The JRPG is a staple of gaming history, introducing massive spanning stories and character level progression way back in the early days of Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger, just to name a few.
To this day, Japan still pumps out hit after hit in the iconic style of the region. So it’s no wonder that one of the country’s leading consoles is the best place to find these amazing games.
So, out of all the titles of the genre these are the ones that land on PS4 that deserve the most praise.
15. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise gameplay
Based on the legendary anime series, Lost Paradise puts players in control of Kenshiro’s fists as you punch your way through waves of enemies in the post-apocalyptic Eden. With a similar martial arts based combat system as seen in the Yakuza series, plus the addition Hidden Channeling Points system, the game brings a level of combat forward like little else out there.
What makes Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise great:
- Flowing combat moves seamlessly between striking enemies and executing cinematic finishers via QTE.
- Use your power to devastate waves upon waves of enemies.
- Fight epic boss battles against some of the strongest fighters in the series.
Face off against fearsome enemies.
Take on dozens of fighters and emerge victorious.
14. Persona 5
Persona 5 gameplay
Easily one of the best games of this console generation, JRPG or otherwise, the latest installment into the Persona series breathes new life into the dying world of turn-based RPGs. As the protagonist Joker, you’ll mingle with friends in high school, explore the city, and at night, dive into the Metaverse to utilize the power of your personas do to battle with the lingering darkness of humanity. But it’s not all fun and games, sometimes you actually have to talk to people.
What makes Persona 5 great:
- Fight for your life against the manifestations of the darkness of humanity that linger in the Metaverse.
- Travel through high school and around the city as you build connection, uncover the deeper meanings behind the corruption within the Metaverse, and even make new friends.
- Summon unique personas for each character that can destroy your enemies with powerful abilities.
Gather your team and explore the dark realm of the Metaverse.
Spend your days as an ordinary high school student.
13. Disgaea 5
Disgaea 5 gameplay
Coming from a long running series, Disgaea 5 brings unholy power into turn-based tactics combat. With characters that can summon the power of an Overlord to clear out squads of enemies in a single well placed blow, it takes the hero-strategy from games like Warcraft 3 and implements it perfectly within a turn-based system that has been molded over years of the series’ development.
What makes Disgaea 5 great:
- Command a powerful squad of would-be Overlords to tear through the battlefield.
- Transform into Overlords and command an incredible power to destroy anyone foolish enough to stand in your way.
- Battle against god tier enemies as you carve through the underlings of the current Overlord.
Gather your squad and destroy your enemies.
Surge your power through the waves of monsters that stand between you and Void Dark.
12. Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 gameplay
Buried under this mouthful of a title is a fairly involved, turn-based game with tons of flashy animations and thrilling combat. You’ll play as Neptune, a fallen goddess, as you try to regain your memories. Most important is uncovering the truth of why the other three goddesses banished you from your rightful place among them in the first place.
What makes Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 great:
- Tons of costume options allows for endless customization.
- Fast-paced action keeps combat feeling intense and fun as you control your character’s every action across the battlefield.
- Story driven paneled scenes pull you right into the epic adventure.
Plot out how to use your AP to best destroy the monsters that stand in your way.
Gear up and customize your girls as you head into combat.
11. Shenmue 3
Shenmue 3 gameplay
This long awaited sequel is finally being released (as long as all the delays don’t persist), much to the joy of fans of the Shenmue series. Picking up right where the second game left off, Shenmue 3 follows Ryo Hazuki as he attempts to uncover the truth behind his father’s murder and identify the true killer. This is likely the most anticipated game on this list considering the cliffhanger Shenmue 2 ended on almost twenty years ago.
What makes Shenmue 3 great:
- The same combat that players fell in love with in Shenmue 1 & 2 has been brought into the current gaming generation.
- Tons of mini-games offers hours of extra entertainment in the classic Shenmue style veteran players love.
- Finally giving closure to a game series that ended on a cliffhanger two console generations ago.
Make masterful use of your martial arts skills to survive.
Take a break from finding your father’s killer to relax with some mini-games.
