The turn-based combat systems in Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) are one of the oldest and most traditional forms of combat in gaming. For many critics, the system has become antiquated in favor of more action-orientated combat systems like the ones seen in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

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However, being traditional doesn’t mean that the system doesn’t stand the test of time or has to become a stagnant experience. Furthermore, many of the most traditional JRPGs still have huge fan bases and followings among the gaming community. Turn-based JRPGs can be just as balanced and even more innovative than real-time combat systems. Let’s look at the best JRPGs of all time based on their combat, story, and characters.

Updated on March 8, 2024, by Michael Llewellyn: Despite its classic routes, the turn-based combat system is still as immersive and enjoyable as it was before the action RPG became the modern norm in the genre. Whether a game is timeless or utilizes a stylish menu system that makes it feel modern, the turn-based combat system is here to stay. This list is updated to include more turn-based JRPGs to be considered among the greats.

20 Octopath Traveler

A Stunning HD 2D JRPG That Takes Inspiration From The Classics

Octopath Traveller 2: Exploring A New Town With A Full Party Of Characters
Octopath Traveler 2

Platform(s)
Switch , PS4 , PS5 , PC
Released
February 24, 2023
Developer(s)
Square Enix , Acquire

Like its predecessor, Octopath Traveler 2 is a retro-style JRPG with stunning HD 2D visuals and eight new characters to follow. You can pick the main protagonist, complete their prologue, and collect the remaining cast members to participate in their quests. Mechanically, Octopath Traveler 2 is similar to its predecessor, but the story and character development come together more cohesively and the are characters more engaging and relatable.

The turn-based combat is terrific, forcing you to think strategically and use timing and tactics to find an enemy's weaknesses. It can take a bit of guesswork to work out their weakness, but you should click with the mechanics after a few hours of gameplay.

19 Golden Sun

A Handheld Classic That Stands The Test Of Time

the main characters of Golden Sun against a blue background
Golden Sun
  • Platform: GBA and Switch Online
  • Released: 2001
  • Developers: Camelot Software Planning

Golden Sun launched in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance and later for the Nintendo DS. But the last game in the series was Golden Sun: Dark Dawn in 2010. Though the series has stagnated, the fandom remains ever-ardent in their love. However, there is hope as the classic original was made available on the Switch Online service for subscribers.

The game features a silent protagonist and a unique magic system that utilizes creatures called djinn. Not only do characters have special powers and summon abilities (via the Djinn), but they also have Psynergy (magic) and other unique abilities. The game features elemental lighthouses, world-ending dragons, and even the mythical civilization of Lemuria.

18 The Legend Of Dragoon

An Incredible Sony-Developed JRPG For The PS1

party members fighting a battle in Legend of Dragoon
The Legend of Dragoon

Platform(s)
PS1
Released
June 14, 2000
Developer(s)
JapanStudio

Like a few others on this list, Legend of Dragoon is an iconic classic in the JRPG realm. It puts you in the role of Dart, a warrior trying to stop the end of the world. It was originally launched in Japan in 1999 for the PS1, but it stands out as one of the most classic JPRG experiences.

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The game has three play modes: the battle screen, the area map, and the field. Legend of Dragoon's world was explorable with lots to discover and NPCs to chat with. The game portrays a vulnerable protagonist when Dart is saved from a Dragon in the early stages of the story by Rose, a powerful female warrior who's one of the best characters in the game.

It may sound silly by today's standards, but Rose felt a breath of fresh air in the '90s if you got tired of the usual supporting roles female characters were so often relegated to. The Legend of Dragoon keeps the combat interesting with chain attacks, and counters, and the Dragoon ability transforms the character and imbues them with special attacks and magic.

17 Phantasy Star 4

The Most Polished Single-Player Phantasy Star Game

Fighting A Sandworm in Phantasy Star 4:The End of the Millennium
  • Platform: Sega Genesis/Megadrive
  • Released: 1993
  • Developers: Sega

Launched in the West in 1995, Phantasy Star 4 is a futuristic science fiction JRPG that even today breaks the mold of typical Tolkien-esque fantasy-themed games. The fourth and final entry is the most polished before it became an MMORPG on the Dreamcast.

