We're living in a golden age of JRPGs right now, with no shortage of games to choose from. Yet mainstays like Final Fantasy and Persona continue to dominate the discourse and will likely do so for a long time to come. You might want to venture off the beaten path and pick some lesser-known titles, but where do you begin?
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Posts 1Right here. We're showcasing some JRPGs that have been forgotten in history in the hope that they will set you off on your next quest. These games are not the most-known or the best-loved, but given the chance, they might just become a treasured gaming memory.
Updated on January 20th, 2025, by Asad Mubeen: When we published our list of obscure JRPG recommendations, the response was immediate and massive. It soon became apparent that our readers were eager for more recommendations and had ideas of their own about which games should be on this list. Between the community's picks and our own ensuing playthroughs, we managed to come up with even more obscure JRPGs to champion. Here is our updated list of JRPGs for you to enjoy.
15 Thousand Arms
Thousand Arms
JRPG Released October 14, 1999 ESRB t Developer(s) Red Company, Tose Publisher(s) Atlus Platform(s) PS1 How Long To Beat 27 Hours Powered by Expand CollapseThousand Arms is obscure enough to lack even a cult fanbase, which is surprising given its cross-genre appeal. While most JRPGs of the time tended to be somber and grandiose, Thousand Arms was a light-hearted adventure with breezy combat and a unique dating sim element.
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PostsIn the years since, particularly after the influence of Persona and Fire Emblem, dating sim elements have become an all-but-guaranteed part of JRPGs. Thousand Arms was a pioneer in this aspect. Not many were willing to explore its steampunk world in 1999, but the game has become increasingly championed in recent years. Maybe it will have a cult fanbase one day.
14 Class Of Heroes Series
Class of Heroes
Released June 26, 2008 Platform(s) PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Switch, PS Vita Powered by Expand CollapseA first-person dungeon crawler in the vein of Wizardry, Class of Heroes refuses to ever fully die despite never quite making it. The games are set in an adventurers' academy and feature a vibrant art style and charming characters. Few know of Class of Heroes, and those who do speak of its difficult, almost inaccessible gameplay.
Over the years after its 2008 debut, the series has changed publishers multiple times and managed to somehow always end up back in the running. After an Atlus-helmed localization and a brief stint with Gaijinworks late in the PSP's life, the series is now available on the PC, PS5, and Switch. It's plain to see why Class of Heroes never made it. The difficulty, particularly in the first game, verges on unfair.
However, it's also easy to see why its small fanbase can't let it go: something about its delightful art style and optimistic presentation captures your imagination, luring you down a dungeon-crawling path that will leave you shaken but exhilarated.
13 Revenant Saga
Revenant Saga
RPG JRPG Released March 1, 2017 ESRB E for Everyone Developer(s) Exe Create Inc. Publisher(s) Kemco Engine Unity PC Release Date March 1, 2017 Platform(s) PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X How Long To Beat 15½ Hours OpenCritic Rating Weak Powered by Expand CollapseThe mere mention of Kemco is enough to make people roll their eyes if they know the publisher, to begin with. Kemco specializes in low-budget RPGs, primarily developed for mobile phones but also available on most other platforms in the dark recesses of digital storefronts. These are games very obviously made in RPG Maker and similar programs; production values are not their forte.
However, among the developers helmed by Kemco, Exe Create is one of the more passionate ones. The studio has its own long-running Asdivine series and managed a surprisingly solid showing with Revenant Saga.
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PostsRevenant Saga is a 15-hour story that will never win any awards except for quaint charm. However, its Wild Arms-inspired combat is quite fun and the storyline is honestly pretty compelling. It's easy to dismiss Revenant Saga as a joke, but the game deserves a fair shake. The game received a sequel called Revenant Dogma, but despite the improved graphics, its quality was more in line with Kemco's usual output.
12 Okage: Shadow King
Okage: Shadow King
JRPG Action Adventure Released March 15, 2001 ESRB T for Teen Developer(s) Sony Interactive Entertainment Publisher(s) Sony Interactive Entertainment Number of Players Single Player Platform(s) PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4 How Long To Beat 24.5 Hours PS Plus Availability Included Powered by Expand Collapse2001 was a great year for JRPGs to be entirely overshadowed by Final Fantasy 10. Among the casualties of the more popular title is Okage: Shadow King. This game is perhaps most famous today for its Tim Burton-esque art style, but that's not the only reason it stands out.
