30 of the best JRPGs for the PC: From wacky to absolutely brilliant

Things from Japan are wacky, says the cliché! Our list of role-playing games from Japan confirms this. Nevertheless, the games can convince!

Role-playing games from Japan are mostly distinguished by their very own style. They stand out so much from Western titles that the term JRPG – that is, Japanese role-playing game – now has a firm place in gaming jargon. Also in the West.

Despite this, a great many role-playing games that are popular in Japan live an absolutely shadowy existence in the rest of the world. Sure: there are some series that everyone knows. However, these are only the smallest part. In this list, they all get a place! I’ll show you the big hits and also some of the best JRPGs for the PC, most of which are quite exotic, but have not been able to gather a fan community around them for nothing. However, I do not sort them by rating, but simply alphabetically.

JRPG or SRPG? In the case of role-playing games originating in Japan, there is often a more precise distinction between pure JRPGs and strategy RPGs (SRPG). The biggest difference here is the battle system, which in the latter places a much greater focus on strategy and tactics. However, there is no clear boundary here, which is why I mention representatives of both genres in the list.

In order to enjoy some JRPGs, you definitely have to be more interested in the genre itself and in Japanese culture. The games in this list are therefore definitely not for everyone, which is why I give a recommendation for each title as to who it is suitable for. But hey: Even if you can’t do anything with the games, the list is still good as an entertaining pastime.

Agarest

Agarest tells the story of a war that spans a good 100 years and five generations. But to be honest: The story seems to be just a cover to sell you a dating simulation . The main character always meets three ladies on his journey, hooks up with one of them and begets a child at the end of his story to carry the battle into the next generation. Then the game begins again.

But it is precisely this idea of not having a story end with one main character, but telling it over many generationsthat fascinated me at the time. How do the hero’s children deal with their innate destiny? What kind of people do they grow up to be? This was especially interesting in Agarest 2, where not every hero was sympathetic

The biggest weakness of the game, however, is the gameplay: In typical strategy RPG fashion you move your units on a kind of chessboard However, this is not as well developed as in a Fire Emblem, for example, but much simpler. On the other hand, you fight far more battles. And that just gets monotonous in the long run. Nevertheless, I played through the game twice on the PS3 and spent hundreds of hours with it.

Suitable for whom? Agarest is quite special. You grind a lot and the story relies on a number of fantasy clichés. I would not recommend it to beginners. You can have fun with it especially if you like stories that span hundreds of years and many generations. Because with each generation there is the exciting question: How has the child of your old main character developed and how does he deal with the fate imposed on him from birth?

It doesn’t matter which part you start with. Because the stories are hardly or not at all connected to each other. Personally, however, I recommend Agarest 2, because of the more interesting characters, the more action-packed battle system and because it says goodbye to the thousands of compulsory battles in favour of an open overview map.

Akiba’s Trip

Why do vampires burn in the sun when they protect themselves from it with clothes? Akiba’s Trip goes for hard-hitting realism and does away with the cliché! Here you fight the undead by ripping off their clothes in an action-based combat system with cool special attacks Akiba Strip, so to speak. Yes: the title is a play on words.

You take on the role of an otaku – the Japanese version of a nerd – and explore the Tokyo electronic district Akihabara, which is simply called Akiba by its fans. And along the way, you’ll get hammered with the full load of Japanese pop culture Maids, Idols, Anime and Don Quihote.

It is somewhat unfortunate that the world divides into many smaller areas. But at least they are faithfully recreated in detail Because even though Akiba’s Trip looks like a pure fanservice game, it is more a game for fans of the eponymous Akihabara district in Tokyo. And anyone who has ever visited it will immediately recognise it in the game as well.

Suitable for whom? Accordingly, Akiba’s Trip is not aimed at JRPG beginners, but assumes that you already know and like Japan’s otaku culture. Otherwise, you probably won’t be able to do much with many aspects of the game. The second part of the series, Undead & Undressed, was first released on the PC. It wasn’t until 2021 that the remaster of part 1 followed with Hellbound & Debriefed. You can start directly with part 2 here.

