5 best JRPGs that focus on protecting a city

Important takeaways

• JRPGs focus on friendship and defending cities, making gameplay more engaging and investing.
• Games like The Alliance Alive & Fire Emblem: Three Houses require players to protect settlements from invasions.
• Titles like Final Fantasy CC and Shin Megami Tensei 4 present unique worlds and exciting stories.

JRPGs are not only great fun and full of complex characters but also present players with outstanding stories that are usually deep and rich in storytelling. Whether the main character or characters are on a journey of self-improvement or just trying their best to protect their friends and other loved ones, there's always something to explore.

When a JRPG focuses on defending a city from impending doom, the stakes are raised significantly, allowing players to feel more invested and make a greater effort to emerge victorious from the various encounters they will find themselves in. Here are some of the best JRGPs that focus on protecting a city.

5 Alliance Alive

A fun, challenging JRPG with exciting combat

• Freeing humanity from Daemons is a central aspect of the story
• The obstacles players face are significantly challenging and require patience

Fighting creatures of all kinds, including demons, is one of the central aspects of many JRPGs, and TheAlliance Alive is no exception. In this exciting story of friendship, rebellion and lots of action, players must fight their way through various obstacles in an attempt to free humanity from cruel oppression.

Although the central focus of the game is not the protection of towns and villages, these topics are often touched upon when players encounter Daemons in battle. The liberation and protection of humanity remains a central focus, making this title very interesting. Players should be aware that while it's not the most challenging JRPG out there, Alliance Alive will put their skills to the test more than once, requiring patience and a lot of determination to progress through the story.

4 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

A quest to gather myrrh to protect the innocent from the Miasma

• Miasma endangers all life
• Collecting myrrh is a very important part of the game

Set in a world where a dangerous poisonous gas called Miasma threatens all life, its inhabitants have learned to build settlements surrounded by large crystals that ward off the dangerous elements and allow survival. Although the crystals are incredibly powerful, they must be purified using Myrrh, a special element that is precious and rare.

While Final Fantasy Crystal ChroniclesThe main objective is not to defend a city in the true sense of the word, exploring the world to find and collect myrrh is an important part of the game experience. And since myrrh is so important to keeping the crystals that ward off the Miasma in working order, gathering myrrh is somehow a method of protecting cities and settlements.

3 Shin Megami Tensei 4

An exciting story that takes place in two different periods

• Players alternate between a medieval setting and present-day Tokyo
• Considered by many to be one of the best Shin Megami Tensei titles

The Shin Megami Tensei franchise is known for its great stories, great combat mechanics, and overall interesting premise that makes it stand out from other JRPGs dealing with similar subjects. Set in two different locations, the Eastern Kingdom of the Mikado and modern-day Tokyo, which is overrun by demons, Shin Megami Tensei 4 gives players an incredible opportunity to hone their skills and free the city from the demonic forces.

The fact that there are two separate locations in the game that are so different adds another layer of depth to the title that keeps players more invested and provides an entertaining gaming experience. While other titles in Shin Megami Tensei franchise is also good, many players believe Shin Megami Tensei 4 as a strong contender to take the top spot, only surpassed by Shin Megami Tensei 4: Apocalypse.

2 Valkyria Chronicles

The thrilling story of the defense of a proud nation from an invading force

• Players must defend Gallia from invasion
• Although not considered the best in the series, this title still offers a great experience

Set in a fictional version of Europe called Europa, in the midst of an armed conflict over a valuable resource called ragnite ore, Valkyrie Chronicles presents players with an exciting story that revolves around beating back invading forces and the fight for survival. When the neutral nation of Gallia is attacked by the Europan Imperial Alliance, players will be tasked with defending their nation from invading forces.

Of all the games on this list, Valkyrie Chronicles is probably the best fit, as it not only revolves around an armed conflict that usually puts cities and settlements at risk, but also puts players in a position where they must do whatever it takes to defend their beloved homeland, Gallia. Although later parts of the franchise are considered better than this one, Valkyrie Chronicles still offers a great gaming experience to players interested in picking it up.

1 Fire emblem: Three houses

A former mercenary trains prospective military academy students

• Players are tasked with instructing students from a military academy
• It is possible to recruit students from other academies

Fire emblem: Three houses follows the story of Byleth, a man who was once a mercenary and is now tasked with instructing eager students from a military academy. The game not only requires players to take strategic approaches, but also proves itself in many ways to inspire others and recruit students from rival academies. Throughout the story, players will find themselves in many situations where they must protect a city or settlement from enemy forces.

By using different tactics and analyzing the battlefield, they will be able to successfully fend off all invaders and keep the population safe from harm and earn their gratitude. All in all, Fire emblem: Three houses is a blast thanks to its story, gameplay and likable characters that leave little to be desired.