Japanese roleplaying games (JRPGs) are one of the most popular video game genres, with plenty of new JRPG titles being released each year. Some of the most beloved gaming franchises are JRPGs such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. With the market being flooded with new JRPGs all the time, many games in this genre get overshadowed. Thus, most players don't even know they exist.

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While some unknown JRPGs might deserve to be lost to the sands of time, there are also great JRPGs that are extremely underrated and under-appreciated. These particular titles deserve more recognition.

Ys

Warriors battle on a green battlefield in Ys: SEVEN.

Beginning with the release of Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished for the NEC PC-8801 in 1987, the Ys series is an incredible action RPG franchise that is still ongoing to this day. The latest entry in the series, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, released in 2019, and the franchise has always been extremely popular in Japan. However, the series has never gained quite the same foothold outside of Japan even though there is a relatively large international cult following.

While all the games follow different plots and characters, they all usually center around the travels of a young hero named Adol Christin and, later, his reoccurring comrade Dogi. Despite its relative obscurity, the series has plenty of gameplay mechanics, such as regenerating health, that have impacted many popular franchises. One of the most iconic titles in the franchise, Ys: SEVEN, was also one of the best games on the PSP.

Jeanne d'Arc

A screenshot of gameplay in Jeanne d'Arc.

Despite being the Japanese studio Level-5's first title for the PSP and being released relatively early in the PSP's life cycle, Jeanne d'Arc is one of the best PSP games ever made. Released in 2006, Jeanne d'Arc is a tactical RPG like the Fire Emblem series that reimagines the story of Joan of Arc and her battles during the Hundred Years' War as a battle against demons.

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Although the game highly praised and favorably reviewed, it has mostly been forgotten over the years. With an interesting plotline and fun gameplay, this game is a must-play for RPG fans who want to try something unique on the PSP.

The 7th Saga

Logo and box art for The 7th Saga on SNES.

With a strong cult following that has continued to this day, The 7th Saga is a 1993 turn-based RPG that could be considered one of the best games on the SNES. In this game, the player controls one of seven possible characters who are sent on a journey by King Lemele to find the seven magical runes.

Although the game is extremely difficult and some aspects of its design have not aged well, The 7th Saga has plenty of unique aspects that make it worth a playthrough. The world is large and detailed, and there is a radar system that allows players to see random encounters. Also, the other characters that the player did not pick are trying to complete the challenge on their own, and the player may have to team up with them or even battle them.

The Last Story

Zael faces Cocoon with sword drawn in The Last Story.

Released towards the end of the Wii's life cycle, The Last Story was missed by most players who were moving on to newer consoles despite being possibly among the best games on the Wii. This 2011 action tactical stealth RPG was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the original creator of the Final Fantasy franchise, and follows a young man named Zael who works with a group of mercenaries on Lazulis Island and gains a mysterious mark on his hand that gives him special powers.

While the narrative sounds like a typical cheesy JRPG plotline, it surprisingly has a strong story with realistic characters that make it hard to put the game down. Also, the gameplay is unique because the player can use everything in the environment to fight enemies, which leads to some fun strategy and stealth mechanics.

Avalon Code

Characters smile and hold their hands over a floating book in Avalon Code.

While most RPGs center around stopping the apocalypse, the 2008 action RPG Avalon Code breaks the mold by having the main character help bring about a "proper" end of the world. As the player stars the game, they are immediately told that the world is going to end soon and that they need to use a special book known as the Book of Prophecy to record everything so that it can be carried over to the new world.

The game is significant for having the ability to affect everything in the world by changing its "code" in the Book of Prophecy on the bottom DS screen, as well as for giving a large selection of romance options to the player characters. If it weren't for the repetitive gameplay, this game would be one of the best games on the Nintendo DS.

Radiata Stories

Jack, Ganz and Ridley stand side by side in Raidata Stories.

Since there were plenty of iconic titles from series such as Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts being released at this time, the 2005 PS2 action RPG Radiata Stories was lost among the rest. The game follows Jack Russell, a goofy teenager who wants to follow his father's footsteps and become a knight.

Unlike most RPGs, there are 176 different NPCs that the player can recruit, and Jack can kick almost everything in the game. Also, all the NPCs have their own daily schedules, and the story is much darker than it initially seems.

Skies of Arcadia

Character artwork from Skies of Arcadia.

Despite being one of the best games on the Dreamcast, the 2000 RPG Skies of Arcadia is an often forgotten title even among Dreamcast lists. The game follows a 17-year-old air pirate named Vyse who rescues a young woman named Fina who is looking for the Moon Crystals in order to stop the evil Empire.

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Although the storyline is fairly typical for JRPGs, the gameplay is where this title shines since the player will be able to explore a vast detailed world using their air ship. The characters also all have their charms and the soundtrack is amazing.

Legend of Legaia

The player characters raise their glowing hands in Legend of Legaia

If players want a unique fighting system they won't find anywhere else, the 1998 turn-based RPG Legend of Legaia is a perfect option. The story revolves around three heroes who must save the world from biomechs called Serus that have gone berserk because of an evil mist.

Along with the 2001 PS2 sequel Legaia 2: Duel Saga, these games are the only ones to use a battle system where the player inputs unique commands to execute different moves in turn-based combat. This leads to an almost fighting-game battle style in an RPG, which makes up for the unoriginal storyline.

Shadow Hearts

Yuri carries Alice on the cover of Shadow Hearts.

As one of the few survival horror JRPGs, the Shadow Hearts series is a unique, gothic-styled series that has sadly been mostly forgotten. While each of the games take place in the same universe with some reoccurring characters and similar thematic elements such as cosmic horror, all the games tend to focus on a slightly different cast and different plot.

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This tetralogy is unique for having Resident Evil styled settings, puzzles, and enemies while still being a turn-based RPG. Also, the combat is different from most games because the player's attacks are based on whether they hit the right spots on the "Judgement Ring."

Wild Arms

Player characters appear in artwork for Wild Arms

A year before Final Fantasy VII debuted on the PlayStation, the first installment of the spaghetti-Western-styled Wild Arms franchise had already been released on the console. This 1996 RPG would lead to an ongoing franchise that has achieved some success in Japan but has remained relatively unknown internationally.

Each of the games take place on a planet known as Filgaia, which is a fantasy world that mixes medieval Europe with early 1800s technology. The advanced weapons of guns and firearms, which are known as "ARMs," are a major part of both the plot and gameplay.

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