The Best PS3 JRPGs

While Sony’s seventh generation console could not match its two immediate predecessors in terms of JRPGs, the PlayStation 3 is still home to some brilliant titles. Along with returning franchises like Final Fantasy and Tales, this era saw the release of many one-off games that sought to blend the familiar with something slightly more unusual.

2007’s interesting albeit deeply flawed Folklore arguably set the tone for what proved to be a fascinating but not altogether satisfying period for JRPG fans. However, there were definitely some standouts that you may still look back at with fondness. Which of them is the best?

23

Drakengard 3

If you know Nier, you probably know Drakengard, since Drakengard’s lore connects to Nier’s, albeit in a way that you could ignore if you wanted to. One thing they share is the route mechanic, where beating the game unlocks different routes that add a lot to the story. You follow the story of Zero, the eldest of six Intoner sisters who rule different parts of the world. She’s on a mission to kill her sisters for reasons that slowly unravel as you progress through the game.

Though the majority consensus is that Drakengard 3’s combat isn’t the best, especially with the horrendous framerate, the game’s story carries it so high that the flaws end up becoming a part of the overall charm.

22

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is a revamped version of Odin Sphere, which was launched in 2007 on the PS2. And what a revamp it was. It hits the nail on the head in pretty much every aspect, from graphics to gameplay. Its 2D art style and side-scrolling gameplay are perfect for the storybook theme it has going, and playing it doesn’t get boring quickly thanks to the five colorful playable characters who each have different fighting styles.

There are many books, and each one features a different character’s story. By the end, every plotline intersects, and you get to see the conclusion for all the protagonists you’ve grown attached to.

21

Dragon’s Crown

If you can overlook some of the questionable character designs, Dragon’s Crown is a solid game all around, especially if you like Odin Sphere. It was also developed by Vanillaware and features side-scrolling gameplay. The overarching plot is pretty simple: the Dragon’s Crown is an artifact that allows the wearer to control dragons. You, as one of six different classes, have to obtain it before a coven with bad intentions gets their hands on it.

You explore dungeons to progress through the game, and after you complete a dungeon, hidden paths and a side quest are unlocked within it. Though this can make it a little repetitive, it’s fun and pretty-looking enough that you can invest hours into the game.

20

Enchanted Arms

Take the game’s title literally; Enchanted Arms is about the main character using his enchanted arm to fight against hostile golems. It’s a deeply flawed game that comes with one major positive: a create-’em-all system featuring golems. With dozens upon dozens of creatures waiting to join your ranks, Enchanted Arms provides just enough rewards to be entertaining.

The turn-based combat uses a grid system that allows room for experimentation and strategies, even if the battles themselves can be rather dull. Enchanted Arms’ plot is nothing special and features mostly bad voice acting, but the progression loop is enjoyable.

19

Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory

The Neptunia games tend to be polarizing, but they do offer something of a respite from the genre’s usually overly serious tone. While Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory is slightly darker than most of the franchise’s other entries, it still contains plenty of humor, gaming references, and over-the-top shenanigans. The characters are also pretty endearing, particularly the four main Goddesses.

The combat system is fast-paced, deceptively deep, and satisfyingly flashy. Unfortunately, the repetitive and bland dungeons leave a lot to be desired.

18

Trinity Universe

A crossover between the Atelier and Disgaea franchises, Trinity Universe is mainly for those who have always yearned to see Pamela interact with Etna. Its story is made up of two different scenarios you can play: Demon Dog King and Valkyrie. Viewed on its own, Trinity Universe is a serviceable turn-based JRPG that has a cool setting, plenty of content, and likable protagonists.

It does move at a rather glacial pace, so some patience is required. While Cross Edge features a larger roster of characters from other franchises, Trinity Universe is overall the better game.

17

The Guided Fate Paradox

Released towards the end of the PS3’s life, The Guided Fate Paradox flew by largely unnoticed, which is a shame. Created by Nippon Ichi Software, the game features similar grid-based gameplay to the Disgaea license; however, its roguelike structure separates it from the studio’s more popular property.

The plot revolves around the protagonist attaining the powers of a god after winning the lottery and having to help those who pray to him. A lighthearted and frequently funny story gives way to a dungeon crawler that can be crushingly difficult. Battles are genuinely challenging and require a complete understanding of the game’s deep mechanics and tools.

16

Ar Nosurge: Ode To An Unborn Star

Released after the launch of the PS4, Ar Nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star never had much of a fighting chance to leave a big impact. A story-driven game with visual novel elements, Ar Nosurge places its focus squarely on its characters, all of which are fully developed.

Battles take the form of turn-based combat, albeit with a unique twist that sees the party going up against waves of enemies. While a niche product, Ar Nosurge’s excellent soundtrack, memorable characters, and solid gameplay make it worth recommending to JRPG fans.

15

White Knight Chronicles 2

A lesser entry in Level-5’s impressive portfolio, White Knight Chronicles’ ambition does not quite translate to a fully satisfying product. Featuring a battle system that blends real-time combat with strategic planning, White Knight Chronicles is perpetually on the verge of greatness without ever reaching that point.

White Knight Chronicles 2 is a retread of its predecessor with slightly improved gameplay and a few additional chapters. While quite underwhelming as a sequel, it is still the only game of the two worth playing.

