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[KàIRóS]

With the release of Romacing SaGa 2 remake and Ys X Nordics there have been a total of 14 JRPGs with an 80+ score making 2024 already the best year in history for Japanese RPGs when it comes to critic reviews, but what's even crazier is that there are still 3 games releasing in November and December with high chances of also getting an 80+ score: Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Dragon Quest 3 Remake and Fantasian Neo Dimension.

Here's the full list and the score:

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (94)
Metaphor: ReFantazio (93)
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (92)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (89)
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door Remake (88)
Persona 3 Reload (87)
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (87)
Dragon's Dogma 2 (86)
Unicorn Overlord (86)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak (84)
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island (84)
Romancing SaGa 2 Revenge of the Seven (81)
Ys X: Nordics (81)
Granblue Fantasy: Relink (80)

Best Games This Year - Metacritic

Metacritic aggregates music, game, tv, and movie reviews from the leading critics. Only Metacritic.com uses METASCORES, which let you know at a glance how each item was reviewed.

www.metacritic.com

The list gets even bigger if we include more genres and other Asian games but I don't want to rub too much salt in the wound of woke western devs this year

 

[March Climber]

 

[londontko]

The last good jrpg was dragon quest 11

 

[Salz01]

I want more….

 

[Jinzo Prime]

It ain't even over yet:

Edit: Oh, you already mentioned them in the first post, whoops

RPG of the Year is going to be a bloodbath.

 

[Guilty_AI]

you forgot the star of the show

 

[IAmRei]

you forgot the star of the show

is there any colored version?

 

[adamsapple]

Sega is the heavy hitter in that list.

 

[Guilty_AI]

is there any colored version?

not that i know of

 

[Skifi28]

The last good jrpg was dragon quest 11

Come grandpa, let's get you to bed.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

For sure.

Getting excited to play Japanese games in a long time.

Unicorn Overlord, Metaphor both are in the queue.

 

[Deerock71]

The last good jrpg was dragon quest 11

That one's a classic, but you're wrong. So wrong.

 

[hemo memo]

It ain't even over yet:

Edit: Oh, you already mentioned them in the first post, whoops

RPG of the Year is going to be a bloodbath.

Obviously between Metaphor and FF7Rebirth

 

[StylishMGTOW]

The last good jrpg was dragon quest 11

I'd agree with you, if it weren't for the brain-busting music. Shit'll get you insane.

 

[yet_another_alt]

is there any colored version?

If there was, GAF would have cried DEI already.

 

[Cakeboxer]

Is Metacritic 80+ really a seal of qualitiy?
Halo Infinite, Spider-Man 2, HFW, Starfield, GOW2, Hellblade 2 etc. are all 80+ and people act like they're absolute trash and the biggest disappointment in gaming history.

 

[Danjin44]

This year was absolutely fantastic for JRPGs and so far both Unicorn Overlord and Metaphor are my GOTY easily.

 

[Kronark]

Alright I'll be that guy. Are Elden Ring and Dragon's Dogma 2 really JRPGs?

Yes they are Japanese developed games but that was never really why that term existed. JRPG in the 90s / 2000s usually denoted by turn based combat, heavily linear story, etc. Turn based combat has gone away partially but the overall themes and linear story progression of these titles hasn't changed too much. Elden Ring is an Action / Adventure title with some very minor RPG like stat aspects assigned to combat. Whatever loose RPG structure / elements it has seem closer to a western RPG anyway. Elden Ring is closer to a Zelda title than it is an RPG. Dragon's Dogma is literally Itsuno's attempt at a Japanese dev making a western RPG.

With that said I generally agree with the OP this has been a pretty dope year for JRPGs with 3 big Atlus releases, Infinite Wealth, and Rebirth alone.

 

[daclynk]

 

[The Shepard]

It's become my favourite genre since owning a Portal so I've being eating good this year. Only downside is finding the time to play them.

 

[Klosshufvud]

Surprised nobody has claimed that Elden Ring is not JR-

Alright I'll be that guy. Are Elden Ring and Dragon's Dogma 2 really JRPGs?

Yes they are Japanese developed games but that was never really why that term existed. JRPG in the 90s / 2000s usually denoted by turn based combat, heavily linear story, etc. Turn based combat has gone away partially but the overall themes and linear story progression of these titles hasn't changed too much. Elden Ring is an Action / Adventure title with some very minor RPG like stat aspects assigned to combat. Whatever loose RPG structure / elements it has seem closer to a western RPG anyway. Elden Ring is closer to a Zelda title than it is an RPG. Dragon's Dogma is literally Itsuno's attempt at a Japanese dev making a western RPG.

