Summary
- Kingdom Hearts defied expectations by having a complex plot, blending FF and Disney elements.
- Octopath Traveler 2 improved on its predecessor with reduced random encounters and better storylines.
- Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana impressed players with its gameplay, characters, and intriguing story.
Final Fantasy 7 was treated as a big deal throughout the run-up to its release, but the series wasn’t as familiar in some territories as others. With most of its predecessors never making it to Europe, The Official UK PlayStation Magazine seemed in disbelief when their Christmas 1997 feature covered the game with the subtitle: “A Japanese RPG? You’re joking…”
Nonetheless, whether players were into JRPGs from the beginning, or were fashionably late to the party, they’ve since seen many titles live up to or even exceed the hype. A few games managed to defy expectations and become hidden gems, modern-day classics, or even titans of the JRPG genre. Here are a few Japanese RPGs that managed to go above and beyond what players expected.
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8 Kingdom Hearts
The Famous Crossover Proves to Be Anything But a Mickey Mouse Operation
Kingdom Hearts
- Released
- September 17, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Franchise
- Kingdom Hearts
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PS2
The first game in the Disney-Final Fantasy crossover series is low on the list, because people expected it to be a big seller from the get-go. FF is the biggest name in JRPGs (outside Japan), and Disney is a global force that’s been a part of people’s childhoods for a century. Yet they make for an unlikely pairing. FF is famous for its mature topics and heavy situations. Disney is soft, fluffy, and so conservative that staff couldn't have beards until 2012.
Some fans thought that combining the two would feel more like a Disney tie-in game with some FF characters than a JRPG in its own right. Instead, while it wasn’t exactly a challenge for hardcore JRPG players in terms of gameplay, its plot was more complex (and admittedly convoluted) than people thought. It gave FF fans enough story meat to make them feel at home.
7 Octopath Traveler 2
The Rising JRPG Series Gets Over First Game Syndrome
Octopath Traveler 2
- Released
- February 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Octopath Traveler was a success on release, critically and financially, though it left room for improvement. The high number of random encounters, a few lackluster storylines, and its depiction of its female characters could have been better. This didn’t stop it being the game of the year for some players, but it made others think of skipping Octopath Traveler 2 until they ended up giving it a try.
The second game reduced the random encounters, and sped up the battles, which were spiced up with new skills like the rechargeable Latent Powers. Players no longer need to swap out party members for specific tasks as often, and the storylines blended better as the cast crossed paths and shared banter. These improvements, among others, were enough to make those turned off by OT1 into fans of the series.
6 Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana
Unassuming Cult Classic Hides an Incredible Experience
Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of DANA
- Released
- September 12, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nihon Falcom
- Franchise
- Ys
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PS Vita, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Ys series has been around for decades, though its games rarely got full-on international releases during its heyday. Most players might have picked up on it during the mid-2000s with Ys 6: Ark of Napishtim, the remakes of its first two titles, fan translations of the older games, or via Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana.
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If they did get in on the eighth game, players likely didn't know what to expect. Based on the game's feedback, players thought they'd have fun, but weren't expecting to be blown away. Instead, they found themselves falling in love with the gameplay, characters, and the story where they'd uncover the mystery behind the cursed Isle of Seiren. There's a reason why the series has managed to last nearly 40 years.
5 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
A Humble Action JRPG That's More Complex Than It Appears
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
- Released
- December 22, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Like Ys, The Legend of Heroes’ games didn’t really catch on outside Japan until its Trails subseries. Even then, the series' games lacked the graphical flash and designs of its bigger rivals. Compared to the Final Fantasy games, the likes of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel seemed generic and old-fashioned.
Yet once they played it, gamers often found themselves clicking with its Action Time battle system and Orbment system, where players could get different effects depending on the kind of quartz they used. It also helped that the game often goes on sale, making it a cheap and easy way to scratch the need for a new JRPG. As plain as its cover seemed, it was rich in content and easy to get into, which has helped it turn many skeptics into Trails fans.
4 Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Sega Turns Their Brawler into a JRPG
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
- Released
- November 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Franchise
- Yakuza
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The story of Yakuza/Like a Dragon’s longtime protagonist Kazuma Kiryu was (seemingly) over by Yakuza 6. So, RGG Studio had the opportunity to follow a new hero's journey. But instead of making its sequel, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, another open-world brawler, they turned it into a quirky JRPG. New protagonist Ichiban uncovers why he was made his clan's fall guy, while supported by his quirky friends via turn-based battles, a job system, and summons called 'Poundmates.'
It was as far from the old games as one could imagine — or was it? The classic games were open-world action games, yet they had plenty of RPG elements in them, like level-ups and status-boosting items. Yakuza: Like a Dragon just went a bit further, which took some getting used to. RGG Studio didn't seem worried if it faltered in sales, saying they'd go back to the old formula if it flopped. But instead, it became one of the most successful games in the series.
3 Final Fantasy 15
FF13 Tie-In Becomes a Standout, Standalone Adventure
Final Fantasy 15
- Released
- November 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Nearly every Final Fantasy game is someone’s top favorite or least liked entry, with some even preferring the more polarizing games like Final Fantasy 13. Square Enix certainly had faith in the game, as they made a whole subseries devoted to it. The Fabula Nova Crystallis games would have seen the likes of FF13-2 and FF Type-0 joined by the curiously named FF Versus 13.
After 10 years of staff changes, rewrites, and platform shifts, this title was finally released as Final Fantasy 15, a separate game from the FNC series. It was enough to give fans cold feet and bad memories of Duke Nukem Forever, but it turned out quite well. The story may not have been the strongest, yet the camaraderie between Noctis and his boys, along with the action-based gameplay, helped it catch on with a wide audience.
2 Fantasian
Apple Arcade RPG Proves Too Popular for It to Keep Hold Of
Fantasian
- Released
- April 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Mistwalker
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- iOS, macOS
Subscription services went from giving people a ton of options in one place, to feeling like a velvet rope cordoning off what used to be buyable as separate products. Paying $6.99 per month (or $49.99 annually) to play indie games and a few exclusives on Apple Arcade didn’t sound appealing to players who could get a ton of games for the same price at the next Steam sale. Yet the few people who did give the service a try got to play the first incarnation of Fantasian.
Fantasian gave old-school JRPG fans everything they wanted, with unique position-based gameplay that could give them the advantage (or disadvantage if they weren’t careful). Its traditional feeling might not be a surprise, given it was made by Mistwalker, the studio of original Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. Luckily, players can now check it out without needing to sign up for Apple Arcade, as it was ported over to consoles and PC as Fantasia: Neo Dimension.
1 Pokémon: Red & Blue
Nintendo Wins Big After Being Convinced to Take a Gamble
Pokemon Red
- Released
- February 27, 1996
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy
Most of the JRPGs on this list surpassed fans’ expectations, where their obscure origins, sudden genre changes, or unassuming looks didn’t click with them at first. Pokemon: Red & Blue is a different story. Creator Satoshi Tajiri pitched the idea of a monster-collecting, battle-based RPG to Nintendo as early as 1990, but the Big N didn't really get how the concept could appeal to people. It wasn’t until Shigeru Miyamoto caught wind of the project that he was able to convince the company’s higher-ups to give it a go.
Even then, it took 6 years for Tajiri and company to turn their pocket monster-based Game Boy RPG into a reality. Once it came out, its easy-to-grasp, tricky-to-master gameplay grew into a global craze as fans tried to catch 'em all, making good use of the handheld link cable for trading. From there, it became a multimedia juggernaut that practically printed money for Nintendo. They clearly got the project's appeal once the cash started rolling in.
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