We’re living in a golden age of JRPGs right now, with no shortage of games to choose from. Yet mainstays like Final Fantasy and Persona continue to dominate the discourse and will likely do so for a long time to come. You might want to venture off the beaten path and pick some lesser-known titles, but where do you begin?
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Right here. We’re showcasing some JRPGs that have been forgotten in history in the hope that they will set you off on your next quest. These games are not the most-known or the best-loved, but given the chance, they might just become a treasured gaming memory.
Updated on January 20th, 2025, by Asad Mubeen: When we published our list of obscure JRPG recommendations, the response was immediate and massive. It soon became apparent that our readers were eager for more recommendations and had ideas of their own about which games should be on this list. Between the community’s picks and our own ensuing playthroughs, we managed to come up with even more obscure JRPGs to champion. Here is our updated list of JRPGs for you to enjoy.
15
Thousand Arms
Thousand Arms
- Released
-
October 14, 1999
- Developer(s)
-
Red Company, Tose
- ESRB
-
t
- How Long To Beat
-
27 Hours
Thousand Arms is obscure enough to lack even a cult fanbase, which is surprising given its cross-genre appeal. While most JRPGs of the time tended to be somber and grandiose, Thousand Arms was a light-hearted adventure with breezy combat and a unique dating sim element.
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In the years since, particularly after the influence of Persona and Fire Emblem, dating sim elements have become an all-but-guaranteed part of JRPGs. Thousand Arms was a pioneer in this aspect. Not many were willing to explore its steampunk world in 1999, but the game has become increasingly championed in recent years. Maybe it will have a cult fanbase one day.
14
Class Of Heroes Series
A first-person dungeon crawler in the vein of Wizardry, Class of Heroes refuses to ever fully die despite never quite making it. The games are set in an adventurers’ academy and feature a vibrant art style and charming characters. Few know of Class of Heroes, and those who do speak of its difficult, almost inaccessible gameplay.
Over the years after its 2008 debut, the series has changed publishers multiple times and managed to somehow always end up back in the running. After an Atlus-helmed localization and a brief stint with Gaijinworks late in the PSP’s life, the series is now available on the PC, PS5, and Switch. It’s plain to see why Class of Heroes never made it. The difficulty, particularly in the first game, verges on unfair.
However, it’s also easy to see why its small fanbase can’t let it go: something about its delightful art style and optimistic presentation captures your imagination, luring you down a dungeon-crawling path that will leave you shaken but exhilarated.
13
Revenant Saga
The mere mention of Kemco is enough to make people roll their eyes if they know the publisher, to begin with. Kemco specializes in low-budget RPGs, primarily developed for mobile phones but also available on most other platforms in the dark recesses of digital storefronts. These are games very obviously made in RPG Maker and similar programs; production values are not their forte.
However, among the developers helmed by Kemco, Exe Create is one of the more passionate ones. The studio has its own long-running Asdivine series and managed a surprisingly solid showing with Revenant Saga.
Revenant Saga is a 15-hour story that will never win any awards except for quaint charm. However, its Wild Arms-inspired combat is quite fun and the storyline is honestly pretty compelling. It’s easy to dismiss Revenant Saga as a joke, but the game deserves a fair shake. The game received a sequel called Revenant Dogma, but despite the improved graphics, its quality was more in line with Kemco’s usual output.
12
Okage: Shadow King
Okage: Shadow King
- Released
-
March 15, 2001
- Developer(s)
-
Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
-
Sony Interactive Entertainment
- ESRB
-
T for Teen
- How Long To Beat
-
24.5 Hours
- Number of Players
-
Single Player
- PS Plus Availability
-
Included
2001 was a great year for JRPGs to be entirely overshadowed by Final Fantasy 10. Among the casualties of the more popular title is Okage: Shadow King. This game is perhaps most famous today for its Tim Burton-esque art style, but that’s not the only reason it stands out.
Okage: Shadow King features a contemporary storyline that is entirely at odds with most JRPGs of its time. The script focuses largely on humor, with a good deal of the bizarre. The soundtrack is weird, and everything aside from the gameplay feels a bit off – in a good way. These days, it’s easy to chalk up the game’s newfound popularity to its attention-grabbing box art, but play it and you’ll find Okage has something even more important: heart.
11
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
The JRPG genre lends itself to parody quite easily due to how seriously these games take themselves at times. Earthbound served as a light satire of the genre, but it wasn’t until Moon: Remix RPG Adventure that JRPGs were deconstructed entirely.
Moon is set in a world where the hero is the villain. You play as a side character who has to set things right. No JRPG trope is left unscathed as your character skips through dialogue and is chased out of homes for entering them unannounced.
This title remained Japan-exclusive for decades. It served as a massive influence on Toby Fox’s Undertale: the latter game features such obvious homages as levels being called Love. In a happy turn of events, Toby Fox’s professed love of Moon inspired the original crew to localize the game nearly 23 years after the fact.
10
Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven
Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven
Brought back from the brink of cancellation by Marvelous, Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven was launched on the 3DS to little fanfare. It didn’t fade from the limelight – it never was in it to begin with.
This is a shame, because Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven is really cozy. It’s lighthearted and charming and lasts about 15-20 hours, which makes it ideal when you want to play a JRPG but don’t want to grow old by the time you finish it. The ending is pretty heartwarming as well.
9
Gungnir
Released late in the PSP’s life cycle, Gungnir suffers the same setback as many Sting Entertainment games: it’s too unconventional for its own good. The game rewards strategy and lateral thinking and has a striking visual style, yet its ending managed to alienate the few who played it.
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However, it’s still a stellar strategy RPG with stunning map design. It may be too challenging for newcomers to the genre, but veteran tacticians looking for a challenge would be doing themselves a favor by checking it out.
