5 Best JRPGs Where You Play As A samurai Or ronin

Key Takeaways

In JRPGs, playing as a Samurai or Ronin adds complexity and excitement to the experience.
Popular JRPGs like Shin Megami Tensei 4 and Tactics Ogre offer the option to play as a Samurai and use katana combat.
Final Fantasy 14 features an overpowered Samurai job in the Stormblood expansion, perfect for close-range melee damage.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of strategy games and RPGs, I must say these three titles truly resonate with my samurai-loving spirit.

The JRPG (Japanese Role-Playing Game) genre stands out as one of the richest and intricate categories within the gaming world. Players can immerse themselves in a variety of captivating characters, while also experiencing narratives that are both thrilling and multi-layered. No matter the theme of a particular game, there’s always an engaging element to keep players hooked.

Without a doubt, certain roles in Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) offer a more engaging and exciting experience than others. When players are given the opportunity to traverse the game world and advance the story as a powerful samurai or a revered ronin, an extra dimension of intrigue is introduced, enhancing the overall adventure even more. Here’s a list of some notable JRPGs where you can embody the role of a samurai or a ronin.

5 Shin Megami Tensei 4

An Action-packed Samurai Story

Players must fight a demonic threat
The game features a group of samurai chosen by the Gauntlet

By centering the narrative around our protagonist, Flynn, and an elite squad of samurai tasked with shielding citizens from supernatural perils in the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado, Shin Megami Tensei provides a captivating journey for gamers who enjoy Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPG).

In the game Shin Megami Tensei 4, players can take on the role of a samurai, battling fearsome demonic forces threatening this imaginary realm. Their might will serve to protect the voiceless. The story also introduces other samurai characters who may not be under player control but aid Flynn in his valiant journey.

4 Brave Fencer Musashi

A Young Boy’s Journey To Understand His Past Lives

Musashi is the reincarnation of a legendary hero by the same name
Combat has many samurai elements, including fighting with a katana

As I, an ardent admirer, embark on recounting my tale, let me share with you the extraordinary journey of a young lad named Musashi. Unbeknownst to him, he is none other than the reincarnation of the illustrious warrior Musashi, who valiantly saved the Kingdom of Allucaneet over a hundred years prior to his own birth. With dreams of etching my name in history, I set off on an unforgettable adventure. Brave Fencer Musashi, though it may be classified as an action RPG first and a JRPG second, manages to tick several boxes that align with the latter genre. While it offers more action-oriented gameplay, it doesn’t skimp on other aspects that could justify its classification as a traditional JRPG.

In this game, you engage in battles using Musashi’s sword, employing a variety of moves and strategies similar to those used by samurai. This, combined with Musashi’s epic past as a legendary warrior, creates an enthralling narrative that has captivated gamers globally for years. Interestingly, when the game Brave Fencer Musashi debuted in 1998, it ranked as the 17th best-selling game of the year in Japan.

3 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

A Complex Game With Branching Storylines

Many different classes to choose from
Players can choose the Swordmaster class to feel like a samurai

Tactics Ogre: United We Stand

Among the mentioned classes, I find myself drawn to the Swordmaster, a masterful wielder of two katanas. Unlike some samurai or ronin, this class may not embody every traditional trait, but those who belong here showcase extraordinary agility with their swords and have combat skills reminiscent of the legendary warriors I’ve admired.

2 Live A Live

Various Periods, And Even More Characters

Players can explore different periods in history as various characters
Oborumaru is a ninja but shares many similarities with samurai and the ronin

In a captivating twist reminiscent of many strategy games from past and present, Live A Live delves into diverse historical eras, commencing with Prehistory, and concluding in the Middle Ages. Each epoch presents unique aspects that keep gameplay engaging, offering players a revitalizing journey through multiple story settings. One such period that aligns with our topic is the Twilight of Edo Japan, where gamers can assume the character of Oborumaru.

As a stealthy member of the Enma clan, I’m not a samurai or a ronin, but a ninja – and my mission is clear: infiltrate Ode Castle and rescue a prominent politician. Though ninjas may not have been as prevalent as samurai throughout Japanese history, they did walk side by side at some point, sharing similarities in their martial arts skills and blade mastery. These shared traits make the inclusion of this character in Live A Live completely justifiable.

1 Final Fantasy 14

The Samurai Job Is Overpowered

The story focuses on the Warrior of Light, the character players create
The samurai job is very powerful and can be unlocked through the Stormblood expansion

In the intricate universe of Hydaelyn, teeming with a myriad of species and numerous territories, the narrative of Final Fantasy 14 unfolds around your character, the Warrior of Light, originally from Eorzea. As you progress through the story, you’ll come across various trials that require both perseverance and tactical thinking to conquer.

As a dedicated gamer, I find myself drawn to the depth and variety found in games like Final Fantasy. One of my favorite jobs is the Samurai, which isn’t just handed out but requires some work to unlock. You need to have the Stormblood expansion installed and be at least level 50 in either a War or Magic job first. Once I got there, I found myself dealing devastating close-range damage that often leaves powerful foes crumpled beneath my sword’s edge with surprising ease.

2024-10-24 13:34