Japanese RPGs have been growing in popularity over the last two decades with franchises like Persona and Pokemon pushing the genre forward into the mainstream. JRPGs have been around since the early days of console gaming with examples like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest being the most well-known. These games are responsible for many classic tropes and standards other titles in the west follow to this day.
Unfortunately, many gems of the genre go unnoticed by a lot of people. These games often have unique combat mechanics, fully realized stories, impressive soundtracks, or with any luck, all three. JRPGs follow simple formulas but developers have been pushing the boundaries consistently in the current generation of games. Update August 11, 2021 by Mark Sammut: While there was a time when it was a coin toss whether a JRPG would find its way out of Japan, those days of uncertainty are largely in the rearview mirror. Whether someone games on the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, or PC, they have quite a few great JRPGs at their fingertips. Naturally, this means that certain titles end up overshadowed by the genre's biggest releases, be it games like the Final Fantasy 7 Remaster or anything related to Pokemon. Some of the best JRPGs of the last five years do not get enough attention.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth- Hacker's Memory

  • Release Date: December 14, 2017
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, Windows
Hacker's Memory is a sequel to the original Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth. The game works similarly to Pokemon, in that players can evolve Digimon and use them to battle against other monsters. It features the 314 monsters from the original game, as well as 90+ added for this installment, meaning players have a wide range of Digimon to choose from.
Everything in this game received an overhaul from the Digimon to the music and the animations. These nice touches make for a polished experience that would feel right at home for any JRPG fan.

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness And The Secret Hideout

Atelier Ryza Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout
  • Release Date: October 29, 2019
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows
The Atelier series is a long-running one that hasn't seen huge mainstream success, but its fans stand behind almost every entry wholeheartedly. Ryza and its sequel are the newest entries that add quaint touches rather than completely overhaul the gameplay. The games are widely praised for their aesthetic charm, fun mechanics, and ease of access.
The best part of the first Ryza game is its story. The plot features strong main characters that carry the plot and find a place in the player's heart. JRPGs often have weak supporting casts that don't really do much for the story and are often seen as annoying, so it's great to see this game getting that right.

CrossCode

  • Release Date: September 20, 2018
  • Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS, Linux
CrossCode isn't developed by a Japanese company, but it's heavily inspired by the classics that made the genre great. Its retro sprite work is full of life and color, making its classic look feel warm on the eyes. The original soundtrack is also full of beautiful tracks that stand out among 8-bit style music, completing the illusion of a retro game.
In addition to its clear inspirations, the game has a bunch of unique mechanics not seen in other games. For example, there's a bouncing ball mechanic used for puzzles to unlock doors and reveal secret passageways. The experience of CrossCode is unlike any other due to all these elements and its sense of humor.

Trails Of Cold Steel 4

The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel IV promo art
  • Release Date: September 27, 2018
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Google Stadia
The Trails tetralogy ends with a bang on this installment in The Legend of Heroes franchise. Trails of Cold Steel 4 offers a compelling story, satisfying turn-based combat, and a huge roster of characters, making it the best of the series.
One thing the game did that really sets it apart from other JRPGs was that it actually wrapped up plot points from previous games in satisfying ways. With JRPGs, it's easy to get lost in creating lore, characters, and random plot points to progress the story, but the Trails series doesn't do this. Fans have nothing but praise for this series and it's a shame the games didn't gain more traction.

Akiba's Beat

akiba's beat
  • Release Date: May 16, 2017
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS Vita
Akiba's Beat is part of the Akiba's Trip franchise and it's a strange one, to say the least. The game's plot follows a group of misfits who fight against vampiric clothing and organizations trying to take over parts of Japan from the shadows. This plot leads to hilarious moments and weirdly well-thought-out politics that go on as a result of the power struggle. RELATED: Classic JRPG Tropes That Aren't Around Anymore
Players can customize their characters in custom clothing, explore Akihabara's landmarks and shops, as well as engage in fun mini-games around the city. The games take a satiric approach to JRPG and anime tropes, while also providing a satisfying gaming experience to the player.

