The 25 Best JRPGs of All Time - IGN

I like almost every FF game prior to FFX more than FFX. I really just don't get it.

Also, Persona 5 number two?? That game had serious writing and pacing issues (granted, I didn't play Royal, but I'm guessing Royal didn't cut out the last 20 hours of P5). P4 was much better, I thought.

Points for Dragon Quest XI though, that game rules.
 
QLQ said:
Action-adventure games.
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I'd take that for the older Yakuza games but come on, the last 2 mainline games are clearly JRPGs.

Can't speak about KH since I've never played those tho.
 
QLQ said:
too many all-time greats missing to include outliers
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Yeah that's true, while I loved my time with the Yakuza games I don't think they stand a chance against other more deserving games.
 
adamsapple said:
03: Final Fantasy X
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Tired Over It GIF by The Lonely Island
 
God more list shite, anything to drive engagement. Plus, its IGNnorant. I get starting up conversations about how its nice to see a resurgence of both quality and classic ideas making a return. But these things always just end up turning into insulting others with drive-by insults while others are looking for validation of their own tastes or purchase history. Most of them seem to boil down to what little they've played and are just a sort of stealth brag as if they're some sort of authority on the matter. But its 1, from the mainstream media and 2, by IGN of too much water fame.

I put much more stock in people that go the extra mile to find and experience more of the genre than what little made it west. Basement Bros, Marsh, Dungeon Chill, Biophoenix etc do far more to give exposure to more obscure treasures than just memory bias list bait.
 
DonkeyPunchJr said:
I consider Final Fantasy X to be maybe the most overrated JRPG of all time.

Retarded unlikeable characters, retarded writing and direction, dumbass protagonist whose whole schtick is to loudly proclaim his ignorance so everyone has a reason to dump info on you.

Gameplay-wise it has that dumb character swapping mechanic so the only strategy, beginning to end, is "swap in whichever character can hit the enemy's weak point" which gets so old and tedious… especially since you're constantly swapping just so your party members can take some action and get AP for that battle.

Plus some of the worst, most infuriating minigames ever devised. So bad that whenever the topic of "worst JRPG minigames ever" comes up, it immediately turns into an argument about which one or FFX's minigames deserves that spot.
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Same. It's absolute crap. I always thought, when does the game start? When does the real story start and then it was over. After like 25 hours. A completely linear RPG.
The entire game except for maybe 1-2 battles the fights were rock paper scissors. They shouldn't have made swapping characters in free.
 
It's as if the people who made this list just started playing JRPGs in the last couple years. On that note, I never understood the love of Earthbound/Mother. Those games always bored me.
 
The top 5 is terrible, except for the GOAT Chrono Trigger of course.

Xenoblade 3 is not even the best Xenoblade. Same for Persona and Final Fantasy. Metaphor is pretty good but not top 5 of all time material.

At least Live A Live made it somewhere... And Trails, even if not with the entry I expected (Azure).
 
Nocty said:
The top 3 are actually my top 3 in the same order however, expedition 33 now exists so it's hard tht the label not being jRPG there, considering it is a jRPG in everything except location it was made...
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And the aesthetics.
 
If you're saying something like "OF ALL TIMES" I'd expect indisputable games in the list. I don't agree some of the games here at all. Don't get me wrong: They are all good games but GOATs? Nope, some of them are nothing close of that class at all.


  1. I understand that they put Trails's first game in the list to honor the series but Cold Steel 1 is really the major turning point in the series if we look every aspect of the games in the serie.
  2. Ni No Kuni was good but I wouldn't put my "Of all time" list at all. Tales of Vesperia and Persona 5 games are also debatable. P4G and P3FES are much more better for me.
  3. And lastly people may hate me for this but even though FF: X is a good game, it is not a masterpiece. Not by a long shot. People criticize FF13 for "corridor maps" and but not the FF: X for the same thing. Story also didn't grabbed me. One of the least FF game I like after FF15.
 
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DonkeyPunchJr said:
I consider Final Fantasy X to be maybe the most overrated JRPG of all time.

Retarded unlikeable characters, retarded writing and direction, dumbass protagonist whose whole schtick is to loudly proclaim his ignorance so everyone has a reason to dump info on you.

Gameplay-wise it has that dumb character swapping mechanic so the only strategy, beginning to end, is "swap in whichever character can hit the enemy's weak point" which gets so old and tedious… especially since you're constantly swapping just so your party members can take some action and get AP for that battle.

