#80 Wild ARMs 3
The most Wild West-y the Wild ARMs series has ever gotten, this is a final refinement of the initial trilogy of games. The combat has never felt better, the visuals have never been more on point. The whole experience just feels like a culmination of everything that came before it.
Add in a constantly-shifting story with characters that evolve and grow throughout, and it’s an all-around classic JRPG experience right before the genre started taking a turn towards other styles. The series itself would also take a turn after this into a different vibe entirely. Wild ARMs truly rode off into the sunset with this one.
I’m sorry for that last line…
#79 Illusion of Gaia
The second in Quintet’s unofficial “Heaven and Earth” trilogy, Illusion of Gaia is probably the most well known. Illusion of Gaia takes the Zelda formula, and shows that you can add emotional depth to it.
This game blends real-world locations with fantasy elements all while telling a surprisingly effective story about the lose of childhood innocence. There are multiple memorable moments in this game that really show a rise in the maturity of video game writing at the time.
We’ll never forget you, Hamlet…
#78 Ys X Nordics
As of now, the newest game on the list, Ys X is a fresh start for the series. Continuing the streak of taking the game in new directions in terms of storytelling, gameplay, and world building, Ys X is a great action game that packs in the usual challenge and excellent music you’d expect. It takes some time to adjust, but even the navel battles start to become enjoyable later on.
But what really drives it home is just how well-executed the relationship between Karja and Adol is. It really keeps the game engaging all the way through.
#77 1000xResist
Sometimes, confusion can drive mystery.
1000xResist is a game that starts off very abstract and muddled, you’ll find yourself very lost for quite awhile. But it’s intriguing premise and constant folding narrative makes it an incredibly engaging and intelligent written story.
I found myself hooked the entire way through, wanting to reach the end and experience the climax to this well-executed story game. Blending a brilliant art style in, and giving emotional impact through characters drives the whole thing home. A remarkable achievement in storytelling.
Hekki Grace.
#76 Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
It’s surprising only a few games have really tried to apply Studio Ghibli style to their JRPGs, but Ni no Kuni is perhaps the best attempt at it to date. Not only is the art absolutely staggering to look at, but even the writing and general feel of the world comes across as being straight out of a classic Ghibli film.
Coupled with a heartwarming story and a fun Pokemon-esque battle system, this is an overall wonderful, and surprisingly sad at times, JRPG that sticks out during a time when JRPGs were stagnant and falling off the map.
#75 To The Moon
I’m not crying, you’re crying! Ok, fine, I’m crying too. We’re all friggin’ crying. This game accomplishes so much with so little.
Taking the RPG Maker aesthetic and painting a detailed world filled with well-written characters is a tough feat on it’s own, but adding to it a mature story that only gets more relevant and important the older you get is a whole different achievement.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go have an existential crisis again…
#74 Silent Hill 3
Arguable the worst of the initial trio of Silent Hill games, Silent Hill 3 still packs in some geninunely creepy and unhinged stuff.
Increasing the traditional scares may knock it down a peg in terms of cleverness, but it still has moments that stick with you for years after. Especially when you consider the thematic elements involved.
Mostly, those moments are covered in grime and gore and involve mirrors and drains backing up and… I don’t want to talk about it.
#73 Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
The first Castlevania game post-Symphony of the Night to really refresh the formula. Aria of Sorrow took the Metroidvania direction of that game and added mechanical depth to it.
The souls system completely reinvigorates the franchise, coupled with a compelling story and one of the best maps in the game, and Aria is a perfect Castlevania game from start to finish.
Also, Soma is an under-rated ‘vania Protag…
#72 Spiritfarer
One of the most emotionally profound video games I’ve ever played. What starts out as a cute town building sim on a boat mixed with some mild platforming and exploration turns into an exploration of life and death.
A remarkable art style and very strong character writing carries this game all the way through. I was constantly tearing up as I said goodbye to each of these wonderfully fleshed out and well-realized people. A must-play if you want to feel really, really sad, but hopeful at the same time.
#71 Final Fantasy VI
Probably the game responsible for my life-long love of JRPGs. And a game that still blows my mind to this day.
