Best JRPGs That Focus On Wars – Investment Policy

JRPGs explore all kinds of stories. You’ll find traditional tales of heroes fighting villains, like in Dragon Quest, as well as more intimate stories about characters dealing with their own struggles. But some of the most memorable JRPGs tell grand, sweeping stories of war, often with tragic outcomes.

Japanese Role-Playing Games, or JRPGs, are known for their compelling stories, and epic battles often form the heart of those narratives. Players frequently find themselves caught in conflicts, choosing sides or bravely fighting against powerful enemies. These large-scale battles create tension and excitement, making the stories even more engaging. Let’s take a look at some of the greatest war-focused JRPGs ever made, spanning different styles within the genre.

We’ll be featuring tactical RPGs, since they often deliver the most compelling war-based narratives. However, we’ll also include a selection of more classic RPGs.

8. Tactics Ogre

A Tale Of Law And Chaos, Light And Dark

Tactics Ogre immediately plunges you into a massive, continent-wide war. Even before the first battle begins, you learn about a rebellion: villagers are fighting against a powerful dark knight and the aggressive nation of Golgastan, who aim to conquer the entire land. The story gets complicated, but it always centers on the impact of the war and how it affects the main character.

This strategy RPG could be Square Enix’s best yet. It features a deep and engaging story, and while it’s complex, it’s incredibly rewarding. The gameplay is easy to pick up, but expands with new units and abilities. Building a team that strategically dominates enemies feels like a fantastic game of chess, but with dragons and magical powers.

7. DioField Chronicle

A Unique Battle Style Meets A Grand War Narrative

DioField Chronicle features deeply strategic battles. The game is set during a prolonged war over valuable resources, where the lines between right and wrong are blurred. Players follow a group of mercenaries, the Blue Fox, as they navigate the conflict and develop as characters. They fight against an empire seeking to control all of the world’s Jade – a substance used for magic – and gain recognition by completing jobs for various nobles.

DioField Chronicle offers a fresh take on real-time strategy battles, combined with a captivating story that avoids the typical trope of a single, over-the-top villain. It’s a great choice for players who want to experience a large-scale conflict across an entire continent.

6. Vagrant Story

A Great Post-War JRPG

I’ve played a lot of JRPGs, and honestly, so many of them use the ‘world recovering from a big war’ trope. We tried to avoid focusing too much on those, but you need a good example, and for me, that’s Vagrant Story. The main city, Leá Monde, is completely wrecked from previous conflicts, and it’s created this really messy political situation with power struggles everywhere – which is what the story revolves around. You play as Ashley Riot, and he’s not your typical hero. He’s more of a… well, an operative trying to prevent another war, and it looks like things are heating up between the noble families and different religious groups.

Rather than simply presenting wars as events from the past, Vagrant Story shows how they deeply affect the present, creating a constant sense of impending conflict. The game delves into how organizations perpetuate fighting and also examines the world of secret operations and espionage.

Final Fantasy Tactics is set in the same universe as Vagrant Story and also tells a great war story.

5. Unicorn Overlord

A Campaign Of War Against An Evil Tyrant

In Unicorn Overlord, players engage in large-scale battles where the strengths and weaknesses of each unit type are crucial. You’ll build teams of up to six units that work well together, both in terms of their abilities and their characters’ relationships. These teams will fight to overthrow Galerius, the tyrannical ruler of the Zenoiran Empire, who has taken control of the entire continent.

In Unicorn Overlord, you’ll lead bands of skilled fighters into battle, making the most of each unit’s special abilities and becoming an expert in the game’s unique combat system. And if you enjoy romance, the main character can marry someone he’s built a strong connection with throughout the story.

4. Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a stunning JRPG that truly showcases the power of the Nintendo Switch. Beyond its impressive technical achievements, the game tells a memorable and sweeping story about a never-ending war. The conflict between the nations of Keves and Agnus is central to the narrative, and it appears these two sides are fated to be enemies. War dominates every aspect of life; children are raised solely to be soldiers, creating a tragic cycle of birth and death on the battlefield. Even the cities themselves are built to support the constant warfare.

Many war-themed Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) focus on bringing a recent conflict to an end, with clear distinctions between good and evil. However, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (XC3) delves deeper, questioning the reasons behind a seemingly endless war that has shaped people’s lives for generations, even though its origins are lost to time. The game thoughtfully presents perspectives from both sides, highlighting not only their differences but also their surprising common ground. Unlike many action games, XC3 delivers a narrative scope comparable to that of the most ambitious turn-based and tactical JRPGs.

3. Valkyria Chronicles 4

A Unique Setting With An Incredible Story

Unlike many JRPGs which feature grand fantasy or sci-fi stories, Valkyria Chronicles 4 is set in a fictionalized version of mid-20th-century Europe, inspired by WWII. Players command individual units in a simple, yet engaging, battle system as the main character, Claude, and his team fight against an aggressive empire.

This game is perfect for players who love intense stories, strategic customization, and taking big risks. While commanding tanks and using heavy weaponry might be new for JRPG fans, it delivers a remarkably refined depiction of 20th-century combat.

2. Triangle Strategy

This Game Focuses On The Renewal Of War

Triangle Strategy boasts a compelling story, considered one of the best in the JRPG genre. The narrative centers around a war between three nations, each vying for control of vital resources. Driven by ambition and self-interest, these nations clash, and the protagonist, Serenoa, faces difficult choices that challenge his beliefs. The story explores how Serenoa evolves throughout the conflict and what kind of leader he ultimately becomes.

The Second Saltiron War is a compelling conflict where there are no clear good guys or bad guys—only powerful leaders and those seeking revenge. This visually stunning game, presented in a unique HD-2D style, puts you right in the middle of a massive continental war, and your choices will determine the outcome.

1. Suikoden 2

A PS1 JRPG War Epic

The Suikoden series is largely focused on war, and the original game was incredibly impressive for its scope when it came out in the mid-90s. Throughout the games, you’ll gather a large cast of characters and build an army to fight in both smaller battles and large-scale wars. While all the Suikoden games are worth playing, including Suikoden 4, I suggest starting with Suikoden 2, or checking out the HD collection which includes the first two games.

Suikoden 2 perfectly captures what makes the series so beloved. Its battles combine classic turn-based combat with strategic elements, and you’ll command large armies in epic conflicts. The game doesn’t just show war – it focuses on its impact, exploring themes like the cost to civilians, the dangers of nationalism, and the struggle to survive, all while retaining the feel of a classic Japanese RPG.

2026-01-09 00:40