Incredibly it features a turn-based combat system reminiscent of Final Fantasy 12’s Gambit System. While not as complex, you can stack commands and program the characters with the Macros mechanic. If the Macros were combined in certain sequences this would initiate special moves and techniques

16 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Classic Turn-Based Action In A Modern Setting

Yakuza Like A Dragon - Ichiban Acting Like A Pompous Ceo With Eri And Tome Bowing Near Him
Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Platform(s)
Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PS4 , PS5 , PC
Released
January 16, 2020
Developer(s)
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

Launched in 2020 on Xbox and PlayStation systems, it may seem a little early to rank Yakuza: Like a Dragon as among the best-ever turn-based JRPGs. However, despite the modern setting and characters Like a Dragon combines its already beautifully established world with traditional turn-based gameplay.

Like a Dragon's combat system is closer to Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Sega classics like the original Phantasy Star series. The surprising move into turn-based combat fits perfectly with both its whacky characters and the gritty street gang elements. More importantly, if you're a fan of classic JRPGs the story, content, and character development are up there with some of the best in the genre.

15 Persona 3: Reload

A Terrific Remake That Modernises A Classic

Makoto fighting a shadow in Persona 3 Reload
Persona 3 Reload

Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PC
Released
February 2, 2024
Developer(s)
Atlus

Persona 3: Reload is a big-budget remake of the classic PS2 original that helped the series transition from a niche JRPG series to a mainstream hit thanks to its character interactions, story, and social sim mechanics. Moreover, the modern-day setting where the game puts you in the shoes of a high school student was a departure from a chosen one-type hero in a fantasy setting. It's a JRPG that is identifiable, whether you're still in school or left many years ago as an adult.

The turn-based combat in Persona 3: Reload has improved significantly. You can issue commands and control all team members. You must approach battles with a tactical mind and find an enemy's weakness using attacks powered by the party's Persona abilities. The combat is fun and compelling enough to keep you hooked on trying to climb and conquer the Tartarus.

14 Skies Of Arcadia

A Beloved Sega Dreamcast Classic

Skies of Arcadia characters against an orange sky as backdrop
  • Platform: Dreamcast and GameCube
  • Released: 2000
  • Developers: Overworks

Originally released on the Sega Dreamcast in 2000 and then the Nintendo GameCube in 2002, Skies of Arcadia is fondly remembered as one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. It invokes the classic happy-go-lucky feel one would expect from an old-school Sega title.

At the same time, Skies of Arcadia has endearing heroes with great antagonists that will keep you engaged and entertained throughout its epic story. Moreover, Skies' turn-based combat transcends the usual on-foot combat by including epic airship battles to keep the gameplay interesting.

13 Dragon Quest 11

A Beautiful Modernization Of A Classic Series

dragon quest 11 Luminary in combat against Slimes
Dragon Quest 11

Platform(s)
PS4 , PC , Xbox One , Switch , 3DS , Stadia
Released
September 4, 2018
Developer(s)
Square Enix

Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a modern classic in every sense. It’s one of the best-looking JRPGs of a generation while also harking back to classic entries in the series.

Even though Dragon Quest 11 is as traditional as they come, its turn-based combat has enough new and entertaining ideas to keep it fresh. It’s a massive game that can last even the most seasoned JRPG fan for around 70 hours, not including the endgame activities and storylines, which is another 40 hours of worthwhile content.

12 Chrono Cross

A Timeless JRPG Classic With Beautiful Art Design

Official Chrono Cross The Radical Dreamers Edition artwork showing Serge and Kid on a boat.
Chrono Cross

Platform(s)
PS1 , PC , PS4 , Switch , Xbox One
Released
August 15, 2000
Developer(s)
Square

Launched as an official sequel to Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross was initially considered a disappointment if you were a fan of the original. It was likely the expectation for a continuation of already-established characters like Crono, Frog, Marle, Luca, and Robo that upset some.

As time passed, this underappreciated JRPG is often widely regarded as one of the greatest games on the PlayStation. The stunning visuals still hold up today, the soundtrack is incredible, and the Chrono Cross’s antagonist Lynx remains one of the genre’s best. Chrono Cross was remastered and relaunched on modern consoles as Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition in 2022. It features the Radical Dreamers' text adventure to bridge the gap between Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross.

