Summary
- Sega Master System introduced visually impressive JRPGs like Phantasy Star with unique designs & environments.
- Chrono Trigger from the SNES era stands out with timeless art, animations, and stunning backdrops.
- Final Fantasy 9 on the PS1 is hailed as the pinnacle of graphics, creating detailed character models and enchanted worlds.
Throughout the generations, JRPG fans discuss the story and characters more than the visuals. However, there are often games that set a new standard for graphics during their respective eras. Games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 7 helped introduce the genre to many fans with their incredible visual style, while the stories hold them until the end. The Sega Master System and NES era introduced more colorful and vibrant worlds, unique character designs, and immersive experiences. As consoles and PCs improved, these worlds became more captivating and visually stunning, and captured the imagination in ways that seemed unimaginable back in the 1980s. This list includes some of the best-looking JRPGs of their era.
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The 16-bit era was formative for the JRPG, and even though the style has been adopted for modern nostalgia value, its retro roots still sing today.
10 Phantasy Star
An Unrivaled 8-Bit Era JRPG
Phantasy Star
- Released
- December 20, 1987
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sega
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Nintendo Switch, Sega Saturn, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, RPG
The Sega Master System was a fantastic machine that featured some of the best-looking games of the 8-bit era, including its unique versions of Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe, and Asterix, among others. It was also home to one of the most visually impressive and most creative JRPGs available for a long time, with the first game in the Phantasy Star series.
Opting for science fiction and fantasy as opposed to pure fantasy like the Dragon Quest series, and boldly went against the grain in the 1980s by featuring a female protagonist. Phantasy Star has better animations, sprites, and more varied environments and terrain than both Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy on the NES. It also features first-person backdrops for combat and character interactions that match their locations in towns or on the field.
9 Chrono Trigger
A Timeless 16-Bit Masterpiece
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- SNES, PlayStation (Original), PC, Nintendo DS, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The SNES and the 16-bit era featured incredible JRPGs, but few matched the quality of Chrono Trigger. It showcases a timeless art style, unparalleled character animations for its time, and stunning, hand-crafted backdrops that still hold up today. Chrono Trigger was developed by a talented team including Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy; Yuji Horii, the creator of Dragon Quest; and the late Akira Toriyama, who was the artist behind both the Dragon Quest and Dragon Ball series.
With such impressive credentials, it's no surprise that Chrono Trigger is regarded as a special game. This is due to a combination of factors, including an engaging time-traveling story that takes players on an exciting adventure, an excellent battle system, and timeless visuals..
8 Final Fantasy 9
The Pinnacle Of Graphics On The PS1
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
Final Fantasy 7 set a high standard for cinematic JRPGs with its stunning cutscenes and intricately designed prerendered backgrounds that brought its world to life. Final Fantasy 8 raised the bar even further with more realistic character models and impressive cutscenes. However, Final Fantasy 9 stands out as the best-looking JRPG on the PS1.
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All three games are closely matched, but Final Fantasy 9 stands out with its timeless character models, which resemble a 3D throwback to the characters of the NES and SNES era. They are better animated with more moving parts than their predecessor. The game also features more detailed environments, which beautifully capture the imagination in its stunning medieval fantasy world of Gaia.
7 Final Fantasy 12
A JRPG That Pushed The Power Of The PS2
Final Fantasy 12
- Released
- October 31, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
Final Fantasy 12 was a divisive title at launch, with criticism aimed at the story being told from Vaan's perspective, as some story elements didn't resonate, and there was a lack of things to do beyond exploring and fighting.
However, it has come to be appreciated more with the release of Final Fantasy 12 - The Zodiac Age, a remaster that added quality-of-life improvements and even more detailed character models and backgrounds. It's a testament to the quality of the original version, as not much was needed to make it feel modern, as it was a massive game that pushed the PlayStation 2 to its limits. The cities and towns look incredible, the sound design is stunning, and it has some of the best voice work in the series.
6 Xenoblade Chronicles (2010)
An Expansive World With Incredible Graphics On The Wii
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
- Released
- May 29, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Soft
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Nintendo was never concerned about competing with the likes of the PS3 and the 360. Instead, it chose to create a more family-friendly experience with the Wii, which was technically similar to the Nintendo GameCube in terms of power and graphics. However, Nintendo always knew how to get the best out of their games with timeless graphics and sounds.
