Summary
- Final Fantasy remains king of the genre, but many upcoming JRPGs could challenge its crown in 2025 and 2026.
- Persona 4 Revival, Lost Hellden, and SacriFire promise bold new mechanics, nostalgia, and inventive combat systems.
- Indie gems like Forge of the Fae and Legends of Astravia are seeking to revive the charm of the classic 16‑bit era.
Final Fantasy is the undisputed king of the JRPG genre. Not only has the series single-handedly popularized the genre (especially in the West), but it’s also quite obviously not going away anytime soon. However, sometimes Square Enix takes way too long to release a new entry in this revolutionary franchise, so JRPG fans have inevitably gotten impatient and may be looking for a replacement while they wait.
Fortunately for them, there are many JRPGs currently in development that look wonderful and have the potential to become Final Fantasy’s next big competitor. The last third of 2025 and the first half of 2026 will be filled to the brim with many promising releases in this beloved genre, with the following games being the most interesting examples that gamers should keep on their radar.
Persona 4 Revival
One Of Final Fantasy's Main Competitors Is Coming Back With A Big Swing
Persona 4 Revival
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Simulation, Adventure
The Persona franchise in its entirety is arguably already big enough to go toe-to-toe against Final Fantasy, with modern titles like Persona 5 and Persona 3 Reload standing two of the best modern JRPG experiences. However, Persona 4 is often considered the best game in the series, and it's getting a full-on remake in the near future.
Not much has been revealed about Persona 4 Revival so far, but the few images and videos Atlus has released look absolutely gorgeous. If this remake keeps everything that made the original version so special, but improves the graphical quality and adds unique and interesting new content, it has the potential to become one of the best JRPGs of this generation, and the Persona series might finally take Final Fantasy’s place as the king of the genre as a result.
The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
Square Enix’s Brand-New HD-2D JRPG
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Asano, Square Enix, Clay Tech Works
Just because Square Enix is most likely already working on the next mainline Final Fantasy entry, that doesn’t mean that one of its other teams can’t simultaneously work on another JRPG series. The company recently revealed a brand-new HD-2D game titled The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, which looks just as beautiful as other JRPGs made in this same style, such as Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy.
Needless to say, the presentation of The Adventures of Elliot is absolutely breathtaking, and it’s reminiscent of old-school Final Fantasy titles. Gameplay-wise, this is an action RPG with a combat system that feels like a combination of 2D Legend of Zelda entries and Secret of Mana, and it has more than enough strategy that prevents it from feeling mindless. The Adventures of Elliot currently has a demo available on Nintendo Switch 2, so gamers who are interested should definitely give it a try.
Lost Hellden
A Colorful JRPG That Pays Homage To The PS1 Era
- Release Date: 2026
- Platforms: PlatStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X & S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: Artisan Studios
Lost Hellden, Artisan Studios’ brand-new JRPG, was announced a long time ago, but its recent Gamescom 2025 trailer took the entire gaming community by storm. With a promising gameplay style that combines real-time action with turn-based combat and brilliant pre-rendered backgrounds, this game looks like a giant love letter to Final Fantasy 7 and other beloved JRPGs from the PS1 generation.
The presentation of Lost Hellden, from its colorful art style to the excellent music utilized in all of its trailers (made by legendary composer Hitoshi Sakimoto) is also quite impressive and has helped this new game stand out even further. Lost Hellden is currently set to release sometime in 2026, but the moment it comes out, JRPG enthusiasts will most likely fall in love with it, especially those who are nostalgic for old 3D JRPGs from the 90s.
Quartet
The Perfect Mix Of Final Fantasy And Dragon Quest
- Release Date: August 26, 2025
- Platforms: PC
- Developer: Something Classic Games LLC
Sometimes, JRPG fans just want something simple yet effective that will remind them of the old-school titles that made them fall in love with the genre in the first place. Quartet is exactly that, as it features pretty much everything one would expect from a retro 16-bit JRPG.
