A large bulk of Steam JRPGs consists of Final Fantasy and its minions. If you're tired of the same old characters, themes, and combat styles, Steam happens to have a great variety of games that have hit it off with lovers of the genre. Whether you're looking for medieval fantasy tales or science-fiction spin-offs, we've singled out some of the best-selling JRPGs on Steam that were a great hit with casual and core gamers alike. Onwards!
Nioh
Developer: Koei Tecmo Games
Rating: 9/10 on Steam
If you're in for something along the lines of New Age Naruto with epic graphics and extravagantly cool and attractive NPCs, you've got Nioh. It's brutal, interesting, and challenging but well developed. A solitary sailor explores ancient civil war-era Japan and finds himself battling both its samurai and the demonic Yokai that dwell within.
The Complete Edition includes three expansions and several add-on stories along with the full game.
DYNASTY WARRIORS 8: Xtreme Legends
Developer: Koei Tecmo Games
Rating: 9/10 on Steam
An action-packed upgrade with a gripping new storyline, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends has become more of a challenge. Apart from the original story mode, there are smaller mini-scenes and items. You can now play as Lu Bu, a warrior with a rather dramatic life, as well as indulge in various other tales of the 14th-century historical novel the game is based on, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Nier: Automata
Developer: Square Enix
Rating: 9/10 on Steam
Nier: Automata is more of a dystopian science fiction hit, with a fascinating look into artificial intelligence as machines battle machines in this epic. Technology has consumed the world, and androids developed by humans are sent to take it back. Our protagonist "2B" is a poker-faced combat android, accompanied by her fellow android sidekick, "9S," and "A2," the renegade prototype. The open-world game features controlled, flawless combat and a variety of attacks for even the most amateur gamer.
Fate/EXTELLA
Developer: Marvelous Inc.
Rating: 9/10 on Steam
Fate/EXTELLA is an RPG with more of a twist on medieval fantasy crossed with science fiction, carried along by a storyline deeply rooted in betrayal, competition, magic, and high-speed action. As Servant Nero and her few loyal allies line up by her side to protect her throne, enemies emerge from every nook and cranny, and truths are unraveled through the timeline. The story is told from a trio of perspectives, including additional mini-stories explaining the plot in more detail. Servants are now playable in full control and have multiple new skills and abilities.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Rating: 10/10 on Steam
Internal conflict simmers in the Erebonian Empire as the classes clash, and a youth in military school is sucked into the chaos with nine other students when the aristocratic ranking system at the school is disrupted. In The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, each character has a variety of abilities and a different background, and one can bond and learn from another. An overwhelming positivity surrounding the game is partly due to the deep and rather original storyline, which seems to immerse players as the game progresses.
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Final Fantasy is great and all, but sometimes we're in for a more refreshing experience. Whether it's a club-wielding samurai zombie or dystopian schoolboy drama, Steam is full of great options for JRPG lovers. It's a matter of finding them. Stick around for more suggestions on GameSkinny!
Published: Feb 1, 2018 01:48 pm