0:33 Skies of Arcadia 1:38 Paper Mario 2:34 Fire Emblem Awakening 3:40 Kingdom Hearts 2 4:47 Mother 3 5:42 Final Fantasy VI 6:44 Xenoblade Chronicles 7:46 Persona 5 Royal 8:48 Nier Automata 9:56 Chrono Trigger
I came here to say this. Not many people are familiar with the Suikoden series. Plus the ability to transer save data from game to game and it actually does something was awesome great soundtrack. Castke building and over 100 characters....my personal top 3.
This whole list could have just been PS1 JRPG's. Breath of Fire, Grandia, Jade Cocoon, Saga Frontier are personal faves, but the era had an endless number of them.
I'm so glad that this many years later, Chrono Trigger is still being recognized for its brilliance. I was just a boy when I first played the game and I recall (as a newbie to jrpg) just how captivating the game and its story was even as a child. It's one that left an impression on me and inspired a lot of the ways I like to tell stories and create characters. When it was re-released on playstation 1 bundled with FF4 (another one of my all-time favs) I got the feeling that others thought it was just as special as it was/is to me. A stellar game all around for any generation to pick up and play. Thanks for showing it love!
@@inquisitorichijou883 They really were. Best handheld RPG’s I’ve ever played. I was underwhelmed by Dark Dawn though, I’m unsure if I had just grown out of the series a little bit, or if it was just inferior in overall quality…
DQVIII was one of my favorites as well; played that to completion; best armor and weapons for all party members and all skills unlocked. We were unstoppable.
Starting with Skies of Arcadia was brilliant, a lot of fans of these kinds of games really want to see that one get more love. There is a lot of greatness in that 10. JRPG centric lists I don't see much on WhatCulture and I'd love to see more. I also understand that its a niche section of gaming but the fans are passionate as hell about them. If I was to make a second list like this, Trails series, Tales series and especially Dragon Quest would be in it as well. Thanks for doing one for these.
I've enjoyed Skies of Arkadia on both the Sega Dreamcast and the Nintendo Game Cube. I'd love it if it received a modern remake similar to the recent Final Fantasy 7 & Resident Evil games, as well as it also getting ported to PC. I'd also love the same treatment for the classic playstation game The Legend of Dragoon.
I remember I got that and star ocean 2 on the same day. Me and a friend played them simultaneously by the 2nd day he stopped l.o.l and we was both focused on so2. Lol is a good game but I'm not sure it would make top 10 PS1 RPGs for me
I appreciate that Xenoblade made its way on here, but after playing them all in order (which has taken several months), I really think 3 is the best of the bunch. The world feels much bigger than in the first two, and the characters are more interesting. But I recognize it's very tough to choose.
how do you feel about the second game? Xeno 1 is my fav game of all time but playing through Xeno 2 is taking me a long time because im not really a fan of the overly used anime stereotypes, and the voice acting is inconsistent. I really love some characters tho (but i dislike the fan service)
@@hugofernandes2347 I personally enjoy the eye candy without guilt, but I agree with you that one (two) of the hot girls has a horrible voice actor. But I can understand your perspective. Maybe just keep in mind that Japan is less worried about the male gaze and realistic representation? It's funny though how there are a few cutscenes when the female character is like "what are you looking at, pervert?" when she's wearing next to nothing. Anyway, I found it hard to get into the game at first because the tone was so much different from XC1, but once I finally clicked with the elemental orb combat system it became a lot more fun. It's also very rewarding late-game to see how the story connects with XC1. I suggest you try to power through a bit more before giving up on the game.
My Favorite 10/10 JRPG of All Time are 1. Persona 5 Royal 2. Persona 4 Golden 3. XenoBlade Chronicles 3 4. XenoBlade Chronicles Definitive Edition 5. Fire Emblem Three Houses 6. FF7 7. FF9 Lost Odyssey and Triangle Strategy i didn’t Finished but are MasterPieces So Far and FF6 Chrono Trigger and FF Tactics I didn’t Play
Pretty criminal to leave off FF7 when it not only was the game that sold the PlayStation, but that sold FF6 as well. FF7 not only has dwarfed 6 in sales, metacritic score, and fan following, but 6 largely owes its popularity to the lasting legacy that 7 had in blowing open the JRPG market in the West.
Yeah, Skies of Arcadia was a great game. I almost feels like it could fit in with the Xenoblade Chronicles series. I loved the sky-battles, exploration, battle-system and characters!
Recency bias be damned, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is my current ALL-TIME favorite game. No game EVER made me feel the way that did, in game, or in real life. Story was more gripping, combat was beautiful and fun, and the world looked fantastic. I can only hope and pray Rebirth surpasses it!
I feel like so many better games got left off due to age and the people making the list, Super Mario RPG is a game that was incredible when it came out and still is today if you can get the rom. Paper Mario doesn't exist with out Super Mario RPG.
My list, one game per series: 1. Final Fantasy IX 2. Tales of Symphonia 3. Chrono Trigger 4. Suikoden II 5. Fire Emblem The Sacred Stones 6. Shin Megami Tensei Persona 4 Golden 7. Xenogears 8. Dragon Quest XI 9. Radiant Historia 10. Tactics Ogre Let Us Cling Together
@@derranzigeburger I have a copy of Skies of Arcadia: Legends, and it is one of my greatest treasures. Every day, I wish for an opportunity to play it again on new systems...
LoD is a Sony original. It's a given they ruined it (no sequel) like they did their other rpg series- Wild ARMs(putting in semi-RTS elements in the last two games.)
@@chadharger9323 was wild arms the cowboy themed rpg? I remember that game. It is a shame they forgot it too. For that matter I also remember summoner. That was a great game. Chronicles of Ayden was great too. Kingdom under fire was amazing and I haven't seen anything like it since. Sequels sucked
Good list and I also still have most of them but the one jrpg that is missing and would most likely take the top spot is Xenogears. Story, characters, music, and many more points make it truly an all in one supreme package. P.S: There is also Shadow Hearts 2. lol
@Shadowmyst1 no disagreement there, I just can't put a game in that state over a game that's competently assembled from start to finish like Chrono Trigger, or even FFVI, and I replay Xenogears every 2 or 3 years.
Wild Arms 3 is my personal top JRPG. The battle systems are top notch, even including vehicle battles like Arcadia, and has an amazing blink-and-you'll-miss-it revelation about the game world that still blows my mind.