Okage: Shadow King features a contemporary storyline that is entirely at odds with most JRPGs of its time. The script focuses largely on humor, with a good deal of the bizarre. The soundtrack is weird, and everything aside from the gameplay feels a bit off - in a good way. These days, it's easy to chalk up the game's newfound popularity to its attention-grabbing box art, but play it and you'll find Okage has something even more important: heart.
11 Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
RPG Released August 27, 2020 ESRB e Developer(s) Love-de-Lic Publisher(s) Ascii, Onion Games Engine Unity Platform(s) PC, PS1, PS4, Switch How Long To Beat 15 Hours Powered by Expand CollapseThe JRPG genre lends itself to parody quite easily due to how seriously these games take themselves at times. Earthbound served as a light satire of the genre, but it wasn't until Moon: Remix RPG Adventure that JRPGs were deconstructed entirely.
Moon is set in a world where the hero is the villain. You play as a side character who has to set things right. No JRPG trope is left unscathed as your character skips through dialogue and is chased out of homes for entering them unannounced.
This title remained Japan-exclusive for decades. It served as a massive influence on Toby Fox's Undertale: the latter game features such obvious homages as levels being called Love. In a happy turn of events, Toby Fox's professed love of Moon inspired the original crew to localize the game nearly 23 years after the fact.
10 Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven
Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven
Powered by Expand CollapseBrought back from the brink of cancellation by Marvelous, Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven was launched on the 3DS to little fanfare. It didn't fade from the limelight - it never was in it to begin with.
This is a shame, because Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven is really cozy. It's lighthearted and charming and lasts about 15-20 hours, which makes it ideal when you want to play a JRPG but don't want to grow old by the time you finish it. The ending is pretty heartwarming as well.
9 Gungnir
Released late in the PSP's life cycle, Gungnir suffers the same setback as many Sting Entertainment games: it's too unconventional for its own good. The game rewards strategy and lateral thinking and has a striking visual style, yet its ending managed to alienate the few who played it.
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PostsHowever, it's still a stellar strategy RPG with stunning map design. It may be too challenging for newcomers to the genre, but veteran tacticians looking for a challenge would be doing themselves a favor by checking it out.
8 Shining Resonance Refrain
The Shining series has a few classics but has never been able to commit to a singular format or reach the heights of its competitors. With Shining Resonance Refrain, the series tries its hand at third-person action role-playing.
Shining Resonance Refrain is the best Tales game that isn't a Tales game. It has a likable cast, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun exploration. Returning to the city, which serves as a central hub, and going on dates with your party members is engaging as well. What Shining Resonance Refrain lacks in ambition, it makes up for in coziness.
Shining Resonance Refrain is an updated version of Shining Resonance, which was launched only in Japan. It features a new side story that is unlocked from the start.
7 Tokyo Xanadu Ex+
Tokyo Xanadu eX+
Action RPG Released December 8, 2017 ESRB T For Teen Due To Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Nihon Falcom Publisher(s) Aksys Games, Nihon Falcom Engine PhyreEngine Nintendo Switch Release Date July 25, 2024 Platform(s) PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 How Long To Beat 45 Hours OpenCritic Rating Fair Powered by Expand CollapseThe first hour of Tokyo Xanadu Ex+ is sure to test your patience. Its opening cutscene is so dialogue-heavy and runs on for so long that you might even start to wonder if you accidentally started a visual novel instead of a JRPG.
Bear with it. Once it gets started, Tokyo Xanadu Ex+ is a joy to play. Its breezy dungeon crawling and fast-paced combat is complemented by a captivating plot and wonderful exploration. The modern-day setting makes this game a lovely virtual tour of Japan, where you can explore shrines, supermarkets, and side streets to your heart's content.
Tokyo Xanadu Ex+ is an updated version of Tokyo Xanadu and adds new chapters to the story.
6 Stella Glow
Stella Glow
Powered by Expand CollapseImageepoch's farewell to JRPG fans before their shutdown in 2015, Stella Glow is a sprawling adventure that provides over 50 hours of top-notch story, catchy music, and gratifying combat. It also features one of the most shocking plot twists in a handheld RPG.
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PostsIf you have a 3DS and a mind for strategy, you should definitely give Stella Glow a go. It's not that difficult, so newcomers would feel right at home, too. Everyone who's played Stella Glow loves it; the problem is that so few people have played it.
