JRPGs That Don’t Have An Anime Aesthetic

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home March 23, 2025 9 Views 10 Min Read
JRPGs That Don't Have An Anime Aesthetic



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There are more anime-styled JRPGs than not: it comes with the territory. Both mediums share much of the same ethos, humour and tropes, and their fanbase overlaps almost entirely. It’s very likely that someone who plays JRPGs is a fan of anime, and vice versa.

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Even when video games moved to 3D, JRPGs retained a look clearly inspired by 2D Japanese animation. However, JRPGs aren’t exclusively anime territory. Some boast an aesthetic more inspired by medieval fantasy, while others go for a cartoony look. Here are the best JRPGs that ditch the anime art style for a different aesthetic.

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Nier: Automata

2B in front of a green forest backdrop in Nier Automata.

The brainchild of Yoko Taro, Nier: Automata often veers into cross-genre territory. It borrows liberally from hack-and-slashers and shoot ’em ups to create an experience that’s enthralling. However, it does give way to anime-esque humour every now and then to lighten up its deep storyline.

On a visual level, however, Nier is more of a semi-realistic sci-fi fantasy title. The world is realistically rendered, and a majority of the cast are mechanical designs rather than anime ones. Nier: Automata isn’t an anime game, but it did receive an anime adaptation.

7

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

Mario is a versatile mascot, seemingly able to succeed in any genre. Whether he’s kart-racing or role-playing, Nintendo’s greatest champion always brings with him an adventure worth your time. This rings true even in the 40-odd hours it takes to beat Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story. This game was originally launched on the Nintendo DS, but later received a remake on the 3DS with an additional tower defence title called Bowser Jr.’s Journey.

A split image of Bowser, the Mario Brothers, and the cast from Paper Mario.

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Bowser’s Inside Story has the trademark Mario art style, though the two versions differ greatly. In the original DS version, the brothers look like cardboard cutouts, with thick outlines and a limited but vibrant colour palette. In the 3DS version, the visuals were overhauled to give the gameplay a pseudo-3D appearance reminiscent of Super Mario 3D Land.

Both versions don’t just look good, but they’re fun to play: real-time elements are incorporated into the turn-based combat, keeping you on your toes.

6

Resonance Of Fate

Resonance of Fate - Vashyron attacking a gunman in Resonance of Fate

Resonance of Fate is a rather inaccessible title, due to its complex gameplay and confusing storyline. Once it gets its hooks into you, however, it’s an absolute delight. There are three words to describe Resonance of Fate: strategic, stylish and steampunk. The usual JRPG fare is cast aside in favour of animations inspired by 2000s action movies, an era when action movies were competing to see which one could have the most absurd stunts.

The steampunk world gives this game an extra bit of flavour: this is Valkyria Chronicles with mechs. Yes, we know Valkyria Revolution is also Valkyria Chronicles with mechs, but we wish we didn’t.

5

Final Fantasy 16

A close-up of Clive Rosfield in a burning battlefield from Final Fantasy 16.

The 16th mainline entry in Square’s golden goose abandoned the series’ anime-inspired look for one that evoked European fantasy settings. The tone also changed in favour of a more grim and political story reminiscent of Game of Thrones.

This is the darkest FF entry. Square did manage to work some cutesy elements like chocobos into the world, but they are presented in a much more somber fashion than previous entries. Overall, Final Fantasy 16 served as a massive departure for the previously vibrant series on both an aesthetic and narrative level.

4

Dark Souls (Series)

Dark Souls still divides audiences on whether or not it should be considered a JRPG, particularly as it invented its own Soulslike subgenre. The basic definition still applies: it’s a role-playing game developed by a Japanese studio. It’s clear that most of the debate originates from the series’ lack of anime influence.

Dark Souls collage showing Solaire, the Emerald Herald, and Ludleth.

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Instead, Dark Souls opts for a dark fantasy vibe with oppressive environments and grotesque bosses. The style is closer to Western medieval designs that embrace the macabre. Most of the world is painted in drab browns and gloomy greys, built out of mortar and steel.

3

Earthbound

The four main characters of Earthbound walking along a dirt path.

A subversive game that acts as a light satire on JRPGs while still retaining a heartrending plot, Earthbound looks like an old comic strip or cartoon. The characters are illustrated rather than drawn, with their in-game designs instantly lending them distinct personalities. You can identify what trope they’re going to embody just by looking at them, until the game turns your expectations on you.

The world is a fairly realistic, if zany, portrayal of suburban America. Part of the reason Earthbound has endeared itself so greatly to its dedicated fanbase is that the world feels like one that they, too, could have an adventure in.

2

Parasite Eve

Aya Brea pointing her gun in Parasite Eve.

Proof that video game adaptations of books can sometimes be better than films, Parasite Eve stars Aya Brea, a rookie cop whose night at the opera goes very wrong. The game contains horror elements and some experimental mechanics characteristic of PS1 Square JRPGs.

The art style is as realistic as the hardware allowed, recreating New York City in a straightforward fashion. Parasite Eve gained fans for its plot and presentation, but the sequel discarded JRPG mechanics in favour of being a Resident Evil clone. The third game, which is unfairly maligned, was a straight-up action shooter.

1

Shadow Hearts

Yuri carries Alice with an image of the imposter Roger Bacon in the background in Shadow Hearts.

The debut entry in the most underrated JRPG trilogy of all time, Shadow Hearts was stylized, but not anime. Instead, it had a gothic vibe that set it apart from other JRPGs on the PS2. Bosses were Eldritch monstrosities, while the main characters had designs ranging from gothic lolita to downright vampiric.

The FMVs are not to be left behind: Shadow Hearts’ pre-rendered cutscenes incorporate live-action footage and Chinese shadow puppetry. Anime or not, this game is an experience that no JRPG enthusiast should miss.

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