13 Best JRPGs On The PS5

Highlights

• JRPGs offer immersive experiences with deep lore, lovable characters, and classic turn-based combat that enchant players for hundreds of hours.
• PlayStation 5 enhances the immersive nature of JRPGs by offering players the opportunity to experience beloved games with even greater immersion.
• The JRPG genre has evolved over time, with Japanese game design making the most of current hardware, resulting in a wide variety of great JRPG titles for players to enjoy on the PS5.

It’s almost as if there’s something magical about JRPGs that makes fans of the genre unable to stop playing these titles for hundreds upon hundreds of hours. Whether it is the deep lore, the lovable cast of characters, the charming atmosphere, or the classic turn-based combat, JRPGs are bound to enchant players with at least one of their aspects. Over the years, the JRPG genre has become one of the biggest gaming genres out there. From Square Enix’s Final Fantasy games to Atlus’s Persona franchise, JRPGs have come a long way.

To add to the addictive nature of JRPGs, fans can now experience many of these beloved games with even greater immersion on Sony’s newest console, the PlayStation 5. The console has yet to build its own solid library of new and original JRPGs, but there are still tons of great titles that players can play on the PS5.

Updated February 16, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: There was a time when many people considered the JRPG genre to be down and out for the count, with many people feeling like epic Western RPGs were the way to go. However, it didn’t take long for people to realize that this genre still had a lot of legs to stand upon, with Japanese game design evolving after a long time to make the most of the current hardware.

Now, with the advent of the PS5, there are several great JRPGs on this console that players can check out if they want to immerse themselves in an epic adventure with riveting storylines and memorable characters.

13 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion

Metascore: 78

The remake of a classic PSP gem, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion is one of the few good spin-off titles Square Enix has developed. With the craze around Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth at an all-time high, it’s easy to see why so many players would love to revisit some of the classic titles in this anthology.

Zack’s story in Crisis Core is heartbreaking, with the combat being overhauled to be more action-focused than ever before. While some of the PSP’s dated philosophies still plague this title, fans of Final Fantasy 7 and its riveting world will love what Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion brings to the table.

12 Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

Metascore: 80

Valkyrie Profile is easily one of the more unique JRPGs that players can check out. Despite releasing many years ago, the innovative battle system and the obtuse nature of the story still hit a tone with fans who love the ambition this game exhibits. The fact that this game’s updated version was released on the PS5 is a testament to how well the title has aged even after all this time.

Trying to get the true ending of this game is as convoluted as can be, but players who become invested in Lenneth’s story won’t mind jumping through these hoops. It can take a while to get into, but players who give Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth a chance will be more than pleased by what this title brings to the table.

11 Scarlet Nexus

Metascore: 80

Bandai Namco’s Scarlet Nexus is a third-person action RPG that was released in June of 2021, featuring exhilarating combat and a solid narrative. The game is divided into two intertwining stories starring Yuito Sumeragi and Kasane Randall, who are members of an organization fighting against beings known as Others to protect humanity.

Set in a futuristic alternate world, Scarlet Nexus gives players the ability to play around with psychokinetic powers allowing them to move objects with their minds. The combat also features various weapons allowing for more variation in the game’s play style. Scarlet Nexus was praised for its gameplay, but some found the two branching stories tiresome. The game received a Metascore of 80 for the PlayStation 5.

10 Nier Replicant

Metascore: 83

The original Nier was a pretty unique game with a great premise that was unfortunately forgotten to the sands of time because of its clunky gameplay and muted art style. Thankfully, the launch of Nier: Automata made people finally realize the hidden potential of this game, with players loving the gameplay switches and the complex story that compelled players to check out each ending in the title.

As a result, interest in the Nier series was higher than ever before, and Yoko Taro capitalized on this with a remaster of the original Nier game with both visual and gameplay improvements. Fans could now finally experience the first game in the series properly, with this title being a blast to play through in every way.

9 Octopath Traveler 2

Metascore: 84

The first Octopath Traveler was a great title that channeled the old-school energy of most popular JRPGs, with the older Final Fantasy titles being a great example of the same. However, there’s no denying that the game had its fair share of issues that bogged down the whole experience somewhat.

The sequel rectified most of these issues, allowing players to enjoy the game without any caveats. Party members actually interacted with each other properly during their storylines instead of these conversations taking place in a completely different plane of existence. This, coupled with the many refinements and improvements to a solid combat system, make Octopath Traveler 2 a perfect sequel and one of the best PS5 JRPGs.

8 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Metascore: 84

Yakuza: Like A Dragon was first released in Japan in January 2020 before hitting stores worldwide in November of the same year. The game takes the long-running and critically acclaimed Yakuza series in a new direction, with a fresh cast of charismatic characters and an engrossing new storyline.

