The 10 Best Stories in JRPGs!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- The best stories in video games are found in JRPGs. I don't make the rules, that's just the way it is. There's something about the format of a JRPG that makes it ideal for telling stories both big and small, and I've collected the ten BEST stories in all of JRPG-dom to present to you here. Let me know what you would consider to be the best JRPG stories of all time down in the comments, and who knows -- maybe I'll have to revise my list!
Please consider supporting me on Patreon! Get early access to videos and a members-only Discord: / justthegems
Or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi! - ko-fi.com/justthegems
Twitter: www.x.com/brandenjohnson
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/brandenjohns...
Threads/Instagram: brandenjohnson
Original music ©2023 by me, all rights reserved.
00:00 Intro
00:57 Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology
03:00 Final Fantasy VI
05:25 Omori
07:49 Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
09:47 The Trails Series
12:48 Harvestella
15:35 Final Fantasy VII (Series)
18:21 Undertale
20:47 Chrono Trigger
23:22 Xenogears
25:32 Outro - เกม
Radiant Historia was amazing. Got the true-true ending on it. It was so peak.
Omori was great too
I was blown away by that game.
Its baffling how Ys 8 started as a shipwrecked, trapped in an island kind of thing. You would think it's gonna be a case of explore this island make a boat and bolt outta there, but once you explore the other half of the island, oh boy are you in for a ride. One of the best games I've played in terms of storyline. Its slow burn, but a really good burning.
Totally, you do NOT see where things are going when you start this one!
I guess I never really got to the story in Ys 8 - I tried a couple times but I just remember being stuck and running around in a circle after getting to the initial island. After doing the same thing like 10 times I pulled out the game and tossed it...One of these days I might pull it out again.
@@Raphtor13 nah man your first impression was correct. leave that game in the dustbin and play something else instead.
The effect that Evangelion had on the cultural zeitgeist of Japan really can't be overstated. Its influence can be felt through various works like Xenogears, Code Geass, Persona 5, Naruto, Serial Experiments Lain, and hundreds more, all seeking to expound on, refute, or answer the primary theme of Eva, and one of the central paradoxes of humanity: the hedgehog's dilemma. I think we'll look back on Eva as Japan's version of The Hero With a Thousand Faces, as a work that shaped an entire generation of storytelling.
Absolutely - it was paradigm shifting for media in general.
Love your content so much. Just finished Crossbell Arc and bought a Steam Deck and I am 20 hours in Trails from the Sky. I love Estelle so much. Thanks man. You encouraged me. Love these other games. Omori is now on my wishlist.
Excellent! You'll have to tell me what you think of the Sky arc when you're done!
Xenogears will always be my number one for story telling as well, but really glad to see Ys VIII on this list. That was a game I started up on a whim thinking "ah it will be a fun action RPG but probably nothing to right home about" and it ended up being of my favorite RPGs of all time.
Me too, it really just snuck up on me!
I'm a little shocked you didn't mention behind your left shoulder. Lunar SSSC and EB are right there with these.
The Lunar games are spectacular, as are the Grandia games, for sure! Game Arts knew what they were doing.
A great list! I think Breath of Fire 2 would be on mine. I just remember how intrigued and drawn in I was at the really sad start to that game's story as a kid 😊
I never made it very far in BoF2 (it was a rental for me as a kid), but I find the introduction SO freaking intriguing.
I love it when your videos start, and you're miles away from the camera 🤣 Awesome list though, Lacrimosa of Dana is unbelievable, I absolutely love that game ❤️
Haha yeah man, that's the establishing shot!
You're always in your element whenever talking about JRPG stories. Great video Branden!
Thanks Emily! This was a fun one to make.
Another banger of a list! Still waiting on my copy of Harvestella and I promise to keep you posted!
Ps. Your video skills, your editing, and your delivery have gotten so, so good. Keep doing a great job and raking in those subscribers!
Hey thanks man! And yeah, definitely let me know what you think of Harvestella!
Love your picks and clearly I really need to get to Ys VIII! I at least have it now so zero excuses!!! I play JRPGs for the stories so it’s a HUGE factor for me!
I hope you like it! To me, 8 and 9 both do a great job of striking a good balance between action and story.
Omori was a welcome surprise, and it is truly a hidden gem. Though, my goodness, is the story heavy! The cutesy, clever gameplay and colorful characters helps offset the weight of it though.
Yeah, I think the pacing of going back and forth between the whimsy and the heaviness really helps you get through it all.
FF6 is my favorite game of all time I thing Lunar Sliver song would be a nice add to this list. Great video.
Oh yeah, both Lunar 1 and 2 are top-tier stories for sure!
Omori was such a surprise addition to my favorite switch games.
Didn't expect so many...feels.
Regarding the RE trilogy of FF7, I suspect it'll be something similar to the Rebuild of Evangelion movies.
A half-sequel, half-shenanigans and a definitive ending. Until the creators are strapped for cash again.
