The Best JRPGs For Final Fantasy Fans

The title ‘Final Fantasy‘ feels less and less fitting with each new game, but it’s still hard to stop playing. Each installment is huge and takes a long time to complete, and that’s before you even get into the massive time commitment of the online games, which can feel like a full-time job.

What will fans do once they’ve finished all the Final Fantasy games? Luckily, there are many other Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) that offer similar exciting combat and worlds to discover. These series are great options when you’ve played all the Final Fantasy you can!

Dragon Quest Was Final Fantasy’s Original Rival

Square Enix, the company behind Final Fantasy, got its name from the merging of two former competitors: Squaresoft and Enix. Both companies were known for their popular Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) – Final Fantasy was created by Squaresoft, while Enix developed Dragon Quest.

While Final Fantasy often pushed boundaries with new ideas, Dragon Quest consistently delivered strong stories, engaging combat, and memorable characters. Though Final Fantasy was hugely popular, particularly on the PlayStation, Dragon Quest eventually gained a large international following, and today, almost all of the main games are available on current consoles and platforms.

Ni No Kuni Is A Gorgeous JRPG Fantasy Franchise

The first Ni No Kuni is arguably one of the most visually stunning video games of all time, featuring beautiful animated cutscenes. The developers, Level 5, were then challenged to create a 3D game world that captured the style of Studio Ghibli, and they succeeded brilliantly.

The Ni No Kuni games successfully combine popular elements from classic JRPGs, like collecting monsters, discovering hidden areas in a large world, and engaging in dynamic turn-based battles. However, the game relies heavily on exaggerated, stereotypical British accents—almost as much as the Dragon Quest series—so if you find phrases like “Allo Guv’nor” annoying, this might not be the game for you.

Suikoden Challenged Final Fantasy For The Title of Best PS1 RPG

I remember when the original PlayStation came out – it felt like everything changed! Everyone was so hyped about 3D graphics, and Final Fantasy 7 was the game everyone wanted to see with those cool new character models. But honestly, some of the best Japanese RPGs on the PlayStation were still 2D! Suikoden 2 was absolutely incredible – I genuinely think it was as good as any Final Fantasy game. It had this huge, sprawling story with political intrigue that reminded me of Game of Thrones, and the scale of the battles was just amazing.

If you’re interested in a series with a huge cast of characters and compelling stories, the Suikoden games are a great choice. The recently remastered first two games are perfect places to begin. Each game features 108 unique allies to recruit, and each one has their own story to tell, offering a lot of depth and engagement.

Octopath Traveler Proved 2D JRPGs Still Had An Audience

Square Enix often misjudges how popular new Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) will be in Western markets. This happened with Octopath Traveler, which quickly sold out in stores as fans eagerly wanted to experience its unique 2D-HD graphics.

Both Octopath Traveler games let you play through the stories of eight different characters, in any order you choose – though all the stories connect in the finale. Each character has special skills for exploring the world, and you can unlock new classes to make them even stronger in battles. A key part of what makes the Octopath Traveler series enjoyable is that you can experience each playthrough differently, focusing on the characters you like best and seeing their individual stories through to completion.

Golden Sun Merged Turn-Based Combat With Zelda Dungeons

The Game Boy Advance was fantastic for playing Japanese role-playing games, especially titles like Final Fantasy and Pokémon. However, Golden Sun really became the console’s signature series. This two-part game combined the turn-based combat and special summon abilities seen in Final Fantasy with puzzle-filled dungeons reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda, where players used unique skills and items to progress.

The Golden Sun games for Game Boy Advance are fantastic and still enjoyable today, thanks to their availability on Nintendo Switch Online. While there was a follow-up on the Nintendo DS, it’s not essential to the experience. It’s a shame the series hasn’t received a modern remake or a new installment, as it really deserves one.

The Bravely Series Proved JRPGs Still Had Fans In The 3DS Era

JRPGs haven’t always been popular, and that’s why “Operation Rainfall” happened. This fan-driven campaign aimed to bring several key RPGs to North America that weren’t originally planned for release here, like the first Xenoblade Chronicles. A similar situation almost occurred with The Last Story; Square Enix doubted it would be successful in North America, so Nintendo stepped in to publish it outside of Japan.

Fortunately, the Bravely Default series proved successful for Square Enix. It revived the classic turn-based combat and character classes of older Final Fantasy games, but with a unique mechanic: players could spend future turns to power up a single attack, potentially winning battles quickly. However, this strategy left them very vulnerable if the attack failed.

Shin Megami Tensei Is The Darkest Fantasy Series Around

As classic RPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest gained popularity on the original NES, another series began to build a following. This was Shin Megami Tensei, a unique franchise where mythological gods and monsters reappear in the modern world, and players must summon and control them to survive.

If you’re looking for something different from the Final Fantasy games, the Shin Megami Tensei series is a fantastic choice. It offers a more mature and often darker experience, with tougher battles and uniquely creative (though sometimes unsettling) monster designs. If you’re used to easily completing Final Fantasy titles, Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne – and its notoriously difficult Matador boss – will provide a real challenge.

The Mario RPG Series Added Action To Turn-Based Battles

It’s unfortunate that Squaresoft and Nintendo stopped working together soon after the release of the original Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, because it was a truly exceptional game. It innovatively combined fast-paced action with timed button presses during attacks, making skillful play crucial for success in battles.

The Mario RPG series has changed a lot over the years, eventually leading to the fantastic Paper Mario games, some of which even surpassed the quality of the original Super Mario RPG. While not every Paper Mario title has been a hit – particularly during the Wii U years – the series made a strong comeback on the Nintendo Switch. The Switch saw a beautifully updated remake of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, letting a new generation enjoy a perfected version of a beloved classic.

Breath Of Fire Is Capcom’s Lost Fantasy Classic Series

Capcom is now famous for games like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Street Fighter, but they used to compete with Square Enix in the world of Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs). The Breath of Fire series, particularly the third and fourth games on the original PlayStation, were as impressive as the popular Final Fantasy titles of that era.

It’s unfortunate that the Breath of Fire series appears to be inactive, but thankfully, the strongest games are still available on today’s platforms. With Capcom recently doing so well financially, let’s hope they consider bringing the series back – a JRPG where you can transform into a dragon is a guaranteed hit!

Pokémon Was The Other Series That Helped JRPGs Become Mainstream

For a long time, Japanese role-playing games, or JRPGs, were only popular with a small group of players. Games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6 didn’t achieve widespread success. But that all changed in 1997 when Final Fantasy 7 became a huge hit on the PlayStation, launching one of the most successful entertainment franchises ever created.

Similar to games like Final Fantasy, the Pokémon series features battles that take turns happening in imaginative worlds. However, Pokémon lets you build your own team of fighters by collecting and training the creatures you find. The earlier Pokémon games didn’t focus much on story or character development, but the series has evolved over time to become known for its compelling narratives and memorable characters.

2026-05-25 06:42