I really hope that we get a Skies of Arcadia port on the Switch or whatever comes after that console. I loved that game and travelled every corner of it to get all the discoverable locations. I fell in love with Xenoblade so much, I bought the game 3 times on 3 different platforms.
If they're going to do a port, I think it would definitely be on the Switch. It's got so many good JRPGs now. The fact that they ported the Grandia collection, Chrono Cross and other classics has me hopeful.
Dude Capcom killed it in the 90s just in general. While I can't call it my favorite, that is definitely a great pic. I loved one little detail in particular, which was the voice acting for magic. When you cast "Typhoon" (assuming you learned it from Mygas as young ryu) the voice line is more gentle, but as adult Ryu it is very aggressive. And you can give it to other characters will skill ink to see how they say the incantation, "Se-za-gah!" (no clue how to actually spell what the heck they are saying, but that's what it sounds like lol) And the music from that game is top tier. Do Your Best is the best "random encounter" music I have heard to this day.
I am so glad they mention kingdom hearts 2. That game had no right to be that good with the fighting, drive forms, extra content, good endgame, and replayability. Needs to be on more lists
I feel like it would earn a spot if we were talking a whole franchise, because that world building is ridiculous and you can never really get a full scope with a single title
Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, and Skies of Arcadia? Likely my all time faves! And, even when I don’t have the time to play them, their soundtracks are a blast. You, Sy, are a man of taste!
Have you tried Chained Echoes? It's a new indie JRPG that takes a lot of inspiration from FFVI and Chrono Trigger. If you haven't checked it out, you definitely should. It's amazing.
@@madalice5134 I've heard about it, but I have quite a few games queued up. And, I might hold out for a Switch port. I DO have a tab about it open on my phone so I don't forget. Thanks for letting me know it's worth keeping in mind.
As much as I love ff6 I think the accessibility of 7 makes it better. I've played and love both so do not come at me. I love them both I just feel ff7 brought the genre to many more people.
@@antney7745 I actually prefer no minimap, makes you more immersed in what you are seeing imo. I kind of wish most games got rid of it in favour for compasses like Grandia 2 and Elden ring
Nothing quite like a game that sends you to the moon to defeat the space pope. It was a surprisingly common theme around that time. Cuz that's basically tales of symphonia as well
once again i am begging for people to stop ignoring lost odyssey for these kinds of lists. also as much as i love nier automata, it's one of my favourite games, is it really classed as a RPG? it think there's often a tendency to just call any japanese game that gets popular in the west a JRPG but automata is pretty light on RPG elements outside of collecting weapons which is also just a staple of the hack n slash genre
Nier Automata is a weird game to classify, you can considere it an Action-RPG due to it's progression and customization system as well as exploration, but the combat itself does indeed feel more like a Beat Them All similar to Metal Gear Rising and Bayonetta, the game also have some Shoot Them Up element with the Flying Unit and hacking part and even on foot in a way with all these ennemies shooting ton of bullet at you, and even have some Visual Novel sections. That being said it still was advertise as an Action RPG tough, but yeah this is my favorite game of all time, but I don't know if it could be put in a specific genre given it takes element of multiple genres and mix them together.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is my favorite game I’ve played in a long long time! I’ve never played the original, but fully intend to once the trilogy is done! I just got done playing Octopath Traveler II also, and the artstyle and music in it are absolutely incredible.
@@akiinmoonlight79 I don’t know why it didn’t show me your comment, but I 100% agree! I’m sure there’s purists who wouldn’t agree, but I’ve played Remake more than any other game in my entire life…..and also the fastest in succession. And Rebirth is easily my most anticipated game of all time.
Coming here to add my two cents as well. FF7R was incredible. The music always caught and kept my attention so many years ago with the original and I must say that Nobuo and his team of composers NAILED the musical aspect in the remake. Including some new themes not in the original (Check out Ghoul from the OST) Regardless man, appreciate this comment as I too am super pumped for Rebirth!
@@jessefelstead5058 Absolutely! I listen to the soundtrack every single day. My favorites from Remake would probably be Corneo Colosseum, Collapsed Expressway, and Midnight Rendezvous. But you can’t go wrong anywhere! Ghoul is really great too!!
For all the love it often gets, it's weird that Skies was only ever ported to the Game Cube. With retro RPG's being pretty popular these days you'd think it would get a more recent port on the Switch at least.
@JeremiahEcks777 right! The 2nd one is THE GOAT but each one has SOMETHING that blows my mind and they always and I mean ALWAYS keep me coming back. I've yet to play any RPG game that is even remotely similar as those that gives me that same nostalgic whoa feeling
As always no The Legend of Dragoon, Vagrant Story, Grandia, Super Mario RPG, Suikoden, Secret of Man, Tales of Series, etc it seems the one doing the list doesn't play too much classics
Not sure if I would've considered Nier: Automata a JRPG for this this list I may be wrong, but I can understand and respect I know the game has alot of love! I also may be biased as I didn't enjoy the game that much. Great list nonetheless!
For those who don't know, Skies of Arcadia comes in two formats. Skies of Arcadia, for the Dreamcast. The colors are more vibrant, great for the PoV mode, but the game in game in the controller rarely works for Pintas Quest, needed to get some chards for Fina's weapon, and it was paired with the now defunct Sega Online, so four quests are now inaccessible. Skies of Arcadia: Legends, for the GameCube. The colors are just a tad darker, the graphics just a tad smaller then the Dreamcast version. However, many faults found in the Dreamcast version were fixed, like the monster to gold ratio, no more Pinta's Quest, the four missing missions are included, and there are more side quests and storylines. But, beyond this, it is the same game as the Dreamcast version, with improvements.
Nice video, a great list for me, and It'd be similar to my own list it's really hard to select a list when there are multiple gems in this genre, games like Secret of Mana, Xenogears, Golden Sun, Pokemon, Terranigma, Super Mario RPG, Mario y Luigi Superstar Saga, Earthbound, Tales of Phantasia, FF tactics, Parasite eve, Persona 4, The Last Story, Ni no Kuni and many more are some of my favorite ones that I remember. For me, it's always gonna be my favorite genre
Legend of Dragoon, Luna 2, The Granstream Saga, I know I am forgetting a LOT of awesome JRPGs that I have played over the years that deserve some recognition.
I got to show some love here to Tales of Arise. One of the best games I've ever played. Such compelling characters and story. It's a huge hidden gem in gaming today.
