10 JRPGs You Should Definitely Avoid Playing

I used to think I could play through every JRPG series ever made, but I quickly realized that was unrealistic. Now, before I add a new game to my list, I carefully consider if I’ll actually play the whole series. I prefer to commit to franchises like Trails or Fire Emblem and experience them completely.

Time is valuable, and once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. So, drawing from my own experience, I want to share a list of JRPGs that I recommend avoiding – there are a few reasons why I think you might want to skip them.

There are many reasons why JRPGs get a bad reputation – some could overshadow older games, others are just too strange to enjoy, and some are simply poorly made. Whatever the reason, I hope this list helps you decide which JRPGs are truly worth playing and building your collection around.

10. Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

Merciless With Newcomers

I’m much more familiar with the Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio games, but I’ve also played some of the Shin Megami Tensei series. I distinctly remember struggling with the difficult bosses in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne on the PS2 and eventually switching to a more approachable game like Wild Arms.

Many consider Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne to be one of the most challenging JRPGs ever made – Atlus, the game’s creator, even agreed! While experienced players or those using guides shouldn’t have much trouble, newcomers and even moderately skilled players will need to strategically use every demon they can recruit just to win standard battles.

This updated version includes a new ‘Merciful’ difficulty setting, making the game more accessible to players today. And it’s telling that a game needs to add an easy mode later on – it suggests the original difficulty was quite challenging.

9. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

Play the Remake Instead

Okay, let me clarify something for those who are getting defensive! As I mentioned earlier, I recently started playing the Trails series. I’ve already completed the entire Trails in the Sky trilogy – and even got all the achievements on Steam! – as well as Trails from Zero and Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, both earning platinum trophies on PlayStation. I don’t mean to boast, but I got really hooked and enjoyed putting in all the time.

I agree with fans that the best way to get into the series now is to begin with the first game, as the story is a continuous one that runs all the way from Trails in the Sky to the newest release. However, I wouldn’t actually suggest starting with the very original game. We have a fantastic remake that stays true to the original experience, and the second part of that remake is coming out later this year.

As a big fan, I think the only thing the original Trails in the Sky had over the remake was the fantastic translation by Xseed. It really made Estelle’s personality shine – she was so lively and funny! The remake’s Estelle is still great, but she feels a little more toned down, missing some of those witty lines. Honestly, if you’re new to the series, I’d recommend jumping right into the remake. It’s a fantastic starting point, and we can all look forward to Falcom re-releasing the rest of the games eventually!

8. Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter

Breath of Fire-esque

It’s tough to admit, as I’m a huge fan of the Breath of Fire series, but I’ve noticed a pattern. Friends will dive in and enjoy the first four games, becoming completely hooked. Then they get to Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter and are totally confused, wondering what it even is.

It’s completely natural to feel that way – my brother and I had the same reaction when we first played Dragon Quarter. It’s so different from previous Breath of Fire games that it’s jarring. While it still features Ryu, Nina, and dragons, that’s where the similarities end. The gameplay, story, and overall tone are all completely new and unexpected.

Okay, so Dragon Quarter is weird at first, but honestly, once it clicks and you accept that you’re gonna die… a lot… it’s actually a really good game. The biggest mistake you can make is going in expecting a typical Breath of Fire experience. Seriously, if that’s what you’re hoping for, you might want to skip this one, or at least mentally prepare yourself for something totally different before you jump in. It’s a JRPG, but not like the others!

7. Calamity Angels: Special Delivery

Too Chaotic for my Tastes

Look, I’ve talked about why some JRPGs can be tough, hard to get into, or just not what you expect. But honestly, I even feel bad saying this about Compile Heart, but there’s one I’d steer clear of just because… it’s not good. Seriously, Calamity Angels: Special Delivery is just… lacking in quality. It’s one I’d recommend skipping, unfortunately.

I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan of Compile Heart or Idea Factory games, but I’ve tried a few. None of them really hooked me, which was fine since I was just playing for fun and could easily stop if I wasn’t enjoying them. But I decided to fully review Calamity Angels: Special Delivery for TopMob, so I played all the way through – and even earned the platinum trophy, though that was a bit of a challenge!

I was initially hooked by the game’s unique concepts – like a healer who makes you pay for their services, or a mage who fights with their fists. However, those ideas quickly became frustrating and overly dependent on luck, and I just wanted to be done with it. The story wasn’t interesting enough to save the experience, and honestly, you should skip this game. There are much better options available, even within Compile Heart’s catalog.

6. Final Fantasy X-2

Great Gameplay, Weird Story Sequel

I think Final Fantasy X-2 is a good game. It brought back the classic Active Time Battle system, and the Dressphere system is really fun, adding a lot of variety to combat. It’s also great to see how the events of Final Fantasy X shaped the world of Spira. However, there’s a big catch to consider.

Final Fantasy X is my all-time favorite in the series, and I absolutely loved its story. That’s why I feel so strongly that Final Fantasy X-2, as a direct sequel, diminishes the impact of the original. The emotional weight of the first game – Tidus’s journey with Yuna, his development, his struggles, and ultimately his sacrifice – is nearly undone by what comes after.

As a fan, I honestly think Final Fantasy X-2 is a really fun game to play. But, the story? Honestly, if you loved Final Fantasy X, you might want to skip the story in X-2 or just not think about it too much. It could really ruin the amazing feeling you got from the first game.

5. Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire

Not The Skies of Arcadia We Were Waiting For

I don’t enjoy criticizing indie games, particularly when it’s clear a lot of heart went into making them. However, I feel it’s my responsibility to be honest, and that means warning people against wasting their time on games that aren’t good – like Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire.

I was really hyped about the game’s title, as it reminded me of Skies of Arcadia, a classic JRPG that fans have been requesting a remake of for years. Unfortunately, that’s where the similarities stop. While the combat system had some cool concepts, the constant, repetitive animations made it a real drag and ultimately ruined the enjoyment.

The developers are still working on the game and listening to player feedback, so things could change. It’s becoming more common for games to improve significantly after a slow start. But right now, I’d recommend avoiding Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire. I apologize to the team at Octeto Studios.

4. Beyond the Beyond

Not Worth It

Developer	Camelot
Publisher	Sony
Release Date	September 11, 1996

Let’s discuss some surprisingly difficult JRPGs, beginning with Beyond the Beyond (many people immediately think of 7th Saga). While Beyond the Beyond isn’t necessarily difficult overall, its combat system feels incredibly unfair.

Okay, so the idea behind Beyond the Beyond is actually pretty cool. It was one of the first JRPGs where they tried to add timed hits in battles, though it’s kinda buggy and doesn’t always work. But honestly, the biggest problem is how often you run into random battles. It’s constant! It gets to the point where it’s not really fun, you’re just mindlessly hitting the same button over and over. It’s seriously exhausting to play.

Because the game’s progression is straightforward – you simply gain levels and learn skills – there isn’t much reason to fight the same enemies over and over. This creates a frustrating cycle: damage slowly adds up, you quickly run out of healing items, and you have to go back to town to restock. This involves more fighting, more tedious tasks, and ultimately, less enjoyment.

3. The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered

Go Play SaGa Instead

FuRyu is a company I think excels at marketing more than game development itself. I really admire their practice of bringing on experienced industry professionals to work on their games. For example, they brought in the talented Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima for Reynatis, and Yuki Nobuteru and Hiroki Kikuta – both well-known from the Mana series – for Trinity Trigger.

FuRyu’s The Legend of Legacy aimed to capture the spirit of the SaGa series, which is known for being quite unique and not for everyone. Unfortunately, The Legend of Legacy didn’t quite live up to its inspiration. I played the remastered version, and while it had some interesting concepts, good ideas aren’t enough to make a truly great game.

Subscribe to the newsletter for smarter JRPG backlog choices

Want fewer wasted hours in JRPG backlogs? Subscribe to the newsletter for curated guidance on which JRPGs to skip, smart alternatives to consider, and practical recommendations that help you build a backlog that actually fits your tastes.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The game had an interesting concept – exploring a dungeon and then selling the map you created for more gold the further you went. However, that’s where the depth ends. There’s no experience point system, skills are learned as you play, the magic system is frustrating, and the story feels unimportant. While it clearly takes inspiration from classic JRPGs, it doesn’t quite succeed as one. You’re better off playing a SaGa game instead.

2. Unlimited SaGa

Just Don’t Play This SaGa

The SaGa series is often overlooked, but it’s incredibly innovative and successful – especially considering its roots in the progression system of Final Fantasy II. Akitoshi Kawazu poured his heart into building SaGa into a full-fledged series, and he achieved it. While I don’t enjoy every game, I’m a big fan of Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song and the original SaGa Frontier.

Not every fan of Japanese role-playing games needs to play a SaGa title, but it’s worth giving one a try. Unless, that is, it’s Unlimited SaGa. Seriously, avoid that game at all costs. I really, really disliked playing it. I even bought a brand new copy last year to make sure my initial bad impression hadn’t changed – and it hadn’t. It’s still terrible.

Unlimited SaGa represented the high point of the series’ willingness to try new things. However, its world exploration feels like navigating menus rather than truly immersing yourself, and the game’s events are misleading. While the battle system has a fantastic soundtrack, it’s so reliant on chance that it’s hard to tell if you’re making progress until someone is defeated. There might be a worthwhile game hidden beneath all the experimentation, but I’m not willing to invest any more time trying to find it.

1. Lunar: Dragon Song

I Feel Icky Just Writing About It

I once came across a perfect description of Lunar: Dragon Song: it wasn’t necessarily the worst JRPG ever made, but it was the worst one I had ever played. It perfectly captured how I felt, so I wanted to share it – thanks to whoever originally said it!

The main issue with Lunar: Dragon Song is that, as a sequel to a highly-regarded classic JRPG, we anticipated a game with heart and originality. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver. I was unable to play Dragon Song for more than two hours before giving up, and I clearly remember what turned me off.

The game feels slow overall, both when moving around and during battles, so you’ll likely find yourself running often. Be aware though, running actually drains your health, though you might forget about that after a while. There are also two different battle modes. One focuses on earning experience points, while the other is purely for collecting loot. Plus, you can’t directly target enemies during attacks, meaning you’ll mostly be relying on the auto-attack function.

On top of everything else, the game has blue chests that only open after you’ve defeated every enemy in an area. This could be a good idea, encouraging combat to help you level up and find new gear. However, the battles themselves are really boring. And there’s a frustrating catch: kill an enemy, and a timer starts. If you don’t fight another enemy before the timer runs out, one of the defeated enemies comes back to life! You can try to run away, but you’ll lose health doing so. Lunar: Dragon Song is full of strange design choices, and it’s hard to believe they made so many mistakes, but they did. I strongly recommend you don’t play it.

2026-04-30 19:42