You Won't Believe the Best 32-Bit JRPGs of All Time

Summary

Breath of Fire 3’s deep dragon gene mechanic makes it stand out in the JRPG genre.
Parasite Eve’s engaging narrative and FMV sequences make it a standout title despite its short length.
Suikoden 2’s grounded view of war and improved predecessor solidify its status as an essential JRPG.

The 32-bit era was a bit of a strange one for many video game genres, particularly those industry staples that established themselves in the 16-bit era, like JRPGs. As the industry was quickly turning towards 3D graphics, the march of progress would ensure it would soon become absorbed into an encroaching 64-bit era, creating a muddled yet enduring legacy.

With the overlap occurring in a single console generation and many developers overselling their products, the boundaries were a lot less clearly delineated. In truth, although a lot of nostalgia persists for the period that cemented the market for home console gaming, most early 3D titles hold up much worse than those rose-tinted specs would have fans believe. Many of these games were still very influential on the genres they contributed to, however, like these excellent JRPGs of the 32-bit era.

8. Breath Of Fire 3

Last Of The Brood

Still considered by many fans to be the best in the series, Breath of Fire 3 is a novel JRPG about a protagonist with the ability to transform into different dragon species. The central mechanic is rewardingly deep in this third entry, with a plethora of dragon genes scattered throughout the world that can be equipped in battle with an impressive variety of combinations.

On the downside, party members can only be switched out at camps, and there are several moments in the story when a particular party member is mission-critical, so fans revisiting may want to have a guide handy to avoid a lot of needless backtracking to and from camps.

7. Parasite Eve

Dark Visual Spectacle

As a fan, I’d like to share my thoughts on “Parasite Eve,” a compact JRPG, surprisingly brief compared to the usual standards, taking about 10 hours to complete. Despite its brevity, developer Square made full use of the saved processing power with an incredibly engaging narrative and some of the best FMV sequences that any game had to offer at the time. As a gamer, it’s always refreshing to see developers maximize the potential of their resources, especially when it results in such a captivating experience.

This is where the game Parasite Eve truly excels, starting with the enigmatic event of the lead actress inexplicably igniting a theater audience, and then unfolding into a grim mystery filled with monstrous beings and supernatural entities, similar to a role-playing game adaptation of Resident Evil.

6. Suikoden 2

Politics Of War

Suikoden is a series much more concerned with reality than most of its contemporaries. The supernatural and fantastical elements typical of JRPGs are pared back in Konami’s prestigious series, which takes a much more grounded view of war between nations and the consequences for the people who reside in the conflict.

That makes its narrative altogether more poignant and relatable, which is where the series excels, promoting unity and defense. Suikoden 2 improves across the board on its equally beloved predecessor, making it the better entry, although it does help to have played the first game to better understand the events in the sequel.

5. Xenogears

Inception Of The Xeno Universe

It’s one of the most impactful entries on this list, spawning the Xeno franchise, which is still going strong today with the most recent entry, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, launching to huge acclaim in 2022. Xenogears is the origin of that complex world and was praised by fans and critics for its engaging and unique narrative.

It falls foul of a few tropes, like the amnesiac protagonist, and it doesn’t quite escape the classic JRPG trapping of falling into convolution, but once the giant mech fists start flying, fans are sure to be hooked to the end of the adventure.

4. Vagrant Story

The Pinnacle Of Experience

Vagrant Story was one of the last 32-bit JRPGs produced by Square, who feature several times on this list as a mark of their pedigree in the era. As a result, this game benefits from the wealth of experience gained from developing other genre staples and was intended as a true showcase of the developer’s prowess in full 3D.

The graphics engine was considered revolutionary for the PlayStation, but sadly, like so many other ambitious late-console titles, the game was largely consumed by the emerging sixth generation the same year, drastically limiting its appeal. However, for fans looking to relive some of the best JRPGs of the era, it’s still one well worth revisiting.

3. Panzer Dragoon Saga

A Triumph Against All Odds

Platforms: Sega Saturn
Released: 1998-01-29
Developer: Sega
ESRB: T

Discussing games that defied odds, Panzer Dragoon Saga was a remarkable JRPG despite facing numerous challenges. Being a first-party Sega game, it was limited to the Sega Saturn console, which was less powerful and had fewer fans compared to other systems.

The game Sega aimed to establish a strong presence in the profitable market of 3D JRPGs by creating a game that could compete with its rivals. The developers went all out, designing an immersive narrative and a distinctive combat system that blended the series’ dragon shooting mechanics with the time-based mechanics prevalent in the JRPG genre during that period.

2. Paper Mario

New Dimensions

The most contentious entry, as the only one native to a 64-bit console, but most N64 games were actually 32-bit as it allowed for a smoother performance on the cartridge. Releasing in the same year in Japan as other games on this list, Paper Mario just about makes the cut as a 32-bit era game.

Paper Mario significantly elevated the groundbreaking first entry, Super Mario RPG, to the point that the Paper Mario series spawned a whole parallel franchise. The paper aesthetic not only enables the reality-warping mechanics that defined the series, but it also helped the game stand alone as the only JRPG of the era to still hold up visually to this day.

1. Final Fantasy 7

A Genre Defining Juggernaut

Is there a possibility that the number one position on this list could be something other than the most iconic JRPG ever made? Many gamers have at some point in their lives encountered a version of Final Fantasy VII, which remains widely regarded as the best game in the series, despite the release of 16 critically acclaimed mainline sequels.

Sandwiched between one of the most acclaimed JRPGs of the 16-bit generation in Final Fantasy 6 and the graphically revolutionary Final Fantasy 8, it successfully serves as the amalgamation of the best parts of each. Today, Final Fantasy 7 essentially serves as a blueprint for designers on how to make a traditional JRPG, although it does not entirely escape some dated mechanics that result in the game being more drawn out than it needs to be. Then again, the remake of Final Fantasy 7 had to be split into three full-length games, suggesting that if the game is good, drawing it out isn’t such a bad thing.

2025-03-17 05:12

You Won’t Believe the Best 32-Bit JRPGs of All Time