Ar Nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star

Ar Nosurge is a bit of a special case. For while there is an English version of the game for consoles, for PC it was released via Steam exclusively in Japan. There’s a simple reason why I’m mentioning it here nevertheless: the game is one of my favourite JRPGs ever. This is not only because of the unique setting, but also because of the impressive soundtrack.

Ar Nosurge is set in the EXA_PICO universe, which some JRPG fans may remember from the console-exclusive Ar Tonelico. However, the game has little to do with its quasi-predecessors. After the destruction of their home planet Ra Ciela by the sun, humanity fled on a spaceship that has now been flying through the universe for 5,000 years. However, the population longs to live in nature again.

In the role of Delta and the player avatar Earthes, you fight against monsters known as Sharl who use song magic to kidnap humans. After the fall of the “Fellion Wall”, however, the situation changes. For “the Old Ones” – people of Ra Ciela who have been cryonically frozen – return and also possess the ability to use the aforementioned Liedmagic

This is also connected to the fantastic soundtrack, which I have already promised. But just listen for yourself! Admittedly, I still find the song EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY from the predecessor the best.

Suitable for whom? Ar Tonelico, and by extension Ar Nosurge, is particularly suitable for fans of suspenseful stories. However, as it requires a bit of effort to get hold of and even play the games these days, it is rather something for enthusiasts who are looking for a very special JRPG or simply want to experience a classic. You can start here with either Ar Tonelico 1 or Ar Nosurge.

Atelier

In the Atlier series, you don’t save the world, but run an alchemy shop. Besides searching for ingredients, this puts the crafting system centre stage. As of 2017, the series migrated back to the PC for the first time since 2000’s Atelier Marie.

The games always share the same and in Japan particularly popular Europe-Medieval scenario. Here you take on the role of a young anime girl. Your task is always the same: you have to run an alchemy shop

The lack of a big, bad villain makes the games feel a lot more light-hearted than other genre entrants Conflicts in the stories of the series do not arise from the impending end of the world, but from a book with amnesia, for example. In Atelier Rorona, on the other hand, it is only a matter of saving one’s own alchemy shop from bankruptcy after its old owner has simply made off.

Suitable for whom? The Atelier series is ideal for beginners taking their first steps into the realms of Japanese role-playing games. You don’t have to play all of the 23 games to get the story. The series is divided into several independent arcs. As long as you don’t start in the middle, there should be no problems. If you’re new to the series, it’s best to pick up one of the more recent parts, such as Atelier Sophie or Atelier Ryza.

Blue Reflection

Blue Reflection can be described as Persona meets Sailor Moon : During the day, you attend school and make friends. But every now and then, as a “Magical Girl”, you have to dive into a mysterious world called The Common, where you solve the private problems of your classmates. And this is done in typical JRPG fashion: beat up monsters in turn-based battles.

You do this in the role of Hinako Shirai, who has received magical abilities and has become a so-called Reflector. However, with this power comes responsibility and she must protect the world. The reward for all her work is the fulfilment of a wish.

Playing Blue Reflection presented me with a challenge. The challenge of getting through the dialogues. The game is ridden with clichés, logic gaps and annoying exposition Thanks to the comparatively unused setting, it is nevertheless worth a look. Especially since Atlus is still taking its time with a port of Persona for the PC

Suitable for whom? If you are a fan of Japanese school settings, you can risk a look. However, you will have to accept some weaknesses in the gameplay, such as monotonous dungeons. Since Second Light is based on Blue Reflection, you should start with the latter.

The Caligula Effect: Overdose

In The Caligula Effect, you travel virtually into the … virtual reality called Mobius. Hopefully, a course explaining recursion comes with it! This world was created so that people could escape the pains of everyday life and spend their time in an idyllic university setting. And somehow it all seems very familiar to me right now.

The catch is that the residents don’t know that it’s just a virtual reality. There are only a few who are aware of it. One of them is the main character, who therefore founds the “Go-Home Club” at his school with a few like-minded people.

The overseer AI of the world naturally wants to stop the venture and therefore you have to fight. This happens in a turn-based battle system where you link up to three commands before executing them.

Suitable for whom? To like The Caligula Effect, you should already have a somewhat stronger interest in Japan and JRPGs. Because there are numerous little things that spoil the fun of the game. So it’s really only something for genre fans.