With that said I generally agree with the OP this has been a pretty dope year for JRPGs with 3 big Atlus releases, Infinite Wealth, and Rebirth alone.

And there it is. Elden Ring is as much, if not even more Role Playing than most turn based JRPGs. Mind you that the original FF game was also heavily inspired by the western RPGs of that time. I think you can go back and forth eternally for where source of inspiration lies but the argument quickly becomes circular and sort of dull. If a game is Japanese made and it's RPG, then it's a JRPG. Likewise I find it stupid saying any turn-based game with emphasis on story is a JRPG. Child of Light for instance, is not JRPG.

 

[Robb]

 

[Sept Terrion Of Nothing]

I don't know why but I feel satisfaction most of the times when I play Japanese games (mostly JRPG). Maybe this happens because they really attend small details when producing the games.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Sega is the heavy hitter in that list.

As it should be. Dreamcast 2 believe.

 

[ap_puff]

Is Metacritic 80+ really a seal of qualitiy?
Halo Infinite, Spider-Man 2, HFW, Starfield, GOW2, Hellblade 2 etc. are all 80+ and people act like they're absolute trash and the biggest disappointment in gaming history.

Notice those are all Western games. Just sayin'.

 

[Bernardougf]

Japan and asia in general have all opportunity they need to progressively gain/regain market for the next years while the west devs are too busy doing knitting classes and fighting for the rainbow shooter market.

 

[Sakura]

Not a bad year, too bad so many are remakes/re-releases though.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Me munching my way through all these great JRPGs released in 2024.

 

[Kronark]

Surprised nobody has claimed that Elden Ring is not JR-


And there it is. Elden Ring is as much, if not even more Role Playing than most turn based JRPGs. Mind you that the original FF game was also heavily inspired by the western RPGs of that time. I think you can go back and forth eternally for where source of inspiration lies but the argument quickly becomes circular and sort of dull. If a game is Japanese made and it's RPG, then it's a JRPG. Likewise I find it stupid saying any turn-based game with emphasis on story is a JRPG. Child of Light for instance, is not JRPG.

If it's just a developer is from X or Y country thing then why even have a separate sub-genre at that point? Do we call Mario and Sonic J-Platformers where as Crash, Banjo, and Spyro are W-Platformers? Is Gran Turismo a J-Racing game while Forza is a W-Racing game? No of course not. Because there's no meaningful distinction between those games approaches and styles as a collective. The whole reason JRPG exists as a subgenre is because of a large collection of early NES / SNES / PS1 / PS2 RPGs from Japan. These games had a shared set of design characteristics that set them apart from western RPGs of the time (Like: Fallout, Ultima, Baulder's Gate, Elder Scrolls, etc) that had roots in things like DND. The most distinguishing characteristic is that JRPGs are traditionally extremely linear and don't let the character make many meaningful plot decisions or choices. The story is essentially a stage play you follow along with rather than shape. Turn based combat as well as themes and designs that parallel anime / manga are also common genre tropes but are not strict requirements for any given JRPG. A western developer is capable of making something that fits into the JRPG subgenre and a Japanese developer could make a western RPG because the distriction was never about race or region.

There is nothing about Elden Ring that is JRPG. At best you could argue it has character stats and extremely loose and vague quest systems that can determine the ending. These light RPG elements might technically qualify it as a western RPG in some ligher aspects sure... But I already said that in my previous post. The majority of the game though is exploration and action. At best it's primarily an Action / Adventure game with western RPG elements. It shares more in common with the Witcher 3 or Skyrim than it does Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Persona, Metaphor, etc and even then I'd argue it has way more in common with something like Zelda than western RPGs.

I will never understand how JRPG was a known and accepted gaming term for like 15-20 years and suddenly in the last few years everyone has decided it just means there was a Japanese developer involved and that it's a regional thing. Everyone in 2010 knew what you meant when you told them Final Fantasy or Xenosaga were JRPGs.

 

[winjer]

It's good that Asian studios are picking up the slack, while western studios are pumping out so much crap, otherwise, 2024 would have been a bad year for gaming.

 

[Wildebeest]

What does it mean anyway? When JRPGs were at their best, there was a trend in American game review land to shit on them and give them bad reviews because they thought they belonged in the past and people should grow out of them. But now an 80 is the absolute baseline score for a big release that you have to be some absolutely corrosively bad game to score less than.

