Top 50 Best JRPGs of All Time
by whittleboy615 | created - 28 Jun 2018 | updated - 30 Jun 2018 | PublicTop 50 Best Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) of All Time
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Chrono Trigger (1995 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Crono, a young boy, is thrust to adventure by destiny to destroy an oncoming threat that will destroy the world in 1999.
Directors: Yoshinori Kitase, Akihiko Matsui, Takashi Tokita, Nao Ito
Votes: 3,308
96 (SNES), 92 (DS, PS1) Square Enix
2. Final Fantasy VI (1994 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
A mysterious woman joins a group of mercenaries in order to find out about her destiny and means of saving the world from an evil madman.
Directors: Hiroyuki Itô, Yoshinori Kitase
Votes: 3,536
94 (SNES), 97 (PS1), 91 (GBA) 2-player co-op campaign (SNES, PS1: Battles only) Square Enix
3. Final Fantasy IX (2000 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
When bandits try to kidnap the princess, they discover that it's the princess who wants to be kidnapped. But they are chased by an evil queen and an even more powerful entity.
Director: Hiroyuki Itô
Votes: 5,523
93 (PS1, PSN), 85 (PS4) 2-player co-op campaign (PS1/PSN, PS4: Battles only) Square Enix
4. Persona 5 (2016 Video Game)
M | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A group of high school students create a vigilante group to expose the crimes of corrupt adults but soon find themselves in the midst of a worldwide conspiracy and targeted by powerful individuals who would do anything to silence them.
Director: Katsura Hashino | Stars: Jun Fukuyama, Mamoru Miyano, Nana Mizuki, Ikue Ôtani
Votes: 3,373
93 (PS4, PS3) Atlus
5. Final Fantasy VII (1997 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
A former soldier from an evil company joins a mercenary clan to fight the company he once served.
Directors: Yoshinori Kitase, Yasushi Matsumura, Masato Yagi
Votes: 11,344
92 (PS1, PSN, PS4) Square Enix
6. Panzer Dragoon Saga (1998 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Edge is one of the soldiers in the service of the mighty Empire. The Empire has recently ordered some excavations at ancient ruins, trying to discover the secret of an old technology that ... See full summary »
Stars: Atsushi Goto, Kachiko Hino, Hiroaki Hirata, Masatô Ibu
Votes: 154
92 (SAT) Team Andromeda
7. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (2008 Video Game)
M | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A high school student forms a group that explores a hidden world accessible through TV sets to find a connection between the "realm of shadows" and the mysterious murders in their town.
Directors: Katsura Hashino, Jinya Kitsui, Susumu Nishizawa | Stars: Daisuke Namikawa, Shôtarô Morikubo, Yui Horie, Ami Koshimizu
Votes: 1,297
92 (PS2), 94 (Vita) Atlus
8. Chrono Cross (1999 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
For Serge, the truth is all too disturbing when he stumbles into another dimension, a dimension where he is long dead. Now the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance and Serge is the only hope.
Director: Masato Kato
Votes: 990
92 (PS1, PSN) Square Enix (Square Product Development Division 3)
9. Vagrant Story (2000 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
Valendia is a land that had undergone civil war, the end of which had birthed the parliament and several organizations to control the balance of power. Ashley Riot is a Riskbreaker, an ... See full summary »
Director: Yasumi Matsuno
Votes: 397
92 (PS1, PSN) Square Enix (Square Product Development Division 4)
10. Xenoblade Chronicles (2010 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
In a world of endless ocean, all life lives on the decaying corpses of two gigantic titans, the Bionis and Mechonis. When the army of Mechonis attacks his home, young scientist Shulk sets out for revenge.
Directors: Ko Kojima, Genki Yokota, Tetsuya Takahashi | Stars: Shintarô Asanuma, Eri Nakao, Ryô Horikawa, Eiji Miyashita
Votes: 822
92 (Wii), 86 (3DS) Monolith Soft
11. Final Fantasy X (2001 Video Game)
T | Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
A celebrated young athlete is drawn from his futuristic hometown and convenient lifestyle to a harsh and techno-phobic land by a mysterious force only known as Sin.
