Summary
- Experimental JRPGs challenge norms and innovate gameplay like Final Fantasy 4's ATB system.
- Games like Chrono Trigger and Live a Live took risks with non-linear storytelling.
- Titles like EarthBound and The Last Remnant feature unique aspects like mundane settings and complex combat.
Japanese role-playing games continue to wow players with their presentation, stories, and combat. Players love controlling a band of adventurers on an epic adventure where they must eventually take out a divine being to save the world.
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While most JRPGs tend to follow a template that has been established by previous titles in the series, the same can't be said for some of the more experimental titles in the genre. These games have done a great job of trying to innovate, even if the end result hasn't been exactly what fans expected.
Games will be ranked based on the degree of experimentation present in these titles.
8 Final Fantasy 4
The Experimental ATB Battle System Was Revolutionary Back In The Day
Final Fantasy 4
- Released
- July 19, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Active Time Battle system may be a genre staple at this point, but there was a time when the idea of waiting for a bar to fill for one's turn was alien. This is why Final Fantasy 4 deserves all its plaudits for experimenting with this battle system for the first time.
It helped make battles more engaging than ever before as players were encouraged to make decisions quickly. It was a huge hit and was replicated in future Final Fantasy games along with some other JRPGs too.
7 Chrono Trigger
Experiments Include The Lack Of Battle Screens, Time Travel, Being Able To Fight Lavos At Any Time, And New Game+
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- SNES, PlayStation (Original), PC, Nintendo DS, Android, iOS
A huge reason why Chrono Trigger is hailed by many as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made is because of the sheer volume of risks this title took. All of them ended up paying off, with players loving how revolutionary this title felt back in the day.
The lack of battle screen transitions helped combat flow smoothly, traveling across different timelines enhanced the game's non-linear design, and players could battle Lavos at any time after a certain point in the story to achieve one of many endings. Along with this, Chrono Trigger was the first game to experiment with a New Game+ mode, which sparked a revolution in the video game industry.
6 Live A Live
The Different Scenarios Were So Experimental That SquareSoft Didn't Even Think About A Western Release
Live A Live
- Released
- September 2, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
Live a Live is an excellent JRPG that was finally released in the West courtesy of an HD-2D remake many decades after its original launch. SquareSoft decided not to pour any money into an English localization back in the day because of this title's experimental approach to storytelling.
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Instead of a story with a defined start and end point, players could tackle one of six scenarios, all of which featured a different protagonist along with a villain who was related to the Demon Lord Odio. This unlocked another scenario that detailed Odio's descent into darkness coupled with a final story arc where the heroes either banded together to save the day, or Odio conquered his enemies and achieved his nefarious goal.
5 EarthBound
An Anti-JRPG That Went Against The Norm
Earthbound
- Released
- June 5, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Crude Humor
- Developer(s)
- HAL Laboratory, Ape Inc.
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- SNES, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
The marketing campaign for EarthBound was enough to let fans know of its experimental nature, with these statements outright telling fans that the game sucked. This worked against the anti-JRPG's sales, which is a shame since many fans were robbed of an incredible role-playing experience that continues to inspire developers.
EarthBound is a one-of-a-kind JRPG that bucks every trend prevalent in the genre. The game takes place in a mundane setting where everyday creatures are the enemies that players face, with the threat of Giygas being the only traditional element in what is otherwise a unique experience that more fans should check out for themselves.
4 The World Ends With You
The Experimental Combat System Made The Most Of The DS' Dual Screen Setup
The World Ends With You
- Released
- July 27, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS, Switch, Android, iOS
Players who want to check out one of the most stylish JRPGs ever made will find The World Ends With You to be right up their alley. Neku's unwilling participation in the twisted games he's stuck in sets the stage for a compelling plot with several twists and turns.
The most experimental area of The World Ends With You stems from a combat system that makes the most of the Nintendo DS. Neku and his partner occupied a screen each when battle commenced, with players using a mix of touch gestures and button inputs to obliterate their foes in chaotic encounters.
3 Final Fantasy 13
One Of The Most Experimental Entries In The Series That Split Fan Opinion Down The Middle
Final Fantasy 13
- Released
- March 9, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Final Fantasy 13 marked a major departure from previous norms in the series, which is saying something given how different the twelfth mainline entry was. While the game looks gorgeous to this day, the combat and narrative structure continue to split fan opinion down the middle.
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Players had to master Paradigm Shifts and employ attacks wisely in an experimental combat system that made for some challenging bosses. Along with this, the story structure was so offbeat that players couldn't even customize the party or its leader until they'd made substantial progress, which was completely unlike previous Final Fantasy games.
2 The Last Remnant
A Combat System So Ludicrously Complicated That Fans Will Be Left Reeling As They Try To Educate Themselves
The Last Remnant
- Released
- November 20, 2008
- ESRB
- M For Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
A game so complicated that most fans will have no idea how to engage with the combat system until they go through endless tutorials, The Last Remnant prides itself on its experimental nature. Players controlled a group of units that could use positional advantage and special abilities to overpower the opposition.
This complicated combat system features so many facets that it could make one's head reel from all the explanations they needed to understand. Even then, it's possible to stumble on one of the many major difficulty spikes in the game as players struggle to master the game's mechanics.
1 Resonance Of Fate
The Gun-Fu Turn-Based Combat Is Flashy, Challenging, And Wholly Unique
Resonance Of Fate
- Released
- January 28, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Tri-Ace
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Fantasy, Narrative
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PC
Players who want to check out a stylish and experimental JRPG will love what Resonance of Fate brings to the table. From the flamboyant combat to the hex-based exploration, Resonance of Fate excels in throwing curveballs at players over and over again.
All of this is compounded by a weird and eccentric story that can be hard to wrap one's head around. However, once players spend hours in the Coliseum poring over the numerous tutorials, they should have a decent grasp of the combat system to help them take on the many powerful bosses that stand in their way.
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