 

[Guilty_AI]

And there it is. Elden Ring is as much, if not even more Role Playing than most turn based JRPGs. Mind you that the original FF game was also heavily inspired by the western RPGs of that time. I think you can go back and forth eternally for where source of inspiration lies but the argument quickly becomes circular and sort of dull. If a game is Japanese made and it's RPG, then it's a JRPG. Likewise I find it stupid saying any turn-based game with emphasis on story is a JRPG. Child of Light for instance, is not JRPG.

I'd say JRPG is any game with role playing elements that has typically eastern-asia artstyle and presentation, otherwise you'd have many korean, chinese (or even some western) games that are clearly JRPGs that can't be called as such for just not being japanese.

That'd also make Elden Ring not a JRPG as its visual-style and overall presentation clearly follow more western standards.

 

[CliffBronger]

My top 3 games this year are all Japanese. Metaphor,Persona 3,Infinite wealth.

The Japanese are on fire at the moment long may it continue.

 

[Kokoloko85]

Great year.
I think I’d take 1998, 1999 or 2000. Between 94-2001 was amazing. Same for 2D fighting games


1998- Final Fantasy Tactics
1998- Diablo
1998-Saga Frontier
1998- Breath of Fire III
1998- Blaze & Blade: Eternal Quest (PAL)
1998- Azure Dreams
1998- Granstream Saga
1998- Kartia: Word of Fate
1998- Parasite Eve
1998- Dragon Seeds
1998- Tales of Destiny
1998- Xenogears
1998- Brave Fencer Musashi
1998- Brigandine
1998- Jade Cocoon
1998- Tactics Ogre
1998-Lunar: Silver Star Story JPN
Saturn:
Dec97-99-Grandia
1998- Dragon Force 2
1998- Shining Force 3 Part 2
1998- Panzer Dragoon Saga
1998 - Langrisser
1998- Sakurai Taisen


1999-Guardian's Crusade
1999- Legend of Legaia
1999- Monster Seed
1999- Shadow Madness
1999- Lunar Silver Star Story Complete
1999- Star Ocean: Second Story
1999-Final Fantasy VIII
1999-Suikoden II
1999- Final Fantasy Anthology
1999- Grandia
1999- Thousand Arms
1999- Shadow Tower
1999- Chocobo's Dungeon 2
1999-Koudelka
1999- Vandal Hearts II

2000- Saga Frontier 2
2000- Alundra 2
2000- Front Mission 3
2000- Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
2000- Vanguard Bandits
2000- Wild Arms 2
2000- Vagrant Story
2000-Digimon World
2000-Legend of Mana
2000-Legend of Dragoon
2000-Threads of Fate
2000-Chrono Cross
2000-Valkyrie Profile
2000-Parasite Eve 2
2000-RPG Maker
2000-Dragon Valor
2000-Eternal Eyes
2000-Final Fantasy IX
2000-Torneko: The Last Hope
2000-Harvest Moon: Back to Nature
2000-Breath of Fire IV
2000-Lunar II: Eternal Blue Complete
2000-Persona II: Eternal Punishment

 

[BadBreathOfTheWild]

I wish I could get into JRPGs as there are so many highly rated ones. I wish I could have some kind of brain surgery to cauterise whatever part of my frontal lobe tells me they’re cringe and scratchy looking.

 

[Klosshufvud]

If it's just a developer is from X or Y country thing then why even have a separate sub-genre at that point? Do we call Mario and Sonic J-Platformers where as Crash, Banjo, and Spyro are W-Platformers? Is Gran Turismo a J-Racing game while Forza is a W-Racing game? No of course not. Because there's no meaningful distinction between those games approaches and styles as a collective. The whole reason JRPG exists as a subgenre is because of a large collection of early NES / SNES / PS1 / PS2 RPGs from Japan. These games had a shared set of design characteristics that set them apart from western RPGs of the time (Like: Fallout, Ultima, Baulder's Gate, Elder Scrolls, etc) that had roots in things like DND. The most distinguishing characteristic is that JRPGs are traditionally extremely linear and don't let the character make many meaningful plot decisions or choices. The story is essentially a stage play you follow along with rather than shape. Turn based combat as well as themes and designs that parallel anime / manga are also common genre tropes but are not strict requirements for any given JRPG. A western developer is capable of making something that fits into the JRPG subgenre and a Japanese developer could make a western RPG because the distriction was never about race or region.

