The JRPG genre has come a long way since its early years, branching out from its basic fantasy roots to encompass a wide range of unique and memorable settings. From urban psychological adventures to sci-fi epics, the games in this genre now offer players a diverse array of immersive worlds to explore and get lost in.
However, it's rather odd that there are a lot of JRPGs that haven't really ventured into outright historical settings. This is made even more puzzling given the fact that the ones that have experimented with such grounded historical settings have yielded impressive results more often than not. By blending elements of history with fantasy, these games create captivating settings that take elements players are familiar with and combine them with more obtuse concepts, leading to excellent immersive experiences that more people should check out if they are fans of the JRPG genre.
8 Jeanne d'Arc
The story of Joan of Arc is one of the most memorable and epic historical tales of all time. A JRPG based on this setting where players explore the historical setting of France during their war with England is easily one of the most captivating settings for players to get lost in.
Such is the case with Jeanne d'Arc, with the eponymous main character loosely based on this historical figure as she fights against England by amassing an army. Of course, this game has several fantasy elements at play as well, making it a fun strategy JRPG that fans can try for themselves.
7 Inindo: Way Of The Ninja
A unique JRPG that was released on the SNES, Inindo: Way of the Ninja adds its own unique spin to Oda Nobunaga's attempted conquest of Japan. Perhaps the biggest change is that it outright turns Oda into a demon, leaving no room for subtlety here.
Players control a ninja whose village is burned down by Nobunaga's army, setting them on the path of vengeance as they form bonds with various useful people in this quest. The non-linear approach to the game's quest design is pretty unique, with players losing if they don't take out Nobunaga by the year 1601.
6 Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is an excellent sequel that improves upon the first game in many ways. While dabbling in Lovecraftian horror and the like, the game itself takes place smack-dab in the middle of World War 1.
This leads to many historical figures making an appearance in this game, further adding to the authenticity of this title. Shadow Hearts: Covenant is easily one of the darker and more unique JRPGs on this list, and fans of the genre shouldn't miss out on this game.
5 Banner Of The Maid
The French Revolution is a pretty interesting setting that many people have heard of time and time again. A JRPG during this historical period would definitely be a blast to play through, and such is the case with Banner of the Maid.
Despite its fan service that borders on being quite ridiculous at times, Banner of the Maid is a great strategy JRPG that makes the most of its unique setting. The act of reliving history and participating in many legendary battles is a blast, especially with the combat system being pretty challenging to understand and rewarding to master.
4 Valkyria Chronicles
Valkyrie Chronicles is one of the most well-known titles on this list. It takes a unique look at the onset of World War 2 and the effect it has on the fictional continent that is not-so-subtly dubbed Europa.
Ragnite ore is the material that essentially serves as this game's version of petrol, with the conflict surrounding this resource driving the central plot of the series. Given that Gallia is rich in this material, players control one of the units of its military as they fight back against enemies and launch assaults of their own.
3 Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha VS The Soulless Army
Atlus has released its fair share of games in the Shin Megami Tensei series that have all been decently popular in their own right. One of the many SMT spin-offs that more people need to check out is the Raidou Kuzunoha series.
The game takes place in 1931 during the Taisho period, a setting that hasn't been explored in most games, let alone JRPGs. Players who want to check out a tightly-woven JRPG with challenging combat and a tight narrative can't go wrong with Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha VS The Soulless Army and the other games in this series.
2 Destiny Of An Emperor
The period of the Three Kingdoms is one of the richest and most interesting periods in Chinese history, with this setting being adapted in various games to great effect. Destiny of an Emperor is one such title that uses this setting for an engaging JRPG that most people aren't aware of, which is a shame.
With a total of 150 playable characters who can be recruited through unique battle encounters, Destiny of the Emperor is certainly an ambitious title that deserves its plaudits. To make the game even more engaging, there are several branching paths that can be opted for at any time, which is pretty great indeed.
1 Ring Of Red
Ring of Red features an alternate history that is pretty interesting. After Japan's defeat in World War 2, both Russia and the United States took over Japan, splitting it into two countries.
This leads to a pretty unique dynamic, with communism and democracy separating the ideologies of these two new countries. Of course, it wouldn't be a JRPG without some out-of-this-world inclusion, with giant mechs also being a major part of the story!