Summary

  • Nier: Automata offers an emotionally draining story and fast-paced combat that's a must-play for JRPG fans.
  • Yakuza 0 nails rich character development and delivers one of the best stories in gaming.
  • Scarlet Nexus is a sleeper hit with ambitious gameplay and a remarkable cast of characters that will hook you.

JRPGs are pretty much a dime a dozen in the realm of gaming. From the basics like the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series to the more complex and intricate adventures like Chrono Trigger and Bravely Default, there's something out there for everyone.

Featured Image for 10 Best Short JRPGs You Need To Play
20 Best Short JRPGs You Need To Play

In the mood for a JRPG but lack the time needed to play one? Then these short, excellent JRPG experiences are exactly what you need!

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By 

The stop-and-go flow of turn-based combat and random encounters can be tedious for some players, but not all games in the genre have these features. In fact, there are a great many JRPGs that are as action-packed as their Western cousins.

Updated January 05, 2024, by Sanyam Jain: Turn-based combat is an inherent part of most JRPGs out there. Thankfully, a lot more of them are also starting to appear without this element, and Ys X: Nordics is the perfect example of that.

24 Nier: Automata

NieR: Automata
Action RPG
Open-World

Released
March 7, 2017
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Platinum Games
Publisher(s)
Square Enix
Engine
Proprietary Engine
Franchise
NieR
Genre(s)
Action RPG, Open-World
How Long To Beat
22 Hours

One of the most emotionally draining titles ever released is Nier: Automata, which may not be a great selling point for some but stick with us.

In terms of gameplay? Nier: Automata has a sleek, fast-paced combat system thanks to the wizards over at Platinum Games, which gave Yoko Taro and company a helping hand. There's truly nothing quite like Nier: Automata, and we sincerely cannot beg enough people to give it a chance. And, if you do happen to dive into it, don't forget the tissues.

23 Yakuza 0

Kiryu standing in the middle of a busy street in Yakuza 0, looking into camera.
Yakuza 0
Action
Adventure
Beat 'Em Up

Released
January 24, 2017
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
Developer(s)
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher(s)
Sega
Engine
Dragon Engine
Franchise
Yakuza
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure, Beat 'Em Up
How Long To Beat
32 Hours
Metascore
90
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

While some will argue that the Yakuza series, in general, is most certainly not a JRPG, it's always been one at heart. And isn't that what really matters in the end? Semantics aside, Yakuza 0 is one of the best games conceived and wears its JRPG influences on its sleeve.

Featured Image for 10 JRPGs Where You Don't Fight God
10 JRPGs Where You Don't Fight God

Despite how awesome, the trope of defeating a God in a JRPG can get a tad stale. Here are some JRPGs that avoid this with more fascinating encounters!

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With a killer soundtrack, over-the-top action, and rich character development, Yakuza 0 delivers one of the best stories in any game. Full stop. Brawl with some goons, sing some karaoke, and experience the events that started it all in this epic tale.

22 Ys X: Nordics

Ys X Nordics Karja standing in front of a runestone in Lecto Island.
Ys X: Nordics
JRPG
Action RPG
Hack and Slash

Released
October 25, 2024
ESRB
T For Teen // Blood, Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Nihon Falcom, PH3 GmbH
Publisher(s)
NIS America, Clouded Leopard Entertainment
Engine
Proprietary
Number of Players
1
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown
Genre(s)
JRPG, Action RPG, Hack and Slash
How Long To Beat
25.5 hours
How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
72 hours
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

Not only does Ys X: Nordic's combat not have any turn-based elements, but it also introduces a unique mechanic of dual combat where you use two characters simultaneously: Adol and Karja. Connected by an invisible mana bond, these two have to fight together from the very start of the game.

As you grow close to your Shield sister while fighting together, you'll have to visit different areas and remove the Greigr presence from them. You'll find various bosses on your path using the hack-and-slash combat, with each boss having many unique attacks.

21 Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana

The Nameless Coast in Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana
Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of DANA
Action RPG

Released
September 12, 2017
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
Developer(s)
Nihon Falcom
Publisher(s)
Nihon Falcom
Engine
Ys 8
Franchise
Ys
PC Release Date
April 16, 2018
PS5 Release Date
November 15, 2022
Nintendo Switch Release Date
June 26, 2018
Genre(s)
Action RPG
How Long To Beat
38 Hours
Metascore
85
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Despite there being several installments in the Ys series, it is still a largely overlooked franchise, especially when considering how solid the vast majority of the catalog is. Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana is amongst the better titles in the series and delivers an unforgettable journey from start to finish.

Exhilarating combat, fascinating characters, and an engaging plot help cement Lacrimosa of Dana as one of the best JRPGs you can play, even more so now that it has been enhanced on the PlayStation 5 and PC, making the Isle of Seiren come to life and feel buttery smooth as your traverse through it.

