When it comes to JRPG masterpieces, there are a few that immediately pop into the brain for hardcore fans. Final Fantasy 7, Persona 5, Chrono Trigger, and the list goes on. These games set a high bar for the genre, and while the following JRPGs aren’t perfect 10/10 experiences on paper, they come so close that they can easily stand next to something like Final Fantasy 7.
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Along with the positives, some aspects of how these games might not have lived up to expectations will be cited, but they should not detract from the overall work. They will also be ranked based on what games came the closest to being something original, along with the overall quality.
Rogue Galaxy
Treasure Planets
Rogue Galaxy was the spiritual successor to Dark Cloud 2, which is one of the PS2’s best and easily a landmark title for Level-5. It’s hard to follow up a game like that, and while not everything about this space JRPG was stellar, it was still a lot of fun. The party system was diverse, making it easy to flip between companions in battle, and the evolving weapon system was better than ever.
The cel-shaded visuals looked great on the PS2 as well, and while it was challenging, players could more easily grind through some of the rougher spots.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Play Your Way
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is another action JRPG from Level-5, but this one is more modern and also more welcoming and diverse in terms of gameplay options. Players were free to customize their character and then choose a class from a powerful Paladin to a humble Woodcutter.
Combat, gatherer, and crafting classes all worked together, and players were free to swap between them. They could have just as much fun fighting monsters and going on adventures as they could staying at home and cooking stew, or decorating a home, but things were perhaps a bit too easy for some.
Tales Of Arise
Getting Closer To Mainstream
The Tales of games have always settled nicely into the B-tier category of JRPGs, which is not a bad spot to be in. Tales of Arise, the latest entry, came so close to achieving pure greatness by incorporating Western ideals to appeal to a larger crowd, like more open environments, more diverse and mature characters, and a battle system that was more seamless and fun thanks to the combos.
It was still a bit too anime-like for some, and the pacing could be off, but overall, it’s certainly one of the better-looking modern action JRPGs.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Getting Closer To An Action Game
Pokemon Legends: Z-A hits some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows for the series, creating a mixed bag that could have been the perfect Pokemon game. Like the previous spinoff, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, players could sneak around in tall grass and catch Pokemon without battling.
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In battle, Pokemon still only had four moves, but players could use them all back-to-back, almost like an action game, and they just had to wait for cooldowns to use any of them again. Those were all great features, but not everyone enjoyed being stuck in one city, and Switch fans had a rougher go than the improved Switch 2 version, but not in any demonstrative way.
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
Missing That Sora Edge
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is the best spin-off the Kingdom Hearts series has ever had, featuring three protagonists who have their own campaign connecting to the main story. The combat system is great, as all three can customize their loadout with skills and spells that players can create using fusion.
The downside is that Aqua, Ventus, and Terra do not hold a candle to the partnership between Sora, Donald, and Goofy, which brings an air of whimsy to the main games, which Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep lacks. Beyond the story, it is a solid action RPG on the PSP and beyond.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake
Great For Party Customization
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is an HD-2D remake, breathing new life into this original NES game. It’s one of the better Dragon Quest games to start with because it’s all about player customization. Players can choose their hero’s gender and then make a party of three more characters, choosing a class, called a Vocation, to complete the process.
It’s a classic JRPG adventure about stopping the end of the world, and this cliched plot, along with all characters in the party being silent, may not be what everyone likes in their JRPGs, but it truly is a thrilling game coming so close to greatness.
Bravely Default 2
A Job Is A Jobe
Bravely Default 2 does some things the previous two games don’t, making it the best of the bunch mechanically. The Job system has been improved thanks to a more diverse roster of choices and costumes. Black Mages wearing mafia-like attire is pretty inspired, for example. The art style is interesting, giving the world a more toy-like or clay-like design.
This is another JRPG where the story and characters may fall a bit flat, though, compared to the charisma of someone like Ringabel from the first game. But, if players like a gameplay-forward JRPG, there’s not a finer Job system around to experiment with than Bravely Default 2.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch
A Ghibli Fan’s Dream
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was a collaborative effort between Level-5 and Studio Ghibli. The design of the world, characters, story, and anime cutscenes will help make players feel like they are in a Studio Ghibli film, akin to Castle in the Sky or Howl’s Moving Castle.
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The combat is a hybrid between a turn-based system and an MMO where Pokemon-like Familiars fight for the three party members in real time, but players can also assign them commands based on cooldowns. It was a return to classic JRPG structure, and everything about it would be perfect except for the grind. There are some spots where the difficulty spikes are out of control, forcing players to grind, which is not the worst offense imaginable, but it does clash with the whimsical nature of the world.
Final Fantasy 16
In Clive We Trust
Final Fantasy 16 has one of the darkest stories this side of Final Fantasy Tactics, and for some, they loved it. The action combat was also visceral and a lot of fun, plus the bombastic Kaiju-like boss battles involving Summons, called Eikons, helped the series reach new levels.
The problem is that the lack of whimsy in the characters, mini-games, and a more open-world design hurt it, along with very few deep RPG mechanics, like a good leveling-up system and party dynamic. That said, Final Fantasy is a series all about experimentation and change, so Final Fantasy 16 is worth embracing for that value as something unique.
Parasite Eve
Still Nothing Else Like It
To this day, even counting the sequels, there is nothing quite like Parasite Eve. Set in New York City around Christmas, Detective Aya Brea is thrust into a case involving her awakening supernatural powers, animals turning into monsters across the city, and people melting into goo.
The mix of reality, horror, and the supernatural is amazingly well-done, and the hybrid combat system made it stick out among other PS1 games from Square at the time. The only real issue could be the limited design of levels and the short campaign, but those are honestly positives in a lot of ways, too, as it never gets boring thanks to its brevity.
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