Summary
- Tactical JRPGs often have long campaigns emulating war, with narratives focusing on warring kingdoms and evil rulers.
- Disgaea 4 stands out with a silly yet compelling storyline featuring an Overlord who loves sardines.
- Front Mission 4 offers a global political narrative with multiple perspectives, showing political greed hindering efforts to prevent war.
Tactical JRPGs can have some of the longest campaigns in the JRPG genre overall. That’s because they are trying to emulate war more so than a traditional turn-based or action JRPG, and war, of course, takes a long time. Many plots tend to follow similar tropes, like warring kingdoms, evil rulers, perhaps some magical dragons, and so on.
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The following tactical JRPGs were different, though. They stood out when they were released, and they stand out now as expertly crafted narratives with heart, action, and maybe even some laughs. Maybe the gameplay wasn’t always there, but the plots were gripping. Without going over spoilers, these are the best stories from tactical JRPGs, ranked based on the narratives alone.
8 Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten
We Love Sardines
Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten
- Released
- February 24, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Animated Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Strategy
Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten boasts the franchise's best storyline, featuring one of the more complex would-be Overlords: Valvatorez. Voiced by Troy Baker before he became all-encompassing in video games, Valvatorez loves sardines, but he also yearns for revolution.
Together with his hodgepodge band of misfits, Valvatorez will retake the Underworld to make it better for everyone. It’s a silly story overall, but one that’s still compelling thanks to the well-written characters.
7 Jeanne d'Arc
A Bit Of History With Your Fantasy
Jeanne d'Arc
- Released
- November 22, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Tactical
Jeanne d'Arc is a fantastical retelling of the war between England and France between the 1300s and 1400s. Players assume the role of Jeanne, a stand-in for Joan of Arc, who cobbles together a small army to rebel against the humans and literal demons who burned her French village to the ground.
Characters like Jeanne receive magical equipment that allows them to temporarily transform into super-powered heroes to stop the tyranny. The historical backdrop gives Jeanne d'Arc an edge over other tactical JRPG stories, as bizarre as it is, thanks to the talent of Level-5’s programmers and writers.
6 Front Mission 4
A Multinational Defense Mission
Front Mission 4
- Released
- June 15, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
Front Mission 4, like most entries in the series, gets into global politics with a world war set to explode at any minute. Players will build their team of Wanzer pilots, essentially mech pilots, to stop this war from happening.
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The great thing about the story is seeing perspectives from multiple nations. Even when trying to prevent the world from blowing up, political greed gets in the way. By the end, players may see some justification in what the villains are trying to do.
5 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Tokyo Beatdown
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
- Released
- June 23, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is one of the more horrifying entries in the Megami Tensei series, as it isolates society from the normal world. All of a sudden, Japan is crawling with demons who are possessing some people and killing others.
Factions break out all over, and players, as a nameless high schooler, have the power to change Japan thanks to their demon-summoning ability. The difficulty level keeps things tense, making for a compelling horror story set between fiction and reality.
4 Fire Emblem Fates
Two Sides To Every Story
Fire Emblem Fates
- Released
- February 19, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
Fire Emblem Fates had a Pokemon-like approach to its launch, with two versions available to purchase. Corrin, who could be male or female, was the protagonist no matter what. They were born in the kingdom of Hoshido in Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, while Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest was about Corrin being raised by the kingdom of Nohr through adoption.
Both Fire Emblem Fates stories are riveting to play through, and they raise the dilemma of blood relatives versus found families. Also, a third act was eventually released, Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation, which put a new perspective on these warring families.
3 Valkyria Chronicles 3
Suicide Squad
Valkyria Chronicles III
- Released
- January 27, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
Valkyria Chronicles 3 has the best story in the franchise, and most JRPG players may have never touched it. That’s because it was only released for the PSP in Japan, but dedicated fans have translated it to the best of their abilities.
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What makes the game’s story compelling is the premise, as a group of soldiers called The Nameless are thrown into difficult situations and expected to get the job done no matter what. Their superiors care only for victory and not the health of Squad 422. Meanwhile, the members of Squad 422 still have a yearning to live, and the only way they can do that is through cooperation and determination.
2 Triangle Strategy
Salt Wars
Triangle Strategy
- Released
- March 4, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
Triangle Strategy is one of the few tactical JRPGs that gives players a compelling reason to replay it multiple times. There are many branching paths, and each one will introduce a new party member to Triangle Strategy’s team composition, which can change the whole dynamic of combat.
The overall plot focuses on a passive nation caught in the middle of a war over salt between several kingdoms. While the beginning is slow, each new political upheaval and revelation will keep players hooked on the game until the credits roll.
1 Final Fantasy Tactics
Religious And Family Corruption
Final Fantasy Tactics
- Released
- June 20, 1997
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
Final Fantasy Tactics is going to be at the top of a lot of lists when it comes to topics about tactical RPGs. It was released in 1998, and decades later, fans still love it. For Final Fantasy, the story was more mature than others at the time, even Final Fantasy 7. There was blood, religious cults, political back-stabbings, and a whole cavalcade of lore-rich characters.
The linearity of the narrative, beyond some flashback chapters, helped keep things focused. The PSP version’s English script was better translated than the PS1 original, which should be further tweaked in the remake, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, for all to enjoy soon enough.
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