Windows what is the best jrpg game you ever played before ?

[qw90700]

Ok boss I'll pay more attention !!!

It's "Big Boss™" to you!!! lol

 

[dropsmegamega]

Nocturne on PS2 is my favorite, but for a beginner I'd recommend Final Fantasy IX. It's fun, has plenty of side stuff, has no grinding nor ridiculous random encounter rate but still has some degree of challenge and while its fairly linear it doesn't feel like one long corridor.

 

[Big Finger Jim]

Going purely off turn based, Yakuza 7/8 and probably Persona 4.

 

[Akiba]

I really wanna experience this genre but idk what game to start with.

How old are you?

 

[solidofrage]

Best JRPG's.. Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X. I have played others, like FF III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and XII.. Dragon Quest VII, VIII, IX, XI... Tales of Phantasia and many more and maybe others as a mechanics/history are better, but for starting FFX I think is the best... and it has one of the best post-games I've played at least to it's own generation. Maybe it's not a typical opinion but FFX is my favorite just because it's beautiful.

 

[squarezero]

I think for a newcomer would be good to start with something more modern to get the feel for the genre with all the QoL things it gathered over time. I know its a retro forum but hear me out. I played a lot of JRPGs (mostly old), despite not having them as a kid so I guess I was pretty new to the genre myself, and the key word here is "played" because, while enjoying my time with them, I never finish them. The only ones I actually beaten were Tales of Berseria and Persona 5 (and Parasite Eve if it counts as a JRPG). Therefore I recommend starting with Persona 5 even though it seems like a basic beach choice (believe me, I hate how Atlus been milking it dry for years now). Or maybe try Dragon Quest XI that I almost finished but got distracted by something else. Its a perfect blend of oldschool and modern in one very cool package. I really enjoyed it overall.

I agree in principle, and Tale of Berseria, Persona 5, and Parasite Eve are all great games and easy recommendations. But for someone who is looking to get a more iconic JRPG experience, older games like ChronoTrigger, Grandia 1, Lunar Silver Star Story (the PSP version), and any Final Fantasy between 6 and 12 (inclusive) are not that far a stretch. As far as modern games (or at least older games that have been updated), I personally prefer Persona 4 Golden over Persona 5, and I wouldn't overlook retro-inspired titles like Octopath Traveler, Fantasian, Bravely Default, and indies like Sea of Stars and Chain of Echoes. And you could, of course, go full modern with something like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which, for all its AAA trappings, is very much a (French made) JRPG.

To the OP, my only advice about getting started in the genre is not to be afraid to put a game down if it's not grabbing you. There are plenty of titles to choose from, and once you're more familiar with the genre, you can always go back to that game you quit – it could well become a favorite. Enjoy!

 

[CritDex]

As many said - Chrono Trigger. It's a game that is very friendly and don't make you read lots of text or use sophisticated strategies to beat it. And trust me, i played many of them. Another option is Grandia 2 - if you want a more mature story compared to Chrono, or Final Fantasy VI. Another recommendation from me is Breath of Fire IV - very great story and music.

 

[MSBigSisterComplex]

Chrono trigger, FF5 and others pretty well known would be an easy answer (this including the SMT his spinoff series), so, with easy choices cast asides, I guess it would be...

Fate/Extra​

getting advantage for trying to know more about your enemy is something that I absolute love, tho I don't like how you unlock the noble phantasm, even if it's a good way to tie the story with the mechanics.

The Adventure of Hourai High School​

The characters are in the fine line of being weirds to be absolutely mads, which is kinda perfect considering that the graphics is like Metal Max and Mother.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: The 7th Stand User​

Ok, with this one, I'm cheating. It may be a JRPG, but isn't official, is a fangame. But boy, oh boy, is so damn good. The fact that there's a good nomber of original stands for the protagonist (which you can name and select an appareance of a pre-made ones) and the battle system is, muah, perfect.

Sailor Moon: Another Story​

Tbh, I didn't play this that much, but I love Mahou Shoujo, so be sure I'll be playing it today a lot lol

The Madou Monogatari Series​

Well, this is for the same exact reason, but I did actually beat some of the games of this saga. I don't suffer from Motion Sickness, but even so, the movement makes my eyes hurt a little. Even so, totally worth if you're searching games to fill that hole in your heart that a not-so-mahou shoujo series did, if you want something funny but not so violent or gross to play with your nephew/niece (BE CAREFUL, the first version of the two/three games from the Madou Monogatari did actually have some pretty gruesome gore, so pay attention to which version you're actually downloading), or if you like the Puyo Puyo Series.

Metal Max​

Well, this is the last one I can think of, and is kinda cheating too, because it's well known. But the "structure" of this game is kinda despised or/and forgotten.

If you don't mind a more inmersive experience at the cost of some unfair events and fights, then this (and dwarf fortress, go play dwarf fortress) is for you. Even at the beginning you gotta grind a bit, which if you like it as much as I do, your (probably fried) neuroreceptors will have a good time seeing how numbers get big and you kill more awful creatures that their only sin is to try to live in a world where you exist(such a dumbass lmao), and farming the lvl and stats of some people that are an excuse of a friend, and more a new vessel or slave to unleash the inner anger of the god of chaos that you will incarnate.

Also, I like carr, carr funny, can shoot inside a carr
carr

Pium pium, carr.

 

[χKai]

It's "Big Boss™" to you!!! lol

 

[qw90700]

Metal Max​

Well, this is the last one I can think of, and is kinda cheating too, because it's well known. But the "structure" of this game is kinda despised or/and forgotten.

Well at least people may have no idea of how great Metal Max 3 can be I guess.

