JRPGs have thrived for over three decades now, with multiple watershed titles pushing the genre to new heights over the years. From Final Fantasy to Persona, we’re taking a look at the 10 best JRPG games ever made, to see which ones are worth playing in 2025 and beyond.

10. Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the best entry into the series so far. Its combat takes some real strides forward, and the focus on the story makes for the best Xenoblade Chronicles narrative yet. With over 150 hours of content here for the completionists out there, you can get truly lost in one of the best JRPG games on the market.

9. Kingdom Hearts

Combining Disney classics with the Final Fantasy formula, Kingdom Hearts remains one of the best JRPG games over two decades after its release. Instead of turn-based combat, Kingdom Hearts takes a hack-and-slash approach, which was unique to the genre at the time.

8. Final Fantasy VI

Early entries in the Final Fantasy series were great. However, Final Fantasy VI is the first time the series leaned into “masterpiece” territory. It perfected RPG systems that would become essential for other titles in the genre for years to come, which is why it remains one of the best JRPG games of all time.

7. Chrono Trigger

As Chrono Trigger approaches its 30th birthday, it’s time to appreciate one of the most influential video games ever made. Its inclusion of multiple endings and significant side quests that served to improve character development was considered to be revolutionary, and it’s hard to imagine that we’d have many of the other best JRPG games on this list without Chrono Trigger.

6. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

2017’s Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is designed like a much older JRPG game, with a traditional gameplay style you might expect to see in years gone by. However, the 3D graphics bring it into the modern era, although players can actually switch between 2D and 3D graphics while out of combat. It’s such a unique take on the genre that we had to include it here.

5. Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is a phenomenon. This free-to-play title puts players in an open-world environment, taking obvious inspiration from titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and allows them to explore the vast world around them. Genshin Impact continues to receive new content frequently, following the games-as-service model.

4. NieR: Automata

Hack-and-slash combat, flying mech battles, open-world exploration, shoot-’em-up sections, and text adventure twists – NieR: Automata has it all. If all of that sounds a little insane, you’d be right, but it makes for an absolute blast. It’s as subversive as it is crazy, which is why we think it’s among the best JRPG games ever made.

3. Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver

It’s easy to forget that Pokemon games are actually JRPGs. But they’re Japanese, they’re role-playing games, and they have a turn-based focus. That’s pretty JRPG to us. Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver are the best of the bunch, remaking the Generation 2 titles Gold and Silver with a fresh coat of paint.

2. Final Fantasy VII Remake

Final Fantasy VII Remake brings arguably the best title in the series into the modern era. With an expanded story and a massively improved battle system, Final Fantasy VII Remake is the definitive way to experience one of the best JRPG games of all time. It’s a franchise high that will take something seriously special to beat in years to come, and possibly Square Enix’s best ever title.

1. Persona 5 Royal

There is simply no better JRPG game than Persona 5 Royal. You play as a high school student called Joker, who joins a group called the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. After entering a supernatural realm, he must battle enemies known as Shadows using their Personas. With Persona 5 Royal, you get those classic JRPG elements, merged with dungeon-crawling gameplay while balancing social simulation situations. There’s a lot going on here, which is why Persona 5 Royal tops our list of the best JPG games ever made.