Plus some of the worst, most infuriating minigames ever devised. So bad that whenever the topic of "worst JRPG minigames ever" comes up, it immediately turns into an argument about which one or FFX's minigames deserves that spot.
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I agree with almost all of that, I only have one counter point:
PSWQ6Rs.jpeg
 
Lost Odyssey is a good game, but I definitely wouldn't put it on my Top 25 list.

Some rose colored glasses being used for the game these days. I played it when it was first released and thought it was good, but I distinctly remember it not being well reviewed. Average of 7/10 maybe? I think it and Blue Dragon reviewed about the same and I actually preferred Blue Dragon to Lost Odyssey.

I'm also confused by the inclusion of Bravely Default 2 on this list instead of 1, or even Bravely Second. I think it's generally accepted that both of those 3DS games are better than Bravely Default 2.
 
Swap out Dragon Quest 8 for Dragon Quest 11. Swap out mother 3 for earthbound. And then the list is still really not particularly good. But I'm not exactly offended either. IGN earned themselves a participation trophy with this.
 
QLQ said:
Sounds like you haven't played many jrpg all-time greats.
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Neither have you, if you think JRPG's are action adventure games. 🤷‍♂️

I'll make it easier for you. Yakuza 0 through 6 and the spin off games are action adventures, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth are traditional JRPGs.
 
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rubik's dude said:
Every JRPG on there is a banger, but if this is supposed to be a list of the best JRPGs, then it's garbage because they were more concerned with diversity than quality. Of all the long running JRPG series in that list, they picked only one from each because they didn't want duplicates.
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This list is sacrificing higher quality games in the name of diversity. It should not have the title that it has.

My God.
 
I've played literally thousands of jRPGS, and to be quite honest, outside of the top 10 or so games it's a vast ocean of slop and mediocrity.

I would go as far as saying that if you remove Atlus and Square games from the picture, there are only a handful of other games I would consider 'great / masterpiece'.

JRPGs are easily the most homogenized genre in gaming right now.. constant recycled familiar plot structures and tropes, the "chosen one" narrative, amnesia-based protagonists, evil empires, and ancient prophecies. This has led to quite frankly depressing levels of narrative stagnation. In fact, the only jRPGs that have released in the last 7 or so years which made me enjoy the genre again were Persona and admittedly, the FF7 remakes and there is quite a drop in quality compared to titles that came out 15-25 years ago.

I edit this to mention that Metaphor Refantazio is also a very strong game. Atlus gives me hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
 
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QLQ said:
Yakuza games are not JRPGs

Kingdom Hearts is not JRPG.

There. Needed to be said.

Also. Garbage list.

If you don't have the staff qualified to make an all-time list, then don't make the list.
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While I agree with you on Kingdom Hearts Like a Dragon is a JRPG 100%.

You probably didn't bother to check the exact title as while Yakuza 0,1-6, Kiwami 1/2, Ishin and the other JP only title aren't JRPGs Yakuza 7 and Infinite Wealth are.
 
rubik's dude said:
Every JRPG on there is a banger, but if this is supposed to be a list of the best JRPGs, then it's garbage because they were more concerned with diversity than quality. Of all the long running JRPG series in that list, they picked only one from each because they didn't want duplicates.
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I hate basically every list that put a limit on 1 per franchise. If a single franchise is so good that it takes up multiple spots then it should take multiple spots.

DonkeyPunchJr said:
I consider Final Fantasy X to be maybe the most overrated JRPG of all time.

Retarded unlikeable characters, retarded writing and direction, dumbass protagonist whose whole schtick is to loudly proclaim his ignorance so everyone has a reason to dump info on you.

Gameplay-wise it has that dumb character swapping mechanic so the only strategy, beginning to end, is "swap in whichever character can hit the enemy's weak point" which gets so old and tedious… especially since you're constantly swapping just so your party members can take some action and get AP for that battle.

Plus some of the worst, most infuriating minigames ever devised. So bad that whenever the topic of "worst JRPG minigames ever" comes up, it immediately turns into an argument about which one or FFX's minigames deserves that spot.
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I agree on FFX. I've tried multiple times and just can't get into it.

Shifty1897 said:
I get the urge to limit the list to one entry per franchise, but it's obviously not the top 25 best JRPGs of all time with that rule in place, is it?

Final Fantasy VI and Skies of Arcadia's omission alone is a slap in the face.
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Agreed.

Arsic said:
the only list nino kuni should be on is top 10 worst game of all time.
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I knew there would be some shit takes in here and I'm not disappointed.

Rran said:
I like almost every FF game prior to FFX more than FFX. I really just don't get it.

Also, Persona 5 number two?? That game had serious writing and pacing issues (granted, I didn't play Royal, but I'm guessing Royal didn't cut out the last 20 hours of P5). P4 was much better, I thought.

