There’s truly something special about JRPGs. The simple concept of “standing in a row” for turn-based battles is an enduring foundation for some ofthe best retro games,as well as modern gems that innovate in the genre.
10 Best JRPGs With No Grinding
Don’t have time anymore to grind JRPG boss fights? Check out our grinding-free list of JRPGs to try instead.
Whether you’re thirsty for more of a favorite or hunting for something new,the indie scene is filled with great JRPGs from which to pick.
From love letters in homage to the genre’s greats, to exciting experiments in the medium, let’s shine a spotlight on the best indie JRPGs in this list.
10Vestaria Saga
Indie Fire Emblem
Vestaria Saga I: War Of The Scions
OpenCritic
Release Date
August 05, 2025 (English)
This lesser-known JRPG comes from the original creator of theFire Emblemgames, and both its political plot and strategic complexity are comparable to the series' earlier titles (likeGenealogy Of The Holy WarandThracia 776).
True to style, each tactical battle grows the story from a simple “protect the princess!” theme into a battle to prevent darkness from conquering the world.
Despite its lofty lineage,Vestaria Sagaisdefinitelyan indie game. Built usingthe stalwartRPG Makerengine,this personal project demonstrates not just quality storytelling and gameplay—it also highlights thepassionwhich goes into an indie JRPG.
Games like this are why I love the indie world. They allow so many games to exist which otherwise would never come to light.
9Chrono Ark
Deckbuilding JRPG
Chrono Ark
Steam Rating
July 04, 2025
Chrono Arkblends the popular deckbuilding mechanics ofSlay the Spireand other roguelikes together with classic JRPG party mechanics. This intriguing indie blend may not be the first time deckbuilding has been added to a JRPG, but it is one of the best.
What helpsChrono Arkshine is the synergy between story and mechanics. The multiple runs of a roguelike mesh together well withChrono Ark’sstory of the Twisted Land, and repeated attempts to save it. This blend elevates the game above others which experiment with similar game design ideas.
8Monster Sanctuary
Pokémon Metroidvania
Monster Sanctuary
Almost everyone has playedMetroid,Castlevania,or another 2D Metroidvania. But what if, instead of finding power-ups, progression required catching new Pokémon?
Monster Sanctuaryis an intriguing game which blends classic turn-based battling with progressive exploration.
Added on top of this is a randomizer which facilitates ongoing play through generating new seeds to challenge yourself. A native dash of rogue-like (or “nuzlocke”) options adds a dash of polish which really helps the game stand out.
10 Best JRPGs Ever Made, Ranked
The JRPG genre has a long and storied history, with some incredible titles (and quite a few forgettable ones). This list breaks down the best around.
7Wandering Sword
Chinese Martial Arts Adventure
Wandering Sword
Thirsting for a story bursting with melodrama and over-the-top martial arts battles?Wandering Swordis a gorgeous rendition of the Chinesewuxiagenre in the style of a tactical JRPG.
While most JRPGs offer some semblance of skill choice by progressing through skill trees, unlocking new classes, and so on, few reachWandering Sword’slevel of customization.
Combining weapons and martial arts techniques across your party allows you to discover a bewildering variety of viable combinations.
Augmented with charming visuals and a lush soundtrack, it’s easy to see how this gem battled its way into the top ten of the indie world.
68 Bit Adventures 2
Limit Break: Nostalgia
8 Bit Adventures 2
100% Recommend
July 26, 2025
PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Playstation 5, Playstation 4
It’s no surprise that many great indie JRPGs build on nostalgia for classics of the past.8 Bit Adventures 2’sappeal begins with a nostalgic aesthetic, but ends with a rock-solid game.
For a game filled with JRPG tropes—such as the exploring the world via airship, or going on a quest to save the world from darkness—8 Bit Adventures 2is surprisingly successful at avoiding the fourth wall. It isearnestin its use of classicFinal Fantasy-esque elements.
One flaw of many indie games is excessive snark, a need to be self-conscious about their inspirations.8 Bit Adventures 2succeeds because it not only delivers a heartfelt, sincere, story, but because the gameplay shares equally in its nostalgic charm.
5Cassette Beasts
Perfecting Old-School Pokémon
Cassette Beasts
An enormous number of games have—successfully or unsuccessfully—tried to grab a bit of the Pokémon franchise’s magic, but I reckonCassette Beastsis the most successful to date. The game is built around an evocative concept: improve friendship, and become able to fuse.
This allows you to fuseanybeasts you find into a single, stronger, beast. you’re able to also fuseyourselfwith a beast to enable new methods of overworld exploration.
Combined with a wholly open world,Cassette Beastssuccessfully integrates Pokémon’s friendship theme together with your ability to battle and explore. It’s a compelling blend of concept and mechanics, and one well worth trying out.
4Crystal Project
Explore To Your Heart’s Content
Crystal Project
August 23, 2025
PC, Nintendo Switch
Where most indie JRPGs experiment with the genre’s combat system, character progression, or narrative,Crystal Projectis built around exploration. This game really sticks out not just because it features an open world—those aren’t that rare, anymore—but because it thoroughlycommitsto the open world.
Open-ended platforming challenges structureCrystal Project’sunusual approach to the genre by allowing you to choose whether to confront or bypass the traditional crystal-collecting objective. Who needs to save the world, anyway?
Atop this are implemented traditional JRPG game systems. However, because of the game’s non-linear style, youraccessto new sub-classes and equipment varies with where you explore, increasing the variety of ways you can play.
10 Best Tactical JRPGs, Ranked
Love tactical tactical JRPGs? Looking to break into the genre? We’ll go over the best of the best!
3Sea of Stars
Classic Storytelling With Modern Polish
Sea of Stars
Imagine playing a classic SNES game, but seeing the graphics as youimaginedthem in the past—then you’ll have something close toSea of Stars.This beautiful game imagines the old-school JRPGs “as they could have been” during its quest to save the world.
That’s not to saySea of Starsfails to stand on its own merits! The game’s active combat and lack of an overworld is carefully designed to foster immersion into its stunning world.
2Bug Fables
Paper Mario + A Bug’s Life
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Bug Fablesis a charming game built in the aesthetic of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and with the mechanics of theother RPGs in the Mario franchise.The plot, humorous and tragic by turns, follows the tiny heroes' quest to obtain the Everlasting Sapling and save their home.
This game builds upon its inspiration primarily through quality-of-life updates and tweaks to the platforming and battling systems—most notably, the ability to crank the difficulty up. It’s a testament to how indie developers can refine a beloved game, even when the original publisher struggles to re-capture the magic.
1Chained Echoes
Perfected By Loving Details
Chained Echoes
Many games are built due to admiration for the past, including a number of entries on this list. WhereChained Echoesrises above the rest is in its focus on perfecting gameplay and setting.
Chained Echoesis visually beautiful, to be sure. But its quality goes deeper than the aesthetic. Strange and wonderful environments reward exploration, while detailed tactical options keep combat enticing.
There’s not a drop of “flash, but no substance” throughout the game—everything feels carefully, intentionally crafted for a perfect JRPG experience.
10 JRPGs That Deserve Full Remakes
Some fantastic JRPGs have been left behind over the years. These are the best classics that deserve full modernized remakes.
