There used to be a time when new JRPGs were rare commodities, just because so many of them would never leave Japan. For the most part, those days are long gone, and nearly all major projects are not only sent to Western regions but are also released on multiple consoles and PC. 2025 has already produced plenty of great JRPGs, but the year is not quite done yet; furthermore, 2026's first quarter has really taken shape by this point, and most genres seem set to hit the ground running. JRPGs are no exception.
Nowadays, exciting new game reveals happen so frequently that keeping up with all the announcements is frankly exhausting. Debuts are also a daily occurrence, and you just cannot play everything, particularly when you tend to pick games known for lengthy 30+ hour campaigns. So, to simplify matters, let's highlight the biggest upcoming JRPGs that should launch in the coming months. If you love this genre, keep an eye on these titles.
Criteria:
- The focus is primarily on games with confirmed release dates for this year or 2026, and nothing earlier than November 1, 2025. That said, we included one exception.
- Games like Persona 4 Revival, Dragon Quest 12, and Final Fantasy Remake Part 3 (Or DLC, as rumors have it) will definitely be huge, but none of these are confirmed for 2026.
- We are going to be a bit strict with the definition of "JRPG," so games like Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will not be considered.
- Ports like Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade coming to Switch 2 won't be included. It is still cool, though.
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon was left out due to being too niche. Don't get me wrong, the game looks great, but the franchise has a billion entries and seems unlikely to get any bigger.
Octopath Traveler 0
Adapting A Great Mobile JRPG For Consoles And PC
Octopath Traveler 0
- Released
- December 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- DOKIDOKI GROOVE WORKS, Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
The biggest upcoming 2025 JRPG is Octopath Traveler 0, although it is technically not 100% new. Square Enix and DokiDoki are essentially adapting Champions of the Continent, a game that is currently available to play on Android and iOS devices, for consoles and PC. While that version has gacha and standard mechanics for mobile releases, Octopath Traveler 0 will remove these elements to create an experience that is closer to the previous main entries.
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The word "mobile port" tends to terrify many folks, but this one should mostly avoid that process's trappings. More importantly, Octopath Traveler 0 is set to evolve the franchise in exciting and risky ways, rather than just regurgitate the 8-protagonist structure of its predecessors. You will not only get to create an original character, but you will be able to recruit dozens of heroes, hopefully presenting an incredibly wide range of party variety. The battle system should not be too different from what came before, but it hardly needed changing anyway. The game will even have a town-building/restoring aspect that is directly tied to the story, as the protagonist's village is destroyed as the inciting incident.
Code Vein 2
The Soulslike Vampire Anime JRPG Returns In 2026
Code Vein II
- Released
- January 29, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Soulslike, Dating Sim, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
For the most part, I prefer not to label Soulslikes as JRPGs since they are basically their own genre, which is why Nioh 3 is not highlighted in this article. However, Code Vein 2 is just SO anime that an exception must be made. Its predecessor was arguably the first true Soulslike JRPG, and the sequel looks set to be bigger and, presumably, better. Although far from amazing, Code Vein laid a solid foundation for a potential follow-up, one that should retain the same core mechanics and focus on fine-tuning the base combat and level design.
The sequel turns Revenants into monsters through the introduction of the Luna Rapacis, sending the world into chaos. Thanks to a girl named Lou, you must travel through time to change everything, fighting enemies and draining blood along the way. While JRPGs are beloved for their narratives, Code Vein 2 will probably not tell one of 2026's greatest stories, as it should focus way more on combat and exploration.
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined
Not The Most Obvious Dragon Quest Game To Remake, But One That Needs It
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
- Released
- February 5, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, HexaDrive
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Any and every Dragon Quest game is worth playing, and the mainline entries are consistently great. The franchise is the grandfather and master of turn-based JRPGs, and Square Enix has been remastering/remaking some of its earliest releases. Unlike the first three games' HD-2D remakes, Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is getting the full makeover treatment, with a new diorama-inspired art style that might take some getting used to.
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Although not quite as universally beloved as DQ5 or DQ8, the original PS1 game is relentlessly charming and cute, with the campaign being split into islands that each tell self-contained stories. That said, DQ7 is notoriously long and slow-paced, so it can be rather difficult to revisit in this day and age. While the 3DS version is great, Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined will rework the game from the ground up, creating a more streamlined journey with (hopefully) the same adventurous tone as the original.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Might Be The Best Monster Hunter Game In Years...
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
- Released
- March 13, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Monster Hunter has had an interesting 2025, with Wilds debuting to relative acclaim before embarking on a rather turbulent post-launch existence. Fortunately, you do not need to care AT ALL about the main games to jump into Monster Hunter Stories, a turn-based JRPG subseries that prioritizes storytelling, characters, and, to an extent, exploration.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 revolves around two kingdoms, two dragons, and impending extinction, and you step into the role of a prince who goes on a journey to save the world before it is too late. Throughout their travels, they are joined by an assortment of colorful figures and also bond with monsters (called Monsties), which should come in handy during battles. If you love turn-based JRPGs with a creature-collecting twist, you will probably adore (or, at least, enjoy) these games, and there is nothing to suggest that Monster Hunter Stories 3 will fail to meet the standard set by its predecessors.
Decapolice
Level-5's Long-Awaited Detective JRPG Should Be Coming In 2026
Decapolice
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Level-5
- Publisher(s)
- Level-5
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
The exception.
Decapolice was slated to come out in 2023, but was delayed. Then, it targeted 2024, but was again delayed to 2026. If this were any other developer, multiple postponements would be a sign of trouble and kill most of the hype surrounding the game, but Level-5 is not just any company. The team has time and again proven that they can create something truly special, and with Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, they proved that delays are not an indication of quality.
Crucially, Decapolice looks FANTASTIC. Crime procedural JRPGs are basically non-existent, but the marriage sounds perfect on paper. Set in a cyberpunk-ish city, you are in charge of a rookie special investigation team and are assigned different cases that involve collecting evidence and trying to change the hearts of criminals. The latter's wording is a bit too Persona 5, but Decapolice has all the ingredients to be the best JRPG of whatever year it comes out in. Please let that be 2026.