RPGs/JRPGs without fantasy setting

Kikorin

Kikorin

Member
I was thinking about how I'm playing RPGs/JRPGs by my entire life, and the setting/main story is pretty much always about good gods vs bad gods in a fantasy setting. Sometimes there are some excellence here and there like Xenoblade, but I'm starting to get a bit tired. So I'd like to know if there are RPGs/JRPGs with different settings. I can think of Cyberpunk 2077 and Yakuza series, but maybe there are more? I like the genre, but I'd want something new. I'll take any suggestion and add your games to my infinite backlog. Thanks.
 
Shin Megami Tensei
Persona
Valkyria Chronicles

Don't know if Catherine counts? Guess it doesn't, but it's worth a shot regardless.
 
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Kingdom Come Deliverance comes to mind. It is much more historical medieval setting than fantasy.

Wartales is also non-fantasy as far as I've seen of it.
 
  • Fallout 1
  • Fallout 2
  • Fallout: New Vegas
  • Planescape Torment (Although it can be argued that it's fantasy)
  • Arcanum (it's Steampunk with a "what if the industrial revolution were to take place in fantasy world?" spin)
  • Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
  • Anachronox
  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance (no fantasy, just the Middle Ages)
  • Expeditions: Rome
  • Wasteland 3
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails games by Falcom
  • Deus Ex
  • Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader
  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II
  • Various Final Fantasy games don't have a fantasy setting per-se. Most known are probably FF7 or FF8.
 
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Beside games mentioned earlier, the ones that also come to mind is Alpha Protocol (spy RPG), The Outer Worlds (sci-fi), Elex, Tyranny (world inspired by Bronze Age) and Mass Effect (sci-fi)
 
S5Nv1s4.jpg




I adore the art direction of this game. The Gardens, Balamb, Dollet, Timber, Deiling City etc etc.... It sticks out for me amongst all JRPGs, FF and other series. Coupled with the crazy good soundtrack.

I hope FF17 goes back to a modern setting again. 15 went there but wasn't complete enough for me to love it like I do for 8, but could have been exceptional. I think there's a gap in the RPG market for the fantasty meets reality art direction. It's unique and I think why 15 sold so well despite the mixed reception.
 
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Hudo said:
Wasteland 3
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Such a good game. A bit janky at times, but ultra fun turn-based combat; and every skill has it uses, whether in dialogue, environmental interaction or combat. Many dialogues have some Fallout vibes with funny and/or sociopathic answers. Highly recommended.
 
Greedfall: colonial setting, almost Napoleonian aesthetic.

Vampyr: early 20th century Victorian London aesthetic, Vampire RPG.

Steelrising: French Revolution with automatons.

Three extremely good AA western action RPGs, not high budget tho if that bothers you. I love these 3 games so, so much.
 
My understanding is that OP is looking for Post-Apocalyptic, Current Days or maybe Steam Punk themes. These are already a good basis to search for games. A few games that come to mind...

Tokyo Mirage was fun and quite unusual.
Persona/SMT series. Especially SMT actually. For example Strange Journey. It is a Dungeon-RPG so there's some work involved on the player's part, but the themes are excellent.
Radiant Historia had a great Steam Punk theme. Highly recommended.
Wachenroder on Saturn, but that's Japanese only.
Hybrid Front also looks very interesting on MegaDrive, but that's Japanese as well.
Shadowrun games on older consoles, had some very good settings.
Fallout series is post-apo.
Phantasy Star series is quite unique, with II having a very futuristic sci-fi setting and IV leaning more towards pos-apo.
I find that 7th Dragon on 3DS is worth noting. It mixes many themes, and offers some very uncommon classes for a RPG.
Saw FF VIII and FF XV and agree that these have good, unusual settings as well. FF XIII trilogy as well, not exactly your usual fantasy setting.
Valkyria Chronicles I and IV are very good, with a world-war theme in a fictional Europe.
Nier + Automata.
 
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SEGAGAGA

Rent-A-Hero

...that's all I got. People already mentioned SMT & Persona.

...oh and Wild ARMS may technically count, but I kind of look at it as wild west/sci-fi/fantasy.
 
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So I have not seen mentioned.

The older Sakura Wars (most recent is some terrible action combat shit)
Super Robot Wars
Blue Reflection
Front Mission
Resonance of Fate

I suppose if your counting Cyberpunk then perhaps Nier Automata might count?

there's a few more I feel like I have played but cant remember the name like one where you play as a tank (not Valkyria and it was a bit shit too) also some Eroge titles (porn titles) that fit the bill too, that I really did play for the plot like Dohna Dohna... no really...



why did a fucking porn game have to come out with an amazing visual style, menu design and music? don't judge me.
 
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Kikorin said:
Thanks all for the suggestions, it already blown my mind how much of these games I didn't know about. I really want to get in Yakuza series, are them related or can I start by anyone? 👀🤔
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they are all related, however Like a Dragon is intended to be a new adventure with a new protagonist (Ichiban) and while prior events are referenced, you as the player due to Ichiban being in jail for most of the time are given a summary of these events at the same time the main character is. Its also Turn based (so a JRPG) unlike the prior action titles of the series.

While I would always recommend you play all of them as they are the spiritual successor to Shenmu, if you want a JRPG then the above linked is the best part to jump into, and you only have two months until the much bigger sequel hits next year, which is a direct follow on from Like a Dragon.
 
