This is an attempt to define a particular "genre" of games.
The main exemplars in this category tend to be made with RPG Maker, but not all game on this list are made with that tool. I'm trying to establish a particular vibe - a bit like a mixtape or Spotify playlist. HOWEVER, some entries are on this list specifically because they break the vibe. In this way, they help to define what the genre is, by showing the boundaries - by showing what the genre is not.
RPG Maker is a tool designed for the creation of JRPGs (Japanese Role Playing Games). JRPGs are mechanically characterized by random, turn-based battles that take place in a separate mode from the exploration elements. They also feature strong narratives, conveyed through a combination of text of appealing visuals.
While the games in this category use some of the aesthetics of JRPGs, they tend to be focused on exploration, examination of items and places, conversations with NPCS, and the like, rather than on random battles. Thus, this genre partially overlaps with adventure games - compare and contrast with action adventures (like Legend of Zelda) and point-and-click adventures (like Monkey Island).
Many games in this genre draw inspiration from Ib, Mirai Nikki, Undertale, or EarthBound. Some are directly inspired by this set of games (e.g. Mirai Nikki fangames), but others have more varied or indirect influences.
perhaps too Zelda-like for this genre