The World of Ruin part of this game is still revolutionary, and still hasn’t really been matched. Blend that with compelling characters, memorable moments, and a combat system that had been refined to perfection, and you have a JRPG that stands the test of time and then some.
#70 Rule of Rose
This game is absolutely miserable to play.
However, it is probably one of the most genuinely upsetting, eerie, and out-right terrifying stories ever told in the survival horror genre.
Setting aside the controversy surrounding the game, and it’s steep price tag, Rule of Rose is a story that’s at least worth watching. Struggling through the game may not be worth it, but absorbing it’s atmosphere and narrative is a must.
#69 Chained Echoes
Turn-based RPGs are making a huge comeback in the indie scene, and Chained Echoes is the latest one to really jump out at me.
I was hooked on it’s deep combat system almost immediately. There are so many ways to build your team to synergize together, and it keeps the game fun and engaging the entire way through.
It helps that it’s accompanied by a surprisingly great character-driven story that starts out strong and doesn’t let up on the gas until the end.
#68 Vagrant Story
Is it ok to love a game you absolutely suck at? Because that’s how I feel about Vagrant Story. Actually beating this game is a feat I’m not sure I could even repeat if I wanted to.
What drives this game is it’s astonishing visuals (seriously, this is probably the best looking game on PS1) and world design, incredible localization and writing, and a combat system that requires a degree in JRPG to completely master. This is a game with strong replay value that is worth revisiting as much as possible.
#67 Breath of Fire III
You just have to love a game that gets completely overlooked because instead of going 3D, it stuck to it’s classic 2D art style roots.
But if you did skip it, you skipped a perfectly refined JRPG masterpiece. From a deep story with twists around every corner, to a character building system that is built from the ground up to break, Breath of Fire 3 is a quintessential “Classic JRPG”.
Also, one of your characters is just an onion guy. And he can become an unstoppable juggernaut with the right build. So that’s fun.
#66 Alundra
What if Legend of Zelda, but hard? Alundra takes everything from Zelda and crafts a far more challenging (occasionally frustratingly so) adventure.
From devious puzzles that’ll have you scratching your head until your skull is showing, to boss fights that act as a perfect warm-up for Dark Souls, this game is a fantastic game for people who fell off the Zelda franchise because it was too easy and formulaic.
#65 Threads of Fate
Squaresoft’s forgotten PS1 classic. Threads of Fate is just as much an action-platformer as it is a JRPG.
The bright and vibrant artstyle does wonders for bringing this silly, zany cartoony world to life. Having two different characters with wildly different play styles helps recontextualize the same areas and bosses.
On a side note: Mint is best girl. We love a complete asshole.
#64 Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
Oh look, Ys is back on the list. And this time, it’s brought some EDGE!
The gothic aesthetic of this one is a visual treat, especially in the character designs, which while a bit broody in that Hot Topic kind of way, are some of the best the series has put out.
But it’s the movement and combat that hits it’s peak here. This game focusing mostly on a central town allows it to build up a world and story that you grow extremely attached to, and it’s twists and turns keep the central mystery at the front of your mind the whole time.
It also claims some of the best fan-service in-jokes of the entire franchise.
#63 Chrono Trigger
It’s Chrono Trigger. Do I even have to say anything else?
#62 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
One of the most disasterous game productions of all time led to a genuinely excellent game in a genre I otherwise don’t usually play much.
Amalur is combined effort of a who’s who of talent, including R.A. Salvatore, Todd McFarlane, Grant Kirkhope on the tunes, and Elder Scrolls developer Ken Rolston.
Also, professional baseball player and Grade A sleazebag Curt Schilling is there to be a criminal fuck and bury the entire studio. So that’s a thing.
But don’t let that take away from how damn fun building a character up and smashing through fantasy enemies is in this game. Pure action-RPG fun.
#61 Silent Hill
The game that started it all. The original Silent Hill still holds up remarkably well, thanks to it’s clever use of the PS1’s limitations and some genuinely terrifying moments.
The cult-centric storyline may be a bit more cliche than it’s psychological followup, but that doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable as you unravel the messed up history of the town that became a massive inspiration for an entire genre.
Never has a cat jumping out of a locker scared the ever loving shit out of me as much as it did in this game…
The Mog Pile 