JRPGs have been a staple in the gaming industry for decades, with many opting for a lighthearted tone with moments of drama. Many classic JRPGs follow a tale as old as time itself, with players taking on the role of a plucky hero who sets out on a grand adventure to save the world from some great evil. These games are typically upbeat and optimistic, instilling a sense of joy and wonder as players go through these titles and beat the dastardly villains to aim to achieve their own nefarious goals in many ways.
However, some JRPGs choose to take a different approach and fare all the better for it. These games are darker and grittier, often dealing with mature themes that don't really appear in most JRPGs. Suffice it to say, these stories often subvert the traditional tropes of the genre, presenting a more complex world that is not simply black and white. Let's take a look at some of the darkest JRPGs ever.
Only one game per franchise, and the picks are not ranked. This is not a definitive list either, as there are a lot of JRPGs out there.
Updated on November 13, 2025, by Mark Sammut: The JRPG genre is no stranger to mature themes, but very few games emphasize this aspect to a degree that it becomes a defining characteristic. However, exceptions exist to every rule, and these JRPGs live in the darkness, while still providing the occasional dash of hopefulness. If you are looking for a story that is a tad heavier than the norm, these games are good places to start.
Shadow Hearts
Lovecraftian JRPG Series With Mature Storytelling
Shadow Hearts
- Released
- December 12, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sacnoth
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
Shadow Hearts is a tantalizing combination of Lovecraftian horror and real-life history — specifically, the throes of World War 1. Suffice it to say, players can expect a game that is pretty dark and mature, with gameplay mechanics that further hammer in just how brutal the world really is.
Shadow Hearts features a unique Judgment Ring battle system, where players must hit timed button prompts to deal damage. The story itself is quite heavy and deals with mature themes like loss, all the while presenting a gothic aesthetic that complements its tone. That's not to say Shadow Hearts does not have moments of levity or joy, but they are the exception rather than the status quo.
Koudelka is also really dark.
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne
Maybe The Darkest Game In A JRPG Series Known For Dark Games
The very fact that Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne starts with the onset of the apocalypse should be proof enough of just how dark the game can really get. Players take on the role of a high school student who transformed during this apocalyptic event, becoming a powerful figure known as the Demi-Fiend.
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The game's demon negotiation system allows players to recruit and fuse allies, with this mechanic being critical for players to survive in this difficult post-apocalyptic title. Fans who want their JRPG to be darker and more challenging should definitely give this title a shot.
Tales Of Berseria
A Dark Premise And Main Character
Tales of Berseria
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Action
Tales of Berseria is a game full of death and loss, serving as one of the more mature games in the Tales series. The story follows Velvet, a girl who experiences a series of tragic losses, with the influence of dark powers turning her into a Daemon with unique powers.
After witnessing the death of her brother, Velvet swears vengeance against the man who sacrificed him. The story starts off on a pretty riveting note and doesn't stop until players reach the climactic ending.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
A Hopeless Future
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
- Released
- June 24, 1999
- ESRB
- Teen // Drug Reference, Language, Mild Blood, Sexual Themes, Simulated Gambling, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PlayStation Portable
Persona 2: Innocent Sin is the first half of the second game's tale. After their work on the first Persona game was deemed a success, Atlus decided to expand these concepts in the sequel, making for a highly enjoyable RPG that is criminally overlooked.
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Now, the series is generally quite heavy, with all the main games having brutal moments for both the player and characters. However, Persona 2 is pretty comfortably the darkest in the franchise, as the story is permeated with a sense of desperation and futility that the other games do not have. Eternal Punishment is a bit more positive, but Innocent Sin is absolutely devastating.
Parasite Eve
The Horror JRPG
Parasite Eve
- Released
- September 9, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
Most people wouldn't dare believe that modern-day New York City is a fine setting for a JRPG. These people clearly need to play Parasite Eve, a game that combines the gameplay of this genre with elements of survival horror, which made for a great time indeed.
The game follows NYPD officer Aya Brea as she investigates a series of bizarre incidents related to a mysterious woman named Eve. The game really goes down to the cellular level when it comes to depicting its horrifying monstrosities... Quite literally!
Final Fantasy 6
The Darkest Final Fantasy Game
Final Fantasy 6
- Released
- October 11, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
Many players consider Final Fantasy 6 to be the greatest game in the series, and it's easy to see why this is the case. The game features a huge ensemble cast, excellent combat, and a sequence that completely changes the world map, too!
The World of Ruin is a concept that was unheard of before Final Fantasy 6 pulled it off, being one of the most unique and memorable landscape shifts in gaming history. It showed just how huge the ramifications were when the heroes failed to prevent Kefka from ruining the balance of the world.
Omori
Psychological Torment
OMORI
- Released
- December 25, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- OMOCAT, LLC.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Omori is a psychological horror JRPG, so dark themes are to be expected from the get-go. The game actually does a great job early on of making itself seem like a run-of-the-mill game in the genre with a cheery and happy vibe throughout.
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However, it's when players start peeking back at the curtain that things start unfolding. Omori deals with Sunny and the loss of his sister, with a chilling mystery surrounding this event that is slowly revealed as players delve further into this deeply disturbing title.
Mother 3
So Dark, It Remained A Japanese Exclusive (OK, Not Really, But The Game Is Dark)
Mother 3
- Released
- April 20, 2006
- Developer(s)
- HAL Laboratory, Brownie Brown
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
The holy grain of JRPGs never released outside of Japan, Mother 3 is the final entry in the influential Mother/Earthbound series, which has always had a knack for subverting genre expectations. "Dark" is maybe not the right descriptor for this game as a whole, but it certainly fits the intro.
Mother 3 starts with a village's annihilation by a creepy and almost Lovecraftian force, which sets up the boy protagonist's revenge quest for the rest of the story. Despite having quite a colorful art style, Mother 3 maintains a tense and disconcerting atmosphere, rarely letting up for a rest bite. As the campaign progresses, things get progressively and emphatically worse, and a sense of hopelessness sets in.
Drakengard
Dark, Twisted, And Just Plain Unsettling
Drakengard
- Released
- September 11, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Cavia, Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, JRPG, Fantasy, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
Frankly, all the Drakengard and Nier games qualify for this discussion, as they are all dark, bleak, and (usually) unapologetically weird. To avoid including all five entries, let's just highlight the 2003 original, a game that is entirely carried by its storytelling and characters. Set during an ongoing war between the Empire and Union, the story casts you as the latter's prince, who is willing to do anything to get bloody revenge on the Empire.
On paper, this premise sounds fairly typical for a JRPG, but Drakengard takes things in a different direction by not depicting Caim as ultimately a noble hero, but rather a tragic figure consumed by his vendetta. He is ready to lose himself, and he will do so. Nowadays, Drakengard can be difficult to fully appreciate due to its gameplay, but the story is still captivating enough to warrant a playthrough (or watch the cutscenes online).
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