Director: Yoshinori Kitase | Stars: James Arnold Taylor, Hedy Burress, John DiMaggio, Paula Tiso
Votes: 8,565
92 (PS2), 83 (PS4), 86 (PS3), 95 (Vita) Square Enix (Square Product Development Division 1)
12. Pokémon Silver Version (1999 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Role playing game for the Game Boy Color, introducing the second generation of Pokémon, where you are on a quest to master Pokémon battling.
Director: Satoshi Tajiri
Votes: 1,248
91 (GBC Gold, Silver), 88 (DS HeartGold, SoulSilver), 80 (GBC Crystal, 3DS VC) Game Freak
13. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009 Video Game)
E | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
The evil Bowser consumed Mario, Luigi and Co. Now they are trying to get out, as well as help Bowser fight the evil Fawful, who has taken over Bowser's Castle, as well as Princess Peach's.
Director: Hiroyuki Kubota | Stars: Charles Martinet, Kenny James, Samantha Kelly, Nami Funashima
Votes: 555
91 (DS, 3DS) AlphaDream
14. Xenogears (1998 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
Young warrior and artist Fei Fong Wong sets off on a journey that tests his faith as well as courage as he is suddenly thrown into a battle where no one is who they seem.
Director: Tetsuya Takahashi | Stars: Hikaru Midorikawa, Tomokazu Seki, Yumi Tôma, Hideyuki Tanaka
Votes: 777
91 (PS1, PSN) Square Enix (Square Product Development Division 3)
15. Final Fantasy XII (2006 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Street thief Vaan becomes embroiled in a quest to save the occupied kingdom in which he resides, Dalmasca, from a war that seems imminent.
Directors: Hiroshi Minagawa, Hiroyuki Itô | Stars: Bobby Edner, Catherine Taber, Gideon Emery, Nicole Fantl
Votes: 4,114
91 (PS2), 86 (PS4) Square Enix
16. Lunar: Eternal Blue (1994 Video Game)
K-A | Action, Adventure, Comedy
When long-time friends Hiro and Ruby discover a strange visitor from another world, they find themselves on a long journey to find the goddess Althena and stop the mad godlike Zophar from ... See full summary »
Director: Hiroyuki Koyama | Stars: Hikaru Midorikawa, Chisa Yokoyama, Kumiko Nishihara, Aya Hisakawa
Votes: 154
91 (SCD), 83 (PS1) Game Arts, Studio Alex
17. Skies of Arcadia (2000 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Vyse and his crew of sky pirates work together to stop an evil empress from reawakening an ancient weapon.
Director: Shuntaro Tanaka | Stars: Yuri Amano, Kinryû Arimoto, Bill Broughton, Steve Cloyes
Votes: 282
91 (DC), 85 (GCN) Overworks
18. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Comedy
After Princess Peach's voice is stolen by the witch Cackletta and her minion Fawful, Mario and Luigi must travel to the Beanbean Kingdom to get it back.
Director: Yoshihiko Maekawa | Stars: Charles Martinet, Jen Taylor, Scott Burns, Kazumi Totaka
Votes: 445
90 (GBA, 3DS) AlphaDream
19. Dragon Quest VIII (2004 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
The game begins with the court jester of the kingdom of Trodain, Dhoulmagus, stealing an ancient scepter and casting a spell on Trodain castle.
Director: Akihiro Hino | Stars: Ricky Grover, Emma Owen, Blake Ritson, Jon Glover
Votes: 825
90 (PS2), 85 (3DS) Level-5
20. Trials of Mana (1995 Video Game)
E10+ | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Six kingdoms are fighting each other for power over the Mana stones and are battling for world dominance. Six warriors are sent out from their homes to save the world.
Director: Kôichi Ishii
Votes: 154
90 (SNES) Japan exclusive (English ROM hack) 3-player co-op campaign (ROM hack) 2-player co-op campaign (SNES) Square Enix
21. Phantasy Star Online (2000 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Your planet is dying. To escape, the citizens of your world construct two gigantic spaceships and strike out in search of a new home.