Hahaha yes, I was just thinking that it's crazy I'm still experiencing stories with these characters I loved as a kid, now that I'm a middle aged man, and I was wondering if I would STILL be experiencing new stories with them when I'm like 60 😅
Awesome video man!! I can feel the passion for every game you mentioned
I appreciate that! These are all pretty special games to me for sure.
Radiant Historia story was an eye opener, so much parallel with real life things (human conflict, ambition, politics etc)
Yeah 100%.
The two omissions I'd place in would be Xenoblade 1 and Suikoden II.
Yeah, the Xenoblade games for sure, as an extension of the Takahashi-verse, and Suikoden as a series is spectacular.
Clicked on the video because I was pretty surprised to see Ys 8 in the thumbnail. That games story doesn't get enough attention, its seriously impressive for an Ys game and it blew me away. The twists and turns had me hooked.
You are right about it being way better than the narrative in previous entries. It was the one thing that was slightly lacking in other games, now we have the complete Ys package. My absolute favorite in the series.
Yeah, and I'm glad they're continuing in that direction (at least it seems that way). I didn't love 9 QUITE as much as 8, but it's still on the right track.
22:00 That's FROG KNIGHT! 🐸
🎵 Theme plays in the background 🎵
JRPG stories I love are Eternal Sonata on PS3 which is still stuck there and Ni Nu Kuni which both just really emotionally moved me. Final Fantasy IX with beautiful disney esc character designs and loveable characters. Fire Emblem Echoes is stoll my favorite story for that series. Thanks Brandon.
Oh I'm glad to hear you liked Echoes, that's the next Fire Emblem I want to tackle.
I love Ys 8, it totally surprised me with its quality
Right?? It's such a glow-up from the previous games in the series!
I'm so glad you included Xenogears. That for me is still the most ambitious storytelling ever seen in a JRPG. Only Trails manages to come close in terms of shocking plot twists and dark themes.
Other stories I really like include Lost Odyssey and Persona 5.
Yeah, especially if you think about Xenogears' place in the overall story Takahashi wanted to tell -- the whole Xeno universe has the potential to be close to the same level of epicness as Trails.
Ive played every Trails and Xeno game, in my opinion Xenosaga is the best of them all in terms of story. Trails does too many things I started to not like in the Cold Steel series which is a shame because Sky and Zero were so well done. Xenogears and the Xenoblade series are better games than Xenosaga but Xenosaga, story alone, I still consider the best story in all of gaming and I've played and beaten hundreds.
Nier isn't a jrpg but the connected stories of Drakengard and Nier are also incredibly interesting and unique stories.
@@joeyisabsb1 Nier is a JRPG.
@@joeyisabsb1I do respect the overarching narrative of trails series but man does it do so many things that pisses me off to the point where it even fell off my top 10 fav jrpgs, there is very little to no consequence, the pacing is often very bad and the plot armor is pretty much a joke that is extremely hard to take the game serious.
Love the selection of games here! My personal list would have to also include Xenosaga and Tales of Berseria.
Berseria is one of my favorite Tales games, and Xenosaga is incredible - Takahashi can't be beat!
I still havent played Harvestella but I fell in love with the cover the moment it was announced and cant wait to play it especially after hearing your thoughts about it!
It's amazing. I hope you like it!
Hey, it's the Trails guy!
It's me! Trails 4 Life!
@@JustTheGemsTrails guy CONFIRMED
Love that you included Xenogears, I have a similar experience with that game. I played it over and over on my PS1 it was my favorite game of all time, and I also loved NGE. As a teen I identified with Shinji hating himself. JRPGs hit a lot harder as a teen, I remember when completing a game like FF7 or FF8 or XG I would get really sad for days and miss the characters in them as if they were real people. To this day I still have a hard time listening to Small Two of Pieces because of the memories and emotions it brings back up. In a way I miss those times, but also would never want to go back.
I still feel like that right now as a grown ass man lol. Going through it all again now with FFVII:Rebirth! even harder now that the characters look more realistic and have way more personality lol. I don't want this to ever end!
Yeah, the amount of emotional investment we could afford as kids just can't quite compare with the way it is today for me either, I know what you mean.
@JustTheGems yeah and I wish we had trails at that age. It's good now but I can't imagine 14 year old me getting to experience it.
@keblin86 lucky!! I don't have PS5, I've moved to primarily PC gaming plus switch. I'm so so jealous about FF7 (and God of war) though. Can't wait for the PC ports!
ikr! I was trying so hard not to buy a PS5 as I am mostly PC player too but I can't resist when it comes to FFVII lol. I only bought the PS5 for this really! I will probably buy Rebirth again on PC too because it's so damn good! @@whatismyname5151
I think the story from Tales of Berseria stuck with me more than just about any other game. It's not that the story is so deep but it has a high emotional impact and the ending...well enough said.
Oh absolutely, the story really resonated with me on an emotional level, it's fantastic.
Vagrant story ?? I know it’s more linear and small but the storytelling quality is so high
Yeah 100%, I would say it's a highly story-focused game and it tells it in such a dramatically appealing way.
