5 JRPGs just as good or better than any western RPG

Western RPGs can often overshadow JRPGs as Western RPGs appeal to a wider demographic. There are things about JRPGs that not all fans like, such as the anime-inspired character designs and over-the-top acting that can be seen in some cases. Western RPGs are often more realistic, open and dramatic Game of Throneswhich of course was very popular as a TV show.

Some of the best Western RPG game examples include The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Baldur's Gate 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Fallout: New Vegasand the list goes on. With these examples in mind, here are a few JRPGs that are just as good and may even have been influenced by Japan in some way. They could even be better in many respects.

Fire emblem: Three houses

A three-way split

Fire emblem: Three houses offers players a complicated choice at the start of the game where they can follow one of three nations: the Leicester Alliance, the Adrestian Empire, or the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. It was unprecedented for Fire emblem franchise at the time, which is a major reason why Three houses became a favorite among Switch players. This choice would then dictate which house players would align with in the second act, following their military training, and which party members they would be able to recruit. The story also goes in different directions, but it's the characters that really matter, as the entire cast is well-rounded on every page.

In between the grid-based tactical battles, players can return to their home base and complete several side activities, including socializing with teammates. Players can deepen their bonds with them, which can then lead to deeper combinations in battle or even romance. This wealth of choices gives players a deeper connection to the story, making their campaign feel unique and special. The intense action of the difficult but rewarding tactical game, the three different campaign choices and the party make Fire emblem: Three houses a solid counterpart to whale-heavy Western RPGs that Baldur's Gate 3 or even The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Bouncing across the Beanbean Kingdom

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is the start of the third RPG series starring Mario. What makes these games unique is the inclusion of Luigi as a playable character. This first game focuses on an evil sorceress, Cackletta, who steals Princess Peach's voice and then retreats to the Beanbean Kingdom. As always, Mario and Luigi are left to save the day, and it's up to them and them alone. In battle, players control both characters with a dedicated button: A and B. Perfectly timed attacks can add more power to hits, while getting into a defensive stance can counter an enemy or negate damage.

This adds an extra layer to the turn-based combat, even more so than the standalone Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Starsor any of them Paper Mario game. Additionally, the brothers can create devastating combo attacks in battle, which can also be used when exploring to get around. Using each other as helicopters or going underground to get into tight spaces are two examples of exploration. The original GBA version is the best to play, and it's currently in the Switch's free online library. The active turn-based system can be compared to Western RPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or Undertaleand may even have inspired them.

Parasite Eve

Horror comes to NYC

There is no real shooter equivalent to Western RPGs Destiny 2 or Borderlands 4 as far as JRPGs go, but there is a more realistic gameplay that favors similar gun battles and is unique from all the other games out there. Parasite Eve is a PS1 JRPG from Square, featuring detective Aya Brea who travels around New York City to solve a paranormal case. When Aya witnesses an opera house go up in flames, along with the audience, Aya hunts down the supernatural being Eve, who melts people into shit and turns animals and insects into mutated monsters, from rats to spiders.

In battle, players are free to run around and avoid attacks, and when a meter is filled, players can fire their gun within a certain distance, or they can give a psychic power like a fireball. Players can customize their weapons at the police station to a wild degree, from clip sizes to attack power, and Aya gets a good variety of weapons to find throughout the relatively short campaign. Parasite Eve also serves as one of the best survival horror games ever made, and the only real problem with it is the lack of playable options available today. Since it takes place in a western area, NYC, RPG fans might be more willing to try it if only it were available.

Persona 5

Adults are the problem

Persona 5 is the latest game in the Persona series, but realistically, Personas 3or Personas 4 is just as good and can stand tall against any western RPG. Persona 5 Set in Japan, Ren Amamiya, also known as Joker, is a transfer student who must stay with a family friend after being involved in a civil dispute. Once there, Ren becomes embroiled in a plot involving access to an alternate dimension via a phone app, where different parts of the city are controlled by an adult who subconsciously oppresses the population.

Basically, Ren gathers a group called the Phantom Thieves to enter the minds of these corrupt adults to help them change their ways through dungeon crawling and turn-based battles. It's a complex story, but it's well-paced because it's linear. Players will go through each day of the week, completing school, work, and free activities that allow them to bond with their party members and other NPCs. As a linear game, Persona 5 has a surprising number of choices that can help shape what Ren becomes and how he interacts with everyone he meets. Also, as an 80 to 100 hour game, players can more easily grow to love the characters as if they knew them in real life, comparable to Baldur's Gate 3 or The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Exceeds normal limits

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and the other three games in the series, are some of the most impressive open-world JRPGs on the market. This is the latest post in Xenoblade Chronicles franchise, which started on the Wii, and it features a war between two nations. The main parties from each of these nations later join forces when they discover that the war is being controlled by an organization known as Moebius. With their combined strength, along with a new ability to transform into giant mech-like creatures, the party sets out to rid the world of tyranny.

Players are free to explore an open world with very few restrictions, from deep forests to sandy deserts to warming beaches. It looks great for a Switch game, and the amount of things players can see or do rivals Western open-world juggernauts like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Combat is similar to an MMO, as characters automatically attack monsters on command, but they can also be given orders. It may sound simple, but with the ability to connect combinations, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 can get quite complicated. From the deep story to the intense combat to the lush open world, it's amazing Xenoblade Chronicles 3 did not develop in the West.