Summary
Monks have existed in RPGs for decades now as both classes and character archetypes. It’s easy to see why as they blend in so well with the genre. Stereotypically, monks in popular media are shown as peaceful gatekeepers who also train their bodies and souls to be in perfect harmony.
That means they alsoknow martial artseven though they are usually taught not to use their powers unless necessary. Those ideals about monks form a lot of the boundaries in video games too from classic franchises likeFinal Fantasyto newer ones likeLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Let’s see what games player can become a monk, or monk-like class in. They will be split into turn-based and action examples.
Bravely Default was aspiritual successor toFinal Fantasywhich dialed things back to a simpler time. The graphics were more in line with the PS1 generation, there was a world map, bad guys were going after crystals, it was turn-based, and so on. There was also a Job system and the four main heroes could equip new Jobs after defeating high-profile bosses.
Among the many, the Monk was a Job players could easily use to break the game. Knuckle Lore was an attached skill that raised the attack power of unarmed strikes. There were other good bonuses attached too like Natural Talent which increased the power of fists even further. It’s a classic example of a monk-type class in an RPG beyond the name being literal.
Diablo 3was the last console game to get the Monk class. It has since appeared in the mobile game,Diablo Immortal, and it originated in the first game.Diablo 3is where the class was perfected though, allowing characters to create an unstoppable force of nature.
TheDiabloseriesis best experienced through co-op online or offline, giving players a better chance to stay alive in the pits of hell. Players could easily get through the game alone with a Monk-based character though. The fist-based or more traditional “monk” weapons dealt a good amount of damage and there were a lot of area-effecting skills to use in battle too if players got surrounded. Truthfully, all classes inDiablo 3are great but the Monk’s versatility helps it rank near the top.
Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skiesis the first mainline game in the franchise to offer co-op. Players could group up in teams of four, at max, using the DS’ internal wireless systems to link up. There was a reason to jump online though as players could access an exclusive shop or download maps to play around in.
It was a great game to implement co-op into as it had a class system called Vocations. Their monk-class was called a Martial Artist and it has appeared in mostDragon Questgamesthat offered Vocations likeDragon Quest 3.InDragon Quest 9, players could level up their Vocation traditionally and then spend points to increase themselves further like Natural Strength which raised the Strength stat by ten. To have a good multiplayer session, players needed to diversify their group with attack dealers like Martial Artists and healers like Priests.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthis the second turn-based entry intheYakuzaseriesand the eighth mainline game overall. Ichiban is the new protagonist, taking over for Kazuma, but Kazuma still appears as a party member. He has the exclusive class called Dragon of Dojima, which is a melee fighting type class. It’s not strictly what a monk is in RPGs but it is close enough.
Kazuma can break through defenses easily with a few quick punches or kicks. Another class reaches close to the monk status called Action Star. Most male characters can take this class but the weapon of choice is nunchaku and the costume design is a nod to Bruce Lee who was a very famous martial artist in films. Action Star just doesn’t hit as hard metaphorically as a monk as Kazuma does in the Dragon of Dojima role.
Rogue Legacy 2is a 2D game and a sequel toone of the roguelikeswith RPG elements often credited for creating a boom in the genre. Every time the player dies, they will be resurrected as an heir in the family. Each heir has a different class attached to them, giving them different powers and stats.
Boxer is one of those classes and it is monk-like in nature as all blows are fist-based. Characters put on comically large gloves and get stronger the more they build up their combos. Dodging also increases in this class, and it may look goofy, but Boxer is a fun character to play inRogue Legacy 2.
There have been a lot ofFinal Fantasygameswith Job systems and many have included Monks by name. Most examples are turn-based butStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originis an outlier. It is a Dark Souls approach to an action RPG with plenty of dungeons to traverse alone or with friends.
The best part about it is the Job system and the monk equivalent is called the Pugilist. The main character, Jack, and one of the AI-controlled partners, Ash, are the only two who can equip the Pugilist Job. Like many others on here, the Pugilist specializes in hand-to-hand combat with an emphasis on speed. Getting that tactile feedback from a punch is more satisfying than any of the turn-based examples in the franchise fromFinal Fantasy 3toFinal Fantasy Tactics.