Chrono Trigger / Chrono Cross

(Newest Release: Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition – Platforms: PC (Windows), Android, iOS – PC Release: 8. April 2022 – Where to buy? Steam)

Chrono Trigger may already have a few years behind it, but it is still – watch out! Feet up! – timeless! Here you experience a story that spans a total of five different eras. And you jump back and forth between them on your journey to save the worldwith the help of a time machine

The battle system is an active-time battle system, as known from the Final Fantasy series. The characters move in turn, but each individual has a personal timer that determines when exactly it is his turn again.

The game does not stand alone. In total, two successors appeared with Radical Dreamers and Chrono Cross However, these did not achieve the same fame as the first game, which made it to the PC for the first time in 2018 and thus also represents the latest release in the series. In the meantime, however, the sequels have also been released in a bundle for the PC with Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition.

The style of the characters might look familiar to you. At least if you know Dragon Ball. Doesn’t the protagonist Crono look a bit like Son Goku? And the tech-savvy Marle could easily be Bulma! This is no coincidence. For the character design was Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama himself. But other big names can also be found in the credits. For example, Yuji Horii, creator of Dragon Quest.

Suitable for whom? Chrono Trigger is so ingenious that I would put it in the hands of every JRPG-muffle. Characters, story, world. Everything just fits here. But really start with Chrono Trigger. Not only is it the better game, but the story of Chrono Cross builds directly on it.

Digimon

While Pokémon never made the official leap to the PC, Digimon is a different story! There are several representatives of the big rival series for the PC, all of which can be played quite differently. Here, too, everything revolves around collecting and training the monsters, of course.
However, only a few of the games were released for the PC and in the West. This is despite the fact that the first part of the series, Digimon World, was even released for the PC in 2002. Nowadays, only two of the games are really relevant: Cyber Sleuth including Hacker’s Memory and Survive. They are, in fact, conveniently available on Steam. However, their gameplay differs fundamentally. While Cyber Sleuth is a classic JRPG, Survive breaks new ground and offers gameplay that ranges from visual novel sections to battles to survival.

Suitable for whom? Even if you’re a JRPG beginner, you can’t go wrong with Digimon. Where exactly you start depends on what gameplay suits you best. If you like more classic JRPGs, Digimon Cyber Sleuth is a good choice. If, on the other hand, you want something in the SRPG direction, you should take a look at Digimon Survive.

Disgaea

(Newest Release: Disgaea 6 Complete – Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, PS5, Switch – PC Release: 29. June 2022 – Where to buy? (Steam)

Who doesn’t know it: after a long nap you wake up, your own father and ruler of the underworld has died and since then everyone has somehow been at each other’s throats. That is the starting situation in Disgaea.

You take on the role of demon prince Laharl and, for a change, fight not for the salvation of the world, but to become an Overlord yourself. To achieve this, you will do one thing above all: level up

When you win round tactics battles, you level up your character. If you use skills, the corresponding skill will improve. If you sell items, the respective shop will be levelled up. You can even improve the items themselves by literally going into them and beating up and catching buffs in them.

On your own farm you can also breed them with each other. I wonder if a health buff is compatible with an attack buff. The first Disgaea in particular is the epitome of grind – in both a positive and negative sense.

Suitable for whom? Disgaea is something for farm-hungry fans who want to level a lot and see high numbers. If that appeals to you, then grab Disgaea 5, because it makes getting started the easiest.

Dragon’s Dogma

Newest Release: Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen – Platforms: Windows, PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, Switch – PC Release: 15. January 2016 – Where to buy? (Steam)

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is anything but a typical JRPG, but at the same time one of my personal favourites. Because its melancholic world drew me right in. Sure. The story is familiar: the protagonist lives in a small village. The village is attacked by dragons. The hero wants to take revenge. But later in the game you realise that there is a lot more behind the events.

The gameplay, which focuses mainly on the fight with huge enemies like cyclops and dragons, could hardly be more impressive. Mages unleash massive spells, your companions catapult you into the air and you yourself climb around on the giants to attack weak points. And that’s not even all. I could start a hymn of praise about the different classes or how much you can discover in the world. But unfortunately there is not enough space for that.