Director: Takao Miyoshi
Votes: 115
90 (DC), 83 (Xbox), 82 (GCN) 4-player split-screen co-op campaign (GCN) 4-player online co-op campaign (DC, Xbox, GCN) Sonic Team
22. Final Fantasy VIII (1999 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
A group of students at a military academy rescue a mysterious girl, who some say is the sorceress who wants to govern the universe.
Director: Yoshinori Kitase
Votes: 6,460
89 (PS1, PSN) Square Enix
23. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Family
Just as Mario trounces Bowser for the millionth time, a giant, malevolent sword crashes into Bowser's keep, casting Mario, Princess Toadstool and Bowser far and wide, and breaking seven pieces from the wish-granting Star Road.
Directors: Chihiro Fujioka, Yoshihiko Maekawa
Votes: 1,577
89 (SNES) Square Enix
24. Golden Sun (2001 Video Game)
E | Adventure, Fantasy
In a dark age of history, evil forces are pursuing the lost art of alchemy. Armed with cool weapons, special powers and unique creatures a band of 4 magic-attuned "Adepts" are the only hope to put an end to the advance of evil.
Director: Shugo Takahashi
Votes: 367
89 (GBA, Wii U VC) Camelot Software Planning
25. Paper Mario (2000 Video Game)
E | Adventure, Fantasy
Bowser has become invulnerable by imprisoning the seven Star Spirits and using the wish granting powers of the mythical Star Rod from Star Haven. Mario must rescue the Star Spirits, who have been sealed in cards.
Director: Ryota Kawade
Votes: 1,374
89 (N64) Intelligent Systems
26. Grandia II (2000 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
In the aftermath of the battle between the God of Light and the God of Darkness, a young mercenary named Ryudo is charged to protect a songstress named Elena, but their journey reveals that the history of the world is not all it seems.
Director: Takashi Takebe | Stars: Cam Clarke, Jennifer Hale, Jodi Benson, Peter Lurie
Votes: 261
89 (DC), 73 (PS2) Better on Dreamcast Game Arts
27. Dark Cloud 2 (2002 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
Max receives a mysterious red stone and learns that the rest of the world has been wiped out by a creature named Griffon who's looking for the stone. With the help of a girl from the future... See full summary »
Director: Akihiro Hino | Stars: Rikako Aikawa, Aki Akiha, Chafûrin, Susumu Chiba
Votes: 309
88 (PS2, PSN) Level-5
28. Lunar: The Silver Star (1992 Video Game)
MA-13 | Action, Adventure, Comedy
From the village of Burg, a teenager named Alex sets out to become the fabled guardian of the goddess Althena...the Dragonmaster. Along with his girlfriend Luna, and several friends they ... See full summary »
Director: Yoichi Miyaji | Stars: Kikuko Inoue, Rokurô Naya, Kôichi Kitamura, Rei Sakuma
Votes: 193
88 (SCD), 86 (PS1), 81 (PSP), 79 (GBA) Game Arts, Studio Alex
29. Pokémon: Blue Version (1996 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Play as a young Pokémon trainer trying to catch all 150 Pokémon.
Director: Satoshi Tajiri
Votes: 1,378
88 (GB Red, Blue), 85 (GB Yellow, 3DS VC), 82 (GBA FireRed, LeafGreen) Game Freak
30. EarthBound (1994 Video Game)
T | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Ness, a boy from Onett, Eagleland, teams up with new friends to defeat an Evil Destroyer named Giygas. During the epic pursuits, Ness and his allies attempt to find the sacred Eight Melodies.
Director: Shigesato Itoi | Stars: Shigesato Itoi, Yukari Saito, Hirokazu Koyano, Etsuko Kawano
Votes: 1,220
88 (SNES) HAL Laboratory, Creatures (Ape)
31. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004 Video Game)
E | Adventure, Fantasy
Mario must find all the seven crystal stars to enter the Thousand-Year-Door and save Princess Peach.
