2022 has plenty of good things in store for both gaming, in general, and the JRPG subgenre, specifically. Upcoming titles of note include Triangle Strategy and the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake from the Square Enix team behind Octopath Traveler, and more high-profile releases like Final Fantasy XVI.
In the meantime, though, there are plenty of modern greats fans can play now. Several of these games are from big-name franchises, like the aforementioned Final Fantasy and Persona, but there is otherwise an exceptional variety in the modern JRPG catalog.
Persona 5 Royal
One of the most acclaimed JRPGs in general of the modern era is undoubtedly Persona 5. The original 2016/17 (Japan/worldwide) release already had ~90 hours worth of content from the main questline alone, and the enhanced Royal version from 2019/20 added even more substantive content.
The Shin Megami Tensei spin-off series exploded in international popularity with P5, praised for its street-level and intimate story and characters, layered life-simulation elements, and thoroughly engaging twists on the turn-based combat system. The art style and acid-jazz soundtrack combine to create an experience that oozes with slick anime style.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
While not on the level of fellow Square Enix counterpart Final Fantasy‘s global popularity, the Dragon Quest franchise has historically been a titan of the JRPG subgenre. And somewhat like Persona 5‘s international effect, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age deservedly bolstered the franchise’s status. It expanded on VIII‘s presentation from the PlayStation 2 and gave a wonderfully vibrant, expansive world realized in Akira Toriyama’s signature art style.
Dragon Quest XI was well-received for its well-written main questline, an abundance of side content, and nostalgic streamlining of classic JRPG turn-based combat. Its Definitive Edition expanded the number of platforms the game was on and included some convenient quality-of-life tweaks. Given the nature of the genre and game, it’s also one of the best RPGs to play on Nintendo Switch.
Shin Megami Tensei V
Shin Megami Tensei finally made its triumphant return in 2021 on Nintendo Switch. Though the wait was excruciating, it seems to have been well worth it considering its strong critical reception. Since Persona tends to tackle smaller-scale, more intimate narratives, the greater SMT series takes on grander and more complex concepts.
Shin Megami Tensei V‘s praises mostly went to its compelling story despite using the good vs evil/heaven vs hell theme, profound turn-based combat, and RPG mechanics. Monster-collecting elements are included in the latter high point, and critics commended the game for also being uncompromisingly true to its roots and simultaneously streamlined, rather than watering down its identity for the sake of modernity.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
One of the most successful yet somewhat underrated JRPGs from 2020 was Yakuza: Like a Dragon. This game is a reinvention and soft-reboot of the Yakuza franchise, as developers Ryu Ga Gotoku took the opportunity to shift from action-adventure beat-em’-up to turn-based JRPG.
If there was ever a better time to undergo such a change, this seventh entry was it since Kazuma Kiryu’s saga has concluded. The game was celebrated for its emotional story, characters exuding lovable charm, combat, and retaining the campy spirit of Yakuza‘s side missions. The game’s positive reception and premise also make it one of the best Yakuza games to start with.
Tales Of Arise
After a string of underwhelming entries, Bandai Namco’s Tales series accomplished a return to form with last year’s Tales of Arise. The game keeps the core foundation that made the franchise so beloved in the past and refines it to arguably the best it’s ever been. Arise‘s real-time action combat system was polished to be near-immaculate, providing incredible engagement throughout its meaty story.
Likewise, the plot has been regarded as generally well-written. It explored themes of racism, classism, and systematic oppression through a cast of characters worth getting emotionally invested in. Though it could’ve afforded to go deeper, the story and its character dynamics remain entertaining throughout.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Square Enix finally delivered on fan pleadings with Final Fantasy VII Remake in 2020. The PlayStation classic has been reimagined to become a series, with this first game greatly expanding on the Midgar section of the story — and being another accessible game for Final Fantasy newcomers.
Some fans were apprehensive of possible convolutions to the future story, but FF7R was praised for fleshing out the cast of characters’ respective story arcs. Perhaps the biggest asset of the game, however, was its superb combat system. It essentially perfects the shift into real-time action that XV tried before it, providing a deeply exhilarating experience.
Octopath Traveler
Tomoya Asano’s team at Square Enix delivered a potentially game-changing JRPG back in 2018 in the form of Octopath Traveler. This was a love letter to the JRPGs of the Super Nintendo and PlayStation era, capturing the atmosphere in the “HD-2D” described artistic approach. Its 2D pixel art is beautifully detailed and complemented by equally impressive lighting while operating in a 3D environment.
Reviews for Octopath Traveler raved about this especially, as well as its creative twists to turn-based combat with combo-like mechanics. The eight protagonists are mostly charming with their respective story arcs, but criticisms came over repetitive tropes and underwhelming plot convergences. The artistic style has made such a great impact that it’s become the basis for the upcoming Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Despite the Nintendo Wii’s limitations in terms of major third-party support outside its usual flagship franchises, 2010’s Xenoblade Chronicles made a statement for being one of the best RPGs of its time. The franchise steadily grew in prominence over the years by the time Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was released for the Switch.
Xenoblade Chronicles‘ successes were largely due to its impressively complex story and vast world, as well as its party-based action combat. The original’s 2020 Definitive Edition release remasters it for Switch and gives it a worthwhile facelift to be accessible in the modern-day gaming scene.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
When Fire Emblem: Awakening was released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2012/13, the series received a massive jolt in international relevance. The franchise was known for its punishing difficulty and “permadeath” features for its characters that die-hard fans love, but Awakening to Three Houses incorporated optional difficulty modes and classic mode to accommodate longtime fans and newcomers alike.
It didn’t sacrifice its quality in doing so, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses expanded on the 3DS-era resurgence by blending Persona-like life-sim mechanics. The deep tactical-RPG combat is more gripping than ever, and its sprawling story invites multiple playthroughs.
Ni No Kuni II: Revanent Kingdom
The PlayStation 3’s Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was an acclaimed JRPG that went somewhat under the radar. Regardless, its sequel on PS4, PC, and Switch had high expectations that, thankfully, developers Level-5 exceeded. Both games are characterized by their tasteful Studio Ghibli-inspired anime art style, as well as storytelling approaches.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom received similar praises as its predecessor narratively, with the game having a touching coming-of-age story wrapped in a stunning high-fantasy setting. The combat style switched from turn-based to action seamlessly and was filled with plenty of compelling side quests and a kingdom-building minigame.
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