JRPGs have a long, rich history that spans decades. With their often colorful, imaginative themes, fantastical premises, and combat that tends to balance rewarding, tactical gameplay with thrilling action, they've naturally gained a passionate following. JRPGs have evolved greatly over time — just look at the leap from the humble, pixelated debut Final Fantasy compared to the latest flashy rendition.
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Yet, they've tended to adhere to a certain linearity and yield several successive plot beats and cutscenes. While often epic, a plurality of them don't let players wander too far from the established track; even some of the action-oriented romps. Still, a growing number of more dynamic, free-roaming, highly customizable action-JRPGs have made their presence known.
7 Resonance Of Fate
Free-Wheeling Combat And Missions
Resonance Of Fate
- Released
- January 28, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tri-Ace
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Fantasy, Narrative
While one of the more linear examples of a dynamic, flexible RPG — this rare, overlooked JRPG gem on Xbox 360 (and a few other platforms) merges Western and Eastern sensibilities and brings a cool steampunk backdrop. The result is a unique role-playing romp that leaves an impression with its tactics-means-swift-shooter combat.
The game's "tri-Attack Battle System" juggles real-time and turn-based inputs, allowing players to plot their next move, while keeping the pacing and intensity at a thrilling pace. The expansive, free-flowing and flashy combat — and a slew of rewarding missions — makes the player truly feel like a steampunk action hero.
6 Dragon's Dogma 2
Eastern Elder Scrolls Meets Game Of Thrones
Dragon's Dogma 2
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
If there was ever an ARPG from Japan that could be likened to Bethesda's Skyrim, Dragon's Dogma and its sequel would be the games. In the name of hunting an elusive dragon, the christened "Arisen" will trek through deep and dark organic locales, slaying monsters, managing quests, and gathering goodies amidst strife and warfare between rival kingdoms.
Utilizing branching classes called Vocations, players will gain more power and versatility as they progress, with the help of two unique "Pawns" that aid in chaotic battles. With new/altered classes and a map that's four times the size of its predecessor, this sequel makes for an especially epic, often overlooked ARPG.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is not a conventional JRPG, but it shares enough elements to warrant at least a mention.
5 Tales Of Arise
A New Style Of Tales Arises
Tales of Arise
- Released
- September 10, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Along with its whimsical, vibrant tone, the Tales series is most known for — and thrives on — swift real-time combat that channels fighting games about as much as RPGs battles. With Arise, Bandai Namco mostly ditches the former trait, opting for a grittier, ominous look akin to open-world WRPGs.
It's fitting, given the relative free-roaming nature of this ambitious sequel; traits that often comprise Western role-playing romps. Players are given more latitude to wander about at their own pace while largely carving their path — though the anime-style cutscenes and "Linear Motion Battle System" are still present and both shine.
4 Star Ocean 3: Till The End Of Time (Director's Cut)
Much To Manage And Overcome In This Sci-Fi Epic
Star Ocean: Till the End of time
- Released
- August 31, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tri-Ace, tri-Crescendo
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Square Enix and tri-Ace's Star Ocean series was truly ahead of its time, quietly building a cult following in the 90s — thanks to its nuanced system of branching storylines through in-game actions and character choices. While this fantasy thriller has seen several entries to its name in the decades to follow, many point to PS2/PS4's Till the End of Time as the culmination of this shining star.
Featuring a multi-layered combat system that fuses tactics with chaotic action — which forces synchronicity and managing many aspects — the game keeps things interesting within its battle arenas and across the vibrant Star Wars-esque sci-fi worlds beyond. While not too newbie-friendly even after the more refined Director's Cut, this Star Ocean rendition greatly rewards players willing to navigate its many moving parts.
3 Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
A New, Dynamic Era Of Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star Online 2
- Released
- July 4, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Sega's premiere RPG attraction dates back to its humble Master System days, and the elaborate epic has come a long way since. In staying true to its groundbreaking gameplay, Phantasy Star Online presents a quasi-MMO structure, which was novel for its 2000 origins. This more refined, vibrant sequel takes things further into the ether, with countless character customizations, campaign pathways, and goodies to explore and play with.
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With a highly involved interface rife with several commands and hot keys that frame the vast worlds — made more easily traversable through Photon Dash and Glide abilities — this ARPG feels as much like World of Warcraft as any console game in the genre. The detail and flexibility extends from the thrilling real-time combat to bits as simple as player uploadable object symbols to communicate with others.
2 Legend Of Mana
A Non-Linear Legend That's Been Forgotten By Many
Legend of Mana
- Released
- July 15, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Square
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Adventure
This follow-up to the Zelda-esque adventure Secret of Mana harnesses the series' fun action leanings, while putting a colorful twist on the formula. Not only can players largely control the pace, placements, and strategies of the fast-paced fighting; but they'll now cobble together their own campaign structure through the novel "Land Make" system.
This has players place biomes and points of interest at locations of their choosing on an empty grid map, giving a vibe somewhere between a choose-your-own adventure tale, non-linear Mega Man stage selections, and digital tabletop assembly. Collectible artifacts generate unique lands which are then explored in isolation and vary in difficulty depending on different factors, creating a uniquely malable, unpredictable journey.
1 Xenoblade Chronicles X (Definitive Edition)
These Chronicles Are Sprawling And Seemingly Endless
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
- Released
- March 20, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Soft
Following its lead from the distinctly epic Xenoblade, this spinoff manages to eclipse at least the Xeno debut for Wii despite its more divisive — but nonetheless fun — inclusion of customizable mechas called Skells.
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Fans were excited to hear that essentially the last worthwhile title was finally poached from Wii U's library and made even more stunning on Switch. Along with Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this game is perhaps the largest, most ambitious Nintendo-published game of the Wii or Wii U eras. With its countless sprawling worlds of impressive verticality, ample distinct sidequests, impactful character interactions, and a huge campaign, it's certainly among the most memorable.