5 Best JRPGs That Focus On Protecting A City

Key Takeaways

• JRPGs focus on friendship & defending cities, making gameplay more engaging and investing.
• Games like The Alliance Alive & Fire Emblem: Three Houses require players to protect settlements against invasions.
• Titles like Final Fantasy CC and Shin Megami Tensei 4 present unique worlds and exciting storylines.

JRPGs are not only very fun and full of complex characters but also present players with outstanding stories that are usually deep and rich in narrative. Whether the main character(s) are on a journey of self-improvement or simply trying their best to keep their friends and other loved ones safe, there’s always something to explore.

When a JRPG focuses on defending a city from impending doom, the stakes are raised considerably, allowing players to feel more invested and make a greater effort to emerge victorious from the various encounters they’ll find themselves in. Here are some of the best JRGPs that focus on protecting a city.

5 The Alliance Alive

A Fun, Challenging JRPG With Exciting Combat

• Freeing humanity from Daemons is a central aspect of the story
• The obstacles players face are considerably challenging and require patience

Fighting creatures of all kinds, including Daemons, is one of the central aspects of many JRPGs, and TheAlliance Alive is no exception. In this exciting tale of friendship, rebellion, and a lot of action, players will have to fight their way through various obstacles in an effort to free humanity from cruel oppression.

While the game’s central focus isn’t the protection of cities and villages, these topics are often touched upon as players face Daemons in battle. The liberation of and protection of humanity remains a key focus, which makes this title very interesting. Players should be aware that, while not the most challenging JRPG out there, The Alliance Alive will put their skills to the test more than once, requiring patience and a lot of determination to progress through the story.

4 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

A Quest For Collecting Myrrh To Protect The Innocent From Miasma

• Miasma endangers all life
• Collecting Myrrh is a very important part of the game

Taking place in a world where a dangerous poison gas called Miasma threatens all life, its inhabitants have learned to build settlements surrounded by large crystals that ward off the dangerous elements and allow for survival. While the crystals are incredibly powerful, they need to be purified by using Myrrh, a special element that’s precious and rare.

While Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles‘ main objective isn’t defending a city in the very sense of the word, exploring the world to find and collect Myrrh is a key part of the gameplay experience. And since Myrrh is so vital to keeping the crystals that ward off Miasma in working condition, collecting Myrrh is, in one way or another, a method of protecting cities and settlements.

3 Shin Megami Tensei 4

An Exciting Story Set In Two Different Periods

• Players alternate between a medieval setting and modern-day Tokyo
• Regarded by many as one of the best Shin Megami Tensei titles

The Shin Megami Tensei franchise is famous for its great storylines, amazing combat mechanics and overall interesting premise that makes it stand out from other JRPGs touching on similar topics. Taking place in two different locations, the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado and modern-day Tokyo, which is overrun by demons, Shin Megami Tensei 4 presents players with an incredible opportunity to hone their skills and liberate the city from the demonic forces.

The fact that there are two separate locations in the game that are so different adds another layer of depth to the title that makes players more invested and delivers an entertaining gaming experience. While other titles in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise are also great, many players regard Shin Megami Tensei 4 as a strong contender to take the top spot, only surpassed by Shin Megami Tensei 4: Apocalypse.

2 Valkyria Chronicles

The Exciting Tale Of The Defense Of A Proud Nation From An Invading Force

• Players must defend Gallia from invasion
• While not considered to be the best in the series, this title still offers a great experience

Set in a fictional version of Europe called Europa, in the middle of an armed conflict for a precious resource called Ragnite ore, Valkyria Chronicles presents players with an exciting story revolving around repelling invading forces and the struggle for survival. When the neutral nation of Gallia is attacked by the Europan Imperial Alliance, players will be tasked with defending their nation from the invading forces.

Out of all the games on this list, Valkyria Chronicles is likely the best fit, as it not only revolves around an armed conflict that usually puts cities and settlements at risk, but also puts players in a position where they must do whatever it takes to defend their beloved homeland, Gallia. Although later installments of the franchise are considered to be better than this one, Valkyria Chronicles still offers a great gaming experience to players who are interested in picking it up.

1 Fire Emblem: Three Houses

A Former Mercenary Trains Aspiring Military Academy Students

• Players are tasked with instructing students from a military academy
• It’s possible to recruit students from other academies

Fire Emblem: Three Houses follows the story of Byleth, a man who was once a mercenary and has now been tasked with instructing eager students from a military academy. The game not only requires players to take strategic approaches, but also prove themselves in many ways to be able to inspire others and recruit students from competing academies. Throughout the story, players will find themselves in many situations where they have to protect a city or settlement from enemy forces.

By using different tactics and analyzing the battlefield, they’ll be able to successfully repel any invaders and keep the population safe from harm, gaining their gratitude. All in all, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a blast thanks to its narrative, gameplay, and likable characters that leave little to be desired.