20 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Link standing on the edge of a sky island in The Legend Of Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Adventure
Action
Open-World
5.0/5

Released
May 12, 2023
ESRB
Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Engine
Havok
Cross-Platform Play
N/A
Cross Save
N/A
Steam Deck Compatibility
n/a
Genre(s)
Adventure, Action, Open-World
How Long To Beat
59 Hours
X|S Optimized
n/a
Metascore
96
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

When speaking about the best JRPGs with no trace of turn-based combat, it's hard not to instantly think about The Legend of Zelda series, which some would argue isn't really a JRPG but rather just an Action/Adventure title. And to that, we respectfully disagree. But even if you don't think the shoe fits on this list, it's still a great game!

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes what its groundbreaking predecessor excelled at and somehow makes it even better, all the while polishing up the aspects that were sort of lacking, making it one of the best JRPG experiences you could ever wish for.

19 Scarlet Nexus

Key art showcasing the cast of Scarlet Nexus
Scarlet Nexus
Action RPG

Released
June 25, 2021
ESRB
T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Violence
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Genre(s)
Action RPG
How Long To Beat
25 Hours
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

Scarlet Nexus, simply put, is one of the genre's biggest sleeper hits that deserves a shot. While the game's story is quite ambitious, the gameplay manages to be somehow even more ambitious and is genuinely all killer, no filler in its execution.

Flashy, fun, deep, and rewarding, Scarlet Nexus is a heck of a game. The cast of characters present in Scarlet Nexus is remarkable and will have you falling for them before the credits roll.

18 Souls Series

Dark Souls 3
Action RPG

Released
March 24, 2016
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood Violence
Developer(s)
From Software
Publisher(s)
Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
Engine
havok, proprietary engine
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
Franchise
Dark Souls
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre(s)
Action RPG

It's probably not the first series that comes to mind when one hears the term JRPG, but the Souls series is indeed one of the most-played titles in the genre. That being said, it's definitely not for everyone and is often overlooked as a "true JRPG" due to it being heavily inspired by western fantasy.

Even with that said, the Souls titles are still JRPGs in the grand scheme of things and are pretty dang good ones, all things considered. While it may be a grueling, unforgiving experience for anyone who plays them for the first time, they are genuinely one of the most rewarding games out there.

17 Elden Ring

The Tarnished riding a horse and looking at the Erdtree in Elden Ring.
Elden Ring
RPG
Action

Released
February 25, 2022
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
From Software
Publisher(s)
Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
Engine
Proprietary
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
Cross Save
no
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
RPG, Action
How Long To Beat
58 Hours
X|S Optimized
yes
Metascore
96
Platforms That Support Crossplay
PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Yes, we know the 'Souls Series' is literally directly above this entry, but Elden Ring is on an entirely different level at this rate that we felt it needed its own section. Even more so now, considering its first expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, is just as captivating and rewarding as the base game was.

Elden Ring is one of the best open-world JRPGs you can get your hands on and has the level of quality and challenge you'd expect from a FromSoftware title, making it all the more rewarding when you finally take down a boss you've been stuck on for hours on end!

16 Neo: The World Ends With You

NEO: The World Ends With You screenshot of Rindo running through the streets of Shibuya.
NEO: The World Ends with You
Action RPG

Released
July 27, 2021
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
Square Enix, h.a.n.d.
Publisher(s)
Square Enix
Engine
Unity
Genre(s)
Action RPG
How Long To Beat
41 Hours
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

The World Ends With You is a series with unmatched style and storytelling, but it is also a series that is criminally underrated and deserves a much broader audience than it currently has.

However, fans were fortunate to receive a sequel to The World Ends With You fourteen years later with Neo: The World Ends With You, an excellent continuation of the world and fascinating premise of the original with an updated combat system that makes it a must-play for any Action JRPG fan looking for snappy and fun combat and an emotional powerhouse of a story.

15 Final Fantasy 16

Final Fantasy 16
Action RPG
4.5/5

Released
June 22, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Publisher(s)
Square Enix
Engine
Proprietary Engine
Cross-Platform Play
Final Fantasy 16 does not support cross platform multiplayer
Cross Save
yes
Franchise
Final Fantasy
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Platform(s)
PC, PS5
Genre(s)
Action RPG
How Long To Beat
36 Hours
X|S Optimized
no
Metascore
88
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Final Fantasy 16 had tremendous amounts of pressure placed on its shoulders due to its predecessor being one of the most polarizing installments in the series and the developer being the team behind the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy 14.

Fortunately, Creative Business Unit III knocked yet another title out of the park, bringing one of the best combat systems alive and an engaging and emotional story filled with remarkable characters, music, and locations. Final Fantasy 16 may not be what some wanted, but it's unquestionable that the team nailed what they set out to do!