Japan has been a Mecca for the RPG video game ever since the release of Dragon Quest in 1986. Since then, Japanese creators have continued to release many of what are considered the greatest games of all time, let alone RPGs. With the plethora of incredible games produced under the JRPG genre, it may be difficult for fans to pin down the best of the best.

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Role Playing Games are all about transporting the player into another world, a distant time period, or a unique persona. This affinity for fully immersing the player in an experience is what has drawn gamers to the RPG genre in general. However, the best RPGs are the ones that not only bring players into their unique fantasy world, but leave the player with something transformative to return to their own lives with.

10 Final Fantasy VII Is Not Overrated

Cloud Strife in the iconic image of Final Fantasy VII.

If there’s one game that will always be mentioned in any discussion of the greatest RPGs of all time, it’s Final Fantasy VII. If the Final Fantasy franchise itself is like the Disney of RPGs, then Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud is like its Mickey Mouse. Final Fantasy VII is iconic in every sense of the word, and deserves all the praise it receives.

FFVII was the first in the series to move to fully 3D graphics, and its futuristic setting and character development drew audiences in that had never been interested in RPGs. This is the game that made Final Fantasy a household name and changed the way gamers viewed RPGs forever.

9 Chrono Trigger Stands The Test Of Time

Official artwork depicting the main characters from Chrono Trigger.

There is perhaps no 2D JRPG that is more timeless than 1995's Chrono Trigger. Chrono Trigger essentially embodies the ideal of what JRPGs are all about. It has a compelling storyline, unique ATB battle system, challenging dungeon mechanics, and beautiful cutscenes.

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Chrono Trigger was created by a dream team of producers, including the creators of both Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and was the second best-selling game of 1995. All the commercial and critical success isn't unwarranted: Chrono Trigger lives up to the hype.

8 Xenogears Deserves Its Accolades

The cover art for Xenogears PlayStation release.

Xenogears was released to critical acclaim on the PlayStation. Though the mecha-oriented battle system and 3D combined with anime elements made it unique, it was truly the story that captivated audiences and gave Xenogears a cult-like following. The game implemented a mixture of psychological themes and religious symbolism which kept the plot interesting.

The popular Xenoblade Chronicles series is the spiritual ancestor of Xenogears, and they have subsequently revived the JRPG genre on next-gen platforms. However, their predecessor truly deserves to receive its accolades as well.

7 Fire Emblem: Three Houses Brought Much Deserved Attention To A Classic Franchise

Promotional art for Fire Emblem Three Houses for the Nintendo Switch.

Fire Emblem is a defining entry in the tactical RPG genre. Nintendo Switch's Three Houses took the Fire Emblem franchise to new heights and revitalized it for modern audiences.

Not only does Fire Emblem: Three Houses maintain the fun, challenging Tactical RPG gameplay that made the series famous, but it also implements social sim elements and an intriguing plot narrative. Three Houses has become the highest-selling game in the franchise by far, and fans are happy to see the Fire Emblem series finally getting the notoriety it deserves.

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6 Golden Sun Proved That Great RPGs Could Be Done On The Game Boy

The main characters of Golden Sun for Gameboy Advance

The Game Boy Advance brought mobile gaming to the next level in many ways. One such way was providing the platform with one shining light among JRPGs; Golden Sun.

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The overall premise and setting of Golden Sun is not anything particularly groundbreaking in the JRPG genre: a fantasy world full of magic and monsters. However, the RPG gameplay, sound design, and graphics made Golden Sun by far the best original RPG released on the GBA. To this day, it is considered by fans to be one of the best games released on any Nintendo console.

5 Phantasy Star Online Was More Than Just The First Console MMORPG

The main character art from the original Phantasy Star Online.

Phantasy Stars I, II and III were already classics in their own right - the unique futuristic setting, battle UI, and plot gave them a life of their own. Phantasy Star Online took the popular Phantasy Star franchise and brought it into the next generation.

Phantasy Star Online revolutionized the RPG genre again, while also staying true to what made its predecessors successful. The graphics and on-map battle style took the Phantasy Star series to the next-gen on the Dreamcast. All that goes without mentioning the fact that it essentially invented the console MMORPG.

4 Final Fantasy X Made RPGs Cool Again

Tidus on the cover of Final Fantasy X

For years, the Final Fantasy franchise did not miss a beat. Following its game-changing breakthrough with FFVII, the next two games in the series would be equally as immersive, with beautiful storylines and improved gameplay and graphics. However, the first installment on the PlayStation 2 console would change the direction of the series again.

Final Fantasy X truly brought everything fans of the franchise had come to know and love about the series into the next-gen. It popularized Final Fantasy even more, to the point that it spawned the series' first-ever direct sequel, Final Fantasy X-2.

3 Earthbound Changed The Game

An image from EarthBound.

Nintendo's fans have come to recognize Ness as a staple of the Nintendo lineup, especially through his role in the immensely popular Super Smash Bros franchise. However, many forget that his spot in that roster was solidified due to the classic RPG Earthbound for the SNES.

Earthbound has been credited as being the first JRPG targeting American audiences - this results in a humorous story with likable characters and quirky game mechanics. Earthbound introduced themes which have been appropriated by pretty much every other JRPG since, despite lacking the commercial success of others.

2 Pokémon Red & Blue Started One Of The Biggest Crazes In Videogame History

Red Picks Pokemon From Oak During Pokemon Introduction Tutorial

Pokémon Red & Blue started a worldwide phenomenon. Pikachu, Ash, Charizard; there is perhaps no other game series that has created lovable characters that have captured the hearts of millions to the extent that Pokémon has. From the anime to the trading card game, Pokémon has taken over the world.

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The mechanics of Pokémon's first video games were simple enough for anyone to pick up, yet complex enough to provide hundreds of hours of gameplay. Completing the game in Pokémon has never been just about simply defeating the final boss, and as a result, it has almost become a necessity in RPGs since Pokémon that there must be some kind of post-game after completing the main story.

1 There Would Be No JRPGs Without Dragon Quest

Original Cover Art From Dragon Quest

Dragon Quest has been acknowledged for being the first console RPG, and the series has been at the forefront of RPG gaming since its release in 1986. Created by Yūji Hori, a defining feature of the game is the art which is designed by Akira Toriyama, creator of the hit anime series Dragon Ball. The series has been known for its enjoyable gameplay mechanics and lighthearted, generic storylines, and it has even branched off into Manga, anime series, and several spin-offs.

It is nearly impossible to exaggerate the impact that Dragon Quest has had on the RPG genre. From the archetypal image of the slime which has since appeared in innumerable RPGs, to the monster capturing system which inspired games like Pokémon, Dragon Quest pretty much created the RPG video game as fans recognize it today.

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