10 Best JRPGs for Players New to the Genre

JRPGs can be intimidating if you’re first looking to get into the genre. There are so many series, and for some of them, it’s difficult to know where you should start and which order to play in. Then, you have franchises like Final Fantasy with standalone games numbered in a way that makes it seem like you have to go in order if you aren’t familiar with the series.

Regardless of the genre, figuring out a new subset of games you might not have explored previously can be overwhelming at first. That’s especially true when you consider that opinions about games tend to be quite strong, making it seem like a game is worse than it actually is.

10

Kingdom Hearts

Final Fantasy Meets Disney

If you like Disney, then this is definitely where you should start your exploration of JRPGs. Plus, there’s a fourth game in the works, so this is the perfect time to try the series and get familiar with it before the next one comes out.

Kingdom Hearts is a blend between Disney and Final Fantasy. You find characters from both franchises alongside new characters, giving you some familiarity from the start. Plus, you don’t need to know anything about Final Fantasy going into the game, and you’ll still understand what’s going on. The overarching story does become more convoluted as the series goes on, though.

9

Final Fantasy 14

Introduction via MMO

Hear me out on this one. Final Fantasy 14 is technically an MMO, and I could understand an argument that it doesn’t count as a JRPG. However, it includes a lot of story elements and recurring characters and bosses that you find in the overall franchise.

Thanks to this critically acclaimed MMORPG having a free trial through Shadowbringers without a limit on playtime, you can experience a bit of what Final Fantasy can be like without spending money, then decide if you want to dive into the JRPGs of the franchise. There’s so much content to dive into if you like what you find.

8

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Everybody Knows Pokémon

Like Kingdom Hearts, Pokémon Sword and Shield are a great starting point for JRPGs if you’re already familiar with the Pokémon franchise through the show, toys, other games, or anything else related to it. That familiarity makes it less intimidating to get started.

Sword and Shield are some of the more beginner-friendly games that give you an idea of how the more classic options in the series feel, but with a modern polish that eliminates parts that might otherwise be frustrating. They aren’t perfect, but they’re solid choices for a beginner. It’s a solid take on JRPG combat to teach you about exploiting weaknesses, avoiding your own, and so on.

7

Dragon Quest 11

A Staple JRPG Series

Honestly, you could pick any game from the Dragon Quest series. I just chose Dragon Quest 11 because it’s among the easier ones to access in the series. It’s also considered a masterpiece JRPG, as an added bonus. For a good first impression of the genre, it’s difficult to find better.

DQ11 in particular has turn-based combat with a bit of a faster pace, which might be preferable if you’re used to more hack-and-slash or action-oriented styles of combat. Combined with the usual Dragon Quest charm and a beautiful world, you have a game that makes it easy to fall in love with JRPGs. The story’s engaging too.

6

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Social Sim Features Make It More Approachable

I would put Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave here, because it also has a lot of built-in time for you to explore the world and has some simulator elements included, like Three Houses. Fortune’s Weave is only on the Nintendo Switch 2, however, making Three Houses the somewhat more accessible option.

Fire Emblem as a series includes a lot of the most classic JRPG elements, and people tend to love the characters and their storylines. You have turn-based combat and have to strategize to win. As a bonus, if you like one Fire Emblem, you’ll probably like others, making it a good first step into the genre. There’s a huge amount of content here, too.

5

Octopath Traveler

Cozy Vibes for Multiple Storylines

There’s something so quaint about the Octopath Traveler games that I can’t quite explain. It uses Square Enix’s HD-2D style that brings 3D environments to the classic 16-bit pixel world. The result is a game that feels both modern and nostalgic.

It’s hard to go wrong with Octopath Traveler. You have eight characters that each have a unique storyline and abilities. Those abilities are important both in and out of combat, as you can use different characters for tasks in towns, like stealing items or starting duels. You have to be strategic, but you also get to be creative, and that’s valuable. You want to have fun and not just get stuck grinding.

4

Persona 5

Or Any Persona, Really

While any game from the Persona series is a good starting point, Persona 5 usually gets the spotlight. However, Persona 3 Reload offers a modernized version of the original game, so you could honestly pick either one and get a feeling for JRPGs in a more familiar school setting and a coming-of-age story.

The feature that makes Persona so beginner-friendly is its social sim mechanics. It isn’t just about improving your strength in this series; you also want to improve your relationships with those around you, perhaps find love, and fulfill your obligations as a student at school. You can engage with as much as you wish.

3

Chrono Trigger

One of the Best

Often considered one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, it doesn’t get more classic than Chrono Trigger. If you want to dive right into the genre and experience what the games in it were like in the 1990s and early 2000s, then this is the game you want.

You have the turn-based combat, multiple party members who each have their own strengths, the blend of sci-fi and fantasy that JRPGs love using, and even time travel. It hits all the classic JRPG features, without the bloat that tends to creep into games of this sort. A legendary starting point.

2

Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake

A Fan-Favorite Option

Final Fantasy 7 is a fan favorite of the series, and it’s an interesting option in that you can play the original and experience the classic JRPG style, or you can play the remake trilogy to experience a more modern JRPG. They’re both great options.

Because players like to be spoiled by great graphics and massive open worlds, I’d almost suggest playing the available games of the remake trilogy first, which are going to be more familiar if you’re used to modern games and not used to JRPGs. If you enjoy it, you can always explore the rest of the games connected to FF7, and you’ll be ready when FF7 Revelations is released to complete the trilogy.

1

Super Mario RPG

A Familiar World

Despite being remade for the Nintendo Switch, I feel like Super Mario RPG is often forgotten when you talk about JRPGs, because this usually isn’t the genre that Mario shows up in. You’ll look at platformers and adventure genres to find Mario games first, not JRPGs.

However, Super Mario RPG is a great pick partially for that reason. The characters and world are familiar from the start because Mario as a franchise is so well-known. Now, you just have that content arranged into a game with JRPG features like a focus on narrative and turn-based combat.

Gaming has so much to offer that players can almost always find a genre that resonates with them, but sometimes you want to look beyond your usual options and try something new. If JRPGs are what you’re looking at trying, it’s tough to know where to start. However, there are so many masterpieces that it’s worth finding the right game to introduce you to the genre.