Best Modern JRPGs

Some might argue that JRPGs peaked during the '90s and early 2000s with the SNES, PS1, and PS2. While an argument can certainly be made in favor of that claim, the genre has hardly slowed down in recent years. In fact, every year includes at least a couple of fantastic JRPGs.

Deciphering the list of best JRPGs becomes harder with each passing year. However, some of the genre's most recommendable games have come out over the past few years, and there are plenty of great titles just waiting to be played. Any fans of action or turn-based JRPGs are certainly not lacking in options.

Updated July 11, 2024 by Mark Sammut: May and June 2024 were big months for modern JRPGs, with both containing a few major releases. Two games have been added to this article, although neither title is a new property.

36 One Piece Odyssey

Metascore: 79

Licensed games have earned a negative reputation, and that holds for anime properties. One Piece has a few decent titles under its belt, but the beloved shonen series has yet to craft something that comes close to equaling the best Dragon Ball or Naruto games; that said, Odyssey is a step in the right direction. A turn-based JRPG, the 2023 release follows the Straw Hats as they are shipwrecked on a strange island and then lose their abilities. Consequently, they have to revisit their hardest historical battles to regain their strength.

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One Piece Odyssey is gorgeous. Even though the island takes a backseat for long stretches of the campaign, Waford is a fascinating setting that ties nicely into the manga's lore, even if it is not meant to be treated as canon. The combat system is pretty good as well, and it shakes things up by dividing the battlefield into distinct areas. Despite being generally a positive experience, Odyssey is ultimately only for One Piece fans.

35 Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

Metascore: 81

The main Monster Hunter games might exist in a separate bubble, but this subseries is unquestionably a JRPG. Monster Hunter Stories and its sequel take a few ideas from the likes of Pokemon, creating a monster-taming system that brings enough new ideas to the plate to set itself apart from the subgenre's biggest names. As Riders, players can tame Monsties to utilize in battle, and their party can carry up to six monsters at a time. Along with encouraging constant swapping on Monsties, Monster Hunter Stories 2 also emphasizes the importance of utilizing the perfect weapon for any given situation, with the game offering six weapon types.

Monster Hunter is not synonymous with storytelling, and Stories 2 kind of maintains that reputation by delivering a fairly by-the-numbers main quest. However, the JRPG is overflowing with personality, likable NPCs, humor, and side content. The gameplay is more than enough to keep things interesting, but it does not have to carry that burden on its own.

34 Astlibra Revision

Metascore: 81

Technically, Astlibra predates 2016 by quite a while, but the version available to most players is 2022's Revision iteration. This release brings together an episodic project to create an impressive action RPG overflowing with depth, nuance, and style. Created largely by a solitary developer, Astlibra Revision follows an amnesiac boy and his unique companion as they head out on a journey that involves a missing girl, demons, and time travel. The latter serves as the framing device for most missions, as the protagonist finds himself heading back in time on adventures that eventually reveal more of his memory. Although a bit messy in places, the story is constantly captivating, and it even produces a few surprises along the way.

This love letter to classic RPGs still manages to find a unique font. Most of Astlibra Revision's ideas can be traced to influential older releases, but they are rarely direct copies. The real-time combat uses a simple combo system that is complemented by a parry mechanic that rewards the player's willingness to take risks. Furthermore, the game offers a rich selection of possessions that act as magic spells. Even the progression system is handled well, granting players a fair number of build options while also granting them the opportunity to switch things up if a setup is not working.

33 Scarlet Nexus

Metascore: 80

New JRPG IPs do not come around all that often, particularly ones with a decent budget behind them. Scarlet Nexus is the type of game that should be cherished; a reasonably ambitious action JRPG that offers upward of 50 hours of gameplay since it features two protagonists with their own storylines.

Set in a world where humanity is threatened by the arrival of monsters known as Other, Yuito and Kasane join the OSF, a task force designed to repel these entities. From there, both characters become ensnared in a conspiracy that goes to quite a few unpredictable places. Scarlet Nexus' combat system is fast-paced, responsive, and highly entertaining, and it develops quite nicely as the campaign progresses.

32 Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Metascore: 79

When big publishers opt to leave behind a beloved franchise, the indie scene will eventually pick up the slack and provide a spiritual successor. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes aims to accomplish that for Suikoden, Konami's long-dormant series that should be making a comeback in the form of a remastered compilation. While that release has yet to materialize, this 2024 indie title should help fill the void for fans who have long craved a return to turn-based combat fueled by 100+ playable characters. The latter is, obviously, the game's main selling point, to the point of directly inspiring the title; however, Hundred Heroes has more to offer than just an impressively vast roster.

