The Best Recent JRPGs You Should Play
Some might argue that JRPGs peaked during the ’90s and early 2000s with the SNES, PS1, and PS2. While an argument can certainly be made in favor of that claim, the genre has hardly slowed down in recent years. In fact, every year includes at least a couple of fantastic JRPGs. Deciphering the list of best JRPGs becomes harder with each passing year. However, some of the genre’s most recommendable games came out over the past few years and are highly rated on Metacritic. The cut-off year is 2016 (for North American releases). Games like Monster Hunter, Dark Souls, and Nioh will not be considered since they are basically their own subgenres. MMORPGs will also be excluded. Remasters of pre-2016 games will only be included if they add something significant to the base game beyond polish. Finally, only one game per franchise or subseries.
Soul Hackers 2 – 77
Original NA Release Date: August 26, 2022
If nothing else, Atlus is dependable. Anything released under the Megami Tensei banner is destined to be decent at the bare minimum, even if not every project can reach the same heights as Persona 5 or Shin Megami Tensei 4: Apocalypse. Soul Hackers 2 is, ultimately, a minor entry in the publisher’s resume, and the sequel came out of nowhere since the original title debuted in 1997. The 2022 project strikes something out of a middle-ground between SMT and Persona, reflecting the former’s prioritization of battles while also incorporating social elements from the latter. That said, it is not quite as deep as either subseries’ most recent releases, resulting in an enjoyable but not particularly amazing experience.
Soul Hackers 2 is for Atlus completionists who enjoy the company’s trademark turn-based combat and demon-catching mechanics. Newcomers to the developer’s work should start elsewhere, although they will likely find something to enjoy in this release.
- Get it on Amazon here!
Trials Of Mana – 78
Original NA Release Date: April 24, 2020
Xeen’s Trials of Mana remake gives the 1995 Super Famicom classic a fresh coat of 3D paint, and this modern aesthetic is by far the project’s most significant change. While not completely devoid of gameplay tweaks or improvements, 2020’s Trials of Mana sticks close to its predecessor in level design and plot progression. Consequently, the JRPG can feel antiquated at times, especially during the campaign’s linear and restrictive opening half. Eventually, the game opens up and allows players to tackle a few areas in any order, and things improve significantly at this point. Even if it feels retro in places, Trials of Mana is nevertheless a fun time, which is hardly a surprise since the SNES original holds up reasonably well. The real-time combat system is simple but effective, and it is enhanced by a robust selection of playable characters who all present convincing cases to justify their inclusion.
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Mary Skelter Finale – 78
Original NA Release Date: September 30, 2021
The third entry in the Mary Skelter series, Finale is a dungeon crawler that will test even the most genre-savvy players. The games do not tell standalone stories and are story-driven, so new players should really start with 2016’s Mary Skelter: Nightmares. That said, Finale incorporates detailed summaries of its predecessors’ narratives. Split between visual novel sections and lengthy dungeons, Compile Heart and Idea Factory’s title is not only a significant time-sink but also among this subgenre’s most complex modern additions. First-person dungeon crawlers are nowhere near as popular as they were during the ’90s, but franchises like Mary Skelter prove there is still an audience for these sorts of releases.
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Void* tRrLM2(); //Void Terrarium 2 – 78
Original NA Release Date: February 28, 2023
A lot of genres in one, void* tRrLM2(); //Void Terrarium 2 juggles many ideas as it seeks to be a dungeon crawler, roguelite, and management sim. Players take control of Robbie, a robot tasked with protecting the last human left alive in a post-apocalyptic world that really does not seem to want to keep them around. To accomplish their task, Robbie heads out to dungeons where they need to collect materials and fight enemies while leveling up. Although death ends a run, players still make some progress when they fail, so it is not the end of the world. Nippon Ichi Software’s void* tRrLM2(); //Void Terrarium 2 is not a conventional JRPG by any stretch of the imagination, which is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can scratch an itch left unattended by the rest of the genre; conversely, the game is the definition of niche.
- Get it on Amazon here!
Blue Reflection: Second Light – 78
Original NA Release Date: November 8, 2021
A considerable improvement over its predecessor, Blue Reflection: Second Light is a magical girl-themed JRPG developed by Gust, the company behind the Atelier series. The licenses share a few similarities in their turn-based combat and resource gathering, although Second Light's crafting system is nowhere near as complex as alchemy in an Atelier title. Still, there is a lot to love about the 2021 release, particularly a well-implement social bonding system that not only ties directly into the combat but also does a great job of highlighting the story’s strong roster of characters. Narratively, Blue Reflection: Second Light takes place in a dream-like school that is connected to fantastical areas filled with monsters. Players take charge of Ao, a girl who awakens in this strange realm alongside a few other students. Provided someone can tolerate a slow-paced experience, Gust’s game is well worth a look by fans of turn-based JRPGs or magical girls.
- Get it on Amazon here!
Rise Of The Third Power – 79
Original NA Release Date: February 10, 2022
Developed by Stegosoft Games, Rise of the Third Power did not attract too much attention upon release, which is a shame as this turn-based JRPG has a lot of things going for it. A few decades following a devastating war, the Kingdom of Arkadya has begun to rise up in search of global domination, causing fear to spread across the world that another conflict is on the horizon. The story follows a handful of characters as they try to stop Arkadya before a new war breaks out.
Editor Notes
If you’re a fan of JRPGs, these recent releases are definitely worth checking out. From the Atlus classic Soul Hackers 2 to the magical girl adventure of Blue Reflection: Second Light, there’s something for everyone. So, grab your console or PC and dive into these immersive worlds filled with epic battles and engaging stories. For more VR gaming news and updates, visit VR Game News.
