Summary
- The 90s saw a rise in innovative JRPG gameplay and storytelling.
- Classic 90s JRPGs like EarthBound and Final Fantasy 7 have lasting appeal.
- Games like Chrono Trigger and Star Ocean combined fantasy with sci-fi elements effectively.
Some consider the 90s as the golden age of JRPGs, and it’s easy to see why. There were a ton of consoles out, including the SNES, Game Boy, Sega Saturn, and PS1, just to name the heaviest hitters. It’s hard to imagine a world without these tent pole releases across this wide rim of consoles.
8 Classic '90s JRPGs That Still Hold Up Today
Even years after their initial release in the 1990s, these classic JRPGs hold up surprisingly well in numerous ways.
The 90s were when things started to pick up the pace between innovative gameplay and story features, and the industry has never looked back. These are the best JRPGs from the 1990s. To keep things fair and to encourage variety, only one game per series will be listed. That’s the only notable restriction worth mentioning, so let’s get to ranking.
8 Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
A Forward-Thinking RPG
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
- Released
- October 25, 1996
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Lunar: The Silver Star was first released on the Sega CD in North America a year after its Japanese debut in 1992. For a 90s RPG, it was ahead of its time, being one of the first to offer animated cutscenes and voice acting. The Sega Saturn and PS1 re-releases improved things further via Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete by adding monster icons in dungeons and removing random battles on the world map.
The story and battle system are simple by today’s standards, but a classic is still a classi,c and it can now be enjoyed with the Lunar Remastered Collection, which also includes the sequel, another 90s classic.
7 EarthBound
Weird Doesn’t Even Begin To Describe It
Earthbound
- Released
- June 5, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Crude Humor
- Genre(s)
- RPG
EarthBound didn’t blow up for Nintendo on the SNES like perhaps they had hoped. However, over time, this quirky RPG has gained notoriety and soon established a sub-genre of turn-based RPGs, which led to breakout hits like Undertale.
EarthBound is an important game, but it’s also good in its own right. The story and world are weird but engaging, and the battle system is fun thanks to the even stranger enemies, from Cries to Religious Zealots.
6 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
The Franchise Levels Up
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
- Released
- October 2, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Action RPG
Before Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the series was strictly a level-based set of action games. This sequel borrowed from Super Metroid’s interconnected map system and exploratory power-ups and added RPG elements to evolve things further.
The son of Dracula, Alucard, could gain equipment and level up by pounding the snot out of ghoulish creatures of the night. It may not be what most think about when the idea of JRPGs comes to mind, but that shouldn’t discount it, as it’s one of the best Metroidvanias of all time.
5 Star Ocean: The Second Story
Fantasy And Sci-Fi Come Together
Star Ocean: The Second Story
- Released
- June 8, 1999
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Tri-Ace
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Star Ocean: The Second Story was the first game in the franchise that North American gamers got to play, and it was a fine introduction to the series that began on the SNES. The story combined sci-fi and fantasy tropes well, with a Star Trek-like exploration fleet crash landing on a primitive planet with magical resources, thus kicking off a wild narrative.
Instead of turn-based battles, combat was action-based, which was rare for JRPGs of its time. It’s best enjoyed via the HD-2D remake, Star Ocean: The Second Story R, but all versions showcase what a great action RPG this truly is.
4 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
Geno Awakens
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Released
- May 13, 1996
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars allowed Squaresoft to transform Mario from a platforming star to an RPG star. Sporting revolutionary faux 3D graphics for the SNES, players could do some light platforming as they explored the greater Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario could recruit iconic allies like Peach, and others like Geno, who the Internet absolutely adores. Battles were turn-based but active, meaning that attacks and blocks could be timed with button presses, which was a great innovation on the genre. Switch fans can enjoy the remake, Super Mario RPG, and both versions are worthwhile in different ways.
3 Chrono Trigger
It’s A Punny Name
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Chrono Trigger was a dream project shared among many legendary creators between Squaresoft and Enix before they merged. They even got the master of manga and anime, Akira Toriyama, to work on the character design.
All of these things coalesced into an RPG that was, and still is, a defining game on the SNES, even if it didn’t create a franchise. The time-traveling story and accompanying gameplay mechanics, the fast-paced scenarios, the combo-based battle system, and more all helped Chrono Trigger become a game that Square Enix has yet to live up to, and it remains a perfect storm and a dream team level of accomplishment.
2 Pokemon Blue & Red
A Social RPG
Pokemon Blue
- Released
- September 28, 1998
- ESRB
- Everyone
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Pokemon Blue and Pokemon Red are two of the most important games of all time, only beaten by their successors, Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver. They was the stuff of legends on the playground as kids excitedly traded Pokemon between the two versions.
They were more than a set of twin RPGs; they were a social experience like no other. The battle systems, Pokemon types, and multiplayer mechanics only got better from here. However, there’s no denying how fun it was to be alive and a kid when these games first hit North America on the original Game Boy.
1 Final Fantasy 7
The Identity Of Square Enix
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 7 is a game that tops many RPG lists, and it’s a title whose infamy Square Enix can never escape from. Despite avoiding it for years, they finally caved and started working on the remake project, and that’s not the only legacy this game created. There were tie-in novels, a CG movie, an anime short, video game spinoffs, and the list goes on.
Final Fantasy 7 defined a generation of RPG fans and helped cement the PS1 as the dominant console among its competition. The CG cutscenes, mature story, Materia-based battle system, mini-games, and more are what made this entry in the franchise legendary, and to this day, it is arguably the best starting point for anyone looking to start exploring the world of Final Fantasy.
6 Best Final Fantasy Games Not Developed By Square Enix, Ranked
Other developers outside of Square Enix have had a hand at various Final Fantasy games, and the following are some of the best examples of it.