Best Turn-Based JRPGs Of All Time, Ranked

Summary

• Traditional turn-based combat in JRPGs like Earthbound and Persona 5 Royal can be innovative, balanced, and engaging.
• Classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy 10 and Suikoden series feature compelling stories, character development, and immersive worlds.
• Titles like Xenogears and Shin Megami Tensei 3 provide mature themes, unique combat, and captivating storytelling.

The turn-based combat system in Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) is one of the oldest and most traditional forms of combat in gaming. For many critics, the system has become antiquated in favor of more action-orientated combat systems like the ones seen in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

However, being traditional doesn’t mean that the system doesn’t stand the test of time or has to become a stagnant experience. Furthermore, many of the most traditional JRPGs still have huge fan bases and followings among the gaming community. Turn-based JRPGs can be just as balanced and even more innovative than real-time combat systems. Let’s look at the best JRPGs of all time based on their combat, story, and characters.

Updated on December 24, 2024 by Rebecca Phillips: While many RPGs now turn towards action and real-time combat, we can’t help but enjoy classic turn-based combat too. We’ve added yet another excellent turn-based JPRG for you to enjoy.

Turn-Based For The Modern Age

Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the best modern turn-based JRPGs you can play. Set in the fantasy kingdom of Euchronia, the game follows the protagonist and his party as they aim to win the tournament for the throne, thwarting the tyrant Count Louis in the process.

Each party member has access to Archetypes, which you use in its turn-based battle system. You can also manipulate how many actions you can do in your turn by hitting an enemy’s weakness or landing a critical hit. It’s simple once you get the hang of it and a lot of fun to use the system to turn the tide in your favor.

If you’re powerful enough, you can kill enemies in overworld combat too, which makes going through dungeons and grinding a lot quicker.

22

Earthbound

A Must-Play Cult Classic

While most JRPGs are set in fantastical worlds you could only dream of, Earthbound is much more… down to Earth. Its world is inspired by the United States in the ’90s, with its protagonist Ness being recognized by his signature baseball cap and bat. When a strange meteorite crashes near his house in Onett, Ness finds himself on a journey to stop the alien Giygas, helped by his party members Paula, Jeff, and Poo.

Earthbound’s turn-based battle system is fairly straightforward, but one thing to note is that your party’s health bars work on a scrolling system, so you may have time to heal up your teammate before their health bar completely hits zero — if you’re fast enough. If you’re looking for a classic but quirky JRPG, Earthbound may be for you.

21

Final Fantasy 10

Final Fantasy’s Best Love Story

Final Fantasy 10 is an excellent turn-based JRPG with a great story and characters to back it up. The story follows Tidus, a Blitzball player who is originally from Zanarkand but is whisked away to Spira by an entity known as Sin. In Spira, Tidus meets Yuna, who is destined to go on a pilgrimage to summon the Final Aeon and defeat Sin.

Not only does Final Fantasy 10 have a touching story as you get to know Yuna and her guardians, and as her romance with Tidus blossoms, but its turn-based combat is fun and satisfying. The game’s Sphere Grid allows you to unlock various spells, attacks, and abilities, so you can customize each party member and the role they’ll perform in battle.

20

Octopath Traveler 2

A Stunning HD-2D JRPG That Takes Inspiration From The Classics

Like its predecessor, Octopath Traveler 2 is a retro-style JRPG with stunning HD 2D visuals and eight new characters to follow. You can pick the main protagonist, complete their prologue, and collect the remaining cast members to participate in their quests. Mechanically, Octopath Traveler 2 is similar to its predecessor, but the story and character development come together more cohesively and the characters are more engaging and relatable.

The turn-based combat is terrific, forcing you to think strategically and use timing and tactics to find an enemy’s weaknesses. It can take a bit of guesswork to work out their weakness, but you should click with the mechanics after a few hours of gameplay.

19

Golden Sun

A Handheld Classic That Stands The Test Of Time

Golden Sun launched in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance and later for the Nintendo DS. But the last game in the series was Golden Sun: Dark Dawn in 2010. Though the series has stagnated, the fandom remains ever-ardent in their love. However, there is hope as the classic original was made available on the Switch Online service for subscribers.

The game features a silent protagonist and a unique magic system that utilizes creatures called djinn. Not only do characters have special powers and summon abilities (via the Djinn), but they also have Psynergy (magic) and other unique abilities. The game features elemental lighthouses, world-ending dragons, and even the mythical civilization of Lemuria.

18

The Legend Of Dragoon

An Incredible Sony-Developed JRPG For The PS1

Like a few others on this list, Legend of Dragoon is an iconic classic in the JRPG realm. It puts you in the role of Dart, a warrior trying to stop the end of the world. It was originally launched in Japan in 1999 for the PS1, but it stands out as one of the most classic JPRG experiences.

