The past few years have been amazing for JRPGs. We’ve gotten some amazing titles that will go down as classics in the eyes of fans. These games have engaging concepts, stories, and/or gameplay that bring back feelings of nostalgia for some and give others a whole new love for the genre.
But sometimes we miss out of some of the best games because we just weren’t looking. Here are three JRPGs released within the past two years you may have missed out on.
Bravely Default
Bravely Default is an instant classic. So much so that it made Square Enix rethink the importance of making JRPGs with unique elements and a focus on fan enjoyment.The game utilizes traditional turn-based combat mechanics and a job system, which includes the ability to combine jobs and increase encounter rates. Each job has its own ability and can be used to shape the gameplay to the player’s particular tastes.
Bravely Default was made to evoke the feel of a classic JRPG, and it succeeded. Every element, down to the soundtrack, reminds players of the early age of JRPGs and the fun tied to those classics. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out and you enjoy games like Dragon Quest, or the earliest Final Fantasy titles, now is the time to pick it up.
Etrian Mystery Dungeon
A crossover between Etrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon, Etrian Mystery Dungeon combines the best of both series to make a fun RPG dungeon crawler. Players create characters with Etrian Odyssey’s character and class system and take their party into randomly generated dungeons. The player only controls the party leader and must manage all of the characters’ health and hunger.
Etrian Mystery Dungeon is one of the best games in both series and works well as a dungeon crawler. Everything about the game evokes fun and encourages players to play at their own pace while exploring. While this game is not a hardcore RPG, it has all of the elements of an amazing game. Definitely pick it up if you have a chance.
Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars
Conception II is really weird. Hilarious, but weird. The gameplay is a standard RPG with turn-based battles. The premise of the game is the main character, Wake Archus, goes to a high school that is also a demon hunting training program for young people who bear the mark of the Star God. After a tragic event resulting in the death of his sister, Wake discovers he has this mark on his hand. He also learns that he has a large amount of ether inside him and therefore can use his star energy inside of the Dusk Circles, where the demons come from.
So, in order to fight the demons, Wake and his female classmates create Star Children through a process called “classmating”. Get it? It’s called Conception because they mate and make children.
If you’re not scared away by the premise, you’re in for a real treat. The game combines elements similar to the Persona series as you raise your Star Children and build deeper relationships with the heroines. It’s got a fun story, a host of interesting characters, and interesting gameplay mechanics to entertain savvy RPG players of all ages.
With so many JRPGs slated to come out at the end of this year and the beginning of next, now’s the perfect time to catch up on some of the ones you missed. Did I leave out your favorite JRPGs from the past two years? Tell me your favorites and why you think they’re destined to be classics!
