JRPGs where each class feels unique

Important takeaways

• JRPGs with job systems offer players a fresh gameplay experience with powerful abilities and unique stat boosts.
• The best class systems balance each class while providing a unique moveset for different party customizations.
• Games like Final Fantasy 5 and Bravely Default 2 demonstrate the importance of job systems to enhance gameplay variety.

Gamers love playing JRPGs with job systems. It's a classic trope in the genre that helps freshen up the game, giving players access to a range of powerful abilities and unique stat boosts that can help them customize a party however they see fit.

The best class systems in JRPGs know how to balance each class while giving players access to a unique moveset that completely changes how they approach a battle. By making sure players get the most out of this system, a party can become versatile and powerful in no time.

1 Octopath Traveler 2

Jobs and multiclassing make characters feel unique

Octopath Traveler 2 is one of the best sequels fans can get their hands on, addressing many issues from the first game while perfecting its lauded mechanics. The result is a JRPG that is full of gameplay variety thanks to the many jobs players can get their hands on.

Being able to acquire multiple licenses for each job and unlocking secret classes goes a long way to improving the game's variety. Players can control a party that is an absolute powerhouse in battle, allowing them to utilize their special abilities and EX skills to blast most enemies into oblivion.

2 Yakuza: Like a dragon

Has a unique job system with some classes that are completely out

Many fans were concerned that the move to turn-based gaming might not be a step in the right direction for Yakuza series, only for Like a dragon to emphatically allay these concerns upon release. Fans loved how the game slowly opened up as players progressed through the story, allowing them to eventually switch jobs for their party members.

Developing party members' skills across multiple jobs kept the game fresh, as players came up with new strategies with their current party makeup for both regular enemies and boss encounters. The job system is simple enough to understand and has a surprising amount of depth that doesn't overwhelm players.

3 Final Fantasy 5

The job system adds to the game's variety

Final Fantasy 5 is one of the most beloved JRPGs in the series thanks to its comical location, iconic characters, and a job system more refined than ever before. Players slowly gain access to a series of jobs as they progress through the game, eventually allowing them to transform the weak Freelancer class into the strongest each party member can use at the end of this magical experience.

The large number of jobs means that players will always find something new and interesting about these classes even in the end game. Mastering all of these jobs can be a daunting task, but gamers who don't mind the grind will love collecting these championships as proof that they get what Final Fantasy 5s classes are about.

4 Bravely Default 2

A classic version of the job system that is fun to mess with

Bravely Default 2 is a great entry into the series for players who missed the first two games, with this series taking a page from Final Fantasy and allow players to enjoy a title that features a standalone story despite its status as a numbered entry. The title's gameplay is as classic as they come, and this extends to the job system as well.

The core of the game Bravely Default 2 is a joy to get through and ensures that players can have a great time checking out these jobs and figuring out the best time to use their Brave Points. It's a classic take on the job systems that JRPG veterans will feel right at home with.

5 Etrian Odyssey 5

A hard hitting JRPG with unique classes that players must master to beat the game

The Etrian Odyssey series is not for the faint of heart, and the fifth game is no exception here. The tonal shift and improvements made to the game ensure that this gritty JRPG series still has plenty of potential, going as far as scrapping all previous jobs for brand new ones.

Etrian Odyssey is no stranger to these changes, having previously done the same for the third main line. The ten jobs players can access Etrian Odyssey 5 are as unique as they come, and players should understand how these classes complement each other to form a strong adventuring party that can take on the many challenges they will face in the Yggdrasil Tree.

6 Golden sun

Players assign Djinns to set character classes in a unique job system

Golden sun is one of the most beloved JRPGs on the Game Boy Advance, and it's a shame that this series hasn't seen a new entry in quite some time now. The combination of classic JRPG gameplay with elements of puzzle design and a unique Djinn system ensured that this brilliant game would stay fresh no matter how many hours players clocked in this adventure.

The game features a unique class system where players mix and match Djinn of different elements to form classes. It can be a joy to experiment with, but players need to be careful when summoning Djinner in battle, as more complex classes can change after this act mid-battle, which can be difficult to adjust to.

7 Final Fantasy 10-2

Dresspheres control the abilities each heroine has

Most still argue about Final Fantasy 10 even needed a sequel, but it helped that the cheerful nature of the second game combined with a unique take on the job system ensured that players had a great time revisiting their favorite places in Spira with the cast of Final Fantasy 10-2.

While Sphere Grid in Final Fantasy 10 allowed for some multiclassing as long as the players knew what they were doing, it's not nearly as flexible as the Dresspheres in the sequel. The protagonist can switch costumes mid-battle to access a variety of abilities that allow them to exploit enemy weaknesses in strategic encounters.

8 Tactic Ogre: Let's stick together

Lots of generic and unique classes that are tons of fun to experiment with

Tactic Ogre: Let's stick together is one of the best strategy JRPGs that players can get their hands on. It's easy to see why this was one of the most beloved games at the time, with director Yasumi Matsuno eventually working on Final Fantasy Tactics and bring their expertise to this title as well.

As a result, both titles share a similar DNA that is a joy to witness firsthand. Tactic Ogre: Let's stick together is loaded with many classes that players will love to experiment with as they try to form the perfect party for each strategic encounter.