For this list, an official JRPG buyer’s guide issued by PlayStation will be used as a reference on what qualifies for the genre, although some games not mentioned in the article will also be considered. Only Metacritic reviewed games made for, or remastered and released on, PS4 are under consideration. For example, Metacritic has a review for Final Fantasy 9 on PS4 but not the original Final Fantasy 7, so the latter won’t be included.
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Updated August 9, 2022 by Mark Sammut: PS5 JRPGs are still slim pickings, but since Sony’s latest console is backward compatible, owners have a massive library at their disposal. The consensus is that JRPGs on Sony hardware peaked during the PS1 and PS2 eras, and while that is probably true, the PS4 is hardly lacking in all-time great genre entries. The best PS4 JRPGs compare favorably with any other console’s top releases, and these upcoming games prove as much.
22 Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin (Score: 79)
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin blends together two genres – farming sims and 2D action-platformers – to create a familiar but ultimately singular experience. Sakuna is a goddess who is sent to the mortal plane to eradicate evil and pick up some life experience; the former involves plowing through side-scrolling sections filled with demonic enemies, while the latter revolves around managing a rice farm.
Sakuna treats both gameplay portions as equally important, and they are both in-depth. As she improves her farming aptitude, the goddess also picks up new combat skills, granting a constant sense of progression.
21 NEO: The World Ends With You (Score: 80)
People had been waiting for a sequel to The World Ends With You for over a decade, and NEO: The World Ends With You mostly lived up to expectations. Even if it didn’t quite manage to reach the same lofty highs as its predecessor, NEO still tells an engrossing story while offering infectious music and memorable characters.
The PS4 JRPG offers a great deal of customization through pins players can unlock and equip to their characters to use in battles, extending the longevity of a combat system that is otherwise fun but shallow.
20 Ys 9: Monstrum Nox (Score: 80)
When it comes to JRPGs for PS4, Ys fans have been treated well. Ys 9: Monstrum Nox retains the core mechanics of its immediate predecessor, the brilliant Lacrimosa of Dana. This time around, the setting is Balduq, a city known for its prison. Naturally, Adol finds himself behind bars, where he is freed by a strange woman and told the join the Monstrums, who are basically vigilantes.
Monstrum Nox’s combat is a delight; fast-paced, precise, and smooth, it showcases why Ys is considered one of the greatest action JRPG franchises ever.
19 Scarlet Nexus (Score: 80)
One of the nicest surprises of 2021, Bandai Namco’s Scarlet Nexus is a contender for the year’s best new IP. Taking place in a world overrun with threats known as Others, players take control of a new OSF member as they try to keep the peace. With separate stories for the two playable characters, Scarlet Nexus offers an incredible amount of content, with the main story requiring roughly 40+ hours to fully experience.
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Scarlet Nexus’ combat system is also a highlight. Immediately accessible but containing a surprising amount of depth, battles never get boring despite the campaign’s length.
18 Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Score: 81)
Players interested in diving into Namco Bandai’s franchise have more than two decades’ worth of games at their disposal. From the ones available on the PS4, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition stands out as the cream of the crop for those looking for a more traditional entry in the series.
Originally released in 2008, Tales of Vesperia has aged beautifully, partially due to its stylistic visuals. The combat is simplistic compared to subsequent entries in the franchise, but Vesperia shines in the story and character departments. The protagonist, Yuri, is especially fantastic.
17 Genshin Impact (Score: 81)
MiHoYo’s free-to-play JRPG took the world by storm when launched in 2020. Set in Teyvat, Genshin Impact places players in the shoes of the Traveler, a being from another world who sets out to find their sibling.
Genshin Impactis a massive game that just keeps on expanding in size. The combat is immediately enjoyable and offers depth through team compositions as players seek to pull characters from the game’s gacha system.
16 Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy (Score: 81)
There are a bunch of Atelier JRPGs for the PS4, and they are consistently pleasant experiences. Released worldwide in 2021, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy doesn’t shake the formula in any significant way; however, it fine-tunes the elements that worked in previous entries while throwing in a few neat twists.
Ultimately, Atelier Ryza 2’s gameplay loop boils down to the same formula as most of the rest of the series: Ryza must collect ingredients for her alchemy. There is a decent narrative as well.
15 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 (Score: 82)
Although originating in the late ‘80s, Nihon Falcom’s franchise really gained steam with 2004’s The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. In 2013, the series launched the “Trails of Cold Steel” arc, a four-part saga that encompasses some of the most intricate world-building in the JRPG genre.
The highest-rated of the bunch, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 features plenty of quality of life improvements, particularly when it comes to the turn-based battles. As each entry builds upon the last, Trails of Cold Steel 3 can’t be recommended as a standalone game; thankfully, the series has produced nothing but great titles.
14 Tales Of Arise (Score: 82)
With Tales of Zestiria, Berseria, Vesperia, and 2021’s Arise, PS4 owners looking for a solid action JRPG can’t really go wrong. Tales of Arise feels like a substantial step forward for the series, at least from a technical point of view. Although not quite on the level of a Final Fantasy, Tales of Arise is visually pleasing, with the designs of the main characters being especially strong.
The narrative also tackles mature themes like discrimination and has a darker tone than most entries in the decorated JRPG franchise. The combat is naturally incredible.