Labyrinth Of Refrain: Coven Of Dusk

  • Release Date: September 18, 2018
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, Windows
NIS has created or published many beloved series in the past with franchises like Disgaea and Ys, but Labyrinth of Refrain is a new idea with fresh twists on a classic subgenre. The game is a dungeon crawler that takes certain systems over the top in classic NIS style. Players can control up to 40 characters in massive raids using the coven system, creating an experience like never before in a dungeon crawler game. Labyrinth of Refrain also has polished visuals and interesting worlds to explore, making it worth a try for JRPG fans.

SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

  • Release Date: November 22, 2019
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows
For fans of the Gundam franchise, this game is a treat. It compiles Gundam characters from four different worlds in the franchise and brings them together with JRPG elements. Players can upgrade units and characters, building their own unique teams for battles.
The overall polish makes the game really pop from the screen with fantastic animations, flashy special moves, and engaging combat. The story is also pretty interesting for a crossover game that bridges multiple series and worlds together.

Ys 9: Monstrum Nox

Adol Christin in Ys IX
  • Release Date: September 26, 2019
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Google Stadia
Nihon Falcom's Ys is the ultimate niche action RPG franchise. The series has been around for decades, but it has never sat alongside the likes of Final Fantasy or even the Tales franchise in terms of popularity. Along with receiving a substantial visual upgrade, Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana was a respectable hit in the west, garnering the license some much-deserved attention. RELATED: Games To Play If You Liked Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Ys 9: Monstrum Nox garnered less universal praise than its predecessor, largely thanks to its restrictive and drab setting. While those criticisms are valid, Ys 9's combat system is just as good as Lacrimosa of Dana, while its story is arguably better. Anyone looking for a fast-paced action JRPG should check this one out.

Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD Remaster

shin megami tensei 3 HD Nocturne - encounter
  • Release Date: May 24, 2021
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows
While Atlus's Shin Megami Tensei needs no introduction for JRPG veterans, in the west, the franchise has been overshadowed by its spin-off series, Persona. With Shin Megami Tensei 5 set to launch in 2021, the HD remaster of Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne is destined to be little more than a footnote in the IP's legacy; however, that does not mean it should be ignored. Nocturne is a contender for the best game in the series, as it captures the dark aesthetic and engrossing combat synonymous with Shin Megami Tensei. Explore a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, negotiate with demons, and try to survive.

Dragon Quest Builders 2

  • Release Date: July 12, 2019
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is an extremely unique experience when it comes to JRPGs. The game has obviously taken inspiration from Minecraft in terms of the UI, game structure, and world, but it has its own charm too.
Players can level themselves up to improve stats while fighting enemies from the Dragon Quest world. On top of that, they can build structures that act as bases to survive the nights and build up their resources to power up even further. Dragon Quest Builders 2 was released on multiple platforms and widely praised, but not a lot of people gave it a chance since it's such a strange concept.

Romancing Saga 2 & 3

Romancing SaGa 3 gameplay screenshot
  • Release Date: December 15, 2017 (Romancing Saga 2), November 11, 2019 (Romancing Saga 3)
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mobile
All of the Romancing Saga games are underrated since they were restricted to Japan in the '90s. Square Enix did eventually opt to bring them to the west, but Romancing Saga 2 and had to wait more than two decades for that privilege. Both games were remastered for modern consoles, and while they certainly show their age, these JRPGs are still fun with ambitious narratives and interesting ideas. That said, the Romancing Saga games are difficult and will probably only satisfy people fond of SNES-era RPGs.

SaGa Frontier Remastered

SaGa Frontier Remastered battle
  • Release Date: April 15, 2021
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mobile
Sticking with the same franchise, Square Enix teamed up with Bullets to remaster SaGa Frontier, a game that was originally released in the west shortly after making its debut in Japan. Offering multiple main characters to pick from with their own unique stories, plenty of exploration, and an impressive roster of recruitable charactersSaGa Frontier provides a lot of freedom to players, more so than tends to be typical for JRPGs. This freedom extends to the battle and progression systems, ensuring that no two playthroughs are exactly alike. The remaster improves the visuals while retaining the classic look of the original. Similar to Romancing SagaSaGa Frontier is very hard; however, this game is more accessible in 2021 than the franchise's earlier entries.