There is nothing about Elden Ring that is JRPG. At best you could argue it has character stats and extremely loose and vague quest systems that can determine the ending. These light RPG elements might technically qualify it as a western RPG in some ligher aspects sure... But I already said that in my previous post. The majority of the game though is exploration and action. At best it's primarily an Action / Adventure game with western RPG elements. It shares more in common with the Witcher 3 or Skyrim than it does Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Persona, Metaphor, etc and even then I'd argue it has way more in common with something like Zelda than western RPGs.

I will never understand how JRPG was a known and accepted gaming term for like 15-20 years and suddenly in the last few years everyone has decided it just means there was a Japanese developer involved and that it's a regional thing. Everyone in 2010 knew what you meant when you told them Final Fantasy or Xenosaga were JRPGs.

Yes I'd prefer if we'd just call them Japanese-made RPGs. The same way we do with everything else. JRPG is a reductive term that put needless limitations on what a Japanese RPG can be. Those set design characteristics from the 90's exist in very few JRPGs today. You mentioned Final Fantasy, but by your own criteria (turn-based role play with linear story), neither FFXV or FF7R can be considered a JRPG. Which is silly really since they're still role playing games.

If the definition is purely linear/non-linear story, then what prevents other Japanese games such as MGS being called JRPGs? If the definition is pure linear storytelling on top of pure turn-based gameplay, that would exclude a ton of Japanese RPGs that even you consider JRPGs.

Everything about Elden Ring is a JRPG. It's a Japanese Role Playing Game in every sense of that phrase. You have complete freedom to actually ROLE PLAY and an elaborate stats system (far more elaborate than the typical turn-based JRPG mind you) is just further indication of this, not to mention its various classes, elementals etc etc. This is nothing like Witcher 3 or Ass Creed where the RPG mechanics in those games are extremely barebones and just something to make the action gameplay feel a bit more varied.

The issue is when JRPGs themselves evolve and grow past the simple notion of "turn-based linear story game" and suddenly decades old JRPG series can no longer be considered JRPG. Final Fantasy being the best example of this. Hell even the ATB system of the PS1 FF games makes me doubt if one would be able to call them pure JRPGs in the term you use. See how stupid it becomes when you try to create a genre that in reality doesn't exist? What we have is dozen of different types of storytelling and gameplay mechanics, all having the common characteristics of being made in Japan and being role playing games. Metaphor for instance is world's apart from FF7 Rebirth and world's apart from Xenosaga in terms of storytelling and mechanics.

 

[KungFucius]

Alright I'll be that guy. Are Elden Ring and Dragon's Dogma 2 really JRPGs?

Yes they are Japanese developed games but that was never really why that term existed. JRPG in the 90s / 2000s usually denoted by turn based combat, heavily linear story, etc. Turn based combat has gone away partially but the overall themes and linear story progression of these titles hasn't changed too much. Elden Ring is an Action / Adventure title with some very minor RPG like stat aspects assigned to combat. Whatever loose RPG structure / elements it has seem closer to a western RPG anyway. Elden Ring is closer to a Zelda title than it is an RPG. Dragon's Dogma is literally Itsuno's attempt at a Japanese dev making a western RPG.

With that said I generally agree with the OP this has been a pretty dope year for JRPGs with 3 big Atlus releases, Infinite Wealth, and Rebirth alone.

I was going to say that too, but the title is Japanese RPGs which it is, not JRPGs. ER and DD2 are western style Japanese-developed RPGs. I am not really sure what a JRPG is anymore. Older Final Fantasy games are JRPGs, the newer ones not so much.

Another issue here is the amount of remasters/rereleases on the list. Those aren't really 2024 games. If you are a hardcore fan of JRPGs you will have already played those ages ago.

 

[Kronark]

Yes I'd prefer if we'd just call them Japanese-made RPGs. The same way we do with everything else. JRPG is a reductive term that put needless limitations on what a Japanese RPG can be. Those set design characteristics from the 90's exist in very few JRPGs today. You mentioned Final Fantasy, but by your own criteria (turn-based role play with linear story), neither FFXV or FF7R can be considered a JRPG. Which is silly really since they're still role playing games.

If the definition is purely linear/non-linear story, then what prevents other Japanese games such as MGS being called JRPGs? If the definition is pure linear storytelling on top of pure turn-based gameplay, that would exclude a ton of Japanese RPGs that even you consider JRPGs.

