JRPGs always tend to come in first place when thinking about the best genre on the PlayStation. These games on the iconic console offer such uniquely creative stories, and it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint just one reason why they are so beloved. At the end of the day, it goes without saying that the PlayStation is the greatest platform for JRPGs to thrive on.
The vast catalog of JRPGsavailable across all PlayStation generations can feel a bit overwhelming. There’s so much for you to explore, yet at the same time, where do you possibly begin? Luckily, it’s thanks to the developers' hard work and the community’s adoration that it’s easy to determine the best ones out there. With all that said, here are the greatest JRPGs across all the PlayStation platforms.
10Tales Of The Abyss
Metacritic: 75
Tales of the Abyss
What Players Will Love…
In celebration of the iconic series' tenth anniversary,Tales of the Abyssmade its way into the spotlight. Featuring a diverse cast that helps to place emphasis on the protagonist’s character development, you’re swiftly thrown into the adventure of a lifetime. Although the pacing is a bit rocky in the beginning, the story blooms slowly into a tale that’s well worth the wait.
While players might be more familiar with Tales of the Abyss on the 3Ds, its original platform on the PlayStation 2 is truly where the game thrives best. Working in tandem with the thrilling combat system, how the controls work on the PS2 play a subtle part in the immersive gameplay.
9Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Metacritic: 84
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
If you’re a newcomer to theYakuzaseries, and you’re not sure where to start,Yakuza: Like a Dragonis an amazing place if you want to experience the modern-day era. Deterring from the main Yakuza storyline, Like a Dragon introduces a brand-new protagonist who is ready to take on whatever comes his way to become a hero.
The possibilities of how you can experience this game are magnificent. Encapsulating the classic quirky comedy of the Yakuza series, the story in Like a Dragon is wonderfully melodramatic. Not to mention the refined combat compared to previous games that beautifully flows with the mechanics of the latest PlayStation consoles.
8Kingdom Hearts 2
Metacritic: 87
Kingdom Hearts 2
You’re more than likely to remember the overly exciting feeling flowing through you when the sequel toKingdom Heartsfinally hit the shelves for the PlayStation 2. While nothing can truly beat the original, it would be hard to argue that the sequel didn’t masterfully become the series' magnum opus.
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Bringing back new and old Disney worlds into the mix,Kingdom Hearts 2showcased its ability to combine itsFinal Fantasy-centric story withnostalgic Disney oneseven better than before. This wasn’t only from Sora’s upgraded combat, but also from how the story unfolded engrossing amounts of brand-new lore and finally found its footing.
7Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
Metacritic: 86
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
In the long-runningDragon Questseries, the eleventh installment has completely knocked it out of the park. Putting us in the shoes of the Luminary, you’re tasked with embarking on the epic adventure of a lifetime. The overall feel of the game is reminiscent of old-school JRPGs, featuring charming turn-based combat to sink your skills into.
Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Agestarts off rather slow in the beginning. However, this pacing serves the game well as it breaks the mold of what you’d expect standard JRPGs to be today. In other words, it’s a game that quickly grows on you without even realizing it. Fairytale-like and relaxing, this is a good outlet to give your brain a break.
6NieR: Automata
Metacritic: 88
NieR: Automata
Telling the story of androids in a dystopian future,NieR: Automatais a thoughtful masterpiece. In the androids', 2B, 9S, and A2, effort to reclaim their world from powerful machines, you’ll be guided through a grim open world. It’s a beautiful mixture of high-speed action and a thought-provoking story that is gorgeously tragic.
The relationship between the characters and existentialism in NieR: Automata is subtle. Mainly conveyed through the atmosphere, the lore is insightful for getting a full understanding of how the world around the androids works. Most JRPGS stick with you because of combat or characters, but NieR does so through subtle storytelling.
5Monster Hunter: World
Metacritic: 90
Monster Hunter World
Terrifying monsters lurk around for you to hunt them down inMonster Hunter: World. Setting you in the world of the Hunter, you’ll gain the ultimate hunting experience through killing various creatures in epic and vast lands. The environment is constantly breathing with life, and it’s your job to protect it.
Everything is at your disposal to hunt monsters within this game. The gameplay is simple at its core, leading you to get the hang of things quite easily. Combat-wise, it’s smooth and feels rewarding once you finally get the kill you’ve been hoping to get. And, thanks to the developers' hard work in getting the controls to work with modern PlayStations, the mechanics feel completely detailed.
4Final Fantasy 9
Metacritic: 94
Final Fantasy 9
AlthoughFinal Fantasy 7always seems to take the spotlight whenlooking back on the series, there’s one that is just as masterful:Final Fantasy 9. With a plot that focuses on war between nations within a medieval fantasy world, you’re sure to be set in an excitedly ruthless setting the moment you start the game.
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After the eighth installment, Square took their next creation to a new setting instead of being futuristic. Reverting back to the medieval style was the best decision for this game. It led to a creative work of art that takes its fantasy in a straightforward and natural direction. Originally released on the PlayStation 1, the transformation of Final Fantasy 9 over the years has been beautiful.
3Persona 5 Royal
Metacritic: 95
Persona 5 Royal
In this definitive edition ofPersona 5for the PlayStation, there is a lovely variety of new content for you to play around with. Featuring revamped bosses, new Personas, and so much more, this version will make you want to play the unique JRPG all over again. Royal takes everything you love about Persona 5 and makes it infinitely better.
SinceRoyalonly adds creative content, the overall premise and experience are fantastically the same. Following Ren Amamiya, a transfer student, and his friends,they all team upto tackle dreams that manifest into horrors flooding into their day-to-day lives. In your hopes of doing so, you’ll encounter strange enemies that lead you to experience the game’s difficult turn-based combat.
2Vagrant Story
Metacritic: 92
Vagrant Story
Taking place in the kingdom of Valendia, you are set in the shoes of an elite agent known as the Riskbreaker. Traveling to a ruined city, you investigate the link between a cult leader and a senior member named Duke Bardorba. From there, you’ll explore grim environments to uncover a bloody mystery.
Cited as one of the greatest games of all time,Vagrant Storyis still known today for its weighted tale and balanced battle system. It provides a cinematic playthrough on the PlayStation, mainly conveyed through its single-player dungeon-crawler gameplay. Vagrant Story might’ve been pushed behind by bigger titles at the time, but it will always hold a permanent place in being one of the best JRPGs to spend hours into.
1Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross
Once you’ve playedChrono Cross, there is barely any going back. Not only is the story charming, but it’s an adventure that you’ll be unable to forget. It creates a faithful space for classic entertainment, encouraging immersion and a soundtrack that gets you excited for what’s next.
Chrono Cross worked in tandem with the PlayStation 1’s controls. The game held your hand through the bad, but it still encouraged you to tactfully use your skills on your own. With all of this said, it has a cemented role of being a masterpiece during the golden age of the PlayStation. And, no matter how many games could be compared to it, Chrono Cross will always be its own monument in PlayStation history.
