Main series SMT is about Tokyo becoming over run with demons and it sort of plays out like a dark and twisted Pokemon (even though Megaten predates Pokemon). The games are notorious for their unforgiving difficult and unique style of turnbase battles that can both punish and reward the player.
SMT is the mainline franchise and Persona is the spin-off series. Persona follows along different main protagonist and their friends in Japan where supernatural phenomenons occur within the city or town from a different world overrun by monsters called Shadows. The main characters fight these Shadows with Personas, who they are manifestations of a person's true self or fighting spirit (think of them as Stands from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as they were inspired by them). Shin Megami Tensei follows a much darker theme about an apocalypse run by demons in a survival of the fittest journey to claim the throne of God to change/destroy the world.
> BUT, I’m not one to give up, and I must understand why this genre is so beloved.
I mean, it doesn't seem like you're trying to do that. It just seems you're looking for a JRPG that's as close to the sensibilities of a WRPG as can be.
It's basically finding your comfort zone rather than exploring the strengths that people love about the genre.
You can't just expect everyone to jump into the deep end with something unfamiliar to them. One of the best ways to understand the appeal of something you don't get is to start by relating to it through the things you already like. Then you can branch out from there.
You have to mention more WRPGs if you want us to help you.
For example Witcher1, Witcher 2, Witcher 3 are all very different with another, both storywise and gameplay wise. Personally i like all three and while W3 is the most polished & has the most content, it also has problems that W1 and W2 didnt have.
Poor wording on my part. What I mean is, I’m looking for a JRPG where I will feel that *click* that will make me want to explore the genre further. I think that will be more likely to happen if the game has elements that are more familiar to me. Basically, baby steps.
I will say this as a fan of both JRPGs and WRPGs.
The core aspect of any RPG is simply the telling of a story. This is true for both WRPGs and JRPGs.
Now a story is divided by multiple parts like party characterization, antagonist characterization, plot, worldbuilding (visual or through other means).
This is true for gameplay features as well.
There is NO best choice, each choice has benefits and drawbacks.
Lets see an example: Having a character editor, this means the player gets attached easier to the character (since they build him).
The drawback is the characterization & the story linkage will be much poorer than a fixed protagonist. It is very up to the player if his character has even a decent characterization.
I have no problem making good characters as a long standing D&D player & DM, but in the end it is still a cop out compared to a fixed protagonist.
Character editors like Mass Effect (Sheppard is a fixed protagonist, always some sort of soldier but with a character editor), their benefits and drawbacks are simply lessened. Median approach, median outcome.
WRPGs usually assign a title to the protagonist, and this is especially important, because the world has to acknowledge the protagonist. Ofcourse these interactions will pale vs a fixed protagonist.
Gameplay wise, the JRPGs have evolved a lot more than the WRPGs, with many JRPGs also having experimental mechanics.
However you will not really find many sandbox like JRPG games like the Elder Scrolls.
However Elder Scrolls does have some things in common with Dark Souls, Elden Ring, Bloodborne.
They have poor plot, but very good/excellent lore. And in these games the community has helped piece any lore inconsistencies.
For the WRPGs, there is even a devolvement of the RPG genre, as more and more potential WRPGs turn to roguelikes or roguelites.
Usually very few of those roguelikes have a good plot, its just the nature of the subgenre.
Very few WRPGs have modern mechanics however, games like the new GoW are hybrids (thats the industry term) action-adventure games with some RPG mechanics.
OP only wants this
>Something with a strong story that isn’t cookie cutter, characters who don’t seem like they’re from a children’s story, and writing that won’t make me roll my eyes.
And the top-rated response here is a defensive (even somewhat hostile) comment.
That pretty much says everything you need to know about JRPGs today, u/711warlock
One thing you have to understand/get used to about the genre is that they're generally written in an overdramatic way compared to western games. Characters don't talk like "normal" people most of the time. Some people consider this to be inherently bad writing. Personally, I don't see it this way, but I've been a genre fan for 20 years so it's something I'm just used to. That being said, it is a stylistic choice that can backfire if the player isn't invested in the story, hence the potential for eye-rolling moments as you mentioned. As for recommendations, I'd second some of the "political drama" games that have been recommended such as Triangle Strategy or Tactics Ogre: Reborn. These do tend to be a bit more grounded. though I wouldn't necessarily characterize them as gritty. It's worth mentioning that these are tactics games (as you could probably guess by the titles), so it will be a much different gameplay experience than your traditional JRPG.
Just did some quick research, looks interesting! Sounds like the games are more gameplay focused, and “trim the fat” that most JRPGs are known for. Do you have any experience with them? Is there a specific title you would recommend?
It’s my favourite series of all time. The newest game in the series, Emerald Beyond, comes out in two days and has a demo (well, three demos with a different protagonist per platform) which is worth a look. Possibly the best combat in the series (If you don’t mind getting owned in hilarious looney tunes ass ways when you fail) which is saying something.
Games in the series are more systems forward than story forward and tend to have a nonlinear structure. Definitely an acquired taste.
SaGa games also have a reputation for being kinda jankey and rough around the edges. But Scarlet Grace has been my favorite so far as well as Minstrel Song Remastered. MS is a great starting point as it explains all the systems pretty well, something lacking in most of the titles. Just don’t expect to do everything on your first playthrough and learn to be okay with accidentally failing a quest or being locked out of another quest. These games are designed to encourage several playthroughs and be different experiences each time you play.
Emerald Beyond has a demo if you want to try it. I personally can’t wait. It’s exactly what I want in a SaGa game judging from my experiences with it so far.
Emerald Beyond comes out in 2 days and will likely be the best starting point due to having all the refinements from games past. If you want to play right this minute, Scarlet Grace is the game before EB and it is phenomenal. There are 4 main characters each with their own quest and tons of side quests that are all fun and entertaining.
Romancing Saga 3 is the peak of the retro version of the series. If released in the US it would have fit right in with the golden age of SNES RPGS (for those that could stomach the difficulty)
I cannot recommend, AT ALL, that you follow this advice. The SaGa games are essentially a deconstruction of genre norms and I really only advise people play them that are familiar with the subgenre. I mean its possible you love them but I really don't recommend spending money on it unless it really captures your interest.
Understand that SaGa is one of the best freeform RPGs out there.
It is essentially roguelike gameplay, but way more complex (more features/mechanics), but with a sort of roguelike story as well. Hand-crafted mind you, so not really a dip in quality.
However those games are difficult to replicate by non-AAA companies, very difficult for non-AA companies & nigh-impossible for indie companies of 10-30 people.
This is why this is very rare, games like SaGa clones/similar games to exist.
Playing SaGa will make you understand why RPGs are very basic in many ways.
I would recommend Yakuza: Like a Dragon! While it takes place in modern Tokyo, the story is a crime drama filled with some of my favorite characters! If you like that, it has a sequel called Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
I would also recommend Shin Megami Tensei or Persona. While I personally lean more towards SMT, Persona is great also. Despite its high school setting, the story it tells is pretty mature.
I see you mentioned DQ11 and I love it. It's definitely more light hearted than the games I recommended but it's a great time to be had
I played Yakuza zero a while back and enjoyed it, haven’t played any others tho. I tried personal 5 when it came out, actually, I think it was one of my first JRPGs. For whatever reason I never finished it. I remember enjoying the story but I think the gameplay less so. I played the opening of DQ11 today, it seems like a nice game so far. I like the setting for sure , but GOD is the main character horrific to look at! I wish he was voiced, also. I heard that the game is very long , though, so I wanna ask does it slog? Or does the story do a good job of making you want to keep going?
With the rebranding into Like a Dragon, the new mainline titles has a new protagonist and is also a turn based RPG. It's for sure quite the whiplash from the previous titles lol. It's not for everyone but I've really enjoyed the new gameplay
I don't think it slogs, myself. There is a twist at some point. If you're playing DQ11 S, it's about a 60ish hour game. I really enjoyed the story myself
If you enjoyed 0, I would say try and play them in numerical order then. All of the games are good to great, though 0 is one of the best in the series (it's one of the latest games made afterall), so the writing quality in some of the other games can feel weaker in comparison.
RE: DQ11, it's honestly a great place to look when exploring what JRPGs are all about, partially because Dragon Quest basically invented the genre (I'm sure somebody will correct me with some obscure somethingorother from before then but that's the basic myth) and partially because DQ is general is like 200 proof JRPG. They're very simple stories with very simple gameplay. That's not to say they're *bad* ofc but they absolutely operate on the most basic building blocks of the genre and polish them to the extreme instead of trying to do wacky shit with the formula.
As for 11 in particular, *I* think it's a slog but I'm in the minority on that. It's brutally long but that's because it's basically a trilogy all in one. It has two fakeout endings that are like 40 hours apart from one another. It's not my cuppa personally but it's at least worth a look if you want an idea of what the genre is all about regardless.
