JRPGs With The Most Playable Characters, Ranked

Summary

• Some JRPGs offer a plethora of playable characters for endless party combinations.
• Choosing a core set of party members can help players navigate overwhelming options.
• Players can tackle the toughest challenges by crafting a dream team in games with numerous playable characters.

Most players love the idea of switching around their active party members from time to time to keep things engaging in the long run. However, some JRPGs go all out with this concept and let players mess around with a ridiculously high number of playable characters.

This can be overwhelming, but players who know what they’re in for can focus on a core set of party members while keeping others for the novelty they bring to the table. Meanwhile, some gamers who love to experiment can go all out with their party combinations in these JRPGs, which can last for endless hours.

8 Eternal Sonata

Number Of Playable Characters: 12

One of the most unique JRPGs that needs to be re-released on modern systems, Eternal Sonata lets players explore one of the most interesting worlds to ever feature in a video game. Exploring the mind of a dying musician makes for a melancholic and charming experience where the music is top-notch.

Frederic Chopin is a legendary composer, with his mind serving as the setting of a JRPG full of unique party members to choose from. It’s a substantial number that isn’t too overwhelming and makes Eternal Sonata quite accessible in comparison to other complex JRPGs.

7 Final Fantasy 6

Number Of Playable Characters: 14

Final Fantasy 6 boasts the highest number of playable party members in the entire series, and the best part is that almost every member can play a role in the final dungeon. Kefka’s Tower requires three full parties to explore, which is why players who explore the World of Ruin thoroughly will be rewarded for their efforts.

Recruiting these characters in the second half of Final Fantasy 6 is completely optional and a huge part of what makes this game so special. Switching the overworld and turning the game into a non-linear romp is a huge reason why fans can’t get enough of this amazing title.

6 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel 4

Number Of Playable Characters: 39

Trails of Cold Steel 4 is a game full of so many playable characters that it can be confusing to figure out the best squad that players can stick with. It’s better to set up Orbments for a few characters since a player’s budget will need to be massive to accommodate every single member of the squad.

Still, long-time fans of The Legend of Heroes series will love the idea of controlling some of the most legendary characters in the series. Making a dream team to tackle the game’s toughest challenges is something that players will have a great time with.

5 Chrono Cross

Number Of Playable Characters: 45

Unlike Chrono Trigger, the sequel moved things in a completely new direction. Chrono Cross featured battle transitions, a lack of traditional leveling, and a huge cast of party members that was ridiculous.

This made it puzzling that players were limited to just three characters in battle. This made switching out party members more challenging than it should’ve been, especially since there was a huge chance that two of the three slots would usually be occupied by a mandatory party member anyway.

4 SaGa: Scarlet Grace – Ambitions

Number Of Playable Characters: 79

The SaGa series is known for being a gameplay-first franchise with some fun games to get into, and Scarlet Grace – Ambitions is no exception here. Combat is a huge part of the overall package that must be mastered for players to enjoy what this JRPG brings to the table.

The title boasts a silly number of recruitable characters, and players must figure out the best party that will suit them in combat while focusing on a few backup party members from time to time. Trying to pay equal attention to all recruitable party members can make for a frustratingly long experience, especially if some characters are too weak to tackle late-game challenges.

3 Suikoden 2

Number Of Playable Characters: 123

The Suikoden games are known for boasting a huge number of playable characters, and the second mainline entry is no exception here. Players can recruit a ridiculous number of party members throughout an epic adventure full of war, strife, and the odd flashes of hope.

Since the party limit is generous enough to let players use six characters at once, there are a lot of opportunities to mix and match party members. However, this can become harder and harder as players gain too many party members in their squad, forcing them to play favorites and ignore latecomers to the squad.

2 Radiata Stories

Number Of Playable Characters: 178

• Platform: PlayStation 2
• Release Date: September 6, 2005
• Developer: tri-Ace

Radiata Stories is a game known for boasting a ridiculously high number of playable characters, making it one of the most unique JRPGs players can get their hands on. It helps that the battle system is simple enough for players to not get too intimidated as they slowly learn the ropes.

The game promotes a ton of freedom, letting players duel NPCs and get invested in the lives of other characters because of how detailed their schedules are. It’s an immersive JRPG that can seem rather daunting to get into, only for players to fall in love with this unique world in no time.

1 Pokemon X And Y

Number Of Playable Monsters: 721

Pokemon X & Y boasts the biggest Pokedex of any game in the series. What this means is that players who have been prudent about collecting all Pokemon across multiple games preceding this series will be spoiled for choice when selecting their main party.

Gathering all 721 Pokemon is easier said than done, but this is precisely what makes Pokemon X & Y such a special title. Most people would argue that this was the last great Pokemon game before the franchise’s quality started declining.