The best JRPGs on PC

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(Image credit: Square Enix)

Best JRPGs - The Dragon Quest 11 protagonist fires magic from his palm.

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It’s always the best time for the best JRPGs. JRPG is a simple term for a complex genre that’s evolved across decades of Japanese RPGs. It encompasses everything from the expected spiky haired heroes politely taking turns to hit the local fantasy wildlife to twisted realism, cinematic action, dense political intrigue, and even RPGs that aren’t from Japan but capture the underlying spirit of this malleable category.There are so many on PC these days it can be tough to know what to play—and even if you do already know what to look out for, it’s all too easy to miss something incredible in the deluge. Whether you’re longing to relive the good old days of chunky cartridges and poster maps or are eager to explore the RTX-enabled frontiers of modernity, you’re sure to find a new (or maybe old) favourite below.

Best action JRPGs

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Best JRPGs - Yuffie leaps at a giant mechanical enemy in FF7R Intergrade.

Release:2022 |Developer:Square Enix |Steam Deck:Verified |Steam

Best of the best(Image credit: Larian Studios)2025 games: Upcoming releasesBest PC games: All-time favoritesFree PC games: Freebie festBest FPS games: Finest gunplayBest RPGs: Grand adventuresBest Co-op games: Better together

Best of the best

(Image credit: Larian Studios)2025 games: Upcoming releasesBest PC games: All-time favoritesFree PC games: Freebie festBest FPS games: Finest gunplayBest RPGs: Grand adventuresBest Co-op games: Better together

(Image credit: Larian Studios)

The Dark Urge, from Baldur’s Gate 3, looks towards his accursed claws with self-disdain.

2025 games: Upcoming releasesBest PC games: All-time favoritesFree PC games: Freebie festBest FPS games: Finest gunplayBest RPGs: Grand adventuresBest Co-op games: Better together

Everybody roughly knows how Final Fantasy 7 goes, even if they’ve never played it. Cloud, Sephiroth,thatscene in the city of the ancients with… well, you know. It’s all been GIF’d to hell and back, and picked apart on a thousand rambling podcasts too.This remake takes a sledgehammer to everything we thought we knew, mixing everyone’s favourite scenes from the original with not just brand new material but huge plot twists of its own as well. And thank goodness it did. Nobody seriously expected the modern big-budget reimagining of one of the most familiar games of all time to do anything other than play it safe, but FF7R—just like the original—dares to aim higher.It looks fantastic, the new dynamic combat system’s a bottomless well of fun (and cool screenshot fodder), and unlike most remakes, you don’t know exactly how it’s going to end.Read more:Thanks to Final Fantasy 7 Remake I finally appreciate Final Fantasy 7

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom)

Best JRPGs - The player attacks some wizardly ghosts in LEgend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails.

Release:2021 |Developer:Falcom, PH3 GmbH |Steam Deck:Verified |SteamNo one makes action RPGs quite like Falcom: Their games feel like a triple shot of hot espresso for my gaming soul, and Nayuta’s no exception. This is a tightly focused adventure—one hero, one helper, the next stage is that way, why are you still here—through a world packed with colourful fantasy stages with some truly heartstopping boss fights waiting at the end of them. There’s always a new reward just around the corner, or just one more thing (honest) that needs checking out before quitting for the day.In spite of the Trails name no knowledge of that ongoing RPG series is needed to enjoy this standalone game, and no knowledge of that series' battle systems will help here either. The game plays like a fantasy platformer, flowing effortlessly between 2.5D leaping around and thrilling 3D arenas. There’s an underlying rhythm to every level’s streamlined layout, and with practice you soon find yourself tearing through light puzzles and powerful monsters alike with an almost arcade-like sense of speed and grace.

Xuan-Yuan Sword 7

(Image credit: Softstar)

Best JRPGs - The player character slashes at an impish enemy in Xuan-Yuan Sword 7.

