There was a time when people considered turn-based JRPGs to be obsolete after the genre’s golden age ended on the first PlayStation. After all, people were focusing more on real-time combat that grew to look even flashier with graphical enhancements. However, the genre was still very much active with a slew of brilliant yet underappreciated games releasing for the longest time… before the debut ofPersona 5, that is.
RELATED:Persona 5: 10 Best Confidants In The Game
A game that was so ambitious that it got delayed a bunch of times,Persona 5was finally released in 2017 to rave critical and commercial reviews. Its enhanced edition —Persona 5 Royal— managed toimprove the formula even further.It brought a whole host of upgrades to the gameplay,story, and locations, making for an even more amazing and compelling experience.
The story ofPersona 5 Royalwas definitely one of a kind, and people who wish to experience more games with massive and expansive narratives should try out the following ten games as well.
10The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel
The Legend of Heroesseries is considered by many JRPG veterans to be one of the best JRPG franchises around and a criminally underrated one to boot.
Out of all the games in the series, it’s theTrails of Cold Steelarc that definitely feels the most like aPersonatitle, with mechanics and story beats certainly feeling familiar to anyone who has played any Persona game.
However, that’s not to say thatTrails of Cold Steelis an uninspired game — if anything, it’s actually a great story split across four games that give players hours upon hours of entertainment.
9Final Fantasy VII Remake
TheFinal Fantasy VII Remakewas something that fans weren’t really sure about, given the creative decisions that had gone into the making of this product. However, regardless of what most people might’ve felt before release, there’s no denying the fact that theRemakehas definitely done justice to the original title while simultaneously allowing a bunch of new gamers to experience this classic as well.
RELATED:Final Fantasy 7 Remake: The Best Materia Set-Up For Each Party Member
While the game might have padded moments and some truly weird additions, theFinal Fantasy VII Remakeis still a great title for both new and old fans to re-experience this masterpiece.
8Final Fantasy VI
However, if a player wants a more classic JRPG experience that features turn-based combat as opposed to a real-time system, then they can’t really go wrong withFinal Fantasy VI.
Featuring a brilliant cast of characters and an excellent story that takes some truly wild turns,Final Fantasy VIis a brilliant title to play for anyone who’s even remotely invested in the franchise. It also happens to feature one of the best villains in any game, period.
7Chrono Trigger
It would be impossible to talk about old-school turn-based JRPGs without mentioning one of the most beloved releases of all time —Chrono Trigger.
Featuring the minds of three brilliant creative geniuses — Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator ofFinal Fantasy), Akira Toriyama (the creator ofDragon Ball), and Yuji Horii (the creator ofDragon Quest) —Chrono Triggerended up beinga brilliant titlethat used its concept of time travel to allow for some truly excellent stories to unfold.
6Dragon Quest XI
If people wish for a modern yet still turn-based JRPG, thenDragon Quest XIshould be right up their alley.
The latest entry in the critically-acclaimedDragon Questseriesended up being one of the best games in the franchise.Dragon Quest XIfeaturing a brilliant story, colorful characters, and engaging combat that is bound to satiate the needs of any JRPG fan. While the original version is good,Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Editionis the ultimate way to experience this adventure.
5Tokyo Xanadu
Tokyo Xanadubasically takes the core concepts of thePersonaseries and molds them in a similar setting, albeit with real-time fighting as opposed to turn-based combat.
While this might seem like an uninspired decision, the fact of the matter is thatTokyo Xanaduis actually a brilliant title that any fan of thePersonaseries should definitely not miss out on. After all, it does scratch that itch thatPersona 5has probably left behind for so many people.
4The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
While not a JRPG in any sense of the word,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis still a brilliant title that any fan of video games should definitely try out. This is especially the case for those who want to enjoy a lengthy plot that lasts longer than a hundred hours.
The story of Geralt as he embarks on his quest for Ciri is a magical one, with a bunch of side quests coming along the way that feature brilliant stories in their own right.
Another excellent modern title with hundreds of potential hours of gameplay under its belt — in no small part due to a captivating story and some highly memorable characters — isRed Dead Redemption 2.
RELATED:10 Hidden Secrets Many Still Haven’t Found In Red Dead Redemption 2
Arthur Morgan is easily one of the greatest and most complex video game characters of all time. The time he spends in Dutch van der Linde’s camp is an eventful ride that strikes upon everything from broken friendships to the hubris of man himself.
2Persona 5 Strikers
The only game on this list that probably no one has played yet,Persona 5 Strikersis an official continuation ofPersona 5’s tale and features real-time combat in the same style as theDynasty Warriorsseries.
Regardless of what people might think aboutDynasty Warriorsas a series,Persona 5 Strikerswill still be a treat for fans of the original simply because of the extra story beats. The game will be released worldwide on Jun 16, 2025.
1Persona 4 Golden
For people who just playedPersona 5 Royaland want to try out more games in the franchise, there’s really no title more fitting thanPersona 4 Golden. The fact that this game is now available on PC as well means that it’s probably one of the most accessiblePersonatitles around, and one need only look at itssales volumesto understand just how many people went gaga over this game’s re-release.
The small town of Inaba ends up crafting a story that feels more personal and grounded than its successor, with the act of trying to catch a serial killer easily being one of the most compelling aspects ofPersona 4 Goldenby a country mile.
NEXT:15 Best Games To Play If You Love Persona 5 Royal
