10 Awesome Turn-Based JRPGs For Gamers Who Don't Like High-Fantasy
Some RPG fans do not enjoy the typical high fantasy setting associated with the genre, so they may have a good time with the ten games listed below.
Turn-based RPGs are not on top of the world the way they once were, although plenty of great titles utilizing the style still come out. Many gamers love the battle systems and its many variations, but are not enamored with the high fantasy setting these games often use for their stories.
Fortunately, a bunch of games exist in the genre which are set in different environments, whether they be science fiction or set in areas reminiscent of the real world. Because of their rarity, most of them stick out. Some of these are old, but they are still worthwhile even in the modern gaming landscape.
10 Phantasy Star IV
The original four Phantasy Star games are incredibly influential JRPGs, but the fourth entry in particular stands out as one of the best turn-based RPGs ever made. It is shorter than most of its brethren, coming it at about twenty hours, but not a single moment is wasted during the adventure. The adventure takes gamers to numerous planets as they work to save the universe.
9 Xenogears
Xenogears' story turns dark almost immediately, with the main character accidentally destroying his town with a mech within an hour of the journey's beginning. From there, it is a wild journey unraveling the mystery of the character's past. Battles happen in two modes, traditional human party to monster combat, and then combat in Xenogears, giant mechs. Director Tetsuya Takahashi would later go on to form Monolith Software, known for the Xenoblade Chronicles series and their work on Breath of the Wild.
8 Final Fantasy VII
What is there to say about this seminal RPG that hasn't already been said? It did not only revolutionize the genre from a design perspective, but it also popularized the JRPG in the west and was integral to Sony's success during the PlayStation's life.
Instead of feudal towns, players started off the adventure in a giant city run by an evil megacorporation. Even though Final Fantasy VII Remake is now a playable reality, the original still has value.
7 Persona 5
Sometimes spin-offs take on a whole life of their own, separate from the main series. In fact, many who play Persona 5 or other entries in the series may not realize its connection to the Megami Tensei. All entries in the series are separate, so there is no harm in starting with Persona 5. The game is part social simulation following a high school kid during a single school year in Tokyo, and part turn-based RPG.
6 Eternal Sonata
Eternal Sonata is probably more fantasy themed than most of the other games on the list, but the connection with music and the game taking place in a dream world still separates it from the typical fantasy fare. All the chapter titles are references to a Frederic Chopin composition, and the game takes place in the composer's head during his final living moments. Movement is an important part of the battling, making players consider where they attack in addition to what moves they use.
5 Parasite Eve
While Parasite Eve looks like a survival horror game on the surface, in reality it is a turn-based RPG taking place in Manhattan after Eve, sentient mitochondria, run amuck in Manhattan. It is extremely linear, so exploring the environment for supplies is vital to success in combat. It is also the sequel to a novel, so readers can explore the lore deeper if they so choose.
4 Xenosaga
After Xenogears but before Monolith Software and Xenoblade Chronicles, Tetsuya Takahashi made the Xenosaga trilogy for the PlayStation 2. The first game alone is a solid forty hours. The cinematics are also lengthy, rivaling those of Metal Gear Solid. The gameplay is linear, lacking side quests, so those looking for a more open adventure may want to look elsewhere like Xenoblade Chronicles.
3 Valkyria Chronicles
Valkyria Chronicles' is not quite the real world, but the environment takes heavy inspiration from Europe during World War II. The turn-based strategy title mixes in some aiming mechanics for a wholly unique battle system. The long bouts take place in large environments and one wrong move can make for a humiliating defeat. The main cast of characters are also all memorable, including the supporting roles like Rosie and Largo.
2 Super Mario RPG
While Super Mario is certainly a fantasy world, an RPG taking place in the Mushroom Kingdom and using the characters is a surefire recipe for success and a solid way to make a title in the genre standout. Even more than twenty years after release, fans are clamoring for characters like Geno and Mallow to return. Squaresoft, now Square Enix, helped with production on the game, ensuring it would have tight RPG mechanics.
1 Earthbound
One of the quirkiest RPGs ever made is also one of the hardest. The game takes place in a idyllic small town, though events quickly get weird as the town is visited by an alien. The adventure is filled with obscure pop culture references and obtuse puzzles. It is the second game in Nintendo's Mother series, whose third entry has yet to see a release in the west despite fans' desires.