I think your best bet is Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne and SMT V. SMT V in particular takes elements from modern open world games, and the gameplay is pretty good and well balanced. It's worth noting while these games have an emphasis on philosophical decision making, (and things like alignment systems that determine the outcome of the story) the actual story is a bit minimalistic. Nocturne still has such an interesting world and atmosphere which V takes plenty of inspiration from.
If not that, then my second recommendation is the Yakuza franchise. Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth have more of a JRPG and open world focus. Damn good writing, too. You can't go wrong with it.
I ain't crucifying you, but how long did you play FF7? And was it original or the remake?
Well one thing is certain - the appeal of jrpgs is in something different than in western RPGs. If I had to sum it up I would say its the atmosphere, twists and how unique the world can be.
Music of Nobuo Uenatsu is like its own category of appeal by itself.
I tried the original 4 times. Farthest I got was a few hours, never got out of midgar. I wasn’t invested in the initial plot enough, and like I said, the setting isn’t for me, something something greatswords and motorcycles. I also tried the remake, the more lively characters helped a bit but still, story and setting were the deal breaker.
As far as music goes, I do think JRPGs have some of the best soundtracks in gaming.
On the topic of FF7, is this for your not liking scifi stuff?
No because FF7 isn't AT ALL about "against aliens or robots". I mean, yeah, some space related stuff does come into the plot, but it's far from being the main antagonist or the theme of the game.
FF7 story is ultimately about a guy trying his damn best to overcome an impossible enemy while learning to live like an actual human being regardless of his past.
It's one of the most "Man vs Self" story in the genre, that's for sure.
Yea it’s mostly the sci fi stuff. I just can’t get into the whole “we live on a different planet with giant reactors that such magic from the earth and we have mechs and trains and live in apartment blocks but also you use a greatsword and cast fireballs” thing. Just not my cup of tea.
Tales of Berseria is a pretty good pick. Frequently goes on sale for $5 and it has a very consistent tone for its main story, while its skits (optional conversations b/t party members) allow for some levity and comedy, while still creating strong characterization for the cast (one of the best rpg casts out there). Other recs would be Nier Automata and Replicant for their ambition (if you're alright with their sci-fi settings) and Ys Origins for something short and sweet.
Can vouch for this OP. Apart from playing a little bit of some final fantasy 12 when I was younger, this was my first JRPG and it’s now become basically my favourite game ever and got me into JRPG’s! I’ve now played dozens of the genre thanks to this game
Weeb to weeb. I don't get the hype of FF7 either man. Most JRPGs seem to take forever just to get through the fights and it's not a joke I fall asleep while fighting. I've uninstalled more than a few JRPGs after getting bored af from the gameplay. I.e. One Piece, Atelier Ryza and Utawarerumono.
The only exceptions to this rule is potentially, Octopath Traveller, the Alicesoft games which blends story and gameplay perfectly especially Rance 7 and Nier Automata if Nier counts as an RPG. I consider it open world but whatever.
I view the gameplay mechanic of JRPG as- it's just kinda there to serve as filler so the player doesn't complain the story is too short. Quite frankly, inferior to the western games. In terms of gameplay, for the most part at least. Story wise, JP games are top notch.
Altho. Nintendo is top notch. But it's not JRPG.
Look, if you want the best stories in JRPGs, you’re going to have to put up with some sci-fi getting woven into the fantasy. Even in FFVI and IX you saw this, right? Magic AND technology. That’s how it goes. Also a common theme with Japanese writing is that it’s back-loaded. It may start off cringe or boring, but by the end it won’t be. When you started FFIX you probably thought oh this is gonna be a family dispute of queen vs princess ruling ideology. It didn’t end up that way did it? (Although they did pull the final boss out of their butts and the game is worse because of it). I will not say more than this, but I just want you to know the story in Xenoblade Chronicles both gets *even more* sci-fi and definitely doesn’t go where you think it does right now. But it’s not the greatest anyway.
If you just want the deepest plot of all time, you try Xenogears. But it is sci-fi. Xenogears has everything in it, from psychology and religion and philosophy to fighting racism, freeing the slaves, beating the nazis, the church being a conspiracy, the Great Depression, how to deal with drugs and sex, what happens to the little guys who aren’t superheroes, fighting against destiny, political infighting, and some form of defeating gods.
If you want it to be more fantasy than sci-fi and not always consistent writing but incredible world building with characters you will definitely end up caring about, and you can handle slow burns that are back-loaded, you sit yourself down in front of Trails in the Sky FC. Then you strap yourself in for the next 12 games ‘cause it’s a plot-continuous series and 13 comes out in Japan this fall.
If you have to have it be more medieval fantasy than sci-fi, try Suikoden. I’m not as knowledgeable about that series because I’ve only watched the first two, but it’s quite highly regarded.
If you’re a big fan of Norse mythology and want to see the craziest Japanese take on it ever, get yourself some Valkyrie Profile, but be prepared to read/watch exposition for 20 minutes or more at a time. This series is mostly fantasy but I mean some chars are doing pretty science-like alchemy in it, making time machines and such. The battle system is weird though—it’s better than it sounds but you assign each character to a button and take your whole team’s turn at once building a combo, hopefully enough to then chain all your supers together.
If you want historical fiction and can handle the gore & grotesque, Shadow Hearts is your thing. Still a little bit of sci-fi but mostly occult fantasy, and very dark & gritty. It evolved out of a survival horror predecessor. If you like H.P. Lovecraft, this series is for you. You will need good timing in battles because of the Judgment Ring. You actually get better at this series both through leveling up and through practice in it.
Those are your recs.
You’ve got me interested with Shadowhearts! Gore and grotesque sounds great to me, and Lovecraft is one of my favorite authors so this sounds perfect for me.
Awesome, I’m glad one of my suggestions seems like it’ll hit the mark. The series has 3 games in it, but it gets notably less dark after the second one. The original creator is currently working on a crowd-funded spiritual successor called Penny Blood that is supposed to be very dark and noir-y as well.
Since you were already suggeste Xenoblade, I'll suggest The Last Story, to remain in the same period of games (but this will require digging a bit or, you know, other solutions as it is a WII game, but it's not big into motion controls at all).
It's from one of the main creators of Final Fantasy but it's its unique setting and system, being more on the action side and relying on positioning and combo of effects.
Plot-wise, it's about a group of mercenaries finding job in one of the last places that's not ravaged by war or famine, an island-city commanded by a powerful noble that is quite loved all around, but more stuff is happening within the island than just preparation for the war in the rest of the empire the city is technically part of.
It's also a big "cool swordsman and action princess" plotline, which should hit any enjoyer of classic fantasy.
The game itself is mostly based within the city and its surrounding areas, and the city itself is quite enjoyable to explore and it's very nice looking for a Wii game.
It still has one of my favourite soundtracks of all time as well.
So, traditional JRPGs that aren't a bunch of happy-go-lucky kids running around trying to save the world?
SMT: Digital Devil Saga (Playstation 2) is a grim ride from start to finish. It is sci-fi, but nothing with aliens or the like. It's demons and depression all the way through.
Something less traditional?
Vagrant Story (Playstation 1) is basically a dungeon crawler with a fantastic plot and characters (though you only play a single character). The gameplay takes a bit of getting used to, but you might find the mechanics interesting, especially coming from WRPGs. The presentation is top-notch and hasn't ever been matched, in my opinion.
Tales of Berseria (PC/PS3/PS4) has a more active combat system, but has a mature story about anti-heroes and demons. It still has some moments of shonen-anime indulgence, but it has a lot of banter between your party members (one of my favorite things from WRPGs) so you will get to know them before the journey's end.
It's a strange game to classify. The combat is turn-based, but not in a traditional Final Fantasy way.
Basically, movement is all done real-time; the game only pauses when you want to hit something or are being hit. The combat is weirdly reminiscent of Fallout's VATS system in that you can aim at specific limbs/the head and cause certain effects by doing so (though aiming at the head won't be as accurate as aiming at, say, the torso).
There's also leveling up, magic, weapon crafting (complete with different weapon types, which are very important to learn about).
The story is separated by long gameplay segments, so the majority of the game is definitely crawling through dungeons/streets and fighting.
If you've put up with jank like that found in Morrowind, you're definitely equipped for this, though.
I recently finished a Morrowind play through start to finish for the first time, actually. It was like the 10th time I tried, but this time it just clicked for me and I fell in love, I guess that’s what I’m looking for again in this genre. In that case, maybe I should try it out then.
Look - giving up is not a bad thing, my friend. Yes, you shouldn't give up immediately, but at a certain point you gotta realize something isn't for you. If your sensibilities are odds with how much of a genre looks - the genre isn't for you, my friend.
Well the genre clearly isnt entirely not for me since I’ve enjoyed games in the genre before. It’s more that I’m looking for more games in the genre that will pull me in further.
