Leveling up in a turn-based RPG should feel exciting, but I can lose interest when a new level simply bumps up a few of my numbers. The best skill grids give me something to think about between battles. I want to study the paths ahead, pick out the upgrades I need, and see my decisions pay off when I get back into a fight. I want the menu to be fun.

Players need to make every turn and move count in these strategy games that will have them scratching their heads and weighing their options.

There are plenty of ways to get that feeling. Some games use sprawling boards that slowly open up, while others offer smaller trees that become interesting when you start combining abilities. I'm also including configurable systems like Orbments and Mastery Boards, since they require the same kind of planning. Regardless, each of these RPGs puts me in control of character development, and that's all you can ask for.

Crystal Project makes exploration more rewarding because finding a Crystal unlocks a new class. Each job has a skill tree, with LP earned from battles going toward new abilities. You can equip a subclass to borrow another job's commands, and learned passives remain useful even after I switch roles.

I enjoy how much freedom those overlapping systems provide. My fighter can pick up healing abilities, while a spellcaster benefits from a passive learned in a completely different class. The trees are small, but that works. Most of the fun comes from finding combinations that make my four-person team work in ways I hadn't considered before.

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