Traditional JRPGs have had something of a renaissance in recent years. Games like Dragon Quest 11, Persona 5, and the Final Fantasy 7 Remake have helped bring the genre back into favor with gamers and critics. Before this, however, the genre faltered against its Western equivalents, with fans preferring the freedom and openness of games like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. The dwindling interest in traditional JRPGs could have been down to the genre not moving with the times.
This meant that the genre had fallen into a niche category among gamers which continues to this day. As a result, many critics that reviewed JRPGs didn’t like or understand their appeal, and this is reflected in many good games scoring low on Metacritic. While many games are received well by critics but get overlooked, this list looks at some of the most underrated JRPGs on Metacritic.
Updated June 7, 2023 by Michael Llewellyn: Metacritic is a terrific tool for finding out how well a video game is performing with the critics. When a game is universally loved by what are essentially gaming fans, there is a good chance that most players will play it too. Unfortunately, the same can be said for misunderstood games receiving less-than-average scores.
Of course, some games get hit with bad scores due to performance issues that are rectified later, but ultimately, the score remains. This list has been updated to include more JRPGs that were misunderstood and outright underrated on Metacritic.
13 Valkyria Revolution (Metascore 55)
Valkyria Revolution is an action RPG spin-off from the popular tactical RPG series Valkyria Chronicles. It was not well-received by critics because it deviated too far from the formula that made the series so successful in the first place. The combat system has more in common with the Dynasty Warriors series, and the cutscenes can be lengthy and melodramatic, testing the patience of the most dedicated JRPG fans.
However, the story is surprisingly deep and features a solid cast of characters with believable motivations. There are twists, turns, and backstabbing to uncover as the story unfolds, enough to keep fans of the genre happy for a long time. Not as good as the mainline series, but Valkyria Revolution deserves another look.
12 Star Ocean: Integrity And Faithlessness (Metascore 58)
Released for the PlayStation 4 in 2016, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is the fifth game in the series developed by tri-Ace. The timeline is set between the second and third entries in the series, although it is a standalone game in terms of its story.
The accepted reason for the low scores in Integrity and Faithlessness stems from technical issues and a slow pace. While these are warranted to a degree, the fifth Star Ocean game is still a very entertaining old-school JRPG. There is no reinvention of the wheel, but the combat is fantastic and light years ahead of most titles in the genre, and there is an enjoyable story that is arguably better than its predecessor.
11 Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell Of Ar Ciel (Metascore 61)
Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel was released on the PlayStation 3 in 2011 and was the third entry in the Ar Tonelico RPG series. While it does not quite reach the heights of its predecessors on the PlayStation 2, the story and character development are in a league of their own.
The combat system is similar to the real-time fighting in the Star Ocean and Tales series. Some questionable mechanics require the removal of parts of their Reyvtail’s clothes to increase their power, but those willing to look past these quirks should give Ar Tonelico Qoga a chance.
10 Valkyrie Elysium (Metascore 65)
Valkyrie Elysium is part of the beloved Valkyrie Profile series, but it is a significant departure from the original series with its visuals and combat. It was developed by Soleil instead of tri-Ace and marked the first time the series has ventured into the action RPG genre. Whether it was the low budget or the differences from the classic series, it was not universally loved by fans or critics.
The Valkyrie Marie must cleanse the remaining souls on Midgard and help Odin prepare for his battle with Fenrir. Visually, the game's somber tone is similar to Nier: Replicant, and though it doesn't reach the narrative highs of Nier, there are good twists and epic moments to satisfy fans.
9 Eternal Poison (Metascore 65)
Eternal Poison was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2008. It was developed by the now-defunct Flight Plan - best known for its Summon Night series - and published by Atlus. It is a tactical RPG that borrows heavily from the Fire Emblem series and adds its Gothic horror twist to the genre.
The story features multiple paths and multiple but unique perspectives with twists and turns that further develop the world of Eternal Poison. In addition, the combat is very challenging, and like Fire Emblem, it features a permadeath mechanic. It has since become a cult hit among JRPG fans, with a brand-new copy selling for over $200 on eBay.
8 The Last Remnant (Metascore 66)
The Last Remnant is a tactical JRPG from Square Enix that launched on the Xbox 360 in 2008. It was then remastered for the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The graphics engine has been upgraded from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 4.
