Best JRPGs With Purposefully Slow Combat, Ranked

JRPGs have experienced a resurgence in modern times, with many developers adding their unique spins to this genre and letting players enjoy stylish, fast-paced games. The turn-based combat of these games has always struck a nerve with newcomers who don’t appreciate how slow these battles can be.

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While most modern JRPGs do a great job of letting players enjoy faster turn-based combat, there are some titles that revel in combat systems with a slower pace. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, with the game’s mechanics getting their time to breathe as players experience the depth of these combat systems firsthand.

8

Resonance Of Fate

Even After All The Tutorials, Every Combat Encounter Is Lengthy And Tenes

Systems

Released

January 28, 2010

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Tri-Ace

Resonance of Fate is one of the most unique JRPGs players can get their hands on. The focus on industrial grays and exploring the world by uncovering different hexes adds to the game’s novelty.

Of course, the most unique part of Resonance of Fate is a deceptively complex combat system. Players who don’t spend hours engaging with the tutorial will find themselves struggling with basic combat encounters that go on for ages as a player’s hero gauge depletes and they become useless in battle.

7

The Last Remnant

A Game So Complicated That Players Can Spend A Ridiculously Long Time In Every Battle

The Last Remnant

Released

November 20, 2008

ESRB

M For Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Developer(s)

Square Enix

The Last Remnant revels in its complexity, with players being bombarded with information as they figure out the best way to move their troops and engage enemy forces. Everything from positioning to a unit’s strength governs their chances of winning battles.

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This can lead to puzzling moments where players spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out the best approach in each combat scenario. It may sound time-consuming, but players who understand The Last Remnant‘s combat system will love taking on its many challenging enemies and bosses in nail-biting encounters.

6

Final Fantasy 8

Drawing Magic Takes A While But Is Important For Players Who Want To Master The Junction System

Released

February 11, 1999

ESRB

T for Teen: Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

A huge reason why fans label Final Fantasy 8 as the black sheep of the PS1 trilogy is because of its Junction system. Players are encouraged to draw as many units of magic as possible from their enemies to Junction this magic to their stats and enjoy impressive bonuses.

It seems time-consuming, but players willing to put in the work will love how powerful their characters will feel after a point. As long as players are prudent about drawing powerful magic, they should have no problems dealing with the bulk of the game’s encounters.

5

Etrian Odyssey 5: Beyond The Myth

This Devilishly Hard Dungeon Crawler Has Some Challenging Boss Fights

Systems

Released

August 4, 2016

ESRB

t

Platform(s)

New Nintendo 3DS

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Etrian Odyssey is a game that revels in its difficulty, with players loving this hardcore dungeon-crawling series to bits. Everyone has their personal favorites, although most fans will agree that the fifth mainline entry is one of the very best in the series.

Players must make it a point to equip themselves with the best gear and ensure that they bring a well-balanced party into the dungeon. Even after this, some boss battles can take a while to complete, but players will feel a great sense of satisfaction after taking out a boss who was giving them a hard time.

4

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Notable Slower Than Previous Yakuza Games, But That’s Understandable Given The Title’s Shift To Turn-Based Combat

Systems

Released

November 10, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Fans of the Yakuza series weren’t sure of Like a Dragon‘s shift to a turn-based JRPG, but Ichiban’s infectious charm and the game’s hilarious combat meant that players were willing to stick with this game for the long haul. However, even the biggest supporters of the combat couldn’t deny that it was pretty time-consuming.

3:26

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Regular combat encounters took a while to complete, and players were encouraged to grind and deal with some of the difficulty spikes that arrived later on. Thankfully, the presentation of the combat is engaging enough for players to stick with this title till the very end, especially given the emotional weight of the story.

3

Vagrant Story

The Combat Is Deceptively Complex And Takes A While To Understand

Systems

Released

May 15, 2000

ESRB

T For Teen due to Animated Violence

Developer(s)

Square

One of the most unique JRPGs on the PS1 that lets players explore the glorious land of Ivalice, Vagrant Story‘s amazing localization and fun combat make it a blast to get through. However, the lack of leveling means that players must be smart about exploiting enemy weaknesses.

Failing to do so means that players will spend a long time in encounters after the starting area where their weapons do little to no damage. This is why it’s important to understand how the combat works and mix-and-match equipment to beat enemies and bosses handily.

2

Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne

Players Must Customize Their Party For Each Boss Fight If They Want To Stand A Chance Of Surviving

Systems

Released

October 12, 2004

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

Shin Megami Tensei is a hardcore JRPG franchise that fans love, with the third entry introducing a Press Turn mechanic that lets players exploit weaknesses to use more actions in combat. However, this applies to enemies too, which can make things deadly if a boss is constantly targeting a party member’s vulnerability.

This is why it’s important to recruit demons that can handle a boss’ moves and target their weaknesses to give players more turns in combat. Micromanaging the party for every boss may take a while, but players who love the game’s tactical combat will feel a great sense of satisfaction as they beat down the many enemies that come their way.

1

Final Fantasy Tactics

Every Fight Is A Lengthy And Tactical Affair Where Victory Feels Immensely Satisfying

Systems

Released

June 20, 1997

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Square

Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the greatest tactical JRPGs of all time that surprised everyone when it came out. The world of Ivalice felt richer than ever as players controlled Ramza and his allies as they navigated the dangerous and intricate web of The Lion War.

From the very first battle, it’s clear that the combat in this game takes a while. Every encounter is a tactical affair where players must gain a positional advantage and use their party members in appropriate situations based on their skills to turn the tide of battle. On top of this, the game boasts some notorious difficulty spikes that can take ages to surpass if players aren’t prepared for this development.

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