2023 has been an incredibly turbulent year. While I wasn’t directly affected by it, Hurricane Hilary’s remnants still dropped a fantastical amount of rain where I live in Nevada. The torrential rain made me wish I had more time to enjoy gaming but my obligations won out—I still had a job to go to and other responsibilities to fulfill.
However, that will not stop me from going over my list of recent JRPG’s that has either come out this year or is coming out soon that you should take the time to check out. It would make my heart soar if any of my recommendations make anyone’s day. So without further ado, let’s begin.
The List
10) WrestleQuest
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Available Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Netflix Games
Arm strength? Core body training? How about leg day? Well, you don’t have to bother with any of those things when you have this fresh take on the nostalgic wrestling game. Inspired by real-life wrestling legends, WrestleQuest applies a turn-based twist on the classic competitive wrestling games where the fights are not all that there is; fighting is not all there is to this game as you can choose between attacking normally, using items, calling in an assist, or using gimmicks that can tie in to special moves powered by the Hype Meter (so keep an eye on it as it does affect your score!).
Not only do you explore a toybox-styled world (where else would you find a pile of coffee creams under a Randy Savage statue?), pretty much every character is a toy—wrestlers are action figures while other characters can be cute effigies of Barbie, Mr. Potato Head, and your classic dinosaur toys. Embark on a journey with Randy Santos and the Logan Brothers as they fight to save not only the world but also the world of professional wrestling.
9) Live A Live (Remake)
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Available Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
The first remake on our list, Live A Live was originally released in 1994 for the Super Famicom (otherwise, the SNES). Remastered with HD-2D graphics, this classic game developed by the now-defunct Square follows eight different protagonists through nine scenarios wherein the protagonist confronts a powerful enemy whose name incoporates the word “Odio” in some shape or form.
The remake beautifully combines the basic gameplay of the original while adding features that allow for further ease of play—for example, bars were added to represent a character’s health and “charge time” before a powerful move is executed. What mysteries will new fans uncover and what changes will returning fans praise or lambast? Only by playing it will we know.
Returning to the classics, Pray Game is a turn-based RPG focusing on the ethereal Alcy who found herself lost on the island of Anatol. For her to escape, she has to elude the capture of the Cell Inspectors who would most certainly question her for the unusual changes experienced by her personal Cell—a magical device tied to its user’s life!
As one would expect from a JRPG with a female protagonist, there are many questionable situations you can put her in, including but not limited to exceedingly racy events that are not quite so wholesome (performing the “activities” in real life will not only leave you ridiculed but also put you in jail!). The only way to avoid putting Alcy through suffering is to visit the island of Anatol and assist her in evading capture.
7) Eternights
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Available Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
When going through the titles and making my selections, I didn’t necessarily expect that I would discuss a dating sim… Despite my bias, Eternights does a fantastic job combining romantic elements with the gritty hack-and-slash of action RPGs. While the gameplay system is almost immediately recognized by hardcore JRPG fans of the flagship Persona franchise to be a near-similar process, this has not taken away from the game’s enjoyment. Receiving mixed to positive reviews, the game pleases its fans with stellar voice acting, magnificent musical composition, and a compelling storyline (albeit fans argue over which route is best and which heroine to simp for).
6) Octopath Traveler II
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Available Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S)
Sequel to Octopath Traveler which is in itself a sequel to the mobile game Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, Octopath Traveler II is in fact the inspiration for the Live A Live remake—the HD-2D graphics utilized in Live A Live is originally from the development of the Octopath Traveler franchise. Played as a traditional JRPG, the player follows eight different characters who each travel with their own purpose (title drop!).
Unlike the medievel setting of its predecessor, Octopath Traveler II instead goes for the steampunk aesthetic with its completely new setting in the world of Solistia. As someone who has not played this game, I may just splurge for a copy simply to follow the story of Castti Florenz, an apothecary with retrograde amnesia who journeys through the world for the purposes of restoring her recollections of her past—her story must be a beautiful mystery.
5) Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
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Available Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Set in an alternate dark fantasy interpretation of the setting of the original Final Fantasy games, Jack and his companions move to destroy chaos as the foretold Warriors of Light, however, these heroes have doubts on whether or not they are indeed the ones foretold of. Developed to celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Final Fantasy franchise, it has received mixed to average reviews with the general opinion being that this game is not for everyone despite how much the Final Fantasy name might draw people in. It is a Team Ninja action game first and an oddball isekai story second—Stranger of Paradise is no stranger to displaying its weaknesses on its sleeve. Nevertheless, I would most certainly recommend it as a huge fan of dark fantasy stories.
4) Like a Dragon: Ishin! (Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! Kiwami)
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Available Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
The second remake on our list, Like a Dragon: Ishin! was originally released as a Japan-exclusive in February 2014 for the PlayStation 3 and its successor. However, the developer made the decision to remake the game following the success of Ghost of Tsushima which shared Like a Dragon’s premise of a historical samurai setting. A spinoff of the Like a Dragon series (Western fans will most commonly recognize this from its former name, Yakuza), players follow Sakamoto Ryouma who traverses the chaotic Bakumatsu period of Edo Japan as he searches for the assassin of his father figure. With an expansive combat system and fun minigames, this remake of a beloved entry in the Like a Dragon series should find a spot in your plan-to-play lists.
3) Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
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Available Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, iOS
As we enter the top three, I present to you a game that is less something you play than something you read as the only visual novel on this list. Set in the 1980s within Tokyo’s Sumida Ward, the plot centers around the titular “Seven Mysteries of Honjo”, supernatural urban legends that curse several poor souls one day. As the player, you must follow the storyline and make choices—some of which will lead to a “bad end” where the character you follow dies.
Don't worry, you will be allowed to go back to the most recent choice and see which alternative will lead you away from that bad end. As a huge fan of visual novels, I highly recommend this multiple-route murder mystery—it will keep you thinking for days on end.
2) Sword Art Online: Last Recollection
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Available Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Coming in second is one of my favorite franchises of all-time (yes, sue me) finishing off their illustrious gameverse with Sword Art Online: Last Recollection. Having been a huge fan of the SAO series ever since watching the first episode of the anime in 2012, I have followed all of the games with a cult-like fervor.
It continues the story from where the story left off from in the gameverse’s previous entry, Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris, covering what is canonically referred to as the “War of Underworld”—a subarc of the massive Alicization Arc as a whole. Join Kirito and his friends as he tries to stop an unnecessary war from happening with the assistance of Dark Knight, Dorothy!
1) The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie (Hajimari no Kiseki)
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Available Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Topping off this list is the most recent addition to the English line of one of my favorite childhood RPG franchises, Trails into Reverie (or as I knew it, Hajimari no Kiseki). Having had experience in both the original Japanese releases as well as the worldwide versions (as I had the opportunity to visit Japan on vacation and played these games like crazy while there), Trails into Reverie is a traditional turn-based JRPG.
For those who have played Trails of Cold Steel, they would be an old hand at the gameplay system of Trails into Reverie. While simple, the compelling story will keep you occupied, especially if you are a returning player who has played through the Crossbell and Erebonia Arcs.
CONCLUSION
Overall, 2023 has been a pretty decent year for JRPG’s and games based on the JRPG concept. For gamers of this niche such as myself, this is truly welcome news as more and more people become interested in our little universe. Of course, as with all game concepts, not everyone will be a fan of them—and that’s entirely okay.
I have no intentions of forcing any of these games on anyone—I merely bring them to your attention that maybe perhaps one day, you too may give them a go and join myself and other fans in our little universe.