In the overview, I listed Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen as the newest part of the series. However, that is not entirely correct. The title belongs to Dragon’s Dogma Online, which took over many of the strengths of the single-player version. Especially the innovative classes were convincing here. Unfortunately, however, this only appeared in Japan and was also discontinued in 2019.

But this is not the end for Dragon’s Dogma. Because after many years, the second part has been officially announced! However, not much is known about the new part so far.

Suitable for whom: You don’t have to like JRPGs to like Dragon’s Dogma. The action-packed battle system and imposing enemies are just as convincing as the classes. Even today, it’s still a unique role-playing experience that will even make you look at titles like Skyrim in a new light. If you want to take a look, just grab Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen during a sale. It’s usually sold for just a few euros there.

Dragon Quest

(Newest Release: Dragon Quest 11 – Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, 3DS, Stadia – PC Release: 4. December 2020 – Where to buy? (Steam)

Dragon Quest is a very long-lived JRPG series, the first part of which was released back in 1986, but has always been somewhat overshadowed in the West by the much better-known Final Fantasy. Wrongly so! Because the series has had a decisive influence on the genre.

The games are mostly about a hero who sets out to free the country from a great evil. As is typical for the genre, he is always accompanied by a whole series of companions. With them you fight monsters in turn-based battles, such as slimes – which have even become the mascot of the series.

For whom? It is always important to the developers that it is as easy as possible to get started with the parts. This makes the series ideally suited for beginners who are just having their first touches with the JRPG genre. You can simply start with the latest release: Dragon Quest 11 S. Conveniently, there is also a demo of this on Steam, which means you can take a look without having to spend money.

Final Fantasy

(Newest Release: Final Fantasy 7 Intergrade – Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia – PC Release: 6. March 2018 – Where to buy? (Steam)

There is probably hardly a gamer who has never heard of Final Fantasy. After all, the series is one of the flagship JRPGs par excellence. Even if a large part of the spin-offs were released comparatively late for the PC.

The series takes you to a new setting in each part, but they all have one thing in common: They are all science-fantasy worlds that mix high-tech technologies with the European Middle Ages. You always explore them with a whole group of characters, beating up all kinds of monsters and leveling up.

The battle system itself has undergone numerous iterations. While initially relying on the classic turn-based system, they later developed the so-called “Active Time Battle System”, which added a certain real-time component. In this system, you have to give your orders quickly enough before your opponents automatically take their turn. Some of the games, on the other hand, also rely on a pure real-time battle system.

For whom? Final Fantasy is also a classic JRPG that even newcomers can warm up to. Final Fantasy 10 is very popular with many fans, and its remake was released in a bundle with 10-2 on Steam. If you like it more modern, you can start with Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade and experience the remake of the most popular part of the series ever.

Hyperdimension Neptunia

(Latest Release: Megadimension Neptunia VII – Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, Switch – PC Release: 22. Oct 2018 – Where to buy? (Steam)

What if consoles were anime girls? The series Hyperdimension Neptunia explores this question. The story is set in the world of Gamindustri, where different CPUs fight each other in a console war. Neptune – based on Sega’s discontinued console of the same name – was eventually banished from heaven and sets out with her companions Compa, IF and a book called Histoire to save the gaming industry. Mysteriously, blood and murder are not a part of the game.

The turn-based combat system is quite convoluted. There are sword attacks, weapon attacks, transformations, summons and combos. It can take some time to work your way through it.

The combat system is quite complex.

The series, however, excels with its numerous allusions and jokes about the state of the video game industry. Depending on the part, a different aspect is parodied. While in the beginning this was consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360, handhelds followed later, as well as the shift to new console generations, which is called “CPU Shift” by the game. During this, the public is driving away the old CPUs in order to dedicate themselves to the next generation.

Suitable for whom: Hyperdimension Neptunia has its fans, but is really very special and therefore only something for hardcore JRPG lovers. The best game for newcomers here is the one with the unwieldy name Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2 Sisters Generation This ignores much of the story of its predecessor and also reintroduces you to the main characters

The Last Remnant

The Last Remnant is set in a world populated by numerous humanoid life forms such as the fish-like Yamas or the cat-like Sovanis. It is divided into different city states, each with its own culture. You follow the story of Rush Sykes, who is searching for his kidnapped sister.