6:25 I feel like FFVI’s plot twist is very underrated. Perhaps because going into it most already are aware, I, on ther other hand… …thought I was about to fight the final boss on the floating continent after finally beating the atma weapon, I had no idea the game was just about to start.
When and how SquareEnix will revisit Chrono Trigger is the greatest question of all-time. I would be happy with a remaster similar to the Trials of Mana remake they brought to the Switch, PS4, PC and mobile.
1. Wild Arms 2 2. Final Fantasy (VII, VII remake,Tactics,VIII,X and XII) 3. Chrono Cross 4. Star Ocean 3: Till The End Of Time 5. Valkyrie Profile 2 6. Grandia 2 7. Xenogear 8. Octopath Traveler 9. Mission Front 2 10. Rogue Galaxy
Start with something like destiny connect: tick tock travellers, it's fairly short and easy with an emotional gut punch for a story and will allow you to see if you enjoy turn based jrpgs
Grandia 2 is great and has been remastered for the Switch. Great example of a JRPG and one of the first I played back in the day. Otherwise you can't go wrong with Final Fantasy 7.
Depends on your gaming style. If you're more focused on storytelling than combat, final fantasy 6-10 are great. If you're more into a fun, active battle system, something like tales of vesperia or arise are great. It really just depends on what immerses you most in the game i guess.
@@SlapNuts4Life I haven't played that one. It sounds interesting but for me if it's not on pc or switch really can't play it unfortunately. It sounds really cool.
Where is lunar 1 or 2 Star ocean 2 Tales of arise Dragon quest 8 Final fantasy 12 zodiac age (best ff game in my opinion) Yakuza like a dragon Bravely default 1 on the 3ds Valkyrie profile
I came here looking for Chrono Trigger and was not disappointed. For anyone that hasn't played it, it really is THAT good, even by today's standards. I used to call Ocarina of Time the best game ever until I played Chrono Trigger.
As some have mentioned, I'd definitely put Suikoden II somewhere in the top 10 along with games like Lunar SSSC and/or EB as well as Shadow Hearts/Covenant and Grandia and maybe even the original Valkyries Profile. I'm also one of the ones that prefer Final Fantasy IX over VI and even VII. I do appreciate Skies of Arcadia getting some love so maybe it can get a port to the Switch at the very least if not a full on remake.
Personally I don't think any FF should be on this list. One of the sure signs of a JRPG is the art style like you see in anime. FF never really had that. Sure the FMVs in 7 could kinda count but the overall graphics and art we see in the game gave more of a western impression or aimed to be more realistic. Otherwise it was Amano's unique style of his own and traditional Japanese art style for character art.
A word on Skies of Arcadia, before people buy it... Last time I checked ebay, it was between $100 - $200... likely more now. Skies of Arcadia, for the Sega Dreamcast, was arguably a better looking game... Everything just slightly bigger, the colors slightly more vibrant, which made the PoV function way better, looking around at everything, the absolute beauty and variety of the things to look at one of the most lauded parts of the game, in my opinion. That bring said, it had a slightly worse monter/gold ratio then the remaster, it didn't have as much content as the remaster, I could never get the game-in-game memory card to work with Pinta's Quest... maybe others can... and there are four side quests you can no longer complete, as they were a Sega Online function. The remaster for the Nintendo GameCube, Skies of Arcadia: Legends, is just a tiny bit smaller and darker, but, has a better monster/gold ratio, more content, more quests, no more Pinta's Quest, and no barred side missions. If you have to pay top dollar to get it, I recommend SoA Legends for the GameCube. But, if you can find it cheap, the beauty of the Dreamcast version would be nice to have, as well.
This list is invalidated due to the lack of any Dragon Quest game, especially Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King (which should be in the top 3).
How is Phantasy Star not on this list?? The original JRPG and PS4 is on of the greatest JRPG of all time. Great story, amazing combat, incredible soundtrack, challenging bosses.. PS4 should be on this list.
@@LostDime rite on I only just got into jrpg games when the SNES mini came out. I hadn't ever played any final fantasy games nor Chrono trigger or anything like them. I like the older ones I guess. I do have a f.f game on my Xbox 1, I think 8 or 7. It's turn based still. The character has like deer hooves instead of hands though hahahahaha
It's funny that people say they hated Kingdom Hearts 1's platforming when in Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix they added a whole new section called the Cavern of Remembrance that was half dedicated to platforming.
I consider anybody who complains about the controls of KH1 a crybaby in general. They're not that bad. I played that game for the first time when I was 12 and never found it difficult to maneuver either for combat or platforming. The ONLY gripe that I consider valid in the original game is that you cannot open a chest if there are enemies around. There were certain chests (particularly in monstro and agrabah) that were a massive pain in the butt to open for exactly that reason.
Excellent list Sai. As a rule I don't enjoy jrpgs but I will say that they do a better job of giving fans what they want more so then any other style of game
7 is popular to hate because it gets the most spotlight. One of those 'hate the popular kid' things. And 6 is the turning point that turned the FF franchise from really good to great and turned up the scope of story telling to a grand scale. I personally like 7 better, but I also think this list wasn't trying to put multiple games from the same franchise on it
In no particular order: Final Fantasy I Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy IX Final Fantasy X Dragon Quest I Dragon Quest XI Xenoblade Chronicles Octopath Traveller Octopath Traveller II I’ve only played 9 JRPGs so these are my favorites.
Haven't even watched the video yet and I'm betting Suikoden, Wild Arms, Breath of Fire and Lufia are nowhere on this list... Will respond once I'm done.
Okay, so first of all, thank you for not putting FFVII as the best in the series. Love the game, huge franchise fan, but VI really is the superior game and I get tired of everyone sucking Cloud's dick TBH. Secondly, shout out for listing a Mario RPG title, but frankly, the OG Super Mario RPG was far superior. Better story, character models that still hold up today, music was catchy and still fun to listen to and even the new addition characters are still remembered fondly... More Geno than Mallow, but that's beside the point. Anyways, seriously shocked that some titles like Suikoden are rarely ever in lists like these. Suikoden specifically is always a heartache for me, as it did so much ahead of its time that very few games have ever even come close to doing as well. The army building and battles were fun and provocative, with the only game to come close to it being Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom. The weapon system was unique at the time, with each hero only having a single weapon that would be reforged over and over again once you'd recruited more and more skilled blacksmiths to your cause. The music and story are still a step above some modern AAA titles and the continuity from the first to second games is still a rarity in the JRPG genre to this day. I could go on about Suikoden and the other titles I listed above in my first comment, but I think you get my drift.