Release:2020 |Developer:Softstar |Steam Deck:Unsupported |SteamSoftstar’s long running series of RPGs have gracefully evolved over the years, from traditional turn based battles to the all-out action found in this spectacular game. There’s a real buzz to the seamless combat encounters: a few short cooldown timers are the only real hint of Xuan-Yuan Sword’s ancient roots peeking through.This nonstop rush extends to the streamlined story, with clearly marked quest triggers making it easy for the game to cram as many heartwarming and dramatic events as possible into its relatively short run time. It should feel like unwelcome hand-holding, but it works: in practice it only means you’re never more than a few minutes away from another unforgettable moment or jaw-dropping reveal, and the story simply doesn’t have the time to make you gather herbs halfway up a mountain for some NPC you’ll never see again. Xuan-Yuan Sword 7 is just pure, undiluted adventure.

Legend of Mana

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Best JRPGs - The player faces a friendly faced tree in the remastered PC remaster of Legend of Mana.

Release:2021 |Developer:Square Enix, M2 |Steam Deck:Unsupported |SteamPerfectly preserved pixel art and beautifully retouched locations combine in this dreamlike experience that has you reshape the world as you play. The action here is on the simpler side—nobody’s going to be recording DMC5-style combo videos of this game—but that’s part of its charming balancing act. It’s an easily understood (although still flexible) game, and that means the time spent between seeing the title screen and hitting an impossibly adorable mushroom in the face is kept to a bare minimum.Outside of battle it’s just as alluring, with multiple stories for you to enthusiastically chase or save for another day falling into your lap with only the lightest exploration.This PlayStation remaster even has more to offer than just a pretty coat of paint and a lightly reworked soundtrack: for the first time ever, English speaking gamers can play Ring Ring Land. This was a fun little minigame designed for the PocketStation, Sony’s Tamagotchi-like PlayStation memory card, and previously only available in the Japanese version of the game.

Best turn-based JRPGs

Metaphor: ReFantazio

(Image credit: Atlus)

Best JRPGs: Metaphor: ReFantazio, another Persona-like Atlus game with social mechanics

Release date:2024 |Developer:Atlus |Steam Deck:Playable |Steam

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Persona series director Katsura Hashino bunks his typical high school drama scenarios in favor of something a little more fantastical in Metaphor: ReFantazio. The relatively new Atlus development team Project Zero expressed a desire to move on from that tried and true formula in Persona, but fans of those RPG classics have no reason to fret. Metaphor isn’t a major departure—if anything, it’s easily passable as another entry to the series but with a story far more committed to its central themes and snappy upgrades.

In fact, Lewis Parker’sMetaphor: ReFantazio reviewseems to agree, calling Metaphor a “fresh, improved take on Persona.” The usual bits you expect are all there, including the anxiety-inducing time management and social simulator mechanics. Combat also marks one of the RPG’s biggest improvements over Persona 5, shaking up strategies for more minor elements like initiating overworld encounters and getting far more challenging in its actual turn-based battles.

Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t slack off in bringing its uptight fantasy world to life, either. Nobility is just as haughty as expected, while Welsh and Scottish accents define other regions. Lewis found those touches “incredibly authentic,” right down to the part where someone called him a muppet.

Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Best JRPGs - The party attacks an enemy dragon with a lightning spell in Dragon Quest 11 S.

Release date:2018 |Developer:Square Enix |Steam Deck:Playable |SteamYou can always rely ontheturn-based RPG to show the rest exactly how it’s done. This most recent entry in the series pits a vibrant, likeable cast against a realm’s worth of iconic monsters in a beautiful fairytale, one that makes weaving some genuinely touching scenes through a heap of sincerely offered fantasy tropes look easy. Whether you’re laughing, crying, or just whacking another adorable slime, you won’t be able to put it down.Need a little challenge in your classic RPG? You’ve got one. Combat can be tweaked to suit your tastes, making every fight as tough as you dare.And if you need a little added nostalgia, you’re in luck. This slightly reworked “S” version of the game also comes with an impressive 2D pixel graphics mode, for that authentic “Sitting on the floor playing SNES games” feel.Read more:Dragon Quest 11’s localization is brilliant, underappreciated writing

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

(Image credit: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio)

