Summary

  • Many JRPGs set in times of political turmoil or war allow players to take on the role of rebels for an engaging experience.
  • Games like Final Fantasy 6, Tales of Berseria, and Persona 5 feature rebellious protagonists in complex storylines.
  • Titles like Suikoden and Tales of Arise showcase rebel heroes fighting against oppressive empires for liberation and freedom.

JRPGs have been around for almost as long as gaming consoles have. This genre helped establish many of the franchises gamers are familiar with today and laid the foundations for many modern-day JRPG and RPG titles.

Harvestella, 7th Dragon 3, Alliance Alive collage
5 Best JRPGs With Dragon Slaying

These games showcase the majesty and danger that comes with fearsome dragons.

4

While JRPGs can tackle different topics and still be interesting. It’s typically those set in the midst of a political conflict or times of war that are the most appealing to players. When games allow players to take on the role of a rebel, that’s the recipe for success and a very enjoyable experience. Here are some JRPGs where players can take on the role of a rebel.

5 Final Fantasy 6

A Solid Addition To The Final Fantasy Franchise

Final Fantasy 6
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
October 11, 1994
Developer(s)
Square Enix, Square
Genre(s)
RPG
  • Set in a steampunk-influenced world
  • Most of the playable characters belong to The Returners

Final Fantasy 6 is set in the midst of political turmoil in a world with heavy steampunk influences. While that might sound a bit strange considering that many of the franchise's titles normally occur in medieval settings, the concept works very well and delivers an overall enjoyable experience for players.

Final Fantasy 6 has 14 playable characters, each with their own backstory, personality and unique traits and skills. Most of the characters and protagonists in Final Fantasy 6 are part of a rebellious group known as The Returners, whose main objective is to oppose the cruel rule of the Gestahlian Empire. This means that, regardless of which character they choose, players will have ample opportunity to take on the role of a rebel.

4 Tales Of Berseria

A Story Full Of Pirates And Creatures Of The Night

Tales of Berseria
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
January 24, 2017
Developer(s)
Bandai Namco Studios
Platform(s)
PC, PS4
Genre(s)
JRPG, Action
  • The third-person perspective adds to the narrative
  • Story full of pirates and other outlaws

Tales of Berseria has a very complex story that involves pirates, multiple conflicts and a good number of interesting characters. Players will take on the role of Velvet, a young woman who was once very kind and noble, but is now full of hatred due to traumatic experiences stemming from events that took place a few years before this title’s story begins.

Bravely Default, Dark Spire, Etrian Odyssey Nexus
5 JRPGs That Feature Vampires

Vampires aren't common fare in JRPGs, but they can be found lurking in some shadowy corners of the genre, including these games.

1

The game is played through a third-person perspective, which allows players to interact with the various NPCs across the world and to have different conversations with them, which can range from humorous to serious in nature. It’s undeniable that, historically, pirates are among the most renowned criminal groups, holding themselves to no law, and pillaging wherever they go. Can there be a more authentic JRPG rebellious experience?

3 Persona 5

Students With A Mysterious Power Act As Vigilantes

Persona 5
Display card tags widget
RPG
Dungeon Crawler
Adventure
Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
September 15, 2016
Developer(s)
Atlus
Platform(s)
PS3, PS4
Genre(s)
RPG, Dungeon Crawler, Adventure
  • Joker and his fellow students come across a mysterious power
  • The game has a day-night cycle and a good weather system

Persona 5 starts as what would appear to be the typical high school student-turned-criminal story. After a young man by the name of Joker is accused of a crime, he is put on probation and transferred to a different high school. Everything seems to be normal until Joker and a few of his classmates come across a dormant power that grants them incredible abilities that they’ll put to good use.

With their newly acquired powers, Joker and his fellow students create the vigilante group known as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Their mission is simple but very challenging- to explore the Metaverse, a realm born of the malicious desires of humanity and cleanse the hearts of people to help them change.

Persona 5 has very powerful narrative elements, which are beautifully complemented by the game’s day-night cycle and a weather system that provides a much more moralistic experience, very similar to that of a social simulation game. While Joker and his fellow students are not rebels in every sense of the word, they are vigilantes, which, in one way or another, still fall into that category.

2 Suikoden

The Son Of An Empire's Hero Becomes A Part Of The Rebellion Against It

Suikoden
Display card tags widget
JRPG
Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
December 15, 1995
Developer(s)
Konami
Platform(s)
PlayStation (Original), Sega Saturn, PC
Genre(s)
JRPG
  • The main character turns down military nobility to become a rebel hero
  • Various NPCs to discover and tasks to complete

Suikoden is an inspiring story set in the midst of a political conflict, where the main character, Tir McDohl, rejects his birthright and instead, chooses to pursue the path of liberation. As the son of one of the most famous heroes of the Scarlet Moon Empire, Tir was meant to follow in his father’s footsteps; however, after a series of complex events, he ended up deciding against this and becoming the leader of the Liberation Army instead.

Similar to other JRPGs, Suikoden will allow players to explore the world and interact with various NPCs, take on different tasks and complete many missions throughout the story. All from the perspective of the Scarlet Moon Empire’s favorite son’s offspring. An inspiring tale of bravery, loss, and valiant leadership that will have players on the edge of their seats for hours.

1 Tales Of Arise

A Fight For Freedom, And The End Of A Dictatorship

Tales of Arise
Display card tags widget
Action RPG
Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
September 10, 2021
Developer(s)
Bandai Namco Studios
Genre(s)
Action RPG
  • Two worlds in different periods
  • The game features a power struggle between the oppressors and the oppressed

It’s not often that players get to experience a JRPG in two different periods. And while Tales of Arise doesn’t have an actual time jump, it often feels like it does. The game takes place in the medieval world of Dahna and the technologically advanced Rena.

As would be expected when one civilization is more advanced than another, the Renans have had a strong 300-year hold on the Dahnans, which, naturally, has sparked all sorts of conflict and social unrest. Tales of Arise features fast-paced, adrenaline-rushing combat that is not only entertaining, but also visually appealing. Players will have to survive the various challenges they’ll encounter along the way to ultimately free Dahna of the cruel hold Rena has over it.

Demon Gaze, Alliance Alive, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance collage
5 Best JRPGs With Demons

These JRPGs fill player's parties with some not-so-holy friends -- or force them to fight demonic foes.