FF7, X, and 6 are the best of the franchise- in that order. I think all 3 deserve a spot on the list, as the premiere RPGS of 3 separate generations of gaming console; SNES, PS1 & PS2. Totally agree that Chrono Trigger deserves a spot at the top, but I place it at #2 under FF7, even above FFX & FF6. Chrono Trigger is arguably the best game on the SNES console as a whole, neck-and-neck with Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Pokemon has to be SOMEWHERE on the list. Even if you aren't a fan of the franchise, SOMEWHERE you have to admit the general formula of the game as a JRPG and how powerful the brand has become, is evidence it deserves a slot SOMEWHERE, even at #10. For reasons above, it also was the premiere game on handheld devices.
If we are speaking of JRPG am surprised none of the Legend of Heroes Trails series was mentioned. And while we are at it the old PS1 Legend of Legaia would also fit into this list.
1. Star Ocean 2nd Story R 2. Suikoden II 3. Tales of Vesperia 4. Dragon Quest V 5. Fire Emblem The Blazing Sword 6. Persona 4 Golden 7. Final Fantasy IV The Complete Collection 8. Atelier Ryza II 9. Rune Factory 4 Special 10. Makai Kingdom
I've always been a fan of Phantasy Star IV: The End Of The Millennium. Additionally Final Fantasy IX and XII were good, though I'll agree it is hard to beat VI. Maybe do a list of tactical RPGs next?
top ten underrated JRPGS from the random commenter: Marenian Tavern Story, Utarwarerumono, Stella Glow. Lord of Magna, Mary Skelter, Nights of Azure, God Wars, Toukiden Kiwami, Crimson Gem Saga, Drone Tactics
0:33 Skies of Arcadia
1:38 Paper Mario
2:34 Fire Emblem Awakening
3:40 Kingdom Hearts 2
4:47 Mother 3
5:42 Final Fantasy VI
6:44 Xenoblade Chronicles
7:46 Persona 5 Royal
8:48 Nier Automata
9:56 Chrono Trigger
Thank you!
ty
I'm shocked that a Dragon Quest game wasn't even mentioned as a Top 10. That series literally popularize the JRPG genre.
Agreed. If not the original, I'd say 8 for becoming the breakthrough title to the west or 11 for its sheer impact and quality.
Yb better
No Final Fantasy did that
@@victor_734 dragon quest came out first my friend so no. When dq 3 came out in Japan thousands of people took off work to play.
Dragon quest is mid
Suikoden II is one of my all time favourites and highly recommend it
I came here to say this. Not many people are familiar with the Suikoden series. Plus the ability to transer save data from game to game and it actually does something was awesome great soundtrack. Castke building and over 100 characters....my personal top 3.
This whole list could have just been PS1 JRPG's. Breath of Fire, Grandia, Jade Cocoon, Saga Frontier are personal faves, but the era had an endless number of them.
Suikoden II is absolutely top ten worthy. I'm excited for the HD remasters, so more people can experience it.
Right??? How do you do a best jrpg list and not include a single Suikoden title??? (Personally I love 3)
@@robbgamble4149 Hopefully this lack of exposure will change with the Suikoden HD remasters coming out this year.
I'm so glad that this many years later, Chrono Trigger is still being recognized for its brilliance. I was just a boy when I first played the game and I recall (as a newbie to jrpg) just how captivating the game and its story was even as a child. It's one that left an impression on me and inspired a lot of the ways I like to tell stories and create characters. When it was re-released on playstation 1 bundled with FF4 (another one of my all-time favs) I got the feeling that others thought it was just as special as it was/is to me. A stellar game all around for any generation to pick up and play. Thanks for showing it love!
I really hope Square Enix gives it the remaster treatment like it did to its Final Fantasy collection.
@@MRWINDYMETHANE oh hell yeah. I'd be so stoked. Didn't they do something on DSlite?
@@Random_Atom I think so, but let's be honest (& no disrespect towards handhelds): The true way to play video games is on a home console 😉
@@MRWINDYMETHANE i agree. Plus, the game deserves them full HD graphics
Two personal favourites of mine were Final Fantasy X and Golden Sun 2: The Lost Age. I put so many hours into both of those as a child.
Golden Sun 1+2 were such great games.
@@inquisitorichijou883 They really were. Best handheld RPG’s I’ve ever played. I was underwhelmed by Dark Dawn though, I’m unsure if I had just grown out of the series a little bit, or if it was just inferior in overall quality…
The Golden Sun games were incredible and similarly FFX and FFX-2 broke me into big system JRPGs too!
Dragon Quest VIII for the PS2. So many good times.
I'm mad I got to the end of this game but never beat it😩
But yeah this was definitely a fun one.
Was laid up with a broken neck when I played DQ8. Remember it being great, but not much else. ;)
My personal favourote JRPG besides Xenoblade :)
DQVIII was one of my favorites as well; played that to completion; best armor and weapons for all party members and all skills unlocked. We were unstoppable.
@@korinthian7313 here playing dq12 w a busted knee. Can confirm the experience still holds up today
Of all FF games, it makes my heart proud to see it being FF6.
Now I will have mention Lost Odyssey as one.
Starting with Skies of Arcadia was brilliant, a lot of fans of these kinds of games really want to see that one get more love. There is a lot of greatness in that 10. JRPG centric lists I don't see much on WhatCulture and I'd love to see more. I also understand that its a niche section of gaming but the fans are passionate as hell about them. If I was to make a second list like this, Trails series, Tales series and especially Dragon Quest would be in it as well. Thanks for doing one for these.
I've enjoyed Skies of Arkadia on both the Sega Dreamcast and the Nintendo Game Cube. I'd love it if it received a modern remake similar to the recent Final Fantasy 7 & Resident Evil games, as well as it also getting ported to PC. I'd also love the same treatment for the classic playstation game The Legend of Dragoon.
Are you selling?
I was going to respond with something similar, but you even summed it up better with LoD. I never finished SoA, but maybe 1 day.
lets hope for legend of dragoon remake
Legend of legaia deserves a place in all the best of all time lists .
By real fans of the genre it is considered one of the best of all time.
Yep exactly...there hasn't been a game like it.