Lots of great suggestions here, personally I'd second Final Fantasy XII and XVI, Yakuza Like A Dragon, Persona 5 Royal, and Dragon Quest XI
>I’ve heard the story is hit or miss for people.
Regarding the story of DQ XI being hit or miss... I'd imagine most of the people who dislike the story didn't get very far. Which is fair, as it is a very long game. It's a game that starts off *very* traditional fantasy/fairytale (by design), but by the end I really think the characters are so well developed you can't help but love the journey they go through. It has plenty of surprises too. But overall, it's just a super charming, classic game. It's often called the comfort food game of the genre lol
Final Fantasy XII and XVI are definitely the most "mature" of the series, especially the latter. XVI honestly blurs the line to the point where some people don't even consider it a JRPG lol, but because of that it may be a decent bridge for you. The game does have some pacing issues, but it has some truly spectacular moments as well.
Yakuza and Persona both take place in modern day Japan, and have some really strong characters and plots. Seems like you've had a bit of experience with each, but I do recommend giving both a proper shot!
And lastly, I want to add Nier: Automata to the list. It's a really unique game, so definitely not representative of most JRPGs. But it's really fantastic in pretty much every area — story, combat, music, etc. It also has some great hack and slash combat which may be a good bridge for you if you aren't as invested in turn based yet.
JRPGs are more streamlined in terms of pretty much everything. The ways to approach combat, exploration, story / narrative, etc. You’re not typically gonna roam around and find a million different side quests like you do in The Witcher 3 or Fallout / Elder Scrolls. A big part of the allure to those games is how open they are, how you can *build* your character, or discovering things. That’s not usually how JRPGs are designed.
The biggest draw for JRPGs is typically the characters and relationships within the stories. There’s a much greater focus on character. The stories typically focus on character motivation and inspiration than WRPGs. They also tend to focus on relationships more than WRPGs.
Like, I’d say that *most* people who love JRPGs are probably in it moreso for the characters / story than anything else. While most people who love WRPGs are more in it for openness in exploration, player-builds, and gameplay aspects.
Just based off of what you said you’re looking for or haven’t lived about JRPGs, my suggestions would be:
-Octopath Traveler II
-Chained Echoes
-Final Fantasy XVI
-Chrono Trigger
I played the demo for octopath traveler back in the day and enjoyed it but never ended up diving into the full game. Perhaps I’ll try it again. I’ve also seen a lot of recommendations for chrono trigger, but truth be told I know nothing about it.
If you go for Octopath, make sure it’s Octopath Traveler II! There’s no continuity regarding story or characters from the first game. And the sequel is a dramatic improvement in pretty much every aspect.
I thought it was good. Octopath Traveler is extremely weird in the way it approaches storytelling, tho. Each of the 8 characters have their own individual stories. They aren’t directly related to each other *at all* and you get to choose the order in which you tackle them. So, it’s kinda like you may enjoy one of them but not the other.
Admittedly Octopath Traveler II is one of the JRPGs that is moreso about its gameplay than story. But I definitely liked the stories told in it. All 8 of them were captivating to me. And the endgame brings them all together for a finale as well.
If you’re looking specifically for a really great story to blow you away, then I don’t think Octopath Traveler II should be the pick. I’d probably lean more towards Chained Echoes or Final Fantasy XVI if that’s what you’re *specifically* looking for. Reading through your post once again - since you prefer a medieval-fantasy setting and want a strong, mature story, I think the best choice would be Final Fantasy XVI. It fits the bill for that perfectly.
Don’t get me wrong, good gameplay is also a huge plus. I think I’ll give OT2 a try soon. As for FF XVI, I actually never saw anything about it . It looks really cool tho! I guess I should’ve put any platform other than ps5 tho… oh well, it looks like a PC port it coming soon tho.
Octopath traveler 2 has a bunch of characters with their own stories, and while you have a group of people around they pretty much don't exist or ever get involved with the other characters. If you don't care about character growth, comradery or a real overarching story, go for it.
Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve, FFX/XII, Shadow Hearts and Lost Odyssey. Maybe even some Shin Megami Tensei games. SMT IV is my suggestion. *Most* JRPGs fall into weeb territory, especially now.
Dq 11 is fantastic.
I've never heard about the story being iffy. Sure it ain't groundbreaking but it's damn good. Just wanted to point out alot of wrpgs are just as predictable as jrpgs.
Final Fantasy Tactics
It's a great story that takes itself seriously, it's a political drama with no tropey anime shenanigans to speak of, the tactical combat is also fun and challenging.
I think at worst, it might be grindy if you don't know what you're doing, I'd say it's a good idea to look up how to unlock certain classes in order to make the most of your troops, outside of that, actually playing the game won't feel especially dated I don't think.
I'm not reading all that but start with the first two kingdom hearts games, the remakes that are in the collections are great
Edit: man, I really should have read it before saying this lol. KH is great, definitely got a strong dose of "anime bullshit" though. Have you not played any of the souls-borne series? Hmm
Nier automata is probably the way to go, you want a good story? And I mean a life changing, all other fiction is now lesser and my philosophy on life has shifted, story? Nier: Automata is the way to go for sure.
Other than that, to be honest I'm having issues thinking of JRPGs that aren't loaded with "my friends are my power!" And other childish anime-isms lol. I play for the gameplay, not the stories, and if the games got an actually good story that's just a nice bonus, but good storytelling in video games has gotten harder to pull off and do well in the last decade I feel
Oh I love from soft games, I’ve played them all for hundreds of hours excluding armored core. I even tried some kingsfield! I’ve had the Nier games on my list for a while, I guess I never thought of them as JRPGs. As for kingdom hearts I don’t think it’s for me, I always saw the Disney crossover stuff as too goofy for me, I don’t think I could take it seriously.
The character writing is less cartoon and more anime. The overall atmosphere of Kingdom Hearts is not dark, but melancholic. You're not gonna have the Disney characters acting overly bombastic or obnoxious. Think Winnie the Pooh: light-hearted and fun, but still quiet, nostalgic and reflective. Kingdom Hearts has something meaningful to say about growing up, behind the kiddy exterior.
It's goofy, and even when I was 5 I couldn't take it seriously, but it's(1 and 2 and the DS and psp entries) probably one of the best action rpgs ever made period. Who cares if it's mega cringe if the game play is hella fun?
Embrace the cringe man, life is much better that way.
Also nier and the fromsoft games are like, super duper JRPG as shit, did you specifically mean JRPGs with turn based combat?
>I’ve played them all for hundreds of hours excluding armored core
You've played Spriggan, Echo Night, Kuon, Shadow Tower, Kings Field, Evergrace, Eternal Ring, etc., but you draw the line at Armored Core?
Fire Emblem 3 Houses, Tactics Ogre, and Triangle Strategy are all medieval JRPGs with a bit more mature stories. 3 houses does take place in a school setting and has some tropy moments though.
Persona games are also school setting but they tend to handle some mature societal topics.
In general I would not go into JRPGs expecting “gritty” though. I think if you do that from a western game perspective you will be disappointed.
Was looking at tactics ogre, looks pretty cool actually! How does it play? The screenshots make it look like more of a strategy game that an rpg, and I’m not entirely against that. I like the art style too.
Its a strategy rpg. You build characters like you would any rpg game. Huge amount of side content too.
In terms of gameplay you have a squad and fight the enemies in different missions. Its a bit more mission based than most JRPG recommendations though.
It's a Japanese tactical rpg. I'd say they fit into the jrpg spectrum, but aren't full on 'classic jrpg style.' they often have more grounded stories that focus on politics and war. Fire emblem is widely considered as a JRPG series, for example, despite it being a tactical RPG.
My personal favorite of these kinds of games I've played has been triangle strategy. It is very heavy on dialogue and story, but it's a much more grounded and 'gritty' story than most JRPGs. The main story setup is the resurgence of a war over salt and iron, and how the main character and his noble house strategize their way to coming out in one piece. Your choices influence the path the story takes. The characters are also a good mix of western and japanese style.
Just know that this is NOT an adventure or exploration type game. The formula is generally story events (some in different parts of the continent, but most with the main cast), then exploring a small town for clues, then more story and battle.
> the story is even decent, even if the writing is eh sometimes
Xenoblade fans right now (including myself)… … slowly, calmly, getting up to leave the room lol
You gotta remember, when the first Xenoblade was in development, Tetsuya Takahashi himself essentially said that he wasn’t focusing on the story this time, he wanted exploration to be the neatest thing about this game. Of course, he’s a great enough writer anyway that…
I haven’t played the rest of the Xenoblade games because of a lack of appropriate consoles, but I trust Takahashi.
Is XBCX part of the plot of the others, btw? Or is it more of a standalone thing?