Everything about Elden Ring is a JRPG. It's a Japanese Role Playing Game in every sense of that phrase. You have complete freedom to actually ROLE PLAY and an elaborate stats system (far more elaborate than the typical turn-based JRPG mind you) is just further indication of this, not to mention its various classes, elementals etc etc. This is nothing like Witcher 3 or Ass Creed where the RPG mechanics in those games are extremely barebones and just something to make the action gameplay feel a bit more varied.

The issue is when JRPGs themselves evolve and grow past the simple notion of "turn-based linear story game" and suddenly decades old JRPG series can no longer be considered JRPG. Final Fantasy being the best example of this. Hell even the ATB system of the PS1 FF games makes me doubt if one would be able to call them pure JRPGs in the term you use. See how stupid it becomes when you try to create a genre that in reality doesn't exist? What we have is dozen of different types of storytelling and gameplay mechanics, all having the common characteristics of being made in Japan and being role playing games. Metaphor for instance is world's apart from FF7 Rebirth and world's apart from Xenosaga in terms of storytelling and mechanics.

Again I ask if an RPG is a JRPG just because Japan made it, why use the term at all? What value does it have? We don't separate any other genre along that line. There's no such thing as an American Shooter or British-Shooter game. JRPG became a specific subgenre because of a large number of RPG games from Japan that had similar elements and design. It's a useful term that describes a real set of games that are like each other. Genres like this pop up in other fields as well such as the term French House in regards to music. We don't use other country names for house music but France specifically stood out as having a unique style that was common amoung many artists in the region, thus the sub-genre earned it's name.

FF7R and FFXV are JRPGs because they fit into the highly linear story dynamic and anime design genre tropes, there is no real choice in those stories. At most you might get dialog options that at the end of the day route to the same place and just add a slight amount of flavour text. Even the side quests in those titles are linear. As I said before turn based combat has become a looser element but a lot of games in the sub-genre are still turn based and it is a common element of the sub-genre. Infinite Wealth, SMT5:V, Metaphor, Persona 3 Reload, Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door, Dragon Quest 3, and probably a few others from the OP's list are all turn based and it's a staple of the sub-genre even if it's not a hard requirement. None of the crieria I've listed are hard requirements either but instead a soft list of commonalities that identify traits a game has.

MGS isn't an RPG because it doesn't have any common RPG elements to it's combat or gameplay systems. There's no stats, character progression, etc. JRPG is a sub-genre of RPGs and would of course imply there are a set of common elements between western and japanese RPGs. I was not trying to make any arguement that linear story = JRPG because that would also be a useless term / criteria.

Again Elden Ring does not hold itself to any JRPG genre tropes or commonalities. While it has fixed lore, it does not have a linear story with player actions causing different questline outcomes and the game itself having multiple endings. It does not play heavily into any anime genre tropes or designs. It does not have turn based combat. I agree it has light RPG elements but none of them are JRPG tropes or commonalities.

Also I dislike the region locking of these terms because there are Japanese developed games that firmly belong in the WRPG camp and western developed games that firmly belong in the JRPG camp. Look at Sea of Stars for example. That game was made in Quebec but it emulates a lot of JRPG tropes and fits firmly into the subgenre. I would even argue something like Undertale leans heavily into the JRPG sub-genre. If Japan were to suddenly create a wave of similar RPGs with new design commonalities I could see the label changing to "Classic JRPG" or something else entirely to make way for the new sub-genre but there's been no such wave of games and no reason to change the terminology.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

The last good jrpg was dragon quest 11

It was a boring slog.

 

[Days like these...]

Great year.
I think I’d take 1998, 1999 or 2000. Between 94-2001 was amazing. Same for 2D fighting games


1998- Final Fantasy Tactics
1998- Diablo
1998-Saga Frontier
1998- Breath of Fire III
1998- Blaze & Blade: Eternal Quest (PAL)
1998- Azure Dreams
1998- Granstream Saga
1998- Kartia: Word of Fate
1998- Parasite Eve
1998- Dragon Seeds
1998- Tales of Destiny
1998- Xenogears
1998- Brave Fencer Musashi
1998- Brigandine
1998- Jade Cocoon
1998- Tactics Ogre
1998-Lunar: Silver Star Story JPN
Saturn:
Dec97-99-Grandia
1998- Dragon Force 2
1998- Shining Force 3 Part 2
1998- Panzer Dragoon Saga
1998 - Langrisser
1998- Sakurai Taisen


