Best Sega Master System RPGs

The Matrix has 10 RPGs on file for the Sega Master System, released between 1987–1993. They're ranked below by legacy score, so the games that shaped the genre on the Master System come first, with lesser-known picks further down.

Role-playing games trade reflexes for strategy and story. You build a party, level up, manage equipment and travel across a large world, usually through menu-based battles.

Typical commitment: epic journey (20+ hours of adventure). Tip: Retro RPGs can require some level grinding and rarely tell you exactly where to go next. Talk to every townsperson, save often and use a guide if you get stuck: there is no shame in it.