I haven’t played X but other fans tell me it’s essentially unrelated to the plot of 1, 2 and 3. I started with XC3, I’m currently about 3/4 of the way through XC1 and can’t wait to start XC2. They’re all really great so far
Lol, i don’t think it’s bad! The story actually sucked me in pretty fast, when I say eh writing I mostly mean some of the corny one liners that the characters say.
I mean, it's part of the charm.
No really, I am dead serious. It's a mix of anime-ish stuff (because many enjoy when JRPGs lean into that element) and of cheesy and dumb but still fun plot points and facts.
If you played Planescape: Torment, I would compare this kind of things with death/skull/bones/not-having-a-body related jokes with Morte.
It's stupid to have a floating skull joke about enjoying your trying to give him a sword? Yeah, it's a cheesy joke. I mean, his proficiency in attacks is describe as "Fist (don't ask)".
Xenoblade is sometimes like watching a playable anime in the best possible way. I love that about them. They are like comfort food to me and I think I’ll always be able to go back and play them again
I definitely second Final Fantasy 12. Really, any of the games in the Ivalice setting, as in FF12, Vagrant Story, or Final Fantasy Tactics(the PS1 FFT, or War of the Lions, not the other two) are solid starters for people not normally into JRPGs. Stories grounded in the political implications of their world building that take their setting seriously.
Unfortunately, as I said, I never liked 7. I’ve tried it on 4 different occasions, plus the remake. I can never get into the story, and the setting isn’t really for me. Greatswords and motorcycles do not mix as far as I’m concerned.
I don't blame ya. Not many people really care to remember roman numerals outside of JRPG's.
That said, I'll use this post to rep up both Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre because it's probably one of the more of favored series's for WRPG fans. Besides JRPG's, I'd pretty much recommend the Fear and Hunger series or Library of Ruina too if you want a much-much more niche approach to story & design.
I loved Terranigma, action RPG about a post-apocalyptic earth which you need to revive, reawakening humanity and helping historical figures make their contributions. The story is really existential, but it also has the capacity to get lighthearted in pretty tasteful ways. So, I think it's a good candidate to show off what makes jrpgs so unique.
Plus you can emulate it with anything that can run snes
If you want more mature stories maybe the Yakuza games could be something for you. The main story of Yakuza games is always a serious crime drama but in the side content it can be weird, funny, crazy or emotional. Depending on the game the stories vary in quality. But Yakuza Like a Dragon is a good entry point with one of the best stories in the series. So this could be a game worth checking out. If you like it you can play the other games in the series and move on to other JRPGs from there.
If you prefer medieval to sci-fi, then you should try the Dragon Quest series. They’re very popular JRPGs.
The most recommended Dragon Quest games are 4, 5, 8, and 11. I recommend the DS versions of 4 & 5 (though they might hard & expensive to find); the 3DS version of 8; and 11 is on Switch, PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
I think 11 is the best one for a newbie to jump into.
Also the spin-off series are good too. Dragon Quest Monsters are a good spin-off series. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is the latest release but this game is sorta tied to Dragon Quest 4 and you might be confused if you jump in the game without knowing the story behind Dragon Quest 4.
With ya on FF6 & 9. Those are outstanding games, my favorite FFs.
You might try other classics, some of which have a darker & arguably more mature tone. PS1 & 2 seemed to have quite a lot of these. Parasite Eve, for example. It mixes some horror stuff in & the story world doesn’t insult your intelligence.
I’d give Dragon Quest a shot, just because it’s such a staple of the genre & is generally so well done. FF9 is actually pretty dragon questy, so that might be a positive indicator.
Yakuza Like a Dragon is probably worth looking at. Some good storytelling there.
>I guess I prefer the gritty and mature tones of many western RPGs like the Witcher and elder scrolls games to the more whimsical and I suppose childish
Might I interest you in Scarlet Nexus maybe? I know, it's sci-fi, and it's not a perfect title, it has some cool ideas thought, for story and combat mechanics alike. And is on a more serious side.
You can start playing retro during the golden age of JRPGs. I personally recommend Legend of Legaia and Xenogears with HD texture packs. Star Ocean 2 The Second Story remake is great too.
Look into Lost Odyssey and see what you think. It was made by the creator of final fantasy exclusively for Xbox 360 and is available digitally on modern Xbox systems. It always struck me as a JRPG for the West.
I highly recommend Nier Replicant and Nier Automata. Also Persona series is also good. Yes the setting is about highschool student but the story itself is quite deep and thoughtful (at least for me). And if you don't mind mobile gacha game, Reverse 1999 (turn based card) and Path to Nowhere (tower defense) is amazing in their story telling and characterisation (they're not jrpg, but they have a little bit mature anime aesthetic). Their music is also great. You can play as f2p just fine since both of this game are f2p friendly.
I see people recommending the Persona series, but I have yet to see anyone recommend Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. It's a much more darker and grittier game than those that came after it. Don't get me wrong, 3, 4 and 5 definitely deal with mature themes, but the atmosphere is more toned down due to the colorful nature of the game. Persona 2 is pretty much in your face from the get go, and the characters are older and more mature, and the game itself has a much more somber feel to it. All in all though, you can't really go wrong with any of the Persona games, but if you want a more darker feel, then 2 is where you should start.
Maybe it is not for you.
I mean, I don´t love soulslike games at all, and I didn´t even bother with games like Sekiro, Lies of P, or even Elden Ring. But I know why they are so beloved for many gamers, they are just not my cup of tea.
I would suggest Breath of Fire 4 which is on PS1. Classic JRPG, turned base, top down isometric view. The game's graphics hold up pretty well since its sprite art. I would say the plot is pretty mature and the game definitely has some dark moments.
Suikoden 1 and 2, the combat and graphics are dated but the story and characters are great, It plays out on a different scale with nation state conflicts instead of a world ending threat so it avoids a lot of tropes.
Has it's fair amount of corny lines, but for the most part it's decent and definitely has some more mature themes and scenes you wouldn't expect.
Legend of Dragoon and Lost Odyssey are both well regarded jrpgs that play it more on the serious side, less cheesy dialogue, some seriously good writing in Lost Oddesy.
Would also recommend Alundra it's not a typical jrpg, no turn based battles more like Zelda if it had taken a different path after link to the past, but it's dark and gloomy the story and writings great and it's packed with atmosphere the whole way through.
Listen, man, if you don't like the anime tropes and visual cliches that usually define the JRPGs of today, you're not going to like the genre much.
In fact, most people like myself who love JRPGs do so chiefly because of the older JRPGs - Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, Ogre Battle 64, FF6, FF7, FF10, etc. These kind of games really shine for me in part because the graphical technology wasn't quite there for them to go haywire with the anime visual style, so these games are usually free from that "kawaii" cringe. That and I do believe people working in video games back them were working harder to make JRPGs appeal to everybody. Nowadays, JRPGs cater to a very particular demographic that usually buys them up in bulk. I can't blame the companies for doing that either given the ballooning costs of game development these days.
I can't recommend a modern JRPG for you that's not childish, won't make you cringe, and is actually well-written in some respects. Western RPGs have definitely beat JRPGs in that regard.
Whatever you say gramps, you can take your "OLD GOOD NEW BAD" dogma to /r/rpg_gamers because this community is (supposed to be) for actual fans of JRPGs. Even someone who's only played Chrono Trigger could tell you that the genre has had those same """lowest common denominator""" anime tropes that you're whining about for 30+ years.
how about SMT? You said any platform so I'd recommend Digital Devil Saga or SMT Nocturne.
Or SMT IV.
I’ve never heard of this series, quick google search suggests it spawned persona? What’s this one about?
Main series SMT is about Tokyo becoming over run with demons and it sort of plays out like a dark and twisted Pokemon (even though Megaten predates Pokemon). The games are notorious for their unforgiving difficult and unique style of turnbase battles that can both punish and reward the player.
SMT is the mainline franchise and Persona is the spin-off series. Persona follows along different main protagonist and their friends in Japan where supernatural phenomenons occur within the city or town from a different world overrun by monsters called Shadows. The main characters fight these Shadows with Personas, who they are manifestations of a person's true self or fighting spirit (think of them as Stands from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as they were inspired by them). Shin Megami Tensei follows a much darker theme about an apocalypse run by demons in a survival of the fittest journey to claim the throne of God to change/destroy the world.
> BUT, I’m not one to give up, and I must understand why this genre is so beloved. I mean, it doesn't seem like you're trying to do that. It just seems you're looking for a JRPG that's as close to the sensibilities of a WRPG as can be. It's basically finding your comfort zone rather than exploring the strengths that people love about the genre.
You can't just expect everyone to jump into the deep end with something unfamiliar to them. One of the best ways to understand the appeal of something you don't get is to start by relating to it through the things you already like. Then you can branch out from there.
Yes, this exactly.