In the battles, it wants to make you feel like you’re commanding entire armies. Instead of individual characters, you give orders to entire regiments. However, you don’t just have to keep an eye on things like life points, but also the morale of your troops. Tactics such as flank attacks are also possible.

Suitable for whom: It has become difficult to play The Last Remnant on the PC. This is because the Steam version has been removed and the remaster, which is available on consoles, never appeared for PC. The gameplay, however, is perfectly suitable for beginners. But just buy the remaster for consoles. Because the PC version is comparatively hard to find these days.

Mana

(Newest Release: Legend of Mana HD Remaster – Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, Switch – PC Release: 24. June 2021 – Where to buy? (Steam)

The Mana series started in 1991 as handheld spin-off to Final Fantasy However, the second part – The Secret of Mana – said goodbye to the Final Fantasy name and laid the foundation for a completely independent series.

All games share the same real-time battle system This was explicitly created to stand out from the Final Fantasy series. In addition, there are characters and also monsters that appear again and again. Because of the origins of the series, you will even know some of them from Final Fantasy itself. For example, the Chocobos. With the Mana Sword, they always use the same plot device.

The Mana series is now so big that it has already spawned its own spin-offs The first of these, called The Legend of Mana, is also the latest release in the series to be released for PC, thanks to its remake in 2021. But you can also play Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana on PC. The other parts, on the other hand, are console exclusives.

Suitable for whom? The Mana series is also a good introduction to JRPGs. The best place to start is with Trials of Mana whose remake you can buy on Steam. If you like the series, you can continue with Secret of Mana. Legend of Mana is also worthwhile, but as a spin-off, it plays very differently from the main series.

Monark

(Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, PS5, Switch – PC Release: 23 February 2022 – Where to buy? (Steam)

Monark is a very special title. After all, it comes from the same creator who previously created the popular Shin Megami Tensei series. It is set in the Shin Mikado Academy, sealed off from the outside world by a magical barrier, where a mysterious mist drives the students mad.

The game is influenced by the Persona series, a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei. Because Monark also relies on the two-part gameplay, in which you explore the school on one side and then go into the so-called Otherworld to take on the demons there.

Suitable for whom? As great as the name behind the series may be, JRPG newcomers in particular should then rather reach for Shin Megami Tensei itself or the Persona series. Because Monark is a little weak. The very repetitive level design can be tiring. It does have interesting gameplay aspects with the Madness mechanics, but they are more for you if you are looking for more games like this after Persona.

Monster Hunter Stories

(New Release: Monster Hunter Stories 2 – Platforms: PC (Windows), Switch – PC Release: 9. July 2021 – Where to buy? (Steam)

Most will know Monster Hunter on the PC through Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise as action games. However, with the spin-off Monster Hunter Stories, there are also JRPG spin-offs with a turn-based battle system.

Of course, everything here revolves around hunting monsters. However, with one elementary change: You can find monster eggs, hatch them and then take the creatures into the battles. Accordingly, you don’t just beat up the monsters yourself with sword, shield or other weapons, but also have to consider which of your own monsters makes the most sense in battle.

Suitable for whom? Monster Hunter Stories is not only very beginner-friendly, but also a good game. You don’t have much choice on the PC as to which part you want to start with. Because only Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin was released on PC.
The lore of the Monster Hunter series itself is also worth a look. Because if you think it’s a fantasy setting, you’d be wrong.

Ni No Kuni

(New Release: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered – Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, Switch – PC Release: 19. September 2019 – Where to buy? Steam)

A Ghibli film to play yourself! That’s the premise of Ni No Kuni. Because the developer Level-5 created the title together with the renowned anime studio. The latter not only created the style, they also produced all of the cutscenes.

The story also exudes the usual Ghibli charm. You experience the story of Oliver, who travels to a parallel world in order to revive his deceased mother

For every inhabitant of the world has a counterpart in this parallel world. And all their experiences also affect their likeness. The second part, on the other hand, is a little more wacky. In it, you play the president of a country that is definitely not the USA, and you end up in the parallel world after an atomic bomb explosion. Why not?

