Best JRPGs With Demons

When it comes to fusing compelling turn-based gameplay with long, high-quality stories, it's hard to beat a solid JRPG. This genre of games has been setting and surpassing the standard for good gameplay for decades. With that kind of pedigree, a host of sub-genres and sub-sub-genres has developed for players all over the world to enjoy.

Whether through intricate character builds or intense boss fights, combat tends to be a strong driving factor in JRPGs. And whether players are mowing them down or pitting them against one another, demons tend to make great enemy fodder or reliable allies across a wide variety of games in this genre. Players looking to smite (or seduce?) Some unholy foes should keep an eye out for these titles. (Disclaimer: Very little demon seducing takes place in these games.)

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5 Demon Gaze Extra

A Mystical Dungeon Crawler

• Developers: Experience Inc., Kadokawa Games, Ltd., Cattle Call
• Initial Release Date: January 24, 2013
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Vita

Originating on the PlayStation Vita before making the leap with this remaster to PC, Demon Gaze Extra is a satisfying and flashy dungeon crawler JRPG. It's in a similar vein as Etrian Odyssey, but with a greater emphasis on churning out as high a damage output as possible, and less of an emphasis on real-time cartography. The core mechanics, once mastered, let players build a team with classes that synergize incredibly well.

The protagonist's "Demon Gaze" ability makes them uniquely suited to trekking through the setting's many labyrinths and battling, well, demons. The designs of the creatures in this game are flashy and vibrant. There's a great level of personality in everything from the lowest level grunts to the screen-consuming, colossal bosses players will clash with later on.

4 Disgaea 5

Taking On Tyrants In The Netherworld

Players looking to immerse themselves in a setting both by and for demons should give the entire Disgaea series a once-over. Most games involve the protagonist, a demon, traveling the Netherworld(s) in order to stop some great evil. This impending doom is so heinous that even actual demons are tugging at their collars. Perhaps the most satisfying part of this game is how comically overpowered parties can become, hitting enemies with five-digit sums of damage without even power-gaming.

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But everything in this game, and series for that matter, from the party members to NPCs to enemies, are all flavored in some demonic fashion. It offers fantastic exploration for anyone who loves seeing big numbers get even bigger. Across the games in the series, Disgaea 5 also has a pretty great story, making it a highlight.

3 Dragon Ball: Fusions

A Novel JRPG With DBZ Flare

Fusions are a common feature in the Dragon Ball franchise, allowing two beings to come together and form a new body with far greater power than the sum of its parts. These fusions also tend to have some fantastic hair to boot. Dragon Ball Fusions is the pinnacle of Dragon Ball RPGs, filled with the same kind of chaotic energy that has made the manga and anime so successful. The game also utilizes a unique mechanic that allows characters from across the series to fuse together. The result is usually awesome, and occasionally cursed.

Demons from across the Dragon Ball series, such as Xenoverse antagonists or the classic Demon King Piccolo, are all available. They can only be added to the player's party, but can also be fused with to create a powerful being.

2 Alliance Alive

A High-Quality JRPG Classic

Alliance Alive first came out on the 3DS with a simple philosophy: creating a high-quality, compelling JRPG fit to stand on its own as an engaging game. It is something of a workhorse JRPG. Anyone who plays something in this genre and finds themselves wanting more will find something to enjoy in Alliance Alive. The game is set in a world where Daemons (allowances are made for plus or minus one vowel when it comes to 'demon' games) have blotted out the sun and taken over the kingdoms of humanity.

Alliance Alive's Daemons have eclectic, animalistic designs that stand out, especially in the game's HD remake. There are also some skills that can only be used by either humans or Daemons. The way that the characters from either camp interact with each other makes for some incredible dialogue.

1 Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

A JRPG That Thrives On Demons

Among demon-focused JRPGs, the Shin Megami Tensei series is perhaps the most prolific. This opus from Atlus' headquarters combines just about anything players could want from a JRPG (except maybe romance, but another series by Atlus comes to mind for that particular feature). In Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, players will find monster collecting, esoteric lore, multiple endings, and bone-crushing difficulty.

Vengeance is set in a world where every enemy and party member is, in some capacity, a demon. The game's definition of demon is really any spiritual creature that is not aligned with the central and all-powerful capital-G God, but angels are also, mechanically speaking at least, demons as well. Vengeance is one of the all-time highs of the SMT series. Whether players are new to the series or veterans, this is a great title to sink some playtime into.