While most game genres focus on gameplay above anything else, JRPGs are known for having very compelling stories. Some JRPG fans are even more interested in the story than the rest of the game. Like with most game genres, there’s no limit to what kind of story can be told in a JRPG so long as the mechanics remain.
The JRPG genre offers a surprisingly varied selection of stories that includes everything from high fantasy to complex sci-fi. Every JRPG fan has their favorite plot they poured 100s of hours into, but titles like Persona 4 and Final Fantasy VII stand out from the rest of the crowd.
10 Pokémon: Sun and Moon Has a Surprisingly Deep Story
Pokémon Proved It Could Weave a Great Narrative
It’s a common complaint that Pokémon Sun and Moon have too many cutscenes, but reading those cutscenes is necessary to appreciate the games’ superb plot, which is one of the best in the series. Lillie is the first proper deuteragonist in the mainline Pokémon games, and watching her come into her own and assert herself after years under Lusamine’s iron-fisted parenting is deeply satisfying. Lusamine herself is a compelling villain, so obsessed with the Ultra Beasts that she allows herself to be absorbed by them to serve as a final boss. Her ruthlessness toward her own children is chilling, which makes it disappointing that her character was softened in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
The structure of Sun and Moon also breaks from the traditional Gym format in favor of Island Trials, a concept later games have tried to recapture through revised Gym Challenges. It all leads to a finale where the player defeats the new Elite Four, is crowned champion, and must immediately defend that title in an epic battle against the region’s professor. Sun and Moon did so much right, narratively and structurally, that later games have since stepped away from, and it remains a shining light in the Pokémon series.
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9 Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn Has One of the Best Stories in the Franchise
Radiant Dawn Gives Players a Look at the Consequences of War
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, a game that will hopefully come to the Nintendo Switch 2 via Nintendo Switch Online when Wii titles are added, is one of the most interesting entries in the series for directly showing players the consequences of their actions. It’s not the first game to follow up on a previous story, but what sets Radiant Dawn apart from something like Book 2 of Mystery of the Emblem is that it places players in the shoes of the previous game’s “enemy.”
In Path of Radiance, Ike and his army defeated Daein’s forces and the Mad King Ashnard. That seemed to be the end of the story. But Radiant Dawn opens with a look at what became of Daein’s citizens afterward, and it’s not good. They’re being oppressed by Begnion, which is just as corrupt as it was in the first game. A former antagonist is even rescued by allies, leading to a civil war. Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn form a rare two-part arc in the Fire Emblem series, with the former as the setup and the latter delivering a powerful, politically charged payoff. Fans who appreciated Three Houses for its darker tone and political storytelling over Engage’s lighter approach should absolutely check them out.
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8 Monark Is an Incredibly Underrated JRPG
Monark’s Small Cast Carries Its Story
A lot of JRPG fans missed Monark when it first came out, but its story is one of the best in recent years. The player character awakens in Shin Mikaido Academy with amnesia and joins forces with other students to dispel a mysterious fog by defeating Pactbearers, who are individuals who have made deals with daemons for power. However, since the protagonist and some companions are also Pactbearers, there’s a constant tension around what they might ultimately become.
Each of Monark‘s four companions has their own route, giving them room for meaningful focus and development. By the time the final boss arrives, the desire for an ending where everyone survives and finds peace becomes emotionally intense, rather than sacrificing some for the sake of others. Monark delivers a powerful narrative, and for those who can push through its uneven level curve, the payoff is worth it. For fans who already love Monark’s story, the recently announced follow-up, VARLET, looks promising and even features a returning character from the original.
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7 Persona 4 Is One of the Best Games in the Franchise
Persona 4 Weaves Its Themes Into the Players' Actions
It may be a game about a serial killer, but Persona 4 is notably more upbeat than its predecessor in terms of presentation. That’s not to say dark things don’t happen or that the characters don’t suffer; it’s just obscured from casual observation. A player has to dig for the truth, which is the central theme of the game. This culminates in the game’s most important decisions requiring the player to understand that theme and apply it, not only recognizing when there’s more beneath the surface, but also learning how to convince others of that truth.
That setup is compelling on its own, but it’s wrapped in a game where characters are forced to literally confront the parts of themselves they fear or reject. This results in some of the strongest character writing in the genre, with depth rarely matched in other titles. Persona 4 is a masterclass in storytelling, character development, and thematic gameplay integration. It succeeds not just because it tells a good story, but because it weaves a tale that’s best experienced as a video game.
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6 Caligula Effect: Overdose Has a Great Story from a Persona Writer
Caligula Effect Shows What Happens When People Lose Hope
The Caligula Effect comes from the writer of the first two Persona games, so fans who miss that era should definitely give it a try. What sets it apart from other games is that most of the cast are adults who are accidentally pulled into another reality due to their regrets. In the first game, they appear as teenagers because Mu, the Virtual Doll who created the alternate world, believes high school represents the best years of a person’s life, so everyone would be happier living as a teenager forever. This concept serves as a commentary on how often teenage years are idealized in stories like these.