Lacrimosa of Dana isn't just one of the greatest RPGs I've ever played... it's one of the greatest *video games* I've ever played.
In nearly every RPG I've ever played, there's always a few members of the main cast I don't care for. In FF9, I never felt much for Quina, Amarant or Eiko. FF8 had Zell, Selphie and Irvine fall flat for me. In Ni No Kuni 2, pretty much only Roland and Evan I found endearing. And Sea of Stars made me want to beat Garl over the head with a chair.
But Ys VIII? Every. Single. Character. I ADORED them. Adol, Hummel, Laxia, Ricotta, Sahad and, of course, the titular Dana. This cast was so immensely loveable and charming, and they were all fun to play as.
I love Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. It was a crown jewel experience.
Agreed, they knocked it out of the park with that one. Check out the novel, too, if you haven't already, it's really well-written.
This is excellent idea for a video. Stories are my number 1 priority for choosing the games I play!! 🥰
Mine too! A great story does so much for a game, it's hard for me to measure it.
I literally almost looked ahead in the timeline, oops lol. Good choices of best stories all around! I probably would've put Shadow Hearts up there too, but I just like all the mythos around Roger Bacon haha.
Dude, Shadow Hearts is awesome! I especially loved Covenant, but the whole series is fantastic.
I'm a story & character guy as well, so I may have to check out a few on your list that I haven't played. For me the standouts are the Trails Series, Dragon Quest V, and Suikoden II. I agree that FF VI & Chrono Trigger should always be included in a list such as this as well.
For an underrated recent game that I think should be up there, I'd throw in Triangle Strategy.
Oh I really need to play Triangle Strategy. It's been on the list for a long time now and I love the aesthetic so much
Ya had me scared that you'd feature a list with Harvestella but not Xenogears, but you came through! Hahaha jkjk
But I'd definitely put The World Ends With You on a list like this. It's one I don't see get mentioned very often, but I think the characters and themes they explore really make it some of Square's top notch story telling!
Loved TWEWY! I've been making my way through the anime adaptation recently and just kinda reliving it through there, it's awesome.
Lufia II the ending made me cry....
Me too!! 😭
Chomping at the bit to play Harvestella!
I hope you like it!!
Great joke about the order at the start 😂 im gonna steal that. Just subd
As a die hard Trails fanatic. Thank you for mentioning my favourite series
As a fellow die hard Trails fanatic, you're very welcome!
Phenomenal list and video. I’d like to submit:
SMT/Persona series
Mother 2 and 3
Xenosaga series
Xenoblade chronicles 1 and 3
Valkyria chronicles
Steambot Chronicles
Final Fantasy Tactics, 9-10, 14
Suikoden series
Nier Series
And some honorable mentions:
Star Ocean second story
Vagrant Story
Shadow Hearts series
Parasite Eve
Nice! There are some on that list I really want to play (Steamboat Chronicles, Mother 3).
@@JustTheGems when I first played Steambot I remember vividly thinking two things. “This game makes me feel nostalgic for a time that never existed” and “I wonder if that says something about the nature of our society and capitalism or why we feel nostalgia for times like these?” And I thought these things very early on before much of the story even played out. At that moment I thought this was just a random little JRPG and didn’t think that it would concern itself with any real themes. The rest of my time with that game would confirm that those feelings I had were very intentional. It still impresses me and baffles me that the creators of that game were able invoke very specific ideas in my brain from the first few hours.
Such a great list!
Thanks Milla! This one was a lot of fun to put together.
Did you catch the xenogears reference with Valimar's fist words and his barehands fighting style?
That's a good list. Ys 8 has been on my backlog for a while. Also support the Xenogears mention 100%!!
Ys VIII! It's awesome, I hope you like it!
Great list. I really enjoyed Valkyria chronicles. 1 and 4 are great games though I think I prefer 1’s story more
I need to go back to VC1. I played it up until the part where you fight that one blue-haired lady (I'm blanking, it's been years) and she CRUSHED me, and I got so disheartened I didn't go back...😅
A fellow story lover! Love to see videos about game stories and
I agree with most of these picks especially Y8 I loved the setting and concept
Tho is does break my heart not seeing Nier automata on the list jk😅 if you haven’t played it I highly recommend for its story
Oh yes, Nier and Nier Automata are truly spectacular too! And now I'm hearing we may be getting a third...?
I came for Chrono Trigger, and I wasn’t disappointed 😎
You know homeboy's gotta throw some CT love out there in the world.
I really like the trails series.
I started YS 8 a few days ago. Not even through the first chapter. I am glad to hear the story will be this amazing.
Personally, I would add Suokoden 2, but perhaps I am biased since it is my favorite game of all time.
You know, it's been years and years since I played Suikoden 2 in its entirety. I really want to play it again, but I wanted to wait for the remaster and... Well, you know how that's been going so far. 😣
Great list! Here is mine, and 3 from the same series:
1. Suikoden II. 108 characters and somehow its the best character game to me. I love the setup and delivery for the entire game. And I fell apart when Nanami...well spoilers.