10. Dragon Quest 11
Dragon Quest 11 gameplay
This is the latest installment of the Dragon Quest series and the first return back to home consoles since Dragon Quest VIII. With striking artwork by Akira Toriyama, well known for Dragon Ball A-Z and now into Super, and an active turn-based system reminiscent of the Final Fantasy series’ ATB mechanics, longtime fans have been rewarded for their patience with a main series title with one of the best JRPGs in recent memory.
What makes Dragon Quest 11 great:
- An active battle system keeps players on alert during battle, because indecision could mean your own demise.
- Huge dungeons filled with monsters offer hours of thrilling gameplay on top of a sprawling story that drives the player through the game.
- Lovingly drawn characters and monsters give a light, anime feel to the world familiar to fans of this series and other Toriyama franchises like Chrono Trigger.
Battle against all sorts of monsters, ranging from new fantastic beasts to familiar fan favorites.
Strike with all your might to defeat the fearsome monsters that plague the world.
9. Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 gameplay
It’s hard to place this game as the latest installment of the famed Yakuza series. Being that it’s a prequel it technically takes position as the oldest story, but at the same time the most recent to release. However, most players won’t really care about the semantics once they’ve been dragged in by the intense, flowing combat, endless mini-games, and captivating story. That is, if you can get off the dance floor long enough to pick the story back up again.
What makes Yakuza 0 great:
- Tons of amazing mini-games like karaoke offer hours of extra gameplay and one of the most entertaining platinum hunts on the PS4.
- Combat has a masterful flow to it that allows players to tear through gangs with cinematic precision.
- Controlling two characters keeps the story fresh as you have to hop between both and slowly uncover the plots both are being driven through.
Beat on thugs to teach them a lesson for trying to get in your way.
Just dance the night away!
8. Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom gameplay
The sequel to the game that brought the legendary style of Studio Ghibli into the 3D realm makes good on its predecessors success. With a more active combat system than the original and a whole new real-time strategy mode that has you controlling a small army across large, open fields Ni no Kuni II improves on the original game in almost every way. The addition of the buildable kingdom is a key new feature as well, making the world feel much more alive than the original did. A trend that is likely (well, hopefully) to continue on until we get at least a proper trilogy.
What makes Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom great:
- The new battle system actually has players in charge of each attack as opposed to simply passively controlling a set of monsters, creating a more immersive experience.
- Studio Ghibli’s style looks fantastic and brings a comfortably familiar element to the game.
- Fight against the giant protectors of the world and cure them of the corruption that has spread across the lands.
Master your skills to dispatch the monsters that block your path.
Command your army and control the battlefield.
7. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III gameplay
The third game in the Trails of Cold Steel branch of the Legend of Heroes series continues from a year after the second game in the series left off. Prepare to fight for your life against monsters, enemy soldiers, and even powerful mechs. Don’t forget to utilize your S-Craft abilities to come out on top of your enemies.
What makes The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III great:
- An intricate combat system, complete with skills, link attacks, and S-Craft abilities, creates complex enemy encounters that are fun and flashy.
- Each attack is a flourish of lights, and movements, creating a highly stylized playing experience.
- Intense, story driven gameplay keeps the player engrossed for at least fifty hours of gameplay.
Choose your skills carefully to survive against challenging foes.
You’ll need more than your own strength to survive in times of war.
6. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster gameplay
The rerelease of one of the greatest games in the entire PS2 library comes with a number of bonuses, including the first direct sequel to any Final Fantasy game as well as extra content that never made it to North America before. As a two in one combination, play both Final Fantasy X and X-2 and relive the adventures of Titus and Yuna as they save the world and desperately cling to each other. And for players who have somehow never played the gems before, you’re in for a classic treat with this complete set of gaming gold.
What makes Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster great:
- The addition of the dark aeon fights along with Penance gives some of the most challenging fights in all of Final Fantasy.
- In true Final Fantasy style, both X and X-2 have fantastic mini-games in the forms of Blitzball and Sphere Break.
- New HD enhancements bring the games to life in the modern era of gaming with new textures and a brand new aspect ratio.
You’ll need to gather great strength to survive Bevelle’s assassins and their Dark Aeons.