11 Legends Of Heroes: The Trails Series

Incredible World Building And Characters

Legend Of Heroes Trails Of Cold Steel official cover artwork
  • Platform: PC, PSP, PS3, PS4, and the Switch
  • Released: 2011
  • Developer: Falcom

Developers Nihon Falcom has created some of the best and longest-running JRPGs of all time with the likes of Ys, Xanadu, and the Dragon Slayer series. However, the studio’s real jewel in the crown is The Legend of Heroes series which has peaked with the recent successes of the Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel series.

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Both Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel are interconnected and there is an argument that to fully appreciate Trails of Cold Steel 4, which brings together all of the characters in an Avengers Endgame-style finale they should be played as a whole. The games are so well written, however, you can comfortably dive into the first episode of either series without issues and still enjoy a detailed world, amazing character development, involved strategic combat, and emotional narratives capable of hooking you from the start.

10 Shadow Hearts: Covenant

A Dark And Gothic Adventure With A Unique Turn-Based System

Shadow Hearts: A Dark Reality main characters
  • Platform: PS2
  • Released: 2005
  • Developers: Nautilus

Launched worldwide for the PlayStation 2 in 2005, Shadow Hearts: Covenant is the third game in the series after Koudelka on the PS1 and the original Shadow Hearts on the PS2. It’s a Gothic fantasy game set during the First World War in an alternate universe and is widely praised as one of the best RPGs for the PS2.

The game’s turn-based combat feels unique as it uses the Judgement Ring which requires skill and timing as much as it does stats. A similar gameplay mechanic would be seen again in Mistwalker’s Lost Odyssey which included many of the same developers behind the Shadow Hearts series.

9 Lunar Silver Star Story Complete

A Timeless Classic With Amazing Characters And Battle System

Lunar Silver Story Story Complete Cover Art
  • Platform: Android, iOS, PC, PS1, Sega Mega CD, and Sega Saturn
  • Released: Original 1992 - Complete Edition 1996
  • Developers: Game Arts

Developed by Game Arts and launched in 1998 for the Sega Saturn and the PlayStation in 1999, Lunar Silver Star Story is a remake of the 1992 classic JRPG launched exclusively on the Sega CD. It implemented FMV cutscenes that weren’t possible on cartridge-based consoles.

While it was visually dated by 1999 standards when compared to the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Ques, it more than made up for this with its fully voiced and endearing characters that broke away from the typical brooding teen angst tropes and had a compelling love story.

Additionally, it has one of the best JRPG antagonists ever, establishing the silver-haired fallen hero Ghaleon long before Sephiroth became a pop culture icon. The combat system performs like a combination of Grandia's Game Arts and Final Fantasy’s ATB system, where the turns and actions are stacked and performed based on a character’s speed.

8 Grandia 2

Genre Defining Combat And The Best Story In The Grandia Series

Grandia 2 - Ryudo in combat
  • Platform: Dreamcast, PC, PS2, and Switch
  • Released: 2000
  • Developers: Game Arts

Launched on the Sega Dreamcast in 2001, Grandia 2 is still highly regarded as having one of the best turn-based combat systems ever. The combat runs in real-time, and you must act quickly and strategically to be successful.

Grandia 2’s story is more mature than its predecessor but the characters and plot still have a lightheartedness about them. It has a great cast of characters and one of the most underrated protagonists in the genre.

7 Radiant Historia

A Time Traveling Adventure With Terrific Characters And Story

On the DS and 3DS Radiant Historia JRPGs available
  • Platform: Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS
  • Released: 2010
  • Developers: Atlus

Radiant Historia is considered a modern classic in the JRPG genre. Developed by Atlus, Radiant Historia puts you in the role of its excellent protagonist Stocke. Stocke is a warrior who is capable of navigating multiple timelines with the use of a tome called the White Chronicle.

As a time-traveling story with multiple timelines and interweaving stories, it could have been easy for a game like Radiant Historia to trip itself becoming overly complex and confusing. However, the game handles this beautifully without getting confusing and keeping things interesting with its exciting turn-based combat system that feels familiar and new. More importantly, it does away with the usual predictable tropes of the genre while also paying tribute to the 16-bit classics that inspired it.