2. Final Fantasy 6. For me 7 doesn't even get close and 8 is better than 7. The sheer epic of the world and what happens to it is amazing. I loved the characters and the opera scene...chefs kiss
3. Persona 2 both: Not many people have played this, but for me was the best marriage of SMT and the "new thing" there is a monumental sacrifice to the story and I'm a suckered for that
4. Suikoden III. A pretty decent game, with some characterizations that are realistic and atypical...I can't give it away, but I love the subtle way the characters react to things that happen, and how uncertain you are of who really is the good guy...then they dare to put you in the shoes of the man that caused it all...the Luc arc makes Suikoden III
5 Xenoblade chronicles: I'm one of those strange people that actually thinks this is better than Xenogears...which is blasphemy.
6. Trails in the Sky SC: an incredible leap in story quality from the setup of first chapter to everything is gold second. What a game, what a ride.
7. Trails to Azure. Who wouldn't cry after this game. It ups the stakes into the stratosphere, and to the very end, you not only feel for the heroes, you feel for the villains as well.
8 Suikoden 5. When this released, I thought it was a return to form. Instead, it would be the last good one. It's still an amazing story, finishing and adding to stories given in the previous games.
9. Final fantasy tactics: a final fantasy that was anything but typical, giving us political intrigue equal to the apocalyptic nature of other Final fantasies. Of course it's just ogre battle...meaning it's fantastic.
10. Dragon quest V. What was it? 4 generations in one game? And the way everything is a generational struggle, the incredible obstacles overcome and the unique aspect of the main characters (your not the chosen one...your the father of the chosen one...) ...I love this game and finished it several times.
Special mention: Phantasy Star IV...a masterpiece of the old, old generation that's been forgotten too soon.
RIP Yoshitaka Murayama...and thank you
Fantastic! This is an excellent list. And I remember being blown away with all the Luc revelations in Suikoden 3. Man, that was a great time.
I’m a massive fan of Tetsuya Takahashi’s work - Xenoblades 1-3 +DLC was my favorite stories - it was massive and sad even at the “end” 800+ hours and worth every minute - love your list 😊❤
Thanks! Yeah, Takahashi is truly incredible.
I'm starting to think he likes Harvestella. 🤔
Oh no, they've discovered my secret!! 😅 lol
- *sees video title*
- *checks if Xenogears is in*
:D
It's GOTTA be!
13 SENTINELS AEGIS RIM, Xenogears, the Xenoblades, FF6-7-10 (my dirty secret is I consider 10-2 very much a part of 10) and probably FFT too, definitely Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology yeah, Undertale if it counts, CHAINED ECHOES if it counts, Triangle Strategy tries a bit hard but I love it, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, all the Suikodens, Trails in the Sky.
Honorary mention to Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Arise, but I think both are flawed. Abyss has weird pacing since it puts a bazillion twists in the first third or so, and Arise is ... if you've played Arise I feel like why it's flawed is so obvious lol but I love love love both.
I adoooore Ys VIII but let's just say I'm very surprised to see it on this particular list lol.
Excellent list! Yeah, I think even very flawed games can have a place on a list like this (not that there's really any game that ISN'T flawed, really)
It's funny I've only finished one game mentioned here and 2 others I've only spent a few hours in. I'll be honest I'm surprised that Crystar wasn't mentioned, personally that would make my Top 10 without doubt that and Triangle Strategy, Blue Reflection Second Light, Yakuza 0 as well as the Xenoblade Chronical games just to name a few. And at the moment I'm playing through Mary Skelter 2 and I'm really looking forward to finding out how the two games are connected. I've so many questions.
Totally, I think if this was a list of 15 I'd have Crystar on there for sure!
That us a good list. I need to get on the ball and get Harvestella before it become one of those expensive games that gets over looked. I would probably put Chrono Cross on my list as for me, it is one of the best games on the original Playstation. My issue with Xenogears is how it is clear they ran of time or money to finish it, and it falls flat on itself (plus, I am still salty to this day about trying to beat the final boss and never being able to).,
I remember struggling SO LONG against the last boss in XG.......
Nice vifeo great list
Thank you!!
So.. I'm not really a story guy. But in your opinion, do you think that games with "bad" stories are better or worse than games with "meh" stories?
I honestly think it depends. If a game has a meh story or an outright BAD story, if the gameplay is great, then I'll probably still have fun with it. But it won't engage me on the same level as even a game with subpar gameplay but an excellent story.
I would put FF 7 (just that game, none of the stuff that came after it) as the fourth best story FF; I rank 6, then 9, then 10, and then 7, and 6 and 9 are really close, with there being a gap between 9 and 10. FF 7 came along at the right time; it was a massive step up in graphics and it was the first playstation FF.
