Recommended JRPGs
Since I occasionally get asked about this. There are some titles I'd like to list that aren't on Backloggd. A skill issue on the site's part really.
Some of the titles here are 18+. One of them is a gacha game. Many aren't even available in English. Truly, this list is impure.
I've only included games that I played as an adult (age 21+), because quite frankly I had terrible taste as a child and teenager. As such there aren't a lot of older games on this list. Which isn't to say that I haven't played many of them as an adult, just that most of them don't align with my tastes now.
I don't have scores entered for some of these because I already rated them on other sites.
Some of the titles here are 18+. One of them is a gacha game. Many aren't even available in English. Truly, this list is impure.
I've only included games that I played as an adult (age 21+), because quite frankly I had terrible taste as a child and teenager. As such there aren't a lot of older games on this list. Which isn't to say that I haven't played many of them as an adult, just that most of them don't align with my tastes now.
I don't have scores entered for some of these because I already rated them on other sites.
38 Games
The only JRPG on SNES actually still worth playing.
Best dungeon design outside of DRPGs to this day. Story is fun enough. Combat is kinda boring.
Best dungeon design outside of DRPGs to this day. Story is fun enough. Combat is kinda boring.
A victim of its own ambition, but at least it had ambition. I'm less enthusiastic about disc 2 nowadays than I used to be, but despite it all, it's still a masterpiece.
Remained unsurpassed in my mind -- or perhaps my imagination -- for many, many years.
Remained unsurpassed in my mind -- or perhaps my imagination -- for many, many years.
A masterpiece decades ahead of its time. Tight, focused narrative built around its mechanics. Demanding, but ultimately rewarding.
Really, all I need to say is that you can only heal via consumables.
Really, all I need to say is that you can only heal via consumables.
One of the most elaborate and well-realized plots in JRPGs, but very tiresome gameplay and bland characters outside of Maya. Kaneko hadn't gone full Symphogear yet.
Secretly the best Wild ARMs game. One of very few SRPGs with varied win conditions per map. Each map is like a puzzle: you're encouraged to swap jobs to solve the problem presented.
Unlike WA5, this was actually written by Kaneko, so you might as well consider it the actual WA5.
Unlike WA5, this was actually written by Kaneko, so you might as well consider it the actual WA5.
The best Disgaea game. If you want Disgaea, you can't go wrong with this.
The other best Disgaea game. If you want Disgaea, you can't go wrong with this either. Don't be scared off by D6.
Despite the atrocious QoL issues from a modern perspective, still the best SRPG system ever devised. Story starts strong, goes off the rails for a while, then ends strong again.
Best dungeon design in DRPGs. Or any game period for that matter. Very robust job system as well -- there are tons of viable teams and you can come up with some fun builds for individual characters. Hideously long (200+ hours if you want to do postgame) with a pretty bad story.
Elevates a generic HRPG premise through great character writing, snappy pacing, and what can only be described as moments of pure kino. Play it before Demons Roots if you can, but be aware that the existing English localization (now delisted from Steam) is a machine translation.
Sheds the HRPG template of its predecessor to deliver a brilliant, thematically coherent narrative with nary a dull moment. Don't judge it by its RPG Maker cover -- this is one of the greatest triumphs of the JRPG genre.
Even the combat is surprisingly engaging for being the MV default system.
Even the combat is surprisingly engaging for being the MV default system.
Consider this a recommendation for Black Souls II, which isn't listed on Backloggd. A great homage to the Dark Souls series in RPG Maker form, with map design that can hold its own against Fromsoft's.
Do you enjoy flag hunting? Then this is the game for you. A beast of a game that nevertheless comes together very neatly in the end, assuming you have the fortitude to actually find and complete the dozens of seemingly unrelated "side" quests. Has some boomer moments, due to being written by an actual boomer, but the writing itself is pretty solid.
The game that sold me on Rance. One of the deepest explorations of a single nation you'll find in RPGs. Some of the least eclectic... creative gameplay in the series, but it's still solid.
Gameplay sessions are divided into bite-sized chunks -- the titular "quests" -- where each character has a limited number of actions. Each quest is like a miniature routing challenge. Tons of playable characters, which means tons of viable approaches. One of the games I've spent the most time playing, JRPG or otherwise.
