21. Lost Odyssey – Azza
An elusive classic
Lost Odyssey is one of those games that is so brilliant it’s a crime not to have played it. Widely regarded as the game that Final Fantasy XIII should have been, Lost Odyssey has you playing as an immortal man named Kaim who’s trying to rediscover who he is while trying to stop the main villain, Gongora, alongside other Immortal people.
The combat system is a clever, interactive turn-based system that keeps you from twiddling your thumbs as you watch combat play out. It’s not quite a quick time event, but it works just the same. I also think that the magic system is really varied, with AoE magic and single-target both being equally viable. The equipment system mainly revolves around the use of rings to create unique builds to smash your enemies. Generally, you can get by without investing in this system too much; however, if you choose to invest the time and effort, you can become near unstoppable.
Pour one out for the homies waiting for a remake that might never come
The characters are fascinating and diverse, from the cringe and sometimes creepy Jansen to the charming and charismatic Seth. You will find a character to bond with throughout the story. The plot of the story is great, with plenty of emotional and hilarious moments to cry and laugh at.
Overall, the game is awesome, and while it has aged a little mechanically, it’s still sound to play, and it’s easily one of the best JRPGs ever made. The fact that this game was exclusive to the Xbox 360 is unfortunate because it deserved a wider audience. If you’ve played games similar to the Dragon Quest series or Final Fantasy, give this a go; it’s a must-play!
Fun fact, the game is 4 discs big!
22. Octopath Traveller – Azza
“I like 2D games but not that 2D”, said somebody in SquareEnix HQ
Octopath Traveller is a solid JRPG that, although rough around the edges, is still enjoyable. With a unique 2.5D art style and very aptly sized open world, there is plenty to see and do. The characters have interesting abilities to use in towns and cities, such as challenging villagers to fights or persuading them to give you useful information.
I enjoy experimenting with subclasses and seeing how I can manipulate the battle system. I found that a thief/apothecary has been my favourite so far, allowing for a character to be self-sustaining throughout the fight. It allows for an excellent balance of damage and healing. There are even extra classes to obtain if you’re brave and strong enough to fight for them in optional dungeons.
Sticking to the eightfold path
Each of the characters has their own stories to tell, half of them are very well done. Others are pretty weak and lacking in themes and substance. Therion’s and Olberic’s stories are the ones I enjoyed the most.I am looking forward to playing through Octopath II as it looks as though its improved over the original. I also look forward to checking out Octopath 0 when that releases in December. Overall, I recommend the game, so go play it!
(“Octopath II is the better game, it’s self-contained, has characters that defy the expectations of their professions, and more mechanically interesting combat options. Despite that, you will probably appreciate it more having played the first Octopath” – Dave, certified Octopath enjoyer and perpetual listicle entry victim)
23. Custom Robo – Kane
Cool robot media never quite loses its lustre
Custom Robo Arena isn’t the JRPG you play for a unique or deep story. This is the same toy anime-style plot that we’ve seen for years. You wake up the morning of your first day in a new school and get given your first Custom Robo as a gift from your parents. From there, you proceed to dominate in school tournaments, fight off criminals, and turn out to be the most naturally talented Custom Robo fighter the other characters have ever seen. So yeah, not a very deep or unique story. But that’s not why you should play the game.
The real selling point here is the combat, where you take direct control of your custom robo in fast-paced, chaotic action battles that bring to mind fighting games like Power Stone. The difference here is that your capabilities in combat aren’t down to picking a character, but down to how you build your bot. You can swap out your main body, your legs, your jetpack, and your weapons. All of which will have a profound effect on your chances of winning. Jumping around arenas, dodging your opponent’s attacks, and weaving between the obstacles offering you cover combine into a fun and engaging robot-battling experience.
24. Enchanted Arms – Kane
Featuring a talented Saxophonist
This might be a hard sell, especially if you’re sensitive to awkward voice acting. But if you can enjoy making fun of that and have a taste for a more tactical battle system, I think you’ll have a grand time here.
There’s a surprising amount of systems all working in tandem here. Besides the main battle system, which comprises moving around a gridded battlefield and each ability having a certain range in the grid, you also have a pretty fleshed-out monster-raising mechanic. This system allows you to create, train and evolve golems that are a large part of the world’s lore and use them as party members in combat.
The story, once you get past the voice acting, is actually pretty engaging, with some genuinely emotional character moments throughout. You play as Atsuma, a student at Enchant University in Yokohama City. Singled out as different for his lack of ability at Enchanting, he has instead learnt to fight through sheer strength. While skipping class one day, a disaster hits the city, and Atsuma finds himself alone. Now looking for his lost friends, he journeys across the world with a party of companions and golems, fighting against the machinations of an ancient evil.
25. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: The 7th Stand User – Dave
Yes, this game is a Jojo’s reference
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a long-running manga and anime series where quirky casts of lavishly designed characters with strange abilities explore and battle their way through even stranger goings-on. This often culminates in a deathmatch against a man whose powers make them an affront to God. Rightfully, several fighting games have been made based on it. Unfortunately, no studio has really attempted to explore a JJBA RPG.
Fortunately, Claymannendo was able to step up to the plate with their non-profit fangame, The 7th Stand User. It’s set in an alternate version of the series’ third part, Stardust Crusaders, and features a 16-bit style and MIDI soundtrack that evokes the 1980s setting.
