10 Toughest RPGs That Are Incredibly Rewarding

8. Vagrant Story

Overshadowed in its time by the likes of Final Fantasy IX and Chrono Cross, Squaresoft’s Vagrant Story is widely regarded as the one of the original Playstation’s true hidden gems. Playing as the (frankly ridiculously named) Ashley Riot, the player must investigate the town of Leá Monde and its catacombs, uncovering a link between a dangerous cult and Duke Bardorba of the Valendian Parliament.

This is all sounding pretty standard Square so far, but what sets the game apart from its label mates is its crafting and battles.

With no NPCs or shops, weapons and armour are crafted and modified to exploits specific enemy weaknesses, and the limited inventory space forces players to think well ahead when preparing for an oncoming fight. In battle, attacks are strung together through a rhythm like Chain system, utilising Ashley’s individual body parts, and Ashley suffers from ‘Risk’ as battles go on, reducing his stats to turn even the simplest of encounters into a perilous game of attrition.

All this adds up to one of the most challenging battle systems in gaming, but one which reaps colossal rewards for those with the time to master it. Add to this an overworld filled with puzzle platforming, and gorgeous presentation of a thrilling story, and we are left with one of the most diverse and deep games of a generation.