As a result of the remaster, The Last Remnant is a vast improvement over the original. All of the framerate issues of the original are gone, and the lighting and textures look so much better. There is a steep learning curve, but fans of the SaGa series will be right at home. In addition, the world in The Last Remnant is a detailed one reminiscent of Final Fantasy 12 and is accompanied by a fantastic musical score. Interestingly, the JRPG was headed by Final Fantasy 16 director Hiroshi Takai.
7 Nier (Metascore 68)
Released for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 in 2010, Nier is an action RPG spin-off of the Drakengard series. It combines several genres into one game, a hack-and-slash action, a 2D side-scrolling platformer, a top-down shooter, and more.
Unfortunately, not all of this works perfectly, but Nier has gained a cult following for being better than the sum of its parts. The story in Nier is one of the best in gaming, and the soundtrack is spectacular. Its sequel Nier: Automata, was launched in 2017, retaining everything that fans loved about the original only the gameplay was handled by the masters of the action genre PlatinumGames.
6 Suikoden Tactics (Metascore 68)
Released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005, Suikoden Tactics is a tactical turn-based RPG spin-off of the Suikoden series. It was released to help expand the story and events from Suikoden 4. Its narrative functions as a prequel and a sequel to Suikoden 4 with returning characters and locations.
As a standalone title, Suikoden Tactics is not very appealing, but as an expansion to Suikoden 4, it is essential for fans. Its gameplay is far more simplistic than Final Fantasy: Tactics, but its battle system is more accessible and engaging to newcomers to the genre.
5 Infinite Undiscovery (Metascore 68)
Infinite Undiscovery was released exclusively for the Xbox 360 in 2008 as part of Microsoft’s move to make the console more appealing to Japanese consumers. It was developed by tri-Ace, the creators of the Star Ocean series.
The story is full of JRPG tropes but is a fun adventure to keep players entertained from start to finish. The combat system, like Star Ocean, is in real-time, and just like that series is one of the best in the genre. Additionally, the popular item creation mechanics from the Star Ocean series feature in Infinite Undiscovery allows players to get creative with items and equipment.
4 Magna Carta 2 (Metascore 69)
Released exclusively for the Xbox 360 in 2009, Magna Carta 2 was co-produced by the South Korean studio Softmax and the Japanese studio Bandai Namco. It is a traditional JRPG that implements a surprisingly accessible yet deep and engaging real-time combat system.
The early stages of Magna Carta 2 are filled with cliché, but those that stick with it will find a story that transcends expectations. The narrative has surprising twists and turns, and its overarching narrative emphasizes the impact of war and its effects on relationships.
3 Star Ocean: The Divine Force (Metascore 69)
Star Ocean: The Divine Force is the latest game in the series, and it just falls short of the 70 mark on Metacritic. However, despite the score, this is the best entry in the series for years and features some of the best combat in the genre. The character models look HD PS2 era, but the animations are well executed.
Moreover, the world has large explorable areas, and the towns, whether they use a Tolkienesque setting or science fiction, are fun to explore with lots of NPCs to converse with and gain new side missions. Traversing the world using the AI known as DUMAS at speed and verticality to the exploration.
2 Tales Of Zesteria (Metascore 72)
Tales of Zesteria was released on the PlayStation 4 in 2015. It is generally regarded as one of the lowest-scoring games in the series. Despite not living up to its predecessors like Tales of Symphonia and Vesperia, it is a good JRPG deserving of the Tales name.
Its story is typical of a chosen hero with a destiny to save the world, but its King Arthur-inspired themes will entertain fans of fantasy and adventure stories. The real-time combat system will be familiar to fans of the series, and the world is more open than its predecessors. Furthermore, Zesteria has significant connections to the excellent prequel Tales of Berseria, released in 2017.
1 Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (Metascore 72)
As part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series, Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is a remaster of the PSP original, previously only available in Japan. Despite the massive undertaking of upscaling the PSP game to the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, Type-0 HD is still good looking title with only a few blocky textures.
The dark and bloody tale in Type-0 portrays a story of war and sacrifice of youth that makes it stand apart from other Final Fantasy titles. Players may need to consult the in-game compendium to understand the lore, but it will be worth it for JRPG fans that like a deep story and dark history.