JRPG
Ongoing coverage on JRPG.
Latest coverage
Nintendo’s Indie World Presentation Was Pretty Packed For A Short Show
Nintendo's latest Indie World Showcase featured several notable upcoming titles, including the action-adventure game Winds of Viridia, inspired by Breath of the Wild, and the retro pixel art action-puzzle platformer City of None. The presentation also highlighted Threads of Time, a JRPG with Chrono Trigger influences. New Switch and Switch 2 release windows were provided for these and other indie games.
Final Fantasy Resonance and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 success means "all signals" point to Square Enix making a mainline turn-based JRPG, analyst says: "Just a matter of time"
Following the strong performance of Final Fantasy Resonance and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an analyst suggests Square Enix should return to mainline turn-based JRPGs. Resonance has sold 400,000 copies, generating $20 million, indicating a significant market appetite that the company may have overlooked in its shift towards action-oriented titles.
On AI in game dev, Final Fantasy and Mana veterans say humans will always need to "turn zero into one," but…
Square Enix veterans Yoshinori Kitase, Hiromichi Tanaka, and Koichi Ishii believe that while AI can streamline game development processes, human creativity will always be essential for initial concept generation. They suggest AI can handle the 'one to a hundred' tasks, freeing up humans to focus on the crucial 'zero to one' stage of innovation, though the article notes AI's role in current industry layoffs.
My PS2 is officially 26 years old, but my all-time favorite games still hold up on it
The author reflects on the enduring appeal of PlayStation 2 games as the console turns 26. Despite the effort required to play them on modern hardware, several titles like Silent Hill 2, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and The Simpsons: Hit & Run still offer unique and enjoyable experiences that hold up today.
Final Fantasy Resonance Lets You Take A Five-Minute Single Turn, And It’s Glorious
Final Fantasy Resonance offers a unique take on the JRPG genre with its HD-2D visuals and an innovative turn-based combat system that allows for extended, multi-action turns. The game features a cast of classic Final Fantasy characters and allows players to chain abilities for significant damage output. The review praises the game as a standalone experience and a potential revival for Square Enix's mobile titles.
GTA 6 could beat Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-breaking Game Awards haul - but I wouldn't bet on it
This article discusses the potential for Grand Theft Auto VI to receive numerous nominations at The Game Awards, comparing its prospects to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-breaking haul last year. While GTA 6 is expected to be nominated in major categories like Game of the Year and Best Game Direction, the author suggests it's unlikely to surpass Clair Obscur's nine wins due to certain categories being inaccessible for a major studio title.
Final Fantasy Resonance review: "A breezy nostalgia-laced JRPG that has me falling in love with HD-2D all over again"
Final Fantasy Resonance revitalizes the HD-2D style with an engaging JRPG experience that blends classic and modern Final Fantasy conventions. The game features improved spritework, dynamic camera angles, and a satisfying turn-based combat system with a unique stagger mechanic. While its structure is safe and CG sequences can be jarring, the overall presentation and generous side content make it a compelling retro-modern adventure.
Ahead of Persona 6, former lead devs say every Atlus JRPG "changing to reflect the times" is key – and should give players "something to draw on as they go on to live their lives"
Former Persona leads Katsura Hashino, Shigenori Soejima, and Shoji Meguro discussed the core elements of the JRPG series, emphasizing the importance of reflecting contemporary times and creating impactful experiences. While these insights may not directly apply to Persona 6, as Hashino is now leading a different team at Atlus, they offer a glimpse into the series' enduring design philosophy.
We played Eternal Anima, here are our thoughts
The preview of Eternal Anima highlights its strong JRPG roots, featuring a time-traveling narrative with environmentalist themes and a combat system that includes a unique timeline manipulation mechanic. The game boasts an all-star development team, including director Katsuhisa Higuchi and composer Hitoshi Sakimoto, and features stellar presentation with beautiful artwork and animated 3D models.