I remember that I was the only person in my entire High School who loved FF 6 and Chrono Trigger, but I also remember that everyone was playing FF 7 in my college dorm. FF 7 was so hyped, and it was such a massive step up for the series into mainstream cultural relevance that JRPGs had never had before. It got all the additional stuff because of when it came along. Don't get me wrong, those top 4 FF are all amongst the greatest games I've ever played, being the fourth best FF is still absolutely an elite all-time game. However, I think FF 7 was a product of perfect timing; you can't become what it's become without being a fantastic game, but FF 9, which I feel is a better game, had the exact opposite happen: FF 9 was the product of the worst timing imaginable.
Ys 8 and the Trails series have completely ruined Action RPGs and turn-based RPGs for me, respectively. I played Star Ocean: Second Story when it first came out years ago, and I loved it, and right now, I'm playing through Second Story R. The remake is a 10/10 remake, but now, when compared with the Trails series and Ys 8, the flaws of the original Star Ocean Second Story becomes painfully apparent. The way the story just drags on in the second half; the way the plot is resolved with techno-babble "magic" with little in the way of consistency and how it undermines choices and consequences just completely stick out. That's not something I noticed before Trails, but once you've played Trails, it's hard to ask a man to go back.
Yeah, I've noticed that it can be a challenge to go back to older games now that there have been so many generations' worth of refinement in development and storytelling. Games like Trails and Ys really have done a lot to move things forward, so it's a shame that they are both still sort of underrated by a lot of people.
@@JustTheGemsIt's not just story refinements, gameplay mechanic refinements also make the older titles harder to play. Ys 8 has a great crafting system, and once you've tried that, you see all the massive flaws of Star Ocean's crafting system. Luck based crafting systems need to disappear, they are terrible game design. They don't require skill and they don't reward exploration, all they do is incentivize save scumming and produce endless monotonous and tedious game play that sucks all the joy out of playing video games. I love Star Ocean, but I can't believe they released a game with a luck based crafting system in 2022, that doesn't make sense.
Old school retro rpgs are the best ones Branden, everyone knows that silly man. 😮
My nostalgia will always agree with that.
I'd also include Suikoden 2 on this list. Some other personal preferences but overall pretty good.
Thank you! Yeah I need to replay Suikoden 1 and 2, but I'm waiting on the remaster. And waiting. And...
I need to play Omori. I have heard it's quite the experience and you convinced me to finally pick it up and play it.
It definitely is. It's pretty heavy at times, but it's so good
Xenogears is that one game that I can still play, today, without any mods
Okay, that's an exaggeration; virtually everything with hand drawn art is still on the table. Doubly so if it's pixel art.
But, gfd... Xenogears hits just as hard as the year it came out.
It's amazing. I just replayed it about a year or so ago and I loved it even more than I did before.
Xenogears is the GOAT, my greatest gaming dream is they do a remake of it...
Same. Same.
The most amazing thing about ff6 having a great story is that it does so with one arm tied behind its back. If the WoR was as polished as the WoB, it would be one of the best stories inside or outside of gaming
Yeah, I think WoR was sort of an experiment, the whole open-world, non-linear thing was relatively new, and they were figuring things out as they went. I bet they'd knock it out of the park today.
My Top 10 JRPG Stories
10. Grandia II - A complete contrast to the grand adventure vibes from the first Grandia game but Grandia II took things in a darker direction and because the game is very 100% complete friendly it makes the story stick with you more.
9. Xenogears - while folks will say “Good game but disc 2 sucks.” 100% disagree, I feel the challenges and circumstances revolving around Xenogears development actually enhanced the story, the plot twist with Fei and a certain character on Disc 2! still has me chocked up.
8. Persona 3 FES - Along with Nier Automata the most depressing game I have ever played story wise but deals with anxiety, depression and other complicated themes really well.
7. The Legend of Dragoon - For a single entry game, Legend of Dragoon has such rich lore and story beats its the reason why so many folks want a pre-quel or sequel
6. Nier Automata - This is the JRPG that even none JRPG fans love, a game with multiple endings could end in a giant mess but Nier handles everything beautifully
5. Final Fantasy X - The weight of Sin causing that much pain and suffering to Spira for decades and decades and decades still holds up as one of the most interesting narratives in the series
4. Final Fantasy VI - Ticks every box, multi-cast narrative done to perfection (even though technically the Ted Woosley Uncensored version is still the best way to experience it 🤔😂) Opera scene, Celes and Locke, magic story telling
3. Chrono Trigger - The greatest time travel story ever told in fiction, I played the SNES version for the first time back in 2016 and STILL holds up today.
2. Tales of the Abyss - I know Tales of the Abyss is considered in the Tales of holy trinity with fans but I feel Tales of the Abyss doesn’t get enough respect as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, Luke’s arc in the entire game is so authentic and masterfully done, spoilt amnesia prince to down to earth sympathetic hero by the end, many video games these days would spread TOAT narrative across multiple entries and fail, while TOAT does it within one and succeeds so well.
