Even if they're not as mainstream as other genres, the JRPG subgenre is one of the most enduring in the video game industry and continues to pad out its catalog, with the likes of Square Enix's The DioField Chronicle set to release later this month. At the same time, it can be an ittedly daunting genre for the uninitiated to get into.
They can occasionally get too complicated for their own good and are known for their extensive runtimes. However, from Pokémon to Dragon Quest, there are plenty of JRPGs that justify their lengths and gameplay mechanics that are equal parts -friendly and thoroughly engaging.
Pokémon (Franchise)
One of the easiest recommendations for JRPG newcomers is the mainline Pokémon franchise, as it's arguably the most mainstream and seamless to get into. They're generally lighthearted and fun adventures through colorful worlds with swathes of the series' titular and equally vibrant creatures to meet, catch, train, and battle.
Though the 7th and 8th generations debatably made an already easy franchise of games frustratingly so, the recent most anticipated JRPGs this year. And if players are able and willing to go for a more classic experience, the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS entries are some of the series' examples of the gold standard.
Final Fantasy VI
The most beginner-friendly Final Fantasy games.
It combines an emotionally powerful and character-driven story of revolution against tyranny in a setting that mixes high fantasy with steampunk, punctuated with easy-to-grasp combat and progression systems. Players will manage a party of characters with fixed job systems and traditional turn-based battles. Final Fantasy VI is now more accessible thanks to the Pixel Remaster.
Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 catapulted the popularity of Atlus' series internationally, achieving critical acclaim as one of the best JRPGs in recent years. The series' brand of anime art style has always been tantalizingly stylish, and it's on full display here as the vigilante Phantom Thieves ventures through the villains' mind dungeons.
Combat in Persona 5 is also turn-based but has an engaging pace to it that's excitingly fast-paced, along with the titular Persona system that's reminiscent of Pokémon's combat loop. Just as important, though, are the addictive social-life simulation elements that let players play out their daily lives. Persona 5 Royal is the expanded re-release with a plethora of added story content for players looking for an even longer haul.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Though the series has dropped the turn-based combat since XV, Final Fantasy VII Remake is a great entry point for franchise newcomers. The original PS1 game has been widely beloved for its combat system and heartfelt story, but Remake is a great reimagining in its own right as well as mechanically.
The game has the strongest real-time combat in the series so far, providing an exhilarating blend of cathartic action that still allows players to get strategic with the ing party . And though some fans didn't take to the supernatural twists from the original story, Final Fantasy VII Remake still managed to flesh out the cast of characters in this Midgar-focused first entry. It's a good time to dive into this budding series, as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is poised for a 2023 release.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
Aside from Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest is another pillar of Square Enix's JRPG catalog. It even predates the former, and it's the series that's stuck the closest to its JRPG roots today. Neither approach is wrong, but Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is perhaps one of the best beginner-friendly choices for fans that want a modern JRPG with streamlined mechanics that are still reminiscent of its classical days.
Like others, DQXI features a turn-based combat system that's straightforward to pick up alongside its colorful cast of party . Likewise, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's signature art style is a beautiful complement to this sweeping high fantasy world and story.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
For those that want to delve into the tactical JRPG space, developer Intelligent Systems' Three Houses on the Switch is the new strongest starting point for prospective fans.
Wrapped in a rich anime-themed high fantasy setting filled with a revolving cast of diverse characters, political intrigue, and branching storylines, players will orchestrate engaging strategic turn-based battles across grid-like battlefields. In addition to the tactical core of the gameplay loop, it also takes a page from Persona in adding a life-sim element to develop the bonds between the protagonist and their comrades, which translates into enhanced combat prowess.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Though some of the more recent entries in the series have unfortunately diluted the games' RPG features, role-playing spin on the overall Mario franchise. Bolstered by a charming paper-themed aesthetic, players take on the role of Mario and manage a party of ing characters in turn-based combat that cleverly blends quick-time button presses and other timing mechanics.
The Thousand-Year Door is often acclaimed as the best in the series, though the Nintendo 64 original was a strong debut as well. Unfortunately, the former is still confined to the GameCube.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin
While Capcom's hit Monster Hunter franchise is predominantly known for its action RPG mainline games, the more traditional JRPG spin-off Stories series has proven to be a worthwhile change of pace. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin built on the solid foundation of its 3DS predecessor, serving as an impressive monster-collecting alternative to the Pokémon series.
Playing as the descendant of the legendary Rider from the first game, Red is entrusted with an egg of the endangered Rathalos, as a mysterious phenomenon that's enraging wild monsters ravages the land. As one would expect in such a spinoff, players can tame, train, and battle alongside their wild monsters in turn-based combat with a rock-paper-scissors-like type advantage system.
Octopath Traveler
When Octopath Traveler launched in 2018, it seemed to be a revitalization of the nostalgia behind the classic 16-bit era of JRPGs. Even for genre newcomers, the stunning lighting system, gorgeous pixel art, and tasteful blend of 2D and 3D assets in the game are easy to appreciate.
The overarching narrative follows the stories of eight individual characters that can be played in different orders. It's an art direction that's simultaneously a loving homage and distinctive, and the gameplay itself offers a good deal of flexibility depending on player preference.
Chrono Trigger
Lauded as one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, Chrono Trigger proved to be a milestone and one of the most influential entries in the dense library of the subgenre. The game carries the essence of what makes an excellent JRPG that also stands on its own, with a sprawling story blending high fantasy with sci-fi elements, a wide cast of endearing characters once again backed by Toriyama's art, and a combat system that's both approachable and deep enough to grip beginners and veterans alike.
Similarly, the game features an impressive amount of side quest content to keep players as immersed as they want to be. Thankfully, Chrono Trigger hasn't been lost to time since being ported in the modern age to PC and mobile platforms.
