Which upcoming JRPGs are we all dying to play?
With the excitement of this year’s E3 and PAX well behind us, it’s time to look forward and see what the future brings. Grab your favorite Pokémon plushie and cue up One Winged Angel on your playlist, because we’re looking at the top 10 JRPGs that are planned to release between 2019 and 2023.
10. Project Re: Fantasy
Project Re Fantasy Concept Art
A surprising game coming out of Atlus, Project Re: Fantasy is charting entirely new territory for the studio. Developers who worked on the Persona series are now turning their attention away from modern settings and towards something more fantasy based. However, they are not interested in following the tradition of games inspired by Tolkien or D&D. Director Hoshino Katsura has stated hopes that with their unique perspective as veteran game devs who are new to the genre, they can forge their own path and create a new kind of fantasy story.
There aren’t any pictures of gameplay yet, but the concept art can give us a few clues about the game.
The Fool’s Journey of tarot cards is one of the major influences shaping this game.
9. Persona 6
While few details currently exist regarding what direction this game will take, there is no question that fans are clamoring to see more from this franchise after Persona 5 rocked us with its style, depth, and addictive gameplay. All of the Persona games so far have been urban fantasy JRPGs set in modern day Japan, and it’s likely that Persona 6 will follow suit. Each game in this series explores the human psyche, with the Shadows and Demons you fight being directly influenced by human thought. Atlus, which produced both the Persona series and the Shin Megami Tensei series as a whole, began recruiting talent last year to help make the next Persona game outshine its predecessors.
8. Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy VII Remake - Official reveal trailer shown at E3 2015
This game’s big reveal at E3 2015 got everyone excited, and it’s no wonder. In a series known for its masterful stories, Final Fantasy VII has captured more hearts than any other, with the original selling a staggering 11 million copies. News about the game has been slim since those first two trailers, and rumors about a rocky development were beginning to dim hope that this game would see completion. But after this year’s E3 disappointed fans who wanted new information about the game, director Nomura Tetsuya stated that he will be turning his full attention to it after the release of Kingdom Hearts III.
What we know so far: this will be far more than a mere appeal to nostalgia. Aspects of the story will be changed, and the Active Time Battle system of the original will be replaced with a real time battle system reminiscent of the one in Final Fantasy XV. The game will be divided into multiple parts in order to keep from having to cut anything out. At such an early stage in the game’s development it’s hard to say how much of what we’ve seen so far will be part of the final game, but it’s already clear that this one will be worth the wait.
It’s time to once again face one of the most iconic villains in the history of video games!
The swords are definitely not a metaphor for something.
7. Shenmue III
Shenmue3 ShenhuaProphecy Trailer
The re-release of Shenmue and Shenmue II this year by Sega AM2 renewed interest in the series, just in time to whet our appetites for the long-awaited third game. Set in Guilin, China, Ys Net’s Shenmue III continues the story of Ryo Hazuki’s quest to avenge his father. It also develops the relationship between Ryo and Ling Shenhua, the mysterious girl who first appeared to him in his dreams.
The first two Shenmue games were groundbreaking with a degree of freedom that inspired the open world style of games, though launching on the short-lived Sega Dreamcast kept them from reaching a wider audience. They incorporated a ton of mini-games, from forklift racing to a fully functional arcade. You can bet that there will be plenty to do and explore in this game too, managing both the story and Ryo’s everyday life. There’s still plenty of time to catch up on the first two games if you haven’t already; Shenmue III won’t release until August 2019.
The bandage is purely for looks.
The martial arts of the Shenmue games are based on real-life Ju-Jutsu.
6. Witchbrook
What We Know About Witchbrook by DangerouslyFunny
Fans of Stardew Valley are now eagerly awaiting the completion of Chucklefish’s next project: Witchbrook, an RPG/Simulator set in a Harry Potter style wizard school. The game is gorgeous, with lovingly drawn Ghibli-inspired environments, and will feature crafting, farming, potion-making, and magic systems for you to get engrossed in. Witchbrook will also have a greater focus on romance, with more realistic relationships than the simple “talk, give a present, repeat” of Stardew Valley. Of course, teen romance is a fickle thing; treating your partner badly will get you dumped. Overall, it’s shaping up to be an addictive and beautiful game, and we can’t wait to see how it turns out.
