One of the most time-tested genres in the entire video game medium is RPGs. With a devout following of fans, RPGs are often defined by the stories that they allow players to experience and their memorable casts of characters. Japanese RPGs (or JRPGs) are among some of the most iconic and easily recognizable games in the genre. These styles of games have had a foothold in the video game industry since the 1980s.
While some JRPGs may be polarizing to some, others are often described as being among the best games of all time. Many veteran gamers will remember iconic entries into the JRPG umbrella such as Chrono Trigger being re-released on new systems. But in order to keep the focus on games of the 2000s, we'll be excluding ports of games that were originally released in the 1990s.
10 Persona 3: FES - 89
While Persona 5 is easily the most popular Persona game of all time, Persona 3 lays the foundation for every entry in the series that followed it. The game introduced many mechanics that are now staples of the series. This includes splitting gameplay between day and night, while a player attends a modern Japanese high school during the day.
Other familiar mechanics include managing friendships and relationships as players explore a massive dungeon called Tartarus during the evening. These two distinct forms of linked gameplay are each overlaid with a somber tone. Fans loved this game so much that it has an 89 Metascore. Persona 3's definitive version, Persona 3 FES, is great for anyone who enjoys JRPGs.
9 Dragon Quest VIII: Journey Of The Cursed King - 89
Dragon Quest is one of the most long-running JRPG franchises around. In fact, its first entry was released all the way back in 1986. Dragon Quest VIII, which released in 2005 for the PS2, is a culmination of what made the series popular to begin with.
While the combat is a somewhat simplistic and standard turn-based affair, much of the charm is derived from the game's colorful cast of characters. People may recognize the distinct art style of Dragonball creator and Chrono Trigger artist, Akira Toriyama.
8 Grandia II - 90
A turn-based RPG released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000, Grandia II is often regarded as one of the best games available for that console. Many reviews at the time of its release noted the shortcomings in its gameplay.
However, it was highly regarded for its, at the time, impressive graphics and unique battle system. In a turn modern JRPGs like Final Fantasy VII Remake would take, Grandia II combined turn-based elements with less traditional mechanics such as movement within a given battle.
7 Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 - 90
One of the most popular entries in the Persona franchise, Persona 4 takes traditional turn-based RPG combat and intertwines it within a modern setting alongside social mechanics. Persona 4 takes place within modern Japan, with the player finding themselves in the middle of a paranormal mystery involving another dimension, serial murders, and combat with summonable entities called Personas.
Juggling the paranormal and the mundane, the game is a marriage of solid combat and dungeons and a highly praised character-driven story. Those balances and the unmistakable aesthetic earned it a Metascore of 90.
6 Golden Sun - 91
Released for the Gameboy Advance in 2001, Golden Sun is often described as one of the best hand-held RPGs ever to be released. Sporting impressive sprite-work and a great soundtrack, Golden Sun featured some of the most detailed sprites on the Gameboy Advance.
By pushing the GBA to its graphical capabilities limit, players became heavily immersed in the experience. Reviewers praised the game at the time of its release for its story and finely tuned combat. Some touted that it was the best RPG to have been released in years.
5 Final Fantasy X - 92
Released in 2001, Final Fantasy X was the first entry in the iconic franchise to be released for the PS2. The game featured a huge, sweeping story with many locations and characters. It marked a true step forward for the franchise and what gaming hardware could do.
This was the first installment to feature full voice-acted cutscenes and impressive graphics that still hold up to this day. It also featured some of the tightest gameplay in the series. At the time of its release, reviews praised nearly every element of the game from its story to the combat.
4 Final Fantasy XII - 92
This is another entry in the Final Fantasy series to be released for the PS2. However, it shipped with HD textures since the developers had next-generation consoles in mind. The latest releases of the Zodiac Age for PC, PS4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch show off the still-excellent graphics.
Final Fantasy XII is a game that blends together science fiction and fantasy in a final product that many have compared to Star Wars. Many reviews at the time of its release applauded the updates to the traditional Final Fantasy combat that had been left unchanged for years. However, some fans balked at the combination of real-time and turn-based combat.
3 Vagrant Story - 92
Speaking of a real-time battle system, this title uses one unlike the majority of the entries of this list. Vagrant Story is an action RPG released by Squaresoft in 2000 for the PS1. Having the player control a single character rather than a party, the game allows for a solid degree of customization of the protagonist.
The game received primarily positive reviews at the time of its release and is notably one of the few games to receive a perfect score from the Japanese gaming magazine, Famitsu Magazine. There has not been a follow-up to the game, but Final Fantasy XIV borrowed an unused sequel idea from the franchise.
2 Skies Of Arcadia - 93
One of the most favorably reviewed Sega Dreamcast games of all time, Skies of Arcadia features many mechanics associated with JRPGs. Though it makes use of turn-based combat, it puts a larger emphasis on exploration than many other games in the genre.
Much of the gameplay of Skies of Arcadia is made up of traversing the game's rich world via airship. Paired with great combat and frequently praised writing, it's not hard to see why this game resonated with many critics.
1 Final Fantasy IX - 94
As it developed, nearly every aspect of the Final Fantasy series became more complicated from the settings in each entry to the mechanics to the characters in each game. The franchise originated with more straightforward fantasy adventures. But perhaps that was due to hardware limitations of the time. By the time that Final Fantasy VII and VIII had been released, the games had transitioned into sci-fi epics.
With some of the most impressive graphics of any JRPG on the PS1, Final Fantasy IX returned to its fantasy roots without sacrificing substance. The medieval aesthetic paired well with incredible characters, a great soundtrack, and an impeccable turn-based battle system. Many fans believe it should be the next one to receive the remake treatment.