The JRPG genre is full to the brim with unique games that are a blast to play through, featuring huge parties and fun combat systems that have become quite legendary in their own right. However, there are times when JRPGs follow a template, and one such common trope in this genre is the idea of high schoolers and students banding together in order to save the world from an unknown evil.
While this might seem odd, there are several Japanese games that place high schoolers in situations that they should never be in without the setting feeling too out of place. Studies might be important, but the following games show that people who have a responsibility to save the world can do so while living the lives of seemingly ordinary high schoolers without skipping a beat.
10 Persona 5
Pretty much any Persona game would qualify for a list of games that place players into the shoes of a high-schooler, but special mention should be given to the most popular game in the franchise. Persona 5 is easily one of the best JRPGs of all time that fans of the genre shouldn't miss out on.
The in-depth role-playing mechanics coupled with the social sim aspects of this title make it a blast to play through. Controlling high schoolers to fight god has never felt better.
9 Tokyo Xanadu
Speaking of games with social elements, another title that comes to mind is Tokyo Xanadu. There's a reason why many people consider this title to be Persona with real-time combat.
Of course, this comparison does a huge disservice to the fun players can have playing Tokyo Xanadu. The characters are fun and the gameplay is tight, with the high school setting being the cherry on top of a great JRPG cake.
8 Final Fantasy Type-0
The Final Fantasy series has witnessed its fair share of spinoffs that have been fairly hit-or-miss. Thankfully, Final Fantasy Type-0 is a surefire hit that fans of the series will absolutely adore should they decide to give it a chance.
Type-0 wastes no time in introducing a fresh cast of unique characters who study in a magical academy. They might not be high schoolers in the traditional sense, but the expansive main cast of the game still fits the bill regardless.
7 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel
The Legend of Heroes is a pretty well-known JRPG series, featuring huge epic storylines with many memorable characters. The games might be slightly generic but are still quite fun to play through.
Trails of Cold Steel sees characters enroll in an academy and talk part in everything from examinations to field tests. Each and every student is a ton of fun to interact with, and it helps that the story across all four games is a blast too.
6 The Caligula Effect
The Caligula Effect is a flawed gem that more people need to check out. The release of The Caligula Effect: Overdose means that the majority of rough edges the earlier release housed have also been ironed out.
The end result is a great game where the high school setting has been played around with brilliantly. Despite its flaws, the captivating story and lore of The Caligula Effect will be more than enough to satiate most JRPG fans.
5 Blue Reflection
Blue Reflection takes the high school setting and absolutely rolls with it, serving up a delicious story that is a joy to uncover. It might seem like a run-of-the-mill JRPG, but there's more to Blue Reflection than first meets the eye.
Helping out people, interacting with friends, and living a double life as a magical girl is quite engaging indeed. Players who approach this game with an open mind will certainly like what Blue Reflection is trying to achieve.
4 Monark
Speaking of games where players encounter monsters in other dimensions, another title that comes to mind is Monark. It's clear at this point that combining high schools with different worlds is a golden combination, with Monark's darker vibe making for a pretty engaging experience.
The game can get pretty repetitive and uninspired at times, but it's worth all the grind to witness the highlights of this title. Monark might not be a genre-defining title by any means, but it gets the job done and scratches that itch most JRPG players have, which is good enough for many.
3 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem is one of the most popular JRPG franchises of all time. The tactical combat in this series is brutal and unforgiving but also quite rewarding once players manage to pull off well-thought-out strategies.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses combines the military focus of the games with a school setting that works surprisingly well. The game is more beginner-friendly than past titles and is a great way to get into this long-running series.
2 Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy 8 is one of the most divisive titles in the series, sandwiched between the brilliance of Final Fantasy 7 and 9. However, there's no denying that the game does several things right, with the academy students that players control being quite fun in their own right.
These characters aren't necessarily high schoolers but they certainly fit the bill. Of course, given the grand scope of most Final Fantasy games, it's only expected that the school setting takes a backseat to the most fantastical aspects of the plot.
1 Valkyria Chronicles 2
Valkyria Chronicles 2 is a great sequel that fans of strategic JRPGs shouldn't miss out on. This title is another gem that plays around with the idea of students participating in a war.
Despite some minor hiccups, Valkyria Chronicles 2 meshes in a high school setting with military warfare quite well. The tactical combat is as engaging as ever, with players having to map out a ton of moves in order to get through some of the more challenging encounters unscathed.