This café looks like a good place to go on a date with your pixel partner.
In the forest players can try out the magical skills they’ve learned.
5. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! - Official Trailer
A dangerously cute game aimed at newcomers and veterans alike, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! let players go on a Kanto region adventure inspired by Pokémon Yellow Version. Battle gym leaders, face the notorious Team Rocket, and travel the land and sea in search of new Pokémon to befriend. In addition to that, Pokémon caught in the mobile ARG Pokémon GO can be brought into these new games, giving you new ways to play with the Pokémon you already love. The Poké Ball Plus controller can be used instead of a regular Switch controller for a more immersive experience, and you can even carry around one of your Pokémon in it to play with outside of the game. Of course, we are still waiting for any new details about the next core Pokémon game, but in the meantime, this is a great game to itch that scratch.
Battle wild Pokémon to catch them and add them to your team.
High five!
4. Code Vein
CODE VEIN - Release Date Announcement
Next on the list is a game with far darker themes. Originally set to be released this year, this action RPG by Bandai Namco was delayed until 2019. The story centers on the Revenants, a group of former humans who gave up their memories and embraced a life of vampiric bloodlust to survive the end of humanity. The landscape has been pierced with strange thorns and the mindless Lost wander the land searching for prey. The trailers for this game have dropped tantalizing hints at various aspects of the story, but for now we just know that it’s dark and dramatic—exactly how a good vampire story should be.
Apparently dress code requires all Revenants to wear a suitably stylish mask.
The combat is flashy, bloody, and melee-focused.
3. Shin Megami Tensei V
Shin Megami Tensei V Announcement Trailer
Next up, we’re entering the creepy world crawling under the skin of urban Japan: Shin Megami Tensei V. This new game in the Shin Megami Tensei series is being made for the Switch, to take advantage of the console’s combination of high def graphics and portability. Elements that we loved in past games such as demon training will be included, but Atlus is also looking at adding some new things to give the game a unique identity. Development of Shin Megami Tensei V is going faster than usual due to the game engine allowing for more trial and error; hopefully, this means we can get our hands on this game very soon.
A group of demons shown in the reveal trailer.
This lady from the second trailer is having a bad day.
2. Fire Emblem Three Houses
Fire Emblem Three Houses - Official Game Trailer
Next we’re looking at an epic tale of clashing nations. This sixteenth title of the Fire Emblem series by Intelligent Systems will be released in Spring 2019. Its tactical combat will refine and improve upon the system established by previous games, with better cutscenes, clearer UI, and troop formations. While not a whole lot is known about the story yet, we do know that the world will be opened up compared to previous games, letting you roam in a 3D environment and interact more with characters in between sessions of kicking butt on the battlefield. Since the depth of characters is one thing that sets this series apart from other tactics-based games, it’s great to see that aspect getting a bigger role.
Lead your troops to victory in strategic formations.
Sword or axe. It’s a tough choice!
1. Kingdom Hearts III
KINGDOM HEARTS III – E3 2018 Pirates of the Caribbean Trailer
The game that started off as a goofy collaboration between two unlikely partners blossomed into the Kingdom Hearts franchise we know and love, and it just keeps getting better. Along with the complex stories and beautiful graphics that we’ve come to expect from Square Enix is the lighthearted cartoon silliness of Disney, and the two merge together into something wonderful. The familiar worlds of movies and games you know are made new as you travel between them, wielding the mysterious Keyblade and accompanied by Donald Duck and Goofy. The enemies are both cute and a little creepy, never quite getting too dark for the overall tone of the game.
Kingdom Hearts III isn’t just expanding on the worlds we can visit—it will feature the final showdown between Sora and Xenahort, marking the resolution of the first major story arc of Kingdom Hearts. If you haven’t played the first two games already, now would be a good time to catch up--Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Remix include both of the first two main games with some added content, and are available for the PS4. And let’s face it—bashing the forces of darkness with a giant key is just so satisfying.
Some of these worlds are so well made it’s hard to tell them from the original movies!
Would it be safer to fly around the spinning satellites of death? Nah.
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