Japanese Role-Playing Games, or JRPGs, weren’t immediately popular in North America. Games like Final Fantasy 7, Kingdom Hearts, and Persona 4 Golden played a huge role in introducing the genre to a wider Western audience. Now, JRPGs are incredibly popular, and fans eagerly await the next major, high-budget release.
Many great Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) didn’t gain popularity outside of Japan right away, meaning some players may have missed them. Some people simply weren’t aware of these games because they were only released in Japan. While they can be difficult to find and play officially now, dedicated fans can still discover them. To give a more complete picture of JRPG history, we’ll include games from a variety of different systems.
Lufia 2: Rise Of The Sinistrals
A Top Ten Buried
Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals is a truly excellent JRPG for the SNES, and stands out even as a prequel within the genre. However, it – along with the rest of the Lufia series – is difficult to access through official channels.
I really loved how the battles, while pretty straightforward, felt so charming thanks to the characters’ animations – it was a nice touch for that time. Plus, exploring the dungeons with their puzzles, getting invested in the story, and meeting all the fun characters made it a truly epic adventure on the world map. It even got a remake on the DS, called Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals, which was fantastic, but sadly, that version is hard to find now too!
Breath Of Fire 4
The OTHER Dragon Quest
Square Enix has consistently re-released classic Dragon Quest games, with their recent Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake being a prime example. Capcom, however, hasn’t given the same treatment to their Breath of Fire series. Surprisingly, a standout title, Breath of Fire 4, became available on GOG in April 2025.
This game was initially released during the peak of excitement for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but it quickly got overlooked, much like when it first came out on the original PlayStation in 2000. Fans of Japanese role-playing games and Capcom titles should definitely give it a try. The character sprites still look great, and the turn-based battles are really fun, particularly because the main character, Ryu, can transform into different dragons.
Mega Man X: Command Mission
Mega Man’s Other RPG
You know, as a Mega Man fan, I always feel a little sad when I think about Mega Man X: Command Mission. Everyone usually talks about the Battle Network games when it comes to RPGs in the series, but this was the X series’ only real shot at a traditional, turn-based RPG. It just didn’t quite catch on, which is a shame!
The game’s combat was designed like that of Final Fantasy 10, letting players build a team of three characters, including both returning favorites and newcomers. However, Mega Man X: Command Mission was noticeably more challenging than Final Fantasy 10, but it offered a rewarding experience by taking the X series in a new direction beyond traditional action platforming. Plus, the game’s cel-shaded graphics were impressive. Unfortunately, the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions haven’t been re-released since their original launch.
Onimusha Tactics
Grid-Based Horror
Onimusha Tactics was a surprising direction for the series. The main Onimusha games on PlayStation 2 were known for action and horror, but this Game Boy Advance spinoff was made simpler and geared towards a younger audience. Players still controlled a skilled samurai with a special Oni Gauntlet that granted them incredible power.
The game also featured battles against Lord Nobunaga and his forces, using a tactical combat system reminiscent of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Although some fans were surprised by the more approachable style of this Onimusha title, it was a solid JRPG for the Game Boy Advance that Capcom should consider revisiting, potentially as a lead-up to Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
The Wizard Of Oz: Beyond The Yellow Brick Road
A Better Wicked
The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is a role-playing game for the Nintendo DS inspired by the classic story of Oz, but with a unique Japanese perspective. It was created by Media.Vision, the developers known for games like Wild Arms and Valkyria Chronicles.
Players navigated Dorothy through dungeons using the DS’s trackball on the bottom screen. Combat was turn-based, and each character in your party excelled against certain enemy types – the powerful Tin Man, for instance, used his axe to easily defeat plant-based enemies. While it didn’t reach a wide audience like many DS role-playing games, it’s a shame, as the developers, Media.Vision, clearly put a lot of effort into it.
Infinite Undiscovery
The Xbox 360 Age Of JRPGs
The Xbox 360 had a surprising number of exclusive Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs that many people have forgotten. Titles like Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey were both well-received and are still playable today on newer Xbox consoles thanks to backwards compatibility. Another, more unusual game from that era was Infinite Undiscovery.
Infinite Undiscovery is an action role-playing game where you play as Capell, a character who can combine his abilities with those of his teammates. A unique feature of the game is Capell’s flute, which helps uncover secret areas and makes exploring the world more interesting. While it uses familiar elements from classic Japanese RPGs, it’s still a game worth playing if you enjoy that style.
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
My Toys Are Better Than Yours
- Developers: Level-5, Climax Entertainment
- Publisher: Nintendo (NA/EU)
- Released: August 21, 2015 (NA)
- Platform: 3DS
I’m a big fan of Level-5’s games, and I think LBX: Little Battlers eXperience on the 3DS is seriously underrated! It’s actually part of a bigger series in Japan called Danball Senki, but sadly, most of the games never made it outside of Japan, which is a shame.
This 3DS game lets you control a small robot toy that battles in exciting, action-packed fights, either outdoors or inside a house where everyday objects seem huge. Customizing your robot is enjoyable, and the gameplay is well-made for a Level-5 title, though finding a copy of the game today might be difficult.
I Am Setsuna
Redoing Chrono Trigger
I am Setsuna is a JRPG released almost ten years ago that aimed for a classic feel. It was created by Tokyo RPG Factory, a division of Square Enix formed to make games reminiscent of the SNES and PlayStation 1 era – though that studio is now defunct. While the story didn’t involve time travel, the game’s mechanics and overworld map were heavily inspired by Chrono Trigger.
Battles were turn-based, and characters could team up to perform powerful combo attacks. Of all the games created by Tokyo RPG Factory, I am Setsuna stands out as the best and is definitely worth playing again, especially since it’s now available on many modern gaming systems.
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2025-11-13 08:36