Persona 5 Voted Best RPG of All Time by Famitsu Readers; NieR: Automata Places 4th

Japanese Famitsu readers vote their favorite RPGs of all time. While some results are expected, some might surprise you.

[FallenAngel1984]

Tales of Berseria is my favorite RPG of 2017

[gangsta_red]

Berseria was really good and was a return to what I loved from that series.

[Princess_Pilfer]

Super repetitive combat (I know it has depth, but it's so easy to simply overpower everything that it may as well not be there,) empty environments and really boring protagonists?

I mean, it's better than Symphonia but that's a really low bar.

[gangsta_red]

I liked the combat in Berseria. Granted it could have used a lot more tweaking...for example, having a demo to actually seeing the combo move before you use it in battle would have helped emensly.

The empty environments has always been a huge complaint of mine for the Tales series and I had hoped it would have been addressed in Berseria but yea that is a huge negative to the game.

As for the protagonist, I seriously disagree, I thought Velvet was bad ass in a Kratos way and her transformation at the end didn't feel forced liked GoW 3.

The rest of the cast was great too and the way they all blended well was great anime fanfare. Reminded me of Outlaw Star or Cowboy Beebop.

The Tales series definitely has potential if Namco could just spend some more time getting it up to par with current gen games.

[Princess_Pilfer]

I like the combat for the first couple hours. Then I figured out that I can win every fight by dodging 2 or 3 attacks, using her arm power to murder everything (thus gaining the SP back), re-entering the arm power mode and repeating until everything was dead.

Except after like the first hour of the game she has like no development till like the very end. Being "badass" in a story focused game is only going to get you so far.

[babadivad]

It has the simplest combat of all the 3d tales games. I'm playing on the hardest difficulty and I haven't broken a sweat yet. Arm power owns all. Every button is an attack button. I hope they fall back or further refine this in the next game.

As far as combat, this was the worst of the bunch to me.

[Relientk77]

Tales of Berseria is amazing, that and Persona 5 are my 2 favorite games this year so far

[Rangerman1208]

No Sword art online? /s

But seriously though, I'm surprised other great JRPGs like Lost Odyssey, Pokemon and Valkyria Chronicles weren't mentioned.

[DragonKnight]

Someone once discussed in a topic about Japanese fans that they will always vote in the most recent thing as "the best of all time" so take this stuff with a grain of salt.

Persona 5 is alright. It was my first Persona game and in my opinion it takes the concept of "on-rails" way too far. Definitely not the best RPG of all time imo.

[yeahright2]

Yeah but in the west we suffer from the opposite. for us it's always the original was better than the remake/reboot. or when talking "of all time" we feel obligated to choose something from the past. And I've found that a lot of that has to do with a fear of choosing something current or recent will get your opinion viewed as invalid.

[MoveTheGlow]

Famitsu readers continuously lack a long-term memory. I've seen these types of lists before out of them, and it's always the best game of the last six or so months. In 2010, their Greatest Game list was topped by Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.

[Abriael]

That's easily balanced out by nostalgia. The second ranked is from 1988.

[krontaar]

to be fair the game is almost a year old in japan

[AspiringProGenji]

Damn right! I'm clocking insane hrs into this game. That is just how awesome it is... Currently on my 3rd playthrought (NG+).

[Testfire]

I'm looking forward to this when I clear out some other games first.

[solideagle]

I could never play an rpg twice because it's just too long. I think i played persona 4 twice to unlock yoshitsune. I only pay action games twice like dmc or god of war...

[yeahright2]

heh, I platinumed the witcher 3 twice. and did a new game plus run where I did every side quest and cleared every question mark. But then a game like yakuza, I finished and never picked back up. For me it just varies from game to game how much time I put into it.

[indysurfn]

I played THE LEGEND OF HERO'S TRAILS OF COLD STEEL II through THREE times and it is a 180 hour game (on the first play though at least).

[solideagle]

wow guys you are legend. its maybe because i have so many to play thats why I never play RPGs twice. I always jump in generation 3-4 years in like I have unopened PS4 for last 2 years :p and when i will open it I will have so many to finish :d

[MegamanXXX]

Had a blast with this game

[hulk_bash1987]

Definitely in the top 5 rpgs ive ever played. Its so fun and stylized.

[BlakHavoc]

My runner up so far for 2017. Spectacular game, this is coming from a new comer and someone who normally doesn't play JRPGs.

