Best JRPGs With Endless Replay Value

JRPGs are known for featuring epic, lengthy adventures that take numerous hours to complete. Given the time-consuming nature of these adventures coupled with a story that's as linear as they come, it's easy to see why some people would feel that the replay value of these games isn't all that great. While this statement may apply to some cases, it's far from a universal truth and doesn't do justice to a vast number of JRPGs that boast impressive replay values.

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Some games enhance the replayability of their titles with post-game content that can only be unlocked on a second playthrough, while others employ deep and engaging gameplay that opens up a player's options so much that a single playthrough isn't enough to explore everything said game has to offer. It's impressive how these games boast so much replay value, even if the plot itself may not change all that much.

1 Final Fantasy 5

The Robust Job System Allows For Endless Party Combinations

Final Fantasy 5 is a gameplay-first title, with the story being more of an afterthought despite being rather engaging at times. The job system is the crowning achievement of this game, letting players mix and match different party combinations that make it a joy for players to explore everything this system has to offer and employ a wealth of techniques to decimate the foes standing in their way.

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The game itself isn't all that challenging, meaning that players can go through the entire title without even equipping some of the jobs they unlock along the way. This makes multiple playthroughs viable in a game where party makeups can completely alter the flow of gameplay and ensure that players will find the combat to be fresh and invigorating on repeated playthroughs.

2 Octopath Traveler 2

Players Choose One Of Eight Protagonist, Tackle Chapters In Any Order, And Can Mix & Match Jobs

By adapting the systems of the first game and ironing out its kinks, Octopath Traveler 2 is a near-perfect sequel that fans will love jumping into to enjoy an epic adventure that can last hundreds of hours. The job system allows for more diverse party configurations than ever before, and the choice of a protagonist that will remain in the party until their story is wrapped up can make the beginning of a player's adventure unique in every single playthrough.

It may be a tall order to expect that players will be okay with clocking in multiple playthroughs in a ridiculously long game, but the systems at work in Octopath Traveler 2 ensure that monotony won't come into the picture for quite some time. Combining different jobs and passive abilities is a blast and never ceases to be engaging, and players can use their knowledge from previous playthroughs to complete side quests and tackle superbosses as well.

3 Chrono Trigger

Multiple Endings And New Game+ Ensure That Players Will Love Taking On Lavos At Any Point In The Story

Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, featuring fun time-travel shenanigans, a cast of beloved party members, and an epic adventure where a team of heroes band together to save the world from a malevolent parasite. What made Chrono Trigger so unique at the time was its addition of gameplay elements that were unheard of at the time — namely, multiple endings, New Game+, and the ability to challenge the final boss at any point in a player's journey.

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With the game being fast-paced without overstaying its welcome, it's easy to see why players can clock in multiple playthroughs without breaking a sweat. New Game+ ensures that players can embark on another grand journey with a tougher party to fight Lavos at certain intervals and discover new endings that fit perfectly with the flow of the story at that particular point.

4 Persona 3 Portable

The Addition Of Two Protagonists Means That Players Can Easily Clock In Two Playthroughs At Least

The Persona games are known for featuring immersive stories in contemporary settings that usually revolve around a group of students who receive magical powers to save the world from an unknown threat. The games were run-of-the-mill JRPGs before the third entry introduced life sim mechanics that turned a Shin Megami Tensei spinoff into one of Atlus' most mainstream franchises. Given how revolutionary Persona 3 was, PSP owners were glad to get an updated release of this title that featured numerous gameplay additions.

Switching the free-roam sections to work like a visual novel meant that players could easily navigate these portions of the game without wasting any time, but the biggest addition to this game came in the form of a playable female protagonist. This meant that players could easily clock in two playthroughs that felt unique, especially since both protagonists had unique Social Links, romances, and story events.

5 Pokemon Emerald

One Of The Best Pokemon Games With Near-Endless Party Configurations

Pretty much every Pokemon game boasts a ton of replayability because of the endless configurations of their main party. There are so many monsters to be found in the game world that players can amass a team of six unique Pokemon in every run. This allows for every playthrough to be as unique as they come, forcing players to adapt different strategies for each gym leader and boss encounter.

Pokemon Emerald is hailed by many as one of the greatest games in the series, making it the best candidate for a Pokemon game where players can clock in multiple playthroughs without breaking a sweat. If a bit of variety is still sought out by players, then they can clock in three playthroughs across the different variants of this game — namely, Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.

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