Truth be told, it’s not hard to find JRPGs with over-the-top stories that can take some wild turns. Sometimes, these games don’t need to be set in high fantasy or sci-fi worlds to achieve this, since games set in the modern world can also be pretty wild.
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This makes the genre perfect for players who want to sink their teeth into an epic and wild narrative. These stories may not make sense half the time, but players won’t mind as long as the spectacle is enhanced along with the stakes.
8
Persona 4
The Crime Thriller Element Of The Plot Never Lets Up
Persona 4 may seem rather reigned-in with the setting switching to Inaba, but it will take little to no time for players to find themselves embroiled in a mysterious series of events. The advent of the TV World coupled with a string of serial killings let players embark on an adventure full of epic moments that fans can’t get enough of.
However, what makes Persona 4‘s story so over-the-top is the events leading to the title’s true ending. If players figure out how they got their powers, they’ll be treated to one final dungeon where the party must team up to fight against a divine being and save humanity, which is pretty wild.
7
Parasite Eve
The Antagonist’s Attempt To Form The Ultimate Being Leads To Some Wild, Horrifying Moments
- Released
-
September 9, 1998
- Developer(s)
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Square
From the very moment Aya sits in a theater full of people who are about to spontaneously combust, it’s clear that Parasite Eve isn’t hiding its over-the-top plot for a second. Regular humans and animals start morphing to become something horrifying as the protagonist tries to make head or tail of what’s happening.
Eventually, the information surrounding the mitochondria and Eve’s quest to create the Ultimate Being come to light, leading to a wild finale where players fight a being that is evolving during this climactic confrontation. In New Game+, things go a step further with the Chrysler Building, bringing further revelations to light and letting players fight the game’s challenging superboss.
6
Final Fantasy 6
The Entire World Changes Midway Through The Game
- Released
-
October 11, 1994
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix
, Square - OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
By the time SquareSoft started working on Final Fantasy 6, they had become experts at developing these games and decided to expand the title’s scope. As a result, players were treated to one of the most iconic JRPGs ever made that let players explore two vastly different overworlds.
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The World of Balance introduces many tantalizing plot points before a climactic confrontation ensues on the Floating Continent, where Kefka reveals his true intentions and disturbs the balance of the Warring Triad to lay waste to the entire world. With the heroes seemingly disbanding, the players must reunite the gang for one final assault on Kefka’s Tower, trying to take out the jester who has become a godlike being who obliterates naysayers with the Light of Judgment to rule people with fear.
5
Chrono Trigger
A Tightly-Paced Title With A Ton Of Time Travel
One of the greatest JRPGs ever made, it’s easy to see why Chrono Trigger is a perfect candidate for players looking for an over-the-top story. The themes of time travel coupled with Lavos’ parasitic presence ensures that players will be engaged from start to end.
The dream team of Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, and Akira Toriyama created something special that has endured the test of time to stand out as an incredible JRPG fans can’t get enough of. The plot is so wild that the protagonist straight-up dies at one point, and the other party members must manipulate time to ensure that he lives to see another day.
4
Octopath Traveler 2
Eight Deeply Personal Tales Intertwine As The Heroes Eventually Stop A God From Destroying The World
- Released
-
February 24, 2023
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
A perfect sequel in every department, Octopath Traveler 2 takes everything from its predecessor and dials things up to 11. Every character’s campaign may still feel disconnected at times, but players won’t mind since the game ties everything together in an over-the-top manner by the end.
Throughout the game, players are told about Vide, the Wicked, a dark god who wants to take over the world. He comes dangerously close at the end of the game, only for all eight party members to band together and defeat this divine being by the skin of their teeth to make for a bombastic finale to Octopath Traveler 2.
3
Live A Live
Players Control Numerous Protagonists From Different Timelines
Live A Live (2022)
- Released
-
April 27, 2023
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
Live a Live is one of the most ambitious JRPGs made by SquareSoft that never saw the light of day in the West for a long time. So, fans were pleased to hear that this underrated title was selected to receive the HD-2D treatment, letting a new generation of fans enjoy this unique game.
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Players controlled characters across different timelines who had to face off against a villain who embodied the spirit of Odio, a Dark Lord. After everyone’s scenario is complete, players witness Odio’s descent into darkness firsthand before the heroes are brought together in one final struggle to take out this embodiment of evil for good.
An Incredible JRPG That Features A Wild, Entertaining Plot
- Released
-
October 11, 2024
- Developer(s)
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Studio Zero
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
Many reasons contributed to Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s rampant success, establishing it as one of 2024’s best games. The high fantasy world somehow felt fresh in Atlus’ hands and let them tell an epic story full of over-the-top occurrences.
The story takes a while to get going but quickly becomes one of the best parts of the experience, especially since it revels in being as over-the-top as possible. Players try to win over the people in the United Kingdom of Euchronia and ensure that the right successor ascends to the throne during this Royal Tournament.
1
Xenogears
A Plot So Over-The-Top That The Project’s Scope Couldn’t Keep Up With It
- Released
-
October 20, 1998
- Developer(s)
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Square
The philosophical story of Xenogears is a huge part of what makes the experience so special, with players loving how deep and engaging the narrative can be. This is combined with a heavy dose of fantasy and mecha elements to make this stellar JRPG’s plot as wild as possible.
Unfortunately, the game’s scope was so massive that it ran out of development time. The second half of the game had to be relegated to a slideshow, which still retained the story’s complexities but lacked a lot of the punch.
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