The game cleverly takes advantage of the lore to let you play as an original character who can approach the story with 18 different stands (psychic apparitions with a unique superpower). Which stand you pick at the beginning, as well as whether you choose to pivot away from the events of the standard SC story, can lead to massively different outcomes. Replayability and a commitment to fanservice make this entry stand out as a labour of love.
26. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – Kane
Ghibli Miyazaki is the Dark Souls of Miyazakis
If the dream team of the 90s made Chrono Trigger, then Ni No Kuni was 100% made by the dream team of the 2010s. I remember hearing this get announced, and I was pretty damn excited. It was marketed as an epic JRPG from the beloved Level 5, but with design and cutscenes created by Studio Ghibli. And that’s exactly what we got. Originally released on DS, an enhanced version was later released on PS3. This version is the basis for all future releases.
Ni-No-Kuni follows the story of Oliver, a young lad with tragedy at his back, as he embarks on an adventure to another world. Not alone in this, he is accompanied by his little friend Drippy, a fairy, Lord High Lord of the Fairies in fact, with quite possibly the best voice I’ve ever heard given to an RPG character.
The combat gameplay is typical but solid JRPG fare with a familiar-taming mechanic that sees you recruiting and training some of the cute creatures you meet along the way. Outside of battle, you use your powers to fix the hearts of others by finding and giving their missing emotions back. Healing is a significant theme here, as Oliver discovers that by healing others, he begins to heal himself. Supported by a colourful cast of characters, animation that lives up to the reputation of Studio Ghibli, and awe-inspiring music by Joe Hisaishi, Ni No Kuni is an absolute classic.
27. NieR: Automata – Riley
Calling these robots slurs would especially reflect badly on your character
Being a spin-off of a spin-off and still being as good as NieR: Automata is a tall order, one that Yoko Taro succeeded with. Automata is just as crazy as it is heartfelt, taking place in a post-apocalyptic Earth overrun with alien robots that hunt down and kill humans. Going any further into the story would spoil both its absurdity and its brilliance, but if androids fighting robots to save humanity sounds appealing, then you know where to go.
Gameplay-wise, it wears many hats but is primarily a standard Platinum Games hack-and-slash, with bullet hell elements to help spice it up. But, it is also a platformer, a mech flyer, an arcade shooter and many more you’ll find spruced along the path. The music is beautiful, and the lyrical theme ‘Weight of the World’ is a highlight of gaming soundtracks in general. But the music that accompanies you around the world and in battle is an experience I am not likely to forget.
NieR: Automata is a great package that will make you existential, sad and cry whilst also making you laugh and feel a fondness towards the world’s NPCs. It’s mechanically satisfying, the set pieces are phenomenal, and the different androids’ stories are all deep and nuanced in their own way. It’s definitely a standout among games, and I implore you to play it.
28. The Last Remnant – Azza
Just as no Final Fantasy is final, the Last Remnant is the first
The Last Remnant is one of the more difficult games to learn on this list. The combat system isn’t explained very well, and the start of the game can be tough if you don’t grind in the opening sections of the game. However, with that being said, once you get past the opening sections and get a grasp of the combat system, the game is fun and rewarding.
With lots of quests and monsters to hunt, the game has a lot to offer. The level of depth in the combat is surprising, and the customisation made available to you when making your squads is great. The levelling system isn’t your traditional affair either, with incremental stat upgrades being earned after each battle, so your teams consistently get stronger and stronger.
Esoteric, but cool
The story is somewhat generic, but it’s servicable and the characters do have the typical Square-style personalities you would have come to enjoy. If you like that sort of thing.
If you are going to give The Last Remnant a go, I would suggest playing the remaster over the Xbox 360 version. Purely because of the known framerate issues the game has. If you do insist on playing the Xbox 360 version, though, installing the game helps to mitigate these problems a lot.
29. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Dave
Please don’t call any genuine AI slurs, they might become Digimon one day 🙁
The two Cyber Sleuth games are among some of the best Digimon JRPGs yet. The franchise has toyed with the idea of humans and digimon cooperating on a societal level many times, but these games put you in the shoes of a private detective/hacker, which leads to some interesting (and one or two problematic) interactions.
Besides that, it’s got a solid soundscape, character designs by the Durarara guy, and… digimon. There’s a decent amount of available mons, and the combination of starter mons, digivolution requirements, and type disadvantages all conspire to gently nudge you to explore less saturated species. The level designs and some missions can be samey, but some of the boss battles provide some memorable spectacles.
I personally prefer Hacker’s Memory, but I think it’s easier to appreciate it with the context from the original Cyber Sleuth. That’s why I would suggest getting The Complete Edition, which includes both. As good as they are, though, I’m fairly certain the upcoming Time Stranger will really take the cake.
30. Tales of Game’s Presents Chef Boyardee’s Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa – Dave
This is the second game on this list to feature that guy from Deep Purple on its soundtrack
A (fan-made and unofficial) sequel to both the sports game Barkley, Shut Up and Jam and Space Jam, Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden tells the story of NBA legend Charles Barkley in a world where he let his pursuit of GOAT status consume him. A cataclysmic “Chaos Dunk” destroyed New York. From its ashes rises a dystopian future where basketball is outlawed and the populace lives in fear of the terrorist organisation B.L.O.O.D.M.O.S.E.S.
This is an incredibly unserious game, but it does serve as an interesting time capsule of where the gamer community was at a decade ago. It’s relatively short, irreverent, and features quick-time events and action commands, diabetes monsters, and a community of subterranean body-modified furries. What is also notable is that it is the only JRPG with a predominantly Black cast, and the main character is an unambiguously awful person. It’s got it all.
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