Topic: Are turn based games dying?

So alot of people are saying that Pokémon’s battle system is getting stale and that they should change it and it got me wondering.
Are they killing the turn based system in video games in favor of a more action rpg system?

Turn based games have been dead to me since alpha dream shut down

I mean, kind of? There have been enough RPGs that have abandoned turn based to "evolve" to being more "modern" and I can't use "quotation marks" enough for this. Like it feels like when a classic turn based series that isn't Pokemon or DQ comes back nowadays, that's often what happens. But I don't think Pokemon will get rid of turn based combat for as absolutely long as they can possibly avoid it tbh.

But I also feel like enough notable games have brought back turn based games (even ignoring indie games) that I wouldn't say they're dying either. That being said, it is dying enough that its genuinely surreal when Yakuza declared that the series is now BECOMING a turn based one. That's the opposite of what tends to happen!

@Greatluigi
The problem with Pokemon's turn based style was 1 vs 1 battle all the time.
Turn based style can be good as FF X if at least three Pokemons joined in battle and can support each other.

Nah, I would just say there evolving a little bit? Idk, but not dying.

People find the turn based stuff in pokemon to be boring, mainly because the system is turn-based at it's most basic within a world where Turn-based games are rapidly evolving. Series like Persona also have turn-based battles, but somehow they manage to evolve the format to actually fit with modern day, without it being slow and clunky like Pokemon or many other turn-based RPGs.

That article really went "The Pokémon fandom is too peaceful nowadays. Let me try to change that."

I think it's greatly overestimated how many people want Pokemon to move away from turn-based combat. The idea of real-time Pokemon combat has been in discussion for as long as I can remember, just as people have asked for things like a Pokemon MMORPG or every region in a single game. Just because a minority clamour for it online, it doesn't necessary mean that it's the best decision for the series going forward.

The only series that comes to mind that has made the leap from turn-based on real-time (and not really looked back) is Final Fantasy. But I'd argue that Final Fantasy is a very difficult kettle of fish from Pokemon in that (i) narrative/storytelling has almost always been a huge part of the experience (gameplay is important but not top of the list), (ii) Final Fantasy tries to push boundaries, which often sees it experimenting with gameplay styles, (iii) Final Fantasy has generally mixed up the battle system from game to game, even before it ditched turn-based gameplay.

Outside of these two series, there's also just too many new games with turn-based elements to say that the genre is dying. This year alone on Switch we've had/got Pokemon Legends Arceus, Triangle Strategy, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Mario and Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Live a Live and Advance Wars.

I personally don't think turn based games are dying out. To me, seeing new turn based games that aren't indie games getting released to current systems and not just PC is enough proof even if there aren't as many notable releases every year. Add on the turn based indies that make it out of being PC only and it expands the selection for that year.

Turn based games lost popularity but there's been a resurgence recently.

Unfortunately, some hallmark franchises were lost to the whims of modern trends during the anti-turn based movement, such as Final Fantasy. It just isn't the same anymore since FFXV went full action.

It's OK to experiment with a spinoff but the core series should keep its identity. Pokemon is as popular as ever despite being turn based, which goes to show it doesn't need to be changed to real time. Improve it, evolve it, just don't eliminate it.

@Anti-Matter
I agree. Turn based is really good when you have a party of 3. 1v1 kind of eliminates most of the strategy aspects.

While turn based games are definitely less popular than action ones, they are far from "dying".
Sure some franchises may be switching over combat like Final Fantasy etc. but there are still an abundance of turn based games that continue to release and perform well sales wise:
Dragon Quest, Persona 5, SMT V, Octopath Traveler are all turn based games and set sales records for their respective franchises as mentioned earlier, and more recently Triangle Strategy follows the trend and is also selling well, along with other games that weren't mentioned.

So no don't let the pseudo intellectuals tell you otherwise - turn base games are not dying nor are they outdated or "need to evolve", they're doing just fine and will continue to do so.

I think turn based games are still a thing in 2022. I don't see this type of game dying anytime in the near future.

I guess kind of. Especially when it comes to traditional turn based games. It feels like for the last two decades, something being traditionally turn based is often an indie thing or a novelty choice for a bigger release. With many of the bigger releases choosing to do “turn based with a twist” style systems, whether it introducing real time elements or other gimmicks that mean it isn’t really true turn based.

I hope not! Every time I hear turn based I think of Heroes of Might and Magic Too bad the series are at hold for the moment.

The older I get the less patience I have for turn based games, they just get boring and monotonous for me nowadays.
But when I was younger I loved them.

I don't think turn based games are dying but that's mostly because of the Switch (e.g. Fire Emblem, Pokemon, Octopath, Bravely Default, Triangle Strategy, SMT, Mario + Rabbids). While Final Fantasy has gone full action, the franchise has basically returned to being PS console exclusive (e.g. FFVII Remake still doesn't have a Xbox version and next week it will have been out for 2 years) so Switch will probably get the pixel remasters of 1-6 and then that's it for FF on Switch.