14

Folklore

Debuting less than a year following the PS3’s launch, Folklore was one of the console’s better exclusives during its early days. Along with having two protagonists, Folklore splits its game time between an Irish town and the fantastical Netherworld. Both areas are fully realized and juxtaposed well together, with the Netherworld’s areas being especially imaginative.

Along with the two settings, the game features two protagonists who start at opposing sides and eventually come together. Folklore features a Pokemon-esque catching system that works well for what it is, even if it is somewhat let down by a repetitive combat system.

13

Final Fantasy 13

The PS3 did not bring out the best in Square Enix’s franchise, producing a trilogy of games that are nothing if not polarizing. While the sequels do improve in certain areas, Final Fantasy 13 is still the most complete adventure in Lightning’s run of games.

With a deceptively deep combat system that is not immediately satisfying and linear levels that take too long to implement any player freedom, Final Fantasy 13’s success hinges on its world-building and characters. Like the rest of the game, both of those elements tend to be either loved or hated.

12

Nier

Yoko Taro’s wonderfully strange Drakengard spawned Nier, a spin-off that has been somewhat overshadowed by its sequel, Nier: Automata. Nier’s story lures you into a false sense of security through a first act that does not hold too many surprises before the game reveals itself to be so much more than your typical JRPG.

Bolstering a fantastic cast of flawed characters who feel real despite the dark insanity that permeates the overall story, Nier is still known for its story and is worth playing for everything besides its combat and visuals.

11

Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists Of The Dusk Sky

The PS3 welcomed seven different Atelier games, all of which are playable to some extent. Arland and Dusk’s trilogies both peaked with their second entries, Atelier Totori and Atelier Escha & Logy, respectively. Out of those two, the latter’s more forgiving time limit, refined gameplay, and great synthesis system make it a better entry point into the series.

Unlike most JRPGs, the Atelier series has never prioritized its stories, opting for a slice-of-life tone that is more befitting of a franchise revolving around alchemists.

10

Eternal Sonata

Eternal Sonata’s setting is its most unique feature, as the JRPG takes place within Chopin’s dream world. As such, music plays a significant role throughout the relatively short adventure, one that boasts a fun cast of 12 playable characters. The story follows Chopin, who’s on the verge of succumbing to an illness in his home. In his last few hours, he dreams of the world that Eternal Sonata takes place in.

Eternal Sonata’s combat system blends traditional turn-based combat with real-life action, as characters can be strategically positioned on the battlefield to gain a tactical advantage over enemies.

9

Star Ocean: The Last Hope

Star Ocean: The Last Hope refines its predecessor’s real-time battle system by adding a couple of noteworthy new features, primarily “Blindside,” which effectively acts as a cool dodge mechanic. Visually, The Last Hope looked decent for the time and boasts some impressive terrains. Furthermore, the bosses are generally thrilling and often quite challenging.

While the gameplay is often brilliant, The Last Hope is marred with below-average voice acting, annoying characters, and a forgettable storyline. Come for the sweet combat, tolerate everything else.

8

Fairy Fencer F

When it comes to Compile Hearts’ games, there is no middle ground. People tend to either love or hate them. Out of all the studio’s PlayStation 3 outings, Fairy Fencer F is arguably the most welcoming to newcomers.

While the expanded version, Advent Dark Force, offers the best way to experience this JRPG, the PS3 original is by no means terrible. The story is hardly going to win any awards, but the characters themselves are likable enough. The star of the show is the combat, which is fast-paced and a ton of fun.

7

Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness

As a direct sequel to 2003’s Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, A Brighter Darkness represents everything that is great about the strategy JRPG franchise. Unsurprisingly, humor is pushed to the forefront, but the jokes are never at the expense of the characters or story, which are both engaging enough to justify a playthrough.

The gameplay is top-notch and introduces a few interesting components, including an ability to stack monsters on top of each other and a Cheat Shop that allows you to decide whether to prioritize experience gain or other attributes. Disgaea 5 improves on D2 in nearly every way, but A Brighter Darkness is still pretty good.

6

Resonance Of Fate

Focusing on guns and set in a post-apocalyptic futuristic world, Resonance of Fate is nothing if not one of a kind, at least in the realm of JRPGs. While still turn-based, the battle system blends elements of real-time combat to create a more dynamic experience, albeit one that comes with a steep learning curve.

The combat is not going to be for everyone, but Resonance of Fate’s setting and narrative – which centers around a group of hunters willing to accept almost any type of mission – more than make up for the gameplay’s growing pains.

5

Tales Of Xillia

Many people consider Tales of Vesperia the top game in the franchise. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available for the PS3 in the West. Out of the rest, Tales of Xillia comes in as a close second.

Tales of Grace’s combat tends to be highly regarded among fans, but Xillia’s Dual Raid Linear Motion Battle System is nearly just as fantastic. The latter also comes with the added benefit of featuring a likable cast and a storyline that goes to some pretty weird places. The progression system allows for a degree of player control while the characters’ conversations are consistently entertaining.

4

Valkyria Chronicles

Along with being the most underappreciated – at the time – JRPG on Sony’s console, Valkyria Chronicles is nothing short of a masterpiece. All the previous entries would have struggled to make the cut for such a list if they were released during any other generation, but the same cannot be said about Sega’s tactical RPG.

Taking place in an alternate reality based on the 1930s, Valkyria Chronicles tells a mature tale that never shies away from depicting the human cost of war. While the conflict is between two fictional superpowers, the entire game feels grounded in the real world. The cel-shaded graphics are stunning, too.