Best JRPGs - Lightning strikes Ichiban’s upraised fist in Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Release:2020 |Developer:Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio |Steam Deck:Verified |SteamIt shouldn’t work. Yakuza is a series about a tough guy with an elaborate tattoo named Kiryu who enthusiastically beats up other tough guys with elaborate tattoos, only pausing to give out surprisingly wholesome advice—it’s definitely not an RPG starring a guy named Ichiban who takes turns dishing out violence with his pals. But Like a Dragon does work, even though it’s stranger than pretty much any RPG that ever asked me to wander through a massive dungeon and kill the ancient evil waiting at the end of it.It’s got meta Dragon Quest references. A job system with actual jobs. Crawfish as mighty summons. It’s the perfect RPG for people who need a break from castles and sword fighting, or newcomers who’d like to dip their toe into roleplaying waters, and a game so good it throws in the legendary Virtua Fighter 5 and a whole host of other Sega arcade hits as a cheeky little bonus.Read more:Yakuza: Like A Dragon review

Etrian Odyssey HD

(Image credit: Atlus)

Best JRPGs - The player considers whether to open a chest in a woodland dungeon in Etrian Odyssey HD.

Cosmic Star Heroine

(Image credit: Zeboyd Digital Entertainment)

Best JRPGs - In a turn-based battle in Cosmic Star Heroine, the player considers activating the Enviro-Hack ability on a skeleton.

Release:2017 |Developer:Zeboyd |Steam Deck:Playable |SteamCosmic Star Heroine is a rare breed of new-retro RPG smart enough to know when to pay tribute to its heroes (Chrono Trigger, in this case), and when to play to its own strengths, avoiding falling into the trap of mindlessly retreading old, familiar ground. The battle system stays fresh thanks to a few well thought out intricacies, skills often doing things far more interesting than simply causing damage, and encouraging the use of a broad range of techniques instead of a narrow few heavy hitters.The story’s just as much fun, using a narrative style that’s sprinkled with humour strong enough to make me smile in the middle of a dungeon. It’s also keen on getting straight to the point and then heading straight for the next one, making this RPG a highlight-packed adventure free from any major lulls in the plot or the forced padding of random enemy encounters.

Best strategy JRPGs

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Best JRPGs - Denam, the player character in Tactics Ogre: Reborn, prepares to attack an enemy soldier with a short sword.

Release:2022 |Developer:Square Enix |Steam Deck:Verified |SteamEven just a quick play of Reborn makes it easy to see why this tactical RPG has not just survived through the ages but been welcomed with open arms on every format it’s ever graced with its presence, from the humble SNES right through to the Steam Deck. Every fight takes place on immaculately designed and highly intricate battlefields, shaped to test even the most seasoned tactician’s party in a hundred ways. Its story can take multiple branching paths, with key moments forcing you to make tough choices between the lesser of two evils, rather than going down a binary “pet bunnies/kick bunnies” route.And thanks to some new features, Reborn makes it easier than ever to see it all. Major plot branches can easily be revisited, terrible turns can be undone, and it’s all been slightly tweaked in a way to make sure it’s tough more often than it’s terrifying.Read more:Tactics Ogre: Reborn review

Phantom Brave PC

(Image credit: Nippon Ichi Software)

Best JRPGs - In Phantom Brave PC, the player prepares to attack a summoned enemy with a “fish slap” attack.

Vestaria Saga 1: War of the Scions

(Image credit: Vestaria Project)

Best JRPGs - The player prepares to move Zade in Vestaria Saga 1.

Best story-heavy JRPGs

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, PH3 GmbH)

Best JRPGs - The player party runs across verdant meadowland in The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero.

Final Fantasy 12 The Zodiac Age

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Best JRPGs - In Final Fantasy 12, the King Bomb boss enemy prepares its fire magic.

Corpse Party (2021)

(Image credit: Mages)

Best JRPGs - In Corpse Party, the player is urged to “take heed of the messages left behind by the many other victims who’ve died here."