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This was no different with Xenoblade Chronicles, developed by Monolith Soft, a studio that seems to be an expert at achieving the impossible on Nintendo systems. Xenoblade looks fantastic on the Wii, featuring excellent character models and a stunning, open-world environment filled with mysteries and wonder. It undoubtedly appears even better in its definitive form, but the original 2010 version still holds up beautifully.
5 Lost Odyssey
A Stunning Update On A Classic Formula
Lost Odyssey
- Released
- February 12, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Mistwalker, Feelplus
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Lost Odyssey was developed by Mistwalker (with some development supported by Feelplus), a studio founded by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. The music was also composed by Final Fantasy veteran Nobuo Uematsu. For many JRPG fans, this game feels and plays like a traditional Final Fantasy. It has a more grounded and realistic look while still maintaining a fantasy, magical industry aesthetic, featuring beautifully crafted towns and character models.
The combat system, though turn-based, is reminiscent of the Shadow Hearts series, with the Aim Ring system being similar to the Judgment Ring. It adds timing and skill to the traditional combat system while its visuals provide a cinematic look and feel. Lost Odyssey holds up well decades later, but it wouldn't hurt to have a remaster across all platforms instead of the game being locked down on the Xbox 360.
4 Ni No Kuni - Wrath Of The White Witch
An Anime Brought To Life
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
- Released
- January 22, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Level 5
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
One of the visually striking games that will stand the test of time for generations to come is Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. This is because it uses a cartoon-like art style based on Studio Ghibli's unique and beautiful art style. Studio Ghibli produced the animated cutscenes for Ni No Kuni, which blended beautifully with the design of the game thanks to the cell-shading techniques used to give it that cartoon look and feel. Players assume the role of a young boy named Oliver. The game begins in his hometown, Motorville, which is visually impressive in its own right.
However, the adventure truly unfolds when Oliver is pulled into the fantasy realm of the "other world." Originally released for the PS3, this JRPG has been remastered for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and it remains one of the best-looking games from that era.
3 Final Fantasy 7 Remake
A Beautiful Reimagining Of A Classic
The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One eras feature many excellent JRPGs, including Final Fantasy 15 and Tales of Arise, but Final Fantasy 7 Remake stands out as the most visually impressive. The remake isn't a like-for-like retelling; it is more of a reimagining and alternative timeline that honors the legacy and essence of the original while taking the story in a new direction.
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From the recreation of the iconic opening with the train arriving in Midgar, which introduces Cloud, the visuals are stunning, and the character models effectively portray what fans of the original envisioned they would look like on modern hardware. Midgar is more fleshed out, emphasising the divide between the rich and the poor with the Sector 7 Slums and the Wall Market. Exploration is similar to the Yakuza series, featuring quirky NPCs going about their daily lives, engaging in conversation, or offering side quests.
2 Persona 5
A Timeless Modern Classic
Persona 5
- Released
- September 15, 2016
- ESRB
- m
It speaks volumes about a game's art design when it looks so good across three generations. Persona 5 was initially a PS3 and early PS4 game and was later remastered as Persona 5 Royal for the PS4 and PS5. The cell-shading and anime-style presentation give the game a timeless look and feel. Combine this with the stylish user interface and menus, an incredible battle system, and beautifully animated cutscenes to draw the player into its supernatural mystery story that draws on themes like identity, justice, and rebelling against the system.
The remaster, Persona 5 Royal, includes improved performance, loading times, extra characters, and story elements.
1 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
A Stunning Continuation With An Even Bigger And Beautiful World
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the second part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy and picks up where the last game left off. It captures that incredible feeling original fans had when they discovered the huge overworld to explore after leaving the confines of Midgar. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's semi-open world design is expansive, vibrant, and feels like it's teeming with life. The closest in terms of visual quality is Final Fantasy 16, which features incredible visuals and unforgettable Godzilla-sized boss battles.
However, its Game of Thrones- inspired aesthetic looks drab and colorless compared to Rebirth. Rebirth embodies the essence and aesthetics of a true Final Fantasy game, representing a nostalgic yet fresh return to the world of Final Fantasy 7.
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