Best JRPGs That Were Ahead Of Their Time

Key Takeaways

• EarthBound broke JRPG norms with its quirky sci-fi world & unique storytelling.
• Lost Odyssey’s turn-based combat system & rich story make it a standout in the genre.
• The World Ends With You’s dual-screen battle system & modern updates set it apart.

After its rapid ascent in the 1980s and dominance of the 1990s, the JRPG has ascended to one of the most popular genres in the entire video game industry. And, while many of them adhere to simple, long-held design philosophies that still work, a few JRPGs over the years have attempted to be something a bit different.

Whether it was the introduction of a new combat system or a unique way of presenting its story, the JRPGs that have dared to deviate have proven to be some of the best in the genre. In a genre filled with games that can often start to feel pretty similar, others were able to be rather forward-thinking. Some approaches stuck, while others are almost entirely confined to the unique gem that invented it. Whatever the case may be, these JRPGs were massively ahead of their time in terms of design, systems, and storytelling techniques.

8 The World Ends With You

Unique DS RPG Gains Massive Cult Following

Inspired by the unique control scheme of the Nintendo DS, Square-Enix envisioned a way to create a unique dual-screen battle system for a JRPG. The end result was The World Ends With You, one of the best action JRPGs from the 2000s. The World Ends With You is a game set in Shibuya that pits Neku and his friends against a deadly seven-day event known as the Reapers’ Game.

Drawing from elements of anime and multiple types of music, The World Ends With You features a cast of outstanding characters and one of the most fascinating battle systems ever seen in a JRPG. It uses both screens of the DS and was even successfully transported into modern times thanks to an updated Switch port in 2018, making this marvelous JRPG available to play on modern hardware.

7 Lost Odyssey

Xbox 360 Exclusive JRPG From The Creator Of Final Fantasy

After leaving Square Enix and the Final Fantasy franchise, Hironobu Sakaguchi founded Mistwalker, signing a contact with Microsoft that would see them fund Lost Odyssey. This compelling turn-based JRPG was Sakaguchi’s second effort with Microsoft, following 2006’s Blue Dragon, and turned into one of the finest efforts of his legendary career.

Lost Odyssey features a unique turn-based battle system, where instead of each party member performing an attack one by one, the player inputs actions for all of them at the beginning of a turn. Attacks are then further enhanced with a well-timed button press, which adds an extra layer of punch. Lost Odyssey has sadly never been remastered for modern Xbox consoles, but it is available via the backwards compatibility program — and is still worth diving into today.

6 EarthBound

Quirky SNES JRPG Is One Of The Console’s Best

A majority of JRPGs during the 1990s were built around fantasy kingdoms with knights, wizards, and magic, but Shigesato Itoi and Nintendo were intent on breaking those conventions with 1994’s EarthBound. The world of EarthBound is more like a 1980s science fiction film than a high fantasy adventure, as Ness and his friends go on an adventure across a surreal, quirky world full of outlandish enemies in order to stop the imminent invasion of Giygas.

But what makes EarthBound so remarkable is just how effortlessly these elements blend together, as Itoi’s unique brand of storytelling mixed with strong design resulted in a game that is still being sourced and referenced today. The concept of an off-beat JRPG that takes place in a semi-realistic world, which has dominated the indie scene for years, can be traced back directly to EarthBound, as its ability to hide a dark, complex story behind a colorful SNES game is still an impressive feat. Thankfully, EarthBound is readily available today, as it is a part of the Nintendo Switch Online service.

5 Xenogears

Mesmerizing Blend Of Star Wars And Final Fantasy

Initially, Xenogears was pitched as a story for Final Fantasy 7 but was deemed too dark for the series and was transformed into an entirely different project. It worked out for the best, as both games became stone-cold classics for Sony’s hardware. Combining elements of Star Wars and Final Fantasy, Xenogears puts players in control of Fei Fong Wong in an epic, multi-disc adventure where a group of rebels attempt to destroy a tyrannical organization known as Solaris.

