Summary
- Some JRPGs offer joy and escapism with optimistic characters, beautiful worlds, and grand adventures.
- The best feel-good JRPGs provide a break from saving the world with fun activities and heartwarming stories.
- Games like Ys 8, Ni No Kuni, and Final Fantasy 9 encapsulate a sense of coziness and delight for players.
Many modern JRPGs tend to embrace darker themes, featuring apocalyptic scenarios or characters inspired by shows like Game of Thrones. While these can be engaging, it's refreshing to experience games that offer a sense of joy and escapism. Unfortunately, many games today seem to lose that feel-good sense of fun, which is characterized by optimistic characters, beautiful worlds, and grand adventures that leave a lasting impression. Players often miss the characters, towns, NPCs, and worlds of these games once they finish playing.
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The best games maintain their focus on what makes them enjoyable. There's nothing wrong with taking a break from saving the world from an impending disaster to enjoy activities like racing chocobos or collecting cards. These are the games that fans cherish and remember fondly. This topic will highlight some of the best feel-good JRPGs available.
7 Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana
A Colorful Fantasy Adventure
Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of DANA
- Released
- September 12, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nihon Falcom
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PS Vita, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana once again puts players in the shoes of Adol Christin, a red-headed adventurer who connects all the mainline games in the series. However, despite using the same protagonist, there are only a few allusions to Adol's past, and every entry brings a new adventure for the young hero, so players can jump into the series at any point, with Ys 8 being a great place to start.
Ys 8 sees Adol finding himself shipwrecked on a mysterious, cursed island full of dinosaur-like monsters and other creatures. It's a castaway adventure featuring a beautiful island to explore, a plucky and optimistic hero, and a survival game element, where Adol must collect resources to support the survivor's budding village.
6 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch
A Beautiful Coming Of Age Adventure
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
- Released
- January 22, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Level 5
- Publisher(s)
- Namco Bandai
- Engine
- Havok
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Ni No Kuni is a beautifully crafted JRPG that draws inspiration from Studio Ghibli's animated movies. Studio Ghibli designed its characters, cutscenes, and music, with a long-time composer contributing some of his best work. Ni No Kuni is a coming-of-age adventure that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. The world is vibrant and enchanting, captivating players' imaginations as they explore a fantasy realm filled with intriguing characters and creatures.
Among them is Oliver's Welsh fairy companion and elements reminiscent of Pokemon mechanics, where the protagonist trains creatures known as Familiars to battle on his behalf. Ni No Kuni captures an undeniable sense of coziness and joy, making it a delight to explore its alternate universe, the "Other World." It's a feel-good adventure that will put a smile on even the most jaded fans of JRPGs.
5 Final Fantasy 9
A Return To Fantasy And Adventure
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
Few games provide the same sense of discovery and immersion in their worlds as the Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 8 present stunning environments, blending science fiction and fantasy that are delightful to explore, incorporating elements of fun and humor, even amid the serious themes of their narratives. However, it was Final Fantasy 9's embrace of pure fantasy that marked a return to the classic formula, evoking a feel-good factor that remains unmatched since its release.
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The characters are beautifully designed and unforgettable, like the mage Vivi, the dutiful knight Steiner, and the youthful optimism and bravery of its lead, the sky pirate, Zidane, will make players fall in love with its cast. Additionally, the world is a joy to explore, from the cobblestone streets of Alexandria to Lindblum, the Airship Capital of the World. The pre-rendered backgrounds truly come to life and showcase a level of imagination that's easy to love.
4 Tales Of Symphonia
A Beautiful And Vibrant Adventure
Tales of Symphonia
- Released
- August 29, 2003
- ESRB
- Teen // Violence, Sexual Themes, Language
- Developer(s)
- Namco
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PlayStation 3
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
When Tales of Symphonia was first released on the GameCube in 2003, it captured the hearts of JRPG fans and introduced many gamers across the world to the Tales series. Before Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Phantasia was only released in Japan until 2006 on the Game Boy Advance, and Tales of Destiny never launched outside of the US. For many fans, it serves as the benchmark that other titles in the Tales series are measured against, featuring its lovable cast, beautifully cel-shaded characters, and vibrant towns that are a pure joy to explore.
Tales of Symphonia features action-based combat, but aside from that, it adheres closely to the traditional JRPG elements fans know and love. The story and character development stand out, incorporating unexpectedly dark themes that contrast with the overall setting and effectively propel the motivations of the cast. It's a world players will love diving into and one they'll miss when it's over.
3 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky
Great Characters And Fantastic Storytelling
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
- Released
- June 24, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nihon Falcom
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PS Vita
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is the first in the long-running Trails series. The series features several arcs with different characters, but the stories and worlds are interconnected. It's often recommended that fans start with the first game in the Trails in the Sky trilogy. The series delves into some deep and dark themes, featuring incredible plot twists. However, the lovable duo of Estelle and Lloyd, along with the supporting cast that accompanies them on their adventure, make Trails in the Sky one of the most enjoyable entries in the series.
The charming and optimistic characters, along with the great music and attention to detail, create a world that fans will not forget or want to leave. This game is quite traditional, but its strong world-building and character development make it one of the easiest entries on this list to recommend. Fans who become enchanted by its world can continue exploring the rest of the Trails series.
2 Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
A Timeless JRPG That Sticks To Its Roots
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
- Released
- September 4, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
The Final Fantasy series often seeks to reinvent itself by introducing different combat styles with each installment. In contrast, the Dragon Quest series stays true to its traditional turn-based gameplay, which makes it all the better for it. Like its predecessors, Dragon Quest 11 does not aim to craft a complex narrative. However, it still tells an engaging fantasy story filled with its own twists and turns. Dragon Quest 11 remains faithful to its roots, providing a comforting familiarity for fans of the series.
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It features an excellent cast of characters, a beautifully crafted world, and a fantastic score. There's a sense of fun and adventure that few games can match, with a feeling that long-time and newer fans will appreciate. There's still a sense of scope and depth, taking players on a grand adventure filled with beautiful towns, dungeons, and a colorful overworld with mystery and wonder.
1 Lunar: The Remastered Collection
Two Classic Feel-Good JRPGs In One
Lunar Remastered Collection
- Released
- April 18, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- GungHo Online Entertainment, Game Arts
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Lunar: The Remastered Collection features two of the best JRPGs of the 1990s, with Lunar: Silver Star Story and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue. The games are remasters of the PS1 remakes published by Working Designs. Both games exemplify charm and provide a feel-good experience with their cast of optimistic adventurers, beautiful music, a world that's stunning in its own right, and Ghaleon, a fantastic villain who wouldn't feel out of place in the best Saturday morning cartoons of the 1980s and 1990s, especially his performances in some of the many beautifully animated cutscenes.
Both games feature similar lead characters who are determined to set out on an adventure that leads them to save the world from evil, but it's the supporting cast that steals the show with great dialogue and character development. There's a sense of innocence and joy when diving into Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue, and they're hard to put down once started.
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