When you first enter the world of Japanese RPGs, you are immediately drawn to a fascinating story and captivating music that touches your heart. Enjoy a unique world and encounter memorable characters while protecting your people from harm. Let’s explore which JRPGs are the most fun to play.
15. Pokémon Sword and Shield (Nintendo Switch)
Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield Trailer
It's time to squeeze the world's cutest monsters into bitsy balls and fill your Pokédex. Pokémon Sword and Shield takes place in the Galar region, which is similar to the United Kingdom.
Leon, the Galar champion, is your ultimate goal, and obviously, you will only be able to defeat him once you have defeated the eight Gym Leaders. A dedicated team will accompany you throughout your travels.
Fun fact: in Pokémon Sword and Shield, you have a rival named Bede. My mind immediately goes back to Gary Oak, who has 10 badges out of 8. I'm sure there will be some passionate rivalry.
14. Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition (PC, PS 3-4-Vita, Nintendo Switch)
Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition Gameplay
Two great JRPGs in one package. Play Cyber Sleuth, the original Digimon Story, and Hacker's Memory, the sequel.
The giddy digital monsters are back, but this time a bit darker. You follow the story of the Digimon Fusion. Digimon have invaded the real world through mysterious gateways between the digital and real world. The cause of this mystery is unknown, so it's up to you to unleash your inner detective. Defeat 200 different varieties of Digimon and stop the bad guys from destroying the world.
In Hacker's Memory, you take on the role of Keisuke, an amateur hacker. You return to Eden, a popular place for hackers who run a brisk trade in Digimon.
Your account is compromised, so you join the hacker group Hudie and begin your investigation. When the real and digital worlds merge, you realize danger looms.
Enjoy over 100 hours of gameplay and feed your inner collector by filling your Digibank with countless monsters. There is a cool electronic soundtrack, and I was enchanted by the story from the very beginning. If you're a story geek like me, you'll enjoy it.
13. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel (PC, PS 3-4-Vita, Nintendo Switch)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel Trailer
A very successful blend of political intrigue and everyday levity. Trails of Cold Steel is the sequel to the Trails in the Sky series.
Erebonia has been in a political impasse for decades; the royal family wants to modernize and terminate the class system, but the nobility is resistant. The prince of Erebonia introduces Class VII, an experiment that eliminates this distinction.
You attend Erebonia's military academy as Rean Schwarzer, the adopted son of a baron. As part of the experiment, you are placed in the basement of a school with nine other students. As a team, you must find the exit. It is a game of fraternization at its core, and the story is solid.
Combining humor, intrigue, a good combat system, and persona-like elements with over 90 hours of fun. Cold steel is a real page-turner and a must for every JRPG fan.
12. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – definitive edition (PC, PS 4, Nintendo 3DS-Switch, Xbox One, Google Stadia)
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition Review
To get straight to the point, Dragon Quest XI S is a huge game. You'll need at least 80 hours for the main story, but that's no problem at all because the game invites you to keep playing.
To stop the darkness, you must become the Luminary, a hero from the legend of Erdrea. The local kingdom sees you as a bringer of evil and mischief. While on your journey, you meet many memorable adventurers who believe in you.
Fan of 16-BIT JRPGs? Then Dragon Quest XI S has a nice addition for you. You can play the entire game in 16-BIT. It is also very nice to have the option to listen to an orchestral soundtrack.
I consider Dragon Quest XI S to be one of the best JRPGs I've ever played. The game has kept its nostalgia appeal while also looking gorgeous. It’s an enjoyable turn-based JRPG without overly complicated systems.
11. Coromon (PC, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch)
Coromon Official Trailer
Do you miss the golden age of monster-taming games? Are you excited about pixelated worlds, turn-based battles, Zelda-like puzzles, and monsters galore? Come on, and scratch that 'mon itch!
Coromon puts you in the role of a combat researcher at an organization called Lux Solis. Your first day of work seems to be cloudless until a mysterious force attacks your office. But Coromon to the rescue! Prepare to fight, train, and puzzle your way through a world of adventure.
Despite being inspired by the well-known monster-tamers, Coromon has managed to keep its own identity. This game is difficult at all the right times and is capable of taking you into a proper Game Boy Advance ambiance.
10. Octopath Traveler (Pc, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, Xbox One)
Octopath Traveler Trailer
Old-fashioned charm in a modern package. The art style is gorgeous, complemented by HD-2D graphics that make you think of Super NES. This game is every JRPG fan's dream come true.
