Best JRPGs Set In High Fantasy Worlds, Ranked

Summary

• The Witcher 3 and Dragon Age exemplify vibrant high fantasy worlds with deep lore involving monsters, races, and magic.
• Bravely Default 2, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, and Final Fantasy 9 offer unique fantasy settings with vibrant colors and rich gameplay.
• Kingdom Hearts and Ni No Kuni create fantastical worlds where Disney meets traditional fantasy elements, allowing for exciting adventures.

High fantasy games generally have fully fleshed-out worlds filled with monsters, various races, and magic. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a great example with deep deep lore thanks to the books and prequels that came before it. Players can hunt monsters in that game using various spells and potions, and spend countless hours exploring.

The Dragon Age series is another good example with Dragon Age: The Veilguard being the latest entry. Those are Western high fantasy examples though but there are plenty of Japanese games to dig through too. Let’s rank these games and worlds based on how vibrant and colorful they are to explore.

8 Bravely Default 2

Job Hunting

Bravely Default 2 is technically the third game in a series of turn-based RPGs aimed at old-school Final Fantasy fans. The world has a standard fantasy setup from warring kingdoms, monsters, and magic. Like Final Fantasy, some crystals control the elements and an evil entity is hellbent on controlling the world via these crystals.

The heroes can gain abilities through Jobs, the class system, which will be rewarded after boss battles. The color palette is fairly drab so it’s not the most exciting fantasy world to live in but the art style is unique like everyone is made out of plastic.

7 Fire Emblem Awakening

Creating Kids Through Portals

Graphically, Fire Emblem Awakening isn’t that far off from the world of Bravely Default 2 as there isn’t a lot of color in the world. The character designs are more vibrant though with a heavy emphasis on anime. There’s also a bit of sci-fi edge to the story as there is a point wherein players can fall in love with allies and create children who will emerge from time portals all grown up and ready to join the fight.

It’s a tactical RPG about warring nations in an endless bloody battle. Fire Emblem Awakening is set in a medieval fantasy world with magic and other creatures like dragons, pegasi, and anthropomorphic rabbit people called Taguel.

6 Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

An All-Time Classic Fantasy World

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a remake of the third entry in the main Dragon Quest series. It’s the one that first introduced a class system via Vocations. Dragon Quest, as a franchise, is one of the most wholesome fantasy worlds players can inhabit which is both good and bad. There are dark things that happen but everyone is fairly jolly and even the monsters don’t look that menacing like the adorable Slime variants.

With Vocations at the ready, players can create mists of ice, call upon swarms of poisonous gas, heal their allies, and so on. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is gameplay forward as there isn’t much to the story which may be more appealing to RPG fans who love experimenting with mechanics.

5 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars

Jump Up, Geno Star!

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is the first RPG spinoff starring Mario. The Mario games were always fantastical up to this point from magical mushrooms that helped people grow to flowers that gave people fire powers.

This RPG helped define the Mushroom Kingdom beyond a few stages in a 2D game though. It was vibrant and colorful with everything practically jumping out of the screen. It was a turning point for turn-based RPGs because of the active input system and now thankfully more people can enjoy it beyond the SNES original because it was remade for the switch.

4 Kingdom Hearts

Disney Meets Final Fantasy

Kingdom Hearts is a dream come true for Disney fans always wishing they could go into one of their favorite movies. The game starts with Sora longing with his friends, Riku and Kairi, on a beach to travel somewhere distant. Soon their island gets swept into a void, his friends go missing, and Sora appears in a town, seemingly like his own, except he is staring in the face of Donald and Goofy.

It’s a weird but mesmeric story wherein Sora gets a magical Keyblade that can unlock and lock pathways to classic Disney Worlds like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. In battle, Sora can hack and slash away at enemies and cast spells like Fire.

3 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch

Pokemon In The World Of Ghibli

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch begins somberly with Oliver, the young hero, losing his mom. His tears awaken his doll, Mr. Drippy, who takes Oliver into an alternative universe. It’s a classic Isekai scenario as Oliver soon learns to cast magic and control cute monsters in turn-based battles akin to the Pokemon games.

This world has the aesthetics of a Studio Ghibli movie that lent its hand in creating some key art and animated cutscenes. It’s truly a magical experience across an epic open world that begs players to join the adventure.

The King Is Dead

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest game from the Persona team, a series known for its low fantasy vibes. This game though is as high fantasy as any game can get with a thoroughly crafted world. There are tons of human-like races, magical machines, factions, kingdoms, monsters, magic, and so much more.

It’s a living, breathing world that’s hard not to get addicted to and horrified by at the same time. Some monsters in particular are quite graphic. The blending of action and turn-based mechanics also helps it stand out as one of 2024’s best.

1 Final Fantasy 9

A Celebration Over A Decade In The Making

Who wants to go on an adventure? That should have been the subtitle of Final Fantasy 9. For the series, it was a goodbye letter to the old-school Final Fantasy games that put high fantasy above low fantasy like Final Fantasy 7.

Final Fantasy 9 made a return to aspects like crystals, airships, pirates, tons of mini-games, and a cast that was as lovably as they were flawed. Every kingdom feels unique too and not just set-dressing. If this game ever gets remade, hopefully, Square Enix will keep the sense of adventure alive and not go too dark with a reimagining.