetrical party members, dark tone, and downright casual characters. Everything is equipment dependent as that's how you get skills and stats. Not much plot but apparently what is there is pretty good. Quick, frictionless combat.
ATB JRPG with fast, cinematic combat a la Final Fantasy and Grandia. Versatile levelling system via skill upgrades, a familiar summon system, compelling characters.
Do you like Reccetear? Do you like Koei Tecmo's Atelier games? This has the shop selling of the former with the alchemy of the latter. Story is far grander with lots of optional bosses and both randomised and designed dungeons to explore. Part 2 is still in the works and focuses a lot on the postgame but Part 1 is complete as its own scenario.
OFF/Dark Souls inspired surrealist JRPG with no levelling. Magnificent art and music.
Adult fantasy H-RPG with a plot that mixes themes of religion, divinity, power, and politics with deep world-building and well-written characters. The combat is basic but the game includes strategic elements and economic simulation.
Yume Nikki-like mired in flesh and gore. You play an embryo that collects items to mutate yourself further and please your mother. Like Yume Nikki it's about exploration and horror above all else. Cancelled in 2018.
RPG golden-era styled comedy title where you can be a good paladin or a shit paladin. No high stakes or grand story, just a fun little romp.
No-battle Brazilian Earthbound-inspired drama RPG. This one gets a pass for its diegetic menu system alone; if you lose your backpack, you also lose all access to the menus.
OG and Steam releases specifically (the upcoming console versions will feature altered gameplay for some sequences).
Features meta puzzles and story elements which take place in the player's OS rather than the game itself. When Niko rests, the game closes itself. The initial release disallowed further attempts at the game following a playthrough.
Features meta puzzles and story elements which take place in the player's OS rather than the game itself. When Niko rests, the game closes itself. The initial release disallowed further attempts at the game following a playthrough.
Procedurally-generated turn-based roguelike with forced scrolling.
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3 Comments
For the moment this is just a list of RPGMaker games heavily recommended by /v/ or elsewhere (Only RPGMaker games I've played are LISA and Black Souls)
Can't wait for the notes on the other games. This list is very promising!
maradona
1 year ago