Summary
If you’ve spent any time at all watching anime, you might have picked up on the trend of having an entire episode or plot dedicated to the beach. Besides the fact that Japan is an island nation, so the beach is literally a big part of the land, the beach episode is a nice way for the characters to have some fun, lighthearted downtime in the middle of whatever other drama is happening.
And it’s not just animes that have beach episodes. JRPGs also get in on the fun, whether in cutscenes, mini-games, or DLC. They may just be an excuse to see your character in a swimsuit, but that doesn’t mean we don’t still enjoy them. After all, who doesn’t want to take a little vacation?
9Fire Emblem
Both a strategy game and a role-playing game, theFire Emblemseries has been running since 1990, so it’s no surprise to see that the beach has come up multiple times.
8Phantasy Star Online 2
This online role-playing gameturns up the summer heat in, you guessed it, special beach-themed releases. These themed quests, called Beach Wars, take place on the ocean-themed planet of Wopal. Not only do you fight ocean-themed monsters for Beach Points, but there are, of course, new beach-themed skins for the characters.
These outfits aren’t just for show; they also give you a special bonus effect. You can take pictures of your team hanging out decked in their new outfits, and interact with special NPCs, also in swimwear.
7Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Not to be outdone by cute anime girls in swimwear,Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealthtakes place in Hawaii, so the beach is bound to be part of the story. you’re able to swim in the ocean, hang out on the beach, and even work on the beach. Beach Guardian is a three-part substory that puts you, as Ichiban Kasuga, in the shoes of a lifeguard.
You then play several minigames related to this job: handing out water, finding missing kids, and beating up people looking to disrupt everyone’s fun. Plus, yes, you do get to wear a swimsuit.
6Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
InFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Cloud and his party travel to Costa del Sol, which is a beach resort townperfectfor a beach episode. It’s a location that those of you who played the original will be familiar with.
You’re able to check into a resort, enjoy the sun, sand, and ocean, and dress up your characters in swimsuits. There’s even a bunch ofbeach/vacation themed minigames available,to really get you in the spirit. Unlike some of the other beach episodes, this one takes place in the course of the plot.
5Tales Of Arise
There is a beach DLC forTales of Arisethat includes swimsuit skins and hairstyles for characters as well as beach-themed titles. There are three costumes and a handful of new hairstyles for six of the characters.
Finally, the DLC also includes a new, summer-themed soundtrack, so that you can create your own beach episodes as you explore. While there aren’t any mechanics specific to this DLC, or plot-related beach content, we all know there’s the beach episode to thank for its existence.
4Tales Of Hearts
In Tales of Hearts, your party comes upon a private beach after a fight, and, after convincing several party members to relax, you get a brief cutscene featuring everyone wearing swimwear as they have some summer fun. After teasing each other, they have a swimming competition that results in most of the team collapsing on the beach in exhaustion.
Though brief, this little splash of fun makes sure we aren’t just teased with the beach setting without it being given the beach episode treatment.
3Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille Zur Macht
One of the cutscenes inXenosagaEpisode 1 takes place on a private beach, allowing your party to take a well-earned rest. Characters play beach volleyball, lounge on the beach, and hassle a character who is still trying to work. Not that this beach episode is all fun and games. When the owner of the beach demonstrates its remote-controlled weather, the thunder triggers a traumatic flashback in one of the characters over an earlier death, and the others comfort her.
Besides using this cutscene to contribute to the character’s emotional development, there’s also one minigame. You’re tasked with finding a fish that’s swallowed an engagement ring.
2The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Series
One of the long-running JRPGs there is, The Legend of Heroes series has something for everyone, and, yes, that includes more than one beach episode. Specifically in the Trails series of games.
1Persona
ThePersonaseries might beas close to playing an anime as you can get in a JRPG, so it’s no wonder there’s more than one beach episode across the multiple entries.