Release:2021 |Developer:Mages |Steam Deck:Verified |SteamNobody ever saidrole playinggames had to have combat, did they?Corpse Party started life as a doujin RPG Maker-like project, its general excellence and supremely creepy story expanded and refined over the years until it reached its current form. But can a game featuring cute 2D sprites of school kids really be scary?Oh yes.Some of the grisly events in here are truly the stuff of nightmares, and this game has the honour of being the only one that’s ever given me an onomatopoeia-induced shiver.This newer version of the two Corpse Parties that are confusingly available to buy includes new characters and extra scenarios on top of the usual multiple endings for each chapter, ensuring there are plenty of gruesome delights for new and returning horror fans.

Best JRPG classics

Chrono Trigger

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Best JRPGs - Chrono stands on the unblemished pixel art of the Chrono Trigger world map.

Release:2018 |Developer:Square Enix |Steam Deck:Playable |SteamChrono and friends quest to save the world and each other is a brisk, heartfelt, and impressively reactive RPG where even apparently small changes can have a huge impact on later events. Chrono Trigger really was that good, and it’s still that good today.It’s still that good on PC too, thanks to a patched-up port based on the excellent DS remaster that defaults to the untouched original pixel art, uses a pleasantly blocky SNES-ish font, and has an entirely optional widescreen mode that actually shows more of the surrounding area, instead of stretching the image to fit. It even has flexible “bookmark” saves on top of the standard permanent ones, making it easy to put the game down at any point—and making Chrono Trigger the perfect pick for cheeky Steam Deck sessions when you’re supposed to be busy doing something else.Read more:4 years after its final patch, Chrono Trigger on PC is getting a new update with 21:9 support

Ys: The Oath in Felghana

(Image credit: Falcom)

Best JRPGs - Combat in a jungle ruin in Ys: The Oath in Felghana

Release:2012 |Developer:Falcom |Steam Deck:Playable |SteamThis extensive reimagining of Ys 3, the “black sheep” of Falcom’s timeless action RPG series, still feels as fresh as a daisy even though it’s now old enough to be considered a classic in its own right. The main draw here is the game’s irresistible “just one more hour” blend of combat and adventure, every new location delivering an exciting combination of nonstop swordfighting, cunning traps, and some of the best tunes the genre’s ever had. And thanks to a good range of difficulty settings the combat can be as easy or as challenging as you like, with tougher options expanding boss movesets, instead of just inflating their health bar and damage output.When you don’t know what sort of RPG you want to play, but you know you want it to be good, this Ys is the perfect fit.

Final Fantasy 9

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Best JRPGs - The player party faces a large, muscular enemy on a bridge in Final Fantasy 9.

Release:2016 |Developer:Square Enix |Steam Deck:Playable |SteamFinal Fantasy 9 moved away from the sci-fi leanings of the previous two FFs on the PlayStation, opting instead for a charming fantasy world filled with monkey-tailed heroes, princesses, the sweetest mage the series has ever seen, and… whatever the heck Quina is. But underneath that sweet fairy tale veneer is a story that isn’t afraid of going to some dark places.An interesting twist in the battle system directly ties the ability to learn new skills to specific pieces of equipment, giving you a clear reason to keep weaker gear around even when something stronger is available and forcing a little more tactical thinking than might normally be required. As with other Final Fantasy reissues, various speed up and character boosting options have been grafted onto the base game, making it easy to spend as much or as little time grinding levels and skills between those incredible story beats as you please.Read more:For Final Fantasy 9’s 20th anniversary, play it with the beautiful Moguri AI upscale mod

Shining Force 2

(Image credit: Sega)

Best JRPGs - A mage casts a fiery magic attack on a knight in Shining Force 2.

Best genre-breaking JRPGs

Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend

(Image credit: Square Enix, Racjin)

Best JRPGs - In Final Fantasy Legend, the player considers whether to fight a flower, a mech, and a prancing frogman.

Release:2021 |Developer:Square Enix, Racjin |Steam Deck:Verified |SteamSaGa games are famously—and unapologetically—happy to do their own weird thing, and this collection of well-emulated of Game Boy classics are no exception to that divisive rule. The monsters look strange more often than they look intimidating, the characters themselves are in no danger of passing for ordinary little RPG heroes, and hacking god to pieces with a chainsaw is a perfectly valid battle plan.But beyond those oddball first impressions lie a trio of games that just love getting straight to the point. These RPGs were always meant to be played in short, irregular bursts, created for people who don’t have the time for “normal” RPGs but still want to experience the genre’s depth and complexity—and take on divine beings with something from Doomguy’s arsenal too.

