For now, there are still some great JRPGs coming out today, like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Tales of Ariseand Metaphor: ReFantasiajust to name a few examples. As good as these games are, there are some JRPG fans who still feel that the 90s and early 2000s were the pinnacle of the genre and can't see eye to eye with modern games.
The 10 Most Timeless Classic JRPGs, Ranked
From the SNES to the 3DS, these JRPGs remain timeless in quality and have earned their place as genre classics.
There are turn-based, tactical, and action-based examples that still hold up today as much as they did decades ago. Some even have modern ports or remasters to help their case. So let's take a look at some JRPGs released before 2010 on a wide range of consoles. How well do these classics last?
Chrono Trigger
It's about time
Chrono Trigger is still one of the best games on the SNES that represents the 90s so well. It's an epic adventure with one surprise after another as players travel between different time periods from modern times to medieval times to the future and even the prehistoric era.
Before players know it, they will be at the end, as the pace is so tight without the need to backtrack or grind for levels. Plus, if players want, they can start a new game+ to continue.
Final Fantasy 9
A timeless classic
Final Fantasy 9 is a classic adventure that shows what is good about Final Fantasy franchise as a whole. It may start with some clichés about kidnapping princesses and warring kingdoms, but there is so much more at stake in the plot.
The combat system is decent, with each character representing a classic job like a black mage or thief, and the trance powers level up the battlefield. The best part is how it feels to live in the world between the well-designed locations and the multitude of races, making the game truly feel like a journey through cultures.
Personas 4
Scooby-Doo goes to Japan
Personas 4like most Persona game, is a linear game where players, as students, have to go through their lives day after day. The first two hours are slow, but as things open up after this testing phase, players will begin to ease the flow.
The overall plot involves a group of teenagers who discover powers in a TV-based world, and they try to use them to solve a series of murders around town. Each month a big revelation comes in, leading the team to investigate a new related dungeon, and like any good detective story, it will keep players guessing until the end.
Pokemon Gold/Silver
Monster catching at its best
Pokemon Gold and Silver
- Released
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October 15, 2000
- ESRB
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All // Mild cartoon violence, simulated gambling
Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver gave fans what any JRPG fan would want from a sequel. There was a new region, Johto, new Pokemon and new mechanics to keep things fresh.
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Pokemon now had genders and could breed with each other, players had a phone system to talk to NPCs, and the list goes on. While Pokémon series has evolved, making some mechanics a bit archaic now, there is one thing that sets these games apart: the second area. After players beat the game, they can go to the previous region, Kanto, and start a whole new adventure, which was amazing back then.
Mother 3
Lost but not forgotten
Mother 3 was never released outside of Japan, but that hasn't stopped fans from wanting to play it officially since its 2006 release on the Game Boy Advance. Acts as the last game in the Mother the series is paced the best the series has to offer, with a faster intro, partners joining the party faster and the overall mix of colors making the game more inviting.
The battle system is simple, but also complex if players want to dive deeper into the musical cues, but it's not necessary. Buckle up, because this turn-based JRPG is a sad one.
The Odin Sphere
The Nordic winds are calling
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Developer: Vanillaware
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Publisher: Atlus
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Platform: PS2
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Released: May 22, 2007 (NA)
The Odin Sphere was released late for the PS2 in 2007, almost a full year after the PS3 release in 2006. Because of this, many may have passed it by, but it remains one of Vanillaware's best games. This 2D action JRPG puts players in charge of multiple characters, all of which are connected in some way, as players will see by jumping around chapters.
The game systems were improved in the remaster, Odinsphere: Leiftrasirmaking the action more fluid, for example, but this core version on PS2 is still a valuable work of art.
Golden sun
Turn-based puzzles
Golden sun is a great turn-based RPG for those who want some of Zelda gameplay in their experience as well. Players will encounter enemies randomly and fight in cinematic battles with large sprites and flashy animations.
In dungeons, players will learn psychic powers to interact with objects, such as being able to summon a large hand to move pillars around. It's a fantastic mix of genres that never overstays its welcome, and it, along with the sequel, is part of the GBA collection on the Switch consoles.
Parasite Eve
The RPG equivalent of Die Hard
Parasite Eve is a great mix of action and turn-based JRPGs, as players can run around the battlefield to avoid attacks while waiting for their gauge to fill up, allowing them to attack back. Set in New York City, the game focuses on a few days around Christmas, where detectives investigate a series of incidents where animals and humans mutate.
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Although it is a sci-fi game, much of the plot is grounded thanks to the characters. It's also a short adventure, even with the extras, making now a good time to play it over a weekend during the holidays.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Alternate History Mayhem
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
- Released
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September 27, 2004
Shadow Hearts: Covenant takes place during an alternate version of World War I where Rasputin and other famous characters from history assemble a secret society to rule the world. Players take control of a special unit that aims to defeat this secret society, formed by an eclectic cast of characters such as a magical wolf and a talented puppeteer.
In combat, players have control over the Judgment Ring, a spinning wheel that can affect the power of an attack, making the turn-based combat system a bit more active. Overall, the tone is sillier than most of the JRPGs on the PS2.
Joan of Arc
Tactically accurate
Joan of Arc is also an alternate history JRPG, except this one takes place during a French and English war in the Middle Ages. Players start as Jeanne, a simple village girl who is drawn into the war when her village is attacked by monsters, and she has a magical power that can transform into a knight in battle.
Players will move from battlefield to battlefield, accessed by a world map, and combat is a grid-based tactical JRPG. Beyond Jeanne, other party members can also learn to transform, and this once PSP exclusive can now be accessed on modern hardware like the PS5.
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