The 7 Best Coming Of Age JRPGs, Ranked

Key Takeaways

JRPGs often rely on classic coming-of-age stories with young protagonists facing challenges to enter adulthood.
Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana explores love and loss through Adol’s relationship with Dana, offering epic storytelling.
Tales Of Symphonia weaves a complex narrative focusing on responsibility, morality, and character growth.

There are a few things that are non-negotiable in JRPGs; spectacular combat, apocalyptic boss battles, a colorful cast of characters, and some truly epic storytelling. With that last one, there are a few dependable tropes that Japanese role-playing games tend to lean on and one of them is that time-honored classic, the coming-of-age story.

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The tale of a young protagonist who must undergo a series of challenges or trials before they can enter adulthood is a story that can be seen everywhere, from Star Wars to Neon Genesis Evangelion. In JRPGs, it is a dependable template for exploring incredible worlds teeming with memorable moments.

7 Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of DANA

Love And Loss Are Explored In This Vita Must-Play

Released: September 12, 2017
Developer(s): Nihon Falcom

The Ys series is one of the longest-running video game franchises in Japan, with multiple titles across multiple systems. The games have become more intricate with each installment, going from a top-down Zelda-style adventure to its eighth mainline entry, a third-person action role-playing game released for Sony’s PlayStation Vita. It follows the adventures of Adol Christin, a young adventurer who grows through hardship and learns empathy and resilience.

Key to the game’s story is his relationship with Dana Iclucia, a prehistoric girl from a mysterious island who is intrinsically linked to Adol’s fate and that of the entire world. The plot takes some big twists and turns, marked by a heartbreaking narrative climax and a tender epilogue that looks at the nature of love, loss, and sacrifice. The player can enjoy some great action mechanics, a crafting system, and the ability to switch between characters on the fly. The title is regarded as a highlight of the Vita’s library.

6 Tales Of Symphonia

The GameCube Classic Spins A Classic Tale

Released: February 17, 2023

The Tales series is a venerable franchise that has been going since the mid-90s. Alongside Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, it is an archetypal JRPG, which emphasizes a dramatic narrative and character growth. This approach is evident in the fifth game in the series, which originally came out for the GameCube before being ported to PS2. The game’s story bounces between two settings, Sylvarant and a parallel world named Tethe’alla.

The young hero Lloyd begins the game by making a pilgrimage as he hopes to protect his childhood friend Colette. They both discover that Sylvarant and Tethe’alla are inextricably linked and as they meet companions and continue on their journey, the world around them becomes a much bigger place than they could have imagined. The game covers themes of responsibility and the impact of one’s actions, as well as the complexity of morality. This, combined with compelling gameplay and gorgeous GameCube-era graphics, makes Tales Of Symphonia an experience that lingers long after the end credits.

5 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch

The Biggest Name In Anime Helps Craft An Unforgettable Adventure

Released: January 22, 2013

Anime powerhouse Studio Ghibli has produced several stunning coming-of-age tales, from Kiki’s Delivery Service to Spirited Away and The Boy And The Heron. The thought of the legendary animation studio working on a video game was once the stuff of dreams, but sometimes dreams come true, and so it proved with a whimsical adventure that is so Ghibliesque that it feels as if a Catbus could appear at any moment.

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In classic Ghibli fashion, the hero Oliver must deal with heartbreaking loss before journeying through a magical world. Along the way, he discovers the importance of friendship, resilience, and bravery amid a vibrant selection of companions and foes. Studio Ghibli helped with character design and handled animation duties for the film’s cut scenes. Joe Hisaishi, responsible for the sublime Ghibli soundtracks including My Neighbour Totoro, handles the music. The game itself is a superb mix of classic JRPG elements, from exploration to turn-based combat.

4 Final Fantasy 10

The Legendary Series Takes A Great Leap Forward

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Released: December 17, 2001

Appropriately for a coming-of-age tale, the tenth mainline Final Fantasy game is where the series grew up in more ways than one. It introduced voice acting, 3D environments, and overhauled its combat and levelling-up systems, replacing the Active Time Battle System with the strategic Conditional Turn-Based Battle. This more mature approach is matched by an epic story set across a gigantic world with a host of different races.

It is in this world that the player takes the role of Tidus, a hothead athlete and star blitzball player, whose world is turned upside down after his home city is devastated by the monster Sin. When he meets the summoner Yuna, his world is plunged into further chaos after a shattering revelation about his father. One of the very best Final Fantasy games, it includes one of the series most memorable boss battles and was so uncontainable in its epicness that it got a sequel, Final Fantasy X-2.

3 Persona 5 Royal

School’s Out In This Tale Of Youth Gone Wild

Released: March 31, 2020
Developer(s): Atlus , P-Studio

High school can be an intense environment for any period of self-discovery, and so it proves with the beloved Persona franchise – itself part of the Shin Megami Tensei series – which mixes conflicted teenagers with a post-modern fantasy world and sharp commentary on life for Japanese youngsters. In the fifth game, considered a high point for the series by its fanbase, the setting is present-day Tokyo and the moody protagonist Joker is on probation for a crime he didn’t commit.

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As he makes friends and gets to know the surroundings, he and his comrades are plunged into a bizarre world where they carve out a niche for themselves as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, a secret supernatural vigilante squad. The metaphysical struggles they engage in are part of a wider story about identity, the human psyche, and the difficulties inherent in trying to understand oneself and the surrounding world during the pains of adolescence.

2 Fire Emblem: Three Houses

The Long-Running Series Reaches A Creative Highpoint

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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Released: July 26, 2019
Developer: Intelligent Systems, Koei, Koei Tecmo, Koei Tecmo Games

The Fire Emblem games are one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises, combining realistic fantasy drama with an ingenious rock-paper-scissors style of gameplay. The stories in these games are intricate and thought-provoking, with characters who have inspired their own cult following with fans, and their popularity is such that they often pop up in Smash Bros. In the series, it is Three Houses that has an especially strong coming-of-age theme, thanks to its school setting and young cast.

The player takes the role of a mercenary named Byleth, tasked with overseeing a group of young students and training them for battle in a kingdom wracked by a lengthy, complex struggle. Heavily inspired by TV shows like Game of Thrones and fantasy anime, the player watches their young charges grow and discover themselves amid struggles and the forging of close bonds. Byleth watches the youngsters grow and mature while navigating intense friendships, loyalty, and moral dilemmas. Widely recognized as one of the best Fire Emblem games, Three Houses tells a coming-of-age tale as dense as any novel.

1 EarthBound

A Love Letter To Childhood, Exploration And Friendship

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Shigesato Itoi may not be a figure familiar to many in the West, but in Japan, he is a household name. A true renaissance man, he is a copywriter, essayist, cultural commentator, and most importantly for this list – video game designer. His crown jewel is the Mother series and EarthBound is the second game in the franchise, a beloved title that has attracted a fiercely loyal following thanks to its offbeat humor, esoteric gameplay, and child protagonists.

With a tone that is somewhere between Charlie Brown and Salvador Dali, the game’s hero, Ness and his friends must travel across a bizarre world very similar to our own as they seek to defeat the universe-ending cosmic threat Gigyas. Earthbound‘s atmosphere and bizarre encounters reflect the sense of discovery, awe, and fear that can be inherent to childhood, and after its spectacular climax, Ness’s world has changed utterly but his sense of joy and friendship remains intact. It takes the number one spot as it is a wholly unique game, with themes and a universal language that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.