JRPGs tend to follow a pretty standardized formula and have done ever since thepixellated halcyon daysof the initial Final Fantasy and Dragon Quests. It usually sees you play the role of an underdog protagonist leading a merry gang of misfits on an adventure that inevitably ends with you fighting god.
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Critics tend to get most things right, but occasionally, they slip up and doom games to a bleak fate, as seen here.
It’s tried and tested and usually leads to some amazing gaming moments. But, occasionally, you will find that some games will fail to find success in the JRPG field, and sometimes, that label of ‘bad game’ is given perhaps unfairly.
There are lots of JRPGs out there with middling and low reviews that actually offer more than meets the eye, and we want to do our part to highlight those, allowing you to add more wonderful JRPG adventures to your wishlist.
For clarity, we will only be including games that fall under the ‘JRPG’ label on Opencritic/Metacritic and have received an aggregate score of 75% or lower. Although most will be significantly lower.
10Card-En-Ciel
A Creative Card-Builder
Of all the entries on this list, this is perhaps the only one that qualifies as a game that was reviewed favorably but deserved a lot more than just ‘favorable.’
Card En Ciel is a gorgeous title that blends the principles of JRPG titlesand traditional card-builders, amalgamating the two to create an experience that is tactical, engaging, and endlessly fun.
The game offers a Sword Art Online adjacent-storyline, awesome visuals, a pumping soundtrack, and excellent boss encounters.
Much of the criticism of the game comes from the short nature of the game, but the brilliance of this game lies in the near-infinite replayability and addictive gameplay.
It’s a wonderfully creative and clever card builder worth its weight in gold, and even if a lot of critics couldn’t see that, we certainly do.
9Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey
Crafting On The Clock
Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey
As someone who remembers when Atelier was a series more concerned with being anotoriously complex alchemy simulatorrather than an out-and-out JRPG, perhaps I’m a little better positioned to deal with the mechanics many others had gripes with in Atelier Firis.
Firis was the first game in the series to go open-world, and as a result, there were some teething issues, such as a lack of item duplication, party members were a pain to switch out, and the battle system was pretty weak compared to others in the series.
But the main gripe everyone had was the choice to include deadlines into the game, which forced players to play with urgency, somewhat going against the easy-breezy open-world vibe.
But, even still, it’s one of the best Atelier narratives, offers a fun world to explore, the alchemy is excellent as usual, and even if you’re not a fan, I love the time parameters. It’s an undervalued gem, and one you should play if you love this series.
8Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
Lightning’s Redemption
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13
I can already feel the hate emanating from the Final Fantasy fans for this one, but damn it all, I’ll do it anyway.
I’ll be the first to say that FFXIII was a pretty dull Final Fantasy game. It looked pretty, and some of the characters, namely Lightning, were cool. But it was a game that practically played itself, which doesn’t really lend itself to becoming a successful sequel in a beloved tactical turn-based franchise.
But Lightning Returns fixes a lot of these issues by fixing the brain-dead battle system with something more thoughtful and engaging. The world is much more full of life, and things to do, and the game fleshes out Lightning as a character while cutting the deadwood featured in the first game and its direct sequel.
It was nice to see this troubled trilogy show a bright spark, but sadly, due to the poor entries that came before, many never gave this third entry a real shot. But I’m here to tell you, it’s the only FFXIII game worth playing.
7Pokemon Ranger
Loop De Loop
Pokemon Ranger
As you will likely be aware, the Pokemon series has alwaysbeen good for a weird spinoff title. Some are great, like Pokemon Snap and Pokemon Conquest, whereas others fall flat, like Hey You, Pikachu, and Pokemon Dash.
However, I always felt that Pokemon Ranger got plopped into the ‘bad Pokemon game’ category a little unfairly, as it was a rather cool concept implemented pretty well, getting the most out of the DS' touch controls.
Akin to games like Mystery Dungeon, Ranger was a relatively simple and accessible game where capturing and protecting wild Pokemon was the order of the day.
The biggest criticism I have was that the endless looping to capture Pokemon absolutely destroyed your touchscreen, but, in the moment, these games were a lot of fun.
These games are definitely gimmicky and a sign of the times, but they are well worth dusting off your old DS if you still have it lying around.
6Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
If we’re talking cult classics, then we need to give this one a mention, because, while it never captured the hearts of the critics, many JRPG fans speak very highly of this early musical number from Nippon Ici.
It’s a game with a surreal story that doesn’t take itself at all seriously, offers simple RPG systems, making this a perfect beginner game for anyone looking to dip their toe into the genre; and as you might expect, the soundtrack is upbeat and, memorable, with plenty of tunes to hum along to.