[Xx_Pistol_xX]

A must play game for any RPG fan.

[Elda]

Persona on the PS1 was the first Persona game I ever played but I never played the other installments guessing it just didn't catch my interest.Persona 5 did catch my interest & seeing all the great scores I said I must try it & the game blew me away!! It's definitely worth every penny I spent on the game knowing you can not really finish the game unless you put over a hundred hours into the game,my playtime was 136 hrs.Persona 5 is the best JRPG this generation hands down!! Nier:Autamata is my second best action JRPG of 2017 while Horizon is my best western ARPG of 2017.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Do yourself a favor after you complete Persona 5 and definitely download Persona 3 and 4 on PlayStation 3!

Trust me if you like Persona 5 you're going to like to Persona 3 and 4 just as much.

[Elda]

You think so? I loved Persona 5 stories & everything about it,maybe I'll go to Gamestop & buy them.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Absolutely the stuff with the school and classmates are just amazing in 3 and 4. All the amazing style and music really kicks off with three and four.

If you're going to buy them on PlayStation 3 you could only find them digitally on PlayStation Network.

[GameBoyColor]

Witcher is better, more content and cdpr actually is consumer friendly unlike atlus/sega. Plus non of that kiddy anime cartoon bs.

[Soulst0rmer]

Two entirely different types of RPGs and there hot shot

[GameBoyColor]

So? The title says best rpg, which is the witcher. Not this anime trash meant for kids and has the graphics of a ps2 game. The japanese must have some pretty poor taste in games to rank all those weeaboo dream games in front of witcher 3.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@game-but that's subjective you also have to understand this is based on Japanese readers there are clearly choosing Persona 5.

Buddy it's completely subjective whether or not The Witcher 3 is the best RPG this generation I would actually say it's less of an RPG than the first.

I don't remember potions and bombs Auto generating in the first Witcher game.

I'm pretty positive in the first game I used to gain traits by leveling up they didn't just all appear for me day one.

The Witcher 3 is not a bad game but by no means what I say it is the best RPG this entire generation simply because by default I would consider it less of an RPG than the very first.

I mean for god sakes you literally are doing less to complete specific missions than the very first game.

That is 100% a fact that is not something that is subjective.

In the very first Witcher game every time you needed potions bonds and other ingredients you actually had to do the Alchemy every single time for each item in The Witcher 3 if you do it once they're given to you automatically.

In the very first Witcher game you actually needed to meditate only at the fires.

Yeah in The Witcher 3 you actually could do it anywhere and everywhere in fact you could even meditate and gain your life back before you enter a fight or dungeons.

So basically Witcher 3 is on easy mode it's literally removing specific requirements that were needed in the first game.

I mean for god sakes you don't even need to really purchase anything to gain life if you could just meditate every single damn place for free

Persona 5 is it 100% RPG you must level up you must actually use the specific attributes to beat the game.

Witcher 3 is a literally giving you some of these things as complete options as opposed to requirements.

[Princess_Pilfer]

And where is it that the game boy color was developed? Do you think it and all it's games were developed exclusively by people in texas?

[jznrpg]

I really enjoyed the Witcher but P5 is much better if I had to pick one.

[Why o why]

Without fail. . . . .There will always be 1. . . . .

[AspiringProGenji]

This is Famitsu, which is a Japanese publication. Witcher 3 is from the west

Now get lost Witcher fanboy

[GameBoyColor]

At least some of the japanese aren't that xenophobic and voted for witcher to get to the top #20, but yeah, that's how I know most japanese gamers and the industry over there is backwards as hell. But nah, they gotta have their anime girls everywhere or they'll die out.

[guyman]

"but yeah, that's how I know most japanese gamers and the industry over there is backwards as hell"

Yea The witcher 3 is amazing but you lost all credibility with this dumb statement

[Dragonscale]

The witcher is totally overrated lol.

[l3w1s]

The Witcher 3 needs to at least become a decent game first, not even talking about a decent rpg.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Completely irrelevant if you consider both the games are completely different you might also add that content in regards to filler doesn't necessarily mean any game is better than the other I mean by default you might as well say no man's sky is better than The Witcher 3

Mind you I enjoyed the Witcher 3 but I did not care for all of the filler in ridiculous run around that the main story had it was beyond ridiculous.

ie I'll tell you where your friend is if you could beat me in this horse race.