1. Kingdom Hearts Xehanort Saga - Here me out lol …. I know KH gets dogged one a lot for its story but I personally believe something like MGS gets praised for its complicated story because ‘guns are cool’ while KH is deemed convoluted because it’s disney. I do concede the mobile/PC/Back Cover movie portion of the series did mess up a PERFECT narrative… BUT if you play all the KH games (minus the mobile/PC games and the back cover movie) and include MOM, TWEWY, Neo TWEWY, and Smash Ultimate world of light mode as Sora…… not kidding, the greatest adventure ever told about a boy ‘Sora’ sacrificing himself to save his friends, true love, and the entire world.
🍻
This is a great list! I for one have really wanted to get fully absorbed into Kingdom Hearts, but just like so many people are scared of things like the Trails series because of all the entries, I kinda feel that way about KH! 😅 But I own all of them, so I'll get to them one day.
@@JustTheGems If we ever meet for a bevy or a coffee you have to teach me the Trails way!! 😂😂 so much praise, yet i haven’t taken the dive yet, sounds like im missing out, I gotta fix that 🍻
This is why I’m subscribed 😎
Heck yeah! :)
This reminds me that I gotta get back to Ys VIII eventually. I was enjoying the game but the game is a crime to the eyes on Switch so I gotta get it on Steam so it actually looks acceptable lol.
Haha yeah, it's cool that they got it on the Switch at all, but it definitely has its struggles
I would add Suikoden I (haven't played the others), Persona 5, and FF4
Heck yes! I especially want to do a replay of all the Suikoden games sometime soon.
Xenosaga is, in my opinion, still the best story ever told.
Chrono Trigger I played for the first time about 5 years ago so even with no nostalgia attached I still consider it one of the best games ever made.
That's good to hear that people are still able to really see the beauty in Chrono Trigger even if they didn't grow up with it.
Radiant Historia is one of my favorite games of all time and it's a crime that it's not on the switch.
FF6 has the best story of any final fantasy. I would argue that Terra is the main character in the world of balance and Celes is in the world of ruin. Also fun fact, FF6 story was so dark and heavy that Japanese gamers complained and that's why every other final fantasy had crazy tonal shifts. See FF7 where right after the huge section in Midgar falls, killing countless people, you ditch that place and are out on the bright cheery world map.
Ys 8 is amazing. I've only played Ys 1 and 8. But I've bought all that ones between on steam. But Ys 8 had a fantastic story with the visions across time and trying to solve the mystery of what happened to the island.
Trails is so great. I've only played the first two the last two years. Plan to play the third this year.
I just bought harvestella based on yours and chicken fillets recommendation of it.
Chrono trigger... What needs to be said. Incredible. Love me some time travel.
Xenogears... What would it be like in a world where the second disc was the same as the first?
I'm glad to hear you picked up Harvestella! I'll be curious to hear what you think when you're able to get to it!
@@JustTheGems you on discord at all? Or expecting me to tell you about it in a comment on TH-cam? 🤣
I am in New Mexico this week for work, just went into a gaming store. They had two copies of radiant Historia 3ds version, one complete in box, one loose.
Xenoblade Chronicles tops my list, but it's followed by Xenogears, Xenosaga, FFVII, and Chrono Trigger.
Hey nice, always happy to find more Xeno/Takahashi fans! 😁
Honestly, I’ve played so many JRPGS in the past 10 years and I seriously couldn’t tell you the plot to 9/10 of them. I always lose track of wtf is going on and just sort of jump from town to town, quest to quest, and don’t really know what’s going on with the main story. So many of them are so needlessly convoluted-seriously, does anyone really know wtf happened in FF8? It was so confusing and off the wall and that’s just one example. Tactics ogre reborn, another more recent example. I lost track of that in probably three hours. Don’t get me wrong, I love the gameplay and combat of JRPGs, but I lose track of the stories so fast and they’re always so needlessly complex.
Sometimes I don't fully understand a JRPG story until I play it again. I think in the initial playthrough, sometimes it can be overwhelming for me and things wash over me. I wouldn't say I fully understand the story of FF8, but replaying it a few years ago, I felt like it made quite a bit more sense to me than it did initially.
Chrono Trigger is so good
It's just incredible
Brilliant content yet again Brandon! Story Deffo trumps gameplay (as long as it’s at least half decent haha)
I tried to played Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE not long ago and I had to stop as the story was just not for me.
You have made me aware of some “gems” here which I will look into further.
You reckon the trails series will come to switch? 😂 I’m saving for the Deck but if it comes out before I buy it then boom! I can always dream!
I HOPE it all comes to Switch. I know we're still missing the Sky trilogy and the first two Cold Steel on Switch, so it would be very nice if they could just get everything on there and call it a day.
Very interesting list and not what I was expecting. I admit I haven't actually played many of these - surprisingly. I will absolutely go to bat for Xenogears however. It needs a remake before I die. Better graphics, better translation and full voice acting is All I ask. I would also addThat Xenosaga on the PS2 is on par with it, despite being unfinished. They wrapped it up after 3 games but they could have and were going to do so much more. The first and 3rd games are fantastic, but the story is vastly consistant throughout. If you can play it, do so. Unfortunately it's still stuck ONLY on PS2. That needs to not be so. It's my number 1 game story of all time.