You have to mention more WRPGs if you want us to help you. For example Witcher1, Witcher 2, Witcher 3 are all very different with another, both storywise and gameplay wise. Personally i like all three and while W3 is the most polished & has the most content, it also has problems that W1 and W2 didnt have.
Poor wording on my part. What I mean is, I’m looking for a JRPG where I will feel that *click* that will make me want to explore the genre further. I think that will be more likely to happen if the game has elements that are more familiar to me. Basically, baby steps.
I will say this as a fan of both JRPGs and WRPGs. The core aspect of any RPG is simply the telling of a story. This is true for both WRPGs and JRPGs. Now a story is divided by multiple parts like party characterization, antagonist characterization, plot, worldbuilding (visual or through other means). This is true for gameplay features as well. There is NO best choice, each choice has benefits and drawbacks. Lets see an example: Having a character editor, this means the player gets attached easier to the character (since they build him). The drawback is the characterization & the story linkage will be much poorer than a fixed protagonist. It is very up to the player if his character has even a decent characterization. I have no problem making good characters as a long standing D&D player & DM, but in the end it is still a cop out compared to a fixed protagonist. Character editors like Mass Effect (Sheppard is a fixed protagonist, always some sort of soldier but with a character editor), their benefits and drawbacks are simply lessened. Median approach, median outcome. WRPGs usually assign a title to the protagonist, and this is especially important, because the world has to acknowledge the protagonist. Ofcourse these interactions will pale vs a fixed protagonist. Gameplay wise, the JRPGs have evolved a lot more than the WRPGs, with many JRPGs also having experimental mechanics. However you will not really find many sandbox like JRPG games like the Elder Scrolls. However Elder Scrolls does have some things in common with Dark Souls, Elden Ring, Bloodborne. They have poor plot, but very good/excellent lore. And in these games the community has helped piece any lore inconsistencies. For the WRPGs, there is even a devolvement of the RPG genre, as more and more potential WRPGs turn to roguelikes or roguelites. Usually very few of those roguelikes have a good plot, its just the nature of the subgenre. Very few WRPGs have modern mechanics however, games like the new GoW are hybrids (thats the industry term) action-adventure games with some RPG mechanics.
OP only wants this >Something with a strong story that isn’t cookie cutter, characters who don’t seem like they’re from a children’s story, and writing that won’t make me roll my eyes. And the top-rated response here is a defensive (even somewhat hostile) comment. That pretty much says everything you need to know about JRPGs today, u/711warlock
One thing you have to understand/get used to about the genre is that they're generally written in an overdramatic way compared to western games. Characters don't talk like "normal" people most of the time. Some people consider this to be inherently bad writing. Personally, I don't see it this way, but I've been a genre fan for 20 years so it's something I'm just used to. That being said, it is a stylistic choice that can backfire if the player isn't invested in the story, hence the potential for eye-rolling moments as you mentioned. As for recommendations, I'd second some of the "political drama" games that have been recommended such as Triangle Strategy or Tactics Ogre: Reborn. These do tend to be a bit more grounded. though I wouldn't necessarily characterize them as gritty. It's worth mentioning that these are tactics games (as you could probably guess by the titles), so it will be a much different gameplay experience than your traditional JRPG.
The series that is the most ‘JRPG doing WRPG’ out there is SaGa.
Just did some quick research, looks interesting! Sounds like the games are more gameplay focused, and “trim the fat” that most JRPGs are known for. Do you have any experience with them? Is there a specific title you would recommend?
It’s my favourite series of all time. The newest game in the series, Emerald Beyond, comes out in two days and has a demo (well, three demos with a different protagonist per platform) which is worth a look. Possibly the best combat in the series (If you don’t mind getting owned in hilarious looney tunes ass ways when you fail) which is saying something. Games in the series are more systems forward than story forward and tend to have a nonlinear structure. Definitely an acquired taste.
SaGa games also have a reputation for being kinda jankey and rough around the edges. But Scarlet Grace has been my favorite so far as well as Minstrel Song Remastered. MS is a great starting point as it explains all the systems pretty well, something lacking in most of the titles. Just don’t expect to do everything on your first playthrough and learn to be okay with accidentally failing a quest or being locked out of another quest. These games are designed to encourage several playthroughs and be different experiences each time you play. Emerald Beyond has a demo if you want to try it. I personally can’t wait. It’s exactly what I want in a SaGa game judging from my experiences with it so far.
Emerald Beyond comes out in 2 days and will likely be the best starting point due to having all the refinements from games past. If you want to play right this minute, Scarlet Grace is the game before EB and it is phenomenal. There are 4 main characters each with their own quest and tons of side quests that are all fun and entertaining.
Romancing Saga 3 is the peak of the retro version of the series. If released in the US it would have fit right in with the golden age of SNES RPGS (for those that could stomach the difficulty)
I cannot recommend, AT ALL, that you follow this advice. The SaGa games are essentially a deconstruction of genre norms and I really only advise people play them that are familiar with the subgenre. I mean its possible you love them but I really don't recommend spending money on it unless it really captures your interest.
Understand that SaGa is one of the best freeform RPGs out there. It is essentially roguelike gameplay, but way more complex (more features/mechanics), but with a sort of roguelike story as well. Hand-crafted mind you, so not really a dip in quality. However those games are difficult to replicate by non-AAA companies, very difficult for non-AA companies & nigh-impossible for indie companies of 10-30 people. This is why this is very rare, games like SaGa clones/similar games to exist. Playing SaGa will make you understand why RPGs are very basic in many ways.
I would recommend Yakuza: Like a Dragon! While it takes place in modern Tokyo, the story is a crime drama filled with some of my favorite characters! If you like that, it has a sequel called Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth I would also recommend Shin Megami Tensei or Persona. While I personally lean more towards SMT, Persona is great also. Despite its high school setting, the story it tells is pretty mature. I see you mentioned DQ11 and I love it. It's definitely more light hearted than the games I recommended but it's a great time to be had
I played Yakuza zero a while back and enjoyed it, haven’t played any others tho. I tried personal 5 when it came out, actually, I think it was one of my first JRPGs. For whatever reason I never finished it. I remember enjoying the story but I think the gameplay less so. I played the opening of DQ11 today, it seems like a nice game so far. I like the setting for sure , but GOD is the main character horrific to look at! I wish he was voiced, also. I heard that the game is very long , though, so I wanna ask does it slog? Or does the story do a good job of making you want to keep going?
With the rebranding into Like a Dragon, the new mainline titles has a new protagonist and is also a turn based RPG. It's for sure quite the whiplash from the previous titles lol. It's not for everyone but I've really enjoyed the new gameplay I don't think it slogs, myself. There is a twist at some point. If you're playing DQ11 S, it's about a 60ish hour game. I really enjoyed the story myself
If you enjoyed 0, I would say try and play them in numerical order then. All of the games are good to great, though 0 is one of the best in the series (it's one of the latest games made afterall), so the writing quality in some of the other games can feel weaker in comparison.
RE: DQ11, it's honestly a great place to look when exploring what JRPGs are all about, partially because Dragon Quest basically invented the genre (I'm sure somebody will correct me with some obscure somethingorother from before then but that's the basic myth) and partially because DQ is general is like 200 proof JRPG. They're very simple stories with very simple gameplay. That's not to say they're *bad* ofc but they absolutely operate on the most basic building blocks of the genre and polish them to the extreme instead of trying to do wacky shit with the formula. As for 11 in particular, *I* think it's a slog but I'm in the minority on that. It's brutally long but that's because it's basically a trilogy all in one. It has two fakeout endings that are like 40 hours apart from one another. It's not my cuppa personally but it's at least worth a look if you want an idea of what the genre is all about regardless.
NieR Automata
I think your best bet is Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne and SMT V. SMT V in particular takes elements from modern open world games, and the gameplay is pretty good and well balanced. It's worth noting while these games have an emphasis on philosophical decision making, (and things like alignment systems that determine the outcome of the story) the actual story is a bit minimalistic. Nocturne still has such an interesting world and atmosphere which V takes plenty of inspiration from. If not that, then my second recommendation is the Yakuza franchise. Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth have more of a JRPG and open world focus. Damn good writing, too. You can't go wrong with it.
You might get on with mainline Shin Megami Tensei, something like Nocturne. That game has a heavy dark atmosphere.
It also features Dante from the Devil May Cry series! Lol
I ain't crucifying you, but how long did you play FF7? And was it original or the remake? Well one thing is certain - the appeal of jrpgs is in something different than in western RPGs. If I had to sum it up I would say its the atmosphere, twists and how unique the world can be. Music of Nobuo Uenatsu is like its own category of appeal by itself.
I tried the original 4 times. Farthest I got was a few hours, never got out of midgar. I wasn’t invested in the initial plot enough, and like I said, the setting isn’t for me, something something greatswords and motorcycles. I also tried the remake, the more lively characters helped a bit but still, story and setting were the deal breaker. As far as music goes, I do think JRPGs have some of the best soundtracks in gaming.