Points for Dragon Quest XI though, that game rules.
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Persona 3 and 4 are both much better than 5. Better characters, story, music, and atmosphere. The core gameplay is the same in P5 as P3/4 it just has more intricate and elaborate dungeons. That's the ONLY thing 5 does better then 3/4.

Persona 5 is vastly overrated and is only beloved because it was most people's first foray into the franchise.

Northeastmonk said:
It's as if the people who made this list just started playing JRPGs in the last couple years. On that note, I never understood the love of Earthbound/Mother. Those games always bored me.
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Thank you! The Mother series is so boring to me. I've never been able to make it more than a couple hours.

NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt said:
Metaphor Refantazio being that high on the list and even being on the list should be crime against humanity 👀
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I haven't finished Metaphor yet but there is no chance it needs to be that high on the list.

It's an easy pick due to recency bias and inexperience in the genre.

Nocty said:
I've played literally thousands of jRPGS, and to be quite honest, outside of the top 10 or so games it's a vast ocean of slop and mediocrity.

I would go as far as saying that if you remove Atlus and Square games from the picture, there are only a handful of other games I would consider 'great / masterpiece'.

JRPGs are easily the most homogenized genre in gaming right now.. constant recycled familiar plot structures and tropes, the "chosen one" narrative, amnesia-based protagonists, evil empires, and ancient prophecies. This has led to quite frankly depressing levels of narrative stagnation. In fact, the only jRPGs that have released in the last 7 or so years which made me enjoy the genre again were Persona and admittedly, the FF7 remakes and there is quite a drop in quality compared to titles that came out 15-25 years ago.

I edit this to mention that Metaphor Refantazio is also a very strong game. Atlus gives me hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
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I disagree on your first part. There are just as many all time greats as other genres.

I don't think there is anymore slop or mediocrity then any other genre.
 
Looks to me that they were told only one title in any given franchise.

Not including FF7, the game that put JRPGs on the mainstream map is an interesting choice.
 
Grildon Tundy said:
I love the Persona games. Metaphor:RE doesn't belong that high on the list.

No Persona 3 or 4? Looks like they tried to pick single representative games from franchises. Otherwise a certain series might dominate the list.
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Metaphor was IGNs Goty last year as far as I remember. I'm currently playing it, I've never played a Persona game and I'm still waiting to get hooked.
 
hououinkyouma00 said:
I disagree on your first part. There are just as many all time greats as other genres.

I don't think there is anymore slop or mediocrity then any other genre.
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I'm curious what you then consider all time greats outside of the obvious choices that are now approaching 30 years old. For me Persona 4/5 Royal and Metaphor are the only titles that can be considered for at least 3 console generations.

The biggest issues I have with the genre now is how often the devs focus in on a narrow band of cultural aesthetics and behavioral archetypes derived from Japanese pop culture (dominantly anime and manga), and a close second issue being the lack of player agency. Western developers have moved the RPG genre forward in leaps and bounds when it comes to narrative choice for example, but I suppose many would consider linearity a core part of what defines a JRPG so I understand that may not be a common frustration.

For example, it is absolutely easy to see why Baldurs Gate 3 was so acclaimed even if I didn't personally enjoy it all as much as most, but I genuinely enjoyed my time overall playing through it because of the freedom and incredible mechanics.

I would have to go back decades before we saw any real innovation from JRPG's (again putting aside Persona titles, but even then, hardly reinventing any wheels). It's most frustrating because, jRPG's in the past gave us quantum leaps in gaming culture and quality (FF7's launch for example, pushed the bar in just about every possible way a game could). Those days seem to be in the hands of Fromsoftware now, and even their outputs are starting to stagnate.
 
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EarthBound is, in my opinion, one of the most overrated games of all time. Its current popularity owes a lot more to Super Smash Bros. exposure and the meme culture of the early 2000s than to its actual gameplay or design merits. Without that cultural boost, it likely would have remained a niche or obscure franchise.

From a technical standpoint, EarthBound falls short in several areas. The combat system is a fairly standard turn-based RPG mechanic with minimal innovation, especially when compared to other titles of its era like Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VI, which offered more dynamic or visually engaging battle systems. The inventory management is clunky and limited, often forcing unnecessary micromanagement. The user interface is unintuitive, with multiple nested menus for simple actions, which can feel tedious and outdated.

While the game's quirky humor and satirical tone are often praised, the narrative pacing is inconsistent, and character development is minimal. Nostalgia often plays a large role in its reverence, overshadowing the game's mechanical shortcomings. In short, EarthBound is more celebrated for its cult status and aesthetic uniqueness than for solid game design or depth.