I'm REALLY hoping for a remaster/remake of Xenosaga on Switch. It needs to happen.
It absolutely does ... just not only on the switch. Though as Monolith is sadly subject to Nintendo, the likelihood of Xenosaga or Xenoblade being on anything else is sadly very low. I genuinely don't want a Switch. But a Xenosaga remaster might push me over the edge into getting one. Mostly just don't like their controllers. But there are the rare exclusives such as the Xenoblade series I really would like to play one day.
Radiant Historia my favourite of all 💜
It's truly brilliant.
2024 is finally my year for Xenogears and I'm super excited to play it!!
Heck yes! Let me know what you think when you get going!
@@JustTheGems for sure man? 👍🏽💯
I don't know if it qualifies, but amongst the games I've played from the Final Fantasy series (most but not all), the very best story for me has been FFXIV. None of the other games had so many moments that had me in tears or left me with my jaw dropped.
I've tried a couple of times to get into 14, and I really want to -- but I just have such a hard time with the gameplay loop. Maybe I should try it on console instead of PC, since I'm almost 100% a console gamer.
@JustTheGems I tried to switch from PC to console when the PS5 version dropped, but I was too entrenched in KB/mouse control scheme. But I know so many console players that are great and have a blast. The story is fantastic
I'm not finished with the video yet but can you place both FF's in the same list? There's such a debate when it comes to those two that I feel like it's not possible. However both of them do have great stories so maybe it's allowed here. All right, time to finish the video.
Their fans do tend to fight, but I think they sit super comfortably next to each other as siblings! 😁
@@JustTheGems That's an excellent way to describe them. Siblings 😀
It pains me so few people were able to play the full Xensosaga Trilogy. The greatest space opera of all time, relegated to obscurity...
Absolutely. We need these games redone or at least made accessible.
@@JustTheGems Fortunately, we have retro handhelds and emulation to help us out now.
Skies of Arcadia
Storywise Xenogears and FF6 are in my top 1 or 2 of all time
Xenogears is hard to play today though for the movement and speed of the game, still love it but it needs some modern love and making the later half less talking and more showing. It does not need a FF7R update, but maybe something more akin to Star Ocean 2 R.
FF6 I can still play the original SNES/Super Famicon version just as well as the PR or GBA/DS version.
Yeah, a sort of HD-2D remake of Xenogears would be PERFECT.
Still want the 3d-ish (maybe almost pure Anime style that was in the CGI) for Xenogears. Biggest two complaints are movement based. 1. Platforming needs to be better maybe due to 3d instead of 2d*8 directions. 2. Allow for faster movement.
Then of course add
- Ramus as a party member in the 2nd disc, there was a decently hard one when it first came out that had something to do with the wedding dress
- Open up the world more in the second disc by making you actually travel to the spots and do not just do expostion dump
- Due to VR exist now: could make a place around where Elly ages that gives some super challenging bosses from that "time" period or just enhanced versions of older bosses (via SO2)
GRANDIA 1 .
I need to replay that, it's been decades!
If I may give some criticism, the background music is too busy/invasive my ADHD mind is having trouble focusing on your words.
Noted, thanks! 😁
"Track this one down in any way you can" aka Hshop
I would NEVER 😂 Nintendo don't come and kill me!
TBH stories are secondary to me as I value more the gameplay in video games. I love a good story but not if it interrupts too heavily with the gameplay. For example, I rank Xenoblade Chronicles 3 much lower than others do because at one point I got so frustrated with not being to actually play the game for over an hour because of cutscenes. That said I want to give the nostalgia shoutout to Final Fantasy IV. Consider at the time, there was really nothing like it story wise and the game just gave me the feels in such a strong way. Also I love your shirt Brandon!
Thank you! And I agree, there are times when story can become obtrusive, even for me. Believe me, I experienced some of the 90 minute cutscenes in Metal Gear Solid 4....
Cozy story and easy going games that don’t need a lot of work to complete:
Lunar complete story
Lunar eternal blue
Grandia 1
Games that are semi hard core in terms of story and gameplay
Final fantasy 4&6&10
Odin sphere
Games that are hard core in terms of story telling:
Persona 4 golden (in my opinion it’s the best persona game)
Nier automata ( so far the best story I have seen in almost everything)
Yakuza like a dragon
Judgment the first game
And finally tales of bersiria the best tales game ever
Great list! I also agree, Berseria is really, really high on my list (sometimes it's number 1, depending on how I'm feeling at the moment.😅)
Xenogears
Xenogears 4 Life. 👍
It's not true that you won't be able to put down the Trails series. I started last February, then I put it down last August... Well to be fair, that was because I finished all 10 English localized games in original release order. But still, I stopped. Pay no attention to those withdrawal symptoms...