One of my all time favorites and probably the title I have the most nostalgia for. It doesn’t get enough love imo
I remember I got that and star ocean 2 on the same day. Me and a friend played them simultaneously by the 2nd day he stopped l.o.l and we was both focused on so2. Lol is a good game but I'm not sure it would make top 10 PS1 RPGs for me
"I know no Noa" is one of the greatest lines of all time
I appreciate that Xenoblade made its way on here, but after playing them all in order (which has taken several months), I really think 3 is the best of the bunch. The world feels much bigger than in the first two, and the characters are more interesting. But I recognize it's very tough to choose.
how do you feel about the second game? Xeno 1 is my fav game of all time but playing through Xeno 2 is taking me a long time because im not really a fan of the overly used anime stereotypes, and the voice acting is inconsistent. I really love some characters tho (but i dislike the fan service)
@@hugofernandes2347 I personally enjoy the eye candy without guilt, but I agree with you that one (two) of the hot girls has a horrible voice actor. But I can understand your perspective. Maybe just keep in mind that Japan is less worried about the male gaze and realistic representation?
It's funny though how there are a few cutscenes when the female character is like "what are you looking at, pervert?" when she's wearing next to nothing.
Anyway, I found it hard to get into the game at first because the tone was so much different from XC1, but once I finally clicked with the elemental orb combat system it became a lot more fun. It's also very rewarding late-game to see how the story connects with XC1.
I suggest you try to power through a bit more before giving up on the game.
My Favorite 10/10 JRPG of All Time are
1. Persona 5 Royal
2. Persona 4 Golden
3. XenoBlade Chronicles 3
4. XenoBlade Chronicles Definitive Edition
5. Fire Emblem Three Houses
6. FF7
7. FF9
Lost Odyssey and Triangle Strategy i didn’t Finished but are MasterPieces So Far and FF6 Chrono Trigger and FF Tactics I didn’t Play
Persona 5 Royal and XenoBlade Chronicles Definitive Edition are Both in my Top 10 VideoGames of All Time
Pretty criminal to leave off FF7 when it not only was the game that sold the PlayStation, but that sold FF6 as well. FF7 not only has dwarfed 6 in sales, metacritic score, and fan following, but 6 largely owes its popularity to the lasting legacy that 7 had in blowing open the JRPG market in the West.
Agreed
Disagree
Skies of Arcadia man the memories. I really hope Sega give us a remaster. I can only pray to the gaming gods every day wishing for that day
Just like I was with goldeneye and it came bro, so u have a chance bro! Lol
Yeah, Skies of Arcadia was a great game. I almost feels like it could fit in with the Xenoblade Chronicles series. I loved the sky-battles, exploration, battle-system and characters!
Recency bias be damned, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is my current ALL-TIME favorite game. No game EVER made me feel the way that did, in game, or in real life. Story was more gripping, combat was beautiful and fun, and the world looked fantastic. I can only hope and pray Rebirth surpasses it!
I feel like so many better games got left off due to age and the people making the list, Super Mario RPG is a game that was incredible when it came out and still is today if you can get the rom. Paper Mario doesn't exist with out Super Mario RPG.
The Legend of Dragoon not being here hurts my entire soul
I think legend of dragoon is an American made game, otherwise it should be
@Jeremiah Blackwell the legend of dragoon was made by JAPAN Studio.....it's was a JRPG if there ever was one
It's not that good
@@Peggsworth I'm glad that today you were able to express your opinion today!
I'm close to finishing it and no.. I don't think it's that good...
CT #1 is all that matters
Trails of Cold Steel 3, Dragon Quest 11, and Final Fantasy 7 should all be on this list.
Lost Odyssey should have gotten an honorable mention.
Definitely better than Mario
Sucks it stuck on Xbox.
Actually a really good list idk what people talking bout, KH2, FF6, P5, Mother 3, Nier & Chrono Trigger are all incredible games.
My list, one game per series:
1. Final Fantasy IX
2. Tales of Symphonia
3. Chrono Trigger
4. Suikoden II
5. Fire Emblem The Sacred Stones
6. Shin Megami Tensei Persona 4 Golden
7. Xenogears
8. Dragon Quest XI
9. Radiant Historia
10. Tactics Ogre Let Us Cling Together
YES! Skies of Arcadia needs a remake or remaster!
Calm down.
@@jarlwhiterun7478 nah
I've never played skies of arcadia and I would still buy the remake or remaster in a heartbeat. Saw some videos and found it very interesting.
@@derranzigeburger I have a copy of Skies of Arcadia: Legends, and it is one of my greatest treasures. Every day, I wish for an opportunity to play it again on new systems...
Legend of Dragoon. Forgotten as usual
LoD is a Sony original. It's a given they ruined it (no sequel) like they did their other rpg series- Wild ARMs(putting in semi-RTS elements in the last two games.)
Always sad to never see someone talking about this fantastic game
@@chadharger9323 was wild arms the cowboy themed rpg? I remember that game. It is a shame they forgot it too. For that matter I also remember summoner. That was a great game. Chronicles of Ayden was great too. Kingdom under fire was amazing and I haven't seen anything like it since. Sequels sucked
@@jaygrice8373 Wild ARMs had the wild west theme. It really showed in 3.
@@chadharger9323 yaaa I think that was the one I played
Good list and I also still have most of them but the one jrpg that is missing and would most likely take the top spot is Xenogears. Story, characters, music, and many more points make it truly an all in one supreme package.
P.S: There is also Shadow Hearts 2. lol
While I absolutely love Xenogears, the back half of the game falls apart.
Xenogears easy #1
Great choice ! Shadow Hearts 2 is a classic
@@kevinclapson Well that happens when they run out of time and money to finish the epic story it was going for. lol
@Shadowmyst1 no disagreement there, I just can't put a game in that state over a game that's competently assembled from start to finish like Chrono Trigger, or even FFVI, and I replay Xenogears every 2 or 3 years.
Wild Arms 3 is my personal top JRPG. The battle systems are top notch, even including vehicle battles like Arcadia, and has an amazing blink-and-you'll-miss-it revelation about the game world that still blows my mind.
I really hope that we get a Skies of Arcadia port on the Switch or whatever comes after that console. I loved that game and travelled every corner of it to get all the discoverable locations.
I fell in love with Xenoblade so much, I bought the game 3 times on 3 different platforms.
If they're going to do a port, I think it would definitely be on the Switch. It's got so many good JRPGs now. The fact that they ported the Grandia collection, Chrono Cross and other classics has me hopeful.
My favorite is Breath of Fire III!
