The JRPG subgenre has seen a general and welcome resurgence in mainstream gaming, and Square Enix's Octopath Traveler paved the way for the perfect marriage of the nostalgic 16-bit days with modern advancements. Octopath Traveler II has been similarly praised for improving the foundations of its predecessor.

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Octopath Traveler 2 serves as a great jumping-on point for new genre fans, as well as longtime veterans. Should players feel immersed in the HD-2D world of Octopath Traveler II, there are several other JRPG titles worth looking into, from Square's Live A Live remake to all-time classics like Chrono Trigger.

10 Final Fantasy IX

Final Fantasy IX key art featuring the main cast of characters.

Several blocks of fans will give different answers as to which is the best mainline Final Fantasy game, but Square Enix has undoubtedly been spoiled by the sheer amount of quality the franchise has. For many, Final Fantasy IX is a major contender in that debate.

While the Final Fantasy franchise has moved on from pixel art graphics at this point in the mainline series, it retains all the grandiose high-fantasy storytelling and character drama one would want coming off of Octopath Traveler II. Final Fantasy IX doesn't feature the same narrative gimmicks, but it features a varied cast of characters with unique viewpoints on the overall story, all complemented by an easy-to-grasp turn-based combat system.

9 Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger key art featuring the main cast of characters.

The '90s was a golden era of JRPGs, with many games released across the likes of the Super Nintendo and original PlayStation that greatly influenced the subgenre. Square Enix was, to no surprise, a major driving force in this. As a result, the JRPG subgenre owes a lot of its perseverance to Chrono Trigger.

Like with Octopath, Chrono Trigger has a colorful cast of unique characters joining the protagonist's party to help keep the overarching story refreshing. It features an impressively anachronistic tale as well, with the narrative taking the party of characters on an adventure that spans space and time. Even today, it's accessible turn-based combat mechanics hold up just as well as its charming retro art style.

8 Dragon Quest IV: Chapters Of The Chosen

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen key art featuring the band of heroes.

Final Fantasy is undoubtedly the first property to come to most fans' minds when they think of Square Enix, but the Dragon Quest franchise has an equally historic place within the publisher and the subgenre's history. There are many excellent entries within this expansive series, but Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen might be the best fit for Octopath fans conceptually.

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A classic JRPG, Dragon Quest IV was also regarded as a game-changer for the mainline series for its time on the original Nintendo, since it broke up the narrative structure into something new. Unlike its contemporaries, the game was split into five chapters (six as of the PS1 remake). The first four had the player alternate between different protagonists before they all come together to thwart the tyrannical villain.

7 Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI key art featuring Terra riding one of the game's mechs.

In terms of Final Fantasy debates, VI is another heavily lauded installment that belongs in the discussion of the best in the mainline series. The game remains a benchmark in the franchise and the genre as a whole, achieving acclaim through its presentation, gameplay, and deeply engrossing story about overcoming authoritarianism.

Final Fantasy VI presents one of the franchise's most visually stunning settings, combining elements of high fantasy with steampunk sci-fi inspired by the Second Industrial Revolution. It also features a stunning 14-character cast of playable heroes, who all feel like unique protagonists in their own right.

6 Chained Echoes

Chained Echoes key art featuring a collage of the game's party members.

Outside of triple-A gaming publishers and developers, the subgenre has also been thriving in the indie scene. Some smaller studios have been putting their own spin on the nostalgic golden era of JRPGs, and Matthias Linda's Chained Echoes was a massive — and surprise — critical hit from late last year.

Chained Echoes is a love letter to that era of gaming, drawing from acclaimed titles like Suikoden and Final Fantasy. The game also features a narrative spanning multiple characters and a high fantasy setting, which should feel welcoming for Octopath fans. Even so, the game stands as a great achievement on its own terms, making strides in modernizing the subgenre's approach to turn-based combat.

5 Bravely Default II

Bravely Default II key art featuring the four main hero characters of the story.

The original Bravely Default for the Nintendo 3DS was a massive hit for the subgenre on the handheld, and while its sequel didn't achieve the same level of acclaim, Bravely Default II is a solid effort and the most accessible game in the series to find. Since the likes of Tomoya Asano — who headed the Octopath Traveler games — were behind the first game, some of the gameplay conventions should feel familiar.

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While Bravely Default II focuses on a tighter roster of heroes, these four characters come together from different backgrounds to help Princess Gloria retrieve the four elemental crystals of her homeland. The narrative style should make players feel at home from Octopath Traveler II, and the turn-based combat system's focus on experimenting with Job features should feel equally similar.

4 Live A Live

Live A Live key art featuring the main cast from the different time periods in the game.

While many JRPGs have been widely beloved and released globally, some never saw launches outside of Japan. Live A Live for the Super Nintendo was one such game and the recent remake was a welcome JRPG hit for 2022. There are some expected key differences that make Live A Live distinct enough from Octopath Traveler II to stand on its own merits.

Conceptually, the two games are arguably the most similar. Live A Live is split among different protagonists from vastly different eras in time, ranging from the Clint Eastwood-style spaghetti western to 2001: A Space Odyssey-like sci-fi. This remake scratches a similar itch while standing apart as one of the more unique JRPGs currently available.

3 Triangle Strategy

Triangle Strategy key art featuring a collage of the game's factions of characters.

Like with Live A Live, Square Enix's Triangle Strategy should be another topical experience after playing Octopath Traveler II. The game featured one of the same producers as the latter, keeping in line with the "HD-2D" graphical aesthetic.

However, Triangle Strategy takes place separately from the Octopath games, as well as being a tactical RPG. Nonetheless, the graphical style and turn-based combat should satisfy JRPG fans. It's debatably one of the best modern games of its particular niche, in addition to being an excellent strategy RPG to play on the Steam Deck.

2 Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age

Dragon Quest XI key art featuring the main cast of characters.

The most recent mainline installment in the decades-old franchise, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a superb modern JRPG for newcomers and veterans alike. It may not have a narrative gimmick that more closely aligns with that of Octopath Traveler II like DQIV does, but its conventional genre tropes will be sure to satisfy.

What starts as an orphan learning the truth of his lineage spirals into a sweeping high-fantasy tale that reveals a greater role for him in the world's fate. The way he meets the diverse cast of colorful supporting characters should appeal to those who enjoy Octopath's varied roster. Dragon Quest XI also features an optional 2D pixel art mode to play the game for those that appreciate the 16-bit aesthetic.

1 Wild Arms

Wild Arms key art featuring two of the three main protagonists.

It's admittedly a rather niche entry compared to the triple-A counterparts of its time, but Wild Arms is a worthwhile cult-classic game. Somewhat similar to DQIV, Wild Arms is an older example of a narrative and gameplay structure that's reminiscent of what Octopath Traveler II does, but in a fun twist on the western genre.

Wild Arms's been made more accessible in the modern day through the upgraded PS Plus service on PS4 and PS5. This unique JRPG has players go through the prologue stories of each of its three protagonists. That should feel welcome for players, and the story eventually sees them come together to tackle a larger and more destructive threat.

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