Japanese RPGs have been growing in popularity over the last two decades with franchises like
Persona
and
Pokemon
pushing the genre forward into the mainstream. JRPGs have been around since the early days of console gaming with examples like
Dragon Quest
being the most well-known. These games are responsible for many classic tropes and standards other titles in the west follow to this day.
Final Fantasy
and
Unfortunately, many gems of the genre go unnoticed by a lot of people. These games often have unique combat mechanics, fully realized stories, impressive soundtracks, or with any luck, all three. JRPGs follow simple formulas but developers have been pushing the boundaries consistently in the current generation of games.
Update August 11, 2021 by Mark Sammut: While there was a time when it was a coin toss whether a JRPG would find its way out of Japan, those days of uncertainty are largely in the rearview mirror. Whether someone games on the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, or PC, they have quite a few great JRPGs at their fingertips. Naturally, this means that certain titles end up overshadowed by the genre's biggest releases, be it games like the Final Fantasy 7 Remaster or anything related to Pokemon. Some of the best JRPGs of the last five years do not get enough attention.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth- Hacker's Memory
![](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Digimon-Cyber-Sleuth.jpg)
- Release Date: December 14, 2017
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, Windows
Hacker's Memory
is a sequel to the original
Digimon Story:
Cyber
Sleuth
. The game works similarly to
Pokemon
, in that players can evolve Digimon and use them to battle against other monsters. It features the 314 monsters from the original game, as well as 90+ added for this installment, meaning players have a wide range of Digimon to choose from.
Everything in this game received an overhaul
from the Digimon to the music and the animations. These nice touches make for a polished experience that would feel right at home for any JRPG fan.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness And The Secret Hideout
![Atelier Ryza Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Atelier-Ryza-Ever-Darkness-The-Secret-Hideout.jpg)
- Release Date: October 29, 2019
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows
The
Atelier
series is a long-running one that hasn't seen huge mainstream success, but its fans stand behind almost every entry wholeheartedly.
Ryza
and its sequel are the newest entries that add quaint touches rather than completely overhaul the gameplay. The games are widely praised for their aesthetic charm, fun mechanics, and ease of access.
The best part of the first
Ryza
game is its story. The plot features strong main characters that carry the plot and find a place in the player's heart.
JRPGs often have weak supporting casts that don't really do much
for the story and are often seen as annoying, so it's great to see this game getting that right.
CrossCode
![](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Cross-Code.jpg)
- Release Date: September 20, 2018
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS, Linux
CrossCode
isn't developed by a Japanese company, but it's heavily inspired by the classics that made the genre great. Its retro sprite work is full of life and color, making its classic look feel warm on the eyes. The original soundtrack is also full of beautiful tracks that stand out among 8-bit style music, completing the illusion of a retro game.
In addition to its clear inspirations, the game has a bunch of unique mechanics not seen in other games. For example, there's a bouncing ball mechanic used for puzzles to unlock doors and reveal secret passageways. The experience of
CrossCode
is unlike any other due to all these elements and its sense of humor.
Trails Of Cold Steel 4
![The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel IV promo art](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6-The-Legend-of-Heroes-Trails-of-Cold-Steel-IV.jpg)
- Release Date: September 27, 2018
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Google Stadia
The
Trails
tetralogy ends with a bang on this installment in
The Legend of Heroes
franchise.
Trails of Cold Steel 4
offers a compelling story, satisfying turn-based combat, and a huge roster of characters, making it the best of the series.
One thing the game did that really sets it apart from other JRPGs was that it actually wrapped up plot points from previous games in satisfying ways. With JRPGs, it's easy to get lost in creating lore, characters, and random plot points to progress the story, but the
Trails
series doesn't do this. Fans have nothing but praise for this series and it's a shame the games didn't gain more traction.
Akiba's Beat
![akiba's beat](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/akibas-beat.jpg)
- Release Date: May 16, 2017
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS Vita
Akiba's Beat
Akiba's Trip
franchise and it's a strange one, to say the least. The game's plot follows a group of misfits who fight against vampiric clothing and organizations trying to take over parts of Japan from the shadows. This plot leads to hilarious moments and weirdly well-thought-out politics that go on as a result of the power struggle.
Players can customize their characters in custom clothing, explore Akihabara's landmarks and shops, as well as engage in fun mini-games around the city. The games take a satiric approach to JRPG and anime tropes, while also providing a satisfying gaming experience to the player.
Labyrinth Of Refrain: Coven Of Dusk
![](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Labyrinth-of-Refrain.jpg)
- Release Date: September 18, 2018
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, Windows
NIS has created or published many beloved series in the past with franchises like
Disgaea
and
Ys
, but
Labyrinth of Refrain
is a new idea with fresh twists on a classic subgenre. The game is a dungeon crawler that takes certain systems over the top in classic NIS style.Players can control up to 40 characters in massive raids using the coven system, creating an experience like never before in a dungeon crawler game.
Labyrinth of Refrain
also has polished visuals and interesting worlds to explore, making it worth a try for JRPG fans.
SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays
![](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Gundam-G.jpg)
- Release Date: November 22, 2019
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows
For fans of the
Gundam
franchise, this game is a treat. It compiles
Gundam
characters from four different worlds in the franchise and brings them together with JRPG elements. Players can upgrade units and characters, building their own unique teams for battles.
The overall polish makes the game really pop from the screen with fantastic animations, flashy special moves, and engaging combat. The story is also pretty interesting for a crossover game that bridges multiple series and worlds together.
Ys 9: Monstrum Nox
![Adol Christin in Ys IX](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Adol-Christin-Ys-9.jpg)
- Release Date: September 26, 2019
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Google Stadia
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD Remaster
![shin megami tensei 3 HD Nocturne - encounter](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/shin-megami-tensei-3-battle.jpg)
- Release Date: May 24, 2021
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows
Dragon Quest Builders 2
![](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Dragon-Quest-Builders-2-Cropped.jpg)
- Release Date: July 12, 2019
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows
Dragon Quest Builders 2
is an extremely unique experience when it comes to JRPGs. The game has obviously taken inspiration from
Minecraft
in terms of the UI, game structure, and world, but it has its own charm too.
Players can level themselves up to improve stats while fighting enemies from the
Dragon Quest
world. On top of that, they can build structures that act as bases to survive the nights and build up their resources to power up even further.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 was released on multiple platforms and widely praised
, but not a lot of people gave it a chance since it's such a strange concept.
Romancing Saga 2 & 3
![Romancing SaGa 3 gameplay screenshot](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-Romancing-SaGa-3.jpg)
- Release Date: December 15, 2017 (Romancing Saga 2), November 11, 2019 (Romancing Saga 3)
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mobile
SaGa Frontier Remastered
![SaGa Frontier Remastered battle](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/SaGa-Frontier-Remastered-battle.jpg)
- Release Date: April 15, 2021
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mobile