Summary
Stories in video games are more important than ever, having come a long way since the days of rescuing Peach from Bowser. And when it comes to stories in video games, the genre of JRPGs is usually the one people turn to for some of the absolute best in the industry. This ravenously popular subsection of the RPG has been around forever, but it really got its biggest boost thanks to the likes ofFinal Fantasy 7during the 1990s.
These stories are often steeped in melodrama, with some of them featuring a squad of spunky rebels attempting to overthrow an evil empire or dispel some type of ancient darkness. Others can pull it back a bit, focusing on a smaller, more intimate fable. Whatever the journey these games take a player on, these titles have the capacity to tell some of the finest stories in the entire industry.
Updated on May 21st, 2024, by Maddie Fisher:Turn-based JRPGs won’t always appeal to everyone, but they can be a great deal easier for newcomers to digest if the featured combat system is backed up by a compelling and engaging story. Thankfully, there is a plethora of JRPGs out there that combine immersive and heartfelt tales with snappy and intricate turn-based combat. With so many available to dive into, though, it can be hard to decide what to pick first. For those curious, this list has been updated to feature even more turn-based JRPGs with amazing and compelling stories to experience. It’s an ever-growing genre that seemingly has an infinite catalog of exciting titles to play, thus more entries have been included to reflect that.
ThePersonaseries has proven to be much more than the “Pokemonfor adults” label that it’s been stamped with, and it’s fair to say that the franchise reallystarted to find its voicein the PS2 era. WithPersona 4, Atlus opted to continue the series tradition of dark, morally complex tales of young people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
It is a fascinating story where the themes of fate and identity swirl together with self-doubt, creating a cast of characters like Chie and Kanji that easily rank with some of the greatest in the history of the franchise. It was remastered multiple times, and is available asPersona 4 Goldenon all major platforms, making it easy to experience this classic today.
Although the first game didn’t make it out of Japan until 2015 in the form ofEarthBound Beginnings, the sequel was developed over 5 years and launched for the SNES in 1995. This quirky and charming JRPG examines the strange experience of being a kid, as a young boy named Ness investigates the crash of a meteor in his town that leads him and his friends on an epic adventure. Its style, humor, and charm have influenced countless independent developers, asEarthBound-style RPGs are one ofthe most common gamesfound on the indie scene.
It’s filled with funny NPCs and fourth-wall breaking moments, featuring a story that takes Ness and the party on a journey that is equal parts humorous and poignant. The final march to Giygas in the Cave of the Past is a haunting trip into what feels like oblivion for Ness and his crew, and the final moments surrounding Paula’s plea to the universe for assistance is one of the most emotional moments in gaming.EarthBoundis readily available on Nintendo Switch, and there’s never been a better time to play it.
After leaving their sprites behindand embracing the PlayStation 1, Square started producing some of the best content in the history of their company. But with Sony’s first console on the way out and next-gen hardware looming, the company sought to say goodbye to the fifth-generation in style, and developed a perfect send-off toFinal Fantasy’sPS1 days.FF’sswan song on PS1 turned out to be a fabulous way to not only end a console generation, but also to look back at what made the franchise so special.
Final Fantasy 9was positioned as a throwback to what felt like the forgotten roots of the series, as recent iterations had been focusing on worlds with dark science fiction settings. WithFF9, Square brought back the wonder and mystical elements from the first six entries, including the return of the crystal mythology. Characters like Garnet and Vivi are at the heart of a charming, emotional story about the trials of life and facing death with courage. It is available on all modern hardware, which means that anyone can experience this absolute masterpiece today.
AlthoughValkyria Chroniclesnever quite managed to become the household name in the JRPG space that Sega wanted, it still garnered a ravenous cult-like following that is still waiting for any shred of news regarding a fifth entry. But in spite of all of that, this turn-based strategy JRPG weaved a truly fascinating tale about war, love, and loyalty.
