Turn-based JRPGs that are worth playing for their stories alone

JRPGs have some of the most compelling stories of any video game, probably because they have more time to develop. The average play time of many of these games is around 40 hours, which can be a lot for players with busy lives. However, some games are worth playing for the story alone.

The turn-based combat and graphics of some of these games are also convincing, but the storyline goes beyond the genre. Admittedly, they are still not for everyone, as Japanese games can sometimes be strange due to anime influences. These examples are worth giving a chance at least.

8 Final Fantasy 7

A mercenary fights to get his memories back to save the world

Final Fantasy 7 is one of the top fan favorites of the series. It begins with a mercenary, Cloud, returning to Midgar, where his old headquarters was. He was formerly with SOLDIER, a top program for fighters within Shinra, the corporation that controls Midgar.

What starts as a simple series of eco-terrorist attacks evolves into a storyline centered around Sephiroth, a man Cloud thought dead who is trying to destroy the world. There are twists and turns aplenty, from amnesia episodes to stuffed animal spies to chocobo races. The story has so much to offer and the remake series has done a great job of bringing this masterpiece into the modern day.

7 Persona5

Teenagers struggle through school exams and adults try to suppress them

Persona5 is about a nameless teenager who is transferred to a new city in Japan after a political scandal. Here he meets a coffee shop owner and family friend who helps him get into a new school. As this teenager meets new friends, they are confronted with magical powers that plunge them into an alternate reality where they can change the hearts of truly corrupt individuals, from a burger chain entrepreneur to a dastardly gym teacher.

The main storyline is interesting, but so are the little activities on the side, as this teenager can befriend side characters through a system called “Confidants” to build bonds. It’s also a long RPG and players will really feel like they’ve made a whole bunch of new friends by the end.

6 Ni No Kuni: The Curse of the White Witch

A Ghibli version of Pokemon

Ni no Kuni: The Curse of the White Witch is like playing a Ghibli movie. The plot revolves around a young boy, Oliver, who travels to a new world to save his mother. He is helped by a magical fairy named Mr. Drippy, who teaches him everything about the new world, from lore to combat mechanics.

For any Ghibli fan who grew up with the films, it is a wonder to be experienced. Although the plot is not that dense, as the film lasts more than two hours, it still has all the charm and heart that will make players cry with joy and sadness.

5 Parasite Eve

A monstrous witch conquers New York City with mutated animals

Parasite Eve is a good sci-fi horror plot that would work as a big budget Hollywood movie. For anyone who’s interested, yes, there was a Japanese movie and it’s based entirely on a book. The game stars New York City detective Aya Brea, who witnesses a tragedy one night at an opera.

People burst into flames after a woman named Eve begins to transform. Now people all over the city are turning into slime and animals are mutating into monsters. It’s a scary story but with excellent pacing that makes it exciting with plenty of action and grotesque horror scenes.

4 Radiant Historia

A magical book gives the hero the ability to travel through time in times of war

Radiant Historia is a time travel story about righting the wrongs of the past. Stocke and his small squadron are wiped out during an early mission, but all is not lost. Magical beings grant him a spellbook that can help him travel through time repeatedly to solve puzzles and advance the plot.

Keeping track of all the timelines can be difficult, but satisfying nonetheless. The main cast of heroes, including Stocke, is small, meaning players can get to know them more easily than with a larger cast, making it a more intimate RPG overall.

3 Shadowhearts: Covenant

An alternative view of World War I with demons and Rasputin

Shadowhearts: Covenant is a wild plot that sets the story in an alternate timeline. During World War I, a group of heroes banded together to stop Rasputin from taking over the world. It’s fun to see the influx of real-life characters in a new light, especially the mad Rasputin.

Other characters include Princess Anastasia of the Russian Empire and philosopher Roger Bacon. The plot is more silly than engaging and that alone makes the game worth buying on the PS2.

2 Xenosaga Episode 1: The Will to Power

Religion fights for supremacy against invisible aliens

Xenosaga Episode I: The Will to Power is a trip and a half and anime fans will really love it. What begins simply as a space horror film with invisible aliens that can be fought with robots and mechs quickly develops into a space opera with a religious background.

It can be incomprehensible at times, with characters waxing poetic about the universe in cutscenes that rival the length of M.Metal Gear Solid cutscenes. It is the beginning of a trilogy and to get the full story, it is recommended to play the whole thing. Unfortunately, tracking down this lost RPG trilogy is not easy as it never left the PS2, just like Shadow Hearts.

1 Yakuza: Like a Dragon

A monster with a heart of gold

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the seventh mainline game in the Yakuza Franchise, not counting the prequel. It was a reboot of sorts with a new character, Ichiban. It also changed the gameplay from action-based to turn-based.

After being released from prison, Ichiban tries to ingratiate himself back into the Yakuza who don’t want him. Disconnected from society, Ichiban desperately tries to fit in and helps the less fortunate in the city. He’s a goofy hero with a heart of gold and it’s hard not to smile at his good-natured antics in Japan. This game is suitable for beginners.