In my humble opinion, I have always seen the JRPG genre as the thinking man’s Western RPG. These games tend to offer much more nuanced,thoughtful, and strategic combat design, albeit with more fantastical and kitschy storylines and more structured, linear, grind-intensive progression.
8 JRPGs Better Than They Have Any Right To Be
Never judge a book by its cover or a JRPG by its excessively anime protagonist.
But it’s also fair to say that these same traits that have made the masses fall in love with the genre are also the core reasons why some gamers avoid the JRPG genre at all costs.
But, I will try to bridge the gap for any JRPG detractors out there, shining a light on some amazing JRPG games and franchises that you’ll likely adore, even if you aren’t usually into JRPGs at all.
10Visions of Mana
Another Grizzly!
Visions of Mana
While I could have easily slappedthe retro-hitSecrets of Mana on the list thanks to its simple systems, cute visuals, and lighthearted tone, I felt that the more modern game in the series, Visions of Mana, fit the bill a little better.
It’s a great JRPG for non-fans for all the same reasons, with vast open areas to explore, satisfying traversal, and a lighthearted narrative. But thanks to this game offering an accessible, modern take on the series, it’s the best jumping-in point.
But, above all, this game will appeal to JRPG deniers due to its real-time combat, which feels more like a button-mashing, hack-and-slash ordeal than a methodical turn-based slugfest.
Sure, there’s still a lot of grinding and party management to contend with here, but I assure you, even with those aspects present, this game will make them more palatable than most.
9Sea of Stars
Pixel Perfection
Sea of Stars
Much like our last entry, I had a retro title in my sights in the form of Chrono Trigger, but in the end, I opted for the modern spiritual successor instead.
Sea of Stars is a masterclass when it comes to blending old and new design principles, as this JRPG manages to offer a retro pixel-powered romp that feels straight from the 1990’s golden age. But, equally, it has a certain polish about it that could only have come to exist thanks to today’s tech.
The game offers a happy-go-lucky story, dynamic combat that feels involved even though it’s turn-based, and the title also doesn’t have you grind endlessly, as upgrades are pretty easy to get your head around, every member of your party is available at all times, and the game only runs for about 30 hours.
It may technically be a JRPG released outside of Japan, but it does a better job of acclimating players to the genre than most, making it one you should absolutely check out.
8Pokémon Emerald
Get Goin' In Hoenn
Pokemon Emerald
I’ll caveat this by saying that just about any Pokémon game in the long-running franchise would work a treat here, but for me,you can’t beat the GBA classics, and I’m a Gen 3 boy at heart.
The Pokémon series is what many would lovingly refer to as ‘baby’s first turn-based JRPG’. Mainly because the game offers a simple story with smooth progression, some grinding, but not too much, basic party management, and accessible combat that is just a step-up from rock, paper, scissors.
You could obviously choose the more expansive, open-world console games of today, but I still feel that handheld outings are unparalleled when it comes to simple but effective JRPG design.
So, if you have a Game Boy Advance that has been gathering dust, now is the time to break that sucker out and catch ‘em all.
7Undertale
An Indie JRPG Darling
While some may feel aggrieved about me slipping Undertale into this list of JRPGs, as it’s not a game from Japan, nor is it a game that conforms to the typical JRPG ideals. But, seeing as this game is a spiritual successor to games like Earthbound in a lot of ways, I’m adding it regardless.
Why this one will appeal to non-JRPG-fans is because the game offers just enough familiar JRPG aspects to feel like it belongs, but untimely it goes out of its way tosubvert everything the genre stands for.
The game offers surreal and silly, irreverent moments that nail comedy. It provides turn-based combat that also doubles as a dynamic bullet-hell sequence, and if you don’t want to grind for XP and kill all that stands in your path, you may simply find a way to pacify every enemy you encounter.
It’s a game unlike anything that has ever come before, and it is a certified indie darling for a reason. So, even if JRPGs aren’t your thing, Undertale just might be.
6Kingdom Hearts
The Love Of Disney Is Universal
Kingdom Hearts
It’s a series that was nearly impossible to recommend to newcomers for the longest time, but thanks to the All-in-One package, I can now say that Kingdom Hearts is approachable again. Provided you concentrate, as it’s easy to lose the thread of the story.
But even if the story beats sail right over your head, you’ll still be able to enjoy the fast, real-time combat, much more dynamic than its sister series, Final Fantasy, tends to be.
Plus, if you’re a Disney fan, as most of us are to some degree, you’ll get to explore worlds inspired by Disney’s finest, and meet the stars of each beloved movie.
