Living a new life is often associated with endless adventure, butnot every JRPG needs to be fraught with infinite action. That gets tiresome after a while.
We have your back if youcrave the comfortof a warm soft blanket but want to do it in style. These are the best cozy JRPGs in the market right now, and they offer equal parts relaxation and fun, so you are not just watching paint dry by the campfire.
Of course, nobody likes monotone games, so expect some adventure andmysteryin the middle, but you will always have a nice relaxing place to sit down and reflect on the day in these titles.
8Pokémon Legends: Arceus
A Holiday In Feudal Japan
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
There is a reason why Isekai remains one of the finest genres of anime. As Todd Howard famously said about something completely unrelated, “it just works.”
Pokémon Legends: Arceussends you back in time to an island in feudal Japan. This is where things get interesting.
The game has plenty of the usual Pokémon encounters, but you arerunning like a Japanese David Attenborough trying to catalogue every one of them.
The vastness of the fictional island of Hisui (which bears a striking resemblance to Hokkaido) gives you plenty of room to live out your Pokébiologist dreams in a magical landscape.
7Persona 4
A Soundtrack For The Ages
Persona 4 Golden
If you love banging J-Rock and J-Pop tunes, chill gameplay, and a cozy town full of mysteries and lovable NPCs, you will lovePersona 4.
Unlike many cozy games that end up being about nothing,Persona 4orbits around a series of murders that haunt the town of Inaba.
The rural setting and coming-of-age theme give the game a warm coatingthat contrasts nicely with the darker underlying themes.
Persona 4is best experienced on PC with the Golden edition, which adds an extra month of content that gives the plot even more depth.
6The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The Original Switch Classic
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Yes, Zelda is a JRPG, and just because it presents itself in a typically Nintendo fashion that bucks the trend doesn’t make it any less of one! This is the hill I shall die on.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis the most iconic Nintendo Switch launch title by a long shot, and it earned that spot. The game does not force you into a cozy play style, but it happily encourages it.
The Complete Legend of Zelda Timeline, Explained
To better understand the legendary universe of The Legend of Zelda, it’s crucial to comprehend Hyrulean lore and the famous timeline.
Unless you are the type to bulldoze through the main story,Breath of the Wildgives you plenty of room tobe a hoarding craftsman, exploring every nook and cranny for something that you don’t need right nowbut you might need later so take it.
A bonus to taking it easy here is that the time spent exploring and havingrelaxed funis great for improving your weapons, so when you do move down the story, the fights feel fair.
5Lost Sphear
A Dreamlike Journey To Save The World
Lost Sphear
When the very fabric of reality is at risk of falling apart, you’d think things would feel unbearably stressful, but Lost Sphear gives it a relaxing edge.
This Tokyo RPG Factory title gives you around 30 hours of content, and every little turn feels magical due to the amazing storytelling and characters.
Like most of the studio’s titles, this is a game that is unambitious in graphics or battle mechanics, letting these elements comfortably take a backseat to the writing.
The comforting worlds come alive thanks to the soundtrack by Tomoki Miyoshi, and help make Lost Sphear one of the finest JRPG hidden gems out there.
4Harvestella
Magical Farming Tales
Harvestella
Mixing the magic ofFinal Fantasywith the coziness ofStardew Valleyis a tall ask, butHarvestellahits the sweet spot most of the time.
The 2022 Square Enix title never reached the commercial heights of its predecessors, but it isone of the best cozy games available for both Nintendo Switch and PC.
As the name implies,Harvestellais primarilyabout farming, but it spices it up with fantasy combat and an anime-inspired art style that keeps it extremely relaxing even when you are busy whacking monsters.
3World of Final Fantasy
Honey, I Shrank The Favorites
World Of Final Fantasy
Forced fan service by definition is cringe, but there is something magical about actual endearing tributes likeWorld of Final Fantasy.
The game introduces a world that is an amalgamation ofFinal Fantasylocations. Combat follows the classic turn-based mechanics of 1990s Final Fantasy titles, butthe art style goes an original route with chibis so endearing they make you hate Funkoseven more.
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These are the best mainline Final Fantasy games released to date.
Thanks to the shared deities and monsters across mostFinal Fantasytitles,World of Final Fantasygives you a fusion that feels coherent, representing every mainline title untilFinal Fantasy XV, plus a few popular spin-offs likeDirge of Cerberus.
2Final Fantasy XV
A One-Way Roadtrip
Final Fantasy 15
If you ignore the untimely demise of the kingdom of Lucis,Final Fantasy XVis a superb game about fishing, camping, hunting, and having an epic road trip with the boys.
Of course, you may speedrun the game and skip all of the side action, but that makes for a hollow experience.
Final Fantasy XVdoes not have the immaculate plot ofFinal Fantasy VII, and its cast does not pack the same intensity as theFinal Fantasy Xensemble. None of it matters when you aresitting by the fire wondering if you should have steak or sushi for dinner.
Thanks to the Royal Edition title upgrade, you’re able to also set off on a sailing trip, which leads to the most epic fishing challenge in the game. No spoilers though.
1I Am Setsuna
I Am Setsuna
Let me preface this with a warning: I Am Setsuna is an extremely comforting game, but it will also break your heart into a million tiny pieces.
This isa story of sacrifice first and foremost, wrapped in a snowy blanket that feels like a hug. The coziness you feel every step of the way exists in contrast with the doom of knowing that comfort is temporary.
The gameplay ofI Am Setsunais hardly revolutionary, and the same goes for the art style.
Tokyo RPG Factory chose a safe approach that pays tribute to classic JRPG titles, going all in on the characters and storytelling instead. The result is heartbreaking but in the best way possible.
