Nippon Ichi Software is back in the hot seat thanks to their newest release, Poison Control. The developer is mostly known for the long-running TRPG staple series Disgaea. Most of their output is contained to the turn-based strategy genre, but they're not afraid to branch out. And, judging by Metacritic scores, they're pretty consistently good.

RELATED: 10 Nintendo Switch JRPGs With The Best Combat System, Ranked

For the sake of variety, only one version of each game is included on this list, as NIS is very fond of re-releases. If taken as-is, the top ten would include three versions of the original Disgaea. However, even without remakes, Nippon Ichi has a pretty daunting library, and here's the cream of the crop.

10 Yomawari: Midnight Shadows (PS4) - 75/100

Yomawari Midnight Shadows - cahracter next to a large face

Visually, Yomawari: Midnight Shadows seems like one of Nippon Ichi's many RPG titles. Not so - it's actually a survival horror. A sequel to the Vita game Yomawari: Night Alone, the story follows Yui and Haru, two young girls trying to survive a night where spirits are on the hunt.

The game was praised for its visual direction and creative scares. However, the puzzle elements were more divisive. Some found them too obtuse and frustrating, while others thought the game was too easy compared to its predecessor. Still, most agreed that it was a good experience all around, and a great pick-up for fans of J-horror.

9 Disgaea 3: Absence Of Justice (PS3) - 78/100

Disgaea 3 Absence of Justice

The third installment of Disgaea falls lowest on the list. With a critic score of 78, it's not a bomb by any means, but it's far behind the other games in the franchise. It's exactly what fans want out of the series - six-digit stats, mind-achingly complex strategy, and small anime women. So what's the issue?

Most reviews blast the game's graphics. Apparently, Nippon Ichi used the same engine here they did in the PS2 games. The 2D sprites, while charming, weren't really cutting edge the last generation, and on the PS3, they looked bad enough to be distracting. Many also argued that the interface was overall clunky and that the formula was stale.

8 Mad Rat Dead (Switch) - 79/100

Mad Rat Dead

Mad Rat Dead is an odd duck in this developer's catalog. It's not an RPG at all; rather, it's a rhythm-platformer. Players control a lab rat who has come back from the dead to exact revenge on the cruel scientist who killed him. To make it to the end of each level, he has to time all of his movements with the background music.

NIS's most recent title was a welcome change of pace for many. Critics agreed that the high-octane soundtrack and colorful visuals were the game's strongest points. Others, though, found the control scheme clunky and frustrating.

7 La Pucelle: Tactics (PS2) - 79/100

La Pucelle Tactics Characters

La Pucelle: Tactics is one of the more obscure entries in Nippon Ichi's library. It's very similar to Disgaea, but with a greater focus on defense. The most noteworthy mechanic is purification, which prevents monsters from spawning and can even convert them to the player's team.

RELATED: 10 Turn-Based Tactics Games That Are Perfect For Newcomers To The Genre

Despite being released before the first Disgaea in Japan, it only came to foreign shores after Disgaea was an international success. The two titles are similar enough to be companion pieces. Disgaea is more polished, but there's no reason for TRPG fans to not check out La Pucelle.

6 Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger vs Darkdeath Evilman (PSP) - 81/100

ZHP Unlosing Ranger

That's a mouthful. The over-long title isn't the only thing setting this game apart – it's also NIS's only roguelike title. There's only one character to control, maps are randomly generated, and losing resets the player back to level one. The game's main selling point is Body Modification, where players can boost stats by replacing their hands with drills and whatnot.

Losing isn't a complete waste in Z.H.P. There's an element of permanent progression similar to Hades. It's still a very punishing game and involves a lot of level grinding, which was off-putting to many reviewers.

5 Phantom Brave (PS2) - 81/100

Phantom Brave Marona And Castille

Phantom Brave is the highest-rated non-Disgaea title on the list. It's the same genre – a TRPG – but it throws a few curveballs. Units are brought to the stage by transforming objects, and they only last a few turns before disappearing. Most importantly, there's no grid. Character movement is calculated in decimeters and is affected by slippery or bouncy terrain.

The game's innovation is also its downfall. It's even more hardcore than the Disgaea games, and many critics found the gridless combat awkward. It's definitely not a gateway into the genre, but a treasured title nonetheless.

4 Disgaea 5 Complete (Switch) - 81/100

Disgaea 5

As of April 2021, this is the most recent entry in the series. Disgaea 5 added more new features than any installment before it, breathing some life into a very "samey" franchise. Players get to trek across a variety of Netherworld environments and deepen character relationships for powerful tag-team attacks in battle.

Originally released for the PS4, the Switch version includes extra content that was previously paid DLC. If players thought Disgaea was a timesink before, try playing it in Handheld Mode.

3 Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (PS2) - 84/100

Disgaea 2 Cursed Memories

Cursed Memories is the first in a long legacy of Disgaea sequels. It follows a completely different cast of characters (although with substantial appearances from Laharl, Etna, and others) on an adventure to reunite the Overlord with his daughter.

RELATED: 15 PS3 Games With The Best Storylines

The sequel doesn't really shake up the first Disgaea's formula. Gameplay is the same, and new mechanics are pretty minor. Still, it's a monster TRPG with eight endings and hundreds of characters. It's Disgaea through and through. Gamers either love it, or can't play it without getting a migraine.

2 Disgaea 4 Complete+ (Switch) - 85/100

Disgaea 4 Complete Plus

Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten was a rebound from the disappointment of Disgaea 3. The graphics engine finally got an update, and the story leans more into political intrigue than previous titles' school hijinx. It was also the first entry to introduce online features when it debuted on the PS3.

The Switch remake includes some features from Disgaea 5 to improve on a game that was already very strong. Games in this series get remade and re-released a lot – there are six versions of the first game. Thankfully, this seems to be the definitive version of this entry.

1 Disgaea: Afternoon Of Darkness (PSP) - 87/100

Disgaea Hour Of Darkness

Some franchises hit their peak with the first game, and Disgaea might be one of these. Afternoon Of Darkness is a one-to-one port of the original PS2 game, with a few extras like an Etna side story. It has all the highs and lows of the first release, with even more content.

Any game that spawns four sequels and a bundle of spinoffs must leave one heck of an impression. Disgaea is one of the biggest cult titles on the PS2, and the game shot Nippon Ichi to relative stardom. Many critics also found the move to PSP to be a boon, saying that the game shines as a portable title.

NEXT: 15 Best Modern-Day JRPGs (According To Metacritic)