It’s less about refined builds and strategy as it is hitting QTEs, exploring each world at your leisure, and periodically deciding to change your Keyblade. It’s not rocket science, and that’s why you might just find that this series could surprise you.
5Nier Automata
Defies The Genre Over & Over
NieR: Automata
Fextralife Wiki
It’s really hard to think of a better fit for this list than Nier Automata, a game that serves up all-out action with just a sprinkling of JRPG tradition.
The best way to sell this one is that it’s what happens when the developers of Bayonetta decide to make a JRPG. Instead of turn-based monotony,you’re treated to hack-and-slash bliss.But labeling it as just a hack-and-slash title would be rather reductive.
It’s also a side-scrolling platformer, a bullet hell, a twin-stick shooter, and a narrative-driven epic that delivers an emotional story that practically demands that you play multiple times to get the full picture.
The only downside is that it’s so out-there that it does very little to endear you to other games within the genre. But, in a vacuum, this game just might allow detractors to get their foot in the door as far as JRPGs are concerned.
4Tales of Arise
A Tale For One & All
Tales of Arise
One of the most popular genres in the world of gamingis the open-world genre. Over the last few decades, we have almost come to expect all AAA games to allow us to explore an expansive land with no restrictions. However, that’s not something you get all too often in the JRPG genre.
This is whyTales of Arisemight be an excellent way for players who are typically uninterested in the JRPG genre to get onboard. This game offers a typically fantastical and party-based storyline with all the trappings of a traditional JRPG.
However, you may explore the world at your leisure, engage with a hack-and-slash, real-time combat system that has depth but is also deeply accessible, and progression feels very steady, even if there is a little grinding involved.
It’s not a total departure from the tried-and-tested JRPG blueprint, but it’s pretty much that perfect middle ground between JRPG and Western RPG design, making it a good one to check out.
3Final Fantasy XVI
Unlike The Rest
Final Fantasy 16
I remember when the latest in the long line of mainline Final Fantasy games came out, and I found myself loving it more than I had ever loved a Final Fantasy title before. Yet, for many long-time fans of the series, this was a disappointing new entry that didn’t meet their lofty expectations.
With the power of hindsight, it’s easy to see why, as Final Fantasy XVI feels like a game that is ironically geared more towards fans of sister series, Kingdom Hearts, with loads of QTE prompts, real-time, dynamic combat, and less demanding difficulty.
It’s what I would refer to as the most western Final Fantasy game perhaps ever, and while that rubs JRPG purists up the wrong way, it will delight those that typically steer clear of these games altogether.
Clive’s story is an emotional one, and it’s a game that gives you all the JRPG staples in a palatable and manageable format, so don’t be put off bythe FF games of the pastand hop into this Game of Thrones-esque epic.
2Metaphor: ReFantazio
Persona For Dummies
Metaphor: ReFantazio
While I was tempted to include Persona in the lineup, I eventually talked myself out of it due to that game’s anime-fueled cringy dialogue, which punctuates each story beat.
However, if you want the Persona experience but with a much more mature and palatable story, Metaphor ReFantazio is the way to go.
This game offers simple and accessible turn-based combat that, much like Pokémon, feels like a glorified version of Rock, Paper, Scissors. But, unlike Pokémon and Persona, for that matter, the game uses a much more streamlined job/archetype system instead of the creature-tamer format.
Plus, you also have the Atlus staple of a calendar-based progression system, which means your downtime is just as important as time spent dungeon-crawling and fighting gargantuan monsters.
There’s still a lot of grinding involved in this game, and a handful of more involved systems than most. But, it’s definitely the most approachable Atlus game by some stretch, and one that rivals the Persona series in terms of style and quality.
1Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For Those That Come After
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
One of the biggest gripes that non-JRPG-lovers tend to have with the games in that genre is that the combat is either one of two things. It is either a very slow, strategic, turn-based affair or a mindless button-mashing hack-and-slash title, with very little ever occupying the space between.
Well,Clair Obscuris a game that happily decided to occupy that space between, offering tactical turn-based combat that manages to keep players engaged thanks to a very hands-on approach.
Players need to dodge and parry just about every attack, and failure to do so tends to be fatal, so you can’t just rely on strong builds and a good party setup. You need to take what you learned from games like Sekiro and put it into practice here.
Plus, add into the bargain that you have a mature and emotional story so far removed from typical JRPG narrative tropes,and a runtime that isn’t bloatedat just thirty hours to roll credits, and it all culminates in a seminal and unmissable game, whether you’re a JRPG fanatic or not.
8 Best JRPGS on Xbox Game Pass
JRPGs aren’t the most represented genre on Game Pass, but there’s still a few gems to find.