It’s a game that lives off moments, as holistically, it can be a little bit repetitive. But the good news is that these standout moments are so outlandish and fun that it’s worth sticking around for the next one.
The ‘easy as pie’ gameplaymight put off some tenured JRPG purists, but if you’re just here for a fun story and easy-breezy combat akin to games like Secret of Mana, this is the game for you.
5The Last Remnant
An Xbox 360 Relic
The Last Remnant
There were quite a few interesting Xbox 360 JRPGs that went under the radar during the era, such as Lost Oddysey and Eternal Sonata, but one that managed neither critical nor commercial acclaim was The Last Remnant, and it’s a shame, really, as it definitely has its moments.
I’ll concede that the writing really drags down what is a pretty cool narrative concept, and the characters are a little forgettable. But the game had an awful lot going for it besides this.
Such as the ability to break off your party into units for tactical strikes during fights, a wealth of fun bosses and side quests to enjoy, and the exploration being very rewarding and satisfying.
It’s one that SaGa fans will really enjoy, and despite the poor writing, it really warrants you digging up your Xbox 360 and checking it out.
4Beyond The Beyond
There are quite a few games out there that commit so unapologetically to complex and obtuse systems, that when the time for publishing reviews comes, they are met with a series of critics who rag on their game because they simply didn’t get it.
But, these games often find their way back into the zeitgeist as cult classic games where those who can see the value of these complex or punishing systems champion these undervalued titles. Beyond the Beyond is very much the JRPG genre’s representative in this regard.
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All the complex JRPG systems you could ever want, without the need for AAA budgets.
Due to very punishing resource management requirements and a need for near-flawless runs while dungeon crawling, Beyond The Beyond is notoriously known as one of the hardest JRPGs ever made. But critically, it’s still a fun game to play.
Not to be cliche, but it’s the Dark Souls of JRPGs, and that alone makes it worth struggling to prove you can, if nothing else.
3Lost Sphear
One For The Setsuna Fans
Lost Sphear
I’ll concede that anything that tries to emulate the timeless classic that is Chrono Trigger will often trigger a biased response from me. Hence why I go to war with Sea of Stars haters in various forums.
However, you have to give credit where it’s due, and I believe that Lost Sphear never quite got the acclaim it deserved, as it was brushed off as ‘nostalgia bait.’
Don’t get me wrong, there’s a healthy dose of that, as there should be, but this game is a wonderful experience with a lot in common with fellow divisive JRPG, I Am Setsuna, which perhaps tells its own story.
This game’s narrative leaves a lot to be desired, but the retro feel, the fun battle system, and the great soundtrack are ample reasons to give this one a chance. And much like I Am Setsuna fans, you could be one of those who simply can’t understand why this game isn’t talked about more.
2Kingdom Hearts 3: ReMind
Fixing A Flawed End-Game
Kingdom Hearts 3 Re:Mind
It might be a little bit odd to includea DLC expansionon this list, but honestly, I couldn’t sit idly by and not talk about how unjust the reviews were for ReMind, a DLC that actually made Kingdom Hearts 3’s end-game worth playing.
KH3 was a very underwhelming game, and that’s coming from a lifelong KH die-hard. It looked great and had its moments, but the core issue was that the combat was mindless, and the boss battles were laughably easy.
So, ReMind effectively added a boss gauntlet akin to the KH2 Final Mix Cavern of Remembrance data fights, adding some cool story beats along with some of the most memorable fights KH3 has to offer.
The poor reviews are perhaps down to the fact that fans perhaps expected more story beats, and more content for their money. But based on what’s there and how much this DLC elevates the KH3 experience as a whole, it’s remarkable that this DLC got the low scores that it did.
1The Legend of Dragoon
A True PSX Gem
Legend of Dragoon
How The Legend of Dragoon never got its flowers, I will never know. It’s one of thebest PSX JRPGs to grace our screens, and the reviews simply do not do that justice.
The game looks just as good as the Final Fantasy games of the era, thanks to gorgeous pre-rendered backgrounds. The game is fully voice-acted and offers a great soundtrack. The cast of characters are interesting, the battle system is fun once you get to grips with it, and the opening hours drop you right into the action.
On the flip side, the story isn’t anything you haven’t seen before in the genre, and the timing inputs are a little iffy, to say the least. But, this never deters from the brilliance and immersion of this title.
It’s a game that would really benefit from a remaster and a spit-shine in the form of some QOL changes. But when it was released in 1999, this game was a marvel punching well above its weight, and even if it is a little wonky in spots, it’s still more than capable of captivating players today.
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