6 Chrono Trigger

One Of The Greatest JRPGs Of All Time

The party from Chrono Trigger standing in front of Pterodactyls on a cliff
Chrono Trigger

Released
March 11, 1995
Developer(s)
Square Enix

Developed by Square, Chrono Trigger launched the Super Nintendo originally, but the game's appeal led to mobile and PC ports after earlier PS1 and DS releases. The DS version is considered the most complete version of the game and it includes the bonus content from the PS1 version, a revised translation, and an ending that ties into the sequel Chrono Cross.

Chrono Trigger remains one of the most well-put-together JRPGs of all time. It features an amazing battle system, stunning character designs, and tremendous replayability. The game’s creation included a dream team of developers and artists that were made up of the likes of Final Fantasy creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii the creator of Dragon Quest, Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame and Dragon Quest artist, and famed JRPG composers Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu.

5 Xenogears

A Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi Classic From The Team Behind The Xenoblade Trilogy

Fei Fong Wong standing in front of a mech.
  • Platform: PS1
  • Released: 1998
  • Developers: Square Product Development Division 3

Xenogears is a science fiction RPG that was way ahead of its time with its mature storytelling and character development. The game incorporates heavy religious and philosophical themes. Visually, Xenogears hold up well with stunning animations in combat and well-designed towns and maps.

Xenogears was developed by the team that would eventually form Monolith Soft - one of the most revered studios in the world. As a result, Xenogears’ incorporation of religious and philosophical symbolism would continue in the equally complex Xenosaga Trilogy and Xenoblade Chronicles in what is affectionately known as the Xeno metaseries.

4 Persona 5 Royal

A Modern-Day Stylish JRPG WIth Outstanding Characters And Story

Joker from Persona 5 Royal on a red background
Persona 5 Royal

Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , PC , Xbox One , Nintendo Switch , Xbox Series X|S
Released
March 31, 2020
Developer(s)
Atlus

Persona 5 Royal functions as something of a director’s cut of the already brilliant Persona 5. Like its predecessors, Persona 5 is set in modern-day Tokyo and puts you in the shoes of a transfer high school student.

In addition, Persona 5 has a fantastic narrative with an excellent dating sim system known as Confidants. School life mechanics play a big part in the game’s plot and the combat system. An argument can be made for all the Persona games being worthy of a position this list, but with Persona 5 being the most approachable in the series, it takes the top spot here.

3 Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is known as Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer’s Call in the West. It is the third entry in the mainline series. The popular spin-off series Persona and Devil Summoner games are set in the same universe and follow many of the same rules in combat and recognizable demons.

Even though the Persona series has gained far more mainstream appeal and success, its roots and many of its gameplay mechanics have been heavily derived from the mainline series. However, the SMT series is far more punishing (but fair) if you don’t learn the enemy’s weaknesses and their allies' strengths. Despite its difficulty, Nocturne is one of the most compelling JRPGs of a generation, and its successors, as good as they are, have yet to match it.

2 The Suikoden Series

Deep And Emotional Stories In An Interconnected Series

Suikoden 3 Box Art
  • Platform: Nintendo DS, PS1, and PS2
  • Released: 1996
  • Developers: Konami

The Suikoden series launched worldwide on the PlayStation in 1997 by the time it reached European territories. It was followed by Suikoden 2 - a game that deserves its praise as one of the greatest JRPGs of all time.

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The series continued on the PlayStation 2 up to Suikoden 5. The entire series is worth any JRPG fan’s time. But the best two games in the franchise are arguably Suikoden 2 and Suikoden 5. The brilliant character development, world-building, and storytelling converge to pull you into its universe.

1 Final Fantasy 7

An All-Time Classis With An Expansive Universe

The original Final Fantasy 7 Cloud and Barret in combat.
Final Fantasy 7

Released
January 31, 1997
Developer(s)
Square Enix

Final Fantasy 7 is arguably the most iconic and influential Japanese RPG ever. Of course, the game shows its age with the character designs, but they are quite charming and take on a life of their own. However, it’s hard to deny that it helped open the floodgates for many JRPGs that wouldn’t have seen the light of day in the West.

Yet, despite all this, Final Fantasy 7 still has a fantastic cast of characters, a timeless story with excellent world-building, and an amazing universe that incorporates elements of fantasy, sci-fi, and cyberpunk. Final Fantasy's world was brought to life with the stunning Final Fantasy Remake and its sequel Final Fantasy Rebirth, the first two parts of a trilogy which takes the story and characters in a different direction.

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