Dude Capcom killed it in the 90s just in general. While I can't call it my favorite, that is definitely a great pic. I loved one little detail in particular, which was the voice acting for magic. When you cast "Typhoon" (assuming you learned it from Mygas as young ryu) the voice line is more gentle, but as adult Ryu it is very aggressive. And you can give it to other characters will skill ink to see how they say the incantation, "Se-za-gah!" (no clue how to actually spell what the heck they are saying, but that's what it sounds like lol) And the music from that game is top tier. Do Your Best is the best "random encounter" music I have heard to this day.
I am so glad they mention kingdom hearts 2. That game had no right to be that good with the fighting, drive forms, extra content, good endgame, and replayability. Needs to be on more lists
Trails of cold steel needs to be in this video
I feel like it would earn a spot if we were talking a whole franchise, because that world building is ridiculous and you can never really get a full scope with a single title
I'd say trails in the sky SC is better, but overall trails series is better played together arc-wise rather than just single game.
You could make arguments for so many of the games. Star Door 15 in Sky The Third broke me like nothing else has.
I 😅
@@chapter_black3234 True,Trails played in order from sky until hajimari is amazing,can’t talk about kuro because i still need to play them
I love Chrono Trigger, having said that it gets the FF7 treatment way to much, it’s overrated. FF6 is the GOAT.
Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, and Skies of Arcadia? Likely my all time faves! And, even when I don’t have the time to play them, their soundtracks are a blast. You, Sy, are a man of taste!
Have you tried Chained Echoes? It's a new indie JRPG that takes a lot of inspiration from FFVI and Chrono Trigger. If you haven't checked it out, you definitely should. It's amazing.
@@madalice5134 I've heard about it, but I have quite a few games queued up. And, I might hold out for a Switch port. I DO have a tab about it open on my phone so I don't forget. Thanks for letting me know it's worth keeping in mind.
@@Falchion1984 Cool. It does have a Switch port though. It plays beautifully on it too. 😁
@@madalice5134 I'll follow up once my queue is a bit less congested. Thanks much for letting me know.
As much as I love ff6 I think the accessibility of 7 makes it better. I've played and love both so do not come at me. I love them both I just feel ff7 brought the genre to many more people.
You can be honest buddy, 7 is the better game overall as well.
Played and love all of these. One other I have a soft spot for is Grandia 2, dialogue a little cheesy but tonnes of fun and fantastic combat system
Not to spoil anything, but I'm still not over the character who sacrifices themselves at that one point
I loved Grandia 2, but I couldn't get over the lack of mini-map, which made navigation near-impossible. I had to give up on the game in the end.
@@antney7745 I actually prefer no minimap, makes you more immersed in what you are seeing imo. I kind of wish most games got rid of it in favour for compasses like Grandia 2 and Elden ring
@@kylepaup Oh yeah that was so sad, great for the story though and I thought the new character they intrtoduced was well done
Nothing quite like a game that sends you to the moon to defeat the space pope. It was a surprisingly common theme around that time. Cuz that's basically tales of symphonia as well
To leave the Legend of Dragoon off this list is an insult to what it means to be great JRPG.
once again i am begging for people to stop ignoring lost odyssey for these kinds of lists. also as much as i love nier automata, it's one of my favourite games, is it really classed as a RPG? it think there's often a tendency to just call any japanese game that gets popular in the west a JRPG but automata is pretty light on RPG elements outside of collecting weapons which is also just a staple of the hack n slash genre
Yeah, I was late to the Xbox world but glad I got to play LO on the xb1. And that game was not only amazing but had my emotions everywhere.
Nier Automata is a weird game to classify, you can considere it an Action-RPG due to it's progression and customization system as well as exploration, but the combat itself does indeed feel more like a Beat Them All similar to Metal Gear Rising and Bayonetta, the game also have some Shoot Them Up element with the Flying Unit and hacking part and even on foot in a way with all these ennemies shooting ton of bullet at you, and even have some Visual Novel sections.
That being said it still was advertise as an Action RPG tough, but yeah this is my favorite game of all time, but I don't know if it could be put in a specific genre given it takes element of multiple genres and mix them together.
Legend of Dragoon belongs here
Final Fantasy VII Remake is my favorite game I’ve played in a long long time!
I’ve never played the original, but fully intend to once the trilogy is done!
I just got done playing Octopath Traveler II also, and the artstyle and music in it are absolutely incredible.
FF7R is a goddamn masterpiece
@@akiinmoonlight79 I don’t know why it didn’t show me your comment, but I 100% agree!
I’m sure there’s purists who wouldn’t agree, but I’ve played Remake more than any other game in my entire life…..and also the fastest in succession.
And Rebirth is easily my most anticipated game of all time.
Coming here to add my two cents as well.
FF7R was incredible. The music always caught and kept my attention so many years ago with the original and I must say that Nobuo and his team of composers NAILED the musical aspect in the remake. Including some new themes not in the original (Check out Ghoul from the OST)
Regardless man, appreciate this comment as I too am super pumped for Rebirth!
@@jessefelstead5058 Absolutely! I listen to the soundtrack every single day.
My favorites from Remake would probably be Corneo Colosseum, Collapsed Expressway, and Midnight Rendezvous.
But you can’t go wrong anywhere! Ghoul is really great too!!
Even if you have been spoiled to it, chrono trigger is still a great game to play
For all the love it often gets, it's weird that Skies was only ever ported to the Game Cube. With retro RPG's being pretty popular these days you'd think it would get a more recent port on the Switch at least.
Suikoden series is pure perfection in the gaming world
Yeah, Suikoden not being on here was a deal breaker.
@JeremiahEcks777 right! The 2nd one is THE GOAT but each one has SOMETHING that blows my mind and they always and I mean ALWAYS keep me coming back. I've yet to play any RPG game that is even remotely similar as those that gives me that same nostalgic whoa feeling
As always no The Legend of Dragoon, Vagrant Story, Grandia, Super Mario RPG, Suikoden, Secret of Man, Tales of Series, etc it seems the one doing the list doesn't play too much classics
Not having a single Dragon Quest or Suikoden game on this list makes this whole thing dog water.
Not sure if I would've considered Nier: Automata a JRPG for this this list I may be wrong, but I can understand and respect I know the game has alot of love! I also may be biased as I didn't enjoy the game that much. Great list nonetheless!
I definitely feel like they missed out on having FFVII on this list, since it's pretty much the biggest reason JRPGs are played in the West at all.
Where is yakuza (7) like a dragon?
I still never understand why Paper Mario gets all the love when a little game called Mario RPG exists.