As a player, you follow the stories of eight heroes traveling through Orsterra. One game, eight main stories. How unique! There is a clerk on a pilgrimage, a teacher in search of a stolen tome, and a merchant in search of an adventure after obtaining a book from an adventurer from the past.
Or become a knight who seeks purpose after his realm is destroyed. A dancer seeking revenge for her father's death, an apothecary seeking wisdom after being rescued as a child by a stranger. A thief whose task is to find a dragon stone. A hunter in search of his mentor.
This game lets you choose your path, which is refreshing. The Celtic music combined with a vivid world that stimulates all your senses made me wipe away many tears.
9. Final Fantasy XV (PC, PS 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia)
FINAL FANTASY XV Trailer
Final Fantasy XV will delight both seasoned fans and newcomers alike. Final Fantasy XV has a real-time action-based combat system and a story that, as we would expect from Final Fantasy, makes you feel like you're on a road trip with your best friends. The story is set in the realistic world of Eos.
As Prince Noctis, you are sent by the king to another kingdom to get married. On a road trip, you are accompanied by three friends (who resemble members of a Japanese boy band) who will do anything to keep you safe.
Your luxury car transports you into a world of magical realism. A collision of modern life and fantasy.
As a big Final Fantasy fan, I enjoyed this game for many hours. The wonderful world with all its secrets is a joy to discover. Despite its flaws and even confusion at times, the game has an astonishing amount of personality.
8. Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 (PC, PS Vita)
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 Trailer
We've all witnessed the console wars and Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 turned this into a plot line. A satire on all things gaming. Featuring good humor and upbeat music with lots of beeps and wails, this game is lighthearted and full of fun.
You wake up with no memory and immediately find yourself in the middle of the story. You play Neptune, a young woman who soon finds out she's a goddess of Planeptune.
There are four factions: Lastation, Leanbox, Lowee, and Planeptune, each with its Goddess. In your search for your identity, you are accompanied by Compa and If.
In true JRPG fashion, there are many dangers around every corner. There are monsters everywhere, and it doesn't take long to discover that mysterious game discs are responsible.
Rebirth1 is an admirable remake of the original PlayStation 3 game and a welcome change from my previous story diving experiences. In this story, I laughed out loud at many points, and I loved the references to the game world.
7. NieR Replicant ver. 1.22474487139… (PC, PS 4, Xbox One)
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... Trailer
In contrast to some games that satisfy a player's fantasy, NieR Replicant fulfills yours by making you miserable. Explore a semi-open world action RPG in search of a cure for your critically ill sister.
A snowstorm is coming and you and your sister, Yonah, must survive. You search for food in an abandoned grocery store. As you watch your sister collapse, a wave of Shades (shady monsters) suddenly attacks. Unfortunately, she's seriously ill.
Before you know it, 1400 years have passed, and humanity is now only a small group of people scattered across several villages.
Technology has disappeared, although some remnants can still be found here and there. Despite not aging, your sister's disease, the Black Scrawl, remains. Of course, you will find a cure!
NieR Replicant took me into a bizarre world filled with pain and sorrow. Several times, I cried with a lump in my throat.
While the smooth combat with realistic visuals can distract you for a moment, Yoko Taro never lets you wait for long before the next punch in the stomach. You get sucked into this story from beginning to end.
6. Persona 4 Golden (PC, PS Vita)
Persona 4 Golden Trailer
Although this PS2 murder-mystery JRPG was already a huge success in 2009, this remake takes it to another level. With a better story, better graphics, and great gameplay, Persona 4 Golden is a breeze!
Tokyo is the setting for this all-anime-style game. You are supposed to spend a year living in the countryside with your uncle and cousin as a high school student. After a few days in the sleepy village, things suddenly turn upside down after you find a body.
It doesn't stop at one death, and before you realize it, you're on a deadly and mysterious quest. The mission of this adventure brings out your special gift, allowing you to summon Personas who fight for you and help you unravel the secrets behind the murders.
What I found most interesting is that while all of this is happening, you still need to keep your life in order. Maintain solid grades, keep in touch with your friends and family, and find a side job.
I never became tired of the story while playing Persona 4 Golden, and that's unique considering this game is good for over 100 hours of fun.
5. Code Vein (PC, PS 4, Xbox One)
Code Vein Trailer
Although Code Vein looks very similar to Souls, it is still a great game. There are exciting attack animations, tricky bosses, and complex mazes with well-hidden gear. Immerse yourself in a world of undead vampires and post-apocalyptic landscapes.
In Code Vein, you play a Revenant, an undead vampire with special abilities. Revenants need blood to survive, but once they run low on blood, they turn into Losts, creatures that become feral and hostile. So, ensure your base is surrounded by treadmills.