A love letter to Japanese games and a grand conclusion to the Rance series. You won't find many games with more content that actually matters. Truly deserving of the descriptor "epic."
Begins as a generic JRPG with a cool setting and incredible music, ends as a not so generic JRPG with a cool setting and incredible music. Followed the pacifist route a decade before Undertale.
More immediately compelling than the first game, though perhaps not as novel by the end. Confident in its identity, as all Tsuchiya games are.
In many ways a haphazard product, with imbalanced combat and a story that feels patched together, but nevertheless truly inspired and visionary. As a meta narrative I would argue that it surpasses even NieR in some ways.
It's NieR. You've probably played it already.
It's NieR Automata. You've definitely played it already.
By no means a good game, and I can certainly understand someone walking away from it with nothing gained, but this is still kind of my favorite Yokoo thing. I am endlessly fascinated by the way the narrative collapses in on itself as you proceed through the game.
Volume 3-4 is some of the most arresting writing in video games, and the rest of the main story ain't half bad either. Great music and it's fun to talk about with your friends.
One of my favorite protagonists; she is so charmingly dysfunctional, in out of her depth in a very human way. Every other part of the game is great too, except for the gameplay... If you can tolerate interminable button mashing for the sake of a Madoka clone, this is the game for you, and I mean that in the best possible way.
OST is by sakuzyo.
OST is by sakuzyo.
People will complain about JRPGs having dull combat, not knowing that everything they want is right here. Nothing but fixed, curated encounters. Robust horizontal progression realized through equipment loadouts. Buffs, debuffs, and status ailments are all meaningful. Rewarding exploration with decent puzzles.
Just don't expect much of a story.
Just don't expect much of a story.
I would say this is both Tsuchiya and Gust's best game to date in a holistic sense. You won't find more considered, nuanced character writing in JRPGs, at least not if you're willing to sit through nearly 200 dates for it. Has Actual Lesbians™.
We don't talk about Sun.
We don't talk about Sun.
A nice introduction to the Atelier series, with fun combat and one of the greatest soundtracks in video game history. I know some people prefer the Ryza series, but it's Mysterious for me.
A huge game with freeform progression more akin to SaGa than Atelier. Has its flaws -- neither the combat nor alchemy are as exciting as Sophie's -- but perfectly elicits the sense of exploring a vast world with little guidance.
A high quality Kirara 4koma in JRPG form. Provides a satisfying conclusion to the Mysterious series, which is the main reason why I put it on this list.
The Mysterious series just can't stop winning. Probably the best Atelier game, and one of Gust's strongest titles period. Great combat and alchemy combined with some actually halfway decent dungeon/field design (no, really). Characters are fun and the story even manages to land some emotional moments by the end.
If you don't mind skipping Sophie 1, this might actually be the best game on this list for a JRPG beginner. It has everything I like about the genre.
If you don't mind skipping Sophie 1, this might actually be the best game on this list for a JRPG beginner. It has everything I like about the genre.
Kamen Rider with a cast of teenage girls and intense SRPG gameplay. Story escalates well and doesn't pull any punches.
A pseudo-sequel to Mahou Shoujo as well as a crossover "fandisc" for all of the games by the creator. Most of the really powerful emotional moments are leaning heavily on character writing from Mahosho, on a scene by scene basis this is one of the most entertaining games I've ever played and I enjoyed every minute of the 70+ hours I spent with it. The SRPG gameplay gets pretty hard, you've been warned.
Fantastic start, competent middle, weak ending, powerful individual moments throughout. One of the strongest scripts in a console game; every single one of the skits is great.
Gameplay is basically just pure trash so don't play it for anything except the story.
Gameplay is basically just pure trash so don't play it for anything except the story.
You can play it in one sitting, and I think that's pretty cool.
Most of what makes Falcom games good, with little of what makes them bad. Probably the company's best title overall.
It's Elden Ring. You cannot tell me you haven't played this already.
Nasu dipping into the well of Utena inspiration and slathering it all over his Buddhism-inspired philosophy. Or something. The combat is actually kind of fun in this one.
My current favorite JRPG and the best game on this list. Dethroned Xenogears for me after 20+ years. Just read my review.
