Updated 1st November 2021. Original post by Harry Slater, updated by Himanshu Cheeta
Japan has made a very significant and notable impact on the RPG genre all around the globe. It is easier to look at how Japanese culture influences most RPGs' characters and gameplay now that anime and manga series are so popular and sought after by people. Your favourite game might very well be an RPG from the beginning; odds are it is also a Japanese RPG (JRPG).
What does JRPG mean?
Even though both Japanese JRPGs and Western WRPGs were very much influenced by pen-and-paper RPGs such as Dungeons and Dragons, the cultural differences between the developers resulted in vastly distinct games and gameplay experiences.
To help individuals distinguish and differentiate between the two genres, the labels JRPGs and WRPGs were introduced. The aesthetic and gameplay feel of WRPGs' games are more realistic and immersive. The difference is especially visible in games like Ultima and Wizardry, which have a high inclusion barrier for new players. Whereas JRPGs have art and aesthetics that are more influenced by anime and Japanese culture. Game cutscenes and game advertising are examples of this style.
Here is a list of 5 JRPGs that you must try to get the real feel of role-playing games.
1. GENSHIN IMPACT
First we have Genshin Impact, a Chinese-made game with clear JRPG themes. Genshin Impact, one of the few "free" games on this list, caught the world by storm when it was launched worldwide in 2020 for Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, and Windows. For the first half-year after its release, it brought in $1 billion in revenue.
You take on the role of one of two twins who can travel between dimensions. During your journey to Teyvat, you are attacked by an unknown God of that realm, who separates you from your sibling. When you start your mission to find your family, you are frozen and sealed for the rest of your life, or at least for 500 years.
The game is very similar to Zelda: Breath of the Wild in terms of gameplay. Your character interacts with a large open-world setting to fuse anime and realism in its open world. Because it is still relatively young, the game will continue to receive upgrades and additional content. This game could become one of the finest and best JRPGs on smartphones in the coming years!
Genshin Impact is available to download on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.
2. MONSTER HUNTER STORIES
Monster Hunter Stories was first launched in 2016 for Nintendo 3DS before being ported to Android and iOS. The 2018 mobile ports included HD visuals and mobile-specific controls. Monster Hunter Stories is the lone game from the Monster Hunter franchise on our list, and it differs from the other games in the series in terms of gameplay.
Monster Hunter Stories is availbale to download on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.
3. CHRONO TRIGGER
Chrono Trigger was initially launched in 1995 and is considered a classic game that established the JRPG craze worldwide. A "dream crew" of developers made Chrono Trigger. Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, and Akira Toriyama, the creators of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, are among the developers. The game's mobile adaptations include many improvements over the SNES version, but they retain similar gameplay and design.
The main concept revolves around a little child dragged into an adventure to save the world and become the hero. Even if it is cliche, the way it’s executed is unique. You will be playing "Chrono," a time traveler who arrives at the end of the world with the help of his colleagues' time machine. To avoid this, your group finds out that they can travel back in time and modify the course of events and the future.
Chrono Trigger is available to download on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.
4. FIRE EMBLEM HEROES
Strangely, Fire Emblem Heroes is one of the only Nintendo games present on this list, and it is also one of the only mobile games in the Fire Emblem series. The game was launched globally in February 2017 and bound together with the gacha gameplay while staying true to the series' history of being a turn-based tactical RPG.
Apart from the summoning function, the game isn't significantly different from the others in the series in terms of functionality. Unlike other Fire Emblem games, this one is based on Norse mythology, and the planet serves as a hub for heroes from other games to be included.
Fire Emblem Heroes is available to download on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.
5. POKEMON GO
Unless one Pokémon game is included, no JRPG list could be considered complete. That game, in this case, is Pokémon Go. It was released internationally in July 2016 and was well appreciated by fans, with over 500 million downloads by the end of the year. The game is a significant shift from other JRPGs, with its truly limitless area and open-ended gameplay, which added to its allure. As the Pokémon series grows and more Pokémon are introduced, this title may become one of the best JRPGs ever.
Pokemon GO is available to download on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.
