Recommendations for a good, grindy DS/3DS RPG?

#1 Posted by BBAlpert (706 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

I'm looking for something I can play in bed, and mindlessly power-level as I doze off. Turn based is a plus. Suggestions?

#2 Posted by FancySoapsMan (5468 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

The Devil Survivor games are good for that kind of thing, especially the second one.

You could give Strange Journey a shot as well, although some of the dungeons are a pain to traverse, and it can get kind of frustrating. The combat is fun though.

#3 Posted by TaliciaDragonsong (8671 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago
#4 Posted by Animasta (12997 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

yeah I'd probably recommend devil survivor.

Strange Journey is not... mindless enough for you to not pay attention.

#5 Posted by ApolloBob (568 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago
#6 Posted by Jimi (1117 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

I think Disgaea came out for DS so maybe give that a shot.

#7 Posted by Sparky_Buzzsaw (5001 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

@Jimi said:

I think Disgaea came out for DS so maybe give that a shot.

Definitely this. The Disgaea series is your best bet for a fun grind-fest. I'm also going to second the recommendation for Dragon Quest IX (or any Dragon Quest game that came out on the DS - 4-6, I believe?). Some other games you might want to look into would be Final Fantasy Tactics A2, Tales of the Abyss (the story requires some attention in terms of where to go, but it's definitely worth a look), Suikoden Teirkreis (if it's reasonably priced), and the Golden Sun DS game.

Moderator
#8 Posted by Video_Game_King (29826 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

Pokemon Conquest, since I finished that yesterday.

#9 Posted by Mastertarvin (40 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

The dragon quest games are great for mindless grinding. Nine was probably my favorite in the series.

#10 Posted by panvixyl (302 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

Pokemon is always a classic.

#11 Posted by BBAlpert (706 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I probably should have mentioned that I've already played DQ 9, Disgaea, and Etrian Odyssey. But since I have played those, I can confirm that they're exactly the kind of games that I'm looking for.

How are the DS remakes of Dragon Quest 4-6, compared to 8, 9, and Monsters?

#12 Edited by JoeyRavn (4499 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

@BBAlpert: I really enjoyed DQ IX. A lot more than its predecessors. They are fine games on DS, but they lack the customization options that made IX so good. Also, check out the Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker series on DS if you liked the previous spin-offs.

I love Final Fantasy Tactics A2, but it's not exactly "grindy". At least, not in the traditional sense, since there are no random battles.

There's also the classic Final Fantasies on DS: III and IV. I couldn't get into either of them, personally. They are too punishing and "old school". Going back to them having played subsequent entries of the series is... hard, to say the least. IV has a great story, though.

Edit: I can't speak to their quality, but there's also The Dark Spire, Summon Night: Twin Age and Radiant Historia.

#13 Posted by BBAlpert (706 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

@JoeyRavn: Thanks

#14 Posted by Animasta (12997 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

@BBAlpert: oh well if etrian odyssey is what you were lookin for than strange journey is built on that same engine so get that

#15 Posted by Robaota (116 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago

Devil Survivor 1/2 games are grand, and have great music also (the first especially). Pokemon Black/White 2 are also very good games, seemingly more difficult than previous versions and as such fit the grindy criteria.

#16 Posted by knitlife (44 posts) - 5 months, 12 days ago
Please Log In