 

[cheepsheeps567]

FINAL FANTASY 10

 

[Graw]

My favourites are
Final Fantasy V: best jrpg job system

Dragon Quest VI: second best jrpg job system and really fun exploration in a fairy tale world

Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song: super cool free event system that reminds me of Majora's Mask's 3 day system and a very in depth character system.

Lufia 2: best jrpg dungeons similar to legend of Zelda style dungeons also a pretty good bonus roguelike mode.

Wild Arms: also has puzzle style dungeons but cowboy themed.

 

[job32]

Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy VI
Baldur’s Gate
Final Fantasy VII Original
Diablo
Gothic
I have a lot more but that's enough for now.

Are Baldur's Gate and Diablo considered Jrpg's? Great games for their time, eitherway.

FF6 & FF7, I would say. Not very original, but, there you go.

 

[MSBigSisterComplex]

Well at least people may have no idea of how great Metal Max 3 can be I guess.

Metal max is in my list, but i'm banning myself from playing eng-patched games. I want to force me to play them in japanese so I can improve my understanding of the language.

The bad side of that is, now it takes me the double of time what I would normally need to end a game in english, spanish or portuguese Uu

 

[Crashbandi]

Lunar Silver Star Story (the PSP version),

What did you prefer in the PSP version over the PS1? I love complete and never felt the need to play through Silver Star Harmony

Post automatically merged: Jul 13, 2025

Metal max is in my list, but i'm banning myself from playing eng-patched games. I want to force me to play them in japanese so I can improve my understanding of the language.

The bad side of that is, now it takes me the double of time what I would normally need to end a game in english, spanish or portuguese Uu

If you're looking for JRPGs that don't have English patches the DS version of Xenosaga might be for you. The only translating done is for the menus and some items.

 

[What's His Face]

I really wanna experience this genre but idk what game to start with.

Note: I'm a huge fan of the Japanese style turn-based RPGs, so that is (mostly) what you're gonna get.

Legend of the Ghost Lion - NES
Phantasy Star - Master System
Final Fantasy Legend II - Game Boy
Phantasy Star IV - Genesis
Chrono Trigger - SNES
Defenders of Oasis - Game Gear
Dragon Warrior III - GBC
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue - SEGA-CD
Suikoden II - Playstation (after MUCH deliberation...)
Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean - Saturn
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber - N64
Skies of Arcadia - Dreamcast
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES - PS2 (after MUCH deliberation...)
Golden Sun: The Lost Age - GBA
Dark Arms - NGPC
Tales of Symphonia - GameCube
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Xbox
Xenoblade Chronicles - Wii
Lost Odyssey - X360
Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel - PS3 (after MUCH deliberation...)
Dragon Quest IV (w/Party Chat mod) - DS
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky - PSP
Persona 5 Royal - PS4 (after MUCH deliberation...)
Octopath Traveler - XBOne
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology - 3DS
Persona 4 Golden - VITA
Xenoblade Chronicles X - Wii U
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age DE - Switch (after MUCH deliberation...)
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - PS5
Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed - DLC

 

[qw90700]

Metal max is in my list, but i'm banning myself from playing eng-patched games. I want to force me to play them in japanese so I can improve my understanding of the language.

The bad side of that is, now it takes me the double of time what I would normally need to end a game in english, spanish or portuguese Uu

I especially feel so even about official English translation of Persona games because they can be like translator wanted to write their own story lol. They even change sentences when things are important and in Persona games even one word difference about a person and situation can be understood so differently when this is the series what words means matters the most than most of the games.

 

[MSBigSisterComplex]

I especially feel so even about official English translation of Persona games because they can be like translator wanted to write their own story lol. They even change sentences when things are important and in Persona games even one word difference about a person and situation can be understood so differently when this is the series what words means matters the most than most of the games.

... Now I feel that I need to replay them, I played Persona 1, 2, 3, and 4 in English...

Thanks localizators, i'm so glad most of them are losing their job rn

 

[qw90700]

... Now I feel that I need to replay them, I played Persona 1, 2, 3, and 4 in English...

Thanks localizators, i'm so glad most of them are losing their job rn

I wouldn't wanna say "Google translate translation would be better" but that's a fact especially because what's written is nothing like the original text at all. After first playing Japanese versions and then English version I was like "how could you translate it so wrongly" because you gotta don't care about text and wanna write your own story at that point lol.

 

[Netra]

Yakuza like a Dragon, Final Fantasy 9, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XII zodiac age.
Baten Kaitos, a great jrpg for the NGC.
Visions and Trails of mana if you want to play a remake from the ones in the SNES
Monster hunter stories.
Valkyria Chronicles I and IV are great and unique games, try them when you can.
Code vein, a little gooner game but is great, just play it with the door closed.

 

[qw90700]

Code vein

Then gotta mention Freedom Wars and God Eater series.

BTW Freedom Wars is in my top 10 video games list. I love the game that much.

 

[KaiserMk7]

If we're talking less about bests at this point and more about good introductory points, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest isn't terrible for learning the absolute basics.

 

[tombola]

There are so many old but good rpg games on all dusty consoles,
You already know the most famous ones, but some have such a good quality of fun and only reveal themselves when you have played them long enough.

This game
"Tear Ring Saga: Yutona Eiyuu Senki"
Is a real addictive game.
I love the gameplay and the very good music.

If you like strategy games, you should invest here.

Tear Ring Saga: Yutona Eiyuu Senki (English Patched) PSX ISO – RGT Repository

Tear Ring Saga: Yutona Eiyuu Senki (English Patched) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-03177. Languages: English Patched. For Sony PlayStation.

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