For this, as you would expect, you mess with a whole lot of monsters. You fight the battles in real time by throwing spells at your opponents’ heads. At the same time, it’s a Pokémon alternative. Because you can also catch and train monsters

Suitable for whom? Ni No Kuni is clearly aimed at Ghibli fans and thus also at those who can’t relate to typical JRPGs. In this way, it works a little like the anime studio’s films, which were also popular outside the typical target group. The best place to start is with Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered. The second part works independently of that one, but it’s not as good as the first one.

Octopath Traveler is by all means a special JRPG. Because instead of getting one big story, you experience eight little ones instead. This can divide opinions Because while some welcome this variety, others criticise that the game feels a bit like you are just doing very long side quests instead of following a complete story.

A special feature here is the Path Action System, through which you interact with the NPCs. Thus you can behave nobly towards them, or renegade. However, the latter will result in loss of reputation. And once you have lost your reputation with the population of a city, they will no longer want anything to do with you and all interactions will become impossible.

Fights are also an important component in Octopath Traveler, of course. They are traditionally turn-based

At the end of each one, however, the members of your party receive boost points. You can use up to three of them to improve a certain action.

For whom? Octopath Traveler is aimed at players who like unusual narratives and is also quite beginner-friendly. So even if you’re a newcomer to the genre, you’ll find your enjoyment here.

Omega Quintet

(Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4 – PC Release: Dec 15, 2017 – Where to buy? (Steam)

You take on the role of a producer of a pop band consisting of four young girls and give them instructions on which songs to perform to the monsters. These battles are streamed live and the positive energy of the fans gives the idols the power to defeat evil!

The game can score points with its battle system. Unlike most JRPGs, here you can position your characters on the field and perform team combos, which allows for some tactical depth. If you maximise your Voltage meter here, you can use a Live Concert as a special attack

Suitable for whom? Omega Quintet might put off even die-hard fans. Because the world and gameplay need a lot of improvement and the idol setting itself takes some getting used to.

Persona

(Newest Release: Persona 4 Golden – Platforms: PC (Windows), PSVita – PC Release: 13. June 2020 – Where to buy? (Steam)

It’s actually impossible to name a list of the best JRPGs without Persona. And since 2020 there is with Persona 4 Golden finally one of the more recent parts for the PC! This paves the way for the further parts to be released for the home computer as well.

The series is characterised above all by its two-part gameplay. While you explore a dungeon and fight monsters there, there is also peaceful school gameplay. Here you attend classes, take tests, participate in club activities and spend time with your friends while exploring an open world made up of many smaller areas. And it does indeed feel a bit like typical Japanese everyday life

In combat, on the other hand, you don’t just rely on classic attacks, but above all on the abilities of the titular personas, manifestations of your psyche. They work a bit like Pokémon. They have certain strengths and weaknesses and learn more and more attacks with level-ups. As the game progresses, you will find more and more of them and can even fuse them together to create new monsters.
After a long wait, Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Portable have been confirmed for the PC. There s also Persona 5 Strikers. But this is no longer a JRPG. Here you take on hordes of shadow creatures that you knock down with area-covering attacks.

For whom? Persona is one of the best JRPG series ever. It doesn’t matter which part you start with. However, the most suitable is the modern Persona 5 Royal, as soon as it has been released. But you can’t go wrong with Persona 4 Golden either. Each of the games also tells its own story, which you can easily understand if you don’t know the predecessors.

Resonance of Fate

(Platforms: PC (Windows), PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 – PC Release: Oct 18, 2018 – Where to buy? (Steam)

One of my personal favourites that tempted me to buy a PlayStation 3 at the time is Resonance of Fate – or End of Eternity, as it is called in Japan. Since October 2018, PC players have also been able to enjoy it, but they have to answer the most important question for themselves first: What the heck is the game actually about?

The setting is familiar to anime fans from countless originals: The world is on the brink of collapse and the last remaining humans have gathered on a steampunk tower called Basel, which, according to the name, must be in Switzerland. God himself is a machine and determines who dies and lives with quartz crystals. And quite honestly: After 50 hours, the story still doesn’t quite make sense.

