JRPGs With The Best Introductions, Ranked

The JRPG genre is full of bombastic titles that know how to make an introduction. Given the short attention span most players have, it’s easy to see why a gripping intro scene is important to keep players hooked on the events taking place on-screen.

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If players decide to give these JRPGs a shot, then they’ll be enraptured from the get-go courtesy of a brilliant opening. From charming introductions to high-stakes missions, there are many ways that an opening of a JRPG can leave a lasting impression on a player’s mind.

8

Shadow Hearts

A Train Ride Turns Into Something Nightmarish For Alice

Systems

Released

December 12, 2001

ESRB

m

From the moment players start Shadow Hearts, the sinister nature of this title is made clear enough. Alice assumes that she’s safe on a train with her escort, only for Roger Bacon to arrive and throw a wrench in these plans.

However, just when everything seems hopeless, a Rude Hero arrives and manages to protect Alice long enough for them to escape this treacherous train. He’s revealed to be Yuri Hyuga, the protagonist of the tale who teams up with Alice and embarks on an adventure that’s grander than anyone could’ve expected.

7

Xenogears

Takes Barely Any Time To Introduce The World And Show A Major Conflict That Sets The Stage For The Story

Systems

Released

October 20, 1998

ESRB

e

Developer(s)

Square

Xenogears wastes no time in establishing the game’s rich setting before introducing Fei Fong Wong, a protagonist with amnesia who lives in the village of Lahan. When the military force of Gebler descends upon this town, the protagonist finds a mech and decides to fight back against this invasion.

However, his inexperience with this machine leads to Fei accidentally razing all of Lahan in a brutal display of power. Accompanied by the village doctor, Citan, the duo decides to leave with this mech to prevent it from causing any more harm, setting the stage for an epic narrative that ended up being too ambitious for its own good.

6

Persona 5

Joker’s Attempt To Escape A Casino Makes For A Bombastic Opening

Persona 5

RPG

Dungeon Crawler

Adventure

Systems

Released

September 15, 2016

ESRB

m

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Persona 5 starts with a gripping cold open that takes place midway through this grand adventure. Joker is on his own in what appears to be a casino and must escape the authorities zeroing in on him.

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He almost escapes, only to be cornered by security outside of the casino. He’s captured and sent into an interrogation room where he’s roughed up and injected with drugs before Sae Niijima enters the fray. She adopts a firm yet fair stance with the Phantom Thief, making him tell his name and recount a story that brings people back to the beginning of Persona 5‘s events.

5

Final Fantasy 6

The Poignant Walk Through The Snow As The Credits Roll Is Legendary

Released

October 11, 1994

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity

Developer(s)

Square Enix, Square

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Sometimes, it’s the simplest introductions that end up having a major impact on audiences. Such is the case with Final Fantasy 6, where players start the game with three characters in Magitek Armor standing on a cliff before they decide to make their way to the town of Narshe.

What follows is a lengthy and cinematic walk followed by an iconic credits crawl that sends shivers down the spine of players as they gear up for the epic events to come. Given how memorable this sequence is, it’s easy to see why fans were up in arms when the credits were removed from this introduction in the Pixel Remaster.

4

Chrono Trigger

The Millennial Fair Is A Charming And Beautiful Introduction To An Epic Adventure

Released

March 11, 1995

ESRB

T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood

Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, with an introduction that hammers in the game’s charm. Crono wakes up and must find Lucca’s experiment at the Millennium Fair, which is an iconic celebration that fans are aware of.

He meets Marle at this location, who hides her royal background. What players don’t know is their actions govern the results of a trial that takes place not long after, with Lucca’s experiments opening a time portal that Marle is sucked into, serving as the catalyst for an epic and tightly-paced adventure where the heroes band together to stop Lavos by any means necessary.

3

Final Fantasy 10

Watching Sin Arrive To Wreak Havoc On Zanarkand Never Gets Old

Systems

Released

December 17, 2001

ESRB

T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Final Fantasy 10 is one of the greatest video games ever made, with its introduction being proof enough of the epic narrative that players will enjoy. Tidus is introduced as a star Blitzball player living in the shadow of his missing father who takes part in a fateful game.

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While lining up a spectacular overhead kick, Tidus notices Sin descending upon Zanarkand and destroying this city. He teams up with Auron and strives to escape the carnage, only to be isekai’d to the world of Spira not long after that marks the start of an epic over-the-top adventure where this clueless protagonist is slowly filled in when it comes to the state of this world.

2

Parasite Eve

Eve’s Appearance Causes An Entire Theater To Spontaneously Combust As Aya Springs Into Action

Systems

Released

September 9, 1998

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes

Developer(s)

Square

Unlike most other JRPGs released at the time, Parasite Eve is a short and action-packed adventure set in New York during the late 90s. Aya Brea is a police detective out for a night of leisure in the theater, only for things to go south in no time.

As Eve makes her appearance, everyone in the theater starts spontaneously combusting except for Aya, who springs into action with her pistol. What follows is a memorable opening action sequence where players see regular animals mutating into horrific monstrosities in front of their very eyes as they pursue Eve.

1

Final Fantasy 7

Nothing Comes Close To The Legendary Bombing Mission

Released

January 31, 1997

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

There’s something about the bombing mission from Final Fantasy 7 that still feels epic to this day. The members of AVALANCHE descend upon

Mako Reactor 1 to carry out their eco-terrorism.

From the incredible music to the heaps of battles fought by Cloud and Barret from the moment the protagonist leaps off the train in style, this mission is full of amazing highlights that leave fans wanting more. The mission ends in a fight against the Guard Scorpion, which should be relatively straightforward to deal with as long as players don’t attack it while its tail’s up.

Final Fantasy

Creation Year

1987

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Publisher(s)

Square Enix