Xenogears was unique for the time as its complicated exploration of religion and philosophy was not the norm, with the development team taking two years to create its incredible world and mythology. Combat in Xenogears unfolds with a hand-to-hand system, where attacks are correlated to the face buttons, while also implementing stunning mech battles. It is an altogether brilliant experience, with a refreshing style of combat and a wonderfully thematic story that still holds up.

4 Valkyrie Profile

Norse Mythology-Inspired JRPG Is One Of The PS1’s Greatest Achievements

• Platforms: PlayStation, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Android, iOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• Release Date: December 22, 1999
• Developers: tri-Ace; Tose (PSP)
• Publisher: Enix

Inspired by the Norse legends, Valkyrie Profile crafted a contemporary vision of the ancient tales that blended elements of myth with science fiction. A gripping tale of redemption and sacrifice, this epic PS1 JRPG puts players in control of Lenneth Valkyrie as she travels across the land to gather warriors for the impending arrival of Ragnarok.

Valkyrie Profile’s combat is absolutely fantastic, as each party member is mapped to a specific face button. Pressing it will initiate an attack with them, creating a sense of immediacy with combat that hadn’t been seen in JRPGs at the time. It feels fabulous to play, and flying around the world map with Lenneth gives the game a scale that its contemporaries had trouble replicating. An updated version of Valkyrie Profile is currently available on PS5 and mobile, making it easy to jump into this outstanding adventure.

3 Radiata Stories

PS2 JRPG Features Story With Humor And Heart

• Platform: PlayStation 2
• Release Date: January 27, 2005
• Developer: tri-Ace
• Publisher: Square Enix

A joint venture between tri-Ace and Square Enix, Radiata Stories is a fascinating JRPG that was released during the final years of the PS2 in 2005. As a result, it was a game that took full advantage of the hardware and produced something truly special. Radiata Stories puts a focus on interactivity, as the world feels alive in ways that other JRPGs from the time didn’t.

Featuring a day and night cycle and a staggering number of recruitable NPCs (up to 176), Radiata Stories places a strong emphasis on its world and the inhabitants of it. The player can also duel random characters, as well, which gives NPCs more personality than even some modern games. It is a spectacular game, one that saw a spiritual sequel release for the DS in 2011 — known as Radiant Historia.

2 Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille Zur Macht

Epic Multi-Part Saga Begins In This Mammoth PS2 JRPG

Made up of former Square Enix employees, Monolith Soft used elements of their previous work in order to create Xenosaga. This epic tale was designed over the course of five games and four years. Monolith put a massive amount of love and care into the series, which was never more evident than Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, which translates to ‘the will to power.’

Inspired by the likes of Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, Xenosaga was a revolutionary title for the PS2 and featured an incredible amount of lore and storytelling. It was all fully voiced, and the English dub remains one of the best in the industry, as its unique examination of war and religion remains one of the only franchises to tackle sensitive subjects in tasteful ways. Creating an epic, ongoing saga over the course of multiple titles was an ambitious undertaking, but Monolith proved up to the task.

1 Breath Of Fire: Dragon Quarter

Breath of Fire spent its first four entries feeling very similar to other turn-based JRPGs, but the first fully 3D title in the franchise took the series into an incredible new direction that hasn’t been replicated since — and may never be again. Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter removed itself from the fantasy trappings that had defined previous entries, instead being set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world, where series protagonist Ryu must ascend through a series of tunnels to save his friend, Nina.

As the player ascends to the top and fights enemies, the D-Counter mechanic is introduced. When it reaches 100%, it’s game over, and the D-Counter is increased by using powerful dragon attacks, punishing the over-reliance on powerful magic. It’s a fascinating system that also ties into Dragon Quarter’s other unique system, where the player can start over with their equipped items and weapons in order to lower the D-Counter. It’s a difficult game to wrap one’s head around, but commitment to its strange design philosophy can result in one of the most unique and rewarding gaming experiences of all time.