Combat systems in Japanese RPGs are sometimes - wrongly - considered behind the times compared to their Western counterparts. The traditional turn-based system synonymous with JRPGs was popularized by the Dragon Quest series in 1986 and Final Fantasy in 1987. Both series set the standard for RPGs and turn-based combat in Japan when several other games in the genre used almost identical systems for their games.

RELATED: The Best JRPGs You Can Play On The Switch (According To Metacritic)

As a result, it is easy for gamers unfamiliar with the genre to ignore most JRPGs as antiquated without realizing that developers have come a long way in modernizing the systems in three decades. Even the JRPGs that implemented more action-based combat systems are often misunderstood by some Western gamers because of the similarities in the menu systems. However, for those willing to take a chance, JRPGs have some of the most innovative fighting systems in any genre and are worth exploring.

Updated June 7th, 2023, by Michael Llewellyn: The JRPG genre is often misunderstood by non-fans as being slow-paced or utilizing basic turn-based systems that are either old-school or simplified like many mobile RPGs. The reality is that even the most action-centric JRPG has innovative, tactical, and exciting mechanics that put the player in total control of their characters on the battlefield. Several games in the genre implement real-time combat, modified turn-based, and somewhere in between. This list is updated to include more exciting and innovative JRPG battle systems.

16 Star Ocean: The Divine Force

The latest entry in the series, Star Ocean: The Divine Force, once again allows players to choose between two protagonists, and it is arguably the best entry in the series since Star Ocean 3. The combat is fast-paced and more innovative than its predecessors, allowing players to hit flying attacks and combinations thanks to the new DUMA robot that tags along.

It changes the combat system from a button masher to a technical fighter, where players must utilize the DUMA to defeat certain enemies by upgrading it. Upgrading the AI can improve the character's chance of gaining an advantage on the battlefield, evading attacks, increasing defenses, and more. The Divine Force makes the learning curve easy to pick up, with a lot of incentive to master everything.

15 Xenoblade Chronicles 3

The Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy is a must-have series for fans of JRPGs on the Nintendo Switch. All three games are spectacular character-driven epics players can lose themselves in for hundreds of hours. Likewise, the combat systems are also brilliant, but the third mainline entry Xenoblade Chronicles 3, includes the best parts of its predecessors and packages them into one system.

The combat system implements party management and auto controls based on the player's preferences. It is not as micro-manageable as Final Fantasy 12, but there are a lot of systems at play and tons of depth. Players never feel a lack of control because they can manually move their characters on the battlefield and issue commands, special moves, and more.

14 Nier: Automata

With a story from Yoko Taro, Nier: Automata is one of the most emotionally charged and narratively driven JRPGs available. Throw in the action credentials of the esteemed PlatinumGames, and fans have the perfect balance of a gripping adventure with a combat system that rivals Devil May Cry and PlatinumGames' own Bayonetta.

In addition to the hack-and-slash combat mechanics, Nier: Automata also features top-down dual stick shoot-em-ups like Dead Nation and side-scrolling shooters like R-Type or Radiant Silvergun. Nier: Automata constantly switches things up to keep players on their toes.

13 Scarlet Nexus

An original RPG from Namco, Scarlet Nexus impressed fans and critics alike after its release in 2021. The visually stunning action RPG was developed by a team that created Tales of Vesperia, Code Vein, and the God Eater series.

The combat system is reminiscent of a Devil May Cry game and especially opens up as one unlocks more abilities as the game progresses. Adding to this are the psychokinetic powers that can be used to throw around large objects like cars and debris to create spectacular combos and finishing moves.

12 Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age

Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age is the most recent entry in one of the most iconic JRPG games ever developed. The game has kept the traditional turn-based combat but modernized it in a way that makes it welcoming to newcomers and pleasing to longtime fans.

The battles are fast-paced and accessible by design, so even those new to traditional JRPGs will enjoy the system without too much trouble. The Pep meter mechanic provides stat boosts to individual characters. In addition, when fully charged, each character will get special moves called Pep Powers, when activated, cause incredible damage.

11 Chrono Trigger

Released in 1995 on the Super Nintendo, Chrono Trigger is regarded as one of the greatest RPGs ever. It was developed by a JRPG dream team of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest developers, artists, and composers like Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, Akira Toriyama, and Nobuo Uematsu.

RELATED: JRPGs On Steam To Play If You Love Final Fantasy 7 Remake

The game was one of the first in the genre to feature visible enemies on screen and used a modified version of Final Fantasy’s Active Time Battle system. The Tech system manages the character's special and magic attacks, allowing the characters to fight strategically and execute cooperative techniques for Double and Triple attacks. It is a system that never grows tiresome, and the work to unlock Chrono Trigger's multiple endings is more worthwhile.

10 Shadow Hearts: Covenant

The Shadow Hearts series is set in an alternate version of the First World War. The second entry is often considered the best in terms of its Lovecraftian story, dark humor, great characters, and balanced combat system. Shadow Hearts uses a turn-based battle system. However, actions in battle are determined by a character's stats.

In addition, it implements a sanity system where the player will lose control of their party members if the meter reaches its maximum. The Judgement Ring makes Shadow Hearts unique compared to other JRPGs. It requires timing and skill, allowing players to build up combos by picking attack magic sequences building up to more devastating attacks. It is unlikely that Shadow Hearts will return, but a spiritual successor Penny Blood is in the works.

