Best Slow Burn JRPGs That Reward Patience, Ranked

Many slow burn JRPGs are known for their slow starts, where the initial focus is on building rich worlds, introducing characters, and establishing the foundations for the entire narrative. This approach may require patience, but it serves as a basis for engaging and rewarding development, making this initial pace provide a detailed introduction to players, enhancing the experience in the long run.

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After a few hours, these games usually pick up a more lively pace, revealing complete mechanics and well-developed stories. Thus, the best slow burn JRPGs are those that have a gradual story transition, introducing new concepts and mechanics little by little, but increasing the pace as the narrative progresses, making an unforgettable experience for players.

8 Nier: Automata

A Slow Burn JRPG With Multiple Endings To Complete

The game starts with fast-paced action gameplay and a fascinating post-apocalyptic world. However, its true essence becomes apparent as the player progresses, unveiling a complex story that rewards patience. In the early stages, it engages with its atmosphere and combat, but soon addresses intricate philosophical themes.

The story is somewhat slow at the beginning, but as it unfolds, NieR: Automata dives into the nature of consciousness and the meaning of life. Its multiple endings offer unique perspectives on the plot and characters, enhancing emotional depth. With an impeccable soundtrack by Keiichi Okabe, this slow burn JRPG becomes an unforgettable experience for those who fully engage with it.

7 Kingdom Hearts 2

The Beginning With Roxas Is A Bit Slow

The prologue of Kingdom Hearts 2 sidelines Sora, the protagonist of the first game, allowing players to control Roxas, a new character, in Twilight Town. This introduction is heavily focused on the story, introducing various objectives and cutscenes to keep players informed about what is happening and the combat mechanics.

This makes the beginning of the game quite a slow burn video game, with not much action for players who enjoy the fast-paced combat system that Kingdom Hearts 2 has. However, once this part of the game is over and the story refocuses on Sora and begins the exploration of Disney's themed universes, the story starts to develop more interestingly and at a better pace.

6 Dragon Quest 11 Echoes Of An Elusive Age

The Game Has A Traditional Structure Of Slow Burn JRPGs

Like many other games in the genre, Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a JRPG that bets on a slower start, focused on developing characters and presenting the structures of the world of Erdrea. Thus, during the first hours of gameplay, most of the missions are introductory to the setting to connect the characters with the story.

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Thus, it takes some time for the main plot to take shape, only happening after several hours of gameplay, becoming more interesting after the start of the second act, culminating in very good moments in the third. This pace rewards players who are patient, delivering an excellent story for those who overcome the JRPG with a slow start.

5 Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance

Greater Focus On Exploration And Combat

In Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, Atlus deliberately chose to make the game a slow burn JRPG, gradually introducing new environments and monsters, in addition to maintaining minimalistic storytelling. Thus, the story develops quite slowly, with new information being added sparingly and with little dialogue, almost always without revealing many relevant details.

It is worth mentioning, however, that the game has a great focus on exploration and combat, but Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance also takes time to provide a greater variety of demons for the main character to use. However, after about 15 hours of gameplay, following the encounter with the first bosses, the gameplay becomes more active for turn-based fans, allowing varied strategies.

4 Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age

The JRPG's Story Only Improves Over Time

Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age is a classic example of a JRPG with slow start, where the beginning prioritizes building a complex political plot and introducing the vast world of Ivalice and its characters. The initial progress may seem slow due to the focus on story, exploration, and presentation of mechanics such as the Gambit system and the License Board.

The game picks up pace after about 10 hours, especially with events like the Tomb of Raithwall, which intensify the combat and deepen the central plot. The Zodiac Age version also brings some quality of life improvements, introducing ways to speed up parts of the gameplay, but while the beginning of the game may seem slow, it is fundamental to the rich story that accompanies it.

3 Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Patience Needed Until This Slow Burn JRPG Engages

Despite being a fantastic game, the initial hours of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 follow the pattern of other JRPGs with slow start, requiring many hours to present all the mechanics and allow the narrative to gain momentum. However, it is the type of game that significantly improves over time, especially regarding the story.

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Although patience is needed during the beginning, it is from the end of chapter 3 and the start of chapter 4 that the narrative begins to deepen, revealing new events for the characters and raising the stakes of the plot. Additionally, the combat becomes more dynamic at this point, with players mastering the mechanics and facing new exciting challenges.

2 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Takes Time To Introduce All Elements Of The Game

The arrival of Yakuza: Like A Dragon marked not only a change of protagonist, with Kyriu shifting the spotlight to Ichiban Kasuga, but also altered many gameplay elements, especially combat. Therefore, much of the initial hours are dedicated to introducing the new character and what is relevant to know about his background.

Because of this, the JRPG is quite a slow burn video game, taking considerable time for all these details and characters to be introduced. Additionally, Yakuza: Like A Dragon often features some long cutscenes. However, when the story delves into the central conflict of the plot, the pace accelerates significantly, mixing humorous moments with emotional scenes, making the wait worthwhile.

1 Persona 3 Reload

The Game’s Story Has A Significant Pace Change At The End

In any modern Atlus Persona game, the story introduction is usually relatively slow, with the character being introduced to the story and all the modern concepts the franchise possesses, such as Social Links and the alternate world of shadows. However, Persona 3 Reload is one of the most slow burn JRPGs in the series, with the story taking time to become truly interesting.

Tartarus is the only dungeon in Persona 3 Reload, and many early bosses, linked to the full moon, seem disconnected from the main narrative, unlike what happens in 4 or 5. Nevertheless, in October, the plot undergoes significant changes, evolving into one of the best narratives in the series, culminating in one of the most melancholic and impactful endings.

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