Director: Ryota Kawade | Stars: Charles Martinet, Jen Taylor, Scott Burns
Votes: 1,274
88 (GCN) Intelligent Systems
32. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (2009 Video Game)
E10+ | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
You play as a Celestrian, an angel who falls to the mortal realm on the eve of Yggdrasil's awakening. It's up to you to reclaim Yggdrasil's Fyggs and fulfill the destiny that lies before you.
Directors: Jin Fujisawa, Akihiro Hino
Votes: 178
88 (DS) Level-5, Square Enix
33. Pokémon Sun (2016 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Family
As a trainer in the Alola region, your task is to journey across the islands, catch all the Pokemon, complete the island challenges, defeat the 4 islands guardians, and eventually meet the legendary Solgaleo.
Director: Shigeru Ohmori | Star: Ikue Ôtani
Votes: 711
88 (3DS Sun, Moon), 84 (3DS Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon) Game Freak
34. Pokémon Y (2013 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Family
Pokémon sequel for the Nintendo 3DS, introducing 72 new Pokémon species, and new features such as the Fairy type, character customization, and updated battle and training mechanics.
Director: Jun'ichi Masuda | Stars: Ikue Ôtani, Shannon Chan-Kent
Votes: 1,207
88 (3DS X, Y) Game Freak
35. Kingdom Hearts II (2005 Video Game)
E10+ | Action, Adventure, Family
Sora and friends face mysterious new enemies as they continue their journey to save all worlds, and find Riku and King Mickey.
Director: Tetsuya Nomura | Stars: Haley Joel Osment, David Gallagher, Hayden Panettiere, Jesse McCartney
Votes: 7,610
87 (PS2), 84 (PS4), 83 (PS3) Square Enix (Square Enix Product Development Division 1)
36. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (2006 Video Game)
M | Action, Adventure, Drama
A new student arrives at a school full of monsters that attack at night. A team of Persona users recruit him to help battle alongside them to rid the monsters for good.
Director: Katsura Hashino | Stars: Akira Ishida, Megumi Toyoguchi, Rie Tanaka, Maaya Sakamoto
Votes: 907
87 (PS2), 88 (PS2 FES), 91 (PSP) Atlus
37. Secret of Mana (1993 Video Game)
E10+ | Action, Adventure, Drama
The story of a boy who pulls out a rusty sword and is banished from Potos. He meets a girl and a Sprite. Together, they journey to gather 8 Mana seeds to save the Mana tree and stop Thanatos and his empire from taking over the world.
Director: Kôichi Ishii
Votes: 693
87 (SNES), 60 (PS4), 52 (Vita) 3-player co-op campaign Square Enix
38. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (1993 Video Game)
Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Chaz Ashley is a hunter who lives on a planet once was green that's now a desert. He has to deal with the biomonster problem. Later he has to stop Zio the magician who wants to destroy the world and restore the computer systems.
Directors: Rieko Kodama, Kiyoshi Takeuchi, Tohru Yoshida
Votes: 141
87 (GEN, PS3/360, PS2/PSP, SAT) Sega
39. Final Fantasy IV (1991 Video Game)
Unrated | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
A dark knight questions the ruthless actions of his king and undergoes a quest to redeem himself and save the world.
Director: Hironobu Sakaguchi
Votes: 1,899
87 (SNES), 80 (PSP), 85 (DS), 83 (GBA), 67 (PS1) 2-player co-op campaign (SNES: Battles only) Square Enix
40. Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (2018 Video Game)
T | Adventure, Fantasy
A young king, Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, is usurped from his kingdom on his coronation day. He sets out with Roland, a man from another world, to create a new kingdom where everyone can live happily ever after.
Director: Akihiro Hino | Stars: Claire Morgan, Jared Zeus, Ellie Fransch, Alastair Parker
Votes: 467
87 (PS4) Level-5
41. Kingdom Hearts (2002 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Family
When his world is destroyed and his friends mysteriously disappear, a young boy named Sora is thrust into a quest to find his missing friends and prevent the armies of darkness from destroying many other worlds.
