Best JRPGs Like Final Fantasy 10

The Final Fantasy series is easily one of the most legendary gaming franchises of all time, starting as a last gasp of sorts for Square before evolving into a multi-million dollar series that is still going strong to this very day. There are several games that one can pick out when one has to choose the best game in the series, with a special mention going out to Squaresoft's final title on the PS2 before the company transformed into Square Enix.

Final Fantasy 10 is easily one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. The characters are memorable, the setting is intriguing, the story is excellent, and the combat is perhaps the most enjoyable version of a turn-based system that the series has ever experimented with. So, it only goes without saying that people who finish Final Fantasy 10 will find themselves in dire need of filling up the void that this brilliant JRPG has inevitably left behind. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the best JRPGs to play for anyone who loved Final Fantasy 10 with all their heart.

Updated May 10, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The JRPG genre has been on the rise following the massive push that games like Persona 5 and Dragon Quest 11 have given it in recent times. Finally, fans of games like Final Fantasy 10 who loved the turn-based combat and emotional story present in this game can check out even more titles that are similar to this masterpiece. Not all of these games reach the same level of quality as Final Fantasy 10, and some differ in terms of genre and theme, but there's no denying that fans of the iconic Square Enix franchise and FF10 itself will find a lot of things to love about them.

21 Persona 3 Reload

Death And Passing On Are Major Themes In Both This Game And Final Fantasy 10

While many people are aware that Persona 3 was the game that implemented the series' formula for the first time, a lot of people never got the opportunity to check out this title for themselves, especially if they loved Persona 4 and 5 because of its seamless fusion of life sim elements and JRPG combat.

With the advent of Persona 3 Reload, there's nothing standing in the way of fans enjoying an excellent video game that deals with mature themes of loss, death, and moving on. Just like Final Fantasy 10, the ending of Persona 3 Reload is bound to make players shed a tear after embarking on a journey for the ages.

20 Octopath Traveler 2

Pays Homage To Classic JRPGs, Making It Perfect For Final Fantasy 10 Fans

There's no denying that Octopath Traveler had its fair share of problems that reared their heads more and more as players made their way through this lengthy JRPG. To see the sequel address all these complaints while perfecting the formula even more was truly mind-blowing and showcased why players were more than elated to see the sheer quality present in this JRPG.

With natural banter, gameplay improvements, and a familiar yet polished take on turn-based combat, Octopath Traveler 2 took the JRPG fandom by storm. Players who found the first game to be decent yet flawed should give this title a shot to change their opinion on the potential of this eight-pronged narrative approach. Fans of Final Fantasy 10's combat system and party dynamics will also find much to love in this title.

19 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

The Dragon Quest-Inspired Turn-Based Combat Will Appeal To Fans Of Final Fantasy 10's Battle System

After sticking to the real-time combat formula for the longest time, fans of Yakuza were more than surprised to see the developers move in a fresh new direction and implement turn-based combat for the first time in the series. What many people assumed to be an April Fool's joke turned out to be a serious direction that the developers were steering their game towards.

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This led to the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, a game that fans of the series fell instantly in love with. Players who are more used to the turn-based combat present in games like Final Fantasy 10 can use this title as a jumping-off point to see if the unique and eclectic mix of gameplay and tones in the Yakuza series is up their alley.

18 Omori

A Psychological Horror That's Perfect For Fans Of Final Fantasy 10's Darker Themes

At a glance, Omori seems like a rather cute run-of-the-mill JRPG where players team up with their friends in a charming world that is filled with odd creatures, cute monsters, and something dreadful that is slowly revealed as players peek through the cracks and try to uncover the mystery that shrouds this perfect dream world.

As players go through the game, they'll explore the real world and witness the life of Sunny, who recedes into his shell and refuses to face off against the truth no matter how many times it haunts him. It takes a Herculean from both the protagonist and the player to finally confront the demons that have been plaguing Sunny, resulting in a one-of-a-kind psychological-horror JRPG that players should definitely check out, provided they have the stomach to bear the horrors that lie within.