Now that you beat me in this horse race I'll tell you where your friend is if you could help my daughter find a man

Now that my daughter is married I'll tell you where your friend is if you could help my other daughter get off of drugs.

This is seriously the entire Witcher 3 it got to the point where I actually found the run-around offensive because the game basically lacks a real coherent Story the real meat of the main story is actually extremely short there's just so much irrelevant filler that is just completely unnecessary.

Soooo no, finding all of dandelions damn girlfriends is not something that I enjoy and has nothing to do with the main story it is literally just irrelevant filler Quest ie 90% of the game.

The vast majority of The Witcher 3 that I enjoyed simply just the random side quest.

Persona 5 gets straight to the point in regards to the concept of the game it doesn't sit around jerking you over and over again to the stupid random irrelevant Quest ie I'll tell you where your friend went if you could help me deliver this baby calf lol

Don't get me wrong I enjoy The Witcher 3 in terms of the side quest but the structure of the main quest is just riddled with filler.

[bluefox755]

It's a fantastic game. First time in years that I've put over 100 hours into a game and still wished that it was longer.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Of all time? OF ALL TIME?

[X-23]

Its a subjective thing really; RPG's that is, my first RPG was Chrono Trigger on the SNES at least thats how I remember it. After that I got the itch and started playing all over the place. I've played so many I can't even remember them all, but I do know the best ones are the ones that tend to stick out in your mind after all the years have passed.

imo I do remember mostly all the games on the list even though I don't agree with the order, but I don't think the order is even important. I do find it interesting that for some reason FF VIII has started to creep back into relevancy amongst people again. Don't know why, it's been overshadowed by FF VII since it's inception it seems like...then again what FF game hasn't.

I haven't played Persona 5. I likely will sometime down the line, I don't want to ride the wave of hype it created though as it may disappoint me in the end. The Witcher 3 being included on it amongst other great titles is a pretty good testament as to how good the game is.

I think Super Mario RPG, Lunar Silver Star Story, Breath of Fire III and Final Fantasy Tactics belong on that list and Star Ocean The Second Story. All the games on the list they made though are pretty good RPGs.

[Tetsujin]

I agree with Chrono Trigger being my all time favorite; it's the RPG where I started playing the genre on a regular basis as I gotten older. The fact CT to this day is still held in high regard is proof the 90's had some games you can't make today with that kind of impact on the industry.

I haven't tried Persona 5 because of Evo (which I made quarterfinals), and the back catalog of games I still need to go through before starting something new.

[X-23]

Congratulations on Evo and yeah I know what you mean, I'm huge on fighting games myself and it's hard to divide your time amongst different games let alone different genres.

I agree with your comment about the 90's era games as well, even when a team of devs; be it AAA or Indie set out to emulate that retro experience it still just isn't the same. The first time CT that moment right before you step into Magus's Castle for the first time, pure gold.

[TheColbertinator]

That list is great. Japanese gamers and me get along well in terms of choice.

[Yohshida]

This gen 100%, but all time? not even close. I wouldnt even put nier on the all time RPG list. Its a Action game first.

[ModiJi]

Nice. Well deserved

[VersusDMC]

While persona 5 is the best persona mechanically... I'd still give 4 my top spot, followed by 3 then 5. I preferred the story and characters in 3 and 4. Also having no Lotus Juice in 5 didn't help it either. 😏

[plmkoh]

You are right, Persona 4 is much superior to 5 in almost every way from characters to story. Persona 5 is more refined in presentation but that is to be expected from a game that has basically 10 years on Persona 4.

[gangsta_red]

The style and design of P5 is beyond good and I am definitely enjoying the game but for the moment I still hold FF III (na) for SNES still the best jrpg.

[JLynn943]

Recency bias says what?

[Summons75]

This game was really fun but I still like Persona 4 better. Really hated how much time you spent reading text messages and how long they went on sometimes just because they didn't want to make a cutscene. Not to mention Morgana ranks up there with Fi and Navi as the most annoying sidekick..." you should go to bed", no I want to SAVE before I go to bed so I can stop but now I have to go through two or three more days because you just won't let me stop. The story is awesome and the gameplay and music are the SMT perfection I've always known and loved though.

