I’m a huge fan of RPGs. And while western RPGs have their place in the world and I love them as part of the genre, there’s a certain charm about the way Japanese developers make their games. Maybe it’s the culture, or the way the stories are told. Whatever it is, it’s something that drags me down to games made in Japan without me realizing it. I’m also a PlayStation fanboy, so I figured it’d be a good idea to recommend to you my top best JRPGs available on the PS4.
Tales of Berseria
This game has a dark storyline. It explores the tale of a woman bent on revenge. It’s one of the very few games that has had me teary-eyed a couple of times, and that’s something not many games manage to pull off. It takes off in a different direction than most JRPGs that usually have a more cheery tone, even when the stakes of the stories delivered can be mature and grim.
This one fully commits to making the player wonder about its characters and whether or not they’re doing the right thing. In a world where most games, hell most stories, are about the unquestionable good guys trying to stop the obviously bad guys from doing something evil, Tales of Berseria walks a very grey line with the majority of its characters. Combat is akin to a hack and slash, but with a bit more complexity that will make you think about your decisions in order to be more strategic.
Nier Automata
Nier is an action RPG, keyword there being ‘action.’ You play as a soldier android fighting alien machines that have invaded Earth and forced humanity to retreat to the moon. If that doesn’t scream badass, I don’t know what does.
The combat is so fluid and seamless, you’ll think you’re playing a Devil May Cry game. The music is amazing. I, personally, believe that music can make a good or even decent game into a masterpiece, and boy, you won’t be disappointed in this. Nier Automata has a great soundtrack that makes everything in the game all the more epic.
Dragon Quest XI
Good acting, cool characters. The enemies are varied and fun. The art style is something I’m in love with, having grown up with Dragon Ball Z, it’s no wonder that I look at Dragon Quest and find myself with a gleeful smile in my face. It’s like combining two of the stuff I love the most, Dragon Ball Z and medieval fantasy.
The humor is topnotch. There’s a free form mode and traditional battle system, the latter being more inline of what you’d expect from a JRPG. And, unlike a lot of JRPGs, collecting items is actually a lot of fun. And, hey, even if you’re crazy and don’t enjoy fun characters, engaging story or the Akira Toriyama style, I have just one word for you that will make the game worth playing: Sylvando.
Dark Souls
I’m actually surprised to write this entry on the list. When I set out to write the best JRPGs for the PS4, I pictured a bunch of staples of the genre like long cutscenes, rich in dialog and characters, anime-styled designs but then I wondered, if Nier Automata could be considered a JRPG, then certainly Dark Souls should too, and every FromSoft game in that case.
Well, I decided to add it to the list because Dark Souls is one of my favorite games of all time, it was made by a Japanese company, and it’s an RPG, so I’ll roll with it. Should I make another paragraph to explain why Dark Souls is awesome? I don’t think I need to. The game is challenging, awe-inspiring and a lot of fun. If you haven’t played it, then you definitively should. And if you’ve played it but haven’t finished it, then git gud.
Monster Hunter: World
The most recent installment of the Monster Hunter franchise had me glued to my controller for a good while. The combat is challenging, with a steep learning curve. The monsters look better than ever, and the way you scavenge for resources and level up is rewarding. If you don’t know what this game is about, read the title. Although it goes deeper than just hunting monsters since you actually have to track them, level your equipment accordingly and be strategic about it. If you’ve never tried a game of this franchise, give this one a go, I promise you that you’ll be hooked.
Final Fantasy XV
This one was a hard choice for me. Granted, not as hard as having to choose from one of the FromSoft games, but still and considering that FFVII remake is underway, I even doubted about putting a Final Fantasy game on this list. But this game deserves some praise, so here it is. While the magic system has been nerfed compared to other entries of the franchise, it’s still enjoyable.
I’d argue that it is more on the practical side of things. Instead of bloating the magic system with a bunch of useless skills you won’t use, the developers decided to make it more straightforward. Am I disappointed? A little. Is it a deal-breaker? Absolutely not. The interaction between the main characters alone is enough to make this game worth playing. Also, you can fly a car, how dope is that?
Ni No Kuni: Revenant Kingdom
The story is interesting right out of the gate. The story has its moments. Although not as engaging as the first one, in my humble opinion. You’re transported into this beautiful fantasy land where you rescue a child king from the people targeting him.
The battle system is a hack and slash with your typical JRPG mechanics, focused primarily on melee attacks. The visuals are beautiful. The pacing is really good introducing action, exposition, fun bits, sad bits, and everything in between.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Would you like to explore the worlds of your favorite Disney characters with some of the Final Fantasy series in the mix? How about some fun and stunning combat system? Great! Then, you’re in for a ride. A very confusing ride, may I add if you haven’t followed the series closely. And oh boy, does the story get convoluted.
I won’t spoil anything, but I will tell you that even though this is technically the third installment… It’s not. It’s really like the tenth, but don’t let that detain you from trying this out. While you may find yourself confused at most of the stuff that’s going on, please know that even the characters in the game don’t know what’s happening half the time. So just sit back, turn off your brain for a while, and you’ll find yourself having way more fun than you thought you would.
Persona 5
Do you know what the game industry needs? Making mundane tasks actually fun and interesting. You’ll be able to do your laundry, go to school, study, take the subway, go to dates, and kill the cognitive monsters of people’s darkest desires. Just your average day, but with a lot of charm and heart. The battle system is your regular old-school turn-based combat, but with such a stylish twist that has real weight and punch to it, that will have you excited every time you go for an All-Out Attack.
The characters are likable, with engaging arcs and an interesting premise that will keep you on your toes. While pacing will have you for literal days (in-game and in real life) going back and forth between the high-school life and chunks of the story at the most inconvenient times, it doesn’t do it often enough to be a deal-breaker. When you also consider that the combat is so addicting and the day-to-day mundane life is interesting, then you can’t go wrong with this one.
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