However, the characters and story aren’t all that has changed, as the game also ditches the Yakuza series’ tried and tested beat ’em up mechanics in favor of turn-based combat. This bold move could have backfired, though Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio did an excellent job with the new battle system.

Despite all of the changes to the series, the Yakuza series retains many of the factors that fans love about the IP, including the hilarious, over-the-top, and often bizarre substories.

7 Tales Of Arise

Metascore: 87

Players yearning for a medieval fantasy adventure can dive into Bandai Namco’s Tales of Arise on the PlayStation 5. Tales of Arise is an action RPG and is the seventeenth mainline game in the Tales franchise. The game serves as a perfect entry point for newcomers and retains enough depth to feel familiar to returning fans of the series. With gorgeous anime-inspired visuals, deep lore, and a great combat system, Tales of Arise takes the series to the next level.

The game follows protagonists Alphen and Shionne from an enslaved planet called Dahna as they, along with other strong-willed characters, fight to overthrow the lords of the nearby reigning planet of Rena. Tales of Arise met exceptionally positive reviews at launch and has a Metascore of 87 for the PlayStation 5.

6 Final Fantasy 16

Metascore: 87

Final Fantasy 16 takes the franchise in a whole new direction, with an unerring focus on real-time action and a single protagonist. While some people may lament these changes, there’s no denying that Final Fantasy 16‘s bold initiative to be different is certainly quite amazing in its own right.

Clive is a pretty great protagonist, playing a central role in a story rife with political intrigue, heartwarming characters, and a healthy dose of Final Fantasy madness. The game has some rough edges that stem from its barren world design and poor side quests, but those can be overlooked in the grand scheme of things.

5 Persona 3 Reload

Metascore: 88

After a long time, fans were glad to finally get their hands on an updated version of what many people believe to be the Persona game with the best narrative. Combining the morbidity of this plot with Persona 5‘s updated presentation, Persona 3 Reload is a treat for fans of the series who can’t wait to see what else Atlus has in store for them.

The lack of a female protagonist is not ideal in the slightest, but that shouldn’t take away from what is otherwise a masterful experience. Both new and returning players will have a blast with Persona 3 Reload and its emotionally charged story that is very much unlike the lighthearted tales told in this game’s sequels.

4 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Metascore: 89

It’s still hard to believe that the Yakuza franchise moved away from its real-time combat roots to focus on turn-based JRPG combat instead, with the franchise dropping the Yakuza name and using Like a Dragon instead. Still, fans of this series’ formula will love Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for what it brings to the table.

The turn-based combat is still a blast to engage with, even if some of the complaints that players had haven’t been addressed properly. Still, this is a small setback for what is otherwise a charming game that keeps the plot rolling every step of the way and features a ton of humor that hits the mark in more ways than one.

3 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade

Metascore: 89

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake exceeded all expectations back when it was released in 2020, setting a new standard for remakes as a whole. The game takes the first few hours of the original JRPG and expands it into a full-length outing. Players take control of a soldier named Cloud Strife, who works with his friends to take down the corrupt Shinra Corporation.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is not just a simple re-imagining; instead, it also serves as a sequel to the original game in some ways. The Intergrade bundle of Final Fantasy 7 Remake includes the base game plus a new episode starring a character named Yuffie. The game received critical acclaim upon release and has a Metascore of 89 for the PlayStation 5.

2 Chained Echoes

Metascore: 90

Chained Echoes is a modern JRPG that is heavily inspired by Chrono Trigger, and this shows in the seamless combat and engaging storytelling. The game relies more on equipment instead of a simple leveling system to allow for a more measured sense of progression that feels more balanced and engaging.

Players are also discouraged from mindlessly attacking since the Overdrive gauge in battle can work against them if they mindlessly attack without realizing how this negatively affects said gauge. It’s a wonderful and charming JRPG that will keep fans hooked for quite some time… even if some bugs can sour the experience.

1 Persona 5 Royal

Metascore: 95

Back in 2016, Persona 5 revitalized Atlus’ Persona franchise with its style, and in 2019 Atlus released a definitive version of the game in the form of Persona 5 Royal, which made a few qualities of life changes to the original formula and added a whole new semester of content. The PS5 version of the game, released in October of 2022, features a constant 60 FPS frame rate and includes all the DLC.

Persona 5 Royal follows a group of high schoolers who can traverse into another realm and change people’s desires with the use of their other-worldly selves known as the Personas. Part life simulator, part dungeon crawler Persona 5 Royal is easily one of the best games JRPGs to come out in recent years. The game has a Metascore of 95 and definitely deserves it!