Best Post-Apocalyptic JRPGs, Ranked

The post-apocalypse has become one of the most captivating settings for games to be set in. The inherent tragedy of this setting makes it all the more harrowing for people to try and survive in such lawless worlds by any means necessary. Society is rebuilding in such games if they're not completely absent, adding to the lawless nature of the world and how it would be hard to play the hero in a world where morality is all but absent.

Given how most JRPGs are as cheerful as they come, it's easy to see why a post-apocalyptic game in this genre may seem like an odd fit. However, there are several amazing JRPGs set in ruined worlds that do a great job of helping players form bonds with the characters they control as they navigate a ruined world with threats out the wazoo.

5 Phantasy Star 4: The End Of The Millennium

The Great Collapse Reverts The Planet Of Motavia Into A Desert Landscape

It's a shame that Phantasy Star doesn't enjoy the same legacy as other JRPG behemoths like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, with the series delivering excellence from its debut itself. Every entry in the Phantasy Star series features a story as epic as they come, with the lore and worldbuilding of these games being sublime. Phantasy Star 4 is no exception to this rule, taking place a millennium after Phantasy Star 2 on the planet of Motavia after an apocalyptic event transforms much of its landscape into a wasteland.

This Great Collapse not only made life difficulty for the inhabitants, but it also led to a rise in biomonster attacks. To cull their increasing population, hunters arose to take over this task. It's a tantalizing setting, giving players the clear goal of finding a way to tackle the planet's ecological crisis by any means necessary. Despite lacking any innovative design, fans of the Phantasy Star series love the deep worldbuilding of the fourth game and how dark things could get in this ambitious JRPG.

4 Resonance Of Fate

The Basel Purification System Becomes A Necessity To Tackle Fatal Atmospheric Pollution

There's a reason why the setting of Resonance of Fate is clad in hues of gray all the time. The world has been wracked by pollution to the point where humanity's numbers have dwindled considerably. This problem was so severe that the survivors had to construct a new purification system called Basel to give them hope, with civilization sprouting around this tower soon after. It's a tantalizing premise that helps the world of Resonance of Fate feel as unique as possible.

While the story itself may feel poorly paced and lacking in urgency, the game makes up for it with one of the toughest and most innovative combat systems seen in a JRPG for a long time. Turn-based gunfights have never felt better, with players controlling their three party members as they run around battle arenas and carry out eye-catching attacks to defeat their enemies. It takes a while to get used to, but the captivating setting of Resonance of Fate ensures that players will be left wanting more — after they get a hang of how the combat works.

3 Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne

The Conception Brings Forth The Apocalypse That Turns A High-School Student Into The Demi-Fiend

The Shin Megami Tensei games are some of the toughest JRPGs players can get their hands on, bucking many trends from the genre and letting players explore ruined worlds with a solitary protagonist who employs the help of other monsters to take on foes. Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne is no exception to this rule, with players taking control of a student who transforms into a Demi-Fiend following an apocalyptic event known as the Conception.

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The ruinous landscapes of Tokyo are captured with melancholic beauty, with the plot taking some wild turns as players tackle monsters and encounter beings known as the Reasons, who wish to remake the world in their image. There are many tough bosses scattered across this experience that will punish players if they haven't prepared their party to exploit the weaknesses of these challenging foes.

2 Final Fantasy 6

Kefka Disturbs The Balance Of The Warring Triad To Bring Forth The World Of Ruin

Final Fantasy 6 is one of the most special JRPGs of all time. The developers had so much time while creating it that they decided to add two overworlds to the game. The World of Balance functions like any other JRPG fantasy landscape, but things take a turn for the worse when the heroes land on the Floating Continent to stop Emperor Gestahl and Kefka. Despite reaching the Warring Triad, everyone is unable to stop the balance from being affected as the world is sundered by the energy emanating from this devastating act.

Celes wakes up to a world that is in ruins, with tragedy striking from the get-go when her father figure, Cid, falls ill and must be saved. His death is hard to avoid and serves as a dark introduction to the World of Ruin, with players finding it hard to look at the ruined cities and the desolate nature of a world that was cheerful despite the oppressive nature of the Imperials. The gameplay becomes quite non-linear after this point, with players reuniting the heroes to infiltrate Kefka's Tower and put a stop to this deranged clown's madness once and for all.

1 Chrono Trigger

Players Can Travel To The Future And Witness The Aftermath Of Lavos' Destruction

Chrono Trigger is a JRPG that needs no introduction. The game is paced brilliantly and features one amazing highlight after another, with Lavos' introduction serving as a major turning point in the narrative. Players who doubt whether this world-ending parasite is that big of a threat will sing a different tune once they time-travel into the future and witness firsthand just how horrifying this leech's debilitating presence is.

This is just one of the many reasons why Chrono Trigger's time-traveling shenanigans are so iconic. It's sobering to see how bleak the future is, lending a sense of urgency to the player as they try to do everything in their power to prevent this horrid reality from coming to pass. Lavos can be tackled at any time throughout the story, but players should ideally accomplish everything possible and become strong before taking on this intimidating foe.