9 Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne was released on the PlayStation 2 and is still considered one of the best JRPGs ever. The game was set in a post-apocalyptic modern-day Tokyo. It is a stark contrast to the usual fantasy setting found in the genre.

Additionally, Nocturne’s turn-based battle system was tough but fair with strategic and tactical battles. It uses a system where players must find and exploit their enemy's weaknesses. Doing so will gift the player additional turns in battle but missing or getting blocked will also cost them multiple turns, leaving the player vulnerable to attack. The HD remaster of Nocturne was launched in 2021 and is worth another look for fans of the genre.

8 Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age

Before the twelfth entry, the Final Fantasy series used a moderated spin on the Active Time Battle System. It is ultimately a traditional turn-based combat system forcing players to act quickly on the battlefield. Final Fantasy 12 switched things up by introducing the Gambit System allowing players more control over their character's behavior and jobs on the battlefield.

RELATED: Best Anthology Games, Ranked

The Gambit system in Final Fantasy 12 is a different take on the combat for the series and resembled Western RPGs like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The player is tasked with programming their party behaviors in combat to focus on enemy weaknesses or stay on top of health bars with health potions or magic.

7 Persona 5

Released on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in 2016, Persona 5 is a spin-off from the Shin Megami Tensei series and is regarded as one of the best JRPGs developed for both systems. The game won awards and critical acclaim for its story, characterization, and incredible art style that manages to be one of the most striking-looking games on both systems.

Persona 5’s turn-based combat system combines the best features of Persona 3 and Persona 4. In typical Shin Megami Tensei fashion, battles require strategy by focusing on elemental vulnerabilities and making the most of player turns. The knockdown system gifts the combatants with additional turns, and demons via the Persona system will bring players back for more.

6 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel Series

The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel is a series of JRPGs connected to the Trails in the Sky series, although aside from allusions to certain characters and locations, it is not a requirement to enjoy entries in the Cold Steel story arc.

Cold Steel’s battle system is turn-based but allows characters to move freely on the battlefield. Each character has unique attacks, weapons, S-Craft skills, and magic Arts, which are unlocked by equipping Quartz. The Tactical Link System is engaging, as the player can unlock offensive and defensive moves by ensuring certain characters bond with each other at school or in their free time.

5 Star Ocean 3: Till The End Of Time

The Star Ocean series is one of the few JRPGs implementing science fiction and a certain amount of space travel by exploring new worlds. The games were developed by Tri-Ace, whose founding members worked on Tales of Phantasia, and just like the Tales series, Star Ocean uses a real-time combat system.

RELATED: Games Every Lover Of High Fantasy Should Play

Star Ocean: Till The End of Time is considered the best in the series, but combat is essentially the same throughout all five games. The battle system feels more like a beat-em-up than a traditional JRPG, so just about anyone can pick it up and seamlessly combine physical and magic attacks. In addition, players can select any character in battle or customize the artificial intelligence of a party member, similar to Final Fantasy 12. With a brand new Star Ocean game on the way, now would be the perfect time to revisit one of the best entries in the series.

4 Tales Of Graces F

The Tales of series is the third biggest-selling JRPG series behind Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Unlike those games, it does not use a traditional turn-based battle system. Instead, it uses a real-time action system called the Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS), which works similarly to the Star Ocean series.

While most of the Tales games are similar, Tales of Grace f on the PlayStation 3 stands among the best. Battles are fast-paced and fast attacks, also known as A-Artes, can be combined with stronger B-Artes and chained with a full Chain Capacity meter for some special attacks. In addition, players can switch between characters at any time during combat and move freely on the battlefield. However, free movement can come at the cost of Chain Capacity forcing gamers to fight strategically.

3 Tales Of Arise

Launched in 2021, Tales of Arise revamped the Tales formula without sacrificing what fans loved about the series. The recent entry in the series secured the RPG of the Year at the Game of the Year Awards thanks to its accessible mechanics, excellent story, and battle system. It introduced a new generation of fans to one of the best JRPG series in the genre.

Borrowing elements from Tales of Graces while adding the flashy attacks and combos from Tales of Berseria, Tales of Arise stripped away several overly complex mechanics while maintaining the depth. Combat is a highlight without becoming dull or repetitive and gets more in-depth as the title progresses.

2 Ys 9: Monstrum Nox

Ys 9: Monstrum Nox launched in the West in 2021. The action RPG series uses a darker tone than its predecessors but builds upon the foundations laid by the combat system in Ys 8. The combat system maintains its accessible fighting system for action fans while preserving the complexities expected of a JRPG. As with its predecessor, players can switch between party members on the fly. Moreover, timing, speed, and precision make combat exciting and fast-paced from start to finish.

Ys 9 puts players in the shoes of Adol once again as he finds himself in strange lands. This time he finds himself trying to escape a city prison. It is a darker entry in the series than many fans will be accustomed to, but the narrative is arguably the strongest so far.

1 The Grandia HD Collection

Until the recent Grandia HD Collection on the Nintendo Switch, the series has not seen a new entry in the mainline series since Grandia III in 2005 on the PlayStation 2. However, the series has always been heralded as having one of the best turn-based systems in JPRGs.

The turn-based system functions in real-time, and all the characters move and run within a limited space. Additionally, all the characters and enemies appear as icons queued in an action bar at the bottom of the screen. Players can choose their means of attack when their indicator reaches the ACT mark on the right side of the bar. It is simple to pick up, but the execution makes for complex and exciting battles that never get old.

MORE: Games To Play If You Love Devil May Cry