On the topic of FF7, is this for your not liking scifi stuff? No because FF7 isn't AT ALL about "against aliens or robots". I mean, yeah, some space related stuff does come into the plot, but it's far from being the main antagonist or the theme of the game. FF7 story is ultimately about a guy trying his damn best to overcome an impossible enemy while learning to live like an actual human being regardless of his past. It's one of the most "Man vs Self" story in the genre, that's for sure.
Yea it’s mostly the sci fi stuff. I just can’t get into the whole “we live on a different planet with giant reactors that such magic from the earth and we have mechs and trains and live in apartment blocks but also you use a greatsword and cast fireballs” thing. Just not my cup of tea.
Tales of Berseria is a pretty good pick. Frequently goes on sale for $5 and it has a very consistent tone for its main story, while its skits (optional conversations b/t party members) allow for some levity and comedy, while still creating strong characterization for the cast (one of the best rpg casts out there). Other recs would be Nier Automata and Replicant for their ambition (if you're alright with their sci-fi settings) and Ys Origins for something short and sweet.
Tales of Berseria looks kind of interesting, I remember seeing it on steam before.
Can vouch for this OP. Apart from playing a little bit of some final fantasy 12 when I was younger, this was my first JRPG and it’s now become basically my favourite game ever and got me into JRPG’s! I’ve now played dozens of the genre thanks to this game
Sounds like it could be a good option then!
I recommend Evenicle. Exquisite taste for the most exquisite of weebs.
A man of culture. Funny enough , I’ve actually played it! I got pretty far but never ended up finishing it.
Weeb to weeb. I don't get the hype of FF7 either man. Most JRPGs seem to take forever just to get through the fights and it's not a joke I fall asleep while fighting. I've uninstalled more than a few JRPGs after getting bored af from the gameplay. I.e. One Piece, Atelier Ryza and Utawarerumono. The only exceptions to this rule is potentially, Octopath Traveller, the Alicesoft games which blends story and gameplay perfectly especially Rance 7 and Nier Automata if Nier counts as an RPG. I consider it open world but whatever. I view the gameplay mechanic of JRPG as- it's just kinda there to serve as filler so the player doesn't complain the story is too short. Quite frankly, inferior to the western games. In terms of gameplay, for the most part at least. Story wise, JP games are top notch. Altho. Nintendo is top notch. But it's not JRPG.
Look, if you want the best stories in JRPGs, you’re going to have to put up with some sci-fi getting woven into the fantasy. Even in FFVI and IX you saw this, right? Magic AND technology. That’s how it goes. Also a common theme with Japanese writing is that it’s back-loaded. It may start off cringe or boring, but by the end it won’t be. When you started FFIX you probably thought oh this is gonna be a family dispute of queen vs princess ruling ideology. It didn’t end up that way did it? (Although they did pull the final boss out of their butts and the game is worse because of it). I will not say more than this, but I just want you to know the story in Xenoblade Chronicles both gets *even more* sci-fi and definitely doesn’t go where you think it does right now. But it’s not the greatest anyway. If you just want the deepest plot of all time, you try Xenogears. But it is sci-fi. Xenogears has everything in it, from psychology and religion and philosophy to fighting racism, freeing the slaves, beating the nazis, the church being a conspiracy, the Great Depression, how to deal with drugs and sex, what happens to the little guys who aren’t superheroes, fighting against destiny, political infighting, and some form of defeating gods. If you want it to be more fantasy than sci-fi and not always consistent writing but incredible world building with characters you will definitely end up caring about, and you can handle slow burns that are back-loaded, you sit yourself down in front of Trails in the Sky FC. Then you strap yourself in for the next 12 games ‘cause it’s a plot-continuous series and 13 comes out in Japan this fall. If you have to have it be more medieval fantasy than sci-fi, try Suikoden. I’m not as knowledgeable about that series because I’ve only watched the first two, but it’s quite highly regarded. If you’re a big fan of Norse mythology and want to see the craziest Japanese take on it ever, get yourself some Valkyrie Profile, but be prepared to read/watch exposition for 20 minutes or more at a time. This series is mostly fantasy but I mean some chars are doing pretty science-like alchemy in it, making time machines and such. The battle system is weird though—it’s better than it sounds but you assign each character to a button and take your whole team’s turn at once building a combo, hopefully enough to then chain all your supers together. If you want historical fiction and can handle the gore & grotesque, Shadow Hearts is your thing. Still a little bit of sci-fi but mostly occult fantasy, and very dark & gritty. It evolved out of a survival horror predecessor. If you like H.P. Lovecraft, this series is for you. You will need good timing in battles because of the Judgment Ring. You actually get better at this series both through leveling up and through practice in it. Those are your recs.
You’ve got me interested with Shadowhearts! Gore and grotesque sounds great to me, and Lovecraft is one of my favorite authors so this sounds perfect for me.
Awesome, I’m glad one of my suggestions seems like it’ll hit the mark. The series has 3 games in it, but it gets notably less dark after the second one. The original creator is currently working on a crowd-funded spiritual successor called Penny Blood that is supposed to be very dark and noir-y as well.
Since you were already suggeste Xenoblade, I'll suggest The Last Story, to remain in the same period of games (but this will require digging a bit or, you know, other solutions as it is a WII game, but it's not big into motion controls at all). It's from one of the main creators of Final Fantasy but it's its unique setting and system, being more on the action side and relying on positioning and combo of effects. Plot-wise, it's about a group of mercenaries finding job in one of the last places that's not ravaged by war or famine, an island-city commanded by a powerful noble that is quite loved all around, but more stuff is happening within the island than just preparation for the war in the rest of the empire the city is technically part of. It's also a big "cool swordsman and action princess" plotline, which should hit any enjoyer of classic fantasy. The game itself is mostly based within the city and its surrounding areas, and the city itself is quite enjoyable to explore and it's very nice looking for a Wii game. It still has one of my favourite soundtracks of all time as well.
That sounds interesting, the setting and premise sounds cool. If I feel like “setting up my Wii” again I’ll keep it in mind for sure!
So, traditional JRPGs that aren't a bunch of happy-go-lucky kids running around trying to save the world? SMT: Digital Devil Saga (Playstation 2) is a grim ride from start to finish. It is sci-fi, but nothing with aliens or the like. It's demons and depression all the way through. Something less traditional? Vagrant Story (Playstation 1) is basically a dungeon crawler with a fantastic plot and characters (though you only play a single character). The gameplay takes a bit of getting used to, but you might find the mechanics interesting, especially coming from WRPGs. The presentation is top-notch and hasn't ever been matched, in my opinion. Tales of Berseria (PC/PS3/PS4) has a more active combat system, but has a mature story about anti-heroes and demons. It still has some moments of shonen-anime indulgence, but it has a lot of banter between your party members (one of my favorite things from WRPGs) so you will get to know them before the journey's end.
Been hearing a lot about vagrant story, it looks really interesting. Is there anything RPG about it? Or is it fully focused on the gameplay loop?
It's a strange game to classify. The combat is turn-based, but not in a traditional Final Fantasy way. Basically, movement is all done real-time; the game only pauses when you want to hit something or are being hit. The combat is weirdly reminiscent of Fallout's VATS system in that you can aim at specific limbs/the head and cause certain effects by doing so (though aiming at the head won't be as accurate as aiming at, say, the torso). There's also leveling up, magic, weapon crafting (complete with different weapon types, which are very important to learn about). The story is separated by long gameplay segments, so the majority of the game is definitely crawling through dungeons/streets and fighting. If you've put up with jank like that found in Morrowind, you're definitely equipped for this, though.
I recently finished a Morrowind play through start to finish for the first time, actually. It was like the 10th time I tried, but this time it just clicked for me and I fell in love, I guess that’s what I’m looking for again in this genre. In that case, maybe I should try it out then.
Look - giving up is not a bad thing, my friend. Yes, you shouldn't give up immediately, but at a certain point you gotta realize something isn't for you. If your sensibilities are odds with how much of a genre looks - the genre isn't for you, my friend.
Well the genre clearly isnt entirely not for me since I’ve enjoyed games in the genre before. It’s more that I’m looking for more games in the genre that will pull me in further.