8
Shining Resonance Refrain
The Shining series has a few classics but has never been able to commit to a singular format or reach the heights of its competitors. With Shining Resonance Refrain, the series tries its hand at third-person action role-playing.
Shining Resonance Refrain is the best Tales game that isn’t a Tales game. It has a likable cast, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun exploration. Returning to the city, which serves as a central hub, and going on dates with your party members is engaging as well. What Shining Resonance Refrain lacks in ambition, it makes up for in coziness.
Shining Resonance Refrain is an updated version of Shining Resonance, which was launched only in Japan. It features a new side story that is unlocked from the start.
7
Tokyo Xanadu Ex+
The first hour of Tokyo Xanadu Ex+ is sure to test your patience. Its opening cutscene is so dialogue-heavy and runs on for so long that you might even start to wonder if you accidentally started a visual novel instead of a JRPG.
Bear with it. Once it gets started, Tokyo Xanadu Ex+ is a joy to play. Its breezy dungeon crawling and fast-paced combat is complemented by a captivating plot and wonderful exploration. The modern-day setting makes this game a lovely virtual tour of Japan, where you can explore shrines, supermarkets, and side streets to your heart’s content.
Tokyo Xanadu Ex+ is an updated version of Tokyo Xanadu and adds new chapters to the story.
6
Stella Glow
Imageepoch’s farewell to JRPG fans before their shutdown in 2015, Stella Glow is a sprawling adventure that provides over 50 hours of top-notch story, catchy music, and gratifying combat. It also features one of the most shocking plot twists in a handheld RPG.
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If you have a 3DS and a mind for strategy, you should definitely give Stella Glow a go. It’s not that difficult, so newcomers would feel right at home, too. Everyone who’s played Stella Glow loves it; the problem is that so few people have played it.
5
Jeanne d’Arc
Jeanne d’Arc
- Released
-
November 22, 2006
- Developer(s)
-
Level 5
- Publisher(s)
-
Sony Computer Entertainment
- ESRB
-
T Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- How Long To Beat
-
32 hours
- Metascore
-
87
- PS Plus Availability
-
Premium
When counting Level-5’s triumphs (Dragon Quest 8, Ni No Kuni, Yo-kai Watch, and Professor Layton), their 2006 tactical RPG Jeanne d’Arc is often lost in the shuffle. It shouldn’t be. This game is so much more than just a Fire Emblem clone.
Bearing a vibrant art style, Jeanne d’Arc is a splendid reimagining of the revered heroine’s campaign. Just as in real life, Jeanne defies gender roles to inspire France’s army to defend their homeland. As for when the beastmen, orcs, and elves show up… we imagine Level-5 took artistic licence on that.
Jeanne d’Arc was originally a PSP exclusive but is now playable on PS4 and PS5 through the PlayStation Plus Premium service.
4
Demikids: Light Version & Dark Version
A little-known offshoot of the Shin Megami Tensei series, Demikids was posited as a rival game to Pokemon at a time when Pokemon ruled the world. That might have contributed to its quick dismissal from the public imagination, but what we’ve got here is a pair of fun little RPGs with creative demon designs and memorable environments.
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The two games complement each other, with their storylines intersecting at various points, and they offer a great deal of freedom in the post-game. Demikids is best enjoyed as a nostalgic reflection of the early 2000s and the games and anime that influenced its creation.
3
Skies Of Arcadia
Skies of Arcadia
- Released
-
October 5, 2000
- Developer
-
Overworks
- ESRB
-
t // Mild Animated Violence, Suggestive Themes
- How Long To Beat
-
45 Hours
- Metascore
-
93
Skies of Arcadia is low-hanging fruit when it comes to recommending obscure JRPGs (maybe if we talk about it enough, it’ll finally convince Sega to remaster the damn thing!) On paper, there’s nothing that sets Skies of Arcadia apart from any other JRPG. You play as a shounen protagonist who defies an evil empire and collects six magic crystals to save the world. So far, so trite.
But you have to experience it for yourself: no JRPG has ever captured the joy of exploration quite like Skies of Arcadia has. This game is a testament to how excellence of execution can transform a banal plot into an adventure whose memories will linger in your heart forever.
Skies of Arcadia was originally a Dreamcast exclusive but later received a GameCube port titled Skies of Arcadia Legends. The GameCube version adds new sidequests and has fewer random encounters.
2
Shadow Hearts Series
Shadow Hearts
- Released
-
December 12, 2001
- Developer
-
Sacnoth
- Publisher
-
Aruze, Midway
- ESRB
-
m
- How Long To Beat
-
25 Hours
Released in late 2001, Shadow Hearts was poised to be the PS2’s first great JRPG. But then a little game called Final Fantasy 10 came out and stole all its thunder. Less than a week later, too. Talk about bad timing.
Ask any Shadow Hearts devotee, however, and they’ll tell you: this series is one of the finest JRPG experiences out there. Shadow Hearts is unique in that it liberally mixes horror elements with its historical fantasy setting. Its combat, while turn-based, is captivating enough to rival any real-time battle. Not only that, the first two titles feature perhaps the most ingenious use of good and bad endings that video games have ever seen.
1
Grandia 3
Grandia’s first two entries are beloved cult classics and have received HD versions for the PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. In the world of JRPGs, they’re about as obscure as The Rolling Stones. Yet Grandia 3 remains forgotten. A PS2 exclusive that came on two discs due to its sheer size, this game was never launched in Europe at all and was passed over for a remaster.
If you manage to seek it out, though, Grandia 3 is amazing. Its Disney Renaissance-influenced story is sure to inspire you, and its combat is the sleekest and most polished Grandia has ever been.
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