Summary
JRPGs are renowned for their expansive, engaging use of storytelling. With many avenues for telling unique tales in fantasy, sci-fi, or contemporary worlds, it’s no surprise that the JRPG is one of the most enduring and popular genres today among casual and dedicated gaming fans. But as is the case for any genre that’s been around for decades, JRPGs have accrued their fair share of tropes, from common story beats to macguffins, to similar character archetypes across different games.
What is not so cliché in the JRPG scene is the concept of base building,usually found in survivalor sandbox titles. Whether it’s managing a household, a castle, or even an entire city, only a few JRPG titles let players divert away from the main story - or incorporate into the main story - an intricate base-building system that allows players to better personalize their space within the world. These titles in particular are all excellent games with excellent base-building mechanics included.
A classic gem among JRPGs,Suikoden 2revolves around Dunan Castle, which players can steadily upgrade throughout tiers as the game goes on. Each tier brings new facilities and character opportunities, making it an incredibly exciting aspect of an already fantastic game.
An HD remake of both the first and second title in the series is in the works for next year, and JRPG fans with a love of good base building and high-quality titles, in general, should keep an eye on these upcoming games.
The widely praisedDragon Quest Builders 2stands asa direct enhancementin almost every way compared to the original title, providing a larger world with more to do inside it, as well as quality-of-life features like fast travel.
For people who find sandbox games likeMinecraftto be aimless,Dragon Quest Builders 2always has some new goal to work toward. For people who find JRPGs too restrictive or linear, there’s plenty of time to take a break from the plot and build to your heart’s content.
TheNi No Kuniseries of games has enthralled players and JRPG fans over both of its titles now, with the second game including incredible base-building components that let players realize the settlement of their dreams.
The stunning art directionof this title will compel players to build up their village purely to see its splendor, but the main reason behind upgrading a village is for the helpful facilities that come along with a larger settlement.
The Alliance Aliveis an engaging and reliably compelling JRPG that rewards players who can manageits sheer difficulty. Uniting humans against an otherworldly threat and the Daemons that have come to lord over the world is made much easier by establishing guildhalls.
Each guild has a certain set of bonuses, which are further improved by recruiting more guildmates to each organization and establishing guildhalls with guildmasters to look over them. These effects can damage enemies in combat or give players access to the best spells and gear in the game.
Dark Cloud 2has players utilizing a novel combination of tools at their disposal to adventure and fight. The protagonist, Max, uses a large wrench for damage dealing and can board a large mech to further enhance his attacks.
Rebuilding the world means using geostones to create villages and their facilities, an exciting and engaging element of base building on top of the dungeon diving in this excellent JRPG gem.
6Etrian Mystery Dungeon
Build Life-Saving Base Camps
With theEtrian Odyssey Origins Collectionon the Switch rekindling many players' love of this in-depth dungeon delver series, those looking to find the more off-kilter entries in this collection of titles won’t have to look much further thanEtrian Mystery Dungeon.
The long and branching mystery dungeons in this game can be made easier with the building of fortresses that prevent enemies from spawning in certain rooms and allow players to get a better idea of the overall dungeon map.
The recently releasedRomancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Sevenhas gripped players and allowed new and returning fans to explore Avalon like never before. Managing the kingdom is an essential component of this title. Players can build certain structures, such as blacksmiths or gardens, that provide a unique benefit in their own right as well as increase the development of the player’s empire.
Players unfamiliar with howSaGadiverts from JRPG norms will be in for a treat while returning players will find the gameplay as faithful as ever - building up Avalon into a grand capital is easily one of the most compelling base-building features available in JRPGs today.
The long-runningYsserieshas iterated on its overall gameplay philosophy with every title, andYs 8brought particular focus onto settlement building features that were praised by many new and returning fans.
Like other titles on this list, the main draw of upgrading the village is that it provides more avenues for new NPCs to move in and gives the player bonuses to their combat and exploration abilities. Recruiting castaways that arrive on the island this village is based on rewards players with a host of new establishments, like lodges or farms, that give players new ways to interact with their settlement.