The narrative weaves an epic and classical tale of warring empires, powerful MacGuffins, volatile friendships, and small personal stories for recruiting new playable characters. Although not covering new ground in the grand scheme of things, the campaign is ambitious and benefits from consistently strong writing that adds personality to most situations and characters. Such a massive range of playable heroes could have easily resulted in faceless pawns who are nothing more than a collection of stats, a fate that Hundred Heroes mostly avoids (a few exceptions notwithstanding).

The turn-based combat is fairly traditional, albeit with a heavier focus than usual on positioning and party composition. The standard battles are accompanied by large-scale encounters and duels that shake up the status quo quite well, providing a reasonably fun change of pace.

31 Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

Metascore: 84

Building on the success of Wrath of the White Witch, Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom strikes a slightly more mature tone than its predecessor. Roland finds himself teleported to Ding Dong Dell just as a coup is carried out usurping the kingdom's soon-to-be king, a young prince named Evan. After narrowly escaping the castle, Roland and Evan travel across the world seeking allies who can aid in returning the prince to his throne.

Ni no Kuni 2's main story is solid and its visuals are stunning, particularly for those fond of anime. The sequel also revamps the combat system, changing it for the better. That said, the game does not quite measure its predecessor's charm, and the removal of the monster-collection system was disappointing. The launch version was also painfully easy to the point of barely presenting any challenge.

30 Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin

Metascore: 82

Edelweiss's Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin carries a lot on its plate as the game balances two genres that typically move at conflicting paces: farming sims and side-scrolling action. Incredibly, Edelweiss managed to create a balanced experience, with neither half seeming underbaked. The titular Sakuna refers to a lazy goddess who is sent to the Isle of Demons for rehabilitation, forcing her to learn what it is like to live and work like humans.

Sakuna spends her days either cultivating rice or exploring dungeons in search of resources. The former is surprisingly in-depth, and players will need to carefully monitor their fields if they want to stay in the green. When it comes to dungeon crawling, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin utilizes a fast-paced 2.5D hack and slash combat system that expands nicely as the protagonist acquires new moves.

29 Honkai: Star Rail

Metascore: 80

While Genshin Impact should be able to scratch someone's free-to-play action RPG itch, Honkai: Star Rail is for those who prefer turn-based combat. Unlike HoYoVerse's other big property, the 2023 release is set within a sci-fi-themed universe that is divided into planets, with the campaign currently having two available locations. Naturally, more will be added in the future.

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Honkai: Star Rail nails its combat, providing a dynamic turn-based system that is fast-paced but also strategic. As this is a gatcha game, players will be constantly trying to unlock new characters, and the gameplay emphasizes the importance of building a balanced team. Outside of battles, Honkai: Star Rail offers decently sized maps that are similar in structure to Genshin Impact's world, although they are naturally smaller in scope.

28 Disgaea 7: Vows Of The Virtueless

Metascore: 84

Nippon's Disgaea is a staple of the tactical RPG scene, even if it is fairly niche compared to something like Fire Emblem. Recent sequels have tried to lower the barrier of entry for newcomers, a direction that resulted in the decent but overly simplified Disgaea 6. Its 2023 successor opted to turn back time by providing a more classical take on the franchise's concepts, resulting in a polished package that represents Disgaea at close to its best. The story follows Fuji and Pirilika, two adventurers who decide to dethrone the shogun by finding an array of powerful weapons. As is the case with most entries in the series, Disgaea 7's narrative is lighthearted and not particularly amazing, although it is fairly entertaining.

While generally serviceable, Disgaea's stories exist in service of their endgames, and the seventh entry is no exception. Before long, the game will open up and reveal a plethora of mechanics that players need to take into account as they try to craft their pitch-perfect team. The process can be arduous, but it is also addictive. For the actual battles, the combat system works well, and it even comes with a fun new mechanic that allows characters to transform.

27 Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Metascore: 80

Debuting in 2014, Cygames' Granblue Fantasy has experienced quite a bit of success over its lifespan, but the original entry is limited to mobile platforms. The license got some PC and console exposure through Granblue Fantasy Versus, a spin-off fighting game that went on to receive an updated version in 2023. While that project is novel and enjoyable, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is far more representative of the franchise's core appeal, and it is a wonderful action JRPG that is an easy recommendation for PS5 and PC owners.

The campaign is quite short compared to the genre's typical releases, making this release a suitable pick for players looking for something that has depth but won't demand an endless commitment. Along with a core roster of characters, players can hire optional companions to add to their team, which adds an element of replayability since there are quite a few team compositions to try out. Relink's combat is fantastic, delivering fast-paced and stylish hack and slash action that never grows dull.