17 Chained Echoes

Like Final Fantasy 10, This Title Encourages Players To Approach Combat Strategically

Chained Echoes is a modern indie gem that serves as a love letter to JRPGs of the past, especially titles like Chrono Trigger. The game has a unique take on progression that negates the age-old grinding problem that has plagued the genre since time immemorial. This prevents combat from being trivialized, with players having to strategize quite a bit to deal with the many tough bosses in this engaging experience.

Fans of Final Fantasy 10 will love the modern innovations present in Chained Echoes, which is doubly impressive since the game still feels like a classic feel-good JRPG in many ways. It's easy to see why this title became such a massive hit in record time.

16 Final Fantasy 6

An Iconic Final Fantasy Game That Features A Lovable Party And A Terrifying Villain

It's only fitting that a title that is perfect for fans of Final Fantasy 10 would be a Final Fantasy game. The sixth mainline entry was a massive step in the right direction for the series, featuring a new steampunk setting that would serve as the bedrock for the futuristic setting that the legendary Final Fantasy 7 would head in.

Final Fantasy 6 features a massive ensemble cast, one of the greatest video game villains of all time, and a major switch-up in the middle of the game that was truly mind-blowing for its time. To this day, there's something hauntingly beautiful about stepping into the World of Ruin and seeing just how badly Kefka messed everything up after altering the balance of the Warring Triad and ruining the world for good. For those who enjoyed Final Fantasy 10's darker moments, Final Fantasy 6 is a must-play.

15 Golden Sun

Provides Fun Puzzles For Those Who Enjoy Final Fantasy 10's Cloisters

The Game Boy Advance was graced with numerous stellar games that are a ton of fun to play even now. One such title is the underrated JRPG Golden Sun, which fans will adore for its charm and gameplay.

The title added its fair share of puzzles into the mix, making gameplay more complex and challenging than it had any right to be. Here, Final Fantasy 10 fans may experience shades of the Cloister of Trial segments that halted the pacing to a crawl. In defense of Golden Sun, the environments are varied enough to add some flavor to the puzzle-solving, making it less of a chore.

14 Shadow Hearts: Covenant

A Dark And Gritty JRPG That Offers A Deeply Engaging Story

The idea of a Lovecraftian JRPG sounds quite interesting, so it's a shame that not many people talk about the brilliant Shadow Hearts series. These games focused on a dark gothic fantasy setting, which is strangely uncommon in most JRPGs.

Out of all the games in the series, the second Shadow Hearts game, Covenant, is easily the best of the lot. It features a ton of improvements over its predecessor along with a brilliant story that is worth any player's time. Fans of Final Fantasy 10's narrative focus will find this title to be right up their alley.

13 Tales Of Berseria

Features Real-Time Combat And Similar Themes To Final Fantasy 10

The Tales series has seen its fair share of amazing titles that feature real-time action combat. Tales of Berseria is no exception to this rule, although this game is significantly darker than its predecessors. The combat is more refined than ever before and can allow for endless entertainment and joy. It's a great title that deserves a lot of praise for being a perfect modern Tales game that does justice to the series.

The unique personality of the protagonist coupled with a focus on turn-based combat makes it the perfect palate cleanser for Final Fantasy 10 fans who don't want to divert from the genre but still want to check out something different that boasts a similar level of quality.

12 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch

A Charming Cel-Shaded JRPG That Feels Just As Light As Final Fantasy 10's More Charming Moments

Fans of Studio Ghibli films will have a blast with Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. This cute and endearing JRPG features great gameplay and a fun story that is worth sticking with to the very end.

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The first game might have its issues, but it's a solid title and shouldn't be skipped in favor of its sequel. Final Fantasy 10 fans who loved the game's charming, silly, and lighter moments will love what Ni No Kuni brings to the table.