Despite their youthful appearances, the characters in The Caligula Effect still carry adult concerns. A strong example is Kotono Kashiwagi, a single mother overwhelmed by her responsibilities. When she realizes she’s in a coma in the real world, her first concern is for her son, and she becomes determined to return to him. Every character is treated with emotional nuance, especially in The Caligula Effect‘s updated re-release, which allows players to interact with the game’s villains. These antagonists are not paragons of virtueand range from those who deeply regret their past mistakes and traumas to those who fully embrace their worst impulses. Each is explored with the same careful attention, making it easy to understand why they became the way they are, regardless of whether they’re ultimately likable.
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5 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Has Stood the Test of Time
Many Fans Still Rate It As the Best Game in the Same Series
While there’s been some debate over whether Zelda games count as JRPGs, there’s no argument when it comes to the quality of Ocarina of Time’s story. More than 25 years after its release, Ocarina of Time still stands as one of the best narratives in the Zelda series. It’s not the first Zelda game where Ganon “wins” to some extent, and Link must restore the world afterward. It’s arguable that even the original game arguably followed that structure.
What makes Ocarina of Time notable is how the player directly fails to stop Ganondorf early on, unknowingly playing right into his hands. That failure adds a strong sense of urgency to fixing the world, especially as players shift between time periods and witness how much has changed. Zelda’s expanded role as Sheik also marks a turning point for her character, influencing how she’s portrayed in many later titles.
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4 The World Ends With You Has Unconvential Gameplay and a Gripping Story
The World Ends With You Has Many Twists and Turns
Square Enix’s The World Ends With You is a gripping story about Neku Sakuraba, a young man who discovers that not only has he died, but he’s now being forced to fight for a chance to return to life. Throughout the game, Neku forms partnerships with different characters, each with unique gameplay mechanics and personal skills—and learns to open up and embrace connection with others.
Neku’s character growth is compelling on its own, but the supporting cast, especially Shiki, Joshua, and Beat, are just as strong. The worldbuilding, character development, and overarching narrative are as engaging as the gameplay itself, leaving fans eager for more when the long-awaited sequel finally arrived fifteen years later. It’s a story best experienced firsthand.
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3 Final Fantasy VII Tells an Incredible Sci-Fi Story
This Classic JRPG Is Beloved for a Reason
Anyone introduced to the plot of Final Fantasy VII through the remake trilogy is missing out. While Remake and Rebirth are excellent games, both titles explicitly expect players to be familiar with the original and define themselves by how they deviate from it. Beyond that, the original Final Fantasy VII is a strong game in its own right and well worth experiencing in its classic form.
One testament to FFVII’s impact is Aerith’s death, a moment that scarred a generation of players and became one of the most infamous character deaths in gaming. But the later parts of the game, after Aerith’s death, are just as compelling and contain some of the wildest plot twists in the series, ones that often go overlooked. Anyone who hasn’t experienced the original should try to play it before the final game in the remake trilogy is released. It’s worth going back to see why FFVII has remained such a landmark in gaming history.
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2 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Is Vanillaware’s Love Letter to Classic Sci-fi
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is one of those games that drops the player into the middle of a situation and asks them to figure it out. Part visual novel, part strategy RPG, it features 13 playable characters, each with their own story unfolding at different points in time. It’s up to the player to piece together the sequence of events and fully understand what’s happening.
While there are occasional limits on which stories can be accessed, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim generally lets players explore at their own pace. The game weaves together multiple classic genres, from magical girls to kaiju to time loops, and is packed with references to classic science fiction. It’s a masterfully crafted narrative puzzle, and much of its appeal comes from the satisfaction of assembling its many moving parts.
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1 Mother 3 Has the Ultimate JRPG Story
Mother 3 Warns Players That It's Heartrending
Even though Mother 3 has yet to be officially released in the West, it’s managed to build a cult following on the strength of its story. The game follows Lucas, a young boy from the peaceful village of Tazmily, whose life is upended when tragedy strikes and his twin brother Claus disappears. Three years later, Lucas and his allies set out to stop the mysterious Pigmask Army, whose influence has radically transformed their world and threatens to bring about the apocalypse by awakening the Dark Dragon.
That description might sound compelling, but it’s a gross oversimplification of a powerful story that’s best experienced firsthand. At its core, Mother 3 is a moving exploration of grief and what it feels like to grow up in a world changing for the worse under a corrupt regime. While it still contains the humor and charm the Earthbound series is known for, Mother 3 is an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end, and more players deserve the chance to experience this unforgettable story.
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