After creating your character in a very thorough character-maker, you are taken to Vein, a ruined city. There you are captured and forced to search for Bloodbeads. The supplement works as a substitute for blood, but there isn't enough for everyone.
The number of Revenants turning into Losts is increasing, and you have been chosen to find the source of the Bloodbeads to save mankind.
In this game, the voice acting gives the characters a vivid personality, and you're constantly on the edge of your seat to find out what happens next. Compared to Dark Souls, Code Vein is a lot easier to play, but that also makes it more accessible to casual players.
4. NieR Automata (PC, PS 4, Xbox One)
NieR: Automata Trailer
This game explores the dark sides of man in a dark atmosphere. NieR Automata is a remarkable improvement over NieR. Exceptional combat, music and a strong atmosphere make this action RPG worth playing.
It is you, 2B, a female android who is charged with ridding the earth of robots. Robots have taken over the globe and left humanity with no choice but to flee to the moon. You are accompanied in this impossible task by 9S, a male android skilled at robot hacking.
In NieR, the combat is very advanced, and you're likely to die frequently. In this case, you can get an auto-evade chip, which will do the gameplay for you. Additionally, you can customize your skills using other plug-in chips. As a result, combat becomes entirely personalized.
A journey filled with emotion awaits you in NieR: Automata. I found myself asking questions like: What is life? Does history repeat itself forever? There was a great deal of variety in quests and scenery.
I also enjoyed the fact that I could play both stories of 2B and 9S. It allowed me to experience world events from different perspectives. Finally, a game where the gameplay matches the atmosphere.
3. Tales of Arise (PC, PS 4-5, Xbox One-Series X/S)
Tales of ARISE Trailer
The Tales of Series have been around for a while, and Tales of Arise isn't an innovation. It is, however, the most impressive Tales game with its impressive 3-D battle system. An edgy story with topics such as racism, genocide, and slavery.
The Tales of series are known for their difficult coexistence with other worlds, but this game takes it one step further.
Basically, you have the technologically advanced world of Renan. They have colonized the world of the Dahnan and exploited the Dahnan to generate energy. Rename that racist hierarchy and make it history.
Tales of Arise creates a fantasy world that players want to be a part of. One of the strongest features of the game is its strategic combat, which also has excellent graphics. It has a plot that grabs you by the arm and never lets us go.
2. Monster Hunter Rise (PC, Nintendo Switch)
Monster Hunter: Rise Trailer
Despite being relatively short, Monster Hunter Rise tells a compelling story. Play as a monster hunter and choose from fourteen different weapon types to suit your play style. This is primarily a progression-based game.
If you defeat more monsters, you'll have more material for improving your armor and weapons. As Rise's entry-level has been lowered, the platform lends itself well to first-time users.
The game places you in the Japanese-inspired village of Kamura, overrun by raging monsters. You will need to chase the monsters away, identify the source, and neutralize the danger. The story revolves around the inhabitants of the village. A village bursting with life.
I highly recommend this game to people who have never played Monster Hunter. Gameplay is never drawn out, and you are always thrown into the action right away.
Despite a short story, the variety in gameplay more than compensates for it. It's a beautiful audiovisual game, and are you a fan of action games? Then this game will surely please you.
1. Final Fantasy XIV Online (PC, PS4-5)
Final Fantasy XIV Online Trailer
Something extraordinary happened in 2011. Following the heavily criticized 1.0 world of Final Fantasy XIV, A Realm Reborn rose from the ashes. It was followed by a decade-long emotional journey.
The adventure includes fighting dragons, exploring high-tech, and visiting the past and other worlds. You will be captivated by characters that make you laugh, cry, and leave you amazed.
It all takes place in Eorzea. A world filled with elves, cute dwarfs, giants, dragons, cat- and rabbit people, and other creatures.
As a member of the Seventh Dawn, you shield the world from danger and help turn around one calamity after another. You will face many creatures in dungeons and raids, and fight huge monsters in single boss trials.
The character you create is highly customizable. Become BFFs with the beast tribes and gain reputation, and fight in PVP arenas to fill your glamour chest with beautiful pieces.
You can also grind for shiny weapons and badass armor in the war zones of Bozja and Eureka. It is even possible to buy and decorate a house or apartment and hang out with your neighbors.
Final Fantasy XIV is a fantastic game, and it is an experience that will last a lifetime. It is a game where you can make friends for life and be continuously challenged by the storyline.
It is a world filled with activity, and you can pursue whatever interests you. I was moved to tears by the music. In short, a life changer.