The game has three play modes: the battle screen, the area map, and the field. Legend of Dragoon’s world was explorable with lots to discover and NPCs to chat with. The game portrays a vulnerable protagonist when Dart is saved from a Dragon in the early stages of the story by Rose, a powerful female warrior who’s one of the best characters in the game.

It may sound silly by today’s standards, but Rose felt a breath of fresh air in the ’90s if you got tired of the usual supporting roles female characters were so often relegated to. The Legend of Dragoon keeps the combat interesting with chain attacks, and counters, and the Dragoon ability transforms the character and imbues them with special attacks and magic.

17

Phantasy Star 4

The Most Polished Single-Player Phantasy Star Game

Launched in the West in 1995, Phantasy Star 4 is a futuristic science fiction JRPG that even today breaks the mold of typical Tolkien-esque fantasy-themed games. The fourth and final entry is the most polished before it became an MMORPG on the Dreamcast.

Incredibly it features a turn-based combat system reminiscent of Final Fantasy 12’s Gambit System. While not as complex, you can stack commands and program the characters with the Macros mechanic. If the Macros were combined in certain sequences this would initiate special moves and techniques.

16

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Classic Turn-Based Action In A Modern Setting

Launched in 2020 on Xbox and PlayStation systems, it may seem a little early to rank Yakuza: Like a Dragon as among the best-ever turn-based JRPGs. However, despite the modern setting and characters Like a Dragon combines its already beautifully established world with traditional turn-based gameplay.

Like a Dragon’s combat system is closer to Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Sega classics like the original Phantasy Star series. The surprising move into turn-based combat fits perfectly with both its whacky characters and the gritty street gang elements. More importantly, if you’re a fan of classic JRPGs the story, content, and character development are up there with some of the best in the genre.

15

Persona 3 Reload

A Terrific Remake That Modernises A Classic

Persona 3 Reload is a big-budget remake of the classic PS2 original that helped the series transition from a niche JRPG series to a mainstream hit thanks to its character interactions, story, and social sim mechanics. Moreover, the modern-day setting where the game puts you in the shoes of a high school student was a departure from a chosen one-type hero in a fantasy setting. It’s a JRPG that is identifiable, whether you’re still in school or left many years ago as an adult.

The turn-based combat in Persona 3 Reload has improved significantly. You can issue commands and control all team members. You must approach battles with a tactical mind and find an enemy’s weakness using attacks powered by the party’s Persona abilities. The combat is fun and compelling enough to keep you hooked on trying to climb and conquer the Tartarus.

14

Skies Of Arcadia

A Beloved Sega Dreamcast Classic

Originally launched on the Sega Dreamcast in 2000 and then the Nintendo GameCube in 2002, Skies of Arcadia is fondly remembered as one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. It invokes the classic happy-go-lucky feel one would expect from an old-school Sega title.

At the same time, Skies of Arcadia has endearing heroes with great antagonists that will keep you engaged and entertained throughout its epic story. Moreover, Skies’ turn-based combat transcends the usual on-foot combat by including epic airship battles to keep the gameplay interesting.

13

Dragon Quest 11

A Beautiful Modernization Of A Classic Series

Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a modern classic in every sense. It’s one of the best-looking JRPGs of a generation while also harking back to classic entries in the series.

Even though Dragon Quest 11 is as traditional as they come, its turn-based combat has enough new and entertaining ideas to keep it fresh. It’s a massive game that can last even the most seasoned JRPG fan for around 70 hours, not including the endgame activities and storylines, which is another 40 hours of worthwhile content.

12

Chrono Cross

A Timeless JRPG Classic With Beautiful Art Design

Launched as an official sequel to Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross was initially considered a disappointment if you were a fan of the original. It was likely the expectation for a continuation of already-established characters like Crono, Frog, Marle, Luca, and Robo that upset some.

As time passed, this underappreciated JRPG is often widely regarded as one of the greatest games on the PlayStation. The stunning visuals still hold up today, the soundtrack is incredible, and the Chrono Cross’s antagonist Lynx remains one of the genre’s best. Chrono Cross was remastered and relaunched on modern consoles as Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition in 2022. It features the Radical Dreamers’ text adventure to bridge the gap between Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross.

11

Legends Of Heroes: The Trails Series

Incredible World Building And Characters

Developers Nihon Falcom has created some of the best and longest-running JRPGs of all time with the likes of Ys, Xanadu, and the Dragon Slayer series. However, the studio’s real jewel in the crown is The Legend of Heroes series, which has peaked with the success of the Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel series.

Both Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel are interconnected and there is an argument that to fully appreciate Trails of Cold Steel 4, which brings together all of the characters in an Avengers Endgame-style finale, they should be played as a whole. The games are so well written, however, you can comfortably dive into the first episode of either series without issues and still enjoy a detailed world, amazing character development, involved strategic combat, and emotional narratives capable of hooking you from the start.

