One of the things I love most aboutJRPGsis that even when their world is rooted in our reality, the game’s universe always manages to weave in captivating, whimsical elements.
There’s always a rich tapestry of races, monsters, and uniquely designed creatures brimming with charm and mysticism that only Japan-made RPGs seem to deliver.
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This applies to party members and extra companions, like mounts. While creating this list, we realized no horse was mentioned, and perhaps that goes to show just how out there JRPG worlds tend to be.
Mounts often feature ingames with expansive open worldsor even classic JRPGs that employ overworld maps in a distant, nostalgic past.
The mounts listed here prove that JRPGs are among the most creative mediums for discovering new worlds, each filled with distinctive lore and fantastic creatures that ignite the player’s imagination.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster HunterWildshasn’t even been released yet, but I played enough of the beta to already love Seikret, our trusty mount that’s always by our side.
Palamutes could’ve been a contender here, butSeikretjust feels more like a proper mount, especially since it gets a killer cut scene right at the start of the game.
InMonster Hunter Wilds, we hunt monsters across massive maps filled with collectibles, smaller enemies, and our colossal targets.
Seikret is always just a whistle away. Besides carrying items, like our second weapon, it can even automatically pursue your prey while you’re riding.
Sure, that’s more of a game design feature than the Seikret, but it shows how the Bird Wyverns are incredibly useful and efficient as hunting companions.
Tales of Symphonia
As stated before, JRPGs excel at creating mounts with unique, distinct, and adorable designs. This is how Noishe was born.
The best thing about Noishe inTales of Symphoniais how Lloyd, his owner, insists that Noishe is just an ordinary dog—despite it being glaringly obvious he’s anything but.
Noishe is sweet, loyal, and a total scaredy-cat when it comes to monsters. This was probably a clever way to justify why he doesn’t join Lloyd in battle.
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Games like Kingdom Hearts 2 and Persona 3 took their respective series in bold new directions.
While Lloyd stubbornly calls him a dog, Noishe is actually a Protozoan, the first race to ever exist in theTales of Symphoniaworld.
Protozoans evolve along a weird evolutionary line, starting as fish-like creatures, transforming into bird-like forms, and finally becoming something suited for land. Noishe is sort of dog-like, but still not a dog, Lloyd.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R
TheStar Oceanseries is known for its recurring elements, like Welch, the Item Creation system, and the Air Slash battle art.
But one feature that deserves more love is Bunny, a giant, adorable, fluffy rabbit mount.
Bunny is a sort of mascot for theStar Oceanfranchise. He serves as a mount in half of the mainline games, while in others, they’re a prized runner on the Bunny Races.
In the original versions ofStar Ocean’s first and second installments, anyone wanting to explore the overworld benefits greatly from Bunny. Not only are they fast, but they also avoid random encounters.
Sadly, Bunny isn’t as well-recognized as other JRPG mascots. But perhaps the blame lies more withStar Oceanitself, afantastic series slowly fading into obscurity.
Visions of Mana
TheManaseries has a roster of magical creatures spanning its many entries, and some of those are mounts, like Vuscav, the giant turtle, or the newcomer Pikuls fromVisions of Mana.
But none is more memorable than Flammie, the flying dragon who’s been around sinceSecret of Mana.
Flammie typically joins the party late in the game, just when you’re circling the globe for the final dungeons or bosses to save the Mana Tree.
Her theme song is always the same, an upbeat, cheerful tune that perfectly matches the childlike wonder of embarking on an adventure. Because that’s exactly what’s happening in everyManagame.
And let’s be real: Flammie is a dragon. Nothing tops having a dragon as your mount. She’s the ultimate companion and an undeniable legend.
Pokemon Violet
Pokemon VioletandScarletbuilt on the formula ofPokemon Legends: Arceusto create a sprawling, beautiful, open world.
And if there’s one constant truth about open-world JRPGs, they’ll always provide a faster way to get around. ForPokemon Violet, that choice was Miraidon, a legendary Pokemon.
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Leveling up is just the beginning.
In Paldea, playersautomatically acquire Miraidon—or Koraidon, if you’re playingPokemon Scarlet—right after a special announcement from the Academy Director.
Once atop Miraidon, players are free to explore the regions of Paldea and tackle any of the three main questlines the game offers.
Miraidon is one of the most versatile mounts in thePokemonworld. If you thought Pikachu learning Surf was cool, know that this legendary dragon can surf, climb, and even glide. Best of all? It transforms into a motorcycle. Best. Pokémon. Ever.
Drakengard
Drakengardis a cult classic for the PlayStation 2 that more JRPG fans should experience. The problem is that the game remains stuck on Sony’s old console.
The game puts you in the shoes of Caim, who makes a pact with a red dragon named Angelus in exchange for his ability to speak.
The gameplay inDrakengardfeels reminiscent of musou titles, where your lone protagonist faces off against hordes of enemies. Well, “lone” only on land because Caim can summon Angelus and take to the skies, raining fire down on the battlefield.
Flying with Angelus is immensely satisfying. Breathing fire and watching enemies fall is pure fun, elevating the combat experience to new heights.
The game also features stages dedicated to aerial combat, focusing solely on launching fireballs with Angelus while performing evasive maneuvers.
Angelus isn’t just a striking and imposing mount inDrakengard; she’s a core part of the design that makes the game what it is.
Final Fantasy
It’s impossible to talk about mountable creatures in games and not think ofChocobos. I’m not even limiting this to JRPGs. This applies to the gaming industry as a whole.
These giant birds have become one of the most prominent mascots of theFinal Fantasyfranchise. Since their introduction inFinal Fantasy II, they’ve likely appeared in every mainline entry.
In some games, they don’t serve as mounts, but in many others, they absolutely shine in that role. Chocobos returned in full force inFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth, where each color represents a distinct type with unique abilities.
Beyond their appearances as adorable creatures in the main titles, Chocobos have starred in their own spinoffs, likeChocobo’s DungeonandChocobo Racing, showcasing the mascot’s potential.
Even inFinal Fantasy XV, where we had the Regalia to drive around Eos, I preferred traveling on a Chocobo because it felt more fantastical than cruising in a convertible.
You might not have played a singleFinal Fantasygame, but I bet you’d still recognize a Chocobo if one appeared before you. Well, on a screen, I mean.
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