Who has the time to be playing100-hour JRPGs all the time? Certainly not me, but I do love them. They’re probably my favourite type of game, even if they end up taking up half of my life when I get really stuck into one.
If you don’t have the patience or time to be sinking months of your life into these games, but you still want to give at least one a try to see what all the fuss is about (they have to be good to dedicate all that time to them, right?) then these are my recommendations as a serial long-JRPG player.
Xenoblade Chronicles nails pretty much everything a great JRPG should. It has a unique setting you won’t find anywhere else (two gigantic, ancient warriors locked in an ancient battle), a story that hooks you from the very first moment, a memorable cast of party members, and a fun combat system.
You play as Shulk, travelling the Bionis to find the murderous Metal Face and avenge your childhood friend. Alongside the glorious twists and turns in the story that will keep you on your toes for the full 100-hour playthrough, you explore huge open areas and fight hulking monsters. It has something for everyone.
Once you play Metaphor: ReFantazio, it’s easy to see why it earned a Game of the Year nomination in 2024. It weaves together political intrigue, anexcellent turn-based combat system, and a cast of characters you’ll quickly adore.
Together with your fairy companion Gallica and motley crew you recruit along the way, you fight to win the crown of the United Kingdom of Euchronia and put an end to Count Louis’ tyranny. The narrative has a number of twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout the long campaign, and each Follower questline is well worth progressing.
Not into medieval fantasy or sci-fi? Persona 5 Royal might be for you. Eschewing the traditional fantasy that most JRPGs strive for, Persona 5 Royal is set in modern-day Japan, where you balance school life with taking on dungeons as a Phantom Thief.
You can also build your relationships with your peers and perhaps even fall in love. The Royal edition has even more content than the original version, so there’s quite literally hundreds of hours of content to dig into.
Don’t be put off by the 11 in the name: you can play Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age even if you’ve never played a DQ game before. That’s what I did, and it was a wonderful 90-hour romp.
As the Luminary, you must travel the world and save it from darkness. It’s a fairly standard JRPG quest and narrative, but there’s just something so utterly charming about it. You’ll spend hours bonding with your party members, exploring the world, and completing side quests.
Tales of games can be a bit hit-and-miss, at least to me. There are some I love, and some I absolutely and truly fell off of. So when I tell you you should play Tales of Vesperia, you know I’m recommending you the best of the bunch.
Playing as ex-soldier Yuri Lowell, you set off on a mission to stop the excessive use of Blastia across the world, and form the guild Brave Vesperia. As with all Tales of games (and, really, all JRPGs), things evolve into much more than that. Battles are fun, but it’s the narrative that’s the center stage here: strap in for a long, long story.
Studio Ghibli and JRPG sound like a match made in heaven, and Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is proof that it is. Withanimated scenes from Studio Ghibliitself, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch follows a young boy named Oliver who has just lost his mum and finds himself in a strange parallel world, where everyone is the ‘soulmate’ of his world (basically, an alternate version of them).
In battles, you can either use magic or familiars you recruit while exploring the world, similar to catching Pokemon. The unique battle system, hours of exploration, and heartfelt narrative make Ni no Kuni worth dedicating your time to.
Okay, this one’s a little bit cheating. But as Kingdom Hearts is a JRPG with one long, ongoing narrative, I say it counts. The series starts off with Sora saving the worlds from darkness and rescuing his best friends Riku and Kairi. Oh yeah, and Donald Duck and Goofy are there.
The story continues across numerous games, each trying different approaches to the combat system and unique gimmicks, but one thing stays the same: the story and characters are always the heart of the experience and worth investing your time in.
If you buy the All-in-One Package, you’ll just need to buy Melody of Memory separately.
1The Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky
Average Playtime: 52 Hours
The first game in the Trails series, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky follows Estelle and her adopted brother, Joshua, as they strive to become Bracers and protect the people. The game has a strong focus on both combat and storytelling, balancing them both very well.
The NPCs are well-developed, with side stories you’re able to follow throughout your playthrough, which makes you feel all the more attached to them. The deep turn-based combat system is rewarding to get right, with various options available to allow you to strategise.
