JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest have been around since the late ’80s, allowing millions around the globe to experience the creative art style and story-driven gameplay that comes with them.
While they may seem popular now, there was a time when the west didn’t take to the Japanese made games.
With that said, now they are as popular as ever and over the course of these recent years have been creeping their way into the PC community more than ever before.
This has given us much needed cause for celebration; enjoy this list of 10 of the most anticipated JRPGs set for release in 2018-2019.
10. Valkyria Chronicles 4
Valkyria Chronicles: Gameplay
Valkyria Chronicles 4 takes place in the war-torn continent of Europa where the player must take up arms as Claude Wallace, the first lieutenant of Squad E, as he leads his friends and country to victory.
While this is a new entry into the series, anyone who enjoyed the first game, Valkyria Chronicles, would be happy to know that Valkyria Chronicles 4 takes place during the same time the original protagonists, Welkin and Alicia, were making their way through the Imperial Army. The core mechanics that have been used throughout the series is overall the same idea, you deploy your squad mates for battle then take out the approaching enemy force as cleanly as you can.
Cleanly meaning that if an allied unit’s HP is reduced to 0 you better get to them before 3 turns or else you’ll suffer the permadeath feature that all the games contain!
Being the 4th main game in the series, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a JRPG that is tailormade for returning fans to the series but if you’re an enthusiast for tactical gameplay, great storytelling, and loving characters, feel free to check it out; you might just want to play the other 3.
This painting — I mean screenshot — of Raz Beach looks perfect for any Otaku or gamer's bedroom.
Although many missions and cutscenes are shown through photos and maps like a book, they use the same character models as the full CG cutscenes for consistency.
9. Lost Sphear
Lost Sphear: Gameplay
In 2016, a new studio created by Square Enix made a great game called I Am Setsuna. I Am Setsuna was praised industrywide for its old-school design, tragic story, and beautiful piano score. Now after 2 years of waiting we have Lost Sphear, which is considered the spiritual successor, to follow up with more retro JRPG undertones.
Lost Sphear starts in the village of Elgarthe, where the protagonist, Kanata, experiences a phenomenon that causes his entire village to disappear. Kanata, along with his two best friends, Lumina and Locke, set out to find a way to restore what has been lost.
Tokyo RPG Factory, the studio that made both Lost Spear and I Am Setsuna, was created for the sole purpose of bringing back the feel of retro JRPGs from the late 80s and early 90s.
While that fact alone doesn’t guarantee quality, it's turning the heads of gamers like me, who miss the old turn-based system paired with a compelling story and relaxing soundtrack.
Van (pictured right) seems to know more than Kanata (pictured left with the sword) and his team. Van mysteriously joins Kanata on their journey. I wonder why?
Lost Sphear's use of the active-time battle (ATB) combat feels nostalgic to the 1990s glory days of JRPG's.
8. Code Vein
Code Vein: Gameplay
On September 27, 2019, Bandai Namco Studios (the developers of the popular Tales series) will be releasing the new JRPG, Code Vein.
Not much is known about the story of the new IP, but it has been clearly stated that it will have strong vampiric themes and that the action-based gameplay will be heavily inspired by the Souls series.
We also know that the player will be taking control of a blank slate character that will be fully customizable from the name to the appearance.
Code Vein is an RPG worth checking out for any fans of the supernatural, and if it takes any cues from the Tales series, it’ll be containing at least 30+ hours of story-driven fun.
If Mia Karnstein doesn't drink blood, she'll turn into a 'lost'.
There is a deep connection between Jack Rutherford (pictured here with a cool looking scar) and 'The Protagonist' of the game — a character the player will create.
7. Shining Resonance Refrain
Shining Resonance Refrain: Gameplay
Shining Resonance Refrain is another JRPG that is set to be released this year. While it hasn’t by no means caused any kind of uproar in the gaming community, it is one of Sega’s longest-running series.
First, stepping into the scene in 1991 with a first-person dungeon crawler, it is now sporting a third-person, party-based, battle system with an emphasis on synchronized attacks. In this latest entry to the Shining series, the player will be taking control of the “Shining Dragon” Irvan, who will be assuming a human form for most of the game as Yuma Irvan.
Irvan as the Shining Dragon is on a quest to stop the Empire from abusing the power of the other ancient dragons to save the land of Astoria, with the help of his friends.
Elf-like ears and a butterfly in her hair — seems like a character of a breath-taking JRPG story.
Keeping a musical theme, Shining Resonance Refrain's characters support players with songs and chained attacks using instrument-themed weapons.
6. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
Final Fantasy XII: Gameplay
In 2006, one of the most controversial entries in the Final Fantasy series, FFXII, was released. The reason this release caused an uproar throughout the community was that a ton of people hated it and a ton of people loved it; mainly for the same reasons, new systems that Square Enix decided to implement.
Final Fantasy XII the first main game in the series to try its hand at a battle system that wasn’t riddled with random encounters. Well…any respectable JRPG list of 2018 must include that the remastered edition, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age that was never released outside of Japan, has become available to the rest of the world.be taking to the skies as a young orphan, Vaan, who under accidental circumstances meets the sky pirates, Balthier and Fran.