LOL at Final Fantasy X. It's a painfully linear game with barely any real exploration, relying heavily on cutscenes and narrow paths. The Sphere Grid gives a false sense of customization, and the CTB battle system, while strategic, lacks the urgency and dynamism of earlier titles. Tidus is one of the weakest protagonists in the franchise, and the story leans into melodrama and clunky pacing. Most of its praise comes from nostalgia, voice acting novelty, and flashy visuals, not because of any standout gameplay or depth.
 
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Midway-AGNC- said:
EarthBound is, in my opinion, one of the most overrated games of all time. Its current popularity owes a lot more to Super Smash Bros. exposure and the meme culture of the early 2000s than to its actual gameplay or design merits. Without that cultural boost, it likely would have remained a niche or obscure franchise.

From a technical standpoint, EarthBound falls short in several areas. The combat system is a fairly standard turn-based RPG mechanic with minimal innovation, especially when compared to other titles of its era like Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VI, which offered more dynamic or visually engaging battle systems. The inventory management is clunky and limited, often forcing unnecessary micromanagement. The user interface is unintuitive, with multiple nested menus for simple actions, which can feel tedious and outdated.

While the game's quirky humor and satirical tone are often praised, the narrative pacing is inconsistent, and character development is minimal. Nostalgia often plays a large role in its reverence, overshadowing the game's mechanical shortcomings. In short, EarthBound is more celebrated for its cult status and aesthetic uniqueness than for solid game design or depth.

LOL at Final Fantasy X. It's a painfully linear game with barely any real exploration, relying heavily on cutscenes and narrow paths. The Sphere Grid gives a false sense of customization, and the CTB battle system, while strategic, lacks the urgency and dynamism of earlier titles. Tidus is one of the weakest protagonists in the franchise, and the story leans into melodrama and clunky pacing. Most of its praise comes from nostalgia, voice acting novelty, and flashy visuals, not because of any standout gameplay or depth.
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Oh god yes nostalgia is the reason. I adore the game because I played it to death at my grandparents house when I was a kid with no worries in the wolrd beyond my milk and cookies running out or the power going down so I coulnd't play SNES.

I just dropped 2 bricks on the physical snes release of the game in another thread here on GAF, lol. But I agree and im not under any illusion that the game isnt mid as hell. It's pure rose tintys.
 
hououinkyouma00 said:
While I agree with you on Kingdom Hearts Like a Dragon is a JRPG 100%.

You probably didn't bother to check the exact title as while Yakuza 0,1-6, Kiwami 1/2, Ishin and the other JP only title aren't JRPGs Yakuza 7 and Infinite Wealth are.
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Ok. Either way, and not to be rude, who gives a shit? Garbage list.
 
hououinkyouma00 said:
I hate basically every list that put a limit on 1 per franchise. If a single franchise is so good that it takes up multiple spots then it should take multiple spots
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I agree there

hououinkyouma00 said:
Persona 3 and 4 are both much better than 5. Better characters, story, music, and atmosphere. The core gameplay is the same in P5 as P3/4 it just has more intricate and elaborate dungeons. That's the ONLY thing 5 does better then 3/4.

Persona 5 is vastly overrated and is only beloved because it was most people's first foray into the franchise
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I don't hate Persona 5 but Persona 3 and 4 are way better. I was introduced to the series when Persona 3 FES came out on the PS2. Persona 4 is still my favorite in the series. I think that Persona 5 is also way overrated.

hououinkyouma00 said:
Thank you! The Mother series is so boring to me. I've never been able to make it more than a couple hours.
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I tried to get into Earthbound Origins and Earthbound but I couldn't get into them. I might try out Mother 3 and see how I like that game

hououinkyouma00 said:
I haven't finished Metaphor yet but there is no chance it needs to be that high on the list.

It's an easy pick due to recency bias and inexperience in the genre.
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It's not a bad game, I did give the game a B Grade after all, I just found the plot predictable and the cast to me mostly forgettable. Not only that I could tell this was censored down for global audiences which in turn made the game super boring

And not only that but I figured out what the "twist" was early on. I did like the twist though I just wish it wasn't so obvious

Also I fast forward through lot of social links
 
As someone who has played every game on this list, Clair Obscur not being on there is a travesty. Honestly I would slot it in top 5 in this list.

Edit: Ahh I see they trot out the "made in Japan" definition lmao
 
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No Earthbound? Really? No Final Fantasy IV, or VI? Final Fantasy X surfer edition was number 3? This list is amateur hour.
 
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