Most people are in for a long ride whenthey decide to start a JRPG. The genre is notorious for featuring games that are as lengthy as they come. They take players on a grand adventure that starts from humble beginnings before players eventually go on to fight a version of God with a ragtag group of adventures who have formed strong bonds over the course of the game. To execute such a journey, it’s easy to see why these games are lengthy and feature moments of levity before moving on to the next action-packed set piece.
This may make it easy to assume that there isn’t any JRPG that doesn’t last for dozens and hundreds of hours, but the truth is that some JRPGs manage to emulate a lot of what makes this genre special without extending the adventure to ridiculous lengths. In fact, some people may argue that these games are too short for their own good, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on what players want.
The World Ends with Youis one of the most stylish JRPGs that players can get their hands on. Players control Neku, an amnesia-ridden character forced into a twisted game where he teams up with numerous allies to try and understand what’s going on. Thesetting of modern-day Shibuyais a treat to explore, making this adventure a unique and captivating experience that is rife with style.
People who get invested in the story ofThe World Ends with Youmay be disappointed when the game nears its end in just under twenty hours. To be fair, the original game was longer, and theFinal Remixadds enough QoL changes and new additions to ensure that players can go through the game at a faster pace while also enjoying some extra additions.
Phantasy Staris one of the most underrated JRPG franchises that more fans should check out. The original game can be a bit of a task to get through given the dated nature of this title, but players who enjoy the retro trappings of this title or don’t mind some dated aspects will have a great time going throughthis sci-fi fantasy JRPGthat is more revolutionary than people give it credit for. Even now, the visuals look incredible and were one of the major reasons why this title was such a hit on the Master System.
It’s a shame that the debut of one of the most legendary JRPG franchises of all time was overshadowed by the debut of a legendary series since players who give this game a shot will find a lot to love aboutPhantasy Star’s first outing. In fact, the game is such a blast to play through that most players would be dejected to reach the end of this title in no time at all, which should ideally encourage them to squeeze out as much playtime from this title as possible by exploring all the side content it has to offer.
Final Fantasyis a franchise that needs no introduction. The series continues to innovate with each title and is held in high regard by Square Enix, with games likeFinal Fantasy 14andFinal Fantasy 16showing the massive hold this series still has in the modern gaming market. This series had to start somewhere, with Square making a bold move with the release of the firstFinal Fantasygame in 1987 that was a smash hit across the board.
The JRPG take on classicD&Dmechanics is a joy to witness, with the simple storytasking four Warriors of Lightwith taking on the archfiends and saving people from Garland’s threat. A lot of tropes unique to the series were introduced here, but the length of this game is one aspect that is noticeably lower than mostFinal Fantasyfans would assume. Given how this game is the first entry in this series, it’s easy to see why the firstFinal Fantasymight be a bit too short for its own good. However, that should take nothing away from the allure of this classic JRPG that fans will love to play through.
The remake ofSuper Mario RPGwas a source of joy for fans who loved Square and Nintendo’s collaboration. This game features enough content to pack a forty or fifty-hour experience, with every new zone boasting new music, stimulating puzzles, unique enemy encounters, creative boss mechanics, and everything else along the same lines. However, everyone knows how Nintendo loves to cut out the fluff from their games, turningSuper Mario RPGinto a short and riveting ride that takes even less time to complete if players check out the remake.
Some players will argue that the game is perfectly paced and doesn’t need to be longer, but JRPG purists wouldn’t mind a few hours added to the experience that gave them an excuse to enjoy the exploration and combat of this game even more. Unfortunately, these players will have to settle for a shorter experience that will remain fresh in their minds long after they’re finished checking outone of the best JRPGs on the Nintendo Switch.
Parasite Eveis unlike any other JRPG released at the time. Instead of the high fantasy settings players were used to, this game focused on modern-day New York where players control a single character. Thankfully,Aya Brea is stoic yet entertaining enoughto carry this experience, and it helps thatParasite Eveis one of the shortest JRPGs of all time with a runtime that won’t even cross ten hours unless players go through the post-game content.
It’s so short that most people would be compelled to climb the Chrysler Building just to enjoy more of this unique JRPG. The focus on a mature storyline and numerous instances of body horror ensure that players will have a great time through this roller-coaster ride of a title that doesn’t waste a single minute of its runtime. It’s a shame thatParasite Eve 2discarded a lot of what made the first game special, and many people would love to check out a remake of the first game that adds some meat to its bones.