13 Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist Of The Mysterious Dream (Score: 82)
The latest entry in Gust’s alchemy-centric franchise offers a few more small improvements over its immediate predecessor, something that has become a fixture of the series. Atelier Sophie 2 sets up its story in quite an exciting way as the eponymous protagonist and Plachta are teleported to a new world and separated; however, the game quickly establishes the low-key and relaxed slice of life tone that fans have come to expect from the JRPG license.
Atelier Sophie 2 has the strongest battle and crafting systems in the franchise so far, both of which build upon the extremely solid foundations of the original Sophie and Ryza 2. The world is also quite expansive and, at times, gorgeous.
12 NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (Score: 83)
While NieR: Automata is an action game with RPG elements, NieR Replicant is a JRPG through and through, albeit one with real-time combat. A remaster of the 2010 game, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… tweaks the combat and some side-quests just enough to sharpen the original’s rough edges without molding the experience into something new.
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NieR’s first half plays out like a bog-standard JRPG, particularly when it comes to the desolate world’s presentation and the mind-numbing side-quests. However, this pays off in a big way later down the line.
11 Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Score: 84)
In a surprising move, Sega’s Yakuza franchise moved away from its beat-’em-up roots for its seventh main entry, opting for a turn-based battle system instead. Yakuza: Like a Dragon marks a fresh start for the beloved property, as the RPG also offers a new protagonist and setting.
As tends to be the case with this series, Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s combat system plays second-fiddle to the game’s excellent story, memorable characters, and unique sense of humor. Aping Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s turn-based system respectfully mimics the JRPG genre’s veterans while still injecting its own personality. Hopefully, this entry is only the first chapter in a new era of Yakuza.
10 Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom (Score: 84)
A sequel to the JRPG classic, Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom is a beautifully animated game that brings to life anime visuals evocative of Hayao Miyazaki films.
Many gamers love Ni No Kuni 2 for how it sticks to traditional JRPG elements while also pushing the envelope and attempting to breathe new life into some of those concepts. Cute, addictive, and expertly crafted, this game serves as a great starting point for gamers new to JRPGs even though it’s a sequel because it’s a new story in the franchise.
9 Valkyria Chronicles 4 (Score: 85)
There is no other franchise quite like Valkyria Chronicles, and that extends beyond the narrow confines of the JRPG genre. After two somewhat disappointing sequels and a baffling spin-off, Sega’s series returned to form with its fourth entry. Influenced heavily by World War II, Valkyria Chronicles 4 effortlessly blends tactical nuance, third-person shooter gameplay, and a deep storyline loaded with heart.
Although some familiarity with the previous entries does not hurt, Valkyria Chronicles 4 works well as an entry point into the series.
8 Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana (Score: 85)
Ys is a long-running franchise, but nobody should let that discourage them from picking up this game. While some story details may require some internet research, this is still a fun and highly entertaining game that boasts an incredible combat system that won it an award.
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For most, Ys 8 serves as the pinnacle of Nihon Falcom’s franchise where the developer arguably perfected their formula while delivering an accessible experience, something that was an issue with previous entries.
7 Final Fantasy 9 (Score: 85)
A titan from the PlayStation 1 era, Final Fantasy 9 is a cherished game from the franchise due to its movement away from traditional Final Fantasy elements by avoiding dark adult themes and focusing more on a charming adventure and a touching love story.
This game has received several remasters and rereleases, which improves its accessibility even though Final Fantasy 9 is a twenty-year-old game. Already having strong graphics for a PS1 game, the now updated graphics improve the player experience and create a more enjoyable playthrough.
6 Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age (Score: 86)
A Final Fantasy game that truly pushed the boundaries of the franchise, Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age is mainly known for its revamping of the franchise’s battle system. By moving away from gameplay interrupting turn-based combat, this game was the first to seamlessly incorporate combat into standard player movement, allowing gamers to freely move while fighting or completely avoid enemies altogether.
The game also received praise for further pushing the boundaries of Final Fantasy norms and introducing the idea of an open-world setting and class system. All in all, Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age is cherished as a JRPG for sticking to genre expectations while also pushing innovative ideas.
5 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch Remastered (Score: 86)
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered is commonly seen as being superior to its successor. A key factor in this is that the legendary Studio Ghibli was directly involved in the development of the first game, bringing all of that studio’s famous charm and talent with it.
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Ni No Kuni 2 recreates a Miyazaki-like experience, but the original Ni No Kuni (and its PS3 and PS4 versions) is the Miyazaki experience. This game is a must-play for JRPG fans or fans of anime with beautiful animation.
4 Final Fantasy 7 Remake (Score: 87)
One of the biggest additions to the JRPG genre recently is not so surprisingly a remake of 1997’s beloved Final Fantasy game Final Fantasy VII. Some fans were disappointed by how Final Fantasy 7 Remake drastically changed the story of the original game but for those without predefined expectations, the game was nothing short of pure joy.
The masterful visuals for Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its fast-paced gameplay systems make it an easy grab for veterans of JRPGs and newcomers alike.
3 Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers (Score: 91)
Some may scoff at the inclusion of an MMORPG as an entry in the JRPG genre, but the fact remains that this game sticks very closely to the values of the Final Fantasy franchise with the only major difference being that the game can be played with others online. Almost the entire game can be played solo though, and anything that requires multiplayer is efficiently managed by the game and requires little user effort.
Final Fantasy 14 is a perfect marriage of a JRPG and an MMORPG. If someone enjoys either of these genres, they should pick up this still heavily populated and frequently-updated game.