Government conspiracies, a captivating fantasy world, gorgeous pixel art, airship segments inspired by the SNES' Mode 7, and even a traditional turn-based combat system that strikes the perfect balance between Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest; it's all here. Quartet will definitely be a hit with fans of JRPGs, and, unlike most other games on this list, they won’t have to wait much longer to try it out, as it is set to release in August 2025.
Forge Of The Fae
An Indie JRPG With Beautiful Sprite Work
- Release Date: TBA
- Platforms: PlatStation 5, Xbox Series X & S, Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS, Linux
- Developer: Datadyne LLC
It’s important to remember that Final Fantasy is not popular just because of its most recent 3D AAA entries, but also because of the old-school 2D games that laid the foundation for the JRPG genre. Many developers (both mainstream and independent) have tried to replicate this type of game, and Forge of the Fae is an upcoming project that seems like it’ll recapture that old-school magic.
Set in a fascinating world based on Celtic folklore, Forge of the Fae is an indie JRPG with turn-based combat, classic genre mechanics, and a story that is shaped by the player’s decisions. However, the most notorious aspect of this upcoming game is its absolutely incredible presentation, made with incredibly detailed and colorful pixel art that makes it look a lot like classic JRPGs from the 16-bit era.
Legends Of Astravia
Another Promising Indie Title Inspired By Classic 16-Bit JRPGs
- Release Date: 2026
- Platforms: PC
- Developer: Studio Alemni
Forge of the Fae is not the only upcoming indie JRPG that’ll pay homage to classics of the genre; Legends of Astravia is yet another independent project currently in development that checks all those same boxes. This game’s biggest selling point is its turn-based combat system, with a 2D perspective that makes it look a lot like a classic Final Fantasy title, but with a dynamic time mechanic that will certainly keep things interesting.
Overworld exploration is also a big part of Legends of Astravia, with multiple interesting dungeons to explore and many NPCs to meet and interact with. This game is set to enter Steam Early Access in the near future, meaning that its developers will be able to use player feedback to polish it and turn it into an even better experience.
SacriFire
An Inventive New JRPG With A Creative Combat System
- Release Date: Q1 2026
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: Pixelated Milk
SacriFire already looks like a promising new JRPG from the get-go, with a beautiful art style that combines colorful and detailed 2D sprites with ambitious 3D environments, a captivating soundtrack composed by the legendary Motoi Sakuraba, and even some surprisingly solid voice acting.
However, the element that sets SacriFire apart from other upcoming JRPGs is its innovative combat system. It's a combination of real-time and turn-based combat, but it has a unique hook: time only moves at the same time as the player (similar to Superhot), which leads to dynamic encounters and intense decision-making. If the developers pull this mechanic off, SacriFire may become one of the best new IPs in the genre.
Starbites
Turn-Based Battles With Giant Mechas
- Release Date: 2026
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: IKINAGAMES
Even though this is arguably one of the franchise’s most controversial aspects, Final Fantasy does often feature sci-fi elements, including robots, mechas, cyborgs, and more. Therefore, players who enjoy that aspect of the franchise will certainly want to pay attention to Starbites, a traditional turn-based JRPG with a unique sci-fi twist that's currently in development.
Starbites takes place in the aftermath of a devastating space war, where the main party of playable characters has to explore a colorful and fascinating world in order to gather materials, upgrade their mechas, and face increasingly powerful enemies. The concept is already promising in and of itself, but the fact that the battles are completely turn-based and feature mechanics that add depth to the gameplay makes this game perfect for longtime Final Fantasy fans. It’s a real shame that Starbites is currently flying under most people’s radar, because it looks really fun, and it definitely has the potential to become one of the biggest JRPGs of 2026.
7 Best JRPGs You’ve Probably Never Heard of, Ranked
Here are some of the best JRPGs that might have flown under the radar, but they're still worth seeking out and playing for fans of the genre.