Director: Tetsuya Nomura | Stars: Miyu Irino, Mamoru Miyano, Risa Uchida, Kôichi Yamadera
Votes: 7,899
86 (PS2), 85 (PS4), 80 (PS3) Square Enix
42. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (2011 Video Game)
E10+ | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Oliver discovers that his mother is not dead, but kidnapped and taken hostage by the White Witch.
Director: Kentaro Motomura | Stars: Adam Wilson, Lauren Mote, Louis Tamone, Steffan Rhodri
Votes: 986
86 (PS3) Level-5
43. Shadow Hearts: Covenant (2004 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
During World War I, a German army officer and her companions try to thwart the plans of a secret society.
Director: Matsuzo Machida | Stars: Joe Cappelletti, Kari Wahlgren, Ellyn Stern, Bob Papenbrook
Votes: 190
86 (PS2) Nautilus
44. Grandia (1997 Video Game)
E | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Justin, a boy from the quiet village of Parm, seeks adventure on a far away continent, in a quest to uncover the mysteries of an ancient civilization.
Director: Hidenobu Takahashi | Stars: Angela Anderson, Blaney R. Aikman, Sharon Coleman, Nicole Weiss
Votes: 246
87 (SAT), 86 (PS1) Better on Saturn Game Arts
45. Final Fantasy XIII (2009 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
In a futuristic city, a group of adventurers must fight the government forces controlled by an alien force to stop its plan to destroy the world.
Director: Motomu Toriyama | Stars: Ali Hillis, Troy Baker, Georgia Van Cuylenburg, Reno Wilson
Votes: 3,956
84 (PS3), 82 (360) Square Enix (Square Enix 1st Production Department)
46. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (2017 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
In a world laden with an endless sea of clouds and titans, Rex, an ambitious salvager, embarks on an adventure with the help of his friends in search of the mythical paradise, Elysium.
Directors: Ko Kojima, Hiroshi Shirai, Tetsuya Takahashi, Genki Yokota | Stars: Al Weaver, Hiro Shimono, Skye Bennett, Shino Shimoji
Votes: 582
83 (NS) Monolith Soft
47. Final Fantasy XV (2016 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
After leaving his home city of Insomnia, young prince Noctis embarks on a journey with his closest friends to reclaim his throne.
Director: Hajime Tabata | Stars: Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Ray Chase, Kenta Miyake, Christopher Lee Parson
Votes: 4,007
81 (PS4), 86 (XB1) 4-player online co-op quests Square Enix (Square Enix Business Division 2)
48. Lost Odyssey (2007 Video Game)
T | Action, Adventure, Drama
After a meteor wipes out the majority of forces from the nations of Uhra and Khent, Kaim joins a group of immortals who have lost their memories to confront threats generated by the world's approaching magical industrial revolution.
Directors: Hironobu Sakaguchi, Roy Sato | Stars: Keith Ferguson, Tara Strong, Salli Saffioti, Kim Mai Guest
Votes: 491
80 (360) Mistwalker, Feelplus
49. Front Mission: Gun Hazard (1996 Video Game)
Action, Adventure, Drama
The year is 2064, when the great solar power satellite, ATLAS is overshadowed by the invention of fusion power. The government alliance that had supported the building of ATLAS now find ... See full summary »
Director: Hideo Suzuki
Votes: 11
SNES Japan exclusive (English ROM hack) Omiya Soft
50. Kingdom Hearts III (2019 Video Game)
E10+ | Action, Adventure, Family
Believing light and darkness must remain in balance, Master Xehanort seeks to spark war against the "tyranny of light" to restore equilibrium.
Directors: Tetsuya Nomura, Tai Yasue, Masaru Oka | Stars: Haley Joel Osment, David Gallagher, Alyson Stoner, Jason Dohring
Votes: 2,467
PS4, XB1 Square Enix (Square Enix Business Division 3)
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