But that doesn’t bother you, because Resonance of Fate scores above all with its cool combat system It runs half in real time, half turn-based and impresses with heaps of matrix-like acrobatics. The equipment system is also a lot of fun. You can upgrade your weapons like pistols and submachine guns with countless attachments in the most absurd ways: What is more accurate than a pistol with one scope? One with two scopes, of course!

Suitable for whom: Resonance of Fate is the Final Fantasy for wll those who can do little with fantasy and prefer steampunk instead. Thanks to the staging and exciting gameplay, it is definitely a game for JRPG newcomers. However, you will have to put up with the confusing storyline.

Scarlet Nexus

(Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S – PC Release: Jun 25, 2021 – Where to buy? (Steam)

In the alternate reality of Scarlet Nexus, humanity has discovered a psionic hormone in the menshcian brain that gives them supernatural abilities. However, this also set off mysterious mutants who swooped down from the sky to satisfy their hunger for human brains.

This sounds a bit like the developers were also made of “psionic hormones”. But the result is obviously convincing. Because on Steam the game directly achieves 84 percent positive user ratings.

It’s the battles that are probably the most appealing. The combination of close combat attacks with the saber and the psyonic abilities

, with which you hurl heavy objects at your opponents almost like a Jedi, works surprisingly well and is a lot of fun.

For whom? Scarlet Nexus’ combat system is somewhat in the same vein as the Tales of games and is suitable for newcomers and veterans alike.

Sword Art Online

(Newest Release: Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris – Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, Xbox One – PC Release: July 10, 2020 – Where to buy? (Steam)

MMOs exist, they don’t exist! Among them is Sword Art Online. It’s a fake MMO. That means: it’s a single-player RPG, but it’s set in an MMO world Confusing. The story is based on a novel published online, which was later printed and also made into a very successful anime. Then the big hype began, which also led to the release of the games

In the world of Sword Art Online, VR has made mighty strides Here, players put on their VR headsets and are then drawn into the game in a matrix-like fashion. But the events there also have an impact on real life.

Admit: I don’t think much of the anime. The realisation of the MMO world always seemed unrealistic to me and gave the impression that the writer had never played a real MMORPG. The games, on the other hand, have a certain appealbecause they fulfil the dream of making a reputation in an online world.

Suitable for whom: The Sword Art Online games are much less suitable for the masses than the anime. Although I personally can’t do anything with the latter either. Accordingly, it’s more something for fans of the template.

Tales of …

(Newest Release: Tales of Arise – Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, Xbox One – PC Release: 2021 – Where to Buy?  (Steam)

If Friedrich Nietzsche played JRPGs, he would have been a fan of the long-running Tales of series. After all, the typically ultra-sweet anime style of these games only exists to create false expectations! Tales role-playing games are the exact opposite of the cheerful Atelier series.

The story of the Tales-of titles is tough stuff: the themes include racism, breaches of trust, experiences of loss and the meaninglessness of life. These materials are dealt with in end-time worlds or at least scenarios on the brink of ruin.

Instead of using a classic combat system, Tales is one of the representatives that go a bit in the arcade direction. In the confrontations, you move in a straight line and beat up your enemies not unlike a 2D pugilism gameeven though the battles in the newer parts take place in 3D arenas. For example, you trigger skills with certain key combinations

Suitable for whom? Especially with Tales of Arise the series made the leap into the mass market. Thanks to the modern staging and the quick battle system, which at the same time requires tactics, you get a good introduction to the genre. And if you like it, you can continue directly with Tales of Vesperia afterwards.

Tokyo Xanadu eX+

(Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4 – PC Release: Dec 8, 2017 – Where to buy? (Steam)

okyo Xanadu is set in an alternative world where Tokyo was rocked by an earthquake in 2005. Good. It’s not unusual that the earth shakes in the world metropolis from time to time. In the game, however, there seems to be more to it than that.

You take on the role of Kou Tokisaka, who is sucked into a mysterious vortex in the year 2015 and thus lands in a dimension called Eclipse. This is how he meets a group called Nemesis, which tries to close exactly these vortexes.

The battles that you fight together with your party are not turn-based like in many other JRPGs, but in real time But there is also something to do outside of the battles. At school, for example, you can talk to your classmates and thus advance the story, or you can simply go shopping in the city.

