By now, most gamers are aware of the ongoing JRPG heavy-hitters such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Tales. Yet, when searching the vast and rich archives of JRPG history, you'll find a number of more obscure hidden gems and one-hit-wonders that reside in this expansive genre which were abandoned and never given the sequel they deserved.
Whether a game proved to be too "different" for modern sensibilities, its developer had gone defunct, or the studio simply moved onto more lucrative projects, there are plenty of terrific Japanese RPGs that were unjustly abandoned.
We'll take a look at 10 of the strongest examples of these memorable role-playing games that deserve a sequel but never got one.
10 Secret Of Evermore
Considering this is somewhat of a spiritual successor of the more popular Mana series, which is itself a lesser-known offshoot of Final Fantasy, this majestic action-RPG tends to get lost in the shuffle. It's a crying shame because Secret of Evermore is one of the more underrated JRPGs from the '90s and a hidden gem of the SNES library that has just never quite been popular enough to warrant a sequel - though it's garnered a cult following.
The game contains some rich, diverse environments, fun action-packed combat and a unique system of alchemy. You're given an engaging narrative featuring a boy and his dog as they take on a myriad of monsters and a mad scientist.
9 Quest 64
This obscure 3D RPG isn't even widely known these days, let alone beloved. Yet, during the lifespan of the N64, Quest 64 actually proved to be a fun and engrossing RPG epic for its time - and it's not simply because it was one of a mere handful of RPGs to grace the console.
The game features a style of combat not unlike the most recent Dragon Quest, which puts you in a 3D space that allows for free-range movement while engaging in turn-based combat. Quest 64 tosses a plethora of crazy, colorful monsters at you and utilizes a satisfying system of elemental-based magic, making for a memorable experience throughout.
8 The Last Story
When it comes to JRPGs on the Wii (the few that existed anyway), the renowned epic Xenoblade tended to hog most of the spotlight, while this game dwindled to relative obscurity. It's a bit of a surprise, considering the game was directed and co-written by Hironobu Sakaguchi; the original creative mind behind Final Fantasy.
This cinematic RPG was somewhat uncharacteristic when it came to typical Wii games, as it featured quite a bit of depth, lush environments, a compelling narrative, and a lengthy, robust campaign. The combat utilizes a blend of complexity and satisfying fast-paced action that keeps you on your toes, and the excellent voice acting keeps you engaged with the bombastic narrative.
7 Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins Of The Moon
While The Last Story was something of an obscurity, it looks like a phenomenon when it comes to this little-known JRPG for the Nintendo Wii. Fragile Dreams is an eerie, darkly-tinged adventure that will leave an impression on you.
The game drops you into a gloomy, desolate post-apocalyptic version of Earth that relies on atmosphere and adventure for its depth, rather than combat, upgrades, or nuanced mechanics in general. You'll be traversing a number of mostly dark, empty environments as you seek to (literally) shine a light on various ghostly apparitions. As this hidden gem is close to a decade old, a more elaborate sequel would be most welcomed; one that sheds even more light on the protagonist, Seto, and the mysterious new world he finds himself in.
6 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
Yes, obviously this game has received quite a few "spinoff" efforts; if you count the likes of the great but more tepid Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi games from Nintendo. Yet, we'd really love to see a return to this endlessly fun and memorable collaboration between Nintendo and Square Enix on SNES. The game blended the fun themes of Nintendo IPs with the in-depth sensibilities of Square RPGs. Sadly, we never got to revisit the majestic cloud world of Nimbus Land or face-off against the unique Smithy Gang with our Lazy Shells.
While the aforementioned spinoffs certainly have their own charm, they somewhat lack the depth and richness Nintendo and Square created with this gem of an RPG.
5 The Legend Of Dragoon
It's weird to think that such a quality cult-classic JRPG never got a sequel, especially considering it resided on the RPG-friendly console of the original PlayStation. It's even more of a bummer when you realize that a sequel was initially planned by developer SCE Japan. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, as the studio was relatively inexperienced, and their prized RPG was somewhat cast aside and forgotten after the launch of the PS2, which arrived shortly after the US release of this game.
The Legend of Dragoon comes with an epic narrative featuring a hero out to seek revenge for the death of his family and destruction of his town at the hands of the ominous Black Monster. Lush pre-rendered backgrounds and thrilling time-based combat rounds out this uniquely memorable experience.
4 The World Ends With You
While the Switch has seen an enhanced port of this charming action-RPG romp, we've yet to see a full-blown sequel to The World Ends With You; a game that ironically ended with this initial DS gem in 2007.
The art style takes on a cartoony anime/comic vibe which terrifically complements the high-intensity action and emphasis on dialogue. The DS and its intuitive touch-screen capabilities add a super unique dynamic to the combat, which the game runs with full-throttle. What The World Ends With You lacks in customization or mechanical depth it makes up for its insane, versatile touch-based combat that keeps things exciting. A Switch sequel that adheres to the charm of the original is certainly possible, given the console's own multi-touch functionality and motion controls.
3 Lost Odyssey
Similar to the likes of Final Fantasy VII, the hidden gem JRPG on Xbox 360 known as Lost Odyssey melds fantasy and industrial sci-fi, making for a distinct and memorable setting that players can easily get lost in.
The game follows a group of "Immortals" as they try to manage in a world growing in corruption and destruction spurred by an industrial revolution. The combat is chaotic and delightful with its nuanced turn-based system that keeps things exciting with its array of satisfying spells and its ability to have 5 players fight at once. The game runs with a system of customizable and swappable rings that adds a unique dynamic.
Given the rich and thrilling cinematic qualities of this 2008 game, a sequel that fully-utilizes the Xbox One or upcoming Scarlett's power would make for an epic odyssey indeed.
2 The Last Remnant
Sure, Square Enix has been busy with quite a bit these days - not the least of which is the anticipated epic remake of Final Fantasy VII, which is finally set to drop early next year. Yet, we certainly wouldn't be opposed to the RPG giants returning to this lesser-known JRPG beyond a simple PS4 and Switch remaster.
The game's atmosphere blends Western-style bombast and grittiness with the more colorful fantasy of JRPGs. Its gripping combat relies on a system of turn-based fighting and in-depth strategy elements. At the same time, The Last Remnant keeps you on the edge of your seat by bombarding you with battles rife with satisfying attacks and time-based queues. While the game comes with its weird quirks and blemishes, it stands as one of the more unique JRPGs out there, and one that could make for an awesome sequel.
1 Skies Of Arcadia
Aside from the spruced-up port, Skies of Arcadia Legends on GameCube, we've never seen a brand new experience featuring the majestic floating continents of Arcadia. This is super disappointing considering this is quite possibly the single best RPG to grace the Dreamcast. It certainly didn't help that both the Dreamcast and developers Overworks were pretty much relegated to obscurity well over a decade ago.
The game is simply an enriching experience that spans the course of this epic's 46-hour campaign. You'll find it tough to put down as you sail the skies, meet a plethora of colorful characters, and explore the game's 6 distinct civilizations.