Tales of Eternia Remastered review: We should do better
Tales of Eternia Remastered is a disappointing re-release that fails to meet modern standards, particularly in its handling of visual assets. While it restores some content like skits and adds quality-of-life features, the poor upscaling of animations and in-game graphics, along with a questionable UI design, detract significantly from the experience. The game is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Tales Of Eternia Remastered Out Now, Launch Trailer Showcases Revamped Visuals
Bandai Namco Entertainment has released Tales of Eternia Remastered, featuring revamped visuals and quality-of-life improvements such as a high-speed mode and destination markers. The JRPG is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey: True Punishment of Mass Sin
Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey Redux offers a deeply philosophical JRPG experience with challenging dungeon crawling and intricate demon fusion mechanics. While the Redux version's added content, like the Womb of Grief dungeon, can be tedious, its quality-of-life improvements and the game's thought-provoking narrative about humanity's impact on itself and the environment make it a rewarding, albeit niche, experience.
KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 11 Bundles Four RPG Adventures
KEMCO has released KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 11, a bundle containing four role-playing games: Alphadia Neo, Heirs of the Kings, Onigo Hunter, and Isekai Rondo. Developed by Exe Create Inc. and published by KEMCO, the collection is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for £33.49, offering a variety of fantasy quests and turn-based battles.
"God's strongest programmer": This JRPG sounded great, but then I learned how it was made, and now it…
Lie of Caelum: Spirit, a sci-fi mecha JRPG inspired by Xenogears and Phantasy Star, has garnered significant attention and Kickstarter funding, partly due to its impressive visuals and music. The game is notable for being developed using RPG Maker MZ, a tool not typically associated with such advanced 3D graphics and complex gameplay features like seamless mech transitions, card games, and mini-games.
What does your dream videogame concert look like?
The author discusses the rise of video game concerts and shares their ideal dream concert lineup, featuring music from various Final Fantasy titles, Kingdom Hearts, Kameo: Elements of Power, and Tekken remixes. They express a desire for more live orchestral performances of game soundtracks.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation lead explains that making each game in the RPG trilogy a "complete experience" was…
Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy lead Naoki Hamaguchi explains the design philosophy of making each game a complete experience. He discusses how the team avoided leaving plot points unresolved and why certain locations were omitted from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to maintain pacing. Hamaguchi also hints at a gentler side of Cloud's character in the upcoming final chapter.
I've spent seven hours exploring the Steam Autumn Sale, and these are the 10 best games on discount I'd recommend picking up while you still can
This guide highlights ten of the best game deals available during the Steam Autumn Sale, which ends on October 8. The article recommends a variety of titles across different genres, including "Arc Raiders," "The Outlast Trials," "Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade," and "Resident Evil 4 Remake," noting record-low prices and significant discounts on acclaimed games and classics.
10 great games to grab during the Steam Autumn Sale 2026
The Steam Autumn Sale 2026 is offering significant discounts on a variety of PC games, with a focus on horror-adjacent titles due to the Halloween season. The sale features ten top picks, all at their lowest prices ever on Steam, including "007 First Light," "Sons of the Forest," and "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth." The sale concludes on October 8, 2026.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says "it wasn't easy" not turning "a masterpiece like FF7 into something that felt like my own personal fan project"
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the challenges of adapting the beloved original game into a modern trilogy. He emphasized the importance of staying true to the core narrative and avoiding making the remake feel like a personal fan project, while acknowledging the creative liberties taken.
'Open world fatigue' is one reason indie RPG Entropy is borrowing from the classics: 'PS1, PS2, GameCube games really never outstayed their welcome'
Lead developer James Wragg of Lovely Hellplace discusses 'open world fatigue' in modern games, contrasting it with the more concise and intentional design of older titles from the PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and GameCube eras. His upcoming RPG, Entropy, aims to blend simple JRPG combat with tactical elements, drawing inspiration from classics like Fallout and XCOM.
