For decades, JRPGs have been some of the most popular games on all consoles, setting the tone and standard for what narrative-focused titles can achieve. Some JRPG series in particular command great respect because they have long and consistently attracted fans across dozens of titles and consoles.
But whether it's a flashy action JRPG or a slower-paced narrative title, some titles can accumulate so much lore across all of their titles (and even about just one!) that it can be difficult to keep track. Very difficult. It's impossible. For players who want the challenge of figuring out what's going on in the story rather than the combat in a JRPG, here are a few games and series that stand out.
Spoiler alert: Major plot elements are explored in several entries on this list.
5 Shin Megami Tensei 5: Revenge
Sci-fi, fantasy, mythology… simulation?
One of the many ways is Shin Megami Tensei 5: Revenge A direct upgrade over its predecessor is presented in the story. The main cast now has a lot more personality, and the story feels more coherent, with only a few points standing out as odd, such as a small detour to an armored area filled with Egyptian gods. But between the latest iteration of the Atlus remake girl, her tone-deaf recitation of car death statistics, and at least three phallic-shaped demons to fight in the game, players may be wondering… what's really going on?
So, does Nahobinoh not only have the knowledge that all humans have (knowledge of the Biblical tree of life), but he also has the power of God? Well, because the gods before they lost their knowledge are demons without it. So Nahovino is like before all demons were demons, but now only the true capital 'G' God has this power and Nahovino must either restore humanity's connection to this God or return the knowledge to some demons. , a person who wants to become a god. And Tokyo is a simulation. The president and his younger brother are both Japanese gods who run an urban magic simulation, and the president's younger brother fuses with the protagonist to turn him into Nahobino… Are you taking notes?
4 Nier: Automata
Sequel to a spin-off with a varied history
while Nier: AutomataOn the surface, it doesn't ask the player much to understand the story and truly absorb the narrative. Players must understand all the media pieces that come together to form the canon of the story, and must play the entire story twice (after obtaining endings A and B) to continue the story in interesting ways (ending C). to achieve). But that doesn't mean the game is a slog. It has some truly outstanding combat, and the story is one of the best seen in the industry today.
but, Nier: AutomataThe context of is based on something much older. Drakengard line stratagem. in other words, Drakengard 1 (For PlayStation 2) and Drakengard 3, came out in 2013 near and Nier Automata). Drakengard 2 sort of dark souls 2 of Drakengard The series is doing its own thing in terms of legends, in that many players simply don't like it. There are also many novels and even Japanese musicals. automata This is very important to truly understand what is happening.
3 Kingdom Hearts 3
Putting Goofy in this game didn't make the story flow smoothly.
so, Kingdom Hearts 3. There is a lot to unpack here. It's important to remember that this is a fantastic game series that generally has a good, hopeful tone, but also has a story full of all kinds of surprising twists and turns, with the information being grouped in a non-sequential order, which makes things even more difficult. gather together
There are bad guys disguised as good guys, and when the good guys take revenge on the bad guys by using identity theft, they go too far. become Bad guys. There are characters from the third game who are important to the first game, MacGuffins, fake MacGuffins, and fake MacGuffins disguised as the real thing. All of this comes together to make for a great, if confusing, story, but it can still be a headache to keep track of everything, even for fans who have played every game.
2 final fantasy 13
A great sci-fi fantasy mix that's a little hard to follow.
final fantasy It's complicated because it's a series. There are so many titles in the series, some are intrinsically linked, but most of them have absolutely nothing to do with each other and can be played in any order. final fantasy 13 It is a standalone title that incorporates some story beats from other games, including a huge city with an oppressive government and a main character fighting against this government. It's very final fantasy 7 In this way, but with a very different aesthetic.
There are floating cities and cocoons that keep them safe. But it is a metaphorical cocoon, and the corrupt theocracy that rules it has branded political enemies as heretics, stolen the protagonist's sister, and made her a servant to the godlike being within the cocoon. There are fairies who control life, but Cocoon also controls various aspects of life… but in an evil way. There's a lot to follow, but once players are wrapped up in the story (even if they're cocooned?), they have to see it through to the end.
1 Tactics Ogre: Reborn
A classic SRPG with little preface.
Rounding out this list is a whopping third Square Enix title (they seem to have a passion for intricate lore). Tactics Ogre: Reborn is one of those JRPGs where most of the plot revolves around a large-scale war that consumes a nation. These plots are usually not that difficult to follow in JRPGs. Even in the same case Triangle Strategy — Where enemies and allies are constantly changing and battles rage on more than one front, showing players who's in the setting and where they go from there helps them quickly become interested and invested in the story.
tactical ogre It seems like this has been reversed. The player knows nothing about the setting and everything about the war. Golghashtani is fighting against the player's nation, and the player is aided by a third group of nations who are actually mercenaries who do not belong to their homeland, and whose captain has the same name and build as the legendary Dark Knight. Commander of Golghastani, my God, the tutorial battle hasn't even started yet. Please slow down, Square Enix!
