The best JRPGs that were ahead of their time

Key conclusions

• EarthBound broke the JRPG norm with its amazing sci-fi world and unique narrative.
• Lost Odyssey's turn-based combat system and rich storyline make it a standout in the genre.
• The World Ends With You's dual-screen battle system and modern updates set it apart.

After its rapid rise in the 1980s and dominance in the 1990s, the JRPG has become one of the most popular genres in the entire video game industry. And while many follow simple, long-standing design philosophies that still work, a few JRPGs over the years have tried to be something a little different.

Whether it was the introduction of a new combat system or a unique way of presenting its story, JRPGs that dared to deviate have proven to be some of the best in the genre. In a genre filled with games that often start to feel pretty similar, others have been able to be quite forward-thinking. Some approaches have stuck, while others are almost entirely limited to the unique gem that invented it. Be that as it may, these JRPGs were way ahead of their time in terms of design, systems, and storytelling techniques.

8 The world ends with you

The unique DS RPG is gaining a massive cult following

Inspired by the unique control scheme of the Nintendo DS, Square-Enix envisioned a way to create a unique dual-screen combat system for JRPGs. The end result was The world ends with youone of the best action JRPGs of the 2000s. The World Ends With You is a game set in Shibuya where Neku and his friends battle a deadly seven-day event known as the Reaper Game.

A picture of anime elements and different types of music, The world ends with you features great characters and one of the most engaging combat systems ever seen in a JRPG. It uses both DS screens and has even been successfully ported to modern times thanks to an updated Switch port in 2018, making this wonderful JRPG playable on modern hardware.

7 The Lost Odyssey

An Xbox 360 exclusive JRPG from the creator of Final Fantasy

After leaving Square Enix and Final Fantasy franchise, Hironobu Sakaguchi founded Mistwalker, signing a contract with Microsoft to finance them The Lost Odyssey. This compelling turn-based JRPG was Sakaguchi's second effort with Microsoft since 2006 Blue Dragonand turned into one of the best works of his storied career.

The Lost Odyssey features a unique turn-based combat system where instead of each party member making one attack at a time, the player enters actions for all of them at the start of a turn. Attacks are then boosted with a well-timed button press, which adds an extra layer of punch. The Lost Odyssey sadly never remastered for modern Xbox consoles, but it's available through the backwards compatibility program — and still worth diving into today.

6 EarthBound

SNES quirky JRPG is one of the consoles best

Most JRPGs of the 1990s were built around fantasy kingdoms with knights, wizards, and magic, but Shigesato Itoi and Nintendo set out to break those conventions in 1994 EarthBound. World EarthBound more like a 1980s sci-fi movie than a fantasy adventure, Ness and his friends venture into a surreal, whimsical world full of strange enemies to stop the imminent invasion of Giygas.

But what does EarthBound it's so amazing how easily these elements fit together, as Itoi's unique brand of storytelling mixed with strong design resulted in a game that is still sourced and referenced to this day. The concept of a non-standard JRPG set in a semi-realistic world that has dominated the indie scene for years can be traced directly back to EarthBoundas its ability to hide a dark, complex story behind a colorful SNES game is still impressive. luckily EarthBound is easily accessible today as it is part of the Nintendo Switch Online service.

5 Xenogears

A mesmerizing mix of Star Wars and Final Fantasy

initially, Xenogears was presented as a story for Final Fantasy 7 but was deemed too dark for the series and was turned into an entirely different project. It worked out for the best, as both games became cold classics for Sony hardware. A combination of elements Star Wars and Final Fantasy, Xenogears puts players in control of Fei Fong Wong in an epic multi-disc adventure where a group of rebels attempt to take down the tyrannical organization known as Solaris.

Xenogears was unique for its time, as its complex exploration of religion and philosophy was not the norm, and it took the development team two years to create its incredible world and mythology. Combat Art Xenogears unfolds with a hand-to-hand system where attacks are correlated with the buttons on the face, and also implements stunning mech battles. It's an absolutely brilliant experience, with a refreshing fighting style and a great themed story that still holds up.

4 Valkyrie profile

A JRPG inspired by Norse mythology is one of the PS1's greatest achievements

• Platforms: PlayStation, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Android, iOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• Release date: December 22, 1999
• Developers: three-ace; Tose (PSP)
• Publisher: Enix

Inspired by Norse legends, Valkyrie profile developed a modern vision of ancient tales that mixed elements of myth with science fiction. A gripping story of redemption and sacrifice, this epic JRPG for PS1 puts players in control of Lenet the Valkyrie as she travels the land to gather warriors for the imminent arrival of Ragnarok.

Valkyrie profile The combat is absolutely fantastic as each party member is mapped to a specific button on their face. When pressed, they will launch an attack, creating a sense of immediacy in combat that JRPGs didn't have at the time. It's great to play, and flying around the world map with Lenet gives the game a scale that its contemporaries have struggled to match. Updated version Valkyrie profile is currently available on PS5 and mobile devices, making it easy to jump into this great adventure.

3 Radiata history

The PS2 JRPG includes a story with humor and heart

• Platform: PlayStation 2
• Release date: January 27, 2005
• The developer: three-ace
• Publisher: Square Enix

A joint venture between tri-Ace and Square Enix, Radiata history is an exciting JRPG that was released in the last years of PS2 in 2005. The result was a game that took full advantage of the hardware and created something truly special. Radiata history emphasizes interactivity as the world feels alive in a way that other JRPGs of the time did not.

With a day and night cycle and a staggering number of NPCs to recruit (up to 176), Radiata history places a strong emphasis on its world and its inhabitants. The player can also fight random characters, which gives the NPCs more personality than even some modern games. It's an addictive game that had a spiritual sequel released in 2011 for the DS — known as Radiant history.

2 Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille Zur Macht

An epic multi-series saga begins in this massive JRPG for PS2

Made up of former Square Enix employees, Monolith Soft used elements of their previous work to create Xenosaga. This epic story was developed over five games and four years. Monolith has put an enormous amount of love and care into the series, which has never been more evident Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Machtwhich translates as “desire for power”.

Inspired by the likes Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, Xenosaga was a revolutionary PS2 title and had an incredible amount of lore and storytelling. It was all fully voiced, and the English dub remains one of the best in the industry as its unique analysis of war and religion remains one of the few franchises to tackle sensitive subjects with taste. Creating an epic saga that spans multiple titles was an ambitious task, but Monolith was up to the task.

1 Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter

Breath of fire spent its first four entries feeling very similar to other turn-based JRPGs, but the first fully 3D title in the franchise took the series in an incredible new direction that hasn't been repeated since – and may never be again. Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter ditched the fantastical trappings that defined the previous entries, it instead takes place in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world where series protagonist Ryu must climb through a series of tunnels to rescue his friend Nina.

As the player climbs to the top and fights enemies, the D-Counter mechanic is introduced. When it reaches 100%, it's game over and the D-Counter is increased by powerful dragon attacks, punishing over-reliance on powerful magic. This is an exciting system that is also related to Quarter of dragons another unique system where the player can start over with their equipped items and weapons to lower the D-Counter. It's a tough game to wrap your head around, but committing to its amazing design philosophy can result in one of the most unique and rewarding gaming experiences of all time.