Summary
- DRM can be annoyingly restrictive, but many JRPGs offer DRM-free versions.
- Games like Yume Nikki and Trials of Mana removed Denuvo DRM after release.
- The Legend of Heroes series and Dragon Quest 11 S: The Definitive Edition have no DRM restrictions.
In a world that has generative AI, chatbots, and subscription services for things that used to be one-off purchases, it’s easy to forget it also has DRM technology too. Digital Rights Management was meant to be an anti-piracy measure, since pirating tech has gotten more complex than copying those floppies. But, from its always-online requirements to its anti-mod updates, it can be annoyingly restrictive when it goes too far.
6 Bizarre Anti-Piracy Measures From The Past
These game developers created bizarre punishments for those that decided to steal their games.
Still, while DRM has gotten increasingly common, there are plenty of games out there that either don’t have it, have had it removed, or have workarounds to disable it — even on the premier PC game storefront, Steam. So, if any JRPG fans have been looking for some top titles on Valve's platform, they can give these games a go and see if their DRM-dodging tactics work out well for them.
9 Yume Nikki
Uneasy Dreamquest Is Free In Price & In DRM
Yume Nikki
- Released
- June 26, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
Calling Yume Nikki an RPG, J or otherwise, might be a bit of a stretch as it doesn’t have any combat at all. It’s more of a surreal adventure game where players control a girl called Madotsuki as she explores her strange and often disturbing dream worlds. But it was made in RPG Maker and was inspired by JRPGs like Earthbound, and became a cult classic title through its eerie atmosphere. It’s also been freeware since its release in 2004, so people can download it on Steam for nothing, and without DRM.
However, it is a Steamworks title, which means if people tried running it via a Steam client instead of Steam directly, developer-integrated features like achievements, etc., might not work. Being a free game made for old Windows XP machines, this isn't really a concern for Yume Nikki, but it's something for keen achievement hunters to keep in mind for other titles.
8 Star Ocean: The Divine Force
No Room For DRM In The Star Ocean
Star Ocean: The Divine Force
- Released
- October 27, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tri-Ace
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Yume Nikki was low because it’s more of an RPG spinoff than an RPG. Star Ocean: The Divine Force is low because it’s not exactly the best game on the market. It’s not awful, as fans still enjoyed the fluid combat and the charming characters, but it was made on a tight budget, and it shows — which is ironic, as its Limited Edition is now one of the most expensive PS4 games out there.
It also originally came with Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM (until it was removed in April 2023). Now, it can be played without DRM getting in the way at all! Kind of. To be completely sure, players either have to install the game with a Steam client instead of directly through Steam, or when the steam_appid.txt is in the directory containing the number “1776380”. It’s an odd workaround, but it works out.
7 Trials Of Mana (2020)
Making The Trials Less Testing To Run
Trials of Mana (2024)
- Released
- April 24, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Xeen
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Technically, players could get their hands on a DRM-free version of Trials of Mana by using an original SNES cartridge with a Retrode — or take to the web’s high seas and emulate a ROM. But, the game got a fancy remake back in 2020, letting players take down the Benevodons in 3D, complete with a new post-game chapter that adds a little bit more to the story.
Trials Of Mana: 10 Pro Tips And Techniques
If you want to succeed at Trials of Mana, pay attention to these pro tips.
Like SO: TDF, it originally had Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM, which was then removed four months into the game’s run back in August 2020. Though, it also means players need to run it without Steam installed to be absolutely sure, or when the steam_appid.txt is in the same directory as the executable file. At least this time, it doesn’t need to be put in one with a specific number.
6 Ys: The Oath In Felghana
Old School Game Learns New Tricks
Ys: The Oath in Felghana
- Released
- May 30, 2005
- Developer(s)
- Nihon Falcom
- Publisher(s)
- Nihon Falcom, XSEED Games
- Platform(s)
- PSP, Nintendo DS
If players don’t want to fiddle with the directories or their Steam installer, they could always give the Ys games a try. Ys 1+2 Chronicles+, Ys: The Oath in Felghana, Ys Origin, and Ys 6: The Ark of Napishtim were all confirmed to be DRM-free by its localizers, skipping even Steamworks’ built-in CEG DRM. They just need to be installed with a Steam client than through Steam itself to avoid its oversight.