10

Shadow Hearts: Covenant

A Dark And Gothic Adventure With A Unique Turn-Based System

• Platform: PS2
• Released: 2005
• Developers: Nautilus

Launched worldwide for the PlayStation 2 in 2005, Shadow Hearts: Covenant is the third game in the series after Koudelka on the PS1 and the original Shadow Hearts on the PS2. It’s a Gothic fantasy game set during the First World War in an alternate universe and is widely praised as one of the best RPGs for the PS2.

The game’s turn-based combat feels unique as it uses the Judgement Ring which requires skill and timing as much as it does stats. A similar gameplay mechanic would be seen again in Mistwalker’s Lost Odyssey which included many of the same developers behind the Shadow Hearts series.

9

Lunar Silver Star Story Complete

A Timeless Classic With Amazing Characters And Battle System

• Platform: Android, iOS, PC, PS1, Sega Mega CD, and Sega Saturn
• Released: Original 1992 – Complete Edition 1996
• Developers: Game Arts

Developed by Game Arts and launched in 1998 for the Sega Saturn and the PlayStation in 1999, Lunar Silver Star Story is a remake of the 1992 classic JRPG launched exclusively on the Sega CD. It implemented FMV cutscenes that weren’t possible on cartridge-based consoles.

While it was visually dated by 1999 standards when compared to the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Ques, it more than made up for this with its fully voiced and endearing characters that broke away from the typical brooding teen angst tropes and had a compelling love story.

Additionally, it has one of the best JRPG antagonists ever, establishing the silver-haired fallen hero Ghaleon long before Sephiroth became a pop culture icon. The combat system performs like a combination of Grandia’s Game Arts and Final Fantasy’s ATB system, where the turns and actions are stacked and performed based on a character’s speed.

8

Grandia 2

Genre Defining Combat And The Best Story In The Grandia Series

Launched on the Sega Dreamcast in 2001, Grandia 2 is still highly regarded as having one of the best turn-based combat systems ever. The combat runs in real-time, and you must act quickly and strategically to be successful.

Grandia 2’s story is more mature than its predecessor but the characters and plot still have a lightheartedness about them. It has a great cast of characters and one of the most underrated protagonists in the genre.

7

Radiant Historia

A Time Traveling Adventure With Terrific Characters And Story

Radiant Historia is considered a modern classic in the JRPG genre. Developed by Atlus, Radiant Historia puts you in the role of its excellent protagonist Stocke. Stocke is a warrior who is capable of navigating multiple timelines with the use of a tome called the White Chronicle.

As a time-traveling story with multiple timelines and interweaving stories, it could have been easy for a game like Radiant Historia to trip itself becoming overly complex and confusing. However, the game handles this beautifully without getting confusing and keeping things interesting with its exciting turn-based combat system that feels familiar and new. More importantly, it does away with the usual predictable tropes of the genre while also paying tribute to the 16-bit classics that inspired it.

6

Chrono Trigger

One Of The Greatest JRPGs Of All Time

Developed by Square, Chrono Trigger launched on the Super Nintendo originally, but the game’s appeal led to mobile and PC ports after earlier PS1 and DS releases. The DS version is considered the most complete version of the game, and it includes the bonus content from the PS1 version, a revised translation, and an ending that ties into the sequel Chrono Cross.

Chrono Trigger remains one of the most well-put-together JRPGs of all time. It features an amazing battle system, stunning character designs, and tremendous replayability. The game’s creation included a dream team of developers and artists that were made up of the likes of Final Fantasy creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii the creator of Dragon Quest, Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame and Dragon Quest artist, and famed JRPG composers Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu.

Chrono Trigger uses the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, but you can also set this to Wait so that the enemies won’t have their turn while you’re selecting your move or navigating the menus.

5

Xenogears

A Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi Classic From The Team Behind The Xenoblade Trilogy

Xenogears is a science fiction RPG that was way ahead of its time with its mature storytelling and character development. The game incorporates heavy religious and philosophical themes. Visually, Xenogears hold up well with stunning animations in combat and well-designed towns and maps.

Xenogears was developed by the team that would eventually form Monolith Soft – one of the most revered studios in the world. As a result, Xenogears’ incorporation of religious and philosophical symbolism would continue in the equally complex Xenosaga Trilogy and Xenoblade Chronicles in what is affectionately known as the Xeno metaseries.

4

Persona 5 Royal

A Modern-Day Stylish JRPG WIth Outstanding Characters And Story

Persona 5 Royal functions as something of a director’s cut of the already brilliant Persona 5. Like its predecessors, Persona 5 is set in modern-day Tokyo and puts you in the shoes of a transfer high school student.

In addition, Persona 5 has a fantastic narrative with an excellent dating sim system known as Confidants. School life mechanics play a big part in the game’s plot and the combat system. An argument can be made for all the Persona games being worthy of a position on the best turn-based JRPGs of all time, but with Persona 5 Royal being the most approachable in the series, it takes the spot here.