Top Ten JRPGs Of This Generation

With Ni No Kuni releasing worldwide, Dealspwn's Matt Gardner takes a look at some of the finest Japanese RPGs that this generation has had to offer.

[Phil32]

Definitely agree with number one (Xenoblade Chronicles). Fantastic, wonderful, *insert your own positive adjective here*.

I loved the combat, the story was engaging, the world was breathtaking, and the soundtrack was absolutely awesome.

[MaxXAttaxX]

Xenoblade was pretty good. But I have beef with some of the choices made:

First of all, I'm not sure why they put Persona 3 and 4 together. They're awesome games on their own, especially P4 Golden. That game takes the cake for one of the very best games in recent years. It should also be higher on the list.

Tales of Graces F was better than Vesperia.

And Valkyria Chronicles could have been included I think.

[wishingW3L]

Valkyria Chronicles in "honorable mentions", what a joke! Valkyria is much better than half the games in that Top 10 for god's sake....

[joab777]

I agree. It was my favorite but ni no kuni may beat it. Not sure yet. It is funny how many of my favorite games ever are kn this list, including dragons dogma, my favoriye game of 2012. Now, we need anoth Valkyria, Dragons Dogma, Persona and Lost Odyssey.

Also, isnt it funny that FF decided this genre was dying so they began morphing into another generic, saturated genre. Why cant tbey see that what we want is old tradition jrpg updated. U can evolve without ditching everything that made it great. They baffle me.

[3-4-5]

Maybe it should have been a top 11 then. I'm currently 5 hours into VC 2...the only one I've played a I like it a lot so far. It's different...in a good way.

[deep_fried_bum_cake]

I would say that so is Tales of Graces f, but that hasn't even made the honourable mentions.

[ThyMagicSword]

Xenoblade Chronicles deserves to be the best on the list, even people who do not like JRPGs could like Xenoblade.

[Godmars290]

At the very least, FF13 isn't anywhere on the list.

[karlowma]

Lost Odyssey was a fantastic game that any fans of PS1/PS2 era JRPG's really need to check out.

Also nice to see some recognition for Crisis Core. This game was so well done, and works perfectly on a handheld. Also, the CG in this game is AMAZING. Youtube it.

[kevnb]

xenoblade is a beast of a game, best played through dolphin emulator if possible. Its a shame it saw such a limited release in north america and most people will never play it. Only flaw is that characters wont shut up during combat, but everything else is so awesome I just put up with it.

[karlowma]

"best played through dolphin emulator"

Like any GC/Wii game. :P

[InsaneChronos]

Xenoblade is too bad to be the best JRPG.

[dorron]

Glad to see Eternal Sonata and Ni No Kuni there...

[TXIDarkAvenger]

Tales of Vesperia was pretty awesome.

[Hicken]

Yeah... Valkyria Chronicles and The World Ends With You should have made this list. I would replace Mario&Luigi and Dark Souls; is Vesperia even the best Tales game this generation? I think Graces f has seen a better reception.

[Xof]

Dark Souls is a WRPG. Where a game is made has no bearing on its genre (or, when it comes to RPGs, thematic elements).

Valkyria Chronicles is a Strategy game--you're not assuming the role of the characters, you're playing missions set in a "history book." That framing device prevents it from being categorized as an SRPG.

As for Tales of Vesperia being the best Tales Of game this generation... well, maybe. I'd say it ties with Tales of the Abyss 3D--less fun story, more fun protagonist--though the Japan-only PS3 version's improvements may well widen that gap.

...

And some other great JRPGs this generation that bear mentioning:

Infinite Space (NDS)
Fire Emblem Awakening (3DS)
Persona 4 The Golden (Vita)
Ys Seven (PSP)
Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (PSP)
Dragon Quest V (NDS)
Dragon Quest VI (NDS)
Dragon Quest IX (NDS)
Chrono Trigger (NDS)
Nier (PS3)
Disgaea 4 (PS3)
Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

...And I feel like I'm forgetting a few really good games, but I just can't think of the names....

[Rayansaki]

Agree with #1 #2 and #10 and that's it really.

No Resonance of Fate? Dark Souls but no Demon's Souls? such a random list

[Rohered]

Vesperia miss is fan audiance PS3 in occident!!!