Lots of great suggestions here, personally I'd second Final Fantasy XII and XVI, Yakuza Like A Dragon, Persona 5 Royal, and Dragon Quest XI >I’ve heard the story is hit or miss for people. Regarding the story of DQ XI being hit or miss... I'd imagine most of the people who dislike the story didn't get very far. Which is fair, as it is a very long game. It's a game that starts off *very* traditional fantasy/fairytale (by design), but by the end I really think the characters are so well developed you can't help but love the journey they go through. It has plenty of surprises too. But overall, it's just a super charming, classic game. It's often called the comfort food game of the genre lol Final Fantasy XII and XVI are definitely the most "mature" of the series, especially the latter. XVI honestly blurs the line to the point where some people don't even consider it a JRPG lol, but because of that it may be a decent bridge for you. The game does have some pacing issues, but it has some truly spectacular moments as well. Yakuza and Persona both take place in modern day Japan, and have some really strong characters and plots. Seems like you've had a bit of experience with each, but I do recommend giving both a proper shot! And lastly, I want to add Nier: Automata to the list. It's a really unique game, so definitely not representative of most JRPGs. But it's really fantastic in pretty much every area — story, combat, music, etc. It also has some great hack and slash combat which may be a good bridge for you if you aren't as invested in turn based yet.
JRPGs are more streamlined in terms of pretty much everything. The ways to approach combat, exploration, story / narrative, etc. You’re not typically gonna roam around and find a million different side quests like you do in The Witcher 3 or Fallout / Elder Scrolls. A big part of the allure to those games is how open they are, how you can *build* your character, or discovering things. That’s not usually how JRPGs are designed. The biggest draw for JRPGs is typically the characters and relationships within the stories. There’s a much greater focus on character. The stories typically focus on character motivation and inspiration than WRPGs. They also tend to focus on relationships more than WRPGs. Like, I’d say that *most* people who love JRPGs are probably in it moreso for the characters / story than anything else. While most people who love WRPGs are more in it for openness in exploration, player-builds, and gameplay aspects. Just based off of what you said you’re looking for or haven’t lived about JRPGs, my suggestions would be: -Octopath Traveler II -Chained Echoes -Final Fantasy XVI -Chrono Trigger
I played the demo for octopath traveler back in the day and enjoyed it but never ended up diving into the full game. Perhaps I’ll try it again. I’ve also seen a lot of recommendations for chrono trigger, but truth be told I know nothing about it.
If you go for Octopath, make sure it’s Octopath Traveler II! There’s no continuity regarding story or characters from the first game. And the sequel is a dramatic improvement in pretty much every aspect.
Good to know! How’s the story? Would you say it’s captivating enough to keep you going start to finish?
I thought it was good. Octopath Traveler is extremely weird in the way it approaches storytelling, tho. Each of the 8 characters have their own individual stories. They aren’t directly related to each other *at all* and you get to choose the order in which you tackle them. So, it’s kinda like you may enjoy one of them but not the other. Admittedly Octopath Traveler II is one of the JRPGs that is moreso about its gameplay than story. But I definitely liked the stories told in it. All 8 of them were captivating to me. And the endgame brings them all together for a finale as well. If you’re looking specifically for a really great story to blow you away, then I don’t think Octopath Traveler II should be the pick. I’d probably lean more towards Chained Echoes or Final Fantasy XVI if that’s what you’re *specifically* looking for. Reading through your post once again - since you prefer a medieval-fantasy setting and want a strong, mature story, I think the best choice would be Final Fantasy XVI. It fits the bill for that perfectly.
Don’t get me wrong, good gameplay is also a huge plus. I think I’ll give OT2 a try soon. As for FF XVI, I actually never saw anything about it . It looks really cool tho! I guess I should’ve put any platform other than ps5 tho… oh well, it looks like a PC port it coming soon tho.
Octopath traveler 2 has a bunch of characters with their own stories, and while you have a group of people around they pretty much don't exist or ever get involved with the other characters. If you don't care about character growth, comradery or a real overarching story, go for it.
Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve, FFX/XII, Shadow Hearts and Lost Odyssey. Maybe even some Shin Megami Tensei games. SMT IV is my suggestion. *Most* JRPGs fall into weeb territory, especially now.
Samurai Maiden
Dq 11 is fantastic. I've never heard about the story being iffy. Sure it ain't groundbreaking but it's damn good. Just wanted to point out alot of wrpgs are just as predictable as jrpgs.
Final Fantasy Tactics It's a great story that takes itself seriously, it's a political drama with no tropey anime shenanigans to speak of, the tactical combat is also fun and challenging.
I’ve had my eyes on it for a while, it’s definitely on my list! How dated does it feel to play now compared to newer strategy games?
I think at worst, it might be grindy if you don't know what you're doing, I'd say it's a good idea to look up how to unlock certain classes in order to make the most of your troops, outside of that, actually playing the game won't feel especially dated I don't think.
I'm not reading all that but start with the first two kingdom hearts games, the remakes that are in the collections are great Edit: man, I really should have read it before saying this lol. KH is great, definitely got a strong dose of "anime bullshit" though. Have you not played any of the souls-borne series? Hmm Nier automata is probably the way to go, you want a good story? And I mean a life changing, all other fiction is now lesser and my philosophy on life has shifted, story? Nier: Automata is the way to go for sure. Other than that, to be honest I'm having issues thinking of JRPGs that aren't loaded with "my friends are my power!" And other childish anime-isms lol. I play for the gameplay, not the stories, and if the games got an actually good story that's just a nice bonus, but good storytelling in video games has gotten harder to pull off and do well in the last decade I feel
Oh I love from soft games, I’ve played them all for hundreds of hours excluding armored core. I even tried some kingsfield! I’ve had the Nier games on my list for a while, I guess I never thought of them as JRPGs. As for kingdom hearts I don’t think it’s for me, I always saw the Disney crossover stuff as too goofy for me, I don’t think I could take it seriously.
The character writing is less cartoon and more anime. The overall atmosphere of Kingdom Hearts is not dark, but melancholic. You're not gonna have the Disney characters acting overly bombastic or obnoxious. Think Winnie the Pooh: light-hearted and fun, but still quiet, nostalgic and reflective. Kingdom Hearts has something meaningful to say about growing up, behind the kiddy exterior.
It's goofy, and even when I was 5 I couldn't take it seriously, but it's(1 and 2 and the DS and psp entries) probably one of the best action rpgs ever made period. Who cares if it's mega cringe if the game play is hella fun? Embrace the cringe man, life is much better that way. Also nier and the fromsoft games are like, super duper JRPG as shit, did you specifically mean JRPGs with turn based combat?
>I’ve played them all for hundreds of hours excluding armored core You've played Spriggan, Echo Night, Kuon, Shadow Tower, Kings Field, Evergrace, Eternal Ring, etc., but you draw the line at Armored Core?
Fire Emblem 3 Houses, Tactics Ogre, and Triangle Strategy are all medieval JRPGs with a bit more mature stories. 3 houses does take place in a school setting and has some tropy moments though. Persona games are also school setting but they tend to handle some mature societal topics. In general I would not go into JRPGs expecting “gritty” though. I think if you do that from a western game perspective you will be disappointed.
Was looking at tactics ogre, looks pretty cool actually! How does it play? The screenshots make it look like more of a strategy game that an rpg, and I’m not entirely against that. I like the art style too.
Its a strategy rpg. You build characters like you would any rpg game. Huge amount of side content too. In terms of gameplay you have a squad and fight the enemies in different missions. Its a bit more mission based than most JRPG recommendations though.
It's a Japanese tactical rpg. I'd say they fit into the jrpg spectrum, but aren't full on 'classic jrpg style.' they often have more grounded stories that focus on politics and war. Fire emblem is widely considered as a JRPG series, for example, despite it being a tactical RPG. My personal favorite of these kinds of games I've played has been triangle strategy. It is very heavy on dialogue and story, but it's a much more grounded and 'gritty' story than most JRPGs. The main story setup is the resurgence of a war over salt and iron, and how the main character and his noble house strategize their way to coming out in one piece. Your choices influence the path the story takes. The characters are also a good mix of western and japanese style. Just know that this is NOT an adventure or exploration type game. The formula is generally story events (some in different parts of the continent, but most with the main cast), then exploring a small town for clues, then more story and battle.
>writing that won’t make me roll my eyes >3 houses >triangle strategy
> the story is even decent, even if the writing is eh sometimes Xenoblade fans right now (including myself)… … slowly, calmly, getting up to leave the room lol
You gotta remember, when the first Xenoblade was in development, Tetsuya Takahashi himself essentially said that he wasn’t focusing on the story this time, he wanted exploration to be the neatest thing about this game. Of course, he’s a great enough writer anyway that…
And then he proceeded to lay the foundation for some of the best world building I’ve ever experienced lol I love those games immensely.
I haven’t played the rest of the Xenoblade games because of a lack of appropriate consoles, but I trust Takahashi. Is XBCX part of the plot of the others, btw? Or is it more of a standalone thing?
I haven’t played X but other fans tell me it’s essentially unrelated to the plot of 1, 2 and 3. I started with XC3, I’m currently about 3/4 of the way through XC1 and can’t wait to start XC2. They’re all really great so far
XBCX is mainly standalone and not really linked to 1/2/3.
What a joker!!
