Best JRPGs Set In Dystopian Fantasy Worlds, Ranked

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Summary

  • Western franchises like Fallout and Horizon offer colorful, grim dystopian gaming experiences with extensive exploration opportunities.
  • Japanese RPGs like Shin Megami Tensei 5 and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 present complex, never-ending conflicts within dystopian settings.
  • Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter and NieR: Automata provide dark, challenging gameplay, pushing players to their limits in bleak post-apocalyptic worlds.

As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that these dystopian games have a special place in my heart (and hard drive). They not only challenge our skills but also make us ponder on the state of humanity and our world.

It’s intriguing, if a bit somber to consider, but games set in dystopian futures can offer an engaging experience. A well-known series today is Fallout, which takes us on a journey imagining the future from a 1950s perspective. Players traverse post-apocalyptic landscapes, discover remnants of civilization, ally with various factions, and battle hordes of mutants.

Instead of saying “A prettier version of Fallout is the Horizon series,” you could rephrase it as “The Horizon series presents a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to the Fallout franchise.” Similarly, instead of saying “Those two franchises are Western creations though so what about Japan? Have they made dystopian or post-apocalyptic RPGs?” you could rephrase it as “What about Japan? Do they have dystopian or post-apocalyptic RPGs in their repertoire, like the ones we see from Western creators?” Lastly, instead of saying “Let’s find out and rank these entries based on how grim their futures truly are,” you could say “Let’s examine these creations and rate them according to the severity of their post-apocalyptic settings.

8. Wild Arms 3

The Old West In Space

In “Wild Arms 3”, the story unfolds on a world reminiscent of the American Wild West frontier. This vast desert planet, named Filgaia, has seen the devastating effects of an ancient conflict, leaving it largely desolate and struggling. The setting is dystopian in nature, reflecting the hardships faced by its inhabitants. Lawlessness prevails as outlaws freely roam, but this is where our four main hero groups step in to make a difference.

They’re all working at their respective tasks while banding together to confront an opposing group of explorers who are rivals. The storyline is relatively simple and emphasizes character development and adventuring rather than high-stakes drama. Despite its desolate setting, this turn-based RPG has a vibrant feel due to its cel-shaded artwork style.

7. Scarlet Nexus

Two Campaigns, One Future

In a world where humanity resides in sprawling metropolises, the areas outside these cities are barren wastelands of decaying structures and abandoned highways, infested by mutants. To sustain life within these cities, individuals with psychic abilities are trained to venture out, gather resources, battle monsters, and seek answers.

In this game, players can select either Yuito or Kasane as their starting character and navigate a complex storyline that intertwines both protagonists and their companions. To fully grasp the intricacies of this role-playing game developed by the Tales of team at Bandai Namco, it’s essential to play through it not just once but twice.

6. Shin Megami Tensei 5

Reset The Apocalypse

In simpler terms, “Shin Megami Tensei 5” is the newest major installment in the series. One day, Tokyo experiences devastation and when players regain consciousness as their silent protagonist, they find themselves linked to a potent suit following a fusion with a demon. Fortunately, there’s still hope for humanity as they are tasked with averting this disaster from reoccurring.

In order to take a stand against multiple hostile groups ranging from demons to angels, they must establish alliances with monstrous entities and recruit them into their team for combat. Uncovering secrets scattered across the desolate landscape could potentially save humanity, battle by battle, according to the basic concept.

5. Xenoblade Chronicles 3

A Never-ending War Breaks

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 appears serene with its captivating landscapes, but it masks a grim reality – two warring factions locked in perpetual conflict. The fallen soldiers are gracefully transitioned to an afterlife reminiscent of the Sending process seen in Final Fantasy 10.

The grim secret is that these “dead” people are brought back to life via a cloning process and are doomed to fight the same war for eternity. There’s more to it than that involving heavier spoilers but the heroes of this tale are finally able to rebel back after learning hard truths.

4. Sand Land

Demons, Dinosaurs, And Mechs Oh My!

In the game Sand Land, similar to Wild Arms 3, the action unfolds in a barren desert landscape, yet it’s filled with humorous moments amidst the desperate pleas for water from its inhabitants. The struggle for water resources leads to conflicts between demons and humans, but an unexpected partnership arises at the outset of the game between a human adventurer and the demon prince.

Working as a team, they create a party with the goal of discovering a legendary water source that could potentially save everyone. However, will they manage to find it or are they confronted by demons and militaristic forces along the way? This last production from Akira Toriyama is sure to excite Dragon Ball fans.

3. Resonance Of Fate

Cowboy Bebop But In One City

In “Resonance of Fate,” we find a narrative where a planet’s demise forces humanity to seek refuge within towering metropolises, which appear suspended in the air like colossal flying edifices, far above the contaminated surface.

Life finds itself cramped in compact living spaces, while those at the highest echelons indulge excessively, leaving everyone else to labor tirelessly for mere scraps. The narrative revolves around three protagonists who are attempting to secure various odd jobs within the city to elevate their social standing. This series has a episodic structure reminiscent of an anime such as Cowboy Bebop, making it effortless to resume and pause.

2. Breath Of Fire: Dragon Quarter

It’s Hard To Breathe Underground

“Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter” is a challenging game due to its grim setting and limited resources. Since humanity now lives underground, life is already tough because there’s no sunlight. The story revolves around the protagonist, Ryu, who tries to rescue a young girl from the military, who intend to perform experiments on her.

That’s dark but the truly grim part of this game though is the challenge level as a meter will rise with every action taken from walking to fighting. There is a way to get a Game Over screen from dawdling around forcing players to reset from ground zero to start anew. Thankfully, things do carry over but this time loop is enough to drive anyone batty.

1. NieR: Automata

Become As Gods

NieR: Automata is renowned as one of the greatest dystopian video games ever made. In this story, humanity is driven off Earth following a rebellion by robots, so they relocate to space. To reclaim their home planet, humans deploy androids such as 9S and 2B to explore it.

Similar to the game “Scarlet Nexus“, multiple playthroughs are essential to fully grasp the storyline. In this instance, there are three primary characters to follow. To achieve the genuine ending, players must not only complete multiple playthroughs but also delete their save file entirely. This challenging requirement sets a formidable test for any dedicated gamer.

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2024-12-20 15:36