I'm on the same journey, replaying them all (I'm in the middle of Azure now, I started back in January -- got distracted with Rebirth for a bit, but now I'm back on.)
No Suikoden 2 huh? I would’ve replaced it with Understale.
I'll be honest, I played it so long ago that I don't remember much about the story. And the translation was pretty rough, as I recall, so I probably didn't fully absorb it. I'm looking forward to the remaster, hopefully they get all that cleaned up.
Lost Odyssey
FFX and FF Tactics have the best stories in jrpgs ever.
Nice! I wish I could have experienced the full FFT story, but I was a Bad Gamer and got super stuck when I was a kid, and I never went back.
Suikoden 2
Absolutely!
Harvestella!!!!!! Really 😅😂😂😂
Totally!
...I can't tell if you're agreeing or not...😅
@JustTheGems hahaha doesn't matter if I agree or not 🤣 it's you're own opinion. I have heard nothing good about harvestella ever! That's why I'm shocked.
@@Daniikar honestly, Harvestella is one of my all-time favorite games, period, highly recommend it.
@@JustTheGems might have to try it oneday tbh
👌🏻
♥️
What makes Undertale a JRPG considering it’s not Japanese? Wouldn’t it be a Neo-JPRG or JPRG inspired?
I would say that "Japanese Role-Playing Game" is like "French fries." They're Role-Playing Games made in the Japanese style. So any game that uses that style is a JRPG in my book, even if it doesn't originate from the country.
Final Fantasy Tactics
One of the greatest!
Final Fantasy XIV has one of the best stories in any media. People look past it because it's an MMO, but Natsuko Ishikawa and Banri Oda (the lead writer and her loremaster) have crafted an absolute masterpiece that shouldn't be ignored.
The length of time it takes to experience it alone detracts from any interest I have in experiencing it.
So I've heard! I'd love to experience it, maybe if/when they make it fully solo-playable I'll be able to do it (I think that's coming at some point)
Undertale, Omori, Ys, Trails, Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger... wasn't expecting to see so many franchises I've played, and I'd agree!
... But if you're including Undertale and Omori I'd lose the J in the video's title for accuracy's sake.
Oh, I have to disagree on the etymology of JRPG. Like I said to another commenter, in my book, "Japanese Role-Playing Game" is the same as "French fries." They're just role-playing games in the Japanese style. The country of origin doesn't matter, it's all about the product. That's how I see it at least.
@@JustTheGems Okay, so Japan somehow owns a style and if it's ever made in another country then it's really Japanese? It doesn't 'add nuance' to the term. It makes it more meaningless, and discredits anyone from any other country making them. 'French fries' is a specific item. 'JRPG' is a category that people expect accuracy for and use it to narrow down.
I don't see any problem with just calling it RPG.
@@giuseppeparry1365 Tomato-tomahto my friend
@@JustTheGems Right-wrong. But this isn't going anywhere.
Final Fantasy Tactics is the greatest story in the FF series.
I've heard a lot of people are huge fans. I'm hoping to play it soon! (Maybe they'll do a remaster/remake.)
Personally, I'd consider Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to have one of the best stories - not only do I love the main characters, especially Rex/Pyra/Nia, Zeke, and Tora, but the villains are loveable too. Sure, at first they seem like regular "evil for the sake of evil", but as the story progresses, it becomes clear why Jin is so torn up, why he'd side with Malos - and why Malos is the way he is. Not to mention King Eulogeminos, doing what he thinks is best for the world, then after being proven wrong he becomes quite a nice and memorable guy.
It also helps that this fantastic story is complemented by fun and surprisingly deep combat, and a bunch of beautiful Titans and areas to explore; Gormott, Leftherian Archipelago, Tantal, even Morytha and Uraya. Indeed, I find XC2 to be a far more gorgeous and enjoyable game than XC3, as it takes way too many steps backwards in almost every aspect.
I'd love for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to get more recognition and praise - sure, it's not perfect in any way, in terms of gameplay mechanics and the Old Factory in Mor Ardain being the laggiest and most confusing area, and the tutorials provided are lacklustre, but I'd consider it the most enjoyable Xenoblade game by far.
The gameplay and characters elevate it even over the first game, and XC: Definitive Edition is still a bloody fantastic game.
I really enjoyed Xenoblade 2, and I think all of the Takahashi games are very worthy of being on a list like this
I can't help but feel all the accolades you praised in final fantasy 7 trails outpaced already. 7 is basically the only Square Enix game that comes close to the richness of the trails games when it comes to world building.
I say that btw as someone who is currently fully immersed in ff7, after being a sceptic of the remake i took the release of rebirth to buy both new games and are currently in the process of making my way through the remake and it's good... and you can argue this would be the vision they had for the original ff7 years ago but couldnt realise it/ flesh it out due to the limitations of that time.
But trails world building/story telling is unmatched
True. One thing I think would elevate Trails even more, though, is having some stories in other media. Like novels or a movie or something. I've really enjoyed experiencing the world of FF7 outside of just the games.
Xenogears mf.