[Servbot41]

Fi and Morgana are incomparable. Morgana is just a mouthpiece for a mechanic that would have existed otherwise and existed in Persona 4 as well. Even when Morgana is absent from the group the same message about going to bed pops up.

Fi, however, was a "solution" to problems that otherwise didn't exist in Zelda. Explaining every item every time you turned on the game, giving away solutions to puzzles, long dialog instances; Navi and Tatl never took it that far. Fi was truly an abomination on another level not seen before in the series.

This is coming from someone who loved Persona 4 and 5, but wouldn't put them in their top three (J)RPGs. Xenoblade is definitely my favorite and I could replay that almost any day of the week, its a shame about its "sequel."

[Segata]

I like Perosna 5 a lot but it's not the best in it's own series. Nier Automata I loved but neither of these would I put "all time" unless we talk story then yeah NA has a great story.

[Tross]

I don't know about all time, but Persona 5 is my favourite RPG of this gen. I'd actually have to take more time to think of what my favourite RPG of all time is, especially if I consider both Western and Japanese RPGs. Maybe Chrono Trigger? I'm sporting a Persona 3 avatar as that was my introduction to this amazing series. I've played so many games in general that I'd be hard pressed to pin down my absolute favourite even in a single genre.

[slappy508]

I thought Persona 5 is great and ive never really played or gotten into turn based rpgs. I need to do a new game plus

[DarXyde]

Well deserved. Persona 5 is truly exceptional and a cut above in every way. I thought Persona 4 Golden was a fantastic improvement over 3 yet 5 still found a way to outshine it. I'll give a leg up to P4G for the humor and plot twist which I thought was better than 5's elements in those regards, but Atlus really outdid themselves all around otherwise. They kicked ass AND kept it turn based. They, along with Sony Japan and Nintendo, are honestly my favorite developers.

I'm getting ahead of myself here, but I'm VERY interested in seeing three spinoffs and inevitable Persona 6 (or even 5 remake on a new Sony handheld).

[Nacho_Z]

I only played the demo but I'm surprised to see NieR classed as an RPG. To me it's very much an action game. I don't think that action game with RPG elements = RPG.

[Nivekki]

Going through Persona 5 at the moment and I love it, best turn based rpg I've ever played. Story is excellent.

[S2Killinit]

YOu owe it to yourself to play this

[goken]

played a few of these games on the list
xenogears, FF6,7,8,9 (only completed tutorial on 15), suikoden II, chronotrigger.
no DQ8 i thought it was pretty good (actually on DQ game i played)
kinda disappointed skies of arcadia and grandia not on the list... i thought these are among the best jrpgs i have played

[LoveSpuds]

Hmmmm, as much as I am enjoying Persona 5, I think back to the likes of Baldurs Gate 2, Skyrim, Neverwinter Nights, Witcher 3, Final Fantasy 7 and Planescape Torment as games that defined RPG's when they released whereas Persona 5 is kind of typical of a JRPG.

Outside of its stellar presentation it is very much a Persona game, it hasn't revolutionised RPGs in any meaningful way. This isn't to downplay just how fantastic Persona 5 is, it is a tremendous title and one that any RPG fan absolutely needs to play.

[leoms]

Nice, Three Persona games on that list

[Relientk77]

Put over a 110 hours in it so far and still playing it. Easily one of the best JRPGs this generation so far, if not the best

[1060FX8300]

Hell yeah

[GamesMaster1982]

The Witcher 3 is mine. Then Final Fantasy 15 loved that but hated the ones before it, wierd i know.

[lizard81288]

Did Zelda make this list?

[Nathan_Hale53]

Damn, what a honor. I can't wait to play the game myself, been waiting on a good time period to play it. So far, New Vegas, Dark Souls 1 and 3, Skyrim/Oblivion, Dark Cloud 2, Kotor II, FFX, Chrono Trigger, and Witcher 3 are on my list of best RPG's ever. Love RPG's though, so my list can go on, but i'd say those are the ones that I have either influenced me a lot, replayed a lot, or put a ton of hours into.

[Warshade]

Says it all:

While the results may have been influenced a bit by the fact that some of the games are more recent than others, and as such more vivid in the memories of many voters, this is probably balanced out pretty well by nostalgia, especially considering that the voter pool wasn’t all that young in average.

All those are good games in any regard. I prefer Nier Automata and Tales of Bersaria over Persona 5 but I loved all 3 lol.