Summary
JRPGsare some of the best, most creative, and highly rewarding games out there, offering emotionally rich stories, lovable characters,and arguably some of the best combat systems.And, the beauty of it all is whether you’re a newcomer or a genre veteran, there are likely many games you have yet to play or even heard of.
While the tentpole series and ultra-popular games in the genre deserve their time in the spotlight, just as many titles flew under many players' radars, making them fall by the wayside. But fear not; you can still play and find most of them today, making them readily accessible for your enjoyment!
Updated on July 14, 2025:Looking for some of the best JRPGs you’ve probably not played? We’ve added our video list to this page, so you can take a closer look at some incredible games that deserve more time in the spotlight.
Publisher
Sting Entertainment, Atlus USA
Knights in the Nightmare is a strange but phenomenal JRPG from the team at Sting Entertainment. It combines a strategy-based shooter with deep RPG elements to make one of the Nintendo DS and PSP’s best offerings, even if it flew well beneath most radars.
Furthermore, this game has also released a remaster… but only on the Japan store for the Nintendo Switch. While there is little to no information on whether that will make its way to the West, we can still hope a broader audience can experience this cult classic!
PlayStation 2
Aruze, Midway Games
There aren’t many horror JRPGs out there, which is one of many reasons Shadow Hearts is a must-play for fans of the series. This game is a direct sequel to its predecessor, Koudelka, and takes place after its ‘bad’ ending.
To say Shadow Hearts is unique would be putting it lightly, as its blend of turn-based combat via random encounters and survival horror elements is still incredibly rewarding to overcome. While this entire series is worth playing, we highly recommend playing Shadow Hearts if you’re looking for our personal favorite of the bunch!
Nippon Ichi Software, Atlus USA
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventureis our next entry. You assume the role of Cornet, who is trying to win the heart of the prince who has just been kidnapped. However, instead of doing it the old-fashioned way, she decides to do it through song.
This game is surprisingly deep, featuring a tactical combat systemand some genuinely charming and funny moments in its story. And, since it has a focus on music, there will be frequent cutscenes where she sings and performs, making it a jolly and worthwhile endeavor!
Nintendo, Xseed Games
We don’t get many stand-alone JRPG titles these days,but that was the unfortunate fate of The Last Story, having it be its first and last release, being locked away forever on the Nintendo Wii. This action JRPG was one of a kind, offering a perfect blend of tactical and stealth gameplay that set the stage for an unforgettable story.
Following Zael, you fight off the Gurak forces, who are at war with the humans. You must command your party to victory in intense and challenging combat scenarios. The overall narrative and music are also bangers, but being locked away on the Wii makes them a bit less acceptable than we’d like.
Sony Computer Entertainment
Speaking of stand-alone tactical JRPGs locked away on a single platform, we have Jeanne d’Arc, which follows Jeanne and her party through France, having them engage in various hardships and battles along the way.
If you’re looking for a more robust and unique JRPG, Jeanne d’Arc offers a surprisingly deep and rewarding combat system and will keep you engaged with its fantastic writing and setpieces, making it earn its reputation as a cult classic!
Sega
Finally, we wanted to close this list with a slightly more modern JRPG that may have flown under everyone’s radar but is absolutely worth playing. That game isSakura Wars, one of 2019’s best releases that was overshadowed by the other massive and excellent titles.
Being a soft-reboot of the series,Sakura Wars offers unique gameplay, social links, and comical and witty writing that will have you smiling from ear to ear whether you’re just chatting it up with the ladies or participating in epic mech battles that feel and look fantastic. If you slept on this title when it was released, we cannot recommend checking it out enough!