Of the bunch, Ys: TOF is generally regarded to be the best of the bunch. It’s a remake of the original Ys 3, which took out the old game’s platforming sections with a more streamlined, traditional JRPG experience based on Ys 6. Players no longer need to sacrifice inventory space for their healing and stat bonus, and they get more story for their buck with expanded scenes too.
5 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel 1 & 2
Get A Headstart On The Erebonia Arc
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
- Released
- December 22, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Ys games are some of the most famous JRPGs made by Nihon Falcom, though nowadays, players might be more familiar with The Legend of Heroes and its Trails series, which has been going on for 20 years now — even longer if players were lucky enough to get in on its earlier Gagharv and Dragon Slayer titles. But, if they just want to stick to the Trails series, they’re in luck.
Trails in the Sky 1, SC, and ‘The 3rd’ had their DRM removed, while the first two Trails of Cold Steel games never had it installed to begin with. Like the Ys games, they use the same executables as their GOG releases, but they do have Steamworks. This means players can boot the game up without needing to open Steam, but they won't unlock any achievements if they do so.
4 Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection
A Fine Dish Gets Finer Without DRM
Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection
- Released
- September 25, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nihon Falcom
- Publisher(s)
- XSEED Games
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Like the ToCS games, Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection skipped the DRM process altogether and just uses Steamworks and the GOG executable. It must’ve been Nihon Falcom or Xseed Games’ way of streamlining their PC releases, as it gives both sides less fuss and no muss. That, and it gives players more access to their underrated titles.
6 Best JRPGs By Nihon Falcom, Ranked
Nihon Falcom have created some incredible JRPGs over the years, but they really went above and beyond with these games below.
For example, Zwei: TII is a unique action RPG that seems similar enough to the 3D Ys games, as the treasure hunter Ragna helps the vampire princess Alwen get her castle back. But in a twist, players have to eat food to earn XP, where they can combine dishes to earn bonuses. Then, they can get a pet (cat or dog) to automatically pick up post-battle spoils, or craft gadgets to make dungeon exploration easier.
3 Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Remaster
1,000 Words, Zero DRM
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
- Released
- March 18, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Given the Final Fantasy series is one of the biggest names in JRPGs, if not the biggest outside Japan, one would think its PC releases would be locked down tight with DRM or similar protective measures. But, the HD Remaster of Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2 skipped past it entirely, until an update added DRM that made it impossible to play offline — subsequently followed by another update that removed it after players complained about it.
So, people can now get through Tidus’s dream quest and Yuna’s pistol-swinging sequel without needing any workarounds. The game is one of the more fondly remembered titles in the series, but players might want to add a few mods to the HD remaster anyway. While it did make the games look much crisper, they also gave Tidus & co some Botox, as their faces got touched up in ways fans didn't care for, and they're not as expressive as they were before.
2 Final Fantasy 9
How To Overcome Queen Brahne Without DRM
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
One of the nastiest kinds of DRM turns offline single-player games into ones that require an always-online connection to keep them going. The backlash against it caused Square-Enix to free FF10/10-2 and FF12: The Zodiac Age from its clutches, while Final Fantasy 9 never had DRM to begin with. Kind of.
Like SO: TDF and ToM2020, if players run the game without Steam installed or with the steam_appid.txt in any numbered directory, they’ll skip any DRM process altogether. No Steam oversight or anything. The PC’s faster load times make battles less of a slog to get in and out of too. But, players might want to use mods to replace the low-res backgrounds with something more HD, as the game is based on its iOS/Android port.
1 Dragon Quest 11 S: The Definitive Edition
Save Erdrea Without Needing To Stay Online
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of An Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
- Released
- September 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Final Fantasy may be the biggest name in JRPGs across most of the world, but in Japan, the series plays second fiddle to the Dragon Quest series. Without it, JRPGs as a whole would be very different today. If players want to see what the fuss is about, they could check out Dragon Quest 11 S: The Definitive Edition, an enhanced version of the latest, highly acclaimed game in the series.
The Hero’s quest to save Erdrea from a looming threat on the horizon got enhanced with a few extras, like an orchestral score and the 3DS’ 16-bit mode for fun. Even better, it doesn’t have any DRM involved, built-in or otherwise. The game had its Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM removed back in 2021, and players don’t need to fiddle with directories or clients either, as they can boot the game up without needing to load Steam first.
7 Best JRPG PC Games with Extensive Modding Communities
JRPGs are extremely fun and offer tons of exciting things to players. Here are some PC titles out there with extensive modding communities.