Let's appreciate how much alot of work and time he puts in his videos!!!!!!
But he clearly states it was the writer (John Tibbetts) that did all the work.
Final Fantasy X, Dragon Quest XI, Persona 5 Royal. 3 of my favorite JRPGs ever
For those who don't know, Skies of Arcadia comes in two formats.
Skies of Arcadia, for the Dreamcast. The colors are more vibrant, great for the PoV mode, but the game in game in the controller rarely works for Pintas Quest, needed to get some chards for Fina's weapon, and it was paired with the now defunct Sega Online, so four quests are now inaccessible.
Skies of Arcadia: Legends, for the GameCube. The colors are just a tad darker, the graphics just a tad smaller then the Dreamcast version. However, many faults found in the Dreamcast version were fixed, like the monster to gold ratio, no more Pinta's Quest, the four missing missions are included, and there are more side quests and storylines. But, beyond this, it is the same game as the Dreamcast version, with improvements.
Nice video, a great list for me, and It'd be similar to my own list
it's really hard to select a list when there are multiple gems in this genre, games like Secret of Mana, Xenogears, Golden Sun, Pokemon, Terranigma, Super Mario RPG, Mario y Luigi Superstar Saga, Earthbound, Tales of Phantasia, FF tactics, Parasite eve, Persona 4, The Last Story, Ni no Kuni and many more are some of my favorite ones that I remember.
For me, it's always gonna be my favorite genre
I agree with the number one pick!! I myself think it's not only the best JRPG, but the greatest game ever made ( in my humble opinion ).
Legend of Dragoon, Luna 2, The Granstream Saga, I know I am forgetting a LOT of awesome JRPGs that I have played over the years that deserve some recognition.
one amazing and unsung jrpg is imo shadow hearts covenant, it had such a memorable combat system and interesting setting
Underrated and under mentioned.
Maann, Chrono Trigger is truly a masterpiece.
I always liked Skies of Arcadia, and still have my GameCube copy, but did not realize how insanely expensive that game is. Good to know.
FF 6 and 9, Breath of fire 4, Every Trails on PSP. And King of them all. Chrono Trigger.
A statement can be made that arguably, Crono Trigger is the best game of all time.
I got to show some love here to Tales of Arise. One of the best games I've ever played. Such compelling characters and story. It's a huge hidden gem in gaming today.
6:25
I feel like FFVI’s plot twist is very underrated. Perhaps because going into it most already are aware, I, on ther other hand…
…thought I was about to fight the final boss on the floating continent after finally beating the atma weapon, I had no idea the game was just about to start.
When and how SquareEnix will revisit Chrono Trigger is the greatest question of all-time.
I would be happy with a remaster similar to the Trials of Mana remake they brought to the Switch, PS4, PC and mobile.
1. Wild Arms 2
2. Final Fantasy (VII, VII remake,Tactics,VIII,X and XII)
3. Chrono Cross
4. Star Ocean 3: Till The End Of Time
5. Valkyrie Profile 2
6. Grandia 2
7. Xenogear
8. Octopath Traveler
9. Mission Front 2
10. Rogue Galaxy
Am I the only one who would put Tales of Symphonia on the list?
What’s the best one to start with if you want to get into the genre?
Start with something like destiny connect: tick tock travellers, it's fairly short and easy with an emotional gut punch for a story and will allow you to see if you enjoy turn based jrpgs
Grandia 2 is great and has been remastered for the Switch. Great example of a JRPG and one of the first I played back in the day.
Otherwise you can't go wrong with Final Fantasy 7.
Depends on your gaming style. If you're more focused on storytelling than combat, final fantasy 6-10 are great. If you're more into a fun, active battle system, something like tales of vesperia or arise are great. It really just depends on what immerses you most in the game i guess.
Action I'd go with Ys 8 or Ys 9 and turn based even though Persona 5 is super long I think the presentation will help to ease into jrpgs.
@@SlapNuts4Life I haven't played that one. It sounds interesting but for me if it's not on pc or switch really can't play it unfortunately. It sounds really cool.
Where is lunar 1 or 2
Star ocean 2
Tales of arise
Dragon quest 8
Final fantasy 12 zodiac age (best ff game in my opinion)
Yakuza like a dragon
Bravely default 1 on the 3ds
Valkyrie profile
And where is Golden Sun in your list?😁
I came here looking for Chrono Trigger and was not disappointed.
For anyone that hasn't played it, it really is THAT good, even by today's standards. I used to call Ocarina of Time the best game ever until I played Chrono Trigger.
Imo Vagrant Story is underrated and my personal favorite.
As some have mentioned, I'd definitely put Suikoden II somewhere in the top 10 along with games like Lunar SSSC and/or EB as well as Shadow Hearts/Covenant and Grandia and maybe even the original Valkyries Profile. I'm also one of the ones that prefer Final Fantasy IX over VI and even VII. I do appreciate Skies of Arcadia getting some love so maybe it can get a port to the Switch at the very least if not a full on remake.
Got the right Final Fantasy on there.
Personally I don't think any FF should be on this list. One of the sure signs of a JRPG is the art style like you see in anime. FF never really had that. Sure the FMVs in 7 could kinda count but the overall graphics and art we see in the game gave more of a western impression or aimed to be more realistic. Otherwise it was Amano's unique style of his own and traditional Japanese art style for character art.
A word on Skies of Arcadia, before people buy it... Last time I checked ebay, it was between $100 - $200... likely more now.
Skies of Arcadia, for the Sega Dreamcast, was arguably a better looking game... Everything just slightly bigger, the colors slightly more vibrant, which made the PoV function way better, looking around at everything, the absolute beauty and variety of the things to look at one of the most lauded parts of the game, in my opinion. That bring said, it had a slightly worse monter/gold ratio then the remaster, it didn't have as much content as the remaster, I could never get the game-in-game memory card to work with Pinta's Quest... maybe others can... and there are four side quests you can no longer complete, as they were a Sega Online function.
The remaster for the Nintendo GameCube, Skies of Arcadia: Legends, is just a tiny bit smaller and darker, but, has a better monster/gold ratio, more content, more quests, no more Pinta's Quest, and no barred side missions.
If you have to pay top dollar to get it, I recommend SoA Legends for the GameCube. But, if you can find it cheap, the beauty of the Dreamcast version would be nice to have, as well.
"You'll be dancing mad not to" nice one
This list is invalidated due to the lack of any Dragon Quest game, especially Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King (which should be in the top 3).