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Daybreak: Special Gigs

(Image credit: Arc System Works, Toybox)

Best JRPGs - A ghost is detected in Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Daybreak: special Gigs.

Release: 2017 |Developer:Arc System Works, Toybox |Steam Deck:Unverified |SteamThis spooky strategy RPG is weird, confusing, and brilliant. Imagine Ghostbusters, if Ghostbusters was set in modern Japan and got itself all mixed up with some tactical roleplaying. Heck, the unlikely gang of spirit smashers in here even have their own cobbled together lo-fi tech and legally distinct Egon-alike who likes to stand right next to what is definitelynota containment unit.Battles against the undead are handled via a stylish mix of careful pre-fight planning, allowing you to set up all sorts of traps, talismans, and ghost detecting effects on the field, and a visually detached attack phase, everything playing out via camera feeds on a tactical tablet screen. The twist here is that everything costs money, so there’s always a need to balance the bustin' with the budget.If you’d like to play an RPG that genuinely isn’t like anything else—this game even manages to give standard responses to ordinary questions a unique, emotion-driven twist—you really need to give this a go.

Zwei: The Arges Adventure

(Image credit: Falcom)

Best JRPGs - The step-sibling heroines of Zwei: The Arges Adventure explore a forest.

Release:2018 |Developer:Falcom |Steam Deck:Playable |SteamFalcom’s stunning 2D action RPG knows that the best way to win a gamer’s heart is through fluffy animals, a full belly, and a lighthearted, self-contained, story filled with friendly bickering. You can’t start without picking and then naming a cute pet for the games' troublemaking teenagers, and the story opens with one of the main characters lazing in bed, dreaming of delicious food.Delicious food is actually one of the things that separates this from other ARPGs, each mouthwatering delight not just a source of healing but also precious experience points too. This instantly creates an interesting game-long conundrum: do you keep a big pile of sweets and snacks to hand in case you get hurt, or do you chow down as soon as you find them, eating your way straight to the next level up? Whatever you decide, you’ll definitely find plenty of food to go around as you battle through the game’s almost roguelite style dungeons, the frequently unserious dialogue and straightforward monster-whacking within giving this adventure a bright and breezy tone.

PRODUCTSFinal Fantasy 7 Remake IntergradeDragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive AgeYakuza: Like a DragonTactics Ogre RebornSega Mega Drive & Genesis ClassicsYs: The Oath in FelghanaChrono TriggerCosmic Star HeroineEtrian Odyssey HDMetaphor Re Fantazio

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Best action JRPGs#

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade#

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails#

Xuan-Yuan Sword 7#

Legend of Mana#

Best turn-based JRPGs#

Metaphor: ReFantazio#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age#

Yakuza: Like a Dragon#

Etrian Odyssey HD#

Cosmic Star Heroine#

Best strategy JRPGs#

Tactics Ogre: Reborn#

Phantom Brave PC#

Vestaria Saga 1: War of the Scions#

Best story-heavy JRPGs#

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero#

Final Fantasy 12 The Zodiac Age#

Corpse Party (2021)#

Best JRPG classics#

Chrono Trigger#

Ys: The Oath in Felghana#

Final Fantasy 9#

Shining Force 2#

Best genre-breaking JRPGs#

Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend#

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Daybreak: Special Gigs#

Zwei: The Arges Adventure#

Best action JRPGs

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails

Xuan-Yuan Sword 7

Legend of Mana

Best turn-based JRPGs

Metaphor: ReFantazio

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Etrian Odyssey HD

Cosmic Star Heroine

Best strategy JRPGs

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

Phantom Brave PC

Vestaria Saga 1: War of the Scions

Best story-heavy JRPGs

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero

Final Fantasy 12 The Zodiac Age

Corpse Party (2021)

Best JRPG classics

Chrono Trigger

Ys: The Oath in Felghana

Final Fantasy 9

Shining Force 2

Best genre-breaking JRPGs

Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Daybreak: Special Gigs

Zwei: The Arges Adventure