Best JRPGs Where You Play As An Assassin

If there is one thing that defines the best JRPGs from the early years to now, it's the core mechanics of classes and parties. While some games in this genre, especially those that focus on strong, specific characters, don't mention classes and instead simply give each character their unique skill, many JRPGs both narratively and mechanically have characters take on roles and professions that benefit the party.

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Assassins, across older titles and newer ones alike, often have a similar set of skills that help define their vital role in the party. Assassin characters, whether they have a mechanical and specific 'assassin' class or embody the principles of one, are often fast, lethal and adept with critical hits. These games in particular have great assassin classes that help out their party with swift, hard-hitting attacks from the shadows.

8 Unicorn Overlord

Many Stealthy Members Of The Resistance Embody Assassins

Unicorn Overlord is a continent-spanning strategy title that hits all the classic JPRG plot beats - a liberation group, an evil knight-tyrant, a bunch of marriage candidates, but does all of these tropes so well, that the game comes together to create a fresh, novel, and highly engrossing experience that will last players for hours. Every unit in this game has a set role that can be augmented with passive and active skills from equipment and level-ups.

Many thieves, and their promotion class of rogue, fit the assassin archetype perfectly, dealing high critical hit damage and utilizing fast dagger attacks.Travis in particular, in his utility as a mercenary turned spy, is an excellent assassin archetype (and also best boy for marriage in this game, hands down).

7 Triangle Strategy

Anna Is A Lynchpin For The Party

Triangle Strategy has a compelling, innovative, branching narrative that places players on a path shaped not just by their decisions, but by the decisions of their followers. Every unit in this game has unique utility and a special class that reflects their skillset, growing stronger as it rises through three distinct tiers of power.

Anna moves from Spy to Assassin to Master Assassin, and in every iteration she is almost essential for battles. Her gifts for stealth and unparalleled mobility on the battlefield help her land powerful critical hits that can turn the tide of battle.

6 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak

Rixia Mao Takes On A Feared Assassin Moniker

Nihon Falcom has made some exceptional JRPGs, and the start of the new Trails arc is no exception to this rule. An excellent starting point for those looking to get into the series, Trails Through Daybreak has a mature, engaging story.

One of the various Trails staple characters is Rixia Mao, who makes a return here, continuing to uphold the feared mantle of Yin as a master assassin.

5 Fire Emblem: Three Houses

The Assassin Class Is Incredibly Deadly

Assassins have been present in Fire Emblem games as far back as Blazing Blade on the Gameboy Advance, combining archetypal skills from the fighter and thief classes into something frighteningly potent.

They're not the most common class within really any of the fire emblem games, but Petra is an exceptional assassin candidate in Three Houses and is able to put her incredibly high speed and dexterity skills to good use.

4 Harvestella

The Esteemed Shadow Assassin Has A Soft Side

Istina is one of the first companion characters the player meets in Harvestella, and her use of fast, poison-imbued attacks makes her a valuable ally in any fight.Learning her assassin skills makes going through many of the dungeons in this game much easier.

The assassin class gives players a poison imbued attack as well as various means of striking hard and swiftly, it has surprising utility for hitting the elemental weak spots of many enemies, and is a great class for those prioritizing speed and mobility over defensiveness.

3 Octopath Traveler 2

Foreign Assassins Are Indispensable In Endgame

The merchant class in this title brings with it an invaluable ability - Hired Help. Like the original title, Octopath Traveler 2 is a game about synergizing jobs among a cohort of characters. It's a novel gameplay system that rewards players who use the cast of characters creatively.

The strongest boon from Hired Help is the foreign assassin, whose incredibly damage and sapping attacks are essential for those wanting to make the endgame of Octopath Traveler 2 a breeze.

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2 Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

The Assassin Is A Versatile Hybrid Class

Much like its sequel, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a game that gives players a breadth of options for their vocation. Player characters can choose a series of hybrid vocations, and as the only hybrid class with no magic elements, the Assassin vocation relies on pure offensive weaponry.

Bows, daggers and swords are at the Assassin's disposal, and they excel at striking with lethal efficiency against smaller foes and the any huge targets available to fell in this game.

1 Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Master An Agile, Dangerous Fighting Style

Synergizing the thief and monk jobs, the assassin is perhaps the pinnacle of agility-focused jobs in Strangers of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. For players looking to give Jack a discreet, powerful class to carry them through the game.

Assassins begin to falter when facing hordes of enemies at once, but picking off select and powerful foes is right in their wheelhouse.