Linear RPG?

[Harmacist]

I love progression, but after a long day's work, I can't be arsed to follow open worlds, billions of side quests, collectibles, and the like. I'd like a nice story-focused RPG (doesn't matter if ARPG, CRPG, JRPG, or similar) where the designers take you for a journey, without the need to always question where to go, or having distractions.

Ideally from the last decade, nothing too old. Also, not really in the mood to read too much, so maybe CRPGs are out of the question (I know Shadowrun games are quite linear and excellent).

In other words: opposite of Skyrim / Witcher / Zelda BOTW, and more FF8/10/13. Persona has way too many distractions as well, despite the clear story path. Dislike grinding, so no TRPG or H&S.

I have a PC, PS4 and Switch, but prefer PC gaming.
Thanks!

[Sorceress]

Trials of Mana
Atelier Ryza

[Harmacist]

ToM: forgot about it. Played for a bit and enjoyed. Good memories of the SNES classic

Atelier games are a bit too cheerful for me. Tried a few and they feel childish

[Gallifrey - CSSC Gaming Founder]

Japanese SRPGs Disgaea series. 1, 2 and 5 are available on Steam. Check out my reviews before buying and playing. Grindy but fun.

S.x.

[plutone00]

Grandia series and Arc the Lad series, but you probably played them.

As for newer games, did you try these?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/243930/Bound_By_Flame/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/338390/The_Technomancer/

Not too grand, not too small

[Harmacist]

I have played the first two, and the other two have very mediocre scores :(

[Vhagar]

nice

[plutone00]

Ursprungligen skrivet av Clippy:

I have played the first two, and the other two have very mediocre scores :(

Those are non-grandscale games made on tight budget and everything it entails.

Here is something a bit more grandscale, but it involes more sidequests.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/269190/Edge_Of_Eternity/

[Harmacist]

I don't trust EA games anymore. Don't want to pay for an incomplete pet project and do bug reporting. Also, that game seems open world, which is the literal opposite of what I want

[plutone00]

Only indie games may fit within your exact specifications nowadays. Otherwise you'd have to endure a few distractions as all modern mainstream grand RPGs are made like that these days.

I'm sorry I couldn't help you.

[Harmacist]

Yeah, finding it hard. Now giving Trails Sky another go, just in case this time I do end up hooked up

[Kargor]

A lot of JRPGs follow a story without trying to fill up the world with "open world".

"Tales of...", Tokyo Xanadu eX+ (*), Idea Factory / Compile Heart JRPGs, ...

(*) Fanatical has a decent sale[www.fanatical.com] right now

[crunchyfrog]

One that immediately springs to mind for me is Octopath Traveller for the Switch (I have no idea if it's been ported elesewhere; I think it has but I could be wrong). It's SOMEWHAT linear in that you can do all 8 stories in any order you wish and there is some nosing around the world if you want it, but it's not like the scale of the ones you wish to avoid.

Although I haven't played too much of it yet, so I could be wrong on this, Star Ocean Intergrity and Faithlessness is a rather succinct game. It's rather short for an RPG (about 25 hours or so all told). So while it has some open worldness, from what I've seen thus far, again I don't think it's on the scale you wish.

Have you considered the South Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole games? They're similarly "bite sized" RPGs done in the classic style, and it works so well with the humour.

If you need even more suggestions, I'll happily dig out my catalogue and go through some more suggestions for you - I've got tons of systems from over the decades, so finding plenty of stuff from the last 10 years should be easy enough.

[Harmacist]

Octopath is brilliant. Finished it twice on the Switch and it is on Steam.

As for SP, I feel I outgrew them a bit. Watched the cartoons 15-20 years ago, now they feel a bit unnecessary edgy, stealing cheap laughs

[HAHAHAHAHA]

there a new brand JRPG game from SUIKODEN creator
maybe you can check it out.

Here story:

Ursprungligen skrivet av rpgsite.net:

Our story begins in one corner of Allraan, a tapestry of nations with diverse cultures and values. By dint of sword, and by way of magical objects known as “rune-lenses,” the land’s history has been shaped by the alliances and aggressions of the humans, beastmen, elves, and desert people who live there.

The Galdean Empire has edged out other nations and discovered a technology that amplifies the rune-lenses’ magic. Now, the Empire is scouring the continent for an artifact that will expand their power even further. It is on one such expedition that Seign Kesling, a young and gifted imperial officer, and Nowa, a boy from a remote village, meet each other and become friends.

However, a twist of fate will soon drag them into the fires of war, and force them both to reexamine everything they believe to be right and true. 

Here is the key staff for the project, courtesy of RPGamer:

Yoshitaka Murayama (Suikoden I and II) — Scenario Writer/Director
Junko Kawano (Suikoden I and IV) — Lead Artist
Osamu Komuta (Suikoden Tactics and Suikoden Tierkreis) — Director
Junichi Murakami (Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, OZ) — Producer/Art Director
Motoi Sakuraba (Tales series) — Composer
Michiko Naruke (Wild Arms series) — Composer

Here the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0hL-mXHc6c


Information i got from here:
https://www.rpgsite.net/news/10013-suikoden-creator-announces-eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes

[HAHAHAHAHA]

Official Website
https://rabbitandbearstudios.com/eiyudenchronicle/