This list was my childhood gaming experience.
My Personal top 5
1. Final Fantasy VI
2. Mother 3
3. Final Fantasy IX
4. Xenoblade Chronicles (1 or 2)
5. Earthbound
My favorite 5 is mother 3, nier automata, xenoblade 1 or 3, persona 5, n fire emblem 3 houses.
How is Phantasy Star not on this list??
The original JRPG and PS4 is on of the greatest JRPG of all time. Great story, amazing combat, incredible soundtrack, challenging bosses.. PS4 should be on this list.
Finally someone said PS4, its literally the most overlooked JRPG of all time I feel like. It's amazing start to finish.
As good as your list is, which it is amazing! You forgot Suikoden 2
I thought a jrpg was the games where u had to take turns during battle like Chrono
many of them started as tbs but, changed the sequels.
Some have started including games that aren't, but for the bulk of the genre's life, yes turn based is a requirement.
@@LostDime rite on I only just got into jrpg games when the SNES mini came out. I hadn't ever played any final fantasy games nor Chrono trigger or anything like them. I like the older ones I guess. I do have a f.f game on my Xbox 1, I think 8 or 7. It's turn based still. The character has like deer hooves instead of hands though hahahahaha
Really happy to ever see any love for the Xeboblade games
It's funny that people say they hated Kingdom Hearts 1's platforming when in Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix they added a whole new section called the Cavern of Remembrance that was half dedicated to platforming.
I consider anybody who complains about the controls of KH1 a crybaby in general. They're not that bad. I played that game for the first time when I was 12 and never found it difficult to maneuver either for combat or platforming. The ONLY gripe that I consider valid in the original game is that you cannot open a chest if there are enemies around. There were certain chests (particularly in monstro and agrabah) that were a massive pain in the butt to open for exactly that reason.
Excellent list Sai. As a rule I don't enjoy jrpgs but I will say that they do a better job of giving fans what they want more so then any other style of game
The Legend of Dragoon doesn't make it on here? Hmm. I feel it needs to be, if you know, you know.
Nier Automata Potato Patata* Fixed it for you.
I used to be super into JRPGs as a kid. I gotta get back into it with some of these gems. Thank you!
I just got back in last year after almost 20 years away. Now I can't believe I stopped playing them. Lots of catching up to do lol
good list but I don't think many people would call neir a jrpg
People who are more familiar with Final Fantasy please tell me why 6 is here and not 7?
7 is popular to hate because it gets the most spotlight. One of those 'hate the popular kid' things. And 6 is the turning point that turned the FF franchise from really good to great and turned up the scope of story telling to a grand scale. I personally like 7 better, but I also think this list wasn't trying to put multiple games from the same franchise on it
In no particular order:
Final Fantasy I
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy X
Dragon Quest I
Dragon Quest XI
Xenoblade Chronicles
Octopath Traveller
Octopath Traveller II
I’ve only played 9 JRPGs so these are my favorites.
Haven't even watched the video yet and I'm betting Suikoden, Wild Arms, Breath of Fire and Lufia are nowhere on this list... Will respond once I'm done.
Okay, so first of all, thank you for not putting FFVII as the best in the series. Love the game, huge franchise fan, but VI really is the superior game and I get tired of everyone sucking Cloud's dick TBH.
Secondly, shout out for listing a Mario RPG title, but frankly, the OG Super Mario RPG was far superior. Better story, character models that still hold up today, music was catchy and still fun to listen to and even the new addition characters are still remembered fondly... More Geno than Mallow, but that's beside the point.
Anyways, seriously shocked that some titles like Suikoden are rarely ever in lists like these. Suikoden specifically is always a heartache for me, as it did so much ahead of its time that very few games have ever even come close to doing as well. The army building and battles were fun and provocative, with the only game to come close to it being Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom. The weapon system was unique at the time, with each hero only having a single weapon that would be reforged over and over again once you'd recruited more and more skilled blacksmiths to your cause. The music and story are still a step above some modern AAA titles and the continuity from the first to second games is still a rarity in the JRPG genre to this day.
I could go on about Suikoden and the other titles I listed above in my first comment, but I think you get my drift.
I'm very surprised Luna the Silver Star Story wasn't on the list.
Such a good one
FF7, X, and 6 are the best of the franchise- in that order. I think all 3 deserve a spot on the list, as the premiere RPGS of 3 separate generations of gaming console; SNES, PS1 & PS2.
Totally agree that Chrono Trigger deserves a spot at the top, but I place it at #2 under FF7, even above FFX & FF6. Chrono Trigger is arguably the best game on the SNES console as a whole, neck-and-neck with Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
Pokemon has to be SOMEWHERE on the list. Even if you aren't a fan of the franchise, SOMEWHERE you have to admit the general formula of the game as a JRPG and how powerful the brand has become, is evidence it deserves a slot SOMEWHERE, even at #10. For reasons above, it also was the premiere game on handheld devices.
How the Hell is "Legend of The Dragoon" not on this list let alone at the top of it?!
Massive let down. :(
If we are speaking of JRPG am surprised none of the Legend of Heroes Trails series was mentioned. And while we are at it the old PS1 Legend of Legaia would also fit into this list.
A little surprised that Suikoden didn’t make this list.
My top 3 -
1. The Legend of Dragoon
2. Octopath Traveler
3. Vagrant Story
Xenogears
Suikoden II
Final Fantasy XIV
Breath of Fire III
Disco Elysium
Grandia II
Demon's Souls
Golden Sun
Pokémon Silver/Gold
LISA: The Painful
1. Star Ocean 2nd Story R
2. Suikoden II
3. Tales of Vesperia
4. Dragon Quest V
5. Fire Emblem The Blazing Sword
6. Persona 4 Golden
7. Final Fantasy IV The Complete Collection
8. Atelier Ryza II
9. Rune Factory 4 Special
10. Makai Kingdom
8:50 Let's not forget a gorgeous soundtrack!!
I've always been a fan of Phantasy Star IV: The End Of The Millennium. Additionally Final Fantasy IX and XII were good, though I'll agree it is hard to beat VI.
Maybe do a list of tactical RPGs next?
Subjectively, FF12 is the best JRPG of all time!
top ten underrated JRPGS from the random commenter: Marenian Tavern Story, Utarwarerumono, Stella Glow. Lord of Magna, Mary Skelter, Nights of Azure, God Wars, Toukiden Kiwami, Crimson Gem Saga, Drone Tactics
9. still a great series.
7. it's okay.