They then begin to find themselves wrapped up into a game of political and actual warfare as they meet many other bright characters, both friendly and otherwise. Like most entries in the Final Fantasy series, you can easily reach 90+ hours when going for a completionist run; Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is well worth checking out if you ask me.
Basch fon Ronsenburg is a disgraced knight who killed a king. You get to play as him!
The 'Active Dimension Battle' system used in Final Fantasy XII was created to mimic online gaming.
5. Project Phoenix
Project Phoenix: Gameplay
Number 5 on our list of JRPGs is Project Phoenix. In September of 2013, the director of Project Phoenix, Hiroaki Yura, launched a Kickstarter hoping to gather at least $100,000 worth of funding toward the JRPG.
In the end, it turns out that he collected a whopping $1,000,000+ for the funding! This makes it clear that gamers around the globe are looking forward to seeing what his new company, Creative Intelligence Arts, has to offer.
While nothing can be said about what the story holds, it has been officially stated that the game will include a squad-based, JRPG design. Hiroaki Yura is a violinist himself and has recruited Nobuo Uematsu, who served as a composer for the Final Fantasy series for almost 20 years. This fact alone brings us hope of yet another tremendous original soundtrack that the gaming industry will bring us.
Aw...the classic bow and arrow.
The enemies in Project Phoenix are formidable. Be ready!
4. Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Star Ocean: The Last Hope Gameplay
Another long-running series to hit the list of JRPGs is Star Ocean: The Last Hope. The Star Ocean series has been around since the late 90s and it seems like they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
The Last Hope appears as a prequel to the original Star Ocean and takes place on an Earth that is reaching the end of its life due to a large-scale war that causes the two largest nations on the planet to launch world-shattering weapons at each other simultaneously. After the rapid decline of the environment, the remaining population is forced to live a life of confinement in underground cities, where they formed a new political party known as the Greater United Nations.
The player takes of control of Edge Maverick, a survivor of the great war, as he is assigned his dream job of being sent into space to help with the search of a new homeland. This being a prequel, makes it a great entry point for any PC gamers who want to know what all the hype is about.
Remi Saionji is an excellent long-distance fighter utilizing the classic bow and arrow.
Star Ocean: The Last Hope utilizes a realtime battle system and four team members. Seems to be a trend on this list.
3. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Dragon Quest XI: Gameplay
Set for the release date of September 4, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age brings players to the world of Lotozetasia, where they take the role of a young villager who must complete his village’s coming-of-age ceremony which is climbing a mountain, known as God’s Rock.
After climbing said mountain he discovers that he is the reincarnation of a hero who protected the world from the Lord of Shadows. He together with his childhood friend, Emma, leaves their hometown so he can better learn how to become the hero he needs to be. Anyone who is a fan of JRPGs will know the series, Dragon Quest as it was one of the first JRPGs to hit the market on a worldwide level and maintain a household name.
Continuing the tradition of the series, the gameplay will feature dungeons for players to explore, high mountainous areas to climb, and many side quests to add to the main story. If this entry is anything like the last releases we have received stateside, then expect 80+ hours of great plots and even greater exploits.
Let's duel! Oh wait...that's Yu-Gi-Oh.
Beauty & brains. Don't let the looks fool you. Rab (pictured left) and Jade (pictured right) kick ass in Dragon Quest XI! In Jade's case, that's both literally and figuratively.
2. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
Ys VII: Gameplay
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana brings players into the role of Adol, who is a passenger on a ship called the Lombardia when it is attacked by a mysterious creature.
After landing on the shore of an island that he and the other survivor are not familiar with they soon learn that it is inhabited with creatures that are completely different than the ones they are accustomed to. Now Adol and the other survivors have to find a way off the island while surviving the fight against the strange beasts that are there with them.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a unique game, as it puts the gamer in a weird spot that is rarely visited; it’s a JRPG whose story entirely takes place on a deserted island. While the story leaves a desire for more aspects on the circumstances of said island, it is something that is usually done in a horror game or even a first-person shooter.
I highly recommend this game to any JRPG fans that love the adventures that they bring, but also is looking for something different in the realm of storytelling. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is now available on Steam for all PC gamers interested.
Dana's cute smile may distract her enemies, but not for long.
With no traditional guard moves, dodging becomes an important gameplay mechanic in Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana.
1. Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Ni No Kuni 2: Gameplay
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom is the sequel to the JRPG Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. However, the game takes place hundreds of years after the events of the first one so even those new to the series will be able to pick it up and completely understand what’s going on.
Players will be taking the role of Roland, who is transferred to a different world after a mysterious missile explodes in his homeworld. He then meets Evan, who is in the middle of a staged coup with is led by his late father’s chief advisor.
Now mixed up in the mayhem that this new world brings, Roland sets out on a mission to help his new-found friend regain his throne and build the peaceful kingdom that his father would be proud of. While magic is still usable, Ni No Kuni 2 features a new melee-based battle system that the last entry did not include. If you’re looking for a great coming-of-age story about a king regaining his throne with a battle system that keeps you on your toes look no further, Ni No Kuni 2 will have you covered.
Judging by this screenshot of Roland Crane, you wouldn't think he specialized in swords and guns. But, alas, he does.
Mike & Ike's and candy corn? Hmm...nope. They're actually 'Higgledies' — created to refresh the gameplay with their elemental spells and combat bonuses.
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