Dress the girls up to get them ready to dish out some pain.
5. Tales of Zestiria
Tales of Zestiria gameplay
A worthy installment in the Tales series, Zestiria makes players the Shepard, a legendary worrier tasked with fighting the darkness of humanity and uniting people with the angelic Seraphim that inhabit the world. With an active battle system familiar to Tales fans and powerful skills to master, the journey will be an exciting one to last hours.
What makes Tales of Zestiria great:
- Active battle system allows the player to combine attacks with your Seraphim outlines.
- Beautifully rendered graphics and animated scenes create a cinematic feel to the story.
- Strong, story-driven gameplay pulls you along for well over forty hours.
Command epic skills to assault your enemies.
Explore the vast world as you strive to save the world from humanities Malevolence.
4. Bloodborne
Bloodborne gameplay
A somewhat strange addition to this list, mostly because many fans suggest that JRPGs should have an anime art style or be littered with all of the usual clichés, but you’d be wrong not to include this PS4 exclusive onto this list due to its expertly crafted third-person combat, and the simple fact that the developer, From Software, is a Japanese company. In Bloodborne you’re tasked with…well, not much actually. There is a vague indication that you need to find the old blood, or palebloods, or something about blood, and then something about a hunt, but soon you’ll find yourself so overrun by monsters and fighting for your life in terrifying Nightmare Frontiers that you’ll find that motivation matters less than slicing your way through beastly enemies.
What makes Bloodborne great:
- Dozens of weapon choices, each with alternate fighting options, gives players a massive selection of ways to play.
- Battle against people twisted into giant beasts along with disturbing Lovecraftian monsters.
- Travel through the devastated town of Yharnam and discover the truth of the blood and the hunt.
It won’t be easy, but as long as you struggle and learn from failure, you can destroy anything.
Explore Yharnam and battle against beasts and hunters alike.
3. Tales of Berseria
Tales of Berseria gameplay
Another entry comes from the Tales series, again adding an amazing installment to the long running franchise. This newest addition to the series continues to improve on the combat of previous games. Berseria does right by its namesake by creating a beautiful world to explore through and challenging enemy encounters to survive.
What makes Tales of Berseria great:
- Action packed combat balances chaotic visuals with intense enemies in a series of fast paced challenges.
- A compelling story drives players through over forty magical hours of gameplay
- Veteran players will be rewarded with a well-crafted game in the style they love and deserve.
Keep your head if you intend to keep it attached through intense battles.
Highlighted story elements drive the gameplay onward.
2. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth gameplay
This is the game that Digimon fans have been longing for since the series appeared over two decades ago. While other games like Pokemon have been getting more and more games every few years, Digimon hasn’t delivered on their potential in the way they should for at least two console generations, but Cyber Sleuth finally changes all of that. Players will explore through the Digiverse with one of three starter Digimon with others to collect along the way as they battle other creatures and uncover the secrets hidden within the digital world.
What makes Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth great:
- Monster vs monster battle system makes each individual monster its own unique challenge and weapon.
- With 249 Digimon to choose from, there are endless possibilities for how to craft your team.
- New Game Plus opens up a brand new adventure with all of your old stats, items, and Digimon so you can try out some new approaches on old conflicts.
Command your Digimon properly to defeat each opponent you come across.
Explore the near infinite Digiverse with your Digimon friends in tow.
1. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana gameplay
The eighth installment of the incredible Ys series comes with everything that long-time fans would recognize. A story expressed in in-engine scenes as well as fully animated sequences, and action packed gameplay reward players who have been yearning to explore this world once again. With mobility at the forefront of combat, you’ll find yourself flying around the air and land as you destroy your enemies.
What makes Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana great:
- Animated scenes feel like being rewarded with an epic series as you conquer gripping challenges.
- The world’s open plains and sprawling dungeons allow the player to move around enemies and fight on their own terms.
- Properly executed battle skills create a rhythm in combat that rewards players for mastering each character.
Master your battle skills to survive against fearsome monsters.
Build your team carefully if you want to survive in this hostile world.
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