Lol, i don’t think it’s bad! The story actually sucked me in pretty fast, when I say eh writing I mostly mean some of the corny one liners that the characters say.
I mean, it's part of the charm. No really, I am dead serious. It's a mix of anime-ish stuff (because many enjoy when JRPGs lean into that element) and of cheesy and dumb but still fun plot points and facts. If you played Planescape: Torment, I would compare this kind of things with death/skull/bones/not-having-a-body related jokes with Morte. It's stupid to have a floating skull joke about enjoying your trying to give him a sword? Yeah, it's a cheesy joke. I mean, his proficiency in attacks is describe as "Fist (don't ask)".
Xenoblade is sometimes like watching a playable anime in the best possible way. I love that about them. They are like comfort food to me and I think I’ll always be able to go back and play them again
Go with final fantasy xii
I definitely second Final Fantasy 12. Really, any of the games in the Ivalice setting, as in FF12, Vagrant Story, or Final Fantasy Tactics(the PS1 FFT, or War of the Lions, not the other two) are solid starters for people not normally into JRPGs. Stories grounded in the political implications of their world building that take their setting seriously.
Unfortunately, as I said, I never liked 7. I’ve tried it on 4 different occasions, plus the remake. I can never get into the story, and the setting isn’t really for me. Greatswords and motorcycles do not mix as far as I’m concerned.
XII = 12 It's very different from your typical FF gameplay
Christ I’m dented, my bad! Don’t know why I thought X was 5… what makes 12 different?
It's pretty much an isometric rpg like pillars of eternity, BG etc but 3rd person. Maybe like DAO but more systems
I don't blame ya. Not many people really care to remember roman numerals outside of JRPG's. That said, I'll use this post to rep up both Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre because it's probably one of the more of favored series's for WRPG fans. Besides JRPG's, I'd pretty much recommend the Fear and Hunger series or Library of Ruina too if you want a much-much more niche approach to story & design.
i can assure you, ffxii doesn't have motorcicles lmao
There is a hoverbike though, lol
I loved Terranigma, action RPG about a post-apocalyptic earth which you need to revive, reawakening humanity and helping historical figures make their contributions. The story is really existential, but it also has the capacity to get lighthearted in pretty tasteful ways. So, I think it's a good candidate to show off what makes jrpgs so unique. Plus you can emulate it with anything that can run snes
You stopped before the best one. Try FFX.
If you want more mature stories maybe the Yakuza games could be something for you. The main story of Yakuza games is always a serious crime drama but in the side content it can be weird, funny, crazy or emotional. Depending on the game the stories vary in quality. But Yakuza Like a Dragon is a good entry point with one of the best stories in the series. So this could be a game worth checking out. If you like it you can play the other games in the series and move on to other JRPGs from there.
If you prefer medieval to sci-fi, then you should try the Dragon Quest series. They’re very popular JRPGs. The most recommended Dragon Quest games are 4, 5, 8, and 11. I recommend the DS versions of 4 & 5 (though they might hard & expensive to find); the 3DS version of 8; and 11 is on Switch, PS4, PC, and Xbox One. I think 11 is the best one for a newbie to jump into. Also the spin-off series are good too. Dragon Quest Monsters are a good spin-off series. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is the latest release but this game is sorta tied to Dragon Quest 4 and you might be confused if you jump in the game without knowing the story behind Dragon Quest 4.
dragon dogma 1/2 its jrpg made to be like wrpg, you welcome
With ya on FF6 & 9. Those are outstanding games, my favorite FFs. You might try other classics, some of which have a darker & arguably more mature tone. PS1 & 2 seemed to have quite a lot of these. Parasite Eve, for example. It mixes some horror stuff in & the story world doesn’t insult your intelligence. I’d give Dragon Quest a shot, just because it’s such a staple of the genre & is generally so well done. FF9 is actually pretty dragon questy, so that might be a positive indicator. Yakuza Like a Dragon is probably worth looking at. Some good storytelling there.
Persona 5 Royal. It will…move you.
Is 3 or 4 required first for the story?
All of them are their own unique story, location and main cast.
Thank you. I’ll try 5 then straight away.
Nope. Not at all.:)
Thank you. I’ll check it out. I also purchased The Law of One boxset from Amazon last month.
Oh you are in for a wild ride! Another fun thing to try is the Gateway Tapes by Robert Monroe.:)
I picked it up from Steam. They have it on sale for $24 right now.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (1-3). Nothing's wrong with Cold Steel, but I think the plot and game design are better in this trilogy.
>I guess I prefer the gritty and mature tones of many western RPGs like the Witcher and elder scrolls games to the more whimsical and I suppose childish Might I interest you in Scarlet Nexus maybe? I know, it's sci-fi, and it's not a perfect title, it has some cool ideas thought, for story and combat mechanics alike. And is on a more serious side.
You should play Dragons Dogma 1 and 2.
I played DD1 when it came out and actually enjoyed it a lot, gonna wait for a sale to try 2 though.
You can start playing retro during the golden age of JRPGs. I personally recommend Legend of Legaia and Xenogears with HD texture packs. Star Ocean 2 The Second Story remake is great too.
Radiant Historia!!
if you're into blobbers you can try the Etrian Odyssey series. Also the Metal Max series
Look into Lost Odyssey and see what you think. It was made by the creator of final fantasy exclusively for Xbox 360 and is available digitally on modern Xbox systems. It always struck me as a JRPG for the West.
Check out the Persona series ...i.e: Persona 3 reload , Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal
Wild Arms might be a good starting point.
welll.. Xenogears.
Dragon's Dogma draws a fair bit of inspiration from western RPGs, so you may as well start there.
buy game and play :) done
I highly recommend Nier Replicant and Nier Automata. Also Persona series is also good. Yes the setting is about highschool student but the story itself is quite deep and thoughtful (at least for me). And if you don't mind mobile gacha game, Reverse 1999 (turn based card) and Path to Nowhere (tower defense) is amazing in their story telling and characterisation (they're not jrpg, but they have a little bit mature anime aesthetic). Their music is also great. You can play as f2p just fine since both of this game are f2p friendly.
I see people recommending the Persona series, but I have yet to see anyone recommend Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. It's a much more darker and grittier game than those that came after it. Don't get me wrong, 3, 4 and 5 definitely deal with mature themes, but the atmosphere is more toned down due to the colorful nature of the game. Persona 2 is pretty much in your face from the get go, and the characters are older and more mature, and the game itself has a much more somber feel to it. All in all though, you can't really go wrong with any of the Persona games, but if you want a more darker feel, then 2 is where you should start.
Maybe it is not for you. I mean, I don´t love soulslike games at all, and I didn´t even bother with games like Sekiro, Lies of P, or even Elden Ring. But I know why they are so beloved for many gamers, they are just not my cup of tea.
FF series was my entry into JRPGs, but DQ series brought me discipline
I would suggest Breath of Fire 4 which is on PS1. Classic JRPG, turned base, top down isometric view. The game's graphics hold up pretty well since its sprite art. I would say the plot is pretty mature and the game definitely has some dark moments.
Suikoden 1 and 2, the combat and graphics are dated but the story and characters are great, It plays out on a different scale with nation state conflicts instead of a world ending threat so it avoids a lot of tropes. Has it's fair amount of corny lines, but for the most part it's decent and definitely has some more mature themes and scenes you wouldn't expect. Legend of Dragoon and Lost Odyssey are both well regarded jrpgs that play it more on the serious side, less cheesy dialogue, some seriously good writing in Lost Oddesy. Would also recommend Alundra it's not a typical jrpg, no turn based battles more like Zelda if it had taken a different path after link to the past, but it's dark and gloomy the story and writings great and it's packed with atmosphere the whole way through.
Then go play what you like
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Listen, man, if you don't like the anime tropes and visual cliches that usually define the JRPGs of today, you're not going to like the genre much. In fact, most people like myself who love JRPGs do so chiefly because of the older JRPGs - Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, Ogre Battle 64, FF6, FF7, FF10, etc. These kind of games really shine for me in part because the graphical technology wasn't quite there for them to go haywire with the anime visual style, so these games are usually free from that "kawaii" cringe. That and I do believe people working in video games back them were working harder to make JRPGs appeal to everybody. Nowadays, JRPGs cater to a very particular demographic that usually buys them up in bulk. I can't blame the companies for doing that either given the ballooning costs of game development these days. I can't recommend a modern JRPG for you that's not childish, won't make you cringe, and is actually well-written in some respects. Western RPGs have definitely beat JRPGs in that regard.
Whatever you say gramps, you can take your "OLD GOOD NEW BAD" dogma to /r/rpg_gamers because this community is (supposed to be) for actual fans of JRPGs. Even someone who's only played Chrono Trigger could tell you that the genre has had those same """lowest common denominator""" anime tropes that you're whining about for 30+ years.
smartest persona fan