JRPGs are more than extremely long games; they are experiences.
I remember my first mature JRPG: Final Fantasy VII. The story was emotionally deep and has stuck with me since I first loaded that first disk into my PlayStation. Growing up during Pokémania was like nothing I had ever seen. Everyone had a Game Boy and were endlessly playing and trading Pokémon. To this day, I have never seen so many people playing a JRPG at once.
If these two instances don’t prove my point of JRPGs being an experience, then here is a list of the best JRPGs you should experience for yourself.
Lost Odyssey
One of the best JRPGs is stuck on the Xbox 360 but can be played on Xbox One if you have the disk. This is the magnum opus of the creator of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi.
The Aim Ring System added button releases at the proper time to add more damage and effects to the character’s attack. The story revolves around conflict and its impact on the world. “A Thousand Years Of Dreams” is one of the most well written parts of any game. Lost Odyssey was visually impressive for an Xbox 360 title. It also featured some beautiful music that added to the presentation.
With all the remakes and remasters popping up, Lost Odyssey should be considered next. One of the best JRPGs should be easily available on modern consoles.
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger ends up on a lot of best of lists, and for good reason. With a legendary ensemble of Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, Akira Toriyama, and Yasunori Mitsuda working on the game, failure was impossible.
The story of Chrono Trigger isn’t just an experience, it moves you by pulling at your heartstrings. Time travel is at the core of the story, and it is done right. Pulling all the best parts of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest together, it created a timeless masterpiece. Chrono Trigger is one of the first games to have multiple endings. How many, you ask? Thirteen or more, depending on choices made in the story.
Even decades later, Chrono Trigger feels modern. The gameplay, story, and presentation have aged like fine wine. Hop in the time machine and live the adventure of a lifetime.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Were you expecting a different ATLUS game? Metaphor borrows a lot from Persona and perfects the formula.
Conflict arises when everyone is trying to win the crown and create their own version of utopia. The story is filled with heartbreaking moments and moments of pure triumph. Watching your party members face their fears and learn who they are to unlock the Archetype powers was always a great moment.
While a lot of the core systems from Persona are present. Metaphor does more than enough to set itself apart. Have you played the best JRPG from 2024?
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Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
If you are going to experience Dragon Quest XI, make sure it is the definitive edition. Quality-of-life improvements and tons of extras make an already great game even better.
While many JRPGs lean into darker and grittier stories, Dragon Quest XI S maintains a charming and optimistic vibe, making it a more uplifting experience. Dragon Quest XI S stays true to the classic turn-based JRPG formula while modernizing it. Party member interactions feel organic, and character arcs feel satisfying. The S version has a really nice 2D mode players can switch to if they desire a more retro feel.
With a cast of unforgettable characters that really feel unique and genuine, players will travel far and wide to uncover the world’s secrets.
Final Fantasy VI
While it is not my favorite Final Fantasy title, I can admit it is the best of the series. The Super Nintendo had a plethora of JRPGs, and Final Fantasy VI sits on top of the mountain.
FFVI has an incredible soundtrack, plus it also has one of the best villains, Kefka. The story is well written and is an emotional rollercoaster. Each character has unique abilities tied to their personality (e.g., Sabin’s martial arts moves using Street Fighter-style inputs.) Sabin has one of the most unforgettable and memeable moments in gaming history when he suplexes a train in combat.
Whether it is shedding a tear over an emotional moment or suplexing a train in battle, FFVI remains a benchmark for the genre.
Pokémon Heart Gold & Soul Silver
The Nintendo DS remakes of Pokémon Gold & Silver make the best game of the series that much better.
I can talk to I’m Pokémon blue in the face about how the 2nd Gen games in the series are the best. Gen 1 and Gen Pokémon have some of the best designs even to this day. Gold and Silver were stuffed with content by having both Johto and Kanto regions in the game. New mechanics and elements like breeding, shiny Pokémon, day/night cycle, and holding items make their first appearance.
Did you grow up with them, or are you looking to dive in now? Either way, this is a certified JRPG classic.
Earthbound
Even after all these years, the SNES classic still lives on in our hearts. No other game in the genre matches Earthbound’s unique style and vibes.
Earthbound has a weird sense of humor, often poking fun at JRPG tropes and modern society. The JRPG is celebrated because it balances weirdness, innovation, and heartfelt storytelling in a way that’s utterly unique. It has strange sounding music that mixes rock, jazz, and electronic elements, adding another layer of weirdness.
Embrace your weird side and take your small town friends to fight aliens in an unforgettable experience with an incredible soundtrack.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Tired of JRPGs with child and teenage protagonists? Most of Like a Dragon‘s main characters are pushing 40 to 50 years old. No whipper-snappers here.
Your party is full of characters pushed out of society by unfortunate events in their life. Lucky for them, you pulverize everyone in your path with graphic turn-based combat to become heroes. A deep, emotional story of unraveling a conspiracy within the government is peppered with side missions that will have gamers belly laughing.
Like the game’s main character Ichiban, Like a Dragon is full of charisma and heart. Easily making it worth your time.
Vagrant Story
Vagrant Story is probably the most unique and unconventional JRPG on this list. The developers wanted to make something different and innovative, and they succeeded.
Visually, there aren’t many games on the PS1 that can stand toe-to-toe with this masterpiece. The use of camera angles in the cutscenes enhanced the emotions of the scene. Everything seemed more dramatic and felt like a movie. You get a dark, politically charged story that almost feels Shakespearean. The real-time, turn-based hybrid combat system is like nothing that was released at the time.
This cult classic took a lot of creative risks but wasn’t a commercial success. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a great game. Vagrant Story can be seen in many JRPGS that came after it. Innovation and creativity crafted one of the finest JRPGs ever.
The Last Remnant
This might be a hot take, but The Last Remnant has one of the genre’s most complex and unique combat systems.
The Last Remnant felt like a breath of fresh air during its release, and the game is better than it ever gets credit for. It makes you feel immersed in an actual war, where one incorrect tactic will end you and your party. By choosing formations and tactics, leading groups of soldiers make the combat system worth the experience alone. Trust me when I say, you haven’t played any JRPG like this.
The Last Remnant‘s only crime is its cookie cutter story, but every other aspect of the game makes up for it.
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