1999-Guardian's Crusade
1999- Legend of Legaia
1999- Monster Seed
1999- Shadow Madness
1999- Lunar Silver Star Story Complete
1999- Star Ocean: Second Story
1999-Final Fantasy VIII
1999-Suikoden II
1999- Final Fantasy Anthology
1999- Grandia
1999- Thousand Arms
1999- Shadow Tower
1999- Chocobo's Dungeon 2
1999-Koudelka
1999- Vandal Hearts II

2000- Saga Frontier 2
2000- Alundra 2
2000- Front Mission 3
2000- Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
2000- Vanguard Bandits
2000- Wild Arms 2
2000- Vagrant Story
2000-Digimon World
2000-Legend of Mana
2000-Legend of Dragoon
2000-Threads of Fate
2000-Chrono Cross
2000-Valkyrie Profile
2000-Parasite Eve 2
2000-RPG Maker
2000-Dragon Valor
2000-Eternal Eyes
2000-Final Fantasy IX
2000-Torneko: The Last Hope
2000-Harvest Moon: Back to Nature
2000-Breath of Fire IV
2000-Lunar II: Eternal Blue Complete
2000-Persona II: Eternal Punishment

Agreed. Nothing can or will ever beat this period for jrpgs. I have the best memories of Grandia, Suikoden and Lunar

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

JRPG applies to RPGs with certain elements. Chinese or Korean RPGs are mostly JRPGs too.

FFVII remake and Rebirth aren't JRPGs IMO.

From games absolutely are. Shocking to read the opposite.

 

[Days like these...]

If the definition is purely linear/non-linear story, then what prevents other Japanese games such as MGS being called JRPG?

This is bad faith arguing and no one said a linear story is what makes a game a JRPG. Didn't bother with the rest of your word salad. It's obvious you have an agenda.

 

[Setsuna Mudou]

Again I ask if an RPG is a JRPG just because Japan made it, why use the term at all? .

Because it is different from WRPGs and CRPGS.
Because the main character has a 95% chance of starting the game with amnesia
Because most likely there will be a story that players care about more than the stats of the characters
Because the main villain of the story will be just as cool if not cooler than the main character
Because odds are the main character will have a mini harem of women throwing themselves at him for the whole story, while he stubbornly does not seem to notice or act on it until the very end
Because even though the main party is the last hope to save the kingdom/world/universe, the weapons merchant feels the need to make a 1300% profit on a short sword before a big fight
Because although there are about 7 to 9 characters in the party, somehow every fight needs to allow only 3 or 4 of them to have a go at the enemy
Because sword beats axe, which beats spear, which beats cavalry which beats swords. Somehow bow really really beats flying and magic beats everyone
Because when you get killed in battle, there are potions and herbs that can revive someone, but if someone dies in a cutscene, then the same potions and herbs stop working all of a sudden
Because there's a good chance your childhood friend will betray you and become the top henchman for the final boss
Because even though the main character barely says a word, his charisma leads war heroes and top generals to follow him without question, even after knowing him for only a few minutes.

I could go on, but you get the point

 

[Sanepar]

Thx god we have japanese games!

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

It's been a loooong time coming, but yeah, it feels like we're back... even though that list is extremely generous in how it qualifies JRPGs.

I'm extremely happy with the current state of the genre - it feels like you've got games that are lighthearted, darker, weeb-centric, grandiose - whatever you're looking for, there's probably something cool that's out there right now. Except for like... a Xenogears equivalent, but you can't have it all.

 

[StereoVsn]

It’s certainly been a great time for RPGs.

My favorite games this year have been all Japanese.

Rebirth, Infinite Wealth, Unicorn Overlord, P3R, Vengeance were all great!

Edit: I haven’t gotten to Metpahor yet either. Still got to finish some of the above, lol.

 

[BennyBlanco]

There’s too many. I can’t keep up. I really wanna play Metaphor but I had to prioritize my boy Adol.

 

[namenotfound]

So many that by the time you finish one, one that you've missed is in a deep sale. SaGa 2 remake is the only one I bought release date and that was $40 off green man gaming. Infinite Wealth already going down to 50% Steam 55% off GMG

 

[Kasane89]

And metacritic numbers still dont matter. Nowadays every single port or remake gets counted as a new game. the 6th console gen had way better years

 

[Sanepar]

Granblue fantasy has an end? Is it worth play solo only for the story?