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Kikorin said:
I was thinking about how I'm playing RPGs/JRPGs by my entire life, and the setting/main story is pretty much always about good gods vs bad gods in a fantasy setting. Sometimes there are some excellence here and there like Xenoblade, but I'm starting to get a bit tired. So I'd like to know if there are RPGs/JRPGs with different settings. I can think of Cyberpunk 2077 and Yakuza series, but maybe there are more? I like the genre, but I'd want something new. I'll take any suggestion and add your games to my infinite backlog. Thanks.
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Start the trails series imo:
  • Setting has some fantasy elements, but things like cars phone etc do exist, so it's not entirely swords and sorcery type of shit.
  • Over 5 games in, and there's no "fight the evil deity" type of plotline.
  • good long-form storytelling and world-class world-building.
Start with Trails in the Sky trilogy on PC, it can run on a total potato btw.
 
Kingdom Come Deliverance, Alpha Protocol and Jagged Alliance 3 are amazing RPGs with non-fantasy and non-scifi settings.
 
Corian33 said:
WH40k: Rogue Trader.

Made by the people who do the Pathfinder games, but it's Warhammer 40k. Like a dream come true for me.
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I second this recommendation.

You can also check out the excellent cyberpunk/fantasy Shadowrun trilogy; Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun: Dragonfall and Shadowrun: Hong Kong.
 
Shenmue



Watching that video brought back so many memories. It felt like I'd actually lived there in a past life. So much has changed about my life since then, it seems like another world away.
 
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-Crosscode for action JRPG set in futuristic setting
-Shadow Run games are fantasy but they're modern fantasy (cyberpunk-ish but with magic, elves, etc)
-Deux Ex games for more pure cyberpunk
-System Shock for cyberpunk (you can try the remake)
-Fallout for post-apocalyptic
-STALKER for post-apocalyptic and horror
-There are the Star Wars KOTOR games or Mass Effect.

Plenty to go around as you see
 
JRPGs are a bit better about this imo /weeb

Parasite Eve
Bloodborne
Earthbound
The World Ends With You
Yakuza
Shadow Hearts
Shin Megami Tensei 3, Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga, Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey - all wholly different
Skies of Arcadia?
tbh select Final Fantasy games like 7, 8 and 15
Pokemon
 
NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt said:
Is this game an actual CRPG? I'm interested in getting it. Since I like to explore the world etc
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Yeah it's fantastic, it has its issues being an owlcat game but there fixing it as they go, normally I advise waiting 6 months before diving into one of their titles but I'm really enjoying my time with this one.

My Warhammer+ sub snagged me it for 50% off a few months back on preoder, while it looks... basic compared to say Baldurs Gate III, its got heart and that's what counts with these adventures.
 
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Warhammer 40K is still fantasy. It is all about gods fighting each other and weird dudes with pointy ears that nobody likes. I don't really know what to recommend without much calibration other than "I want something as impressive as Cyberpunk 2077 or Yakuza that somehow I haven't heard of". Maybe try Prey.
 
Seconding Wild Arms. That western setting is great for JRPGs, also the Live A Live Remake is a great mix of different settings from Sci Fi to fantasy to Western.
 
NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt said:
Is this game an actual CRPG? I'm interested in getting it. Since I like to explore the world etc
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Others already answered but I will add for emphasis. If you want to explore the world it is exactly that. A full blown CRPG in 40k. It's like being the lead character in one of the books. Or rather, since it's an Owlcat game, a whole series of novels. If you have not heard of their Pathfinder games, they are infamous for being ridiculously big.

I'm 6 hours in and have barely reached beyond the prologue.
 
Corian33 said:
Others already answered but I will add for emphasis. If you want to explore the world it is exactly that. A full blown CRPG in 40k. It's like being the lead character in one of the books. Or rather, since it's an Owlcat game, a whole series of novels. If you have not heard of their Pathfinder games, they are infamous for being ridiculously big.

I'm 6 hours in and have barely reached beyond the prologue.
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I do have the Pathfinder games on Steam. Thanks for the info. I'll be waiting to buy Rogue Trader due to bugs etc
 
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The two best examples I can think of are Kingdom Come and the Mount & Blade series. The former is a recreation of 15th century Bohemia (Czechia), the latter a collection of strategy-action RPG hybrids. The original game, Warband, and most recently Bannerlord all take part in a fictional land called Calradia which is inspired by Eurasian history and is completely devoid of fantasy elements. There's an expansion for Warband called Viking Conquest that uses a completely different map set in northwest Europe during the Viking Age, as well as a separate game called With Fire and Sword that takes place in 17th century Eastern Europe. They're fantastic games, I highly recommend checking them out.

Filben said:
Kingdom Come Deliverance comes to mind. It is much more historical medieval setting than fantasy.

Wartales is also non-fantasy as far as I've seen of it.
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Wartales has some spectral/ghost and zombie-type enemies, but otherwise, yeah, that's a good mention.
 
Atom RPG
Atom RPG Trudograd
Battle Brothers

Troubleshooter: Abandoned Children

Jagged Alliance 3 was one of the best tactical rpgs in a long time.
 
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I honestly want to see newer JRPGs draw inspiration from urban-like or cyberpunk-esque settings a lá FFVII's midgar or mid 90's Japanese anime futurism.

Its part reason why Resonance of fate was awesome.
 
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