Way to many runner-ups but a few need to be mention.
Planescape Torment, Divinity Original Sin 2, Final Fantasy IX and VI, Dragon Quest VIII, Super Mario RPG, Persona 5, Earthbound, Shadowrun, and Mass Effect 1/2/3.
Can't think of many JRPGs i've played recently that i'd put in any top 10 list, let alone top 5. I loved the original Xenoblade Chronicles so that's definitely top 5, the other two suck ass, they're not even close.
Oh yeah, Phantasy Star 4, that's another top 5 piece.
What make it acceptable to be call rpg it do thing just like all other rpg. It even do thing in true rpg sense. So many game guide what it is you do. Shenmue it make character building very optional but it pay off by making a stronger character. It make better use of role play than many modern rpg. Scroll not necessary but it up to a player. Instead of fight fight fight like in Final Fantasy 9(which I play atm actually) it do it more creative imo. It why the world stay interesting . Some building nothing but reach a house and maybe an old man have a scroll or teach Kung fu. Much more engrossing imo. Combat like a fight game that true. It not a turn base, however, game still lets players make the character stronger.
What make it acceptable to be call rpg it do thing just like all other rpg. It even do thing in true rpg sense. So many game guide what it is you do. Shenmue it make character building very optional but it pay off by making a stronger character. It make better use of role play than many modern rpg. Scroll not necessary but it up to a player. Instead of fight fight fight like in Final Fantasy 9(which I play atm actually) it do it more creative imo. It why the world stay interesting . Some building nothing but reach a house and maybe an old man have a scroll or teach Kung fu. Much more engrossing imo. Combat like a fight game that true. It not a turn base, however, game still lets players make the character stronger.
Well there isn't a strict definition of an RPG, plus Shenmue was initially called Virtua Fighter RPG, so I'm not against the notion of someone wanting to label it under the genre. For me though, the way you interact with the world is more akin as to how you do in games like Myst, which are considered as Adventure games since they're about finding clues and discovering where to go next. Traditional RPG's are also very stat driven, and while there's some of that in Shenmue, it can be completely ignored at the same time. The same thing applies to the side quests, because while they're present, the game isn't going to specifically tell you that you're in the middle of one either, eg. Fangmei's birthday and unlocking duck racing in Shenmue II. If anything, I consider Shenmue as a unique experience rather than wanting to place it under any genre.
Gotta be super strict about what an RPG is here otherwise the top 5 just might be the Souls series..... I don't consider them RPGs, personally. They are action and adventure before RPG.
I left off other Final Fantasy games because Chrono Cross is my favorite JRPG by Square. Tried to limit to one per dev....
I...honestly can't give you a top five favorite lol. It's all in my mood. I'll just list games that's difficult for me to put down once I get started:
Golden Sun 1 & 2
Final Fantasy VII - VIII - X
Tales of Symphonia - Abyss
Mass Effect 2 - 3
Dragon Age: Origins
Dark Souls Trilogy (If they count as they feel more action/adventure-esque than RPG)
Lost Kingdom 2
Fire Emblem Radiant Titles (If they count)
Suikoden 1 (Wish they freakin release it on Steam already. Have the original PS1 version but with a PS1/PS2 that hardly works. Want to play it on my computer without a emulator help)
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