Summary
Mostrole-playing gamestake place in the fantasy genre, where magic is prevalent. This means that casting spells becomes a huge part of the combat loopfor most RPGs, with the vast majority of games feeling better to play through if players master spellcasting in these titles.
Most players will be incentivized to mess around with the magic system if the spells themselves feel great to cast. The visual effects and damage numbers accompanying these abilities play a crucial role in making the magic of these games feel great to cast. That’s whythese RPGs are so effective at making their spellcasting mechanics fun to play.
Final Fantasy 8is a game that was rightfully criticized for a Junction system that could be broken in no time with a bit of grinding. Assigning spells to augment certain stats meant that players were discouraged from casting powerful magic that had been Junctioned.
However, players who don’t mind losing out on optimal stat bonuses will love how pretty and effective the spells are inFinal Fantasy 8. The game was a graphical marvel back in the day, with most of the spellsinFinal Fantasy 8being quite powerful and aiding players in taking out the many bosses that stand in their way.
Forspokenis a game that was criticized heavily for a slow start and bad dialogue, which led to many fans dropping this title instead of giving it a fair shot. The first few hours can be a pain to get through, but players who endure the monotony of the combat will be treated to a spell system that is varied and interesting to mess around with.
Players can manipulate the elements of earth, fire, water, and light to aid them in combat. Along with this, Frey also has access to spells that aid her in traversal, making the simple act of moving from point A to point B more engaging than anyone could’ve imagined.
It’s a shame thatTyrannywas a commercial failure,since this game’s exploration of evil is unlike any other RPG that players can check out. It helps that the title’s combat is also excellent in its own right, with the spellcasting system featuring a level of customization that makes it great to experiment with.
Characters with a high Lore stat can decipher magical Runes to add to their collection. These can be combined to create spells with varying degrees of potency, along with special effects that can be added or removed at will. This, coupled with the leveling advantages that mages have, make it quite lucrative to turn the Fatebinder into a spell-slinging beast who can incinerate, shock, and freeze their foes at will.
Arx Fatalisfeatures a unique setting, where the inhabitants of the world are forced to live underground after the surface becomes uninhabitable. The game features elements of immersive sim design, including a freeform magic system that was quite innovative at the time.
Instead of casting magic the traditional way,Arx Fatalislets players learn runes that can be combined to cast spells with varying effects. These runes must be traced in quick succession with a mouse to reap their benefits, which can make magic somewhat clumsy to cast, but players willing to adjust to this tricky system will love slinging spells and taking out enemies in style.
UnlikeBaldur’s Gate 3, there’s no limit on the amount of times players can cast spells inbothDivinity: Original Sinand its sequel. Players must take the cooldown of each spell into account when entering combat, with these spells encouraging players to manipulate the environment and maximize the damage of each cast.
Most of the spells inDivinity: Original Sin 2can be used outside of combat as well, letting players complete puzzles and overcome traversal hurdles with magic. The game almost feels like a cross between an immersive sim and a CRPG, ensuring that players will enjoy figuring out spell combinations that can trivialize most encounters in the right hands.
ThePersonagameshave always featured a simple yet satisfying magic system that rewards players for figuring out enemy weaknesses, butPersona 5’samazing style and mainstream appeal ensured that new players got to enjoy these systems for themselves.
Using elemental spells that become stronger over time to exploit enemy weaknesses and set them up for an All-Out Attack feels great every time. If an enemy is resistant to almost everything, then players can always rely on Almighty spells to hit them where it hurts instead.Persona 5also adds two new elements to make the magic system more varied than its predecessors, which is always welcome.
Usingmagic inMorrowindcan be tricky early on, but players who make it a point to level up their spellcasting skills while hoarding a decent stock of Magicka potions will turn the Nerevarine into a spell-slinging dealer of death in no time.
It helps thatMorrowindboasts one of the best spell customization systems around, one which is only limited by a player’s imagination and their Magicka pool. With the right skills, it’s possible to create a spell that depletes one’s Magicka in a single cast, summoning unimaginable power that can smash most enemies to a pulp.
It was a given that an RPG set in theHarry Potteruniverse would let players mess around with a wealth of incredible spells, andHogwarts Legacydidn’t disappoint. Players slowly but surely learned a host of powerful spells that could be combined for devastating results.
The puzzles in and around Hogwarts can also be solved with certain spells, rewarding players for making progress in the main story and attending as many classes as possible. Players who unlock every spell inHogwarts Legacywill have a ton of fun assigning multiple spell sets to their fifth-year student and taking out their foes with a flourish.
