Summary
Animeis now everywhere, but it was once a niche fandom in the West. Thanks to programming blocks like Toonami in the 90s,Adult Swim in the 2000s, and tons of streaming services since then, it has become easier for more people to get into anime. This also means that anime has influenced more creators, such as those making JRPGs.
TheStar OceanandTales ofseries have long been influenced by anime, dating back to their inception in the 90s. However, new games likeGenshin ImpactandInfinity Nikkiare also emerging. It’s great for anime fans, but it’s not for those who still don’t like the medium, even though it’s all-encompassing. So,for those who are sick of anime or who could never get into it to being with, these JRPGs aren’t as heavily influenced by Japanese animation. The following selections will involve JRPGs that are easy to play on modern consoles through standard editions, remasters, ports, or backwards compatibility programs.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesiais a great Metroidvania with RPG elements that is easy to pick up and play by picking up theCastlevania Dominus Collection. Unlike the two otherCastlevaniagames on the DS, this one reverted back to classicCastlevaniadesigns that were more gothic instead of anime.
Designs aside, it’s just a really good 2D action JRPG. Fighting monsters and gaining their abilities, exploring multiple intricate levels, and leveling up all make this game a must-play, even among the laudedCastlevaniaseries.
Most Vanillaware gameshave anime-like designs, butDragon’s Crownis a bit more toned down. They attempted to make a 2D action JRPG with multiplayer, but one that was also like an old-schoolDungeons & Dragonscampaign.
Players choose from six character classes, like Fighter or Sorceress, and go into dungeons alone or with friends. There’s not much story overall, so even if the character designs do look too much like medieval anime characters, at least it’s not over the top or full of tropes like an anime might be.
Most fans of Soulslikes probably don’tconsider FromSoftware gamesto be JRPGs, but they technically are.Elden Ringis without a doubt the most popular entry in both the genre and the Soulsborne series, with a strong open-world to explore that is steeped in lore if players are interested in digging into it.
It’s a gothic horror action JRPG thatGame of Thronesauthor George R. R. Martin helped establish in a global crossover. Even without GRRM’s involvement, this would have been a solid recommendation because Soulslike games are kind of the new face of JRPGs at the moment, andElden Ringstands as the pinnacle of the genre.
Speaking ofGame of Thrones,Final Fantasy 16was designed with that series in mind. It’s a mature story that centers on the hero, Clive, in the middle of a trail of revenge while warring kingdoms—including his own—vie for world domination.
It’s definitely one of thedarkestFinal Fantasygames in the series, but it’s definitely not boring, as the action is best-in-class. Clive’s standard gameplay is solid, with plenty of sword skills and magic to play with, but this game really sings when the Eikons are duking it out in the Kaiju-like boss battles that are a spectacle to behold.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthis the eighth main game intheYakuzaseriesand the second one that features turn-based gameplay with classes instead of action-based combat. With that said, it’s a perfectly good place to jump into the series. It’s the first entry that directly takes place outside of Japan, and in Hawaii, no less.
While the characters are silly and dramatic, like something out of an anime, they’re also realistic in their designs. It’s kind of like the perfect bridge for JRPG fans who miss the SNES and PS1 days of turn-based games but with a modern control scheme and setting.
Octopath Traveler 2looks and plays like an old-school turn-based SNES JRPG, but it is modern, released in 2023. The art style is referred to asHD-2D by Square Enix, resulting in a pleasing blend of old-school art and new-school animation. Players can choose one of eight characters to begin with, and then recruit the other seven along the way.
The stories for each character are self-contained, and players don’t even have to finish them all if they don’t want to. That’s one of the nicest things aboutOctopath Traveler 2, which is also true of its equally good predecessor.
Super Mario RPGis a Switch remake of the SNES game,Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, which wasMario’s first RPG. Both versions hold up, but the remake is easier to play, and it also runs well on the Switch 2.
There are some typical zany JRPG characters, such as Geno, Booster, and Valentina, but overall, it doesn’t feel like a traditional JRPG. Squaresoft, makers of the SNES original, managed to effectively blend Mario’s platforming skills with a turn-based game, thanks to the more active combat, and that is carried over seamlessly to the remake.
Triangle Strategyis also an HD-2D game, and it’s a good recommendation for fans of tactical JRPGs. It also has someGame of Thronesinfluence, as it features a ruling house that is caught in the middle of several nations warring over salt.
Players can periodically choose who to side with, which will change the course of the story. The choices aren’t easy either, as there’s no clear good or evil side to follow. With thoughtful choices and tactical gameplay, there’s a reason to replay this game over and over again.
