The RPG (Role-Playing Game) genre, according to Wikipedia, is one in which the player controls the actions of a main character immersed in some well-defined world. While the genre has changed and evolved over time, it has continued to remain relevant in the eyes of gamers and critics alike, garnering impressive sales and critical acclaim for decades now.

But which RPGs are the best? Of each console? Of each generation? (Gen 3 onwards, #SorryAtari) (btw the question is open ended so you can just answer the best of consoles or the best of each gen, or just some consoles, whatever floats your boat)

And that brings us to Gen 8. A work in progress. For this gen, not all of us know what is the best as it's not over yet, so what do you think will be the best when everything is said and done?

Overall, what do you think? What are the best RPGs for each console/generation/all-time?

I will always scream from the mountain tops that Persona 4 Golden is the greatest RPG ever made.

I've never been as emotionally invested in a game as I was when I was playing through it for the first time in 2012. The story was great the characters are absolutely fantastic and the music never gets old even though it's a 90 hour game. I laughed (ALOT), I cried, I just never wanted the game to end. It took me a month and a half in real life to get through the last few weeks of the game because I new the game was about to end and this song kept getting me emotional.

Once I did in fact beat it my life felt so empty lol. The game literally changed my outlook on life and I wish every person could experience the game as I did. It's too bad Golden wasn't on a more popular console but now you can get a PS TV and a copy of P4G for the price of a new console game. So for people wanting to play Persona 4 for the first time I suggest doing that rather than settle for the vanilla version.

N64: Paper Mario
DS: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
GC: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Wii: Xenoblade Chronicles
GB/GBC: Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow/Silver/Gold/Crystal (can't chose).

Persona 5 is coming and it's going to be fantastic.

That being said, I want to give a big shout out to Persona 3: FES. Besides being an awesome RPG in its own right, it paved the way for Persona 4G. Managing normal life and relationships while fighting monsters on the side sounds silly but the execution is addictive and fun.

As far as last gen, Valkyria Chronicles gets my vote. The story pulled no punches in its portrayal of war and racism and it completely broke my heart.

This should be fun to think of
GB: Pokemon Red/Blue
GBC: Pokemon Crystal (I haven't played many early RPGs)
N64: Paper Mario
GBA: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
PS2: Kingdom Hearts II (followed by Final Fantasy X and Dark Cloud 2)
GC: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Xbox: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
DS: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
PSP: Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Wii: Xenoblade Chronicles
Xbox 360: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
3DS: Pokemon X

If a system isn't listed, it's because I haven't played an RPG on the system. RPGs aren't my most represented genre, especially on home console. Note that I played Birth by Sleep and Xenoblade Chronicles on PS3 and 3DS respectively, but I didn't want to count ports.

NES: Mother 1

SNES: Earthbound

N64: Paper Mario

GC: Paper Mario TTYD

Wii: Xenoblade

Wii U: Xenoblade X

GB: Pokemon Red/Blue

GBC: Pokemon Gold/Silver

GBA: Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga

DS: Mario and Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story

3DS: Fire Emblem Awakening 

Great thread, later I'll elaborate a list but for now I can say that Chrono Trigger is my favorite RPG of all time!

Tales of Symphonia is my favorite RPG of all time.

SNES: Super Mario RPG

N64: Paper Mario

NGC: Tales of Symphonia/Baten Kaitos Origins

Wii: Xenoblade Chronicles

GBA: Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald Version

DS: Mario & Luigi Bowser Inside Story/Pokemon Black and White

3DS: Tales of the Abyss

PS: Xenogears

PS3: Tales of Xillia 2/Atelier Escha and Logy

Xbox 360: Tales of Vesperia

PC: Undertale

SNES: Chrono Trigger
N64: Paper Mario
GC: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Wii: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

GB: Pokemon Crystal
GBA: Pokemon Emerald
DS: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorer's of Sky
3DS: Fire Emblem: Awakening

PS2: Persona 4
PSVita: Persona 4 Golden

Any system not shown means I have not played an RPG on that console.

Gen 4: Chrono Trigger
Gen 5: Pokemon Crystal
Gen 6: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Gen 7: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Gen 8: Fire Emblem: Awakening

Favorite of all time: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

PS1 : Final Fantasy IX
PS2 : Kingdom Hearts?
PS3: Tales of Xillia
PSP: Crisis Core: Final Fanstasy VII

NES: Mother 1
SNES: Earthbound (fav game of all time, so I'm biased xD)
N64: uhh...
Gamecube: Skies of Arcadia Legends

Dreamcase: Skies of Arcadia

Xbox 360: Fallout 3/Tales of Vesperia

Gameboy: Pokemon Red/Blue
Gameboy Color: Pokemon Gold/Silver
Gameboy Advance: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (Pokemon Sapphire/Ruby and Golden Sun are a close 2nd)
DS: Pokemon Platinum