Trails

(Newest Release: The Legend of Heroes: Kuro No Kiseki – Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, PS5 – PC Release: 27. July 2022 – Where to buy? (Steam)

Whoever has now read “Tales” should look again very carefully: I didn’t accidentally name a series twice. Trails began as part of The Legend of Heroes series, but is now considered its own franchise.

This is so famous that only Trails-of games have been released since 2004, while the main series lies fallow. Yet far too few gamers seem to know them! Admittedly, the entries go a bit haywire. Because there are three different story arcs, each with their own series again: Trails in the Sky, Crossbell and Trails of Cold Steel.

The game has always offered classic turn-based combat, which it will again offer in Trails of Cold Steel 4, due out on 9 April 2021. In the meantime, however, Persona-branded social elements and some mini-games have also found their way into the game.

Suitable for whom? Recommending Trails to beginners is a double-edged sword. The games are good and exciting. But at the same time, it would take you on a journey of hundreds to thousands of hours. Because you have to be very persistent here. I recommend starting with Trails in the Sky. Alternatively you can’t go wrong with the more modern Trails of Cold Steel.

Ys

(Newest Release: Ys IX: Monstrous Nox – Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4, Switch, Stadia – PC Release: 6. July 2021 – Where to buy? (Steam)

I consider it sacrilege that this series is comparatively unknown! After all, Ys has an interesting PC history: It was one of the first video games to be delivered on CD-ROM, which made it possible to have animated cutscenes and even voice output, among other things. What’s more, the English version was one of the first with a completely localised soundtrack. Well, big anime fans would probably have preferred to do without the last point.

Unlike many other JRPGs, the story plays a more secondary role. What impresses most about the Ys series is the speed! You hurry through the levels, slashing through hordes of monsters at lightning speed, leveling up and working your way forward. The fast rhythm is wonderfully accompanied by the groovy soundtrack.

In the first parts of the series, the action was so fast-paced that there wasn’t even an attack button. The main character Adol Christin simply tackled the enemies over the pile. Sounds strange, but it’s still a lot of fun today.

For whom? The hack-and-slay combat system makes it a good JRPG entry for fans of fast-paced battles. The best entry point is Ys Origins. Not only does it tell the back story, but its mechanics are ideal for beginners.

Yakuza

(Newest Release: Yakuza: Like a Dragon – Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X – PC Release: 10. November 2020 – Where to buy? (Steam)

Moment! Yakuza? Wasn’t that that Japanese GTA clone? Far from it. Because Yakuza is JRPG through and through Even the early parts always relied on fights in segregated arenas and freedom in the city is quite limited. You can’t just punch civilians in the nose and you won’t have chases with the police either

The games always rely on a very action-packed real-time combat system, in which you fight with fists and all kinds of objects that are available at the time. The only exception is Like a Dragon, which uses a turn-based combat system.

The story, however, is particularly exciting. It mainly follows the story of ex-Yakuza Kiryu Kazuma, who is repeatedly drawn into the events of his old criminal clan. And that could hardly be more hollywood-ready  The cutscenes in particular are a real eye-catcher and very emotional too.

Suitable for whom? If you haven’t played Yakuza yet, you should definitely do so now. Fighting system, characters, story, staging. Everything fits here. Yakuza 0 is the best game to start with. Many people also swear by Yakuza: Like A Dragon. However, I would advise against it. It may seem like a reboot, but it’s not. And for the story you need to know the previous parts. In addition, the battle system makes it a completely different game, which in my eyes has also lost the strengths of its predecessors.

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight

Etrian Odyssey, released in 2007, had a good run on Nintendo’s DS and 3DS systems. The Fafnir Knight is essentially a remake of 2008’s Etrian Odyssey 2: Heroes of Lagaard and adds significant content to the base game by introducing a story mode with fixed characters.

For those who don’t like this, the campaign can be experienced in the classic mode with self-created characters as it was originally planned. Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold combines RPG with dungeon crawling elements: The Fafnir Knight a compelling throwback to the old-school first-person game genre, and Atlus has done a fantastic job of modernising that format. Hopefully Etrian Odyssey finds its way to the Switch, because it would be a shame if the franchise ended with the 3DS.