Thisalternate universe vision of World War 2, set on the steampunk-styled continent of Europa, follows the ongoing conflict between the Imperial Alliance and the Atlantic Federation. The backdrop is a brilliant set-up, allowing characters like Welkin and Alicia to evolve and grow over time into fully-formed heroes.
What turned into series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi’s final game with Sega, the seventh mainlineYakuzagame abandoned the action beat ‘em up routes in favor of a turn-based JRPG approach. Fans of this long-time franchise weren’t convinced, but while it may have been a drastic departure in terms of gameplay,Yakuza’scommitment to fantastic writing and characters remained intact.
As the long-running series protagonist,Kazuma Kiryu stepped asidefor newcomer Ichiban. Joined by a party of incredible cast mates, they find themselves bonded by the themes of revenge and family. It’s a funny, complex, and surprisingly heartfelt exploration of the criminal underworld through the guise of a turn-based JRPG. In fact, it was so well received that it led to the franchise permanently adopting the change, as the latest entry,Infinite Wealth, has carried on from where this fabulous new direction left off.
Dragon Quest 11came out during an interesting time for the genre. A few franchises had been treading into more mature, adult stories in the years prior toDQ11, which made a story so steeped in honest intentions something of a breath offresh air in 2017.
In what may be the most traditional JRPG story on this list, a party of charismatic heroes is bound together by a quiet, composed leader on their way to stop an ancient wizard named Mordegon. LikeDragon Questtends to do, it makes the old things feel new again by uplifting the traditions of the genre in order to show that they still work.
Due to a troubled development process, the second half ofXenogears’epic sci-fi story had to be truncated into a second disc that amounts to little more than a visual novel of sorts. Despite all of that,Xenogearsstill manages to tell a sprawling story that sees a small band of rebels going up against a far-reaching empire known as Solaris.
Chronicling the adventures of Fei, an orphaned child who was adopted by a village,Xenogearsis an intoxicating mixofStar WarsandFinal Fantasy. Science and fantasy collide in this huge tale, one that deals with a lot of mature religious themes and philosophy. It was far ahead of its time but felt right at home in this era of narrative innovation.
Triangle Strategywas powered by Square’s HD-2D technology, which was also responsible for games likeOctopath Travelerand the upcoming remake ofDragon Quest 3. In thisgorgeous, turn-based tactics game, the kingdom of Norzelia is filled to the brim with political strife and intrigue.
Lead protagonist Serenoa Wolffort is tasked with maneuvering its many twists, as his quest to protect the heir to the throne and childhood friend Roland takes center stage. The interpersonal relationships between Serenoa and Roland, as well as the villains that work both behind the scenes and out in the open, all work in harmony. It features a brilliant script and some truly breathtaking battles.
Through a long and arduous development process, one thatsaw this long-awaited JRPGtransition from 2D to 3D and then back to 2D, the one part ofMother 3’scycle that remained mostly unscathed was its story. Shigesato Itoi’s third and finalMothergame is the story of Lucas and Claus, two brothers living in the aptly named Nowhere Islands.
Mother 3features an elaborate struggle between the siblings and the Pig Mask Army. Loosely inspired by a series of books by writer Agota Kristof, the story ofMother 3seems to be physically bursting at the seams with heart, emotion, and humor.
After the runaway success ofFinal Fantasy 7in 1997, this venerable JRPG franchise felt like it had a rocket strapped to its back. Just two years later, Square would follow their smash hit with a game that felt similar to the previous one but would go in a much different direction. In terms of its story,Final Fantasy 8followed the lead of7by concocting a dark, adult-oriented tale that meshed elements of fantasy and science fiction.
Final Fantasy 8is the story of young soldiers trained to assassinate an evil sorceress. It was pretty heavy stuff, even for the decidedly mature era of games that this generation was about. Not only that, but the dual story betweenmain party leader Squalland the mysterious adventures of a